wednesday's child: Bewitched Statue To Be Placed in Salem, Mass.

May 12, 2005

Bewitched Statue To Be Placed in Salem, Mass.

This is a slightly confusing issue for me, because I'm a huge Bewitched fan (with a webpage devoted to Liz and Bewitched) and a witch. Basically, TV Land is giving the city of Salem a 9 foot bronze statue of Samantha Stephens (opening credits cartoon version) sitting on her broom to be placed in a busy public park and the city powers that be have voted that it's OK.

Is it tacky? Yes
Is it blatant commercialism? Yes
Is a big cartoon statue of a witch incongruous in the midst of a 300+ year old town? Yes
Will it hurt tourism in Salem? No, it will be yet another photo-op for tourists
Will it actually be harmful to Wicca? No, if anything it will soften the public's image of witches even further, which in this scary fundamentalist age can't do anything but be helpful

Do I love that cartoon image? Yes, I have a little bobble head of Samantha sitting on my desk and there are about another dozen little Bewitched collectibles on the bookcases behind me (Barbies, salt & pepper shakers and more kitsch).

Am I pissed at TV Land? No way, they've saved so many of the shows I grew up with and presented them in both a tasteful and fun format so today's audience's can discover them for themselves. And BTW, TV Land has also placed statues of other TV icons in appropriate cities: Mary Richards in Minneapolis, Bob Hartley in Chicago, Ralph Kramden in New York, and Andy and Opie Taylor in Raleigh, NC.

Do I still want to visit Salem someday? Hell yes!

For more opinions and info see below:

Bewitched statue plan bothers, bewilders

Bewitched statue gets go-ahead

TV Squad - Salem says yes to Bewitched statue

"Bewitched in Salem" (Thomas Doherty article) & Witches Voice Readers Comments

In city of witch killings, Bewitched statue may be a curse

Bewitched, bothered and bewildered

Posted by Morticia at May 12, 2005 04:15 AM

Comments

I agree with you on all the points that you brought up in your posting.
I to am a Witch, I don't live in Salem, but I have friends there.
I was there today when the Statue, of Samantha Stephens was unviled. The smoke when up, and the vale came off. It looked some what like that of a Younger Samantha, then the cartoon, yet with out the hat. Other witches where there, and they all clapped, and cheered, and a postester was taken away by the police. I wanted to see her with the Hat, just like I recalled from child hood. This Tv show, was on in the late 60's, and early 70's, then put on reruns, that I tried to catch in the afternoon after school. I was raised in Dallas, TX, and it was because of the show that I became interested in the history of the Salem, and witchcraft. Yes, this was a dark history for America, but we all should lighten up some,After all it has been 316 odd year. We also need come to an understanding that this to is history, that thing we call the boob tub. TV, has become like the great tribal fire that we all set around to hear our stories. She has become for me immortalizes in this statue, and for that the Barbie Doll.
Some of the shops keeppers today told me they are needing a bost profits, and if this will bring it in, then there you go.
That is my two cents, and will now get off my soap box. Blessed Be, and Long May Samantha Stephens Ride the Silver BroomStick.
Griffen

Posted by: Griffen Gowan on June 15, 2005 06:14 PM

Greetings. I am a wiccan priest. I think the statue is neat as a symbol of we the witches do not have to hide from such things like being hanged for the crime of witchcraft no longer. However the statue should have been more realistic like Lady sheba or raymond buckland or someone. At any rate I would much rather isit the grave site of my sister Sarah Good or maybe Bridget. The others that perished from the legend of the gallows were not witches and were falsly accused. Feel free to write to my ministry write to piercing moon po box 91 greenbush maine 04418 merry part

Posted by: piercingmoon on June 17, 2005 12:48 AM