Ken Turner Blog Series: Influences and Inspirations Blog Entry #11 - CHARLES ADDAMS (1912 - 1988)

“Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” - Morticia Addams

 Charles Samuel Addams who was the creator of the "Addams Family", that appeared in the New Yorker magazine in the 30's, inspired a popular TV series which debuted in '64 and many sitcoms, animated TV programs and two live action feature films.  He was honored with the Yale Humor Award and a Special Edgar Award for "Cartoonist of the Macabre" by the Mystery Writers of America in '54.  A lifelong collector of ancient armor and devices of execution and torture, which fed his fascination with death and dying.  After a 24 year hiatus from the sanctity of marriage, he exchanged vows one last time in 1980, in classic Addams style, dressed in all black, when he wed Tee Matthews in her Water Mill, New york pet cemetery.

Addams died on September 29, 1988, at St. Clare's Hospital and Health Center in New York City, having suffered a heart attack while still in his car after parking it. An ambulance took him from his apartment to the hospital, where he died in the emergency room. As he had requested, a wake was held rather than a funeral; he had wished to be remembered as a "good cartoonist". He was cremated, and his ashes were buried in the pet cemetery of his estate "The Swamp". (info via Wikipedia)

 “To live without you, only that would be torture."
"A day alone, only that would be death.” - Charles Addams

"When we're together, darling, every night is Halloween." - Morticia Addams

OPENING for the 60's TV series and TRAILERS for the 90's feature films:

  

 

 

 

  

 

"You're dearer to me than all the bats in the all the caves of the world." - Morticia Addams

 

One friend said of him, "His sense of humor was a little different from everybody else's."

     

Next time on the Influences and Inspirations :  *Hint - When he was a child, he sneaked onto the lot of Universal Studios during a tour and befriended an editor who showed him a few things about filmmaking.

Cheers

Ken