The Munsters Today - Munster House

They went to sleep many years ago... and they woke up with a brand new show!!!

MUNSTER HOUSE

"MUNSTER HOUSE.... ITS SHOWTIME!!!"

Officially one of the most recognisable homes in film and television history is Building #3 (originally known as the Maxim House) on the Colonial Street lot at Universal Studios, California, USA.

Better known as the instantly eerie old house from classic spooky television series "The Munsters", the house celebrated its 60^th birthday in 2006 and proved that it may be just as famous as the many stars who have graced its doorway over the last six decades....

Lets travel "back in time" and look at the Munster Mansion's impressive film and television "career" over the years.

This page includes some terrific NEW images and video links.

LET THE TOUR BEGIN... !!!

Above: the house was first used in the classic "So Goes My Love" (1946).

Early film appearances:

The house was first constructed along with others by Universal Pictures in 1946 for a film called “So Goes My Love” starring Myrna Loy and Dom Ameche.

The street, initially named "River Road" had more and more structures added to the lot over time to be used on further Universal productions, including “All I Desire” (1953), “The Second Time Around” (1962) and “The Brass Bottle” (1964). It is said that Doris Day is the only actress to have used all of the houses on River Road for her many films.

The house was also featured in "Abbott and Costello Meet The Invisible Man" (1951). The front of the house is shown twice. Besides Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, William Frawley from "I Love Lucy" is in the movie as a chief detective.

(Thanks to Michael Valvo for this info)

Above: the house as it appeared on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" in 1961.

Early TV appearances:

The house later also appeared in several episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (aired between 1955 - 1962) - most notably in the episode "Bang! You're Dead" from 1961. Special Guest Star in this episode was none other than Billy Mummy who returned to the house a few years later to play "Googie" on "The Munsters", in the episode "Come Back Little Googie".

(Thanks to Jochen for the info and the many pics)

It was in 1964 that the large Victorian style mansion was chosen for the pilot of a new show with the working title “The Munsters”. Along with the mansion vasade, music from an old Doris Day movie and a set from another film was used on the pilot. The pilot impressed bosses at Universal and the show was taken into full production, with some notable changes being made to the house.

NEW PICS! the house in 1964 as it was on the series, shot in B&W.

The Munsters:

If you compare the look of the structure from the Munsters series to the original colour pilot you will note significant differences in its appearance: a tall tower replaces the original hexagonal flat-topped turret, and the gates and gateposts are now larger. Also, a large chimney stack is added and the center window is now peaked. The large front doors were given more specific detail and lion faced door knockers; and the garden more dramatically dressed with yet more dead hanging trees and shrubs. These "cosmetic" changes were made to strengthen the show.

Above: the house left as it appeared in the unaired pilot, and right a RARE COLOUR SHOT as it appeared on the television series.

During filming for "The Munsters", the house was featured as a "haunted house" in a classic episode of "Leave It To Beaver".

Changes to the inside of the Munsters' home (a set on a soundstage across the Universal lot) were also made after the pilot, as the set used initially was that from an old Doris Day movie (as was the music). Most notably the small corner staircase featured on the pilot was replaced with the soon-to-be famous opening staircase. Some smaller set changes such as lamps and decorations were made also. It is said that Al Lewis and Fred Gwynne were behind a lot of the suggested features and even the addition of the family pet Spot.

Early Studio Tours:

NEW PICS! the house featured on the 1964 studio tour and even the cast stopped to talk to fans.

“The Munsters” TV show first aired on 24th September 1964 and was an instant success. The house was wisely made part of the early Universal studio tours - which was a big money maker - as fans of the show flocked by the dozen from all corners of the globe to come see the first family of frights amazing home.

NEW! Click here for a rare studio tour video from 1966.

The cast and crew of the show would stop filming so that studio tour visitors could have their photo's taken on the lawn with the cast. This was unusual, and proved the popularity of the Munsters.

Sadly, the other houses on the lot would be forever in the shadow of "1313 Mockingbird Lane", and in some ways - the cast of the show too!

