Burt not having any experience is a sad excuse since they hired him to be a main character. Burt should have been paid at least 50-75% of what Adam got since they were a team.
They probably just couldn't afford to pay him on the level they should have paid him seeing as though he'd be in every episode. They couldn't pay him like West because they probably just couldn't afford it. I'm not sayin it's ok it's just the only logical thing I can think of. They still could've dome better none the less
@@JustAguyFromJersey that would be understandable for the first two seasons but the third season when everyone get pay raises and he still got screwed is complete bullshit. Since Yvonne Craig was the Newbie they could have taken the extra $500 from her $1,500 paycheck and just added it to his. She was barley on the show so $1000 a episode seems far.
Great videos. Burt Ward was unfairly paid.He literally worked for 🥜 peanuts.He endured injuries during the first season. You're absolutely right. They should've thrown him a decent bone.
Burt Ward was unfairly taken advantage of, he probably had no professional agent. For Madge Blake, who just appeared a few times at the beginning and end of each episode, to make more money than the co-star, was borderline criminal. William Dozier and Co. got away with murder, but I have never heard Burt Ward complain about it. He should have.
@@christienelson1437 Burt Ward must have had the world's worst agent, for Madge Blake to make more than him was criminal. For Yvonne Craig to make so much more coming in season 3 was also criminal.
Hard to believe how little actors got paid in the 60's. I also heard the Diana Rigg interview where she mentioned while playing Emma Peel in the Avengers TV series she got less pay than some of the cameramen. She was the star of that show. Incredible. No wonder she quit and moved on.
She moved on to James Bond, so at least the money was better but she had to put up with George Lazenby. Plus, I don't think she got along with Brian Clemens.
@@Bumpyi64 I'll never understand your mentality. If the money doesn't go to the talent, where would it go? The talent literally generates millions of entertainment dollars for these companies and somehow you don't believe they should be paid the appropriate share?
How little? Average today gross is 5700$ for a half hr episode. Be about $650 then. Net huge difference as taxes were way less than than now. Net avg now is 3750 after tax whereas that 650 then be 535 after tax. In today's terms that's 4745. Lol they made more then than now. I won't even get into fact purchasing power was far more then than just inflation differences too.
@@Bumpyi64 most do not get anywhere near that. Average for a half hr USA TV episode is $5700 which is like $650 then let Aline the huge taxe difference and purchasing power than vs now. Complete fallacy all actors make millions. Lol over 95% of them make under 100k a year. Most get paid a flat rate and not the royalties percents etc. Thats only for the mega stars. The guy with only a few lines not known well gets standard. My source... SAG-AFTRA and IRS stats
This was very Interesting. Born in 63' I grew up with Batman. On Mon-Fri at 5pm I'd be in front of the family TV waiting for my favorite show. I remember when my Grandma was there, she'd read the "pow" "bang" etc that flashed on the screen during the fight scenes. My lil' friends and I would recreate the scenes always arguing over who would be who. Of course everyone wanted to be Batman. Anyhow,. Thank you for this presentation, as it brings back good memories and provides that Insight as to how all the actors were paid. I'd also like to add that I can't believe Batman was paid so much more than Robin. I feel the same when you talked about Robin squeezing the show for more doe for that 3rd season. Again thanks for this, it was a treat!😀
Poor Burt! It’s amazing that the women were paid fairly, many still don’t get equal pay, so that’s good at least. But still, Burt Ward got the raw end of that deal.
and not just the villains on the screen but "in the front office". I wonder if Adam West gave a shit what Burt got paid. He should have joined with Burt and said if Burt doesn't get equal pay ,then we don't act. Period.
@@theauthor8901 One thing to remember is that he didn't even have an agent until two weeks after he had gotten the part. He went to the audition without one
It's the same with the David Cassidy story. Cassidy got paid nothing to be on "The Partridge Family" but he was making big $$$ doing concerts and he had additional "Benefits" from his groupies. Burt made a lot more money doing promotion for the show, and if you read his book he also got lots of "Benefits."
I remember reading a Life magazine article on the show, and the physical and psychological toll the roles took on Adam West and Burt Ward, how unhappy they were. Adam West had a back problem, was in pain, had to wear a girdle so he did not look ridiculous in his Batman costume. As a ten-year-old boy I did not understand that article since they got fame and steady work in a competitive industry. But those roles were soul-crushing for creative people. Being paid the least of everyone must have added to Burt’s torture. They brought so much entertainment to kids in America and the producers paid as little as they could get away with. Greedy jerks.
Wow, I didn't know that about Adam West, but it reminded me of how Ruby Rose broke her back performing stunts for the new Batwoman show that was recently canned for low ratings.
