Holy Hit TV Show! Batman! The Original Show!

After spending months building sets, hiring actors and filming their new “Batman” TV series, ABC brought in a test audience to watch the first episode. Each member of the test group sat before a control panel that allowed them to dial up or down to show their approval or disapproval of the show.

The first episode of “Batman” scored in the upper 40s. ABC was horrified — it had hoped for considerably higher numbers than that. But it was too late. ABC was out of options.

“Batman” debuted on Jan. 12, 1966 — 60 years ago next week. To the surprise of just about everyone, the show turned out to be an huge hit for ABC.

Bringing The Caped Crusaders to Television

ABC was in a bind. Ratings were poor and viewership was dropping. The network needed new television programming and it needed it fast. It was considering a weekly series for children, along the lines of “Adventures of Superman” or “The Lone Ranger.” They were considering Dick Tracy, the Phantom or Little Orphan Annie.

Producers had optioned the rights to the comic book hero “Batman,” who hadn’t starred in movies or on TV since movie serials made in 1943. DC Comics made a deal with ABC, which then hired 20th Century Fox to produce a series around the character.

Fox hired producer William Dozier, who hadn’t read comic books when he was younger and had no great love for Batman. After reading a number of the silly Batman comics that were published in the early 1960s, Dozier decided the way to go was to turn Batman into a pop-art camp-

humor comedy.

This was not what ABC had signed on for. But never mind that. “What we had on ‘Batman’ was an exaggerated seriousness that became amusing to adults,” Dozier said later, “and provided high adventure for the youngsters.”

Two screen tests for lead actors were filmed. One featured Lyle Waggoner and Peter Deyell as Batman and Robin, respectively. The other starred Adam West and Burt Ward. Dozier had seen West play wink-at-the-viewer style humor as a James Bond-type agent in a Nestlé Quik commercial. Dozier selected West and Ward to star in his TV show.

Adam West's TV ad for Nestlé Quick

The original plan was to make a full-length “Batman” movie that would introduce the characters and then for the TV series to launch in the fall of 1966. But ABC’s need for programming was urgent. It moved up the premiere of “Batman” to January and pushed back the movie.

This caused additional headaches: Dozier had been working on hour long episodes. But the slots ABC needed filling were only 30 minutes each. It was decided to split each “Batman” story into two, divided by a “death trap” cliffhanger. Part two would air the next night. Viewers would be invited to tune in to the “Same Bat time, same Bat channel.”

“Batman” debuted on Jan. 12, 1966, as a midseason replacement series. Ratings went through the roof. The series would be nominated for three Emmy Awards: Outstanding Comedy Series, Sound Editing and Best Supporting Actor (for Frank Gorshin’s performance as the Riddler).

After 34 episodes — or 17 two-part stories — were completed, 20th Century Fox pivoted to shoot a feature-length Batman movie that was released in theaters on July 30.

Only after the movie was in the can did production dive into another 60 episodes for season two. “Batman” converted into 26 one-hour episodes for its third and final season.

'Atomic Batteries To Power ... Turbines To Speed ...'

One of the reasons for the popularity of “Batman” was the A-list actors who were hired to play the show’s laughable villains. José Ferrer was cast as the Joker but backed out before filming started. Frank Sinatra was interested in playing the part but couldn't work it into his schedule. Cesar Romero got the part but refused to shave his mustache.

The original choice to play Catwoman was Suzanne Pleshette. Actor, dancer and singer Julie Newmar played the part in two episodes of Season 1 but was unavailable for the movie, so Lee Meriwether played Catwoman. Newmar returned for 11 episodes of Season 2 but then left to film “MacKenna’s Gold.” Eartha Kitt was brought in for Season 3.

Mickey Rooney turned down the role of the Penguin. Spencer Tracy said he’d do it only if he could kill Batman. Burgess Meredith got the part but hadn’t smoked in 20 years. He developed the Penguin’s trademark “quacking” to help disguise the throat irritation he suffered from cigarette smoke. Meredith appeared in 20 episodes.

Frank Gorshin had been a Batman fan since childhood, so he was delighted to take on the role of the Riddler. Gorshin appeared in eight episodes of Season 1 plus the “Batman” movie. His agents asked for more money for Season 2, so he was replaced in the Riddler’s one appearance that season by John Astin, who was more famous for his role in “The Addams Family.”

Burt Ward complained in his autobiography that he was paid only $350 a week for Season 1 and had suffered a number of injuries from accidents during filming. Producers wanted him to take pills to reduce the size of his “package.” In 1967, Ward was offered the starring role in “The Graduate” but ABC wouldn’t let him out of his contract.

One of the silliest — and, yes, best-loved — elements of “Batman” were the sound effects superimposed on the screen during the inevitable fight scenes. Eighty-eight word overlays were used a total of 832 times over the show’s 120 episodes and the movie. “Kapow!” was used 54 times while “Boff!” and “Pow!” were seen 53 times each.

For Season 3, producers added another crimefighting character: Batgirl. Mary Ann Mobley, who had appeared in two Elvis Presley films, was the first choice to play Batgirl. Actor and dancer Yvonne Craig won the role and did most her own stunts — including riding a motorcycle. Craig would also guest-star in other TV series, including a role in green body paint in “Star Trek.”

ABC planned to trim costs for Season 3 by eliminating the characters of Robin and Police Chief O’Hara. Dozier and West voiced strong objections, so ABC canceled the show. NBC offered to pick up the series and to run it on Friday nights along with “Tarzan” and “Star Trek,” but the sets had already been destroyed. It would cost too much to rebuild them, so NBC dropped its plans.