Time for our October stroll, Halloween costume optional. As many little witches prowl our neighborhoods in search of candy and treats, I simply must give a nod to a show that made witches popular and even cute. Join me as we visit 1164 Morning Glory Circle, Westport, Connecticut.
The home of "Bewitched".


I want you all to know that when I write here, I am talking about the television series that aired from 1964 to 1972, I never saw the movie they made later. I just couldn't bring myself to see it.


What some of you might not know is how it all started. The focus of the show (which was based on a satirical short story in Harper's Weekly Magazine, written by a young Norman Mailer and titled The Witch of Westport, according to the A&E Network Biography of Elizabeth Montgomery) is on the mixed marriage of a nose-twitching witch, Samantha Stephens (Montgomery), and her mortal husband, Darrin (originally played by Dick York and later by Dick Sargent). The series, a romantic comedy, shows how true love can endure the most vexing of situations, even between a witch and a human. The series is set in a suburb of New York City, to which Darrin commutes for work.


Darrin Stephens, was a mortal and advertising executive with the Manhattan firm of McMann and Tate; and his wife, a beautiful witch, Samantha. Episodes relate Samantha's attempts to adopt the role of housewife, and Darrin's struggles to curtail and conceal his wife's powers and cope with his disapproving mother-in-law, Endora, who, when angered, delights in casting spells upon him.


Samantha had a bevy of magical relatives: her father Maurice, practical joking Uncle Arthur, and forgetful Aunt Clara. Esmerelda the housekeeper, who came along in 1969, who was also a witch, a timid soul whose powers were declining. Also in the cast were Larry Tate, Darrin's boss, and his wife Louise, and the Stephens' noisy neighbor Gladys Kravitz and her long-suffering husband Abner.


Samantha and Darrin's first child, Tabitha was born in 1966. And their son Adam was born in 1969. Dick Sargent replaced Dick York as Darrin in 1969.

There was always some air of mystery as to why there was a new Darrin, even years later on the Roseanne show when she had two different actresses play her daughter, she joked about how she hated when they brought in the new Darrin with no explanation. Which of course was just what she did.
Dick York, Darrin Number 1, was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin Number 2. Without so much of a word of explanation.
Dick York had been seriously injured while filming "They Came to Cordura" in 1959.The pain persisted into the Bewitched days. In 1969 he was written out of fourteen episodes to accomodate his infirmity. When he tried to return to the show, he suffered a seizure on the set and went off to the hospital. Never to return to the show.

That wasn't the only replacement. To wit: Successive sets of twins were cast as Tabitha. That wasn't the only replacement. To wit: Successive sets of twins were cast as Tabitha. Alice Pearce (Gladys Kravitz) died in 1966 and so was replaced by Sandra Gould. Darrin had two Dad's, Robert Simon and Roy Roberts. Sam' s Aunt Hagatha was played by both Ysabel MacCloskey and Reta Shaw. Darrin's secretary was played by four different actresses. A record even for Bewitched. Ah, and the nearly silent partner in the ad agency, Howard McCann, who only apppeared twice, was played by two different actors - by Leon Ames and Gilbert Roland. Sadly, all of the adult major players are dead. Agnes Moorehead died in 1974 of lung cancer, David White in 1990 of a heart attack, Dick York in 1992 of emphysema, Dick Sargent in 1994 of prostate cancer, and Elizabeth Montgomery died in 1995 of colorectal cancer. Alice Ghostley died in 2007 of colon cancer. For many of us it will be remembered as a time when TV watching was just plain fun and there sure isn't much of that around these days... So with a wiggle of my nose I wish you all a very Happy Halloween.


Theme from "Bewitched"





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