Addams Family's Cousin Itt : The Baldness Curse?
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Think that Cousin Itt has hair to spare? The Addams Family disagrees : Addams Family Costumes
This is about an episode with Cousin Itt on The Addams Family. There were a lot of troublesome toupees and hopeless haircuts that made them want to curl up and dye. But don't flip your wig! These hairy situations were the stuff of classic tv plots.
This is part of a series of articles. We look at episodes of retro tv shows where hair was somehow a big component in their storylines. I've featured different shows, often a US sitcom from the 1950s-1970s. Sometimes there'll be an overall theme including more than one show.
Information, including spoiler plot outlines come from various sources & will be as accurate as possible.
Please visit the Tuesday Flashback Feature in my blog. These are about retro tv shows that somehow deal with jewelry or gemstones..
Cousin Itt's Problem
The Addams Family - October 22nd, 1965
Hairy Cousin Itt (Felix Silla) comes for a visit. The family gives him an equally hairy dog as a gift. Soon after his arrival they find, to everyone's dismay, that Itt is losing his hair.
Uncle Fester (Jackie Coogan) uses his new chemistry set to make a hair growing tonic. Hair begins growing everywhere! A doorknob develops a Beatles hairdo.
Gomez (John Astin) is wondering why the portrait of Aunt Anemia is suddenly sporting a beard and mustache. Fester grows a head of blond hair. Cousin Itt grows even more hair on top of his head.
Eventually Uncle Fester's newly grown hair falls out, as does the beard & mustache from the portrait, etc. They realize that the tonic was only temporary. Once you've used it, you're immune and can't use it again.
But the good news is that Itt wasn't losing his hair after all. The hair they found was from the dog who's shedding. Morticia (Carolyn Jones) tells the dog that if worse comes to worse, they'll get him a toupee.
The Addams Family ran for only two seasons, 1964-66. As has been noted for some time, part of the humor comes from what could be called a culture clash with the rest of the world. They're a very refined, friendly and philanthropic family. They greet guests who visit them warmly. Several normal-looking people who showed up at their house were there with less than honorable intentions.
Another point that's brought up regularly is, particularly for that time on television, how close they were as a family was unusual. People noted how romantic the parents, Morticia and Gomez were. This was also unlike other married couples we saw. Maybe one day we'll see Gomez & Morticia's Guide to Keeping Your Marriage Spicy & Alive available on bookstore shelves?
Actor Felix Silla portrayed Cousin Itt. There's been some debate about who did cousin Itt's voice. The voice was provided by sound engineer Tony Magro. He created Itt's unintelligible voice by speaking nonsense words into a tape recorder and then speeding up the rate it was played back.
Uncle Fester (Jackie Coogan) uses his new chemistry set to make a hair growing tonic. Hair begins growing everywhere! A doorknob develops a Beatles hairdo.
Gomez (John Astin) is wondering why the portrait of Aunt Anemia is suddenly sporting a beard and mustache. Fester grows a head of blond hair. Cousin Itt grows even more hair on top of his head.
Eventually Uncle Fester's newly grown hair falls out, as does the beard & mustache from the portrait, etc. They realize that the tonic was only temporary. Once you've used it, you're immune and can't use it again.
But the good news is that Itt wasn't losing his hair after all. The hair they found was from the dog who's shedding. Morticia (Carolyn Jones) tells the dog that if worse comes to worse, they'll get him a toupee.
The Addams Family ran for only two seasons, 1964-66. As has been noted for some time, part of the humor comes from what could be called a culture clash with the rest of the world. They're a very refined, friendly and philanthropic family. They greet guests who visit them warmly. Several normal-looking people who showed up at their house were there with less than honorable intentions.
Another point that's brought up regularly is, particularly for that time on television, how close they were as a family was unusual. People noted how romantic the parents, Morticia and Gomez were. This was also unlike other married couples we saw. Maybe one day we'll see Gomez & Morticia's Guide to Keeping Your Marriage Spicy & Alive available on bookstore shelves?
Actor Felix Silla portrayed Cousin Itt. There's been some debate about who did cousin Itt's voice. The voice was provided by sound engineer Tony Magro. He created Itt's unintelligible voice by speaking nonsense words into a tape recorder and then speeding up the rate it was played back.
Contents at a Glance
Walk down Addams memory lane
- Cousin Itt's Problem
- Felix Silla : Actor who portrayed Cousin Itt
- The Addams Family: The Complete Series
- Addams Family Theme MP3 Addams Groove
- Bat Shaped Rubber Handbag with Spiderweb Stitching
- Addams Family Costumes Adult : Morticia : Wednesday
- Adult Men's Cousin Itt Costume Wig Ideas
- Cousin Itt Costume Ideas
- Addams Family Group Costumes : Wednseday, Fester, Gomez, Morticia....
