A few thoughts on Raya Seem's delightfully ridiculous
idea:
Actually, if one didn't know better, one might speculate that the
Addam's Family was a parody of Ada. Gomez Addams is zanily "turned
on" when ever his wife, Morticia, says a french word or phrase ("Tish! You spoke
French!"). There is a slightly pro-Jewish flavor ("Children now, bubbala later"
was her usual reply to his erotic entreaties), ghastly but sweet Uncle Fester
(Uncle Dan?), not to mention a sister named Ophelia who is always in love,
always strewing flowers, and always on the brink of suicide. "Thing" could be a
translation of Bout. The hungry floral Cleopatra parodies the flora of Ardis.
Grandmama has something of dotty Marina about her (played by the way by Blossom
Rock, who started on the stage and married into Chicago money -- the
older sister of Jeannette MacDonald).
The Addam's family seem to live on
their own little Anti-Terra where it is fashionable to go "moon bathing" and
money is never a problem. I have a soft spot in my memory for that silly TV
show, after all, where else on American TV could you find a married couple who
could hardly keep their hands off each other? You can bet there was only one bed
in their bedroom!