Salem Not Thrilled With 'Bewitched' Statue


SALEM, Mass. (AP) - Not all Salem residents like the idea of a statue honoring the star of the TV show "Bewitched."

Thousands of tourists flock each year to the Massachusetts city made famous by the witch hysteria of 1692.

The TV Land cable network wants to erect a nine-foot bronze statue in a city park honoring the late Elizabeth Montgomery, who played Samantha Stephens in the classic sitcom.

Some residents like Jean Harrison say the statue would be insensitive. She tells The Boston Globe that while Montgomery played a fictional comic witch, those who were condemned to die in the Salem witch trials weren't witches at all.

Others point out that "Bewitched" had no connection to the city other than a visit by the cast in 1970. But Mayor Stanley Usovicz strongly supports the statue, saying it would be a fun spot for tourists to stop and have their pictures taken. He also says it would be located far from Gallows Hill, where 19 accused witches were hanged.

I lived near by Salem and I can see why people would object. But I think Tv land should be abe to put Sam somewhere. Maybe not next to a memorial of the dead witches. I just wonder who from the show if any would come to show it off. All I can think is Erin Murphy. Gee is second Mrs Tate still living.? I may indeed go up to see the statue and presentation.

I read the statue will be ready to unveil on June 17. of this year. The city said something to the effect that it will be allowed to stay for 10 years. I guess they have a contract with tvland.

BEWITCHED TV LAND LANDMARK TO BE

UNVEILED JUNE 15 IN SALEM'S LAPPIN PARK



Santa Monica, CA, June 2, 2005 - TV Land and the city of Salem, MA will
honor Bewitched - one of the most enduring and beloved shows in the history
of television - with a nine-foot sculpture celebrating the hit series to be
dedicated on Wednesday, June 15, 2005, it was announced today by Larry W.
Jones, President, TV Land and Nick at Nite. The bronze statue features
"Samantha Stephens" - as portrayed by actress Elizabeth Montgomery - and
will grace Salem's Lappin Park at the corner of Washington and Essex Street.
Bewitched cast members Bernard Fox, ("Dr. Bombay"), Erin Murphy ("Tabitha
Stephens") and Kasey Rogers ("Louise Tate") will be on hand for the
unveiling.

"Bewitched was and still remains a magical and beloved series," explains
Jones. "The series filmed several episodes in Salem, so it is truly fitting
that we would celebrate it with a statue here. We are excited to honor the
show with a statue in this great city."

"This sculpture blends contemporary art and pop culture together in this
great historic city," states Mayor Stanley J. Usovicz, Jr. "We are very
excited to be the home of TV Land's next Landmarks statue."

The sculpture represents the network's fifth effort to honor people, places
and moments from our TV heritage by recognizing the site as a "TV Land
Landmark." The network's first salute - a bronze statue of Ralph Kramden of
The Honeymooners - was unveiled in 2000 and now adorns the entrance to New
York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal. In May 2002, a bronze statue of
Mary Tyler Moore from The Mary Tyler Moore Show was unveiled and now stands
on Nicollett Mall in downtown Minneapolis, MN. The Andy Griffith Show
statue, which depicts Andy Griffith and a young Ron Howard in their roles of
Sheriff Andy and Opie Taylor walking, hand-in-hand, is located in Raleigh's
Pullen Park and was unveiled in October, 2003. In July of 2004, TV Land
honored one of television's most enduring icons, Bob Newhart, with a
life-sized bronze sculpture commemorating his role as Dr. Robert Hartley on
The Bob Newhart Show in Chicago.

Studio EIS, a three-dimensional design and sculpture studio in New York
founded by brothers Ivan and Elliot Schwartz, created the life-sized bronze
sculpture. The studio also created The Andy Griffith Show statue which was
unveiled in Raleigh, NC in October 2003 and the statue commemorating Bob
Newhart's role as Dr. Robert Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show in July 2004.

They had a piece on the Bewitched statue yesterday evening on our local news. I couldn't believe it. Really great coverage for a truly classic TV show.

Signed,
Respectfully,
Dutch

TV LAND LANDMARKS IMMORTALIZES SAMANTHA STEPHENS OF BEWITCHED IN SALEM

Legendary Producer Bill Asher, Bewitched cast members, Mayor Stanley J. Usovicz, Jr. and TV Land’s Larry W. Jones on Hand at Statue Unveiling

Salem, Massachusetts, June 15, 2005 – TV Land, home to the best of everything television, and the city of Salem, today honored one of television’s most enduring shows, Bewitched, with a nine-foot bronze sculpture of “Samantha Stephens” -- as portrayed by Elizabeth Montgomery. Bill Asher, the series’ executive producer and director who was also married to the late actress – was joined by cast members Bernard Fox, (“Dr. Bombay”), Erin Murphy (“Tabitha Stephens”) and Kasey Rogers (“Louise Tate”), as well as Salem’s Mayor Stanley J. Usovicz, Jr., and Larry W. Jones, President of TV Land and Nick at Nite, at the unveiling. The statue dedication took place among a crowd of nearly 2000 people at Salem’s Lappin Park at the corner of Washington and Essex Streets.

“Bewitched was and still remains a magical and beloved series,” explains Jones. “The series has been enchanting audiences for over 40 years, and it is filled with heart and humor. Because several episodes were filmed in Salem, it is truly fitting that we would celebrate it with a statue here.”

"We are pleased to welcome the statue of Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens, to Salem,” states Mayor Stanley J. Usovicz, Jr. “Our connection to this beautiful piece of contemporary art goes beyond the episodes filmed here; Samantha saw the magic in everyday life, and so do we."