- Lily Munster Costume : Adult : Herman Munster Costume
- Dr Seuss Thing 1 & Thing 2 Adult Costumes : Kids Costume
- Addams Family Child's Costumes : Morticia : Wednesday
- Morticia Addams Family Adult Costume : Choose your favorite
- Morticia - Addams' Family Child Costume : Child's Wig
- Bald Cap Flesh : Bald Cap Brown
- The Addams Family is always happy to see you
- The Addams Family Theme
- Cut it out! Cousin Itt-inspired Tee Shirt
- Poll: Who's Your Querida/Querido?
- Uncle Fester Child & Adult
- Birthday Shimmy Dance
- Once More, With Feeling! Movie Poster (11 x 14 Inches - 28cm x 36cm)
- Yikes, it's YouTube: Addams/Cousin Itt-Inspired
Felix Silla : Actor who portrayed Cousin Itt
Wikipedia
Felix Anthony Silla (born 11 January 1937) is an Italian film and television actor and stuntman, best known for his role as "Cousin Itt" on television's The Addams Family, and many other classic character roles.Biography and career overview
Silla was born in a small village outside Rome, Italy. Silla trained as a circus performer, came to the United States in 1955, and toured with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. His multiple talents as a bareback rider, trapeze artist and tumbler brought him to Hollywood, where he became a stuntman, starting with the Gig Young-Shirley Jones vehicle, A Ticklish Affair. His best-known roles are Litvak, the maniacal, miniature Hitler who menaces George Segal in The Black Bird (his favorite role), and Cousin Itt on the long-running TV series, The Addams Family. He was also responsible for the physical performance of the robot Twiki in the TV series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, a role for which the voice was supplied by Mel Blanc or Bob Elyea.
In part due to his short stature of 1.19 m (3 ft 11 in), he has doubled, often for children, in such movies as The Towering Inferno, The Hindenburg, and Battlestar Galactica. Between movies, he frequently appears in Las Vegas and Reno night clubs with his own musical combo, "The Original Harmonica Band". Silla and wife Susan - a "little person," like himself - have been married since 1965 and have two children, Bonnie and Michael.
When he arrived in the United States at age 16, he spoke not a word of English and had no formal acting experience, but credits joining the Ringling Bros. circus with teaching him both language and performance skills, working first in the sideshow and then becoming skilled as both a clown and a bareback rider.
His audition for his most famous role, television's "Cousin Itt" of The Addams Family, was as mysterious to him at the time as the popular character would soon be to millions of viewers. Arriving at the studio, he received little more than a quick looking over by the director and producer, who merely said "That's Itt!" and told him to come back Monday morning and report for work. He returned home for the weekend, pleased to have passed the audition but still completely unaware of who (or what) he had been hired to portray on The Addams Family. Not until Monday morning, just hours before he made his debut as "Cousin Itt", did he have any idea as to the nature of the character.
More on Wikipedia
The Addams Family: The Complete Series
From Amazon.com: All 64 episodes are spread across 9 double-sided discs in this set. Episodes are presented in Full Frame with English, French and Spanish audio and English and Spanish subtitles.
Extra features include:
Cousin Itt & Thing select scene commentary on "Thing is Missing," "My Son, the Chimp," "Cousin Itt and the Vocational Counsellor," "My Fair Cousin Itt," "Morticia's Dilemma," "Ophelia Finds Romance" and "Lurch's Little Helper."
Theme Song Karaoke
There is also is other commentary and a number of featurettes such as "The Addams Family Portrait" featurette including on-camera interviews with John Astin.
Extra features include:
Cousin Itt & Thing select scene commentary on "Thing is Missing," "My Son, the Chimp," "Cousin Itt and the Vocational Counsellor," "My Fair Cousin Itt," "Morticia's Dilemma," "Ophelia Finds Romance" and "Lurch's Little Helper."
Theme Song Karaoke
There is also is other commentary and a number of featurettes such as "The Addams Family Portrait" featurette including on-camera interviews with John Astin.
