Tony & Tia

Real Name: Tony and Tia (brother and sister)

Identity/Class: Extra-terrestrials

Occupation: Orphans - ages are not specified: between 14 and 11 years old.

Affiliations: in the book: Father Jason O'Day (a priest; in the movie - Jason O'Day, a transient widower), Winkie (a black cat), Uncle Bené

Enemies: Mr. Derenian, Truck (orphanage bully)

Known Relatives: Bené (uncle)

Aliases: Tony and Tia Malone, Tony and Tia Castaway

Base of Operations: Witch Mountain

First Appearance: "Escape to Witch Mountain" By Alexander Key, 1968, Westminster Press.

Powers/Abilities: Telekinesis, telepathy, psychic ability to sense someone's past, and future places they will be. Tia can talk to animals.

History: Members of an alien race who escaped their dying world to set up a colony on Earth, young Tony and Tia were separated from their family when their ship crashed into the sea. Retaining only vague memories of their true nature, the two children didn't recall who rescued them from the sea and left them with old Mrs. Malone, but because the old woman was frightened of their abilities, they learned not to reveal their gifts. After her death they became wards of the state, but eventually, having discovered their abilities and hoping to exploit them, Mr. Derenian showed up claiming to be a relative. Sensing he was up to no good, Tony and Tia ran away, and eventually, with the help of Father O'Day and Winkie, they locate their Uncle Bené, who takes them home.

Comments: Created by Alexander Key. His book, first published in 1968, was adapted into a movie by Walt Disney Productions circa 1975 with significant changes. A sequel, "Return from Witch Mountain" was created by Disney staff. Alexander Key wrote the novel based on the movie's script in 1978. Disney has since made some other semi-sequels (not strictly following the originals, so much as reboots), including, most recently, "Race to Witch Mountain"; these retain little to nothing of the original story line.

Kim Richards, who played Tia in the first two "Witch Mountain" movies and made a cameo in "Race", is the sister of Kathy Richards Hilton and aunt of Paris Hilton. Ike Eisenberg played Tony in the first two movies.

Thanks to Ruth Hartman for much of the above information.

CLARIFICATIONS: None.

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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