mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
The live-action Superman had had a decent run on network television, so in 1966, ABC pondered the ratings potential of another comic book hero: Batman. The production techniques used for Batman were far different than those used on the Superman series; bright colors, stilted dialog, and the POW! BAM! graphics used during the fight scenes all combined to make the series look like a comic book brought to life. Immediately after the pilot episode was aired, Batman was the topic of discussion on American playgrounds. A double entendre here and there (not to mention Julie Newmar in a catsuit) also helped to keep adult viewers interested.
1. The Batmobile was originally a Bargainmobile
An integral non-human “character” on the show was the Batmobile. In 1955, the Lincoln division of the Ford Motor Company designed a futuristic concept car called the Futura. The prototype was hand-built in Italy at a cost of $250,000. The car was never put into production, and 10 years later, George Barris of Barris Kustom City bought it from Ford for the bargain price of one dollar. A few modifications here and there, a custom paint job, and voilà! Barris was able to present the world’s first Batmobile to the studio just three weeks later.
2. The Boy Wonder and the Problems with his “Boy Wonder”
While casting the show, producers ended up with a choice between two Dynamic Duos: Adam West and Burt Ward versus Lyle Waggoner and Peter Deyell. Every Batman script included fight scenes as well as other very physical stunts. In the case of the main character, most of his face was covered by his cowl, so a stunt double could be used. But the Boy Wonder’s Lone Ranger mask made too much of his face visible for a double to be used. Ward snagged the role by virtue of a very athletic resume, which included a black belt in karate and a stint as a professional figure skater. Not long after the series began, however, the network was inundated with letters of complaint about Ward’s, er, bat-bulge, which was clearly visible in his form-fitting costume. Ward claimed in his autobiography that a studio doctor eventually gave him some mystery pills that shrank his manhood for hours at a time. He also wryly pointed out that Adam West needed no such “modification.”
3. The Riddler Gets a Promotion
The pilot episode of Batman featured a villain who had rarely appeared in the comic book series – The Riddler. Frank Gorshin portrayed the Prince of Puzzlers in that first two-part episode, and received an Emmy nomination for his effort. Of the many special guest villains that would infiltrate Gotham City, only Gorshin’s maniacally laughing Riddler gave the impression that he was just unbalanced enough to be a bona fide threat to the Dynamic Duo. Interestingly enough, after Gorshin’s appearance on the show, the Riddler became an A-list rogue in the DC comics universe and regularly rubbed elbows with such legendary criminals as Two-Face and The Penguin.
4. What Kept The Joker from Smiling
Latin American lothario Cesar Romero was tapped to play The Joker, but he only agreed to the role under one condition – he would not have to shave off his trademark mustache. The makeup department tried with varying degrees of success to cover up Romero’s cookie duster with layers of pancake, but it was still quite visible in close-up shots. Romero would later state that it took about one hour to transform him into The Joker, and that his least favorite part of the get-up was the green wig; something in the glue that was used gave him a throbbing headache.
5. The Most Prolific Villain
When Bat-Mania was in full swing, it became the “in” thing for celebrities to appear on the show. This explains why such diverse performers as Ethel Merman, Roddy McDowell, Liberace, Milton Berle, Vincent Price and Shelley Winters all put in time on the Bat-Stage. But the villain who made the most appearances was Burgess Meredith as The Penguin. He wasn’t the first choice for the role, but when Spencer Tracy turned it down, he stepped up to the plate. One problem, though; the role called for the character to constantly have a cigarette holder in his mouth, and Meredith had quit smoking a few years prior. Much like President Clinton, he didn’t inhale, and the resultant coughs and clearings of the throat became part of his Penguin schtick.
Comments (19)
Comment
- Follow mental_floss
I love Batman! The one great thing about Nick at Nite was I could be in on all of these great shows that came along way before I did.
posted by Kelly on 3-19-2008 at 4:56 pm
Wow great article. I was a huge fan of Get Smart (the old one. The new stuff is making me cringe). But Batman is a close second. I never knew the Riddler’s proliferance was due to the 60’s batman.
posted by Kinglink on 3-19-2008 at 5:31 pm
Good list, but it’s “voila,” not “viola,” dammit!
posted by Miranda on 3-19-2008 at 6:40 pm
Easy now, Miranda; it’s just a tpyo. ;o)
The Penguin had to be my favorite villain; Burgess Meredith was perfect in that role.
