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"I was working in the lab one night, when my eyes beheld an eerie sight. For my monster from his nap began to rise, and suddenly, to my suprise," Ross Higgins sings with expressive vocals.

The mood of the music video is very humorous as kids are dressed up as the classic monsters and Ross Higgins impersonating a scientist. Background visuals have cartoonish monsters, skeletons, and halloween decor.

"What ever happened to my Transylvanian twist?" Ross Higgins impersonated Dracula with a strong Transylvanian accent while the kid mouths the lyrics. The kids' interaction with the "spooky " environment makes the video humorous.

I was working in the lab late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster, from his slab, began to rise

And suddenly, to my surprise

He did the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

It was a graveyard smash (he did the Mash)

It caught on in a flash (he did the Mash)

He did the Monster Mash

From my laboratory in the Castle east

To the master bedroom, where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble adobes

To get a jolt from my electrodes

They did the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

It was a graveyard smash (they did the Mash)

It caught on in a flash (they did the Mash)

They did the Monster Mash

The zombies were having fun

The party had just begun

The guests included Wold-Man, Dracula, and his son

The scene was rocking, all were digging the sounds

Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

The coffin-bangers were about to arrive

With their vocal group, The Crypt-Kicker Five

They played the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

It was a graveyard smash (they played the Mash)

It caught on in a flash (they played the Mash)

They played the Monster Mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring

Seems he was troubled by just one thing

Opened the lid and shook his fist and said, "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?"

It's now the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

And it's a graveyard smash (it's now the Mash)

It's caught on in flash (it's now the Mash)

It's now the Monster Mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

And my Monster Mash is the hit of the land

For you, the living, this Mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

And do my graveyard smash (then you can Mash)

You'll catch on in a flash (then you can Mash)

Then you can Monster Mash

Mash good!

Easy, Igor, you impetuous, young boy

Ladies and gentleman, it's Halloween and here's a man I think you're all going to want to meet. Say hello, please, to Mr. Bobby Boris Pickett. Hi Bobby.

Hi! Happy Halloween.

Thank you!

Nice to be here.

This album, the original Monster Mash, you wrote and perfomed the most popular novelty song in the history of music.

Yeah, it's a nice feeling. I've been told that. They dig me up once a year.

James Brown called this the granddady of all rap records.

Well yeah, we think he said that. He said something -- we're hoping it was that. But Elvis Presley said something much more interesting.

What did Elvis say?

He said it was the dumbest thing he'd ever heard. So, if you're out there listening Elvis, I'm still here.

Woah! Okay let's see what Elvis says. Okay, you're gonna be appearing in Trendsetters in New Jersey this weekend, right? Which night?

Friday night, tomorrow.

By any chance, are you going to sing this song?

I think I might do it -- yeah! A medley of my hit.

Yeah I know that well. I'm gonna say goodnight to all my guests... be careful out there. God bless you all. What would Halloween be without the Monster Mash? Ladies and gentleman.. Mr. Bobby Boris Pickett. God bless, have fun.

The host, Steve Greenberg, gives a pop quiz with three hints stating the cultural significance, references, and chart success. Explains how Monster Mash became a cultural staple.

Steve explains how in the early 1960s, there was a monster movie phenomenon inspired by the 1930s and 1940s. During the Silent film era, Universal created Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman, The Mummy, and many much more. The first non-silent monster film was Frankenstein with Boris Karloff.

I was working in the lab

Late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his slab

Began to rise

And suddenly

To my surprise

He did the Monster Mash

It was a graveyeard smash

It caught on in a flash

He did the Monster Mash

[Alvin and Theodore vocalize] From my laboratory in the castle east

To the master bedroom where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To catch a jolt from my electrodes

They did the Monster Mash

It was a graveyeard smash

It caught on in a flash

He did the Monster Mash

[Alvin and Theodore vocalize] From my laboratory in the castle east

To the master bedroom where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To catch a jolt from my electrodes

He did the Mash

And you can Monster Mash

And do my graveyard smash

You'll catch on in a flash

They play the Monster Mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring

Seems he was troubled by

Just one thing

He opened the lid and shook his fist and said

Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?!

