The Addams Family
Fill in the blank: “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, ___________ and spooky…”
What is mysterious? The iconic theme song was written by Vic Mizzy, who also wrote the theme to Green Acres.
Henry Ford first sold this car model in October 1908.
What is Model T? The original Model T cost around $825 and could reach speeds of 40 mph
Woolworth lunch counters are often credited with the creation of Sea Foam Salad, a sweet treat made with this gelatin product.
What is Jell-O? Jell-O salads were a popular dessert throughout the ’60s, but Woolworth’s lime and pear creation proved one of the most beloved.
1961: This 35th president of the United States was inaugurated earlier that year.
Who is John F. Kennedy? The article describes him as a great leader who supported civil rights, public education, and medical care for the elderly.
This 1960 Hitchcock thriller stars Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh
What is Psycho? The popular horror film has sparked sequels and spin-offs, including a 2013 television series.
This daughter of Gomez and Morticia is named after a line in a popular nursery rhyme.
Who is Wednesday Addams? As the nursery rhyme goes, “Wednesday’s child is full of woe.”
In October 1990, this country was reunited after 45 years of division between the east and west.
What is Germany? The fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany are celebrated on “Unity Day” every October 3.
Although prices had risen by the ’60s, Woolworth’s is known as one of the first “five-and-____” stores.
What is dime? Frank Woolworth’s idea to sell goods for dependably low prices proved a sensation in America as well as overseas
1968: Astronauts James Lovell, Frank Borman, and William Anders were the Men of the Year after completing this mission
What is the Apollo 8 mission? Apollo 8 was the first human spaceflight to reach the moon and marked a pivotal point in the space race.
Jonathan Haze stars as Seymour in this 1960 horrorcomedy about a flower shop
What is Little Shop of Horrors? The movie reused old film sets, and the entire film was shot in a matter of days.
You might say this character is Ted Cassidy’s “right-hand man,” since he is portrayed by Cassidy’s right hand in most scenes
Who is Thing? Though the end credits for the 1964 series credit Thing as portrayed by “Itself,” Ted Cassidy actually played it in most scenes
It was October 1957 when this motto first appeared on U.S. paper currency.
What is “In God We Trust”? The motto had been used on coins since the days of the Civil War.
A Woolworth’s counter in this North Carolina city was the setting for a sit-in during the American civil rights movement
What is Greensboro?
1975: American Women were named the Persons of the Year; among the dozen women profiled was this then-First Lady.
Who is Betty Ford? The article noted her enthusiastic support for the Equal Rights Amendment and other humanitarian causes.
The tagline of this scary film of 1975 claims, “You’ll never go in the water again
What is Jaws? This movie is considered the first summer blockbuster due to the record crowds that turned up to see its initial release.
This butler for the Addams family is perhaps best remembered for his famous line “You rang?”
Who is Lurch?
This Vice President resigned on October 10, 1973.
Who is Spiro Agnew? He plead no contest to a charge of federal income tax evasion on the same day.
Woolworth’s began publishing a Christmas catalog, offering this service as an alternative to shopping in store.
What is mail order? Amazingly, its mail order catalogs were still published in the UK as recently as 2008!
1971 and 1972: This controversial president was named Man of the Year twice in a row, notably for opening relations with China.
Who is Richard Nixon? Interestingly, he would resign from office only two years later following the Watergate scandal.
This actress and daughter of Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis stars in Halloween, one of the most iconic ’70s horror flicks
Who is Jamie Lee Curtis? She reprised her role as Laurie in the 2018 Halloween film
Addams family pets include Homer, who is this kind of creature.
What is a spider? Homer is a black widow spider, to be precise. Other Addams’ pets include the family lion, Kitty Kat, and brother Pugsley’s octopus, Aristotle.
Released in October 1992, the film A River Runs Through It centers on the Maclean brothers and their love of this type of sport fishing
What is fly fishing?
When Woolworth’s stores began to close in the 1980s, many were bought and re-opened under this chain of stores owned by Sam Walton.
What is Wal-mart? The two chains had been in competition since the 1960s.
This actor-turned-politician was awarded the honor after being elected the 40th president of the United States.
Who is Ronald Reagan? Reagan would be Person of the Year again in 1983, that time sharing the honor with Yuri Andropov.
Many of this Boston poet’s works have been adapted to film, including the chilling 1961 adaptation of The Pit and the Pendulum
Who is Edgar Allan Poe? Other films based on his work include 1962’s Tales of Terror and 1970’s An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe.