Why No 1960s Batman TV Series on VHS, DVD, etc.?

[TGTheodore]

Regarding the residuals questions, famous cameos were usually done for scale back then, and most likely just a one or two-run payment.

Only really smart people like Sheldon Leonard, Danny Thomas, Lucille Ball, Carl Reiner, Andy Griffith and Dick Van Dyke actually got long term "pieces" of their early TV shows.

Regular residuals for major cast members really didn't start on a wide level until around 1969/1970 with the advent of the Norman Lear shows, the MTM shows, etc.

--Ted

 

[N-121973]

In my experience, the Adam West Batman is a show that you love as a serious adventure series when you're a kid, then dismiss as silly and campy when you reach adolescence and want to take everything seriously, then love again when you're fully grown up and finally figure out that it was a sitcom and was intentionally silly and campy, not to mention quite clever and subversive at times.

My experience exactly, though I haven't had the opportunity to revisit more than the theatrical film as an adult. I absolutely worshipped this show in my mid-single digits...there was literally nothing cooler or more exciting in the world to me then. Then the long years when I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole. Recently, I bought the movie from a bargain bin for the hell of it, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Now I can once again appreciate the fact that this series, and this series alone, is responsible for having started my lifelong obsession with super-hero comics.

I'm curious to know if anyone else had the same experience--Was the Batman TV show primarily responsible for getting you into comics?

In answer to your question, absolutely, this is how I discovered the character. I didn't even realise that there were Batman comics until by chance. I used to watch the show every Saturday morning as a kid as part of something called TISWAS (Brits over a certain age on these boards will know what I'm talking about). I had several different copies of the Batmobile made by Corgi and it was when I was 6 or 7 my favourite tv show. At the moment I'm tivo-ing the show on BBC4 and watching both parts back to back on Saturday mornings as a sentimental reminder of my youth.
Speaking of old TV shows that should be on DVD, I think Disney should release the colourised editions of the old Guy Williams Zorro show from the 50s on DVD. I've watched a few clips of the colourised episodes on Youtube recently and they're quite good. Like Batman it was something I used to watch on Saturday mornings.

 

[The Old Mixer]

In answer to your question, absolutely, this is how I discovered the character. I didn't even realise that there were Batman comics until by chance.

Same here! In the U.S., the show could be found in weekday afternoon syndication in the mid-'70s. I knew what a comic book was--I think there were some Caspers and Richie Rich's around the house--but I've always distinctly remembered the day that I was browsing through the comic books at the local supermarket and had the epiphany of a lifetime--"Mommy! It's Batman--in a comic book!"

http://en.dcdatabaseproject.com/Detective_Comics_450

I own a copy today, though not my original. Cover date August 1975--would have come out around May. I would have been 5, finishing nursery school (an optional pre-kidnergarten at my elementary school). Yes, I could read it, thanks to a Grandma who taught me very early...though I didn't understand all the words.

My first exposure to Supes was the George Reeves appearance on I Love Lucy--none of my local channels were playing Adventures of Superman reruns at the time--followed by Super Friends. SF was also a strong influence, as I remember some of my subsequent early purchases being issues of Justice League of America and Flash (who I knew from a guest appearance on SF back when it was the big five with Wendy, Marvin, & Wonder Dog).

 

[Lookingglassman]

I loved that series when it was on. I would buy it on DVD.

 

[Galactus]

I know many older people who too this day say this is Batman to them. They dislike greatly the dark knight as he is today. To me if you take away the silliness and jokes you end up with BTAS.

 

[Michael]

I love this series and would definitely buy the DVDs.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

I understand that both Batman and the Green Hornet series are both held back from release, both series were produced by William Dozier. It is suspected, but no one confirms, that it's Dozier's estate that is holding everything up.

 

[cardinal biggles]

Even though I really love the darker take of the Burton and Nolan films, and really liked TAS, I would buy this in a heartbeat if it ever came out on DVD.

 

[Cmndr J Crichton]

It will come out eventually. The Dark Knight continues to smash records at the box office, I wouldn't be suprised that it comes out when TDK comes out on DVD and Blu Ray. Perhaps they're waiting for Blue Ray finalization! BTW, seen TDK three times now, and plan to see it a few times more before it leaves the theater!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Regarding the residuals questions, famous cameos were usually done for scale back then, and most likely just a one or two-run payment.