It's now the Monster Mash

And it's a graveyard smash

It's caught on in a flash

It's now the Monster Mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

And my Monster Mash is the hit of the land

For you the living, this mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Alvin sent you

I was working in the lab

Late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his lab began to rise

And suddenly, to my surprise

[He did the mash]

He did the Monster Mash

[Monster Mash]

It was a graveyard smash

[He did the mash]

It caught on in a flash

[He did the mash]

He did the Monster Mash

From my laboratory in the castle east

The master bedroom where the vampires feast

Ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To get a jolt from my electrobes

[They did the mash]

They did the Monster Mash

[Monster Mash]

And is a graveyard smash

[They did the mash]

It caught on in a flash

[They did the mash]

They did the Monster Mash

The zombies were having fun

The party had just begun

The guests included the Wolfman, Dracula, and his son

The scene was rocking, oh, they're digging the sounds

Eagor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

Coffin bangers were about to arrive

With their vocal group, the Crypt Kicker Five

[They did the mash]

They did the monster mash

[Monster Mash]

And it's a graveyard smash

[They did the mash]

They caught on in a flash

[They did the mash] They did the Monster Mash

Everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

My Monster Mash, hit of the land

For you the living, this mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Model A sent you

Hey! They did the Monster Mash

[They did the mash]

And it's a graveyard smash

[They did the mash]

It caught on in a flash

[They did the mashhh] They did the Monster Mash

Monster Mash!

Monster Mash!

A monster mash!

Ohhh!

"He did the mash! He did the monster mash. The monster mash! It was a graveyard smash. He did the mash! He caught on in a flash. He did the mash! He did the monster mash"

The mood of the music video is very humorous as kids are dressed up as the classic monsters and Ross Higgins impersonating a scientist. Background visuals have cartoonish monsters, skeletons, and halloween decor.

The color scheme is pastel, giving a nostalgic feel

"The Zombies were having fun. The party had just begun. The guest included the Wolfman, Dracula, and his son."

There is a choreographed part performed by kids. There are a lot of fade-in and crossfade camera transitions.

The kids dance to the chorus, and they are dressed in Halloween colors: purple, greens, orange, black, grey.

"Now everything's cool, tracks of the band, and my monster mash is the hit of the land. For you, the living, this mash was made too. When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you."

I was working in the lab late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster, from his slab, began to rise

And suddenly, to my surprise

He did the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

It was a graveyard smash (he did the Mash)

It caught on in a flash (he did the Mash)

He did the Monster Mash

From my laboratory in the Castle east

To the master bedroom, where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble adobes

To get a jolt from my electrodes

They did the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

It was a graveyard smash (they did the Mash)

It caught on in a flash (they did the Mash)

They did the Monster Mash

The zombies were having fun

The party had just begun

The guests included Wold-Man, Dracula, and his son

The scene was rocking, all were digging the sounds

Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

The coffin-bangers were about to arrive

With their vocal group, The Crypt-Kicker Five

They played the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

It was a graveyard smash (they played the Mash)

It caught on in a flash (they played the Mash)

They played the Monster Mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring

Seems he was troubled by just one thing

Opened the lid and shook his fist and said, "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?"

It's now the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

And it's a graveyard smash (it's now the Mash)

It's caught on in flash (it's now the Mash)

It's now the Monster Mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

And my Monster Mash is the hit of the land

For you, the living, this Mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

And do my graveyard smash (then you can Mash)

You'll catch on in a flash (then you can Mash)

Then you can Monster Mash

Mash good!

Easy, Igor, you impetuous, young boy

Instrumental begins

I was working in the lab late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster, from his slab, began to rise

And suddenly, to my surprise

He did the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

It was a graveyard smash (he did the Mash)

It caught on in a flash (he did the Mash)

He did the Monster Mash

From my laboratory in the Castle east

To the master bedroom, where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble adobes

To get a jolt from my electrodes

They did the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

It was a graveyard smash (they did the Mash)

It caught on in a flash (they did the Mash)

They did the Monster Mash

The zombies were having fun

The party had just begun

The guests included Wold-Man, Dracula, and his son

The scene was rocking, all were digging the sounds

Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

The coffin-bangers were about to arrive

With their vocal group, The Crypt-Kicker Five

They played the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

It was a graveyard smash (they played the Mash)

It caught on in a flash (they played the Mash)

They played the Monster Mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring

Seems he was troubled by just one thing

Opened the lid and shook his fist and said, "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?"

