Shakespeare bust appearance

General goings on in the 1966 Batman World

Moderators: Scott Sebring, Ben Bentley

User avatar
Ben Bentley
Moderator
Posts: 1270
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2012 2:31 pm

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by Ben Bentley »

Keith Mayo wrote: Sat Oct 10, 2020 9:18 am This bust appears in the Dobie Gillis episode "What's My Lion" from January 10, 1961
Amazing find, Keith! To my knowledge this may well be the first onscreen appearance of the bust/that specific mould that we know of.

I did a little digging in an attempt to do some screen captures myself and it's couldn't spot the scene you posted images of but I did find the bust in the episode prior to the one you mentioned - The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - S0E12 "The Day The Teachers Disappeared".
Screenshot 2020-10-10 at 17.47.31.png
Screenshot 2020-10-10 at 17.47.54.png
In another class room there was also this alternative bust that features some rather similar design features.
Screenshot 2020-10-10 at 17.52.00.png
User avatar
BATWINGED HORNET
Posts: 0
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2012 5:32 am

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by BATWINGED HORNET »

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis was credited as a Martin Manulis Production with 20th Century Fox, so I guess one can assume the bust had been around the Fox prop department for some time--in other words, no one consciously went out and purchased one specifically for Batman?
Beneath Wayne Manor
User avatar
Keith Mayo
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2017 5:52 am

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by Keith Mayo »

Ben Bentley wrote: Sat Oct 10, 2020 9:42 am
Keith Mayo wrote: Sat Oct 10, 2020 9:18 am This bust appears in the Dobie Gillis episode "What's My Lion" from January 10, 1961
Amazing find, Keith! To my knowledge this may well be the first onscreen appearance of the bust/that specific mould that we know of.

I did a little digging in an attempt to do some screen captures myself and it's couldn't spot the scene you posted images of but I did find the bust in the episode prior to the one you mentioned - The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - S0E12 "The Day The Teachers Disappeared".

Screenshot 2020-10-10 at 17.47.31.png

Screenshot 2020-10-10 at 17.47.54.png

In another class room there was also this alternative bust that features some rather similar design features.
Screenshot 2020-10-10 at 17.52.00.png
Turns out my source was incorrect and thank you for bringing it to my attention.
Those screen shots were from S02E14 - The Big Question air date of 1/24/61
Here's a link to the episode:https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Do ... &FORM=VIRE
"It's the very essence of our democracy". - Batman, S1 Ep 11
User avatar
Chuck Williams
Posts: 0
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:57 am

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by Chuck Williams »

Lo and behold, The bust that becomes the Shakespeare bust is under the flag!!!
Attachments
DG.jpg
Quick, Everyone, Flee for your lives, into the street!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
User avatar
Chuck Williams
Posts: 0
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:57 am

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by Chuck Williams »

Just read that these were filmed at 20th Century Fox prior to Batman.... Same prop and set departments.... just a few years earlier...
Quick, Everyone, Flee for your lives, into the street!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
User avatar
Chuck Williams
Posts: 0
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:57 am

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by Chuck Williams »

Here is the un-altered bust in the Dobie Gillis classroom with a "bronze" finish compared to a photo of the bust in the shop...

So the 20th Century Fox Set/Prop Dept. is where the Shakespeare bust was created prior to Batman...
Attachments
Bust Dobie Gillis.jpg
Quick, Everyone, Flee for your lives, into the street!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
User avatar
Batfanman
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Aug 28, 2013 9:03 pm

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by Batfanman »

I wonder if many of those busts were just cast off of a single bust and then modified into their respective character iterations by in-house sculptors.
Every Day Is BATMAN DAY!
Visit & Like - https://www.facebook.com/batfanman66
User avatar
Chuck Williams
Posts: 0
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:57 am

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by Chuck Williams »

I'm just glad to know they didn't destroy the original piece to make a one off Shakespeare.
Quick, Everyone, Flee for your lives, into the street!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
User avatar
chrisbcritter
Posts: 0
Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:59 pm

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by chrisbcritter »

Ben Bentley wrote:In another class room there was also this alternative bust that features some rather similar design features.
Screenshot 2020-10-10 at 17.52.00.png
That one looks more like Schroeder's bust of Beethoven!
"To the medical eye, such childish claptrap means only one thing, young man: You need some sleep."
User avatar
Chuck Williams
Posts: 0
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:57 am

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by Chuck Williams »

Beethoven also from the same studio!! Fox had quite the collection from R&L ...
Attachments
bet.jpg
Quick, Everyone, Flee for your lives, into the street!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
User avatar
Jimmy L. 66
Posts: 0
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:45 pm

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by Jimmy L. 66 »

Ok, So Shakespeare bust is a cast of the one you have Chuck. So my question is did they make more than one cast? or is the Shakespeare pictured above the actual physical one that they cut the neck on?
Since they have all the originals, was Shakespeare created for something else and someone grabbed it and said "Oh this cast off will do for the bookshelf switch?"
As always I am blown away by the detective work here Chums.
User avatar
Chuck Williams
Posts: 0
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:57 am

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by Chuck Williams »

My guess is that the Batman production made a copy of the Shakespeare bust at 20th Century Fox studio to make their bust.

Looking at the bust in the Halloween H20 film, I think THAT is the Dobie Gillis bust based on color, finish and there is no hard line where there would be if it had the separate head...

Such a fun rabbit hole!!!!
Attachments
H20 ab (3)a.jpg
Quick, Everyone, Flee for your lives, into the street!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
User avatar
Ben Bentley
Moderator
Posts: 1270
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2012 2:31 pm

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by Ben Bentley »

Chuck Williams wrote: Sun Oct 11, 2020 1:59 pm My guess is that the Batman production made a copy of the Shakespeare bust at 20th Century Fox studio to make their bust.

Looking at the bust in the Halloween H20 film, I think THAT is the Dobbie Gillis bust based on color, finish and there is no hard line where there would be if it had the separate head...

Such a fun rabbit hole!!!!
You guys know me, i'm a fan of a rabbit hole, but I have genuinely *loved* this rabbit hole!

Also, it makes me really wonder if the Dobie bust is still lurking around at Fox somewhere ;)
User avatar
Chuck Williams
Posts: 0
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:57 am

Re: Shakespeare bust appearance

Post by Chuck Williams »

Yep... if it was available for the Halloween film, there is a good chance it's still a working prop for set dressers...
Quick, Everyone, Flee for your lives, into the street!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WilliamsStudio ... eller_info
Post Reply