Batmania revival Down Under, 1987
Moderators: Scott Sebring, Ben Bentley
- Therin of Andor
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2015 5:46 pm
Batmania revival Down Under, 1987
Shark fin by Ian McLean, on Flickr
When I found *this* in my garage (in Australia) a few years ago, It took me a while to work out exactly what it was. Then I remembered: it's the interactive shark fin prop I made when Hoyts Cinema Centre, in the Sydney CBD, asked a group of "Star Trek" friends who happened to have homemade superhero costumes, to dress up and do a "Rocky Horror Picture Show"-type event for the 60s "Batman" movie revival. A quick rummage through old files told me it was early 1987!
The plan was to run a different episode of the old 1949 "Batman and Robin" serial each week, and then the 1966 "Batman" feature film. I think it ran for five weeks, and we received free entry each night and a bunch of passes for other films. We had a Terrific Trio, a Lois Lane, a Riddler, a Catwoman and a Supergirl - and sometimes a Jimmy Olsen. We wandered around with the patrons, chatting away in character, then, when the opening credits of the feature rolled, we had our Batman, Robin, Riddler and Catwoman, in turn, race through the aisles and across the stage. Lots of cheers as each actor made their entrance in the movie.
As Robin, I also ran across the screen with this "fin on a stick" just before the famous "rubber shark scene". Then it was back in my seat to inflate about ten black balloons, which I then tied off and then passed through the audience during the "Some days you can't get rid of a bomb" scene. Without a need for explicit instructions, everyone somehow knew to burst their balloon when the bomb exploded!
Such fun!
Superheroes by Ian McLean, on Flickr
The theatre intended to repeat this exercise in 1989 (with us supplying a Two-Face, Joker and Riddler), but the distribution rates for the two serials went through the roof when the Tim Burton "Batman" movie was released, and Batmania was reviewed anew.
Battalion by Ian McLean, on Flickr
Battalion by Ian McLean, on Flickr
"Holy nostalgia, Batman!"
Therin of Andor
(aka Ian McLean, from Sydney, Australia)
Therin of Andor
(aka Ian McLean, from Sydney, Australia)
Re: Batmania revival Down Under, 1987
Oh boy. Now that would have been great to see! This would have been a great "Throw Bat Thursday" post.
- Therin of Andor
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2015 5:46 pm
Re: Batmania revival Down Under, 1987
Hehehehe. I actually went searching for that thread, but typed "Throwback", not "throw bat" into the search bar. I knew I'd read that thread somewhere!Batman65 wrote:This would have been a great "Throw Bat Thursday" post.
"Holy nostalgia, Batman!"
Therin of Andor
(aka Ian McLean, from Sydney, Australia)
Therin of Andor
(aka Ian McLean, from Sydney, Australia)
- Ben Bentley
- Moderator
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- Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2012 2:31 pm
Re: Batmania revival Down Under, 1987
Either way, these are awesome photos! I love seeing people's "pre-internet" interpretations of the costumes. There's a real charm to them! Great job!Therin of Andor wrote:Hehehehe. I actually went searching for that thread, but typed "Throwback", not "throw bat" into the search bar. I knew I'd read that thread somewhere!Batman65 wrote:This would have been a great "Throw Bat Thursday" post.
- Therin of Andor
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2015 5:46 pm
Re: Batmania revival Down Under, 1987
I accidentally found the pics of the 1987 event this week!
Batman night at Hoyts by Ian McLean, on Flickr
The organiser, Fox/Columbia's Dale, turned up in a rental Batman outfit (hence the incorrect chest insignia).
The guy in the pith helmet was the interviewer from TV's "Sounds", a Saturday morning music show. He said to our Lois: “Lois Lane! Aren’t you in the wrong theatre?” And then Lois swung her handbag at him.
Batman night at Hoyts by Ian McLean, on Flickr
And a convention pic:
Medtrek II 1984 by Ian McLean, on Flickr
Batman night at Hoyts by Ian McLean, on Flickr
The organiser, Fox/Columbia's Dale, turned up in a rental Batman outfit (hence the incorrect chest insignia).
The guy in the pith helmet was the interviewer from TV's "Sounds", a Saturday morning music show. He said to our Lois: “Lois Lane! Aren’t you in the wrong theatre?” And then Lois swung her handbag at him.
Batman night at Hoyts by Ian McLean, on Flickr
And a convention pic:
Medtrek II 1984 by Ian McLean, on Flickr
"Holy nostalgia, Batman!"
Therin of Andor
(aka Ian McLean, from Sydney, Australia)
Therin of Andor
(aka Ian McLean, from Sydney, Australia)
- Therin of Andor
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2015 5:46 pm
Re: Batmania revival Down Under, 1987
Look what I found!
Hoyts' George Street, Sydney - Ad, January 1987 in "Daily Mirror" by Ian McLean, on Flickr
Hoyts' George Street, Sydney - Ad, January 1987 in "Daily Mirror" by Ian McLean, on Flickr
"Holy nostalgia, Batman!"
Therin of Andor
(aka Ian McLean, from Sydney, Australia)
Therin of Andor
(aka Ian McLean, from Sydney, Australia)
- Therin of Andor
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2015 5:46 pm
Re: Batmania revival Down Under, 1987
"Holy nostalgia, Batman!"
Therin of Andor
(aka Ian McLean, from Sydney, Australia)
Therin of Andor
(aka Ian McLean, from Sydney, Australia)
- BatmiteReturns
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 6:07 pm
Re: Batmania revival Down Under, 1987
I think those pictures are awesome. Not a lot of interaction around here huh?
- BatmiteReturns
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 6:07 pm
Re: Batmania revival Down Under, 1987
I think those pictures are awesome. Not a lot of interaction around here huh?Therin of Andor wrote: ↑Mon Dec 17, 2018 6:37 pm
Batman 1966 movie revival in 1987 by Ian McLean, on Flickr