At 1313 Mockingbird Lane, located in the fictional California city of Mockingbird Heights, a family of monsters captured America’s hearts in 70 family-friendly episodes of The Munsters. Despite its cancellation after only two seasons, syndication launched its generational success and brought forth additional series, films and a plethora of merchandise. Collectors of said merchandise are lucky enough to share their memorabilia through the comic convention circuit with none other than Eddie Munster himself, Butch Patrick.

Patrick recalls first attending San Diego Comic Con in the 1980s after yet another resurgence of the sitcom. He had released a song, “Whatever Happened to Eddie”, set to the tune of The Munsters theme and performed under the group name Eddie and the Monsters. It sparked a reconnection with Al Lewis, who played Grandpa, and Beverley Owen, who played Marilyn. They began appearing at conventions and found new ways to connect with fans.

“The Munsters, being family friendly, were one of the first crews to start doing the [convention] circuit,” he said. “It was evergreen, it was multi-generational… We were also monsters, so the monster community embraced us as well. It was unique.”

From the comic book series to plastic scale models, hand puppets to View-Master sets, The Munsters could be found on anything imaginable, notably featured in a massive collection acquired by television producer Kevin Burns. His collection also included set props, costumes, original art and more that were auctioned off after his passing.

Patrick admits to gifting more than collecting, saying that every night after filming he would bring home his prosthetic ears and give them away. He would also swipe Herman Munster’s head pieces before they were disposed of to share with others. While he originally did not keep a collection of his own, he has begun to preserve the treasures that he finds, especially at conventions.

The Munsters not only amassed a significant following, but became a show that allowed the viewer to escape to an alternative reality: one where being odd was celebrated. Patrick came to realize that for many people, The Munsters was more than a show to them. He vividly remembers meeting a young woman who was the receptionist at a local radio station that would be conducting an interview with him. She told him how much he meant to her, citing the show for being the reason she could find her way out of depressive times.

“After her, I heard other people mention the same thing,” he said. “That was their little secret show that put them in a better mood. It was important to me to be able to [hear] that. I had a lot of people who said as a kid they didn’t like their childhood, but they wish they could have been me, living in that house.”

Butch Patrick continues to honor the legacy of The Munsters with convention appearances, car shows, haunted garage sales and film screenings. 1313 Mockingbird Lane may be a fictional home, but the family that lived there continues to haunt the world of popular culture.