It's now the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

And it's a graveyard smash (it's now the Mash)

It's caught on in flash (it's now the Mash)

It's now the Monster Mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

And my Monster Mash is the hit of the land

For you, the living, this Mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

And do my graveyard smash (then you can Mash)

You'll catch on in a flash (then you can Mash)

Then you can Monster Mash

"Whatever happened to my Transylvanian twist?"

"They were up to no good, didn't act like good monsters should. They found themselves a new play, they planned to rob Santa's sleigh. They were making a list and checking it twice."

I was working in the lab

Late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his slab

Began to rise

And suddenly

To my surprise

He did the Mash

He did the Monster Mash

The Monster Mash

It was a graveyeard smash

He did the Mash

It caught on in a flash

He did the Mash

He did the Monster Mash

[Alvin and Theodore vocalize] From my laboratory in the castle east

To the master bedroom where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To catch a jolt from my electrodes

They did the Mash

They did the Monster Mash

The Monster Mash

It was a graveyeard smash

And you can Mash

It caught on in a flash

He did the Mash

He did the Monster Mash

[Alvin and Theodore vocalize] From my laboratory in the castle east

To the master bedroom where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To catch a jolt from my electrodes

He did the Mash

And you can Monster Mash

The Monster Mash

And do my graveyard smash

And you can Mash

You'll catch on in a flash

And you can Mash

They play the Monster Mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring

Seems he was troubled by

Just one thing

He opened the lid and shook his fist and said

Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?!

It's now the Mash

It's now the Monster Mash

The Monster Mash

And it's a graveyard smash

It's now the Mash

It's caught on in a flash

It's now the Mash

It's now the Monster Mash

[music plays]

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

And my Monster Mash is the hit of the land

For you the living, this mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Alvin sent you

Here we go!

I was working in the lab

Late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his lab began to rise

And suddenly, to my surprise

[He did the mash]

He did the Monster Mash

[Monster Mash]

It was a graveyard smash

[He did the mash]

It caught on in a flash

[He did the mash]

He did the Monster Mash

From my laboratory in the castle east

The master bedroom where the vampires feast

Ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To get a jolt from my electrobes

[They did the mash]

They did the Monster Mash

[Monster Mash]

And is a graveyard smash

[They did the mash]

It caught on in a flash

[They did the mash]

They did the Monster Mash

The zombies were having fun

The party had just begun

The guests included the Wolfman, Dracula, and his son

The scene was rocking, oh, they're digging the sounds

Eagor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

Coffin bangers were about to arrive

With their vocal group, the Crypt Kicker Five

[They did the mash]

They did the monster mash

[Monster Mash]

And it's a graveyard smash

[They did the mash]

They caught on in a flash

[They did the mash] They did the Monster Mash

Everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

My Monster Mash, hit of the land

For you the living, this mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Model A sent you

Hey! They did the Monster Mash

[They did the mash]

And it's a graveyard smash

[They did the mash]

It caught on in a flash

[They did the mashhh] They did the Monster Mash

[vocalizing]

Monster Mash!

Monster Mash!

A monster mash!

Ohhh!

Steve explains how in the early 1960s, there was a monster movie phenomenon inspired by the 1930s and 1940s. During the Silent film era, Universal created Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman, The Mummy, and many much more. The first non-silent monster film was Frankenstein with Boris Karloff.

"Spine-tingling, blood-killing story that stuns your emotions, Frankenstein! It's alive! It's alive! It's alive!"

The films were very successful and led to many sequels. For example, Bride of Frankenstein and Draculas Daugter. There were also a lot of cross-over films with the monster characters.

This era of films was described as shock theatre.

Shock theatre would air at night. The most famous show host was John Zachary because of his spooky dialogues and characters. He knew Dick Clark who introduced him to Cameo Parkway Records. In 1958, they created a record called "Dinner with Drack," which reached number six on the Billboard charts. The national success boosted Zachary's image as a campy horror icon.

Bobby Pickett came up with the idea of Monster Mash. He was an aspiring actor and comedian who specialized in impressions. Prior to his major success, Pickett impersonated film actors as part of a group called the Cordials. Pickett began to gain traction when he impersonated Boris Karloff.

