Batman had been popular with kids since his introduction as a comic book character in 1939 but it was the 1966 television series which really made him a sensation. While there had been previous comic book heroes who made the jump to the small screen Batman’s 1966 debut came along at the perfect time.

Color televisions were gaining popularity at the time and Batman’s production department used the new color medium to its fullest potential. The vibrant colors of the characters and sets practically leapt off the TV screen. And if you only had an old black and white set that was fine because the campy playfulness of the exotic villains like Lee Meriwether’s “The Catwoman” and Burgess Meredith‘s “The Joker” more than made up for the lack of color. 120 episodes and one full-length movie were produced before the series ended in 1968. The program demonstrated once and for all that comic book characters could be translated to live action and be able to appeal to an audience of adults as well as kids. The influence and legacy of the 1966-68 Batman series lasts to this day.

Offered here is a series of five Type III studio photos dating from 1966 the first year of the Batman series. The first photo of the group shows Adam West and Burt Ward in their Batman and Robin finery preparing to take on the bad guys. The second photo depicts the “Cast of Dastardly Villains” including Lee Meriwether as “The Catwoman” Burgess Meredith as “The Penguin” Cesar Romero as “The Joker” and Frank Gorshin as “The Riddler.” The third photo is an action shot of Batman and Robin in the Batmobile using the (for its time) futuristic car phone. The fourth photo features “The Catwoman” and “The Penguin” no doubt planning some dastardly caper. The fifth and final photo of the series shows “The Penguin” “The Riddler” and “The Joker” conspiring around a console of sound equipment. Each of the photos from the set measures 8” x 10” and show light toning throughout. The backs are all blank. A fantastic series of Type III publicity photos courtesy of 20th Century-Fox that show all the characters that made the 1960s Batman series so unforgettable. Each photograph has been encapsulated and graded Type III by PSA/DNA.