Thursday Television Review: Batman

Aunt Harriet with Bruce Wayne

Batman (1966-1968)

Starring: Adam West, Burt Ward, Alan Napier, Neil Hamilton, Stafford Repp, Madge Blake, and Yvonne Craig

Summary

Millionaire Bruce Wayne (Adam West) and his youthful ward Dick Greyson (Burt Ward) seem to live normal lives for people of their type. Living in a mansion just outside of Gotham City, Mr. Wayne runs his philanthropic business called the Wayne Foundation. Therein, he runs many charities, works with the rehabilitation of criminals, and numerous other functions. Dick is instructed in the finest education, from numerous languages to learning bird calls. Together, they live in Wayne Manor with Dick’s aunt Harriet (Madge Blake) and their loyal butler, Alfred (Alan Napier).

Unbeknownst to all (except Alfred), Bruce Wayne and Dick Greyson are also famous crime fighters, Batman and Robin. Together, they take on the worst of all criminals (as duly deputized officers of the law), keeping Gotham City safe.

Commissioner Gordon (Neil Hamilton) and Chief O’Hara (Stafford Repp) are always grateful and indebted to Batman and Robin for all that they do to help the police force.

Batman and Robin in the Bat Cave

Review

Batman is a fun television series that will bring out a laugh from the adults and a cheer from the children! Although somewhat campy with the tights, face makeup, and “Holy ____” statements, it is a series that teaches some good morals and habits. For example, Robin is exhorted to put on his seat belt or to treat ladies with respect. Also, the encouragement to educate oneself is high on the list of the show’s agenda.

The series is riddled with famous actors and performers of all calibers. Many of these people would beg to be on Batman simply to get the attention of the public. They knew that hundreds of people would watch them and it would be free advertising. Of course, these famous performers always played villains in the show. The more popular “villains” included Cesar Romaro as the Joker, Frank Gorshin as the Riddler, and Burgess Meredith as the Penguin. Numerous cameo appearances also showed up during Batman and Robin’s famous Bat Climbs. Climbing up the wall, they inevitably came across someone in a window.

Batman and Robin meet Sammy Davis Jr. on a Bat Climb

The director, William Dozier was featured in each of the films as the narrator and even once made an appearance in an episode. After starting Batman, and meeting with success, he started another series on a more serious note called The Green Hornet. Although, much more serious than Batman (and seemingly more realistic), it did not meet with as much success and closed after one season. Nevertheless, Batman features clips from The Green Hornet when a character is watching television and vice versa in episodes of The Green Hornet.

The amazing technological gadgets featured in the film are mind-boggling. From the Bat Computer to the Anti-Shark Bat Repellent, Batman has thought of it all. The Bat Cave is a marvel in itself, using nuclear power to run the Bat Mobile and the Cave. Nuclear power was still relatively new at the time, so implementing it into crime fighting in a good way was important to them.

By the third season, there was another crime-fighter helping Batman and Robin, that was Batgirl (Yvonne Craig), who was also Commissioner Gordon’s librarian daughter. She, along with her own gadgets and her purple-laced motorcycle, helped Batman uncover plots.

Each episode of Batman is a two-parter (with the exception of a few episodes). The first part always ends with a cliff-hanger, where Batman and Robin are in dire straits. The narrator leaves you on the edge of your seat by saying, “stay tuned, same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!” Sometimes, the methods used by the villains to exterminate Batman and Robin are quite cruel and nail-biting (perhaps scary for younger children). However, it is quite clear that they will escape. Batman is too smart to let a villain get the best of him.

Three of better-known villains: The Penguin, The Riddler, and The Joker

So, turn on an episode and enjoy watching Batman and Robin clear out the bad guys of Gotham City! Holy Re-runs Batman!!

Robin, Chief O’Hara, Batman, and Commissioner Gordon at Police Headquarters

Ellen Nolan

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