LA's City Hall Lit The Bat Signal To Honor Adam West, TV’s Batman

On Thursday night, Los Angeles played tribute to television icon Adam West, best known for his campy portrayal of Batman in the 1960s TV series. West died the previous Friday at the age of 88 following a battle with leukemia.

In keeping with the show’s mythology, LA city officials honored the role and West’s life by shining the Bat-signal onto city hall. In the show and subsequent properties, the Bat-signal was used by police to summon the evasive superhero for assistance.

The signal was lit by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Police Chief Charlie Beck in a brief ceremony celebrating the West’s life and the iconic role he embodied. Adam West taught us each one of us had a heart of gold,” Garcetti said. “There will never be another Batman like Adam West and there will never be another Adam West.”

West’s wife and his children were in attendance for the event, as was Burt Ward, who played Boy Wonder Robin on the series. “The other day, I added it up, and 75% of my time on this planet was working with Adam West,” Ward spoke. “I’m here to tell you that my friend Adam would want every single one of you to be incredibly happy and to be joyous, because he spent his entire life as a performer making people happy, making them laugh, and trying to make this world a better place.”

West’s family asks that anyone so inclined make a donation in the name of the Adam West Memorial Fund to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital or Camp Rainbow Gold.