At 3:10, Burgess Meredith truly had his acting career rekindled for his autumn years thanks to Sylvester Stallone. After playing Rocky's trainer Mickey in the first 3 movies, Burgess got so much more work, like in Grumpy Old Men. And his life ended with a true historical character to remember!
The real crime about those actors' pay was that their standard contracts only covered a couple of reruns, so none of them got a dime from the hundreds of times all of these shows played in syndication over the decades! Nobody anticipated that they'd be shown into eternity back then.
Thing to remember here is that Seasons 1 & 2 were two half-hour episodes per week, so they were effectively doing a one-hour show every week, 17 pair in Season 1 (January start) and 30 pair in Season 2. 26 episodes per season was the norm for television at the time, as one pass of reruns got them through the whole year. Season 3 was one standalone half-hour episode per week and there were only 26, so the show was really cut back. There were no longer cliff-hangers, although they would sometimes introduce the next week's villain at the end of an episode. Yes, they did work shorter hours to make those half-hour stories every week, but probably more than half of the previous seasons hours, because there are a lot of economies of scale on the two-parters. So, the weekly pay actually went down for everyone, but they were also working a bit less. Basically, Bat-mania was a short-lived thing - hard to describe how popular it was at the start - and ratings were already coming down during Season 2. It had been completely new, but it was also something of a one-trick pony and people tired of it. I think the network only did the truncated, low-budget Season 3 to hedge their bets, in case it revived itself. It didn't. Batman was history, the actors did their best to move on to other projects.
This is a BLAST! When I was around 11 yrs old, I started a "Batman Club in Seattle Washington. I had the entire outfit. Between 8 & 12 of the neighborhood kids, some I knew, would pay me $1.00 to join and then $.10 per meeting. After we were done, I'd head to Winchels Donut shop on Fremont and/or the I.G.A. store across the street from there and eat my earnings. Crazy but true. Thank you. You have a new follower for life.
Really glad Burt finally found happiness and-a family ..interesting how life takes a different turn and he made his life helping our K9 friends … kudos 🙏
Interesting to know about the salaries. Blake was my great-aunt and died when I was very young. I knew she was a bit player so am not surprised she didn't get much money.
Madge Blake was hysterical as Miss Comstick, a school principal in the first episode of The Addams Family in 1964. When the truant officer starts acting erratically because he freaked out over meeting the Addamses, she says to her coworker, "I didn't know he drank."
It’s called taking advantage of Burt ward because he was nineteen years old.shame on the people who took advantage of Burt.these big movie people would never get away in today’s world
I remember Frank Gorshin on some talk show explaining how they were paid after the episodes aired. They did not get residuals back then so he said they got paid a certain amount the first time the episode aired, then to less upon subsequent showings. They stopped getting paid after I believe the episodes aired three times in reruns. By the mid 70s, I believe actors began getting residuals as often as they shows aired in perpetuity.
Yes, that is about right. Some got up to 5 showing and then it was over. Things are better now. People understand that shows can last decades and have 1000s of reruns
Agreed. He should have been paid more, especially after the show became a hit after the first season. But we don't really know what HE agreed to and signed, being this was his first acting job and at 19, he might have been a little green and unknowing, and just glad to have the role.
It was different era, syndication rights they got rip-off in the golden era of 📺, except few actor &actress, all the actor & actress it on cable tv they get no money
@@robertglass3944 the dollar value was alot different , no cable stuff , back then few actor got syndication rights plus did they not it better to keep syndication than selling it etc etc
@@lloydkline6946, I get it. I watched the video, and I was there, (in the industry, in the seventies, and then again in the nineties, into the two thousands). So, yeah, I know.
Burt was actually paid $350 a week or $175 per episode. He was the lowest paid because he had no acting experience. Burt didn't complain because he made a ton of money doing personal appearances on the weekend
That does suck with Burt Ward being paid so little. Surprised to learn Alfred was paid less than Chief O'Hara and Commissioner Gordon. Alfred was just as important as Batman and Robin really. I also think he was the only one in the series who knew the identities of all 3 heroes.
I read that Stafford Repp invested in a coin laundry business and made a fortune. He also liked to gamble on horses and died of a heart attack at the race track
@@andrewbyrne2173 it was said that Neil Hamilton simply thought Stafford Repp overdid his "Irish accent". Although Batman was very "campy" Mr. Hamilton took the role very seriously and played it that way
Had there been a fourth season, I think Robin was supposed to be written out and Batgirl left in as Batman's new partner in crimefighting. That might have created some weird tensions on the show. I suppose the producers never appreciated Burt Ward's contribution to its success.
likely true if ABC continued to make the series-however if NBC had picked up the option on the show (as it has been said they would if the Batcave hadn't been torn down) they likely would have increased the budget and even returned it to the 2 nights a week format
This explains Wards lack of salary increase season three . The producers would just get rid of his character since Batgirl was coming on anyway. He had no leverage . Also, what a pitiful agent he had season one. Then again, he did walk in off the street. New kid gets a new agent . Both Inexperienced .
