REMEMBERING ADAM WEST
L.A. honors the Bright Knight, Adam West.
This has been a tough year for Bat-fans, such as myself. Hollywood icon Adam West left us to answer the Big Bat-Signal in the sky July 9th, 2017, and my world was turned upside down. Since that day, one of my journalistic goals was to ask everyone I met how they felt about Adam. Do you have any thoughts or memories, did he influence you at all? One of the Goals of this web site is to honor Mr. West, and share those recollections.
This past summer at SDCC 2018 I had a rare opportunity for a nickel and dime vigilante such as myself, to meet and talk to alot people about Adam West. Some you will recognize from various industries. There are those that have spent their entire lives celebrating his role as the Batman, while others who only know his hilarious turn as Quahog’s Mayor. I tried to ask each individual if they could “Describe Adam West in 5 words.” Now, I met folks from all walks of life and tax brackets, and not many could do it. Emotions swelled each time I asked and ever answer was heartfelt.
After a pause, everyone exceeded the allowed 5 words, and some just outright said “No, 5 words is not enough!”
A few of the people I spoke with have known Adam for years, and are fortunate enough to call him a friend. Voice actor extraordinaire Wally Wingert has had a personal relationship with Adam for 35 years, and helped make him one of the later Costumes he would use for appearances. He had this to say about his friend,
“I still haven’t really shed a tear over this, because he had such a darn great life and he accomplished so much, and he had a really good run. He made a lot of people happy. I’m sure he’s in a really great place right now getting his eternal reward. He is just so great to people and nobody really ever said a bad word about him, anybody that I have ever met who has worked with him has ever said anything bad about him. Its just nice to know that the first time I saw him at conventions people were actually laughing at him behind his back. 'Oh look, it’s this guy Adam West.' And I didn’t understand what they were talking about. Then when I saw him at COMIC CON a couple years ago when the DVD (Blu Ray) was released, it was just standing ovations in Hall H (I was there) everyone was on their feet. Between that and Mayor West and all the great stuff he had done, finally it just took decades for people to finally start to understand his humor. And I’ve always said Adam West was an under rated comedic genius that people just didn’t quite understand yet. But thanks to Seth MacFarlane and the great writers on family guy. They got him, they could write for him."
While reminiscing about his sense of humor Wally recalled the funniest thing Adam had ever said to him.
On his way out the door to perform at a party as Batman, Wally's phone kept ringing, "So, I ran back inside and picked up the phone- Hello? He goes 'Wally, what are you doing?' Oh hey Adam, I was straightening up. I was just headed out the door in my Batman costume to go do a birthday party. 'Have you ever done it in the Batsuit?' I said what? 'Have you ever done it in the Batsuit? You've got to try it, it's great.' I said No, I'll keep that in mind Adam." "His sense of humor was way out there, on another level."
"He would say some of that stuff and people would think he was a jerk, and the you realize he's not really saying it for real, cause its a joke. because he said it so dryly,"
Wally continues, "He didn't do it with a hat and a cane and go hey I'm telling a joke here ladies and gentleman, he would just put that stuff out there."
Towards the end of our converstion, and after careful consideration, Wally was able to boil it down to 5 words.
“ Gracious, Charming, Helpful, Compassionate, and Kind.”
Wally and I waiting for the HOLY HOLLYWOOD HISTORY BATMAN 66 Gala to start.
