Adam West: «If you think the humid Chicago weather is hot, the temperature inside [the Batman costume] was like 140 degrees at all time.»
Holy how time flies, Batman!
It’s been 35 years since Adam West and Burt Ward donned those unforgettable capes and tights and brought to life Batman and Robin, the comic book superheroes battling the forces of evil in Gotham City in the hugely successful television series “Batman.”
The series also featured over-the-top guest-star villains dressed in equally wacky costumes and ridiculous makeup, perpetrating outlandish crimes only to be thwarted in the end by the Caped Crusaders and their arsenal of utility belt weaponry. The show was awash in vivid comic book colors and the now-classic animated exclamations, which gave it a very’ 60s psychedelic and undeniably fun spin.
It was also 35 years ago that theatergoers flocked to “Batman” the movie, the only feature film based on the campy television series. The series aired twice a week (each episode was a two-part cliffhanger) during its first season on ABC, which originally intended to release the feature film before the series began. (Those plans tanked when the network needed a new series to boost sagging ratings) . And what a boost the series was. Every original episode landed in the top 10 for the week, guaranteeing a box office hit for the movie which featured four of the series’ greatest villains: the Penguin (Burgess Meredith) , the Joker (Cesar Romero) , the Riddler (Frank Gorshin) and Catwoman (Lee Meriwether) .
Burt Ward and Adam West in a scene from “Batman: The Movie.” | FILE PHOTO
While the series lives on in syndication, (not to mention its cult classic status) , the movie may have eluded some fans (and the uninitiated curious) . Next week, Fox Home Entertainment will release “Batman: The Movie 35th Anniversary Special Edition” DVD packed with bonus features including a new interview with West and Ward, running commentary by the reunited duo, a tour of the original Batmobile, a behind-the-scenes photo stills gallery and the original theatrical trailers.
West, who splits his time between his farm home in Idaho and a second farm in Washington state, talked to WeekendPlus about the release of the DVD and the undying appeal of the television series.
Actor Adam West attends the “Batman: The Complete Series” DVD release presentation during Comic-Con International the San Diego Convention Center on July 24,2014 in San Diego, California. | Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Adam West attends “Family Guy Another Freakin’ Mobile Game” Live Stream on May 2,2017 in Culver City, California. | Photo by Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for Jam City