The year 1962 was the beginning of dance music in the U.S. For example, the Holly Golly, A Monkey, and the Watusi were all hit dance records. Chubby Checker's "The Twist" ignited the whole phenomenon, followed by "The Mashed Potato Time" performed by DD Sharp. James Brown debuted "(Do The) Mashed Potatoes," which became one of the top ten R&B songs in the U.S.

"Mashed Potato Time," performed by DD Sharp, was inspired by "Please Mr. Postman." There were many versions of "The Mash Potato Time" from artists like the Contours, Chris Kenner, Connie Francis, and Sam Cook.

In the summer of 1962, Bobby Pickett decided to jump on the bandwagon and make a record about movie monsters.

The record has the same airwaves and groove as "Mashed Potato Time/" The song is about all of the iconic monsters having a party and learning a new dance at Frankentein's house. In the song, Pickett largely impersonates Boris Karloff, except for one line in which he impersonates Bella Lasodi, the Universal Dracula.

After the Monster Mash craze, Universal started to produce comedies like The Addams Family and The Munsters using old monster sets. Music and monsters start melding together later, creating a classic theme songs.

The theme for The Munsters has been recorded and re-recorded over 150 times. It has been recorded or sampled by the Boston Pops, the London Philharmonic, and Bryan Setzer, who uses it as an opener for his shows. Even the band Fall Out Boy used The Munsters theme for their song "Uma Thurman."

Under Universal Pictures had a few more years creating monsters.

In 1963, the Mummy model kit came out, followed by other major successes like The Creature from Black Lagoon, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Godzilla. In 1966, Aurora released their final monster model kits in collaboration with Famous Monsters of Filmland Magazine. It features new monsters: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Bram Stoker's Dracula, etc. These characters did not live up to success as the OG monsters from the shock theatre era.

A new era for horror films was born in the late 60s and early 70s with "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Exorcist." Universal has had its fair share of attempts to reboot the OG monsters over the years, most notably in the 2004 film "Van Helsing" featuring Hugh Jackman, which featured Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Werewolf.

Bobby "Boris" Pickett's love for horror stemmed from his childhood, where his father managed a movie theater, allowing him to watch classic Universal monster films. These influences, combined with his appreciation for William Castle’s theatrical horror gimmicks, shaped his later career blending spooky themes with humor. Pickett didn’t start as a musician—after serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Korea, he first gained experience singing doo-wop on the ship home. However, his initial focus was comedy, performing a stand-up act spoofing horror movie stars, which he borrowed from another comedian. Winning local talent contests, he eventually left Massachusetts for Hollywood to pursue acting. While in Hollywood, Pickett reconnected with fellow Somerville natives Lenny and Billy Capizzi, joining their singing group, The Cordials. They performed in LA hotspots like Alvo Turno’s and the parking lot of Ben Frank’s, a famous hippie hangout. One night, while singing Little Darlin', Pickett jokingly inserted his Boris Karloff impression—an audience favorite that would later inspire Monster Mash.

Bobby "Boris" Pickett's journey toward creating Monster Mash started with a quirky idea during one of his band's performances. He added a Boris Karloff impression in the middle of a song, which instantly captivated the crowd. His bandmate, Lenny, suggested they record something like The Flying Purple People Eater—a big novelty hit at the time. Pickett’s delivery was so unique that it gave the band the push to consider recording their own version of a spooky, fun track. In another version of the story, after Pickett performed the Karloff bit at a beach gig, a girl approached him and mentioned that her “old man” was a record producer. She connected him to Gary S. Paxton, the man behind hits like Alley Oop and one of the producers who helped launch Monster Mash. Paxton’s background was just as wild as his reputation. Known for his eccentricities, Paxton was an unpredictable figure in the LA music scene, infamous for his antics, including an outrageous protest parade with an elephant to promote one of his songs. Paxton, despite his unconventional style, had a thing for crafting hits and getting attention for the music he worked on. His involvement with Monster Mash helped turn the novelty song into a hit. Paxton’s chaotic personality, eccentric stunts, and talent for creating buzz made him the perfect person to bring Monster Mash to life.

