Julie Newmar: The Unknown Dance Life of Catwoman & Pop Culture Icon | The Rest of the Story | Ep 27

Julie Newmar became iconic as Catwoman in the original Batman TV series — but long before the catsuit, she was a trained dancer under Jack Cole (the father of theatrical jazz), performing in Technicolor musicals and stealing the spotlight on Broadway.

In this episode of The Rest of the Story on the Hey, Dancer! podcast, we uncover her dance roots:

– Ballet at five– Spanish dance with Rita Hayworth’s family– Uncredited roles in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Band Wagon, and more– Breakout stage roles in Li’l Abner and Silk Stockings– Cast (then sidelined) in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers– A full-circle cameo in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar

This is the dance life behind the pop culture legend — and the movement that helped shape an icon across decades.

Conceived, starring, written, and researched by: Miller Daurey

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This video complies with Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, which permits limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education, and research. All third-party footage is used transformatively, accompanied by original narration, verified historical context, and dance-specific analysis. I do not claim ownership of any copyrighted material; all clips are included strictly for educational and documentary purposes, supporting biographical storytelling and cultural commentary.

Films, television appearances, and archival materials featured include:

Julie Newmar: The Cat's Meow (2000, produced by, Kevin Burns)
The I Don’t Care Girl (1953, 20th Century Fox)
Just for You (1952, Paramount Pictures)
She’s Working Her Way Through College (1952, Warner Bros.)
Call Me Madam (1953, 20th Century Fox)
Li’l Abner (1959, Paramount Pictures)
The Twilight Zone (1963, CBS Television)
My Living Doll (1964–65, CBS Television)
Batman (1960s TV series, ABC Television)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954, MGM)
Serpent of the Nile (1953, Columbia Pictures)
Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954, 20th Century Fox)
Slaves of Babylon (1953, Columbia Pictures)
The Band Wagon (1953, MGM)
The Marriage-Go-Round (1961, 20th Century Fox)
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995, Universal Pictures)
The Danny Kaye Show (1963, CBS Television)

All media is used under Fair Use for non-commercial, transformative purposes, including historical documentation, dance education, and biographical analysis.