‘Batman’, the 60s TV series starring Adam West as the Caped Crusader, is heading to DVD and Blu-Ray for the first time ever.
TV show host Conan O’Brien broke the news in a tweet. “Very excited @WBHomeEnt is releasing the Batman ’66 Complete TV Series in 2014! The seat smells like Adam West,” he announced to his 9.7 million followers.
Very excited @WBHomeEnt is releasing the Batman '66 Complete TV Series in 2014! The seat smells like Adam West: http://t.co/cqWjlpW1Gn
— Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien) January 15, 2014
The Batman series has never been released in any format including video.
The TV series ran for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to March 14, 1968. In that time 120 episodes were produced.
The show aired twice a week with the first show always the cliff-hanger and the second the conclusion. The show was cancelled after its third season because of poor ratings. However, in re-runs, it became a cult classic.
Adam West starred as millionaire Bruce Wayne whose parents were murdered by criminals and he took on the anonymous Batman character to fight crime. Now at age 85, West is the voice of Mayor Adam West in the cartoon series ‘Family Guy’.
Burt Ward played Dick Grayson, Batman’s sidekick Robin. After Batman he was typecast and never had a major role again. He has returned to play Robin in the 2003 telemovie ‘Return To The Batcave’.
Fun Fact: Burt Ward recorded with Frank Zappa
At the height of Batman’s popularity Burt Ward recorded with Frank Zappa. Zappa produced a series of tracks with Ward. ‘Boy Wonder, I Loved You’, written by Zappa, was released as a single backed with ‘Orange Coloured Sky’ in 1966. Two other tracks ‘Teenage Bill of Rights’ and ‘Autumn Love’ have never been released.
Burt Ward – Boy Wonder, I Love You
The Batman series also had a series of celebrity villains played by Vincent Price, Joan Collins, Liberace, Ethal Merman, Roddy McDowell and on separate occasions both Carolyn Jones and John Astin, who played Mortica and Gomez Addams in The Addams Family.
Recurring villains
Frank Gorshin (Seasons 1 & 3) and John Astin (Season 2) as Riddler
Burgess Meredith as Penguin
Cesar Romero as Joker
Julie Newmar (Seasons 1 & 2), Eartha Kitt (Season 3), and Lee Meriwether (movie) as Catwoman
George Sanders, Otto Preminger and Eli Wallach as Mr. Freeze
Anne Baxter as Zelda The Great
David Wayne as Jervis Tetch / Mad Hatter
Malachi Throne as False-Face
Victor Buono as Prof. William McElroy / King Tut
Roddy McDowall as Bookworm
Art Carney as Archer
Van Johnson as Minstrel
Shelley Winters as Ma Parker
Walter Slezak as Clock King
Vincent Price as Egghead
Liberace as Chandell and Harry
Carolyn Jones as Marsha, Queen of Diamonds
Cliff Robertson as Shame
Maurice Evans as Puzzler
Michael Rennie as Sandman
Roger C. Carmel as Colonel Gumm
Tallulah Bankhead as Black Widow
Joan Collins as Siren
Ethel Merman as Lola Lasagne
Milton Berle as Louie the Lilac
Rudy Vallée as Lord Marmaduke Ffogg
Glynis Johns as Lady Penelope Peasoup
Barbara Rush as Nora Clavicle
Dina Merrill as Calamity Jan
Ida Lupino as Dr. Cassandra Spellcraft
Howard Duff as Cabala
Zsa Zsa Gabor as Minerva
Warner Video is yet to announce a release date for the Batman series.
Batman Theme
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