81. Batman 66 (1966-8)

by Sam Juliano

One of my fondest childhood memories dates back to the summer of 1967.  At that time television was all the rage for the baby boomer crowd especially programs that spoke directly to adolescent tastes and sensibilities.  Invariably this meant re-runs of the Man of Steel, the Swiss Family Robinson in space, an exciting new series set on a star-ship guided by a dynamic captain and his pointy-eared communications officer and underwater adventures negotiated from a high-powered submarine.  Each of these fantastical shows enthralled us as we followed uncompromising schedules where not even a single miss was conceivable.  Many of us found no trouble connecting with characters whom by the sheer power of their personalities stoked our imaginative embers.  The small screen infatuation ascended to an interactive plateau after I was invited to join a “Batman Fan Club” by an enterprising friend and classmate who is now a famous heart specialist.  The meetings for this fledgling fraternity were held in young Richard Palu’s basement in a meticulously maintained and manicured suburban one-family, where a family dynamic comparable to that played out in Leave it to Beaver made for some happy experiences.  Patricia and Nello were model parents who brought up their two sons (at the time 13 and 11) dotingly, imparting in them purpose and responsibility.  The patriarch was active in the community, coaching sports’ teams and serving a scout master, while the brood’s dedicated housewife was active in community and church groups.  (In a remarkable aside, Patricia is now entering her 97th year and continues to live in the very same Fairview, New Jersey home where the specters of the Caped Crusader and Boy Wonder once inhabited, and she’s as sprite and as sharp as ever, even maintaining an active Facebook account).

The mid-week meetings of the club were held at 4:00 P.M. and could be described as disciplined talk sessions.  Each of the eight or nine members would discuss the current week’s episodes and what they liked best about the airing.  A favorite related activity as I recall involved the group dressing up as the villain of their choice, though the selection wasn’t limited to the show aired that week, but rather to all the shows seen over the first year and beyond.  This included the Riddler, the Penguin, the Joker, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, the Mad Hatter, King Tut, the Puzzler, the Sandman, Zelda the Great, Minerva, Ma Parker, Olga, the Clock King, False Face, Bookworm, Minstrel, Louie the Lilac, the Archer and others in a lineup that eventually numbered 34 Caped Crusader adversaries.  Since the membership was exclusively male, the Catwoman never had a taker, and there was always heated competition for the Big Three, particularly the Joker, the most iconic nemesis of all, and the character boasting the best portrayal on the 60’s show than any other subsequent incarnation – better than Jack Nicholson, better than Heath Ledger and Jared Leto.  On Batman 66 Joker often had the best episodes because the shows he starred in usually had the most appealing story-lines.  Villainous ambition was never as elaborately conceived and staged, and Cesar Romero in an inspired updating of Gwynplaine from Paul Leni’s The Man Who Laughs rigs a high school basketball game so he can bet money on the underdog, invents a machine that can stop time and place and even in one show builds a flying saucer.  Romero’s vitality matches Frank Gorshin’s acrobatic Riddler, and his defining high camp was always perfectly attuned to the unique vibe of the show. The Riddler is a criminal genius capable of extraordinary lateral thinking in decoding and formulating puzzles of all kinds was of course a membership favorite as was the Penguin, portrayed by one of the series’ most renowned stars, Burgess Meredith.   The actor’s trademark purple hat, monocle, cigarette holder, umbrella and signature voice, when he mimicked the squawk of his polar namesake.  His thugs wear black bowler hats and dark clothing adorned with names of various animals of prey, such as birds (“Hawk”) or fish (“Shark”), or sometimes simply “Henchman.”

If a female inductee were to receive club initiation, there is little doubt the charismatic Julie Newmar’s Catwoman would have been favored over the two other actresses who essayed the role.  The campiest character on the show is the most preposterous of villains, King Tut, who was played by one of the hammiest of actors, Victor Buono.  Egg Head was made especially popular because of the actor who played him, the renowned horror specialist Vincent Price.  But the show featured one of the most extensive lineups of famous actors of its time, including celebrated director Otto Preminger as Mr. Freeze, the villain also portrayed in the series by George Sanders and Eli Wallach.  Anne Baxter appeared as Zelda, Eartha Kitt as Catwoman for a few shows, Roddy McDowall as Bookworm, Art Carney as the Archer, Shelley Winters as Ma Parker and Walter Slezak as the Clock King among others.

Of course no Batman discussion could fail to mention some or any of the following popular aspects of the show:  the colorful animation ushering in the opening credit scroll, the use of sound words to denote the inevitable hand to hand combat in each episode, how Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson successfully manage to keep alter personas secret, the lovable cluelessness of Aunt Harriet, the all-knowing butler Alfred, who manages the transitions and furnaces the necessary excuses and the bumbling police pair at Gotham City’s station, Commissioner Gordon and Chief O’Hara, who only need to ring on a red phone under an oval glass to reach the two who will confront the latest threat to peace.  The bat-mobile (at the time a remarkable technological invention but today a dinosaur) was fascinating for kids dreaming about their driver’s license.  The corny dialogue was integral to the fun and laughter, and the untimely cut just at a point of no return insured Batman fans would be returning for Part 2 of the double episode stories.   The bright neon colors and bouncy musical cues were alone enough to draw viewers in, but the mod conscription of the beloved DC characters gave the show a leg up even before airing.  Of course the rousing musical score is an identifiable as any other component.  West who recently passed away at a ripe old age and his erstwhile sidekick, played by Burt Ward entered the annals of television history with one of the most beloved of performances, and for many he like George Reeves was the only actor to be associated with a role essayed over and over.

There was so much more Batman to follow the 66 incarnation, and this includes the critically-praised animated series, the long run of films (still going strong) that peaked several years back with The Dark Knight.  For some of us the character was known and appreciated through a subtle metamorphosis engineered by the creative writers and casting directors, but at least for a few among us the story is much more intricate and nostalgia.  Our childhood world have been different without this indomitable cultural icon.  Late in life I can say the allure hasn’t remotely subsided, with an intended upcoming purchase of the new 7K Batman 66 pinball machine from Stern, which showcases the dazzling art, zany call-outs and music as well as offering up a television screen of series excerpts which are magnificently incorporated into the game play.  This ultimate Batman collectible is a surefire way to keep the show relevant today and well into the future.