Gary S. Paxton's life was as wild and unpredictable as his career. At one point, he sported a large Mennonite beard and a stovepipe hat, further adding to his eccentric persona. Paxton won a Grammy in 1980 for Best Inspirational Album, but his life took some very dramatic turns. In 1980, he was shot five times by men hired by a country star he was producing, allegedly due to contract issues. The attack sidelined him for eight years, and he carried two bullets in his body for the rest of his life. Despite this, he forgave the men personally in jail, showing his complex nature. In the mid-80s, Paxton got caught in the whirlwind of the Baker family scandal, which ended his career in gospel music. After this, he moved to Branson, Missouri, where he began performing in a mask and cape under the name "Grandpa Rock." He died in 2016, having written an estimated 2,000 songs, including titles like Jesus is My Lawyer in Heaven and When I Die, Just Bury Me at Walmart So My Wife Will Come Visit Me—just a glimpse of his offbeat sense of humor and creative energy. Around the same time, Bobby Pickett briefly left his band, The Cordials, to try acting, but after his agent passed away of a heart attack just two weeks later, he took it as a sign and rejoined the band. It was then that Pickett revisited the novelty song concept, eventually leading to the creation of Monster Mash.The monster craze that Pickett tapped into was already well underway by the early 1960s. The 1950s had seen a surge in horror films thanks to reissues and TV broadcasts, with shows like Vampira—a TV character inspired by Morticia Addams—who hosted old horror films. These shows were an affordable option for TV stations, and many followed suit with their own horror-host programs. At the same time, magazines like Famous Monsters of Filmland were becoming popular, feeding into the cultural appetite for horror. The atomic age monster movies, such as The Day the Earth Stood Still and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, were huge hits, adding to the genre's popularity. By the late 1950s, novelty songs like Dinner with Drac by John Zacherley (which reached No. 6 on the Billboard charts in 1958) began to take off. These songs tied into the larger horror and monster themes of the era, eventually paving the way for Pickett’s Monster Mash. However, the tone of horror shifted in the 1960s. With films like Psycho and Peeping Tom, horror became darker and more psychologically intense. Directors like John Carpenter and Wes Craven led the next wave, introducing more explicit and violent content. The grindhouse era and exploitation films took horror in a new direction, making it more explicit and less family-friendly, distancing itself from the popcorn entertainment of earlier decades.

In the late 70s, the horror genre really took a dark turn. Films like Last House on the Left, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Halloween were major turning points. Halloween in particular had a huge influence on Sean Cunningham, who was making adult films at the time. Inspired by the slasher flick, he went on to direct Friday the 13th, which launched the slasher craze of the 80s. During this same time, the UK saw the rise of Video Nasties, a list of banned horror films that only added to the genre's notoriety. As the 70s transitioned into the 80s, the horror genre became increasingly graphic, with practical effects reaching new levels of gruesomeness. A key figure in this era was Tom Savini, a special effects artist who had served in Vietnam. His experiences in the war deeply influenced his work in horror, with many of his gory creations drawing from the horrors he witnessed during his time in Vietnam. This period marked a shift toward more explicit and disturbing content in horror, paving the way for the iconic slasher films of the 80s.Back to Monster Mash—by 1962, the stage was set for a novelty song with a spooky theme. Pickett recalls the writing process for the song, remembering how his bandmate Lenny Capese, a major horror movie fan, played around with chord progressions on the piano. Pickett had a thing for imitating Boris Karloff's voice (though he humbly describes it as a cartoonish rendition), and after some brainstorming, they hit upon the idea of a monster-themed dance. They briefly toyed with calling it the "monster mashed potato" but shortened it to simply Monster Mash. In just a few hours, they had a demo ready, which they took to producer Gary Paxton. Paxton's enthusiastic response led to the creation of a hit.The Monster Mash concept was influenced by the craze of dance songs in the early 60s, such as Dee Dee Sharp’s Mashed Potato Time, which hit number one on the R&B charts in 1962. In fact, the mashed potato dance had roots in James Brown's live shows, where he introduced variations like "Do the Mashed Potatoes." Some of the popular songs of the time, like Mashed Potato Time, shared similarities with earlier hits, such as Please Mr. Postman by the Marvelettes, which was reworked to sound fresh and new. It was all part of the music industry's strategy of capitalizing on trends—like the twist dance craze—and reissuing songs with updated spins to fit the moment.

