For this, my third year doing the challenge, I am going literary. For every letter of the alphabet I will talk about a book, an author or a character from fiction or myth that made an impression, was inspirational, or caused me to think.
Charlotte Dean Stark, my first best friend whom I've written about before and no doubt will again, had a large, personal library. It was larger than my own family's because she had more space, more book shelves.
Among her books was a collection of cartoons by Charles Addams.
Almost every time I visited (which was often) I went right to that book and looked through every-single-page. One time Charlotte teasingly told me she was going to hide it so that I'd explore other books.
What was it about the Addams Family that captured the attention of seven/eight year old girl? I think they appealed to my already budding sense of irreverence. I think they reminded me of my own family, because they were, beneath the macabre veneer, a loving, healthy, functioning family unit. And I think, in retrospect (which as we know is always 20-20) the Addams Family taught me a great deal about acceptance.
Although I enjoyed the original TV show and the movies (Angelica Houston and Raul Julia were SO prefect as Morticia and Gomez) the cartoons will always come first in my heart.
I would love to share some cartoons, but the family of Charles Addams would prefer that none of his work appear on the internet.
Do you have a favorite Addams Family character? I'm partial to Wednesday, of course.
A is for the Addams Family Other A influences include Hans Christian Andersen, Aragorn and Anansi the spider.
hehe, they remind me of my family too. But my reasons don't go so deep. My family pretty much looked like them! lol :)
ReplyDeleteBish, Great post and idea. Looking forward to reading about your 3rd year's dedication. (It flyeth)
ReplyDeleteI loved the Adams family - fraid it is the wicked and funny Morticia that always got my attention. I hope you also read Edward Gorey and if not - get to it!!!Jan Morrison
ReplyDeleteAwesome Bish! Egad! The Addams Family is just about the coolest family around. I'm partial to Uncle Fester and Itt. How'z about Lurch?
ReplyDeleteAre you gonna do the Munsters on M day.
If you are starting with the Addams Family I'm sure we are in foor a literary treat as you go through the alphabet for us.
ReplyDeleteThing and It were always fun characters in the show.
ReplyDeleteSusanne
PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER
I liked Uncle Fester, but they were all so weird--so cool.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Morticia and Gomez! I can still hear that theme music. Great that you've posted about this series, Bish. It brought back some very funny memories.
ReplyDeleteI do remember the Addams family from my childhood. Didn't realize they had a cartoon too. Wonder why the family doesn't want the work on the internet.
ReplyDeleteThe Addams family is fun and kooky! I like them all but especially Gomez.
ReplyDeleteI never knew they were cartoons first! Wow. I think my favorite is Gomez. I loved his passion for his wife.
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm hopping over from the A to Z challenge. I like your theme and will be back often to see what you do with the rest of the alphabet! Good luck with the challenge...
ReplyDeleteDonna Martin
www.donasdays.blogspot.com
I loved the show as a kid.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'll go with Cousin It. With my long red hair, everyone says I look like Cousin It from behind. I even have a photo of me somewhere with my sunglasses on backwards, and I do look like It!
Charles Addams was a genius. We have a big book of his work, which I liked and so does my son.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter dressed up as Wednesday Addams for three years in a row at Halloween. She was really upset when she got too old :-)
ReplyDeleteI admit, I've seen all of incarnations!
ReplyDeleteI have a book of the cartoons, as well. They weren't actually named in the cartoons, were they? My favorite was sharpening the spikes on the wrought-iron fence.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I so remember watching the show when I was little...the little girl always intrigued me; ;not certain why!
ReplyDeleteGreat beginning for A!
I always loved the odd, quirky characters. Going to enjoy seeing your future A-Z posts.
ReplyDeleteI'm doing flash fiction, words picked at random, photos found to inspire, then max of 10 sentences and min of 100 words. I love that there are so many different approaches to the A to Z.
BTW, I'm picking out one commenter at random and adding them to my list to follow. Too many to do otherwise...
I had no idea there were cartoons. I vaguely remember watching the show. Great characters.
ReplyDeleteThere is no beating Cousin It.
ReplyDeleteLove the addams family! I hope they revive this franchise again. :)
ReplyDeletegreat start to the A-Z!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
It's been so long since I've seen the Addams Family. It was such a cool show.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, my party trick was putting my grown-out fringe over my face and my glasses on over the hair, so I retain a certain fondness for Cousin It :)
ReplyDeleteI loved the original series, but Raul Julia is my pick for Gomez. Hands down. Yum.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed your post! I really didn't like the show, but I liked the movie.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of the Addams family was the theme song. I used to go around humming it.
ReplyDelete