Richard Crouse

Welcome to the House of Crouse. Batmans come and go. For a time Michael Keaton wore the caped suit. Then in rapid succession Val Kilmer and George Clooney donned the cowl. In recent years Christian Bale and Ben Affleck have been fitted for the Bat-Suit, but of all the actors to have played the Dark Knight, one stands head and shoulders above the rest in our imaginations. For two-and-a-half heady years—and 120 episodes—from 1966 to 1968 Adam West was Batman on the most popular show on television. West passed away Friday night in Los Angeles after a short battle with leukemia. He was 88 years old. This conversation dates from 2010 and finds West in a chatty and gracious mood. Sit back and raise a glass to the man who called himself The Bright Knight.