The Batman 1960ies Characters from the live action series stole our imagination from the day it first aired on January 12, 1966 until the last show aired on March 14, 1968. The 120 episodes that aired during that time period took us far away from our troubles to a place known as Gotham City. There the characters of the Batman TV series made us smile and once again allowed good to triumph over evil on every Wednesday and Thursday night at 7:30pm. We were swept away by the various villains that attempted to do the unthinkable and pursue criminal activities on Batman's watch. A book, film or television show is only as strong as the characters that are created there. The Batman characters became icons for a generation.
The Batman character was based on the DC comic book character created in 1939. In the comic books Batman had a darker persona but in the series he was given a more hip attitude although remaining very serious. Adam West brought the character of Batman to life. Although his accomplishment would stereotype him for the remainder of his career his fans would not let him go. To them he would always be Batman the caped crusader. The Robin character added a little more humor to the show. He was young and full of energy and always faithful to Batman. Burt Ward's portrayal of Robin contained a certain innocence that was appealing to the audience of the time. He was perfect for Batman's sidekick.
Neil Hamilton played the character of Commissioner Gordon. He did a marvelous job of playing the role straight and realistic. Stafford Repp played Chief O'Hara with a fake Irish accent but made him believable as the head of police in Gotham. Alan Napier landed the role of Batman's loyal butler Alfred. Alfred was truly like a second father to Bruce Wayne/Batman. He was always there to help him in every way. Alan who was a seriously trained British actor made the character of Alfred very endearing. Madge Blake played Robin/Dick Grayson's Aunt and she fit the role perfectly. Yvonne Craig played Batgirl/Barbara Gordon and breathed life into the role. Byron Keith played Gotham Mayor John Linseed and did a fine job as well. The narrator of the show was producer William Dozier. His voice still rings in the ears of Batman fans to this very day.
The villainous characters really highlighted the show. The Penguin played by Burgess Meredith was very popular as was the Joker portrayed by Cesar Romero. The Joker did not reveal his real face as well. His features were believed to have been damaged by an explosion. Both characters would find their way into the Batman movies of the future. Julie Newmar played Catwomen and she brought an entirely different audience to tune in. Her character too would find a way into future hit Batman films. The Riddler character played by Frank Gorshin is yet to make the leap but his character was quite fascinating during the series. His riddles kept Batman on his toes and always on the move. These characters stole our hearts and imaginations. The characters have all reached iconic stages due to remarkable performances.
