Taking questions as Batman, not as the Mayor of Quahog
Batman came full circle today and I’m talking about the 1966 movie, not Tim Burton’s 1989 best forgotten attempt. Recently, I learned about AC/DC’s first American show being here around 1977 and now it I get hit with this awesome fact…the world premiere of Batman was at the Parmount as repayment to the local company that built the Batboat! Pretty incredible because Austin was just a “sleepy” university town in the Sixties and Fox could’ve gone with major cities while the TV show was a hot property.
So Adam West returned to introduce his most famous movie along with being an honored guest for our recent traditional Bat Fest.
Quick explanation if you don’t about Austin’s famous two-million strong mammals. Underneath the Ann Richards Bridge (or Congress for the GOPers) are a kajillion Mexican free-tailed bats and there’s a colony under the McNeil Road exit along I-35 in Round Rock. Back in the 19th Century, before Pasteur’s findings were understood or believed (sound familiar?), many people around here died from malaria. It was a consequence of living in a warmer, muggy climate like DC, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, etc. Lack of air conditioning contributed too, hence the nation’s population shift doesn’t start until the Twenties. One remedy was to make the place attractive to bats. Sure, the “flying mice” are ugly, scary, transmit rabies and Count Dracula heightened their bad reputation but they eat mosquitoes; to the number of 600/day each. Few efforts worked to get them corralled to where they were wanted. Eventually other technologies solved the key problems to Southern living. Then the Congress Avenue Bridge was remodeled in 1980; it becomes Ann Richards after her death. Bats were generally found every bridge here and even nearby caves as Mike Rowe showed for his pilot of Dirty Jobs. After this remodeling, thousands flocked to the bridge. Somehow the new crevices were ideal roosting spots for the bats leading Austin to have the largest urban colony in the world. They make a bitchin’ mascot since the usual ones associated with Texas are predictable: horses, bulls, armadillos, cowboys and the dim-witted 43rd president.
Back to Bat Fest.
It’s usually a weekend filled with music, vendors, etc. Probably stuff to benefit the charity assisting the BCI (a conservation organization). With it being downtown, I tend to avoid it and the city deciding to make you pay for metered parking until midnight and Saturdays doesn’t help.
Having Adam West around to discuss this well-loved film provided the incentive to go for a change. The Paramount had a good print too, barely a scratch. He is looking pretty good as he approaches is 83rd birthday. Adam is also quite witty. Before he came on, he was introduced by Austin’s current mayor Lee Leffingwell to play up the Family Guy angle. Most questions were asked by pre-teens and children. My favorites:
- Will he have a cameo in the upcoming Dark Knight Triumphant as rumors said he was seen entering a London pub. (Probably to meet with British director Christopher Nolan, yet the movies are shot in Chicago.) Adam said, he’d heard that particular rumor but no, he was in London (recently) and was just going into a pub, nothing more. Nolan’s people have never contacted him. He wouldn’t mind though.
- What’s the weirdest line he ever had to say on the show? Catwoman, you cause unusual activity in my utility belt.
- The best…a four-year-old had his dad ask if the shark attack hurt? This made Adam smile and laugh, then he tried to show the scar on his leg. He assured the little boy it worked out as we all know what happened to the shark.
The Batcopter was supposed to be present but it’s stored in New Jersey and Hurricane Irene grounded it. Instead, a Texas-based collector brought the iconic Batmobile! APD cordoned off the stretch of Congress Avenue in front of the Paramount to show it! Batman’s wheels are even more impressive in person.
Batman's sweet ride in the Sixties.
Here's all the cool interior stuff Batman and Robin see when driving, except for the compass on the dash, that reminds me of something silly Grandpa always installed in his cars.
As you can see, the Batmobile is registered in Texas not Gotham City. The "bags" next to the jet exhaust are its drag chutes because this car is fast. Remember, it uses Atomic Power to get the Dynamic Duo places.