VIC MIZZY passes

[Monster Bob]

Rest In Peace VIC MIZZY...

Sadly, maestro extraordinaire Vic Mizzy died last night- composer of TV and film classics such as THE ADDAMS FAMILY, GREEN ACRES, THE GHOST AND MR. CHICKEN and all the Don Knotts films.

I visited Vic at his home a few years ago; he was a wealth of Hollywood stories and information. He gave us a private concert of all his hits in his living room, an experience I will never forget. To hear THE GHOST AND MR. CHICKEN and THE ADDAMS FAMILY cues played on a jillion dollar organ sent shivers up my spine! He also had a tremendous collection of original artwork.

Ironically, I just got tickets to tHE ADDAMS FAMILY musical yesterday...Rest In Peace, Vic.

http://www.vicmizzy.com/biography.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8gC5OVyF7M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XdqRbIfNgE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufUgq1WQilQ

[dadabigalow]

Sad news indeed.
When I was about 11 or 12 yo, I remember staying up all night for a monster movie marathon. One of the movie was one of my favorites. The ghost and Mr. Chicken. I can still remember like it was yesterday. When that organ music started. IT SCARED THE CRAP OUT ME!
It wasn't until the DVD came out a few years back that I looked up some info on Vic. I had no idea of all the great music Vic was responsible for. Just another behind the scene working stiff, a real unsung hero. Thanks for the info "Monster Bob"

Rest in Peace
VIC  MIZZY
1922-2009

[Mike Scott]

He did a ton of TV themes, but most of the shows aren't remembered (or never went beyond the pilot stage), except Addams and Acres. Percepto Records has a Mizzy CD (OOP) that collects most (or all?) of them. They also have CDs of many of the Knotts and Wm Castle scores.

[michblk]

RIP Vic!  I knew the name, but couldn't remember at first how I knew it.

BK

[ChattyLMS]

Goodbye Vic Mizzy.   
I always loved the way Lurch played the harpsichord.  The music was great.

[The Creeper]

R.I.P. Vic. 

[Gasport]

Sad, sad news...another magical part of our monster-kid past gone forever. What a wonderful musical legacy he left behind for us all to enjoy. Gone, but  [like Forry] never forgotten....

[mike c]

A real legend, a real talent, a real pioneer of the accomplishments which created Monster Kids.

Attaboy, Vic!

Rest now Miz. We'll miss you.

[thelatewinslowleach]

I've, like many of your here, love Vic Mizzy's music before I knew who he was. Likewise, I agree "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" is one of the best blended horror/comedies of all time. I have one other great Mizzy music memory. I created a mix tape for our wedding reception, including "Quentin's Theme" from Dark Shadows, "Jill's Theme" from Once Upon a Time in the West, and the Los Straitjackets version of "Theme from Titanic". At the end of side on, I had the jaunty "Gomez Theme" from the Addams soundtrack. Boy, did that get a rise out of my new father in law.  The band playing our reception, "The Taters",  were big Mizzy fans and loved it!!!   

Michael

[Halloween Jeff]

...wow, I missed this.....I was a big fan of the theme he wrote for Wm Castle's "The Spirit is Willing", one of my favorite flicks from the 1960s.....wish I could download it....



Bizarro Jeff

[Mike Scott]

I was a big fan of the theme he wrote for Wm Castle's "The Spirit is Willing".....wish I could download it....

You can buy the CD from Percepto Records.
http://www.percepto.com/projects/012/index.html

[Universal Steve]

A true talent. He left behind quite a memorible body of work. Everyone whether they know it or not has heard one of his themes. R.I.P.

[Monster Bob]

I can remember as a kid seeing his name in the end credits of ADDAMS and GREEN ACRES, mainly because I liked the music so much, and was already accumulating records. Especially on ACRES, the end title MUSIC....VIC MIZZY just jumps off the screen. And then when I saw MR. CHICKEN at the Rialto Theater on its original release, that solidified the deal- I was Mizzy fan for life.

[Fester]

I once had an argument with a coworker who claimed that John Williams was the greatest American composer of the late 20th century.  And, I just had to disagree.  Williams was fine for Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark soundtracks, I argued.  However, I said he lacked the widespread cultural influence of Frank De Vol or Vic Mizzy.

He recognized De Vol, but said he never heard of Vic Mizzy.  After listing all the Mizzy themes I could think of, I checked the IMDB for more.  Soon, I had him convinced of the profound influence Vic had on all of us.

I can safely say that while many people may not remember his name, most have heard his music.

Vic Mizzy, thank you for making our lives richer.   You are missed.