By the time Bobby Pickett, Gary Paxton, and Lenny Capese were ready to record Monster Mash, the song’s origins were already deeply tied to the pop culture of the moment. Pickett’s memory of the session involved not only his own band but also huge names like Herb Alpert, Jimmy Rogers, and Darlene Love. The idea that Monster Mash was recorded the same day as Alpert’s Lonely Bull and Rogers’s Honeycomb is a fun tidbit, but it gets even more complicated with conflicting stories about where the recording actually took place. Darlene Love, a legendary figure in early 60s pop and Phil Spector’s go-to vocalist, claims that the recording happened at Gold Star Studios, which she would know well. But Pickett remembers a different location. It seems like there’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the exact details of the recording process, but one thing's for sure: it came together with a mix of talent from some of the most influential people in pop music.The Monster Mash session itself was a lively, collaborative process. After the backing tracks were recorded, the vocalists came in to work with Pickett. The interaction between him and the backup singers—especially with Pickett singing his lines and having them answer him—added a fun, live energy to the track, almost like a mini performance. It’s easy to picture the scene, with Pickett having fun with his lines and the backup singers adding their flavor. As for the band, Monster Mash credited a group called the Crypt Kickers, made up of Gary Paxton, Johnny "Dog" McCrae, backup singers like the Blossoms, and session singer Ricky Page. There's also some confusion about who played what, with Leon Russell sometimes credited on the song but Pickett clarifying that Russell only played on the B-side. With names like these involved, it's no surprise that the song became a pop culture phenomenon. And then, of course, there's the odd detail of Ricky Page singing the "Ooh, tennis shoe, wah ooh" line in the bridge, which Pickett himself admitted he didn’t know why it was included.

While he lived in the shadow of Monster Mash for most of his career, the song became both a blessing and a curse. It provided him with financial stability but also trapped him in a persona he didn’t always embrace. His personal life was marked by loss, including the tragic drowning of his son and the untimely deaths of friends and collaborators, like Lenny Capizzi. Yet, the final chapters of Pickett's life show a surprising turn toward redemption and family. One of the most incredible parts of his story is the late-in-life discovery of a daughter. After some searching, he connected with a woman named Nancy Hoos in 1997, just before Halloween, and they quickly became close. Nancy, who had grown up hearing Monster Mash, recalled the moment with warmth, saying her kids were thrilled to discover their grandfather was the man behind the iconic Halloween song. This reunion brought Pickett great joy, and he embraced his newfound family wholeheartedly, spending holidays with his daughter and grandchildren. Even in his final years, Pickett maintained his signature wit and commitment to the Monster Mash persona, joking about his condition during his battle with leukemia. He continued performing up until the very end, displaying a dedication to his craft that defined his entire career. After his passing in 2007, his daughter Nancy had a diamond made from his cremated remains, a final tribute that gained media attention in true Bobby Boris Pickett fashion. His story, a strange and beautiful reflection of persistence, loss, and the odd ways fame works, perfectly aligns with the spirit of Halloween.

Bubbly sound effects are followed by upbeat music. The lighting on set is very dim and soft, melancholic parody

"I was working in the lab one night, when my eyes beheld an eerie sight. For my monster from his nap began to rise, and suddenly, to my suprise," Ross Higgins sings with expressive vocals.

"He did the mash! He did the monster mash. The monster mash! It was a graveyard smash. He did the mash! He caught on in a flash. He did the mash! He did the monster mash"

"The Zombies were having fun. The party had just begun. The guest included the Wolfman, Dracula, and his son."

There is a choreographed part performed by kids. There are a lot of fade-in and crossfade camera transitions.

"Now everything's cool, tracks of the band, and my monster mash is the hit of the land. For you, the living, this mash was made too. When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you."

The song ends with an abrupt cut to the ABC for Kids logo.

I was working in the lab late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster, from his slab, began to rise

And suddenly, to my surprise

He did the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

It was a graveyard smash (he did the Mash)

It caught on in a flash (he did the Mash)

He did the Monster Mash

From my laboratory in the Castle east

To the master bedroom, where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble adobes

To get a jolt from my electrodes

They did the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

It was a graveyard smash (they did the Mash)

It caught on in a flash (they did the Mash)

They did the Monster Mash

The scene was rocking, all were digging the sounds

Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

The coffin-bangers were about to arrive

With their vocal group, The Crypt-Kicker Five

They played the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

It was a graveyard smash (they played the Mash)

It caught on in a flash (they played the Mash)

They played the Monster Mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring

Seems he was troubled by just one thing

Opened the lid and shook his fist and said, "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?"

