10 Famous TV Dads: Herman Munster: Costume Ideas

The sixth Famous TV Dad on the list is Herman Munster.  Herman has quite a backstory. Apparently he and his twin brother were constructed by none other than Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Herman was completed in approximately 1851.

Frankenstein is one of the perennial favorites. We see its characters and themes revisited time and again in art and on the screen.

Will you go to see I, Frankenstein, the new movie with Aaron Eckhart and Bill Nighy? The film boasts an original screenplay by Kevin Grevioux, the story based on his graphic novel. You may be familiar with Grevioux from the Underworld series. He's also an actor and comic book writer. Yvonne Strahovski also stars in the film. She starred for five seasons with Zachary Levi in Chuck.

Are you dressing up for the premiere? Maybe someone you know wants a Frankenstein-themed present.  Do you look forward to a Monster Christmas or birthday?

When he moved to Transylvania, Herman met and later married the lovely Lily Dracula. They moved to the US where they would have a son, Eddie. Like many families today, they shared their home with extended family. This included Lily's father, Sam Dracula a.k.a. Grandpa and their niece, Marilyn.

The Munsters Herman Munster Adult Costume can be paired with Lily for a great Munsters couples costume. Included is the jacket and pants, EVA Herman character ½ mask. Consider getting neck bolts and make up or a monster make up kit. Will you get a Herman or Frankenstein T-Shirt?? Pad the shoulders?! The Monster Shoes? (find them below) 

Disney Frankenweenie Costumes Disney Frankenweenie Costumes
Victor Frankenstein adult costume (right) Tunic, mask, gloves and stethoscope. Some are even on clearance, great prices, while they last.
Characters: Victor Frankenstein, E Gore, Elsa Van Helsing  and more. Links to each can be found on the Black and White Costumes page.

Herman Munster is a fun costume because you get the kitsch of the 1960s tv character, but you can also go more in the direction of a Frankenstein monster. Have Herman and his wife, Lily Munster as a smashing couples costume pair. Other Munsters costumes, such as Eddie and Grandpa are available, too.

The Munsters ran September 24, 1964 – May 12, 1966. There were many shows that had fantasy, goth and magical overtones in the mid-sixties to early-1970s. These included programs from cartoons to soap operas, comedies to pure science fiction classics.

Some of the shows were set in space or another world, had magical quirkiness as their main ingredient, while others, such as The Patty Duke Show, with doppelganger identical cousins, had just a touch of that special something.

Contemporaries of or shows that ran in proximity to The Munsters included The Addams Family, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, My Mother the Car, Dark Shadows, Lost in Space, The Jetsons and The Flying Nun. As a kid, I was a fan of the programs of Sid and Marty Krofft, which included Land of the Lost, The Bugaloos and H.R. Pufnstuf. This doesn't come close to naming them all. What else can you think of?

Accessories make a costume and for Herman or Frankenstein, you can go from the ground up. Monster Adult Boots The Men's Monster Black Shoes, 5 Star Customer Ratings. These come in different sizes and are for indoor and outdoor use.

Costumes from the movie, Hotel Transylvania, such as Frankie Child Costume (left) are available.

The Inflatable Bride of Frankenstein Monster Head Wig! made of green PVC is now on sale but often sells out.
It is the perfect date for someone wearing the Giant Inflatable Vamp Head

Party Time to Celebrate in your costumes! 

September 24th is the anniversary of the premiere of The Munsters!

October 25th is Frankenstein Friday.

Choose from Frankenstein costumes for Adults, teens, even babies!

How fun are these?! Monster Neck Bolts
These realistic looking Monster Neck Bolts are made of gray and clear plastic and rubber.The make up and wig aren't included with the set. Wear your favorite ascot over them then do a stunning reveal at just the right moment letting everyone know that you're a part of the Frankenstein tribe.

Link to Bride of Frankenstein wigs is below.

Creature Bolts Set The Creature Neck Bolt kit includes creature bolts, liquid latex adhesive, bloody scab and brush.

Want to try DIY neck bolts? Glue some wine corks to the ends of a plastic hairband, or use a bent wire to hold them. Try painting something lightweight like bottlecaps or plastic peanuts black or silver and sticking them to your skin with spirit gum. You may even try a cornstarch mixture. If you've already got green makeup on, see what works best.

Find Munsters Comics, action figures and model kits. They're the feature story in Famous Monsters Of Filmland #264.

The Syfy Channel series FaceOff, Season Five 2013 had a Future Frankenstein makeup challenge early in the season. The contestants were to create futuristic versions of Dr. Frankenstein's monster and his bride. Top Looks were those created by the team of Alana, Laura & Laney.

"Karl Silvera, an original member of Local 706 and creator of the iconic Herman Munster make-up in The Munsters, died Aug. 22, 2013 due to complications from a series of injuries. He was 95. ... Silvera began his career at RKO in 1943 and moved to Paramount in 1946. He worked on such films as A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, Sunset Boulevard, Sabrina and Houseboat."
-- excerpts from Make Up Artist Magazine

  

The Universal Studios Monsters Frankenstein Adult Costume (above) may create a relative of Herman's, a brother maybe? It's available in plus size, too. Includes character headpiece, jacket with inset shirt, pants* and over-sized shoe covers (these are not platform shoe covers, they are just designed to appear that way). Make up is sold separately. Make up for your hands, too?!

Frankenstein Gifts Customize Shirts, Party Invitations, Phone Cases & More Available from Zazzle

 

Funny Frankenstein Halloween Baby T-Shirt 
Put your favorite photo on tshirt designs online at Zazzle.

Surfing Halloween Frankenstein Tshirts

Some Munsters Links, Classic TV:

Retro TV Costumes: includes Morticia and Lily Munster Costume & Wig

Black & White Hair, Bride of Frankenstein : Find Costume Wigs

Lily Munster Costume Ideas Blog Post; Munsters Feature Film is in the works, more family info

Remember the Fregosi Emerald Munsters Episode?

The Munsters DVD Set: The Complete Series
Enjoy watching the show uncut, without commercials or network ads and watermarks on the screen. Includes the feature films "Munster, Go Home!" and "The Munsters' Revenge. Five Star Customer Ratings.



Munsters Select Herman Munster 7 inch Figure The Munsters Herman Munster Action figure would be a cool gift for a Frankenstein party.

There was a TV remake of The Munsters called Mockingbird Lane!  The show will star Portia de Rossi and Jerry O'Connell as Lily and Herman. The wonderful Eddie Izzard is going to be Grandpa. Rounding out the cast as Marilyn and Eddie are Charity Wakefield and Mason Cook.
Update, tweet from creator Bryan Fuller December 27, 2012: "I tweet with a heavy heart. NBC not moving forward with #MockingbirdLane. From producers and cast, thank you all for enthusiasm and support."

What other TV Dads will be on the list
of costume-worthy Papas? 

Who do you think belongs on the list?

** This 10 Famous TV Dads Costume Ideas Series began with Andy Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show. The dads are in no particular order.

Andy Taylor, Gomez Addams, George Jetson, Paul Teutul Sr., Ricky Ricardo and now Herman Munster are the Famous TV Dads so far. Who will be next?!  

Read more about makeup artist, Karl Silvera.