Designer Double-Dip: Bye Bye Bewitched!

Most of us of a certain generation were reared on endless reruns of the popular sitcom Bewitched, which enjoyed its initial run from 1964-1972. Among many of those viewers, any episode with Uncle Arthur is usually a particular treat. Amazingly, though he is often associated with the role and the show, Paul Lynde only showed up as Arthur ten times out of the 254 episodes broadcast! (He also had a one-time role early on as a frazzled driving instructor.) In the 1966 episode "Twitch or Treat" (season three, episode seven), Lynde is on hand with star Elizabeth Montgomery as her mother decides she is going to throw a Halloween party for various witches and warlocks... in Montgomery's living room!

Montgomery's mother, played flamboyantly by the marvelous Miss Agnes Moorehead, transforms her daughter and son-in-law's home into a colorful party room with flowing drapes and a fog-producing fountain.

That evening at the soiree, Moorehead sports a jeweled brooch in her hair and a funky, '60s, Pucci ensemble.

In attendance with her ever-tormented husband Dick York, Montgomery is sporting an unusual hairstyle for the occasion.

Her sleek, strapless gown is also rather unusual for the series and she looks quite elegant alongside the men in their tuxedos.

The passed hors d'oeurve are meted out by an invisible helpmate!

But you know we're here for reasons other than that. Take the couple dancing behind this floating tray of champagne saucers...

When we're able to score a closer look, the gentleman is clad all in gold lamé with a sort of East-Indian style hat atop his head.

The guy is not featured within the episode, but appears from time to time (badly) dancing in the background as the episode unfolds. The get-up that he's wearing, regardless of the ethnic headgear, has nothing at all to do with India or anyplace like it.

The outfit first saw the light of day a few years prior when it was featured in Bye Bye Birdie (1963), a movie musical which also happened to costar Lynde!

The title character, Conrad Birdie, was portrayed by Jesse Pearson. Upon his arrival in town, he proceeds to sing, bump & grind his way around the courthouse steps and grounds, thrilling his fans and causing the ladies to wilt in their high heels.

Here Ann-Margret, who's been chosen to receive a kiss from him on national television, gazes at her object of affection.

Pearson had played this role during the national tour of the stage version. Though to the naked eye there may not appear to be too tremendous a difference between them...

...there's no way that Pearson could begin to compare with the Broadway Birdie, my beloved Dick Gautier, if you were to ask me (which no one did! Ha ha!)

As seen here, the costume had a monogrammed belt, which was not used, for obvious reasons, for the background extra on Bewitched. Pearson was not able to sustain a movie career and after working for a while in television guest roles he ultimately began writing X-rated scripts, even directing one, before developing cancer and passing away at only 49.

In this pic, you can see that his outfit came with matching gloves. He wore them for his arrival in town, which was on a motorcycle.

In the photo above, you can see that our party guest has Pearson's gloves folded and hanging over his brown belt/sash. (In the very first pics of him, he's wearing them. Must've gotten hot under the lights after a while...!)

Still later in the episode, Moorehead is attempting to deliver a Halloween poem. Just behind her, Not Not Birdie has now removed his hat! Now he's displaying a head of hair not unlike that which could've been seen on Pearson or Gautier. Unfortunately for Moorehead, Lynde keeps interrupting her oration with a bunch of ad-libbed wisecracks so she finally can't take anymore and exacts her revenge...

Lynde is turned into the centerpiece of the fountain and even has a pigeon resting on his noggin...! And with that, this truly is bye, bye birdie, till next time!