I had mentioned Adam West a short while ago and this got me thinking about the autobiography he published in 1994. The book was entitled "Back the Batcave" and it was a wonderful little book that provided a very unique insight into the life of a television icon. Actually, it is somewhat of a bittersweet tale as West certainly had his ups and downs after playing the role of the caped crusader.

At the time the program debuted on the air, Adam West went from character actor to one of the most famous figures in the world. Two years later, he was typecast and basically unemployed. Granted, he did work quite a bit making personal appearances as Batman but his acting career was ultimately over. It is these years in the wilderness that make for the most intriguing reading. Yes, West's fall from grace and into near obscurity is made all the more bewildering because while he was unemployed, BATMAN was playing on reruns all over the world. One could even make the argument that West was one of the most famous people in the world through the 1960's, 1970', and early 1980's due to the enormous, eternal popularity of the series. In today's day and age, West could have commandeered MILLIONS from commercials and broadway appearances. In the 1970's and 1980's, he could not capitalize on his fame. This is both perplexing and absurd. Really, Adam West's voiceovers on toy commercials would have been gold. Oh well.........

Another interesting aspect of the book is the annotated episode guide where West provides his personal opinions on his favorite and least favorite episodes. Trust me, it is great reading.