I can think of very few childhood memories that can outdo what happened to me at the State Theater on Journal Square in 1966. At age 5 my entire life as well as that of my 7 year old brother revolved completely around Batman. The 1960’s TV show was our focus and fixation. All our friends were equally hypnotized and Batman was often the theme of our games and dreams. In 1966 the Batman movie was released to cash in on the Batman craze. As the movie played to sold out movie houses across the country packed with kids screaming for the caped crusaders, actors Adam West and Burt Ward would often appear live on stage to promote the movie. Somehow my dad managed to score tickets and as my brother and I sat watching the movie, about 10 minutes into the film, the screen went dark and the stage lights came on. I’ll never forget the words of the man onstage. He said, “Okay kids, here they are, Batman and Robin!” I don’t think anybody heard anything after that as the audience of 4 – 12 year olds went wild, yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs. All except for me that is. My dad recalls how I sat frozen in my chair with my mouth wide open in utter amazement as batman and the boy wonder proceeded to greet us with words of good wishes and advice on being a good boy or girl. That day at the State Theater will always be embossed in my mind as a shining moment of childhood glory. To this day whenever I see a rerun of that series I remember that experience. I have the movie on DVD and now my own two boys ages 8 & 12 watch it with similar enthusiasm. I still feel the magic of that Saturday afternoon in 1966 whenever I tell them about it. While I also have fond memories of the nearby Lowes and Stanley theaters and movies I watched there (like Mary Poppins at the Lowes), the day Batman and Robin jumped on the stage at the State Theater will always be my greatest memory of Journal Square entertainment.
I can think of very few childhood memories that can outdo what happened to me at the State Theater on Journal Square in 1966. At age 5 my entire life as well as that of my 7 year old brother revolved completely around Batman. The 1960’s TV show was our focus and fixation. All our friends were equally hypnotized and Batman was often the theme of our games and dreams. In 1966 the Batman movie was released to cash in on the Batman craze. As the movie played to sold out movie houses across the country packed with kids screaming for the caped crusaders, actors Adam West and Burt Ward would often appear live on stage to promote the movie. Somehow my dad managed to score tickets and as my brother and I sat watching the movie, about 10 minutes into the film, the screen went dark and the stage lights came on. I’ll never forget the words of the man onstage. He said, “Okay kids, here they are, Batman and Robin!” I don’t think anybody heard anything after that as the audience of 4 – 12 year olds went wild, yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs. All except for me that is. My dad recalls how I sat frozen in my chair with my mouth wide open in utter amazement as batman and the boy wonder proceeded to greet us with words of good wishes and advice on being a good boy or girl. That day at the State Theater will always be embossed in my mind as a shining moment of childhood glory. To this day whenever I see a rerun of that series I remember that experience. I have the movie on DVD and now my own two boys ages 8 & 12 watch it with similar enthusiasm. I still feel the magic of that Saturday afternoon in 1966 whenever I tell them about it. While I also have fond memories of the nearby Lowes and Stanley theaters and movies I watched there (like Mary Poppins at the Lowes), the day Batman and Robin jumped on the stage at the State Theater will always be my greatest memory of Journal Square entertainment.