The Munsters: and the Great Camera Caper

by William Johnston, Arnie Kohn (Illustrator)

From Inside cover and Authorized Edition based on the Well-Known Television Series Authorized TV Adventure

Genres: Childrens

212 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Librarian note: William Johnston has also written under the pseudonyms Susan Claudia, Willa Jay, Heather Sinclair, Ed Garth, Alex Steele, and William Howard.

William Johnston joined the Navy in 1942 and served in the Pacific. He worked as a disc jockey, advertising executive, magazine editor, and PR man before his writing career took off in 1960 with The Marriage Cage, a comic mystery that earned him a Best First Novel Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. He followed that book with a slew of pulp titles for Monarch Books, ranging from light comedy (The Power of Positive Loving) to medical romance (the Doctor Starr trilogy) to soft-core erotica (Save Her for Loving, Teen Age Tramp, Girls on the Wing).

Johnston’s medical novels dovetailed with his first tie-in assignments -- original novels based on the TV series The Nurses, Doctor Kildare and Ben Casey. Those books, published between 1962 and 1964, were so successful that his next original medical romance, Two Loves Has Nurse Powell, was presented as “From the author of Ben Casey.”

In 1965, Johnston wrote an original novel based on the TV comedy Get Smart. The book was a huge success, leading to nine more novels over the show’s five-season history and making him the “go-to” guy for sitcom-based tie-ins. He wrote books based on Captain Nice, Room 222, Happy Days, Welcome Back Kotter, The Flying Nun, The Brady Bunch, Nanny and the Professor, The Munsters, Gilligan’s Island, Bewitched, The Monkees and F-Troop, among others.

But his TV tie-in work extended far beyond sitcom adaptations. He wrote books based on Ironside, Dick Tracy, The Young Rebels, The Iron Horse, Then Came Bronson, and Rod Serling’s The New People, to name a few. He even adapted the cartoon characters Magilla Gorilla and Snagglepuss into books for children.

Johnston also penned many novelizations, including the pilots for the 1930s-era private eye series Banyon and the high school drama Sons and Daughters. His feature film novelizations include Klute, The Swinger, Echoes of a Summer, The New Interns, The Priest’s Wife, Lt. Robin Crusoe USN and his final tie-in project, Gore Vidal’s Caligula (under the pseudonym “William Howard”).

After retiring from fiction writing, he opened his own bar, which he operated for many years. He resided in San Jose, California prior to his death in 2010.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Cathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and nostalgic! The Munsters get caught up in the filming of a movie next door.

[Kent Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and charming read that really captures the dark magic of the show.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A kids book from 1965 so a quick read. It is just like one of the tv episodes. If you liked the show you will like this book. At least I did.

[M. Reedz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the original TV series only lasted two years (and the second season took a turn for the silly, with someone at the networks deciding that it was for kids only), there was always something special about the Munsters. I think it was one of the first shows that pointed out you could have a crazy bunch of people thrown together and still make a great family. The show also hit the tail end of the monster kid phenomenon, it had great costumes and creative scenery, and the timing between Al and Fred was about as good as it ever got on TV. To this day I will stop and just look at how things came together perfectly for this little show that made good whenever I see an episode as I'm channel surfing.

This book has some fine pen and ink interior illustrations, a nifty painted illustration on the hardcover binding, and some nice endpages showing a great depiction of 1313 Mockingbird Lane. It also has a story. Did I mention it has really good illustrations?

Anyhoo, this book is fine for anyone in that 4th grade to 6th grade range. If they've seen the DVDs or the Netflix downloads and they want a little more, check this out.

[Madame Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book a decade ago at a vintage furniture store. I grew up watching The Munsters at my grandparents house, so this book brought back memories. The Munsters agree to use their house for a Hollywood movie. One of the actors, Lynne, has her eyes set on Herman. Lily too finds out and havoc breaks out. Grandpa creates potions to get rid of the actors, and two of the men have eyes on the "hideous" Marilyn.

[Scott Delgado · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like that I own this book, but as for enjoying The Munsters, I think they are better enjoyed on the screen. This does feel like a really long episode. It almost feels like a script since it is mostly dialogue. It gets a repetitive after a while, though. For a kid, this might be really fun. It is essentially a book version of an episode.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun read. Basicly it's a children's book. However, for those of us who grew up the the Munsters it's a world of memories. Sit back and rememer your childhood.

[Stormee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious, fun read. Felt like watching a couple episodes of the show.

[Devians Shade · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a kid's book it's hilarious.

[Ingo]

Ordered this today, February, 7th 2015.