When the show ceased production in 1966 the structure in keeping with studio practice was "undressed" - being stripped of its gates, landscaping, and architectural adornments, but not before being featured in the Munsters' first made for TV movie "Munster Go Home" (1966).

After The Munsters:

The house later appeared in various episodes of the television show “Ironside” (1967-1969) starring Raymond Burr - it can be seen in episode 27 "Trip To Hash-bury” (1967) as the location of a hippie party, and again in episode 44 "Why The Tuesday Afternoon Bridge Club Met On Thursday" (1969).

The house can also be seen in the films, "The Ballad of Josie" (1967) and "Coogan's Bluff"(1968).

Above: a series of stills from "Ironside" episode " Trip to Hash-Bury". Many thanks again go to Jochen for the images and the information.

THE LATER YEARS:

In 1979 the house was painted a cheery yellow and featured on the short-lived NBC series "Shirley", starring Shirley Jones. The house was once again dressed up and used for the second made for TV movie "Munsters Revenge" in 1981. Many long shots featuring the Koach (with England Or Bust on the side) were taken from "Munster, Go Home".

Around this time the back lot was moved in its entirety to the other side of the lot at Universal and the name changed from the previous "River Road" to "Colonial Street".

Some of the buildings that previously used to be part of "River Road" are now part of "Industrial Street".

Above: a view of Colonial street from above (thanks to Google Earth).

A NEW ERA: ENTERING THE 80'S:

Above: the house with its new adornments and sign.

By the late 1980’s the house had been transformed again - the center window peak had been removed completely and the gothic-arched porch replaced with a homey, wraparound veranda. The house appeared as such in films such as "Dragnet" and "The Burbs". It also featured on several episode of "Murder She Wrote".

NEW! Click here for a video clip from "Dragnet" or see still pictures below.

Below: only a few years later in 1994 these aerial shots of the house were taken showing the house in a severe state of disrepair.

Faking It: The Munsters Today.

When production on "The Munsters Today" began in 1988 the original house could not be used. Producer Arthur Annecharico knew the house was as much a part of the show as the characters, so set about constructing an authentic scale model replica. Stock footage from the old Munster movies were used in the pilot episode.

NEW PICS! the scale model used on "The Munsters Today".

The scale model worked well on the show, and many people didn't notice it wasn't the same house. The garden was decorated with dried oregano, "smelling like a pizza remembers Annecharico".

NEW! Click here for a video of the house as it appeared on "The Munsters Today".

An interesting point I must note is that on the main set of "The Munsters Today", the matte rendering of the street outside shows the gates and gateposts as they appeared on the original 1964 in show.

Above: the house as it featured on The Munsters Today (1988) was actually a scale replica.

There are some slight differences between the original house and the scale model used for the new show – firstly, as we approach we see that the gates are now directly in front of the porch (as opposed to slightly to the right as on the original show). Also, the gateposts are now dramatically smaller and less bulky, and around the perimeter instead of a wall are yet more posts with spiked fencing in-between for several intervals (somewhat similar to what is seen in the 1964 colour pilot).

The turret on the right side has an additional window, and the left side of the house has a thinner border around the edge of the roof leading down towards the far side of the porch. The porch is also a little lower. Also, there is a small arched basement window that looks down into Grandpa's lab.

ON SET WITH THE MUNSTERS TODAY:

Internally on "The Munsters Today" the floor plan has changed since the original series to accommodate a live studio audience - the staircase where Spot sleeps is now to the left as we enter via the front door, and the living room is now straight ahead. Carrying on, we find the dining area is now part of the main room and here we find a dark corridor and a door leading to the kitchen.

In some episodes of "The Munsters Today" there has been reference to a downstairs bathroom beyond this corridor and the exit to the back yard and the moat (moat not visible around the scale model used on MT and never mentioned on the original show).

Above: some shots of the house including the sofa, the stairs and the doors.

