Created by Bob Kane, 'Batman' is, along with 'Superman', one of the world's most instantly recognisable superheroes. He was at his most popular in the mid-to-late '60's, thanks to a three-season television series that conquered the world. It came out of that same wonderful, mad era of U.S. television as 'Star Trek', 'Get Smart', 'The Monkees' and 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' Fox had sat on the rights for a while before producer William Dozier hit on the inspired idea of 'camping' the character. 'Batman' quickly became America's coolest show. It worked on two levels; kids lapped up the adventure while adults found it hilarious. It was the 'Police Squad!' of its day.
Each episode opened with a daring, imaginative crime, such as the theft of a priceless painting from the Gotham City Art Gallery. A clue would alert Commissioner Gordon ( Neil Hamilton ) and Chief O'Hara ( Stafford Repp ) as to the identity of the culprit. Gordon would then pick up the Bat Phone. At stately Wayne Manor, millionaire Bruce Wayne ( Adam West ) and his youthful ward Dick Grayson ( Burt Ward ) would be summoned away from Aunt Harriet's ( Madge Blake ) side by their faithful butler Alfred ( Alan Napier ). A hidden door in the Manor's library concealed the Bat Poles. Bruce and Dick slid down these, emerging fully attired as 'Batman' and 'Robin' in the Batcave, an amazing hideout packed with sophisticated equipment for crime fighting. Our heroes jumped into the Batmobile, and roared off towards Gotham City to meet with Gordon and O'Hara. Everything about the genre was ridiculed mercilessly, even the cliffhanger endings. Over the fights the words 'Zap!' 'Pow!' and 'Blamm!' were superimposed.
The array of villains Batman faced on a weekly basis would have put the wind up even James Bond - the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler, the Catwoman, Mr.Freeze, The Mad Hatter, plus a few created specially for the series such as 'Clock King', 'The Bookworm', 'King Tut' and 'Louie The Lilac'. 'Batman' became the 'in' show to appear on; stars such as Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Frank Gorshin, George Sanders, Victor Buono, Roddy McDowall, Anne Baxter, Cliff Robertson, Ida Lupino, Liberace, Tallulah Bankhead, Eli Wallach, Rudy Vallee, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Milton Berle, Joan Collins all put on outrageous costumes and accents to menace our heroes. The one who had the greatest impact on me personally though was the awesome Julie Newmar as 'Catwoman'. She set the screen alight with her suggestive dialogue and feline body language. Other celebrities were happy simply to lean out of a window whenever the Dynamic Duo went into one of their famous wall-climbing routines, including Jerry Lewis, Edward G.Robertson and Sammy Davis Jr.
One of my favourite scenes had Batman talking to Commissioner Gordon by phone from the Batcave and pretending to be both himself and Bruce Wayne. Though Batman doesn't change his voice Gordon is convinced he's talking to two different people. Another was the scene where Gordon rings Batman for help, only to learn that the Caped Crusader is unavailable. "The day I've dreaded has finally arrived, O'Hara! We'll have to solve this case ourselves!".
Until 'Star Wars' opened a decade later, it is fair to say 'Batman' enjoyed the most merchandising of any film/television concept ( I was given a Dinky Toy 'Batmobile' for my 5th birthday in 1968 ). There was even a film version in 1966, pitting our heroes against Joker, Penguin, Catwoman ( played by Lee Meriwether ) and Riddler.
Like all fads though, 'Batman' did not last. The third season introduced 'Batgirl' ( Yvonne Craig ) as a regular, and the show reduced from two episodes a week to just one, but ratings did not improve.
It would be twenty years before 'Batman' was resurrected for a new generation firstly by Tim Burton and then Joel Schumacher. More recently, Christopher Nolan's 'Batman Begins' and 'The Dark Knight' brought a more sober approach to the superhero. Fans of the comic book applauded - I was not among them. The gritty, realistic tone of the newer Batmans is alien to me - like putting 'Austin Powers' in a Daniel Craig-type Bond film. The show's popularity has endured fortunately, with reruns always lurking somewhere on the airwaves. It gives a man a good feeling to know The Dynamic Duo are out there still, doing their job!
Each episode opened with a daring, imaginative crime, such as the theft of a priceless painting from the Gotham City Art Gallery. A clue would alert Commissioner Gordon ( Neil Hamilton ) and Chief O'Hara ( Stafford Repp ) as to the identity of the culprit. Gordon would then pick up the Bat Phone. At stately Wayne Manor, millionaire Bruce Wayne ( Adam West ) and his youthful ward Dick Grayson ( Burt Ward ) would be summoned away from Aunt Harriet's ( Madge Blake ) side by their faithful butler Alfred ( Alan Napier ). A hidden door in the Manor's library concealed the Bat Poles. Bruce and Dick slid down these, emerging fully attired as 'Batman' and 'Robin' in the Batcave, an amazing hideout packed with sophisticated equipment for crime fighting. Our heroes jumped into the Batmobile, and roared off towards Gotham City to meet with Gordon and O'Hara. Everything about the genre was ridiculed mercilessly, even the cliffhanger endings. Over the fights the words 'Zap!' 'Pow!' and 'Blamm!' were superimposed.
The array of villains Batman faced on a weekly basis would have put the wind up even James Bond - the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler, the Catwoman, Mr.Freeze, The Mad Hatter, plus a few created specially for the series such as 'Clock King', 'The Bookworm', 'King Tut' and 'Louie The Lilac'. 'Batman' became the 'in' show to appear on; stars such as Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Frank Gorshin, George Sanders, Victor Buono, Roddy McDowall, Anne Baxter, Cliff Robertson, Ida Lupino, Liberace, Tallulah Bankhead, Eli Wallach, Rudy Vallee, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Milton Berle, Joan Collins all put on outrageous costumes and accents to menace our heroes. The one who had the greatest impact on me personally though was the awesome Julie Newmar as 'Catwoman'. She set the screen alight with her suggestive dialogue and feline body language. Other celebrities were happy simply to lean out of a window whenever the Dynamic Duo went into one of their famous wall-climbing routines, including Jerry Lewis, Edward G.Robertson and Sammy Davis Jr.
One of my favourite scenes had Batman talking to Commissioner Gordon by phone from the Batcave and pretending to be both himself and Bruce Wayne. Though Batman doesn't change his voice Gordon is convinced he's talking to two different people. Another was the scene where Gordon rings Batman for help, only to learn that the Caped Crusader is unavailable. "The day I've dreaded has finally arrived, O'Hara! We'll have to solve this case ourselves!".
Until 'Star Wars' opened a decade later, it is fair to say 'Batman' enjoyed the most merchandising of any film/television concept ( I was given a Dinky Toy 'Batmobile' for my 5th birthday in 1968 ). There was even a film version in 1966, pitting our heroes against Joker, Penguin, Catwoman ( played by Lee Meriwether ) and Riddler.
Like all fads though, 'Batman' did not last. The third season introduced 'Batgirl' ( Yvonne Craig ) as a regular, and the show reduced from two episodes a week to just one, but ratings did not improve.
It would be twenty years before 'Batman' was resurrected for a new generation firstly by Tim Burton and then Joel Schumacher. More recently, Christopher Nolan's 'Batman Begins' and 'The Dark Knight' brought a more sober approach to the superhero. Fans of the comic book applauded - I was not among them. The gritty, realistic tone of the newer Batmans is alien to me - like putting 'Austin Powers' in a Daniel Craig-type Bond film. The show's popularity has endured fortunately, with reruns always lurking somewhere on the airwaves. It gives a man a good feeling to know The Dynamic Duo are out there still, doing their job!