When it came to money Frank Gorshin had to fight for what he thought he was worth. That is why one episode has John Astin as the Riddler. When I bought the complete series of Batman and watched them back to back I was shocked to see John Astin because I don't remember him being the Riddler when I was a kid. As far as Burt Ward's salary I'm sure that his Agent was smart enough to ask for a more than fair salary for the movie. Sometimes it's necessary to play catch-up by asking for more because you were paying less previously.
Wow that is shocking.. I thought they made thousands of dollars each per episode.. but back then you could purchase a house for a couple grand.. maybe not in CA but the rest of the states you could
I have heard Burt Ward did all his own stunts and suffered many a injury during that series.... It seems outrageous and unfair for such an individual to be so under paid compared to the other actors- particularly since he played a main character!
Even though he was drunk at the time outside of the luau in Beverly Hills, Adam West, looking back on the whole thing I wish I had been able to engaged in a conversation but the truth is that I was so busy that I couldn’t stand there and really say much more than it was nice to meet you. Very regretful looking back.
I believe Aunt Harriet created in order to discourage the "are Batman and Robin gay?" comments. This is probably why she was paid so well, because they didn't want to lose the shows wholesomeness. I think it was implied that she was related to both Bruce and Dick Grayson, and thus explains how Dick came to be Bruce's ward.
They RIPPED off Burt Ward. I don't care if he was inexperienced, HE DID THE JOB. After the show was a proven hit, he should have hired an entertainment attorney to represent him, and go in there and fight for a fair salary. After the first season, he held the cards, and should have called their bluff. At that point, I believe they would NOT have wanted to mess with the successful formula of the show (by getting another Robin- because of the expense involved to start the interview process over again). Look what happened, he was typed-casted, so getting "fired" really would not have mattered. Over the years, these people have made MILLIONS off this show (dvd sales, t.v. rights etc..), however the actors get ZERO. In the end, they ALL got ripped off.
I agree 100 % as I stated above, also. He would have had the upper hand to get what he wanted with a good lawyer rep. His youth gave the "powers that be" balls to screw him.
Well- researched video about the cast members' salaries. As you revealed how much each star made, I thought about a PSA regarding equal pay for women, made a few years later featuring the Terrific Trio, in which Batgirl has to rescue Batman and Robin. Burt Ward and Yvonne Craig reprised their roles, but Dick Gautier played Batman. (Adam West skipped this PSA as he was trying to distance from Batman.) As they time bomb ticks down, Batgirl complains that she was getting paid less than Robin. Well, so much for reality in commercials (or PSA's)!
I remember that commercial as a kid, I also have that PSA and the unaired promo freaturing Batgirl 🦇 and Killer Moth 🦋 . It was a $1 bin at Walgreens about a decade ago.
Yvonne Craig did that famous "equal pay for women" commercial, but she had a better deal than Burt Ward. I can't believe he made less than she did given his seniority in the series AND he still made less than Commissioner Gordon. Crazy!
TRUE STORY, back in the 80z I moved into a beachside condo and the landlord met me to give me the key and introduced me to the gentleman down the hall who was going into his condo. He asked me later on if I recognized him and I replied, for some reason I do. He smiled and said it Alfred from the original Batman. Sure enough it was ! The next morning I woke up to a beautiful set of new bedding, complete with comforter at my front door. The note read, " Welcome, Alfred ". Yes, it's a true story. 👍
What’s funny to me is they made an equal pay psa with the main characters and in it, batgirl says “I’m paid less than Robin” when in reality she was making around 3 times as much as him per episode
Man Burt got hosed hard on the payroll. Then again I get he was the lesser experienced actor. Still though his skills were good enough to get him one of the lead roles so he should’ve been paid at least half or so compared to Adam West
How many days did it take to shoot an episode? You can figure out there salary for the whole year with this information. Good job sir on this insightful video.
That is... difficult to accept. Whether Ward had prior experience or not, he did pretty well at selling his role. The whole thing seems personal rather than professional.
