While Kevin Conroy is the Batman that made the biggest impression on me as a kid, he wasn’t my first. That honor goes to Adam West, back before I realized that Batman was a comic book character with a long history in pop culture. I, like many others, have a soft spot for Adam West as the Caped Crusader, from the over-the-top cliffhangers his episodes tended to end on to, well, moments like this:
“Television peaked in 1967,” writes book and poster designer Daniel Benneworth-Gray. The thread features other classic series like Lost in Space, Speed Racer, and The Avengers (the British spy series, not the Marvel team). The clips are truly a sight to behold, whether you’re a part of that generation of television or not, but it’s Adam West going from “Bruce Wayne” to “Batman” that has truly brightened my day.
Here’s a brief summary of what’s going on in the clip, which comes from the Batman episode, “Ice Spy.”
Mr. Freeze moves his hideout to a location under the Bruce Wayne Ice Arena and then sends his homing seal to Police Headquarters with a note demanding that Bruce Wayne makes a televised broadcast at midnight saying that Mr. Freeze will be paid a ransom. Also, Batman and Robin will need to be ready at midnight to act as intermediaries. Commissioner Gordon calls Batman while Chief O’Hara simultaneously calls Bruce Wayne.
A homing seal? Mr. Freeze, I’m gonna need you to chill.
I’ll call Batman on the Red Phone
The Commissioner and Chief O’Hara work fast to call Batman and Bruce Wayne at the same time. Makes sense. I’m with you so far. Bruce (as Batman) answers the red phone while Dick Grayson answers the regular one, making sure to tell Bruce (as Bruce) that the police chief is on the line. In a true showing of his quick thinking, Bruce (as Batman) puts the Commissioner on hold while he talks to the police chief.
But then—dramatic pause—the chief comes up with the brilliant idea to PUT THE TWO PHONES TOGETHER so Bruce and Batman can talk to each other. Now, I’m not gonna pretend like I know how these old phones worked since, well, I wasn’t born yet, but is such a thing even possible? Apparently, it is! The sound between the two phones is SO good that the Commissioner and Chief O’Hara can hear the conversation that Bruce (as Bruce) has with Bruce (as Batman)!
I think the seal is barking to call bullshit on the technique. Or the seal is barking for attention. Either of those is a logical explanation.
Watching Adam West switch from Batman to Bruce Wayne is so hilariously charming. My favorite part is when Batman admonishes Bruce Wayne for questioning his “risky” plan, leading to Bruce complimenting Batman and saying how he has faith in him. “I hope Robin and I are deserving of that faith,” says Batman, because he’s a humble kind of guy.
So dissimilar, and yet …
Once Batman finishes talking to Bruce Wayne, the phones are hung up and Commissioner Gordon reflects on how the two are polar opposites who share similarities with one another. I adore the fond look in Chief O’Hara’s eyes and the deep, appreciative sighs like he’s two seconds away from drawing the two “fine men” in a notebook that he hopes his parents won’t see. The Commissioner’s dialogue here is so on the nose that it’s quaint, and really, it’s the perfect time capsule of what television was like in 1967.
Take that, Clark Kent glasses!
From now on, when we ask Batman actors to recite iconic lines from the Dark Knight’s history, we should insist that they do this scene.
(Image: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment)
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Published: Mar 16, 2022 01:55 pm