The sculpture represents the network’s fifth effort to honor people, places and moments from our TV heritage by recognizing the site as a “TV Land Landmark.” The network’s first salute – a bronze statue of Ralph Kramden of The Honeymooners – was unveiled in 2000 and now adorns the entrance to New York City’s Port Authority Bus Terminal. In May 2002, a bronze statue of Mary Tyler Moore from The Mary Tyler Moore Show was unveiled and now stands on Nicollett Mall in downtown Minneapolis, MN. The Andy Griffith Show statue, which depicts Andy Griffith and a young Ron Howard in their roles of Sheriff Andy and Opie Taylor walking, hand-in-hand, is located in Raleigh’s Pullen Park and was unveiled in October, 2003. In July of 2004, TV Land honored one of television’s most enduring icons, Bob Newhart, with a life-sized bronze sculpture commemorating his role as Dr. Robert Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show in Chicago.

The video highlights of the unveiling will be available at www.tvland.com beginning at 6pm ET.

Additionally, TV Land will celebrate the premiere of the motion picture, "Bewitched," starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell with "Bewitched Week on TV Land." The network will air episodes from the classic series from Monday, June 20 through Thursday, June 23, 8 pm to 10 pm ET/PT. The marathon will feature interviews with the film's stars, Kidman and Ferrell, as well as Shirley MacLaine. Red carpet moments and interviews will also be showcased.

Studio EIS, a three-dimensional design and sculpture studio in New York founded by brothers Ivan and Elliot Schwartz, created the life-sized bronze sculpture. The studio also created The Andy Griffith Show statue which was unveiled in Raleigh, NC in October 2003 and the statue commemorating Bob Newhart’s role as Dr. Robert Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show in July 2004.

I don't see what the big deal is. It's only a statue of a fictional tv character.

I thought having the statue was kind of cool.

:yeahthat

I haven't been to Salem in a long time, but I do intend to go back again and I plan to see the statue. I understand the protest to a point (it was a tragedy that occurred there, yet it has almost been "romaticized" in a way over the centuries/years). But, many of us are simply fascinated by it all. And ultimately, it does seem fitting that a statue of a witch (even a fictional, TV one) would fit nowhere else besides Salem.

Oh, by the way, I got a pic of myself on the Bob Newhart couch in Chicago. I live there and was walking down Michigan Ave one day when I came across it. I had completely forgotten about it until I walked past it! :)

But, many of us are simply fascinated by it all. And ultimately, it does seem fitting that a statue of a witch (even a fictional, TV one) would fit nowhere else besides Salem.

I couldn't have said it any better.

Gee is second Mrs Tate still living.?
No, she died not too long ago.

No, she died not too long ago.

I was going to post this yesterday but considering the fact that Coffecup's original post was nearly 2 years ago, It's probably not news anymore.

I never noticed that, LOL. Oh well.

I haven't been to Salem in a long time, but I do intend to go back again and I plan to see the statue. I understand the protest to a point (it was a tragedy that occurred there, yet it has almost been "romaticized" in a way over the centuries/years). But, many of us are simply fascinated by it all. And ultimately, it does seem fitting that a statue of a witch (even a fictional, TV one) would fit nowhere else besides Salem.

Oh, by the way, I got a pic of myself on the Bob Newhart couch in Chicago. I live there and was walking down Michigan Ave one day when I came across it. I had completely forgotten about it until I walked past it! :)
:yeahthat

I think the idea is kind of tacky..... It's one thing to honour a giant Mouse in an amusement park, but, this is just the kind of tacky "cultural iconery" that gives Hollywood a bad name.

I think the idea is kind of tacky..... It's one thing to honour a giant Mouse in an amusement park, but, this is just the kind of tacky "cultural iconery" that gives Hollywood a bad name.
Really? Ya think so? I never thought of it like that. I think that Hollywood earns it's own bad name all by itself with all the really awful current shows that are out now (including reality!) that aren't anywhere near as great as these classics, and a statue like this and the others that TVLand has erected serves to not only recognize and appreciate these great classic tv shows but also to help restore a little bit of old Hollywood's good name. This is appreciation for the classics and things they did right, and as much as we may wish it was not, it is a huge part of pop culture "iconery." Just my humble two cents though, Mikado. :)

I don't see what the big deal is. It's only a statue of a fictional tv character.

I agree. Personally, I think it's a nice thing to happen...so go figure...?????

Understand I loved Bewitched and I loved Liz Montgomery...If this statue were in front of the Screen Gems office, or in Liz's hometown, I'd be all for it, but, in this case, its really just an advertisement for TV land in Salem, a place where real women were killed because they were falsely accused of witchcraft, and I find that tacky.

Wow, you're right. It really should be in one of those other places you mentioned, now that you mention it. :lol: I knew since it was sensible you that said it there must have been something I was missing. :)

Yeah, i guess I didnt fully explain my position, originally #@_@# <Blushies!!!

Understand I loved Bewitched and I loved Liz Montgomery...If this statue were in front of the Screen Gems office, or in Liz's hometown, I'd be all for it, but, in this case, its really just an advertisement for TV land in Salem, a place where real women were killed because they were falsely accused of witchcraft, and I find that tacky.

Ooooh, I feel like such a dope. I didn't read the first post closely, It's A TV Land thing to sort of get some side publicity for themselves. And then, on top of this the horrible associations with Salem. Now I get it. If its TV Land doing it, then maybe not. But, I guess, let the town decide and if they nix the idea then so be it. But a Bewitched or Liz Montegomery statue somwhere would be nice.--but not sponsored by TV Land.

As i said, they should put it in Liz's home town :thumbsup:

A better place to put the statue would've been Westport, CT, where the Stephens' home was set.