Did you know that the classic sitcom Bewitched's biggest feat of magic was turning its entire audience into practitioners of modern witchcraft?  It all happens in episode two (1964), with a clever set-up and a breaking of the fourth wall.  We begin with the witchy mother Endora deciding to get a look at her new son-in-law without him seeing her:



The son-in-law senses an invisible presence and asks, "Who's here in this room with us?":



In the final scene of episode two, Endora breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience directly.  Indeed, we've been invisibly eavesdropping on the household along with Endora, and it's fitting that she looks right at us -- her fellow witches, floating in the air alongside her at roof-level.



And may we add, what better place to break the fourth wall than on the roof!

An illustration from a 1905 issue of Wide World magazine.  The caption reads: "I was soon enveloped in the fiery tongues of flame."

An illustration from an 1862 issue of Punch magazine.

An illustration from a 1911 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine.  The caption reads: "The ceremony of 'Berrying' the Ghost.  Observe the berries in the children's hands."

An illustration from an 1899 issue of Pall Mall magazine.

"The Witching Hour":  an illustration from a 1909 issue of Life magazine.

"A Strange Valentine": an illustration from an 1883 issue of Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly magazine.  The caption reads: "Sprinkling the pulverized herbs over the fire, and with her eyes fixed on the bright moon, she pronounced, in an extremely tremulous voice, the invocation."

An illustration from a 1901 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.  The caption reads: "Drawing a mystic half-circle on the floor."

An illustration from a 1919 issue of Harper's magazine.

Witchy illustrations from Harper's magazine, 1859 and 1860.

An illustration from an 1878 issue of Harper's magazine.  The caption reads: "A brocken witch."

An illustration from a 1909 issue of Century Illustrated magazine.

An illustration from an 1867 issue of Harper's magazine.  The caption reads: "The unspoken curse."

Dedicated to Teresa Burritt.