Batman The Dark Knight - The Movie

Lewis Wilson - Batman 1943

Lewis Wilson was the first man to bring Batman to life on screen. in 1943 he played the caped crusader in the 15 part movie serial "The Batman."

While the Batman costume was pathetically laughable by todays standards (keep in mind this is before our entry into WW II and they didn't have lycra back then), Wilson still managed to do a decent role of diferentiating playboy Bruce Wayne from the dark and brooding Batman. Good job Lewis.

The Lewis Wilson Batman serial was eventually released to VHS, and now dvd. Having been filmed during World War II the original version had dialogue that, by todays standards, would be politically incorrect, which makes you want to watch it even more, and it also included an abundance of Japanese villains. Ko Nichi WAAAA!!!

In 1949 Batman returned to the serial screen in the sequel "Batman and Robin" which featured an entirely different cast. Robert Lowery was now Batman for another 15 episodes, where the dynamic duo fought some freak villain called The Wizard. ooooohhhhh... he's gonna Gitchya!!

Unfortunately, the 1949 serial also introduced the lame character that was later revived in the Michael Keaton Batman... Vicki Vale, Bruce Wayne's girl-reporter love interest. ... sigh...

If you want to tell the difference between Lowery and Wilson, Lowery is the one that appears with Robin and his bat symbol is smaller and rides lower on his chest than Wilson's.

Adam West - Batman 1966

Adam West played Batman on the ABC Batman TV series for 2½ seasons from January 12, 1966 to March 14, 1968.

Adam West's Batman/ Bruce Wayne was a zealot for all things wholesome and good. He routinely spouted proverbs to his castmates heralding patriotism, civil obedience, and the American way. He was superb in his delivery.

Such over-the-top dialogue continues to be the style some associate with the Batman character despite it being the least reflective of the Batman mythos as it is known today in the comics and recent movies. The series was, however, reflective of the character as portrayed in comics in the late 1950s and early 1960s, before editor Julius Schwartzrevamped the books, removing much of the silliness.

The tv show revolved around the adventures of the crimefighter Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) in Gotham City. Batman's secret identity was as a debonair "millionaire philanthropist" who lived outside the city in "stately Wayne Manor" with his young ward Dick Grayson and faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth, and Aunt Harriet Cooper (Madge Blake.

I know, I know, there was no Aunt Harriet in the comics, but that's artistic license for you. Aunt Harriet was supposed to be Dick Grayson's, not Wayne's, biological aunt, though this fact was mentioned only a few times during the second season.