The Batman 1960ies television show aired 120 episodes from January 1966 to March 1968. The popular camp comedy style series starred Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin. The cast and characters of this show earned iconic status over the years. The showed aired on Wednesday and Thursday nights at 7:30pm for two and a half years. The audience tuned in each week to see the caped crusaders spoil another villainous plot from the Joker, Penguin, Riddler or one of the numerous other villains who had it out for Gotham City. The show caught on immediately with viewers who yearned to see the DC comic books character spring to life on the screen. The fans flocked to the show early and have carried the show with them in their memories ever since. You have probably read many things about the Batman series. Lets see if we can display some trivia and parody that may have escaped you.
Adam West was born William West Anderson. Adam West was offered the lead role in a James Bond movie in the late 60ies but turned it down claiming that only a British actor should portray bond. For a while Adam West had to make a living appearing as Batman years after the show had cancelled. Gotham Cities Mayor John Linseed was a parody of John Lindsey who was the Mayor of New York City. The Governor Commissioner Gordon often spoke too on the phone was Stonefellow parodied on Nelson Rockerfeller who was the Governor of New York. Alan Hale Jr. who was best known as playing the skipper on Gilligan's Island appears as an owner/cook of a diner and his name is Gilligan.
In the series the Pentagon is the Hexagon. It was said that the Batman producers always had a script ready for when Burgess Meredith could be in town to play the Penguin. Burgess Meredith was one of only two actors who appeared on the television series 4 times. After the Batman series was cancelled NBC wanted to pick it up for another season. Unfortunately the set had already been destroyed and NBC did not want to invest the $800,000 to have it rebuilt. William Dozier the producer of the Batman series hated comic books.
Alan Napier who played the role of Alfred the butler was the great-great grandson of the famous author Charles Dickens. He was also a cousin of Neville Chamberlain the British Prime Minister. The show was full of quirks and parody and it helped to make us smile. In the end the show gave life to the Batman character and delivered many happy and thrilling moments to millions of Batman fans across the globe. The fact that the show has reached iconic proportions today is testament to the characters and cast of a memorable series. Those characters are priceless and the trivia and parody from the show make it classic. The Batman 1960ies TV Series will live in the minds and hearts of Batman fans forever.
