Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester, Massachusetts, is hosting its first-ever Pride celebration on Saturday, showcasing the 1960s TV sitcom "Bewitched." The event will feature screenings of the episode “Darrin on a Pedestal,” filmed at the castle in 1970. The episode, where Samantha's husband Darrin is turned into a statue, will be shown hourly from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with free admission requiring reservations. A family-friendly talk will follow the screenings, exploring the show's queer subtext and history.
Experts like Caleb McMurphy, the museum’s director of visitor services & education, and Robert Thompson, a media professor at Syracuse University, view "Bewitched" as an allegory for the LGBTQ+ experience. They highlight how the show subtly addressed themes of repression and secrecy, resonating with marginalized communities. Cast members, such as Dick Sargent, who came out as gay in 1991, and Elizabeth Montgomery’s support for LGBTQ+ rights, underscored these themes.
The event aligns with Hammond Castle's history of welcoming avant-garde artists and personalities, including its founder, John Hays Hammond Jr., who had relationships with both men and women. The museum is launching a series of Pride events throughout the month.