{Click on Any Image to View It Full Size in a New Window}
“He is perhaps one of the most idolized and cherished heroes in the world and not just on the pages of comic books,” begins Inquistor.com. “That is exactly why he gets his own day and on Monday, September 26, 2016 it will be Batman Day, which can be celebrated in your own brooding style.”
Sleuth’s style is pretty transparent (above) … though while we've had many mainstream movies and much merchandising in recent years, he wants to concentrate this Batman Day tribute on the culttelevision seriescelebrating its 50th Anniversary this year!
“By 1964,” Wikipedia relates, “sales of Batman comic book titles had fallen drastically.” The character’s co-creator and artist Bob Kane {who partnered with—write your own joke—Bill Finger} revealed that, “as a result, DC Comics was planning to kill Batman off altogether.” Thankfully, “the debut of the Batman TV series in 1966 had a profound effect on the character”—among other updates, “the Batmobile was redesigned, and Batman’s costume was modified to incorporate a yellow ellipse behind the bat insignia.” And tats all it took!
Clearly the beloved show has left its imprint even today …
… yet its immediate effect 50 years ago revolutionized the genre.
“The success of the series increased sales throughout the comic book industry”—which is why movies were then made about Superman, Spiderman and seemingly every other comic figure that they could draw from! And speaking of comic, the appeal was augmented by its campy elements: “The show was noteworthy,” observes Batman Wikia, “for its memorable use of onomatopoeia during climactic fight scenes.”
These words substituting for sounds “served a dual purpose,” explains MethodShop.com. “They helped tie Batman back to its comic book origins while covering up the terribly choreographed fight scenes (most punches never landed near the intended victims).”
And Sleuth can add a third element: They introduced subtle sex to the show—appealing to adults while going over the heads of the kids! Think we’re kidding? Here’s a collage of Sleuth’s four favorite words from the actual fight graphics used in the broadcasts:
Bang, Bonk and Sploosh appeared regularly—along with Wham, Bam and loads of Thank You, Ma’am from our polite heroes—while Boff was actually the third most frequent graphic word, being inserted an amazing 43 times! And it continues to be featured in today’s toys … as Robin—the boy in tights and chartreuse—goes after The Penguin.
“During its first two seasons, the series aired twice a week,” notes Batman Wikia, “with each week featuring a two-part story. As a result, Season 1 aired for 34 episodes, while Season 2 had a massive 60 episodes, at a time when most US prime-time series only aired 25 or so episodes a season. By Season 3, declining ratings prompted the introduction of a third partner to the Bat Family, Barbara Gordon—aka Batgirl.” And these days she’s all the fashion, as embodied by supermodel Adriana Lima.
“Although Batgirl was a popular character”—even to this day …
… “her presence could not save the series -- it was canceled in 1968." Butt it left its mark …
… most memorably by expanding the cast of characters. “Unlike the earlier movie serials of the 1940s,” Batman 60s TV points out, “the TV series was the first Batman project to feature a rogues gallery of villains. Cesar Romero made numerous appearances as The Joker, while Burgess Meredith reinvented the image of The Penguin, with his crooked smile and trademark ‘Squawk.’ Julie Newmar provided Catwoman’s rolling R’s, only to be replaced in the final season by Eartha Kitt.” The last two made the cut for Sleuth’s favorite females from the show, below.
“Ironically,” Wikipedia observes, “the initial woman in the comic book, Batwoman (Katherine Kane) was created in the 1950s, along with original Batgirl Bettie Kane, by Bob Kane as a romantic interest for Batman (and Batgirl as such for Robin), to deter the notion that Batman and Robin were both gay and in a relationship.”
Which led to perhaps the show’s most innuendo-tinged line, uttered by reluctant romeo Robin: “Holy hole in the donut, Batman!”
Which seems the perfect opening for Sleuth to present his Top Ten Hottest ‘Babes of Batman’ to honor the historic series we’re celebrating today.
Indeed, “Gotham’s Got ’Em” … and so do we:
YVONNE CRAIG as Commissioner Gordon’s daughter Barbara, aka Batgirl
The dance prodigy grew too buxom for ballet, later penning an autobio entitled From Ballet to the Batcave andBeyond. Sadly, she died last Fall at age 78.
