For one night, Los Angeles became Batman’s hometown, Gotham City. Fans of the Dark Knight came far and wide to celebrate the life of Adam West, the late actor who passed away last week of leukemia at the age of 88. Several city officials, including L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck (whom Mayor Garcetti joked was Chief O’Hara) came out to honor the actor best known for playing Batman in the 1966 cult classic TV show. West’s co-star, Robin actor Burt Ward, was also on hand to host the tribute ceremony that culminated in a Bat-signal projected onto Los Angeles City Hall.
The ceremony, which began at 9 p.m. Pacific, began with a few words from Garcetti, Beck, SModcast co-host Ralph Garman, and West’s co-star Burt Ward. (Lee Meriwether, known for playing the Catwoman in the film, was also present.) A replicated red telephone — the hotline that Gotham City used to get in touch with Batman — was placed beside the podium in front of City Hall.
The city of Los Angeles, as well as DC Comics, invited fans of all stripes — including various comic book pros, filmmakers, and more — to witness the ceremony. Many, of course, took selfies of their own whilst sharing memories of watching the Caped Crusader defend Gotham twice a week, same Bat-time, same Bat-channel.
First, here are pictures of the ceremony, which include members of the West family in attendance. Below, Mayor Garcetti and Police Chief Charlie Beck stand by the Bat-phone.
That’s Burt Ward, riding in style with the Batmobile.
Here’s Garcetti, Beck, DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson, and co-stars Ward and Lee Meriwether standing with the West family.
Pros and fans alike took pictures of the event, like a visiting Jimmy Olsen, and shared them on Instagram and Twitter.
DC co-publisher and artist Jim Lee:
Comics writer Jody Houser:
Filmmaker and podcaster Jonathan London:
Nerd musician Mega Ran and WWE superstar Xavier Woods:
Green Lanterns writer Sam Humphries:
And, of course, all the Bat-fans:
