R.I.P. Old Chum

It has been two years since a nation has lost it’s Bright Knight, and it has been a few emotional few days for me to prepare to write a piece about the iconic Adam West. I find it hard to keep a clear head with all these memories and emotions running thru my head. I had a rare opportunity for a nickel and dime vigilante such as myself, to meet and talk to a lot of different people you may recognize from various industries, some who only know his hilarious turn as Quahog’s Mayor, other who have been influenced since childhood. 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. I present here a few of my favorites.

When I asked comedian and Simpsons producer DANA GOULD for his thoughts, he told me “Oh yeah, he was the greatest. I worked with him twice, I adored him. He was as nice as guy as he was talented. I can’t say enough good about him.” When I challenged him to describe West in 5 words he laughed and smiled as he crafted the perfect summary. “ No one more Adam West, than Adam.”

I got to ask BRUCE TIMM (Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League) if he worked “ I did , a long long time ago on an episode called Beware the Gray Ghost, and he played a character called the Gray Ghost. It was one of my childhood dreams to come true to work with Adam West. It was awesome.” I then pressed him for “5 Words, he paused and responded “No. I couldn’t do that . Adam West means so much to me because he was my Batman. He was my gateway when I was a kid. To Superheroes in general. He was the first Batman I ever saw, the first Superhero I ever saw. I love that show dearly. And so he means more to me than I can put in words.”

Burt Ward remembers “Adam was a fantastic guy. A wonderful friend for 52 years. Somebody that my wife and I sorely miss. His humor. I mean, we met 15 minutes before our screen test together. It’s ws kind of interesting because there were 1100 young actors that were interviewed for the part of Robin. I mean, that’s serious competition. And yet Adam and I screen tested together. I don’t think it was by accident, but the point was 15 minutes before we screen tested I was introduced to him. I sat down next to him, and we started to talk. Within 5 minutes the 2 of us were laughing. And we never stopped laughing. We have had a wonderful friendship . he has got the most amazing sense of humor of anybody I have ever met.”

As for MYSELF, I was lucky enough to have met him once, in April of 2016. It was a signing event and my sons and I were deep in the line, Cosplaying as Batman and Robin(s) to meet the legend. I can only imagine his thoughts after 2 hours of signing autographs to see someone strolling up to his table, dressed as a character he played long ago. But he managed to make our brief interaction special. He pointed at me in my Bat suit to his manager Fred and whispered “ I think that’s Bruce Wayne, millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne.” My heart exploded with joy to get recognized by him. And he shook my hand.

RIP Old Chum.