Son of 'Bewitched' Star Visits Statue of His Mother - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 07-14-2008, 04:31 AM

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SALEM — Bill Asher was only 6 when his famous mom rode into town to film eight episodes of "Bewitched" in the summer of 1970.

"I remember them coming back and loving Salem," Asher said of his parents, Elizabeth Montgomery and director William Asher. "They thought it was a great town and got a kick out of filming the show."

Nearly four decades after Montgomery and ABC television crews filmed scenes at landmarks like The House of the Seven Gables and the Hawthorne Hotel, Montgomery's son made his own visit to the Witch City this week.

Now a 43-year-old designer of electric guitars, Bill Asher brought his wife, Jessica, and 21/2-year-old daughter, Makaela, to the bronze statue of television witch Samantha Stephens at Lappin Park over the weekend.

It was the first visit to the statue for both son and granddaughter.

"I've always been proud of my parents and their work, so seeing it made me very proud and happy that her image was important enough to grant a statue," Asher said.

Makaela, who never met her TV star grandmother, immediately recognized the famous face and wrapped her arms around the statue.

"She was very connected to it, like she knew that's who it was," Asher said.

Asher and his family spent two nights vacationing in Salem over the weekend and decided to stay an extra day before heading to Cape Cod and Boston.

They stayed at the Hawthorne Hotel, the same place Montgomery and her husband stayed during their 1970 Salem visit. Today, the hotel's main lobby features photos of Montgomery, a page of the script, and a thank-you card from Montgomery and her husband.

"He was a very down-to-earth, wonderful guy," said Kristie Poehler, the hotel's director of sales and marketing, of Bill Asher. "If you just looked at him, you wouldn't know his family was in the business."

Asher and his family also visited the Salem Witch Museum, took a trolley tour, explored the Peabody Essex Museum and saw the Friendship. At Finz, Asher tried haddock for the first time.

"We all grew up hearing about the witch trials," Asher said. "I learned some history about Salem."

Growing up as the son of a TV star, Asher said he tended not to tell friends who his parents were. Eventually, many found out anyway.

"More than one friend asked if she can really do magic by twinkling her nose," Asher said.

Asher still lives in Los Angeles and designs and builds custom electric guitars. Some of his clients include Jackson Browne, Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt and the Black Crowes.

Halloween was one of his mother's favorite times of the year, he said, though she never had a chance to visit the Witch City on Halloween night.

"We really had a great time," Asher said. "I hope to come back and visit. We could have stayed a few more days.

catlover79 · 07-14-2008, 11:32 AM

Awesome story - thanks for sharing it!!

AB · 07-14-2008, 02:33 PM

Great photo and story!

Yooch · 07-14-2008, 02:37 PM

Thanks for sharing that wonderful article and photo!

comedyfreak · 07-14-2008, 06:44 PM

That was awesome! Thanks for posting.

richieonline · 07-14-2008, 08:57 PM

Yes very nice story and the photo, well you can't get better than that!!

Zoneboy · 07-15-2008, 11:09 AM

^^^ Thanks, Everyone. I couldn't resist posting that article, It was too good not to.

catlover79 · 07-17-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

^^^ Thanks, Everyone. I couldn't resist posting that article, It was too good not to.

I loved it!! I'm sure EM's grandchildren are enjoying the show now that most of it is on DVD now.

Lodee · 07-17-2008, 01:54 PM

Aw, that's a cute photo. His daughter is so cute. And she looks really happy to be viewing the statue too, doesn't she?

catlover79 · 07-18-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lodee

Aw, that's a cute photo. His daughter is so cute. And she looks really happy to be viewing the statue too, doesn't she?

She is adorable, isn't she?

07-14-2008, 04:31 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,386	Son of 'Bewitched' Star Visits Statue of His Mother Link SALEM — Bill Asher was only 6 when his famous mom rode into town to film eight episodes of "Bewitched" in the summer of 1970. "I remember them coming back and loving Salem," Asher said of his parents, Elizabeth Montgomery and director William Asher. "They thought it was a great town and got a kick out of filming the show." Nearly four decades after Montgomery and ABC television crews filmed scenes at landmarks like The House of the Seven Gables and the Hawthorne Hotel, Montgomery's son made his own visit to the Witch City this week. Now a 43-year-old designer of electric guitars, Bill Asher brought his wife, Jessica, and 21/2-year-old daughter, Makaela, to the bronze statue of television witch Samantha Stephens at Lappin Park over the weekend. It was the first visit to the statue for both son and granddaughter. "I've always been proud of my parents and their work, so seeing it made me very proud and happy that her image was important enough to grant a statue," Asher said. Makaela, who never met her TV star grandmother, immediately recognized the famous face and wrapped her arms around the statue. "She was very connected to it, like she knew that's who it was," Asher said. Asher and his family spent two nights vacationing in Salem over the weekend and decided to stay an extra day before heading to Cape Cod and Boston. They stayed at the Hawthorne Hotel, the same place Montgomery and her husband stayed during their 1970 Salem visit. Today, the hotel's main lobby features photos of Montgomery, a page of the script, and a thank-you card from Montgomery and her husband. "He was a very down-to-earth, wonderful guy," said Kristie Poehler, the hotel's director of sales and marketing, of Bill Asher. "If you just looked at him, you wouldn't know his family was in the business." Asher and his family also visited the Salem Witch Museum, took a trolley tour, explored the Peabody Essex Museum and saw the Friendship. At Finz, Asher tried haddock for the first time. "We all grew up hearing about the witch trials," Asher said. "I learned some history about Salem." Growing up as the son of a TV star, Asher said he tended not to tell friends who his parents were. Eventually, many found out anyway. "More than one friend asked if she can really do magic by twinkling her nose," Asher said. Asher still lives in Los Angeles and designs and builds custom electric guitars. Some of his clients include Jackson Browne, Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt and the Black Crowes. Halloween was one of his mother's favorite times of the year, he said, though she never had a chance to visit the Witch City on Halloween night. "We really had a great time," Asher said. "I hope to come back and visit. We could have stayed a few more days.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

07-14-2008, 11:32 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Awesome story - thanks for sharing it!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

07-14-2008, 02:37 PM	#4
Yooch Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 07, 2006 Location: California Posts: 3,180	Thanks for sharing that wonderful article and photo!
	__________________ "The true meaning of America, you ask? It's in a Texas rodeo, in a policeman's badge, in the sound of laughing children, in a political rally, in a newspaper...In all these things and many more, you'll find freedom. And freedom is what America means to the world. And to me." --Audie Leon Murphy June 20, 1924-- May 28, 1971

07-14-2008, 06:44 PM	#5
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	That was awesome! Thanks for posting.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

07-14-2008, 02:33 PM	#3
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Great photo and story!

07-14-2008, 08:57 PM	#6
richieonline Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 31, 2006 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 216	Yes very nice story and the photo, well you can't get better than that!!

07-15-2008, 11:09 AM	#7
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,386	^^^ Thanks, Everyone. I couldn't resist posting that article, It was too good not to.

07-17-2008, 01:54 PM	#9
Lodee Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 12, 2003 Posts: 1,562	Aw, that's a cute photo. His daughter is so cute. And she looks really happy to be viewing the statue too, doesn't she?