Bob Kane created Batman to be a creature of the night, but in the 1950s comics became so macabre (with be-headings, torture and other select anti-social behavior), the comics code authority came into being. It made comic books conform to such ridiculous restrictions, its a wonder the genre ever survived beyond 1960. The writers of the Batman TV show probably HAD to sling "camp" just to stay sane.
William Dozier had passed over such talents as Lyle Waggoner, to hire Adam West (Bruce Wayne/Batman) and Burt Ward (Dick Grayson/Robin) to be the show's stars. The real stars were the Batmobile and the criminals: Catwoman (Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether and Eartha Kitt), Joker (Cesar Romero), Riddler (Frank Gorshin), Penguin (Burgess Meredith), Egghead (Vincent Price), Mr. Freeze (Otto Preminger) and many, MANY more! Batman and his teen sidekick Robin the Boy Wonder, were depicted as pristine, out-of-touch do-gooders, who seemed to be fighting a losing battle against hip and groovy criminals. I loved the Batmobile and of course, the labeling of every gadget in the Batcave, including the Batpoles (one labeled "BRUCE" and the other "DICK") always killed me. I laughed myself off my chair during the episode where philanthropist Bruce Wayne is awarded "The Golden Calf". You have to read the Book of Exodus to get the gag here. A little mashugginah with your coffee...?
Every boy who watched the show wished they had a Shakespeare head they could flip up to switch open a wall, revealing a secret entrance to a more exciting life! The Dynamic Duo's rationale for solving riddles, or clues always left me snickering to the point of near-death.
Then I'd revive myself by watching tomorrow's thrilling conclusion! What a Bat-hoot!
William Dozier had passed over such talents as Lyle Waggoner, to hire Adam West (Bruce Wayne/Batman) and Burt Ward (Dick Grayson/Robin) to be the show's stars. The real stars were the Batmobile and the criminals: Catwoman (Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether and Eartha Kitt), Joker (Cesar Romero), Riddler (Frank Gorshin), Penguin (Burgess Meredith), Egghead (Vincent Price), Mr. Freeze (Otto Preminger) and many, MANY more! Batman and his teen sidekick Robin the Boy Wonder, were depicted as pristine, out-of-touch do-gooders, who seemed to be fighting a losing battle against hip and groovy criminals. I loved the Batmobile and of course, the labeling of every gadget in the Batcave, including the Batpoles (one labeled "BRUCE" and the other "DICK") always killed me. I laughed myself off my chair during the episode where philanthropist Bruce Wayne is awarded "The Golden Calf". You have to read the Book of Exodus to get the gag here. A little mashugginah with your coffee...?
Every boy who watched the show wished they had a Shakespeare head they could flip up to switch open a wall, revealing a secret entrance to a more exciting life! The Dynamic Duo's rationale for solving riddles, or clues always left me snickering to the point of near-death.
Then I'd revive myself by watching tomorrow's thrilling conclusion! What a Bat-hoot!