The Addams Family - The Complete Series
Amazon Price: $44.99 (as of 05/25/2012)
Suave Uncle Fester didn't have one
... and only Cousin Itt's hairdresser knew for sure
When two comb-overs meet
- Same Name Game installment on the name: Comb-Over
- Blog post introduces you to two items with the same name
Addams Family Theme MP3 Addams Groove
1) From the Album TV Theme Songs Of The Past
2) From the Album Kids Sing'n Halloween Hits
3) Addams Groove From the Album Greatest Hits MC Hammer
2) From the Album Kids Sing'n Halloween Hits
3) Addams Groove From the Album Greatest Hits MC Hammer
Bat Shaped Rubber Handbag with Spiderweb Stitching
Four shape choices
Addams Family Costumes Adult : Morticia : Wednesday
Wednesday Addams Adult Costume
Wednesday's child is full of woe, except when she wears this Goth Wednesday Addams outfit! Be hot and cool at the same time in this hip
Morticia Addams Adult Costume
With her pale white skin and long black hair, Morticia Addams strikes a provocative pose. Her sleeves trail from a sultry black gown draped over her mysterious curves - step into the role of Morticia
Adult Men's Cousin Itt Costume Wig Ideas
Cousin Itt Costume Ideas
Cousin Itt Dance and Performance
Addams Family Group Costumes : Wednseday, Fester, Gomez, Morticia....
Adult, Teen and Child costumes
Wednesday Addams Tuesday Freakies Adult CostumeGet all together ooky with the Addams Family in this sexy Tuesday Freakies Adult Costume. Perhaps this is the long lost sister of Wednesday Addams. This is just one of the Wednesday Addams costumes to choose from.
Costume includes a black button front dress with large white collar and spider garters, black choker and doll purse.
You'll be mysterious and spooky in the dark Gothic style of our Tuesday Freakies Costume. With a creepy and kooky attitude, you can transform into a sexy Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family.
Stockings, shoes not included.
Choose costume from the whole family!! Addams Family Group Costumes
Lily Munster Costume : Adult : Herman Munster Costume
The Munsters Lily Munster Adult Costume
From the hit TV monster series The Munsters, this Lily Munster costume is a classic Halloween favorite! Pair this wickedly wacky costume with Herman for a great couples
The Munsters Herman Munster Adult Costume
Woman Has her Hair Styled at a Beauty Salon in Shanghai
Thing Addams : Pointing Hand Ghostly Glow
Mail's In!
Thing Prop : Pointing Hand Ghostly Glow Currently Out of StockThis hand looks like it's coming out of the grave and pointing at you.
It has a light that fades in and out for a truly ghastly effect. This item stands 10.5 inches tall.
He may not have Thing's personality, though! He needs his signature box.
Other Pages in this Series
More 'Hairy' Walks Down Classic TV Memory Lane
Dr Seuss Thing 1 & Thing 2 Adult Costumes : Kids Costume
Dr. Seuss Fleece Thing 1 Adult Costume
Dr. Seuss Thing 1 Child Costume Currently out of stock
The Cat In The Hat - Dr. Suess -Thing 2 Costume (Boy's Children's Costume)
Dr Seuss Cat In The Hat Thing One And Two Pilot Laplander Hat
5 Star Customer Rating
Dr Seuss Cat In The Hat Thing One And Two Pilot Laplander Hat
Brand New Item
Officially Licensed
Addams Family Child's Costumes : Morticia : Wednesday
The Addams Family Morticia Child Costume
Mother to Wednesday and Pugsley and the original Goth, Morticia Addams enjoys cutting the buds off roses to artfully arrange the stems. Arrange to wear this dark Morticia Addams child's costume
Addams Family Wednesday Child Costume
They're creepy and they're kooky, they're altogether spooky - be a part of the Addams Family in this classic Wednesday Addams child's costume. You add the dark behavior and celebrate Halloween Addams
“"Did I really lose my hair? Well I didn't misplace it!" -- Uncle Fester”
Morticia Addams Family Adult Costume : Choose your favorite
Morticia Addams Family Adult CostumeBecome the dark and deadly seductress this Halloween as you become the lovely Morticia Addams. This is the Morticia Addams Family Adult Costume features a black dress with spider web mesh sleeves, just like the one Morticia Addams wears in the Addams Family TV show and movies!
Complete the vampiress dark look with the Morticia Wig (sold separately).
Morticia is even in disposition, muted, witty and sometimes can be deadly.
Wig and necklace not included.
Also Available:
Mysterious Mistress Adult Costume
Women's Mysterious Mistress Costume includes a long sleeve crushed velvet knit black dress with center front ruching, attached black choker with silver pendant creating a heart keyhole cutout, spider web shimmer chiffon trim along the cuff and hemline.
Adult Madam Morticia Costume
Adult Madam Morticia Costume includes a long, fitted black dress with bell sleeves and a black choker.