There have never been any shots of the upstairs rooms in "The Munsters Today", apart from a mirror shot of Marilyn in her bedroom in the episode "The Reel Munsters". The door at the top right of the stairs led onto a small standing area large enough for one or two actors to go backstage via a stepladder, and the door far left was false.

A pyrotechnics team were used for an authentic Spot, who breathed fire from beneath the stairs to the amazement of the studio audience who’d come to watch the tapings of each episode. During season two of "The Munsters Today" the set was dismantled and moved to another studio, and at this time for no reason specified the kitchen changed shape and became smaller.

Above: The Munsters layout was altered on MT to accommodate a live studio audience during tapings. Thanks to Ryan Silverberg for this stage plan! Click on image to view in full size.

The Munsters Today also used several props from the original series, including the clock with the raven, the knight at the top of the stairs, the organ, harp and some smaller set pieces such as the ornaments on top of the fire and the chessboard and machines from Grandpa's lab.

Above: the house as it was featured on the TV series "Coach".

In 1991 the house was featured on the popular TV series "Coach" starring Craig T. Nelson (most notably in episode 52 "Hurley Burleigh" from 1991).

NEW! Click here for a scene from "Coach" featuring the house.

By 1994 the house was fully restored and back on the studio tour schedule. It was painted a weatherworn colour to remind visitors of it's spooky past, and a sign was placed out front saying: "1313 Mockingbird Lane, Home of TV's The Munsters".

Desperate Housewives:

Most recently the house has featured on the hit TV series "Desperate Housewives".

The Producer's of Desperate Housewives "try very little to have the house on camera for too long,” as it is “so easily recognizable as the house from the (Munsters) TV show".

NEW! Click here for a scene from Desperate Housewives.

Munster Mansion in Texas:

Above: Sandra and Charles McKee stand in front of their home in Texas, and Sandra and her husband show off some of their favourite toys.

In Waxahachie, Texas at 3636 Farm Road – Munster fans Charles and Sandra McKee spent an estimated $250,000 on constructing a nearly identical replica of the Munster’s mansion.

The two-story, 5,825-square-foot house, which was designed from set photos and television clips, includes almost all the major features of the original house par the basement. Secret passages wind their way through the second floor, Grandpa's dungeon opens through a trap door in the floor (no real basement exists past this) and a hydraulic staircase lifts high to reveal the quarters for the McKee's pet dog "Spot". The McKee’s left out the coffin-shaped phone booth in the designs for the house however, as Sandra says in an interview in 2000, "that's just too creepy for even me!"

The McKee’s appreciate interest in their home but do not welcome people just turning up and knocking on the door (remember Munster fans, this is their home!).

NEW! Click here for a video profile of the Texas Munster house.

For details on the house and how to visit please visit the McKee's official Munster Mansion website www.munstermansion.com.

Cousin Franks Munster Mansion:

My very own "Munster House" project has recently been completed after nine months of hard work. My model of the house features authentic outside woodwork and broken panels, detailed roof design and tower balcony with opening doors and windows, "iron" gates, "brick" gateposts and authentic trees and shrubs. I have chosen features from the show for the interior too, including the opening staircase (with the help of some "cheap" pyrotechnics a fire breathing "Spot" sleeps underneath the stairs to ward off any unwanted visitors), clock with raven and some downstairs furniture.

Above: some exterior and interior shots of my own "Munster House".

Above: the stairs lift to reveal spot's den.

NEW! Click here for a video of the house lit up at night featuring some creepy sound effects.

NEW! Click here for the house during the day.

Other Houses:

Even though the original house had been restored in the 1990's, it was not featured in either of the two made for television Munster movies: "The Munsters Scary Little Christmas" or "Here Come The Munsters". It seems that due to budget constraints the producers of these two movies have made good use of whatever spooky set has been lying around at the time, which is of course disappointing to fans of the original and "Today" series.

We can only hope that the Wayan's brothers take note of this fact and make use of the original house in the new 2007 Munster movie.

Above: pictures of the Munster house featured in "Here Come The Munsters".

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