This post is part of the Reel Infatuation Blogathon hosted by
Silver Screenings and A Small Press Life.
Ahh, Carolyn Jones. Raven-haired, pouty-lipped, wasp-waisted, curvy-hipped Carolyn Jones, hands down the best Morticia Addams ever.
In the interest of full disclosure, this was not my first crush. That most dubious of honors goes to Pattie Schwartzmiller, my brother’s babysitter. Not mine of course. Every inch the fine fellow at age 9, I was plenty self-sufficient, just not quite self-sufficient enough to supervise my 7-year-old brother.
Pattie was also one of several individuals pivotal to my indoctrination into the horror world (well before such indoctrination may have been emotionally and psychologically healthy). If my parents were going to be out late, Pattie would let me stay up and watch Chiller Theater hosted by WIIC’s Chilly Billy Cardille.
To be completely aboveboard, Morticia was not my first crush on a fictional character either. See, my uncle Dave, another of those pivotal individuals, had a truly impressive comic book collection. Not in terms of numbers as much as titles.
So while most of my friends were filching copies of Penthouse from the dark recesses of their fathers’ closets (or in one guy’s case, his old man’s toolbox), I was reading pre-Comics Code issues of Tales From The Crypt and Vault Of Horror along with Vampirella (fictional character crush #1).
Yeah, I was that kid.
There were two other horror shows in the ‘burgh as well, Thing Theater and Ghost Host, both hosted by dudes. Okay, Chiller would eventually add the hair-tastic Terminal Stare, and Scorpio was mildly androgynous, but let’s stay focused here, shall we?
My point is, while my hormone-addled peers drooled over their ill-gotten booty (so to speak), there was nary a siren whose song struck the somber chords of my already shadowy heart.
Vampira? Before my time. Elvira? Still a few years off. Vampirella? Pen and ink.
Where was I to turn?
Thank all that is dark and unholy for WPTT, the UHF station that ran The Addams Family. Morticia Addams right there in my living room every afternoon. Swoon.
Morticia, however, was far more than her appearance, and my fascination transcended the merely physical.
Morticia was witty. She was charming. And she was, gasp, smart which was what made her so alluring. This was a woman in total control. Her cool tolerance of Gomez’s amorous advances, her almost amused detachment, her croon of “Thank you, Thing,” all irresistible.
Not bad for a character Charles Addams drew in the 1930s (making her the longest running of the wisecracking pop culture Queens Of Darkness).
Much, in fact, is owed to Morticia in general. Without her there’s no Vampira. No Vampira, no Elvira. And really, what is Vampirella but a scantily clad, voluptuous, ass-kicking superhero Tish? And I defy anyone to prove that Anne Hathaway didn’t learn a thing or two about hand position from Ms. Jones.
So, Daryl Hannah? Stick with the eye patch. Anjelica Huston? Close, but no cyanide.
No, it seems a small part of me will always cling the televised Morticia Addams of the 1960s in all of her crystal black and white clarity. And even though I started reading Baudealaire at 13, Morticia was the real reason I took French in high school.
Adieu.
Excellent choice, though I like Huston’s Morticia just as well.
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To be sure, I like Anjelica Huston’s portrayal just fine. There’s just no crush factor there.
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This is fabulous! I don’t think I’ve ever seen an episode of The Addams Family, but your enthusiasm has utterly convinced me Carolyn Jones is the perfect Morticia. She sounds like a fascinating character, but more than that, it sounds like she inspired youth do some amazing things, such as learning French.
I’ll see if there are any episodes on YouTube.
Thanks for joining the blogathon and bringing Morticia Addams to the party!
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Merci! Pour vous https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEGkPrawoLo
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Awesome! I will watch later this evening. Thanks!
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I just watched this episode on YouTube and you’re right about Carolyn Jones. She is FA-BU-LOUS!
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Yep. She’d be my pick crush (or would it be more of a piercing injury I’d suffer?) as well, but I saw Barbara Steele in something first and Ms. Jones as M. afterwards. I should feel sorry for my younger self for that conflict, but I most certainly don’t.
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Oh yeah! Barbara Steele in Nightmare Castle, an extremely close second.
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[…] argues Carolyn Jones is the best Morticia Addams ever in The Addams Family […]
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I haven’t seen her as Morticia either, but I do love her face! And think I might need to now, after your fantastic post.
Have you ever seen Shield for Murder? She has a very tiny part in that, but she’s so good and I guess, campy, but it works wonderfully. I’d actually like to see her in more things.
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Thanks! If you love her face, you might also want to check out some of the horror movies Barbara Steele shows up in as well.
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Carolyn Jones was excellent in this role. Definitely crush-worthy! She and John Astin played one of the most well-adjusted, romantic couples in the history of television and film. Thanks so much for participating in the blogathon!
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I’m of the Elvira generation, but I totally get Tish and I love those old Addams Family episodes! I should really dig back into them!
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Carolyn Jones born in 1933 in Amarillo Texas came to Hollywood in the early 1950’s best known for her roles in Invasion Of The Body Snatchers 1956 and Marjorie Morningstar 1959 was first married Aaron Spelling and remained friends after their divorce. In my opinion Carolyn Jones was the BEST Morticia Addams hands down. Too bad Miss Jones died from cancer in 1983.
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Wow, this post was really a trip down memory lane for you!
I really enjoyed it. I admire Morticia a lot – as you said, the fact that she is witty and self-confident is fabulous and very empowering.
Don’t forget to read my contribution to the blogathon! 🙂
Cheers!
Le
http://www.criticaretro.blogspot.com
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Thanks, I enjoyed writing it. Can’t wait to read yours.
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[…] know. I’ve already established my position in terms of Carolyn Jones/Morticia Addams. Still, I have to wonder, what if there had been reruns of Vampira? How might my life have turned […]
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