Addams Family Morticia Wig Like the assortment of Morticia costumes, there are a few different wigs you can choose from, too.
Gomez Addams Costume
Morticia - Addams' Family Child Costume : Child's Wig
Morticia - Addams' Family Child CostumeThe Addams Family is back! This child Morticia costume includes a long, fitted black dress with long lace sleeves. The Morticia wig is sold separately.
Addams Family Morticia Child Wig.
Bald Cap Flesh : Bald Cap Brown
Woochie : Spirit Gum : Professional Video Instructions
Bald Cap FleshThis includes the prosthetic only. You need to purchase at least a 1/8 oz. bottle of Spirit Gum to apply the latex piece.
Also Available:
Bald Cap Dark Brown
Spirit Gum 1/8 oz
Spirit Gum is a professional quality facial adhesive perfect for all prosthetics and hair SPFX. Exactly what you need when working with single prosthetics, living masks, crepe hair application or any other prosthetic latex and/or netted facial hair appliance.
Be sure to pick up some Makeup and Adhesive Remover for an easy and safe removal of Spirit Gum (sold separately).
Makeup & Adhesive Remover
The Addams Family is always happy to see you
Lurch will take your hat in just a moment
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The Addams Family Theme
Thing will keep time as we sing...
They're creepy and they're kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They're all together ooky,
The Addams Family.
Their house is a museum
Where people come to see 'em
They really are a scream
The Addams Family.
(Neat)
(Sweet)
(Petite)
So get a witches shawl on
A broomstick you can crawl on
We're gonna pay a call on
The Addams Family
~ Listen and you can click to buy it on Amazon.
Mysterious and spooky,
They're all together ooky,
The Addams Family.
Their house is a museum
Where people come to see 'em
They really are a scream
The Addams Family.
(Neat)
(Sweet)
(Petite)
So get a witches shawl on
A broomstick you can crawl on
We're gonna pay a call on
The Addams Family
~ Listen and you can click to buy it on Amazon.
Cut it out! Cousin Itt-inspired Tee Shirt
Hairstylists?
Addams Family Creed.... Dragons and Burning Skulls?
Dragon for Sale by ImagineMDD
Buy t-shirts at zazzle
Uncle Fester from Addams Family Going Green by Dapixara
See other Uncle fester adams family T-Shirts
Skull Candle Burning: Really Bad Headache by ImagineMDD
View more Candle Keds Shoes
Night Garden by BrittIllo
More Dark T-Shirts
We gladly feast on those who would subdue T-shirt by Thorninger
Browse T T-Shirts
Festus Addams Family Ipad by Canavanart
More iphone 4 cases
Retro Vintage Kitsch Pulp Fiction Bat Attacks Girl by curious_goods
Join one of the biggest clothing affiliate programs
Poll: Who's Your Querida/Querido?
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Uncle Fester Child & Adult
The Addams Family Fester Child Costume
All you need to add is a lightbulb in your mouth! Known to be incorrigible, Uncle Fester has a strange ability to conduct electricity and is often seen with a lightbulb in his mouth. Light up the
The Addams Family Uncle Fester Adult Costume
Uncle Fester is incorrigable and except for the good nature of the family and the ignorance of the police would ordinarily be under lock and key; he also has a strange ability to conduct electricity
'Comb-over' Fine Silver & Ebony Beads : T-Shirt
ImagineMDD Necklace Photo Shirt
Vintage Addams Family "The Thing" Mechanical Battery Operated Bank in Box : Addams Treasures on eBay
Cousin Itt, Felix Silla, Tony Magro
Includes: "This is an amazing 8x11 custom double-weight art card featuring the signatures of the late sound technician Tony Magro (the one and only voice of Cousin Itt in the original TV series) and midget actor Felix Silla (who performed the character on camera under the massive mound of hair)."
Once More, With Feeling! Movie Poster (11 x 14 Inches - 28cm x 36cm)
(1960) Style A -(Yul Brynner)(Kay Kendall)(Gregory Ratoff)(Geoffrey Toone)(Maxwell Shaw)
Will the 'real' Gomez and Morticia please stand up??
They say that the best of pop culture is eternally recyclable. Recycling is good.
The Addams Family Musical is now on Broadway. There are many Addams Family games, including at least one slot machine in Las Vegas and other towns. Has there been an Addams Family On Ice?
The Addams Family Musical is now on Broadway. There are many Addams Family games, including at least one slot machine in Las Vegas and other towns. Has there been an Addams Family On Ice?
The Family
by imaginemdd
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