I’d like to know where I can pick up a deal like that Batmobile; a $250,000 custom-built car for a buck. Sheesh!
posted by Dave on 3-19-2008 at 8:27 pm
I remember sitting at my kitchen counter as a kid, watching Batman on our 13″ television, while eating peanut butter sandwiches…then i’d go outside and swing on my swingset, singing the Batman theme…I loved that show so much as a kid…I even have (still) a charm bracelet w/ the main characters…the paint is worn off, but I love it dearly…and how much fun is it that Adam West is the Mayor of Quahog on Family Guy…awesomeness…
posted by donner on 3-19-2008 at 10:03 pm
VIOLA – a stringed instrument slightly larger and lower in pitch than a violin. It is held under the chin and played with a bow. The viola is tuned an octave above the cello and is the alto of the violin family.
haha
posted by Kevin on 3-20-2008 at 6:53 am
The Batmobile was also in a Glenn Ford Movie called ” It started with a Kiss” in 1959. Only it had not gone through the Barris renovation yet, and I believe it was red at that time.
posted by Don on 3-20-2008 at 8:21 am
You know,as a kid I never noticed the Joker’s “hidden” moutache…but not as an adult I can see it.
I know the Joker’s hair was green, but it looks kind of orange in the photo of above and I kind of remember some times it being that color. Am I bat color blind?
posted by beth on 3-20-2008 at 9:22 am
Batman was the first TV show I saw on a color TV (when it was originally aired) and it blew me away. The Riddler was always my favorite as a kid b/c he was fun to imitate. Later when it was in re-runs we enjoyed the show even more w/ the benefits of botanicals.
posted by Capt Grayson on 3-20-2008 at 2:13 pm
So according to #2 we can deduce that Robin was the pitcher and Batman was the catcher.
posted by sluggo on 3-20-2008 at 7:46 pm
^donner: Not only did Adam West voice Quahog’s Mayor, he also provided the voice of Batman in a subsequent animated project (along with Burt Ward as Robin) during the late 70s.
How about the Aunt Harriet character? She wasn’t part of the comics continuity yet was introduced into the TV series in an attempt to counter the popular urban legend back then that Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson were engaged in a homosexual relationship.
Holy Joel Schumacher!
posted by Peter on 3-21-2008 at 1:07 am
Don’t you just love it when some people don’t have anything better to do that correct spelling errors in blogs and articles? Nothing to contribute, everything to criticize. Must be a democrat :)
Great article. Campy batman was great to watch. Simpler times for us, great fun for the playground.
posted by Gibson on 3-21-2008 at 12:01 pm
Don’t you just love it when some people don’t have anything better to do than resort to using a political party to insult someone?
posted by Fountainhead on 3-22-2008 at 1:14 am
I still say that the Batmobile from the 60’s T.V. show is far better then any of the movies.
posted by Walter Nielsen on 3-24-2008 at 11:42 am
The Batmobile was the focus of one of the Drew Carey Show episodes….He won it in a contest but it was eventually taken away from him at the end of the show because he defiled it….LOL
posted by Alan on 4-10-2008 at 5:58 am
I agree with Walter Nielsen.
Can’t understand why some think of homosexuality in the series: they are probably perverts themselves to be able to see something that is not there.
Regards from Down Under (Australia)
posted by John Greenland on 7-6-2008 at 5:18 am
Batman the TV show was popular when I was around 13. I saw an ad or special offer somewhere that read “Send $1.00 and this receipt or box-top and receive a signed 8×10 glossy of Batman and Robin” well I sent the receipt or box-top and forgot the dollar! I received the 8×10 and a note saying “You forgot the dollar but Batman and Robin wanted you to have their photo anyway”!! Can you believe it?? That’s pretty cool!!
posted by Pete on 7-8-2008 at 11:08 am
One has to be a “pervert” to think of homosexuality? Especially when these two guys are shacked up together? What friggin’ century are you in? Hey John from “down under,” do us a favor and stay there.
posted by inhighspeed on 8-7-2008 at 9:46 pm
>>So according to #2 we can deduce that Robin was the pitcher and Batman was the catcher.
I for certain that we can deduce that Robin was the Batter! :)
posted by Bucky Moran on 10-1-2008 at 3:46 pm