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A day spent in Westfield, New Jersey provided a unique look into Charles Addams \u2014 the creator of the Addams Family \u2014 a pop culture phenomenon which thankfully didn\u2019t slip away from the public consciousness. Long before The Addams Family became a media legend, through years of seemingly modest New Yorker Magazine cartoons that Addams drew and wrote. With a droll sense of humor and ironic look at the fairy tale vision of the American family, Addams applied a harsh but humorous deconstruction of ordinary life though pen and ink \u2014 and in doing so, captured a twisted portion of the public throughout those years.<\/p>\n
That vision eventually became applied to the mass media of time \u2014 television \u2014 and his characters cohered into a classic 1960s small-screen series, then a set of live action films in the \u201890s, a glorious Broadway musical (I saw the closing night show with Brooke Shields) and now an upcoming high-tech digitally animated comedy due out this October 11th, 2019. With a fabulous voice cast \u2014 Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, Bette Midler and Allison Janney \u2014 one almost wishes this version, directed by Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan, would be a live-action one. Just imagine Isaac as Gomez and Theron as Morticia; but given the few clips that were previewed, this animated incarnation looks pretty slick and funny \u2014 plus there\u2019s some deliciously macabre New Jersey jabs. That provided insight into how this film will introduce an unstoppable franchise to a new generation with a Grand Guignol humor long associated with The Addams Family.<\/p>\n
Now, Addams might have had a peculiar world view expressed through his proto-Goth lens, but he happily situated himself in his Westfield, New Jersey \u2014 a sweet expression of Main Street America. This classic town for modern families, it served as Addam\u2019s inspiration sparking visual ideas drawn from the local graveyard, a Victorian-designed home around the corner from where he grew up and other touch-points in the landscape which often found a place in his growing catalog of cartoons.<\/p>\n
In a September 2016 New York Times feature titled \u201cWestfield, N.J., Where Small Town Meets Urban,\u201d its appeal was described as \u201coffer[ing]characteristics typically associated with urban living \u2014 a bustling downtown, a vibrant cultural scene and good transportation options \u2014 along with many benefits of suburban living, like attractive homes, well-regarded schools and a sense of community.\u201d<\/p>\n
With approximately 30,000 denizens, the town is a quaint mix of modernity and antiquity. Within its 6.72 miles, 227 acres are devoted to parks, conveniently accessible to New York City and has a Great American Main Street 18-block downtown. Sprawling Victorian and Colonial-style homes reflect its rich historical character and complement the broad, tree-lined streets of this picturesque community.<\/p>\n
As Mayor Shelley Brindle explained when she came to greet, \u201cWe not only have Charles Addams to fete but also our 300th anniversary is coming up next year.\u201d Elected in November 2017, as the first female Mayor in the town history, she had also served as HBO\u2019s Executive Vice President, Domestic Network Distribution and Marketing for over 20 years. Having successfully led HBO\u2019s digital transformation, she retired in 2016 to pursue public service as a local democrat\/progressive. As is noted in her text backgrounder, \u201cShe is using her experience as the first woman in HBO\u2019s C-suite to apply her leadership and operating skills to serve as Mayor of her hometown.\u201d<\/p>\n
In order to get a taste of Westfield\u2019s special sites, we first visited The James Ward Mansion \u2014 a beautifully appointed, restored home which can be rented through AirBNB. Or, as in our case, provided through local executives. Dubbed “The Best Kept Secret in Union County,\u201d the sheer magnificence of its 24 foot ceilings, gold gilded architectural detail, spiral staircases, fireplaces, and French stylizations established atmosphere of as was noted in the promo literature, \u201cunsurpassed elegance and charm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Addams Expert Ron MacCloskey joined the gathering there providing commentary and a display of his extensive Addams collection. Also a Westfield native, he\u2019s always had a love for art and monsters. As his bio detailed, he started in show business by joining the circus, went on to perform stand-up, did a one-man show, and host regional radio and TV shows. With his deep admiration for Addams, MacCloskey founded the Charles Addams Art Scholarship in \u201991 and also petitioned to have Addams childhood home declared a historical landmark.<\/p>\n
He also was instrumental in organizing the first Addamsfest. Created last year to celebrate Westfield NJ\u2019s illustrious native son, the successful event — with over 12,000 attendees from 85 towns at nearly 20 events — has prompted AddamsFest 2. Once again celebrating this prolific talent and the place which spurred his \u201call together ooky\u201d creations, it returns this October. The town will be transformed into all things Addams with family-friendly events, movie screenings, art exhibits and more.<\/p>\n
As part of our experience, we also got to view Dudley. Last year\u2019s AddamsFest unveiled this recently freed Charles Addams drawing of a skeleton. Affectionately tagged as \u201cDudley,\u201d this life-sized Addams original, drawn during his Westfield childhood, lurked on a wall on the second floor of a barn on East Dudley Avenue for about a hundred years. Current homeowners Jennifer and Samuel Khichi lent it on a long-term basis to the town, sharing this valuable piece of history.<\/p>\n
Then our procession made its way along Westfield\u2019s shaded streets to see what is believed to be the imposing, gabled-home which served as the inspiration from Gomez and Morticia\u2019s abode. We also passed a well-maintained cemetery with fastidiously-preserved hundred-year old headstones \u2014 which, no doubt, served as more visual stimulation for his Black and White Gothic stylizations.<\/p>\n
Then we made the trek to 35-year-old artist Ricardo Roig\u2019s gallery near Main Street. This fine artist from Hoboken, NJ and his wife (and baby) maintain a studio where he creates; they also have a separate gallery in the W Hotel Hoboken to exhibit his work. Roig opened this second location in Westfield to showcase limited edition hand-cut prints, made from his particular printmaking process \u2014 including unique pieces made to illustrate Addams\u2019 connection to the locality.<\/p>\n
When we finally ended up at Addams Tavern, located in downtown Westfield, we got to witness and pose before a huge portrait of the legendary creator along the stairs between the main dining area and the private room where we were served lunch \u2014 includes haunting cocktails made for an afternoon of imbibing. Its renovated interior has a beautiful turn-of-the-century feel including high-vaulted ceilings and wrap-around murals. The Tavern showcases what it describes as, \u201cNew American-inspired cooking infused with subtle smoke from the restaurant’s wood-burning grills and mesquite charcoal ovens. The menu is complemented with fresh fish, grass-fed meat, and local seasonal produce.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though pleasantly exhausted by it all, I had a revived admiration for one of the most important pop culture figures from the pre-digital world. The trip aroused anticipation for the latest iteration of the Addams Family. Much appreciation is due to a savvy set of townsfolk and the people behind United Artists for furthering this pop culture franchise. Maybe, he\u2019s watching all this with a deadpan grin from the grave.<\/p>\n