Only really smart people like Sheldon Leonard, Danny Thomas, Lucille Ball, Carl Reiner, Andy Griffith and Dick Van Dyke actually got long term "pieces" of their early TV shows.

Regular residuals for major cast members really didn't start on a wide level until around 1969/1970 with the advent of the Norman Lear shows, the MTM shows, etc.

The Wiki link for the series says that some of these cameos were done as uncredited, unpaid walk-ons. How, if any, would this complicate the rights issues?

 

[Professor Zoom]

Regarding the residuals questions, famous cameos were usually done for scale back then, and most likely just a one or two-run payment.

Only really smart people like Sheldon Leonard, Danny Thomas, Lucille Ball, Carl Reiner, Andy Griffith and Dick Van Dyke actually got long term "pieces" of their early TV shows.

Regular residuals for major cast members really didn't start on a wide level until around 1969/1970 with the advent of the Norman Lear shows, the MTM shows, etc.

The Wiki link for the series says that some of these cameos were done as uncredited, unpaid walk-ons. How, if any, would this complicate the rights issues?

That's what he's saying: it probably isn't the complication.

Probably the real complication is ownership between Fox and WB, maybe Dozier...

And now with the Watchman case...the relations between Fox and WB isn't great...

 

[Christopher]

The Wiki link for the series says that some of these cameos were done as uncredited, unpaid walk-ons. How, if any, would this complicate the rights issues?

It wouldn't. If they weren't credited or paid appearances in the first place, the performers in question couldn't get any residuals, ever. An extra cut of nothing is still nothing. And as stated, even most performers back then who were credited and paid didn't get residuals specified in their contracts.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The Wiki link for the series says that some of these cameos were done as uncredited, unpaid walk-ons. How, if any, would this complicate the rights issues?

It wouldn't. If they weren't credited or paid appearances in the first place, the performers in question couldn't get any residuals, ever.

The Wiki link goes on to say that since some of the cameos were unpaid and uncredited, Fox has no home video clearances for them. Is this just inaccuracy on Wiki's part, then?

 

[Christopher]

I don't know, I'm not an expert. I don't see why there would be rights issues, but these things can be crazy, so maybe I'm wrong. Or maybe they're wrong.

 

[nx1701g]

The Wiki link for the series says that some of these cameos were done as uncredited, unpaid walk-ons. How, if any, would this complicate the rights issues?

It wouldn't. If they weren't credited or paid appearances in the first place, the performers in question couldn't get any residuals, ever.

The Wiki link goes on to say that since some of the cameos were unpaid and uncredited, Fox has no home video clearances for them. Is this just inaccuracy on Wiki's part, then?

I could understand the no video clearances on them because there was no video back then. As for the cameos I can understand that being something that holds things up.

 

[Sephiroth]

the truth is, that I own the DVD rights to batman TCS, and i have buried the originals in my back yard

 

[The Old Mixer]

Well, it's not DVD, but...

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=92496A419A16E202

 

[RandyS]

I love this series and would definitely buy the DVDs.

So do I, and so would I.

What I've never understood is why the fans of a more serious Batman (which I admittedly, am one), don't see this show for what it is: a spoof. Everything under the sun has been spoofed at one time or another, and this show was simply Batman's turn.

I think of it like this: Batman 1966 is to "serious" Batman, what Spaceballs was to Star Wars.

 

[The Old Mixer]

^Speaking from my own experience, it's because this show dominated the popular perception of what Batman was for over two decades. There was a time when, in the minds of "serious" Batman fans, it had to be brought down to make way for something more definitive.

But that time is long past. The "Dark Knight" Batman has been dominant for two decades now, and Batman '66 is no threat to that.

 

[RandyS]

^Speaking from my own experience, it's because this show dominated the popular perception of what Batman was for over two decades. There was a time when, in the minds of "serious" Batman fans, it had to be brought down to make way for something more definitive.

But that time is long past. The "Dark Knight" Batman has been dominant for two decades now, and Batman '66 is no threat to that.

Well, if the 66 show is no threat to that, then release the damn DVD's already......