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Topic starter
03/11/2024 12:47 am
Hey, I realized that I've not shared one of my Coffee Talks in awhile. Tonight prompted a monumental one. Enjoy!
COFFEE TALK #100
EXCUSE ME, I'M TAKING A TRIP!
It is said that we can't go back in the past. Though photos and our memories often take us there. TONIGHT on MeTV they premiered the FIRST episode of BATMAN.
It was Wednesday January 12, 1966 all over again for me! I was 14 years old and at the height of enjoying my Batman comic books. Of all the superhero's, the Caped Crusader was (and still is) my favorite. He wasn't super, though he did have a secret identity, hiding his face under a mask (of course). No super-powers you say? Nope, just a man who witnessed the killing of his parents when he was a mere boy, who vowed on their graves that he would bring their slayer to justice and then continue an onslaught on crime to keep all of Gotham City safe.
When ABC-TV announced in late November 1965 that they'd started production on a "live action" series featuring Batman, I couldn't wait until that TV debut day! The first episode in "living color", was still uncommon for television shows, showcased the most vibrant rainbow of color that our minds could only imagine when viewing black & white shows of the day. The show being adapted from a comic book, the colors were bold, bright and in your face radiant. So here it was, the much anticipated debut.
We were introduced to millionaire Bruce Wayne, the real alter-ego of Batman, his young Ward, Dick Grayson, who was his side-kick Robin, the Boy Wonder. Then there was Bruce's butler Alfred (Pennyworth), Dick's aunt Harriet (Cooper), Police Commissioner (James) Gordon, and a new character Chief O'Hara. And how about Wayne Manor, the Batcave, the Batmobile, the red Bat-Phone and the Bat-Signal in the sky! WOW! Finally, and certainly not the least, we got the villainous Riddler (real comic book name Edward Nigma).
All of this blazed in to our living rooms on that chilly January night and for the next three seasons, the country was completely Bat-Crazy! Not only were there the comic books, but also bubble-gum, trading cards, records, cups, clothing, and, and, and, the list was endless!
TONIGHT on MeTV with that FIRST episode airing, I was 14 years old again! Who says we can't go back in time and visit the past? I watched tonight wide-eyed and felt the same flutter in my (now older) heart that I felt 58 years ago.
Yup, the past is possible! Oh and one more thing, Lorraine watched this MeTV first Batman with me tonight and we were reminded that the January 12, 1966 Batman debut was exactly 8 years before we got married on January 12, 1974. HOLY COINCIDENCE!
NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, BATMAN!
This issue of Batman from May 1965 was the basis for the first Batman TV episode
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
Topic starter
03/11/2024 9:30 am
The Riddler is "Ed Nigma"....love it.
I always thought the name was cool too. Interesting that the TV show never went in to the full names I share, but the comics sometimes did. The villains on TV's version never revealed their real names.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
John Kuvakas and Jack Dodds reacted
Topic starter
03/11/2024 9:32 am
Enjoyed your Batman recollections.
Thanks Bob! I think being a car guy, it was the TV Batmobile that was my favorite. When my young 14 year old eyes seen it take off out of the Bat-Cave on the show, I got the biggest flutter.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
John Kuvakas and Jack Dodds reacted
03/11/2024 10:48 am
I was only 9 years old when Batman premiered on TV, and I'm pretty sure (not 100%) I watched that first episode. I do remember that we got a color TV before a lot of my friend's families did, but the exact year now escapes me. My two most vivid TV moments were the assissination of JFK and watching Walter Cronkite cover it. The other is the Beatles appearance on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. I'm sure I watched other TV "firsts", just can't remember them all.
John Kuvakas and Steve Jacobs reacted
03/11/2024 11:10 am
'65 & '66 I was in VN and could not watch, when I did finally see an episode I disliked it. Too korney!
Steve Jacobs reacted
Topic starter
03/11/2024 3:17 pm
'65 & '66 I was in VN and could not watch, when I did finally see an episode I disliked it. Too korney!
Not all shows are for everyone. Interesting though that you didn't find the "campy" way Batman was presented on the show didn't tickle your funny bone. I'd say you might be the minority on this one. Kids loved it because of the super-hero comic book shenanigans and the adults loved seeing one funny scene or hearing one funny comment after the other.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
John Kuvakas reacted
03/11/2024 4:25 pm
@georgeschire You said it, kids liked it and by that time I was not a kid anymore. I am a realist, fantasys have never interested me. Like good Sci-Fi's though. To each their own!
Steve Jacobs reacted
03/11/2024 5:21 pm
Good timing, George! Just today, I ordered this Batman beanbag chair for my 4-year old grandson, who LOVES Batman. I've lost count of how many Batman figures and Batmobiles I've bought for him. They make them from all different eras, from the comic books, TV show, various animated series, and movie versions!
Barry Levittan
Long Island, NY
John Kuvakas reacted
Topic starter
03/11/2024 9:05 pm
Not including my actual comic book collection, I also have over 200 hardcover Batman, Superman, and Daredevil books. As you can see, between this collection, my comic books and my wrestling collection, I have absolutely no problem staying a kid at heart.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
04/11/2024 2:47 am
Not including my actual comic book collection, I also have over 200 hardcover Batman, Superman, and Daredevil books. As you can see, between this collection, my comic books and my wrestling collection, I have absolutely no problem staying a kid at heart.
Goodonya George! Thats great!
John Kuvakas reacted
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