JULIE NEWMAR as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman (1966-67)
Her mother Helen Jesmer was a Ziegfeld showgirl turned fashion designer—which inspired Julie to “modify her Catwoman costume—now in the Smithsonian Institution—by placing the belt at the hips instead of the waist (above left) to emphasize her hourglass figure.” Later, she picked up a pair of patents for pantyhose that “lifts and separates the buttocks”—which she models purr•fectly above right!
EARTHA KITT as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman (1968)
Bob Kane, an avid movie buff, modeled the character of Catwoman after 1930s film star Jean Harlow who, at his then-impressionable age “seemed to personify feminine pulchritude at its most sensuous.” And, he added: “I always felt that women were feline.” Never one to mask it, Eartha was the quintessential Kitt•en.
TERRY MOORE as The Joker’s {then The Penguin’s} shapely henchwoman, Venus
“Bats is clearly intrigued by Venus,” writes To the Batpoles blogspot. “He was flirting with her long after he would have dismissed the advances of the average moll. Her charms were working on Batman like nobody’s business.” Easy to see why …
JILL ST. JOHN as The Riddler’s henchwoman, Molly
Portrayed in the porn parody by Alexis Texas {see Part 1}, the future wife of Robert Wagner was sent by The Riddler {Frank Gorshin} to kill Batman … but wound up falling for him instead. Brainy Jill “was once measured to have an I.Q. of 162,” but that’s not the stat that caught the Bat!
FRANCINE YORK as The Bookworm’s henchwoman, Lydia Limpet
“One of the more ruthless and incorrigible of the show’s villainesses,” declares Evil Babes Wikia, “she takes a very nefarious part in the schemes of The Bookworm (Roddy McDowell)—planting a ‘book bomb’ in the Batmobile” (above left). And unlike many of the molls, she never sees the light (above right).
Why, even today at age 78, comic fan fave Francine’s still out to ‘Con’ the Batman!
DIANE McBAIN as The Mad Hatter’s henchwoman, Lisa
“Lisa is a ruthless criminal, rather than one of the misled, naïve or only half-heartedly crooked females who featured in the series,” reads one review. “She appears to get a thrill from criminality. There are indications she has a sadistic nature.” Says Surfside 6 star McBain: “It was a fun part to play, it was really cute. Too bad they didn’t develop that character a little more {how much more could our hero take?, below right}. She might have had her own series.”
JUNE WILKINSON as half of Nora Clavicle’s henchwomen, Evilina
Paired with Inge Neilsen (left) as Angelina and dead•icated to helping Nora Clavicle (Barbara Rush) create crime, the D•lightful Wilkinson laughs: “How could I not be a criminal when my character was named Evilina? What comes to mind about doing Batman was that I was sitting in the makeup chair when Adam {West} came in. I had no makeup up on and my hair was all in rollers. Adam was excited. He said to the makeup team, ‘Hey, I think June ‘The Bosom’ Wilkinson is gonna be in this episode! Did you see her pictures in Playboy?’ He was talking about me, not realizing I was in the chair next to him!” Gosh, even as a young brunette, she was hard to miss!
EDY WILLIAMS as a third of Harry’s henchwomen, Rae
The two episodes starring Liberace as both evil Harry and his twin brother Chandell {a play on the pianist’s famous chandeliers} “were the highest rated out of all the TV episodes of Batman.” Perhaps because of his three kilt-wearing villainesses—Doe {January 1959 Playmate Marilyn Hanold}, Rae {Russ Meyer’s future bride Edy Williams} and Mimi {Miss Sweden of 1964, Sivi Aberg}. Evil Edy dressed as a Playboy Bunny to lure Batman and Robin (above), but dressed in her birthday suit for this best-selling, spread-eagled poster (below right).
“There’s nothing like the sun and sea to invigorate the mind,” quipped wanton Williams. “If exhibitionism were a river,” said a scribe, “she’d be the Mississippi.”
LINDA GAYE SCOTT as The Riddler’s henchwoman, Moth
“Moth is a sexy and beautiful blonde in her 20s, who wears a purple catsuit and cape,” is how Evil Babes describes her. “She is a typical henchwoman, only there to be pretty and not a competent villainess. Although she enjoys crime and enacting The Riddler’s diabolical schemes, she is cowardly and learns the hard way that crime does not pay.” Being the heiress to the Scott Paper Company fortune should have …yet To the Batpoles reports that Linda “dropped out of sight in the 1970s and hasn’t acted since. No one knows what happened to her.” Surely she deserves a fitting END.
Ass does this 2-part tribute to Batman Day!
Hope we did him Justice.