It's now the Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

And it's a graveyard smash (it's now the Mash)

It's caught on in flash (it's now the Mash)

It's now the Monster Mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

And my Monster Mash is the hit of the land

For you, the living, this Mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can Monster Mash (the Monster Mash)

And do my graveyard smash (then you can Mash)

You'll catch on in a flash (then you can Mash)

Then you can Monster Mash

Mash good!

Easy, Igor, you impetuous, young boy

The host, Steve Greenberg, gives a pop quiz with three hints stating the cultural significance, references, and chart success. Explains how Monster Mash became a cultural staple.

The theme for The Munsters has been recorded and re-recorded over 150 times. It has been recorded or sampled by the Boston Pops, the London Philharmonic, and Bryan Setzer, who uses it as an opener for his shows. Even the band Fall Out Boy used The Munsters theme for their song "Uma Thurman."

[Music begins]

I was working in the lab

Late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his slab

Began to rise

And suddenly

To my surprise

He did the Mash

He did the Monster Mash

The Monster Mash

It was a graveyeard smash

He did the Mash

It caught on in a flash

He did the Mash

He did the Monster Mash

[Alvin and Theodore vocalize] From my laboratory in the castle east

To the master bedroom where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To catch a jolt from my electrodes

They did the Mash

They did the Monster Mash

The Monster Mash

It was a graveyeard smash

And you can Mash

It caught on in a flash

He did the Mash

He did the Monster Mash

[Alvin and Theodore vocalize] From my laboratory in the castle east

To the master bedroom where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To catch a jolt from my electrodes

He did the Mash

And you can Monster Mash

The Monster Mash

And do my graveyard smash

And you can Mash

You'll catch on in a flash

And you can Mash

They play the Monster Mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring

Seems he was troubled by

Just one thing

He opened the lid and shook his fist and said

Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?!

It's now the Mash

It's now the Monster Mash

The Monster Mash

And it's a graveyard smash

It's now the Mash

It's caught on in a flash

It's now the Mash

It's now the Monster Mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

And my Monster Mash is the hit of the land

For you the living, this mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Alvin sent you

[Background music begins]

Here we go!

I was working in the lab

Late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his lab began to rise

And suddenly, to my surprise

[He did the mash]

He did the Monster Mash

[Monster Mash]

It was a graveyard smash

[He did the mash]

It caught on in a flash

[He did the mash]

He did the Monster Mash

From my laboratory in the castle east

The master bedroom where the vampires feast

Ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To get a jolt from my electrobes

[They did the mash]

They did the Monster Mash

[Monster Mash]

And is a graveyard smash

[They did the mash]

It caught on in a flash

[They did the mash]

They did the Monster Mash

The zombies were having fun

The party had just begun

The guests included the Wolfman, Dracula, and his son

The scene was rocking, oh, they're digging the sounds

Eagor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

Coffin bangers were about to arrive

With their vocal group, the Crypt Kicker Five

[They did the mash]

They did the monster mash

[Monster Mash]

And it's a graveyard smash

[They did the mash]

They caught on in a flash

[They did the mash] They did the Monster Mash

Everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

My Monster Mash, hit of the land

For you the living, this mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Model A sent you

Hey! They did the Monster Mash

[They did the mash]

And it's a graveyard smash

[They did the mash]

It caught on in a flash

[They did the mashhh] They did the Monster Mash

Instrumental

This episode of Too Much Information covers the history and cultural impact of Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. Hosts Alex Heigl and Jordan Redstock reflect on their personal connection to the song, particularly how it played a role in their friendship when they met at People Magazine in 2016. Redstock recalls editing Heigl’s well-researched article on Monster Mash, which solidified their bond as fans of obscure musical history. They then dive into Pickett’s background—he was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, in 1938, a city known for its tough reputation and ties to organized crime. The hosts discuss the Winter Hill Gang, led by Whitey Bulger, and its prominence in Pickett’s neighborhood.The episode teases deeper explorations of Monster Mash, including its unexpected connections to James Brown, Pickett’s persistent efforts to modernize the song, and the unusual production behind the track.