Batman ’66 Unmasked: Myths, Recasts & The Real Story!

In this episode, we’re taking another road trip to Gotham City to pull back the cowl and dig deeper into the Batman '66 TV series exposing the truth behind the myths that have surround the show.
Along the way, we’ll also unravel a few mysteries that have followed it for decades.

Did NBC really try to save it for a fourth season? Batman, Robin and Batgirl all said they did.
Why didn't Julie Newmar appear in the Batman Feature Film?
Why did Eartha Kitt replace Julie Newmar as Catwoman in the 3rd Season?
Why did John Astin from the Addams Family replace Frank Gorshin as the Riddler?
And how did “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells” become an international playground classic?
We'll answer these questions and much more.

To view my first visit to Gotham City check out    • Batmania '66: Holy Flash in the Pan, Batman!  

Batman was produced by William Dozier and Howie Horwitz and developed by Lorenzo Semple jr., starred Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin. Co-stars Neil Hamilton, Stafford Repp, Alan Napier and Madge Blake. It featured great villainous performances by the likes of Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Frank Gorshin, Julie Newmar, Vincent Price, Cliff Robertson, Carolyn Jones, John Astin and Anne Baxter.

“This video is a commentary and historical and educational review of the 1966 Batman TV Series."
Sources & References
• The Official Batman Batbook, Joel Eisner (1986)
• Back to the Batcave, Adam West with Jeff Rovin (1994)
• Boy Wonder: My Life in Tights, Burt Ward with Robert Crane (1995)
• Cinefantastique Magazine, Vol. 24 No. 6 (February 1994) — Article by Bob Garcia. Quotes by Frank Gorshin are from 1989 and courtesy of Kevin Burns, 20th Century Fox Television
• Cinefantastique Magazine, Vol. 25 No. 1 (February 1994) — Interview with Julie Newmar by Bob Garcia
• Letter from William Dozier to Frank Gorshin, May 9 1966 (William Dozier Archives)
• Variety, January 18 1968 — “ABC Cancels Batman”
• Variety, January 26 1968 — “Dozier: ABC Loses Option on Batman”
• The New York Times, January 26 1968 — “ABC, Fox Disagree Over Batman’s Fate”
• Variety, April 19 1966 — “Julie Newmar Bows Out of Batman Feature Due to Back Ailment”
• Variety, May 17 1966 — “Julie Newmar Joins Tony Curtis Film ‘Don’t Make Waves’ at MGM”
• Variety, July 8 1966 — “Julie Newmar Bows Out of ‘Don’t Make Waves’; Sharon Tate Set to Replace”
• 66Batman.com Research Board — confirming no NBC pickup mention
• Television Obscurities — ratings analysis
• ItsAboutTV.com — “This Week in TV Guide” (Nielsen summaries for 1966)
• A&E Biography: Batman – The Series (2000s)
• A&E Biography: Catwoman – Her Many Lives (2004)
• A&E Biography: Julie Newmar (2004) — Segment mentions film absence and back injury
• The Late Show with Ross Shafer (Fox, Apr 1988) — Julie Newmar appearance mentions Season Three absence
• Lawton Constitution, January 3 1967 — First print mention of “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells”
• Rob Weir — Research on "Batman Smells" song origins (robweir.com, 2006; Cracked.com, 2015)
Visual References
Images and screen captures are used for illustrative purposes appear under Fair Use for commentary, criticism, and educational discussion.
Photo of Julie Newmar on the set of Monsieur Lecoq used under license— © Keystone Press / Alamy (Image ID: E0XR2C).


#classictv #dccomics #batman66 #adamwest #batmania #julienewmar #frankgorshin #earthakitt