In the over 50 since the Batman television series first premiered its reputation as a camp classic has only grown exponentially. Anchored by lead performances by Adam West (as the Caped Crusader) and Burt Ward (as Robin) that are so tongue-in-cheek its amazing that both actors didn’t have serious jaw problems, the show helped embed Batman into the public’s consciousness. Admittedly, this writer prefers the light-hearted adventures in Gotham City that this show presents to the super dark exploits that have come to define the character in contemporary times, so your mileage may vary in terms of how beloved the program is to you.
One thing that pretty much everyone can agree on is that the title sequence to Batman is an absolute thing of beauty. Neal Hefti’s theme is a Pavlovian piece of music that makes listeners drool nostalgia. Paired with comic book imagery and action words exploding on to the screen, this is a captivating sequence that demands the viewer’s attention. See for yourself:
And here’s the end title sequence:
Regardless of how you feel about the good/harm that the series did to the character of Batman himself, you’ve got to admit that the title sequence biffs, bangs, and pows its way into the hearts of even the most jaded of Batfans. It seems that the citizens of Gotham are in good hands — then, now, and always!