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Authenticity is Everything
BEWITCHED AUTOGRAPHS
BEWITCHED was a long running television series about a man who falls in love and marries a witch. There had been a Frederic March and Veronica Lake movie called I Married a Witch (1942) although the success of the Jimmy Stewart movie Bell, Book and Candle (1958) played a role in the TV series.
Bewitched starred Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha and Dick York as her husband Darren Stephens. York was later replaced by Dick Sargent. Star of stage and film, Agnes Moorehead, played Samantha's mother Endora. David White played Larry Tate Darren's hot-headed boss. William Asher was the producer and director of much of the series he was the husband of Elizabeth Montgomery. It was Asher who also cast most of the players. If people were easy to work with he would often use them over and over.
Elizabeth Montgomery after the series ended starred in many dramatic roles far different than her Samantha Stephens role. She played Lizzie Borden in a mini-series. Her autograph is uncommon, and often forged. This is an example of her autograph at the time Bewitched was first on the air. It is part of the famed John Verzi collection that Tom Kramer purchased.
I will list the autographs as I put them on in order below :
Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha Stephens)
Dick York (Darren Stephens #1)
Dick Sargent (Darren Stephens #2)
Agnes Moorhead (Endora)
David White (Larry Tate)
Marion Lorne (Aunt Clara)
Mabel Albertson (Phyllis "Mother" Stephens)
Maurice Evans (Maurice the father of Samantha)
Paul Lynde (Uncle Arthur the younger brother of Endora)
Alice Ghostley (Esmeralda)
Sandra Gould (Gladys Kravitz)
Bernard Fox (Dr. Bombay)
Reta Shaw (Aunt Hagatha/Bertha)
Roy Roberts (Frank Stephens the father of Darrin)
Maudie Prickett (Mrs. Peabody and others)
Tags: Agnes, Bewitched, Dick, Elizabeth, Lynde, Montgomery, Moorehead, Paul, York
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on
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Thank you meggs I appreciate that. Dick York said that he felt a lot of sympathy for Dick Sargent since any actor is in tough spot trying to replace a character of the same name. Jack Burns had a similarly difficult time in being a deputy of a different name on TAGS. I believe the later episodes also reflect problems between various cast members and Eliabeth Montgomery and her then husband William Asher. There is a very interesting YouTube channel dedicated to Bewitched hosted by an actor who knew Bill Asher. He tells some very interesting accounts of some the drama behind the scenes. Alice Ghostley was great as "Esmeralda "but she never could truly replace Marion Lorne's "Aunt Clara." The show is unusual in having so many cast members replaced for one reason or another. There were two Gladys Kravitz's, two Louise Tate's, two Frank Stephen's, two Darrin's and the replacement of Aunt Clara with Esmeralda. In all those the first ones are the hardest to find autographs for.
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Permalink Reply by meggs on
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I guess I'm in the minority, but I enjoyed the Warren character on TAGS. The majority of the post-Don Knotts TAGS I enjoyed either featured Jack Burns or guest returns from Knotts.
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You are certainly in a minority in liking Jack Burns character Warren, but I am right there with you. Many diehard fans will not even watch the color episodes of TAGS. I love them and in fact the spaghetti episode is among my top 10 episodes. That had Mabel Albertson (Phyllis Stephens) playing Howard Sprague's mother.
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ERIN MURPHY (1964- ) will probably always be remembered best as Tabitha Stephens on Bewitched. As a baby she shared the role with her fraternal twin Diane. As their looks started to get different Erin was chosen to play the role.
DIANE MURPHY (1964- ) shared with her sister Erin the role of Tabitha while still very young. She also appeared in three later episodes as characters other than Tabitha. In one she was "Raggedy Ann."
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DAVID LAWRENCE (1968- ) like the Murphy twins is destined to be remembered for being the onscreen child of Samantha Stephens. David and twin brother Greg played the role of Adam Stephens although only David is credited. The brothers changed their last name to Mandel. David later hyphenated them when married and is now David Mandel-Bloch. On an episode of Vicki Lawrence's (no relation) talk show the twins claim their biological father was Tony Curtis. The most memorable episode with the twins was when young Adam would be tested to see if a warlock or mere mortal.
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RETA SHAW (1912-1982) with a commanding presence and voice Reta Shaw was good in whatever role she was in. She played two roles on Bewitched the first two were as "Bertha" and the last two appearances as "Aunt Hagatha." Reta Shaw is certainly one of if not my favorite actress. She was equally adept at dramatic roles as well as comedy. She appeared on Broadway in Picnic and carried the same role of Irma Konkrite to the movie version in 1955. From 1953-55 she was in six episodes of Mr. Peepers playing "Aunt Lil." She was wonderful as the housekeeper Martha Grant in the television series The Ghost and Mrs. Muir from 1968-70. She was unforgettable as "Big Maude Tyler" the escaped convict and later as Barney's voice coach "Miss Eleanora Poultice" on The Andy Griffith Show. She also co-starred in the Don Knott's movie The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. Her autograph is very scarce and usually there is competition for it an 8x10 photograph sold for $400. The link is here: RETA SHAW Autographed Photograph Sells for Remarkable Price! - Auto... This is 3x5 white index card signed boldly in black felt tip in the 1980s bought from Dr. Gary Brucato.
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Marion Lorne and Reta Shaw together on an episode of Mr. Peepers. Both would play Samantha's aunts on Bewitched. A young Reta Shaw is playing the piano.
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IRENE VERNON (1922-1998) is best known for her 13 episodes as Louise Tate the wife of Darrin's boss Larry Tate on Bewitched. Vernon was fired by William Asher apparently because of her association with Danny Arnold a writer and producer of Bewitched who left the show. Her autograph is elusive and there are fakes. She is among the most difficult to obtain of those who were on at least ten episodes.
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KASEY ROGERS (1925-2006) was cast as the replacement Louise Tate. She had been in more things than Irene Vernon. In her early career she was known as Laura Elliott. One of the big movies she was the classic thriller Strangers on a Train in 1951. She was busy with movies and television throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. After Bewitched ended Rogers is credited with only four other appearances the last in 1981. Her autograph is not common but not as rare as Irene Vernon.
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KASEY ROGERS the second "Louise Tate" from Bewitched. This is an 8x10 b/w inscribed. As soon as I find it I will scan a better copy this is from the original listing.
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ROBERT F. SIMON (1908-1992) was a familiar face in both movies and television from 1950 until 1990. He was cast as Frank Stephens the father of Darrin. His Frank Stephens was kind of a straight man to Mabel Albertson who played Phyllis Stephens. He often played authority figures like military officers or doctors. It would appear he was rarely out of work during his long career. His autograph is rare and there are other "Robert" or "Bob" Simon's that are sometimes confused with him.
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