I grew up watching and loving the television sitcom, BEWITCHED. I still watch it via streaming sources. BEWITCHED, and its beloved characters, and I debuted within a few hours of one another in September 1964. To top it off, the lead male in the show and I shared the same name but with different spellings. Thanks to my great-aunt, Norma, and her son, Gary/Wally, I maintained the nickname, “Derwood,” well into my forties.
I posted this photograph of the Darren & Samantha Stephens home at the fictitious address, 1164 Morning Glory Circle, located on the back lot of the Warner Brothers Ranch in Burbank, California. It sat on Blondie Street alongside other famous television homes, many of which were built in the 1950s. The post has received numerous comments from other BEWITCHED friend-fans.
In 1971, the made-for-television movie BRIAN’S SONG appeared and I was woefully confused as to why the character, Gale Sayers, played by Billy Dee Williams, and his wife were living in Darren & Samantha Stephens’ home. Mother tried explaining that the home was a television set and not a real house and that it was used for other programs. Her explanation only added to my confusion.
The Stevens home made its way into multiple television shows, THE MIDDLE, HOME IMPROVEMENT (it gets blown up), GIDGET, I DREAM OF JEANIE, HAZEL, LIFE GOES ON, FATHER KNOWS BEST, THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY, THE MONKEES, as well as movies, HOOK LINE & SINKER, CHRISTMAS VACATION starring Chevy Chase. The façade was inspired by a real house located at 267 18th Street in Santa Monica, California.
Sadly, Warner Brothers announced plans to demolish their beloved neighborhood to make way for an office building complex. The reports are mixed as to whether the demolition has taken place, and one site noted the BEWITCHED home was razed on Friday, October 13, 2023, however, I have not been able to verify this from accurate sources.
The BEWITCHED House at 1164 Morning Glory Circle
PHOTOS:
Facade, 1964; Facade in its glory days; Facade’s backside; Warner Ranch sets being demolished; Facade in September 2023; Facade of the Hecht home from THE MIDDLE during destruction.
The Haasienda on Shroyer... 