Burt Ward got so screwed. He had a terrible agent. I can't believe that. My understanding was that the network wanted him gone and replaced by batgirl so paying him so low was probably kind of their way to force him to quit the show, which he didn't. Absolutely insulting. Neil Hamilton was a big star in the silent era. I think he should have been paid more
NBC nearly picked up the show for a fourth season after ABC cancelled the show.The producers had already deconstructed the Batcave set so the network jump didn't happen. Had it done so, Batgirl may very well have replaced Robin. ABC would cancel Wonder Woman in the 70s,but in that case, CBS moved in and picked up the show for another two seasons.
Noting the greatness of the entire series, they were ALL very much underpaid. I am glad they stayed on the show until the end though. I only wish Gorshin would have been the 2nd season Riddler. John Astin did a fine job, but only Frank Gorshin can portray a proper Prince of Puzzlers.
Part of the explanation is that almost nobody thought the series would be a success. That it was a ratings giant the first two years was totally unexpected. Soon, it was "hip" for major celebrities to make cameo appearances. The shocking thing for me was how little Adam West's raise was for Season 3. That would make me think he lobbied for raises for the other cast members and was probably told that would come out of his raise. It could also be that West was also paid residuals on the repeats and merchandizing where the others were not. I don't know that for a fact but it was common for the stars to be paid like that since Lucy and Desi started the trend.
I agree, Burt Ward should have demanded more money, but it didn't stop Networks just changing actors, look at Bewitched, maybe he was afraid that he'd just lose his job and getting something is better than nothing.
*My first 'Job' at Safeway was a staggering $1.60/hour!* ( *Holy Slave Labor, Batman!*) *I went to work at 'Thrifty Drug' **#325** in the same plaza at $1.89/hour and thought 'This is a big deal!'* ( *Both jobs were in 1970...but I stayed at 'Thrifty' for 3-yrs. as a 'stock clerk' which meant I did everything except register work although I did handle the register for the 'Ice Cream' stand at the front of the store...a position of grave responsibility...and when I left I was making $3.25/hour + I had 2-paid vacations!* )
Julie Newmar worth every penny and then some. As a side note she co-starred in an episode of Route 66 with Martin Milner of Adam 12 fame. Worth watching.
While it was good that Batgirl got what she got, I did not like when she showed up in an episode. I didn't like the addition of her character. I agree about Robin. I can kind of understand in a way him not getting so much the first season, but after 2 seasons, he should have been getting almost as much as the main criminals. I don't know if he had a stunt double or not or for that matter how they selected Burt Ward, but it wasn't a trivial part and I think he and Adam West had to have at least some athleticism to play in the show. Also, while Madge Blake didn't play many episodes in season 3, she deserved at least some raise, maybe like $100. I don't know what actors on other shows got, but this was a top rated show so someone had to be raking in the bucks and it seems like they could've spread a little more of it around.
WOW. This video genuinely shocked me and, I hate to say it, kinda changed the way I look back on my childhood fond memories. Poor XXXX XXXX (name left blank to avoid spoilers for those that haven't watched the video yet). Wow did that person get screwed.
What shocked me was their 2021 adjusted dollars were comparable to higher end regular working folks today. That would never happen with a show of similar popularity today.
@@JeEhaO Adam west west said no, stuck by burt ward, no forth season, they had too many superhero, I like Robin better than batgirl, anyway, third season was weak anyway, very few good episodes
Average is only about $5700 for a half hr comedy now plus a season now is half or less that then. Then it was 20 to 26 episodes to make a season. Now as little as ten shows equals a season and no one goes past 20. Other than Burt they all got paid well right from the start esp first season pay. Standard for what was perceived to be a new kids show then was $200 for support $300 lead
![[인디아나존스 : 그레이트 서클]영화급 몰입감과 퀄리티의 게임이 나왔습니다](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3dkS3GcKxc4/mqdefault.jpg)
Burt not having any experience is a sad excuse since they hired him to be a main character. Burt should have been paid at least 50-75% of what Adam got since they were a team.
Especially considering that Burt Ward actually had to do his own stunts
They probably just couldn't afford to pay him on the level they should have paid him seeing as though he'd be in every episode. They couldn't pay him like West because they probably just couldn't afford it. I'm not sayin it's ok it's just the only logical thing I can think of. They still could've dome better none the less
@@JustAguyFromJersey that would be understandable for the first two seasons but the third season when everyone get pay raises and he still got screwed is complete bullshit. Since Yvonne Craig was the Newbie they could have taken the extra $500 from her $1,500 paycheck and just added it to his. She was barley on the show so $1000 a episode seems far.
While I'd say he got screwed, he also received the fringe benefits that being a star brings, and then he really got screwed.
Manager to blame?
Great videos. Burt Ward was unfairly paid.He literally worked for 🥜 peanuts.He endured injuries during the first season. You're absolutely right. They should've thrown him a decent bone.
True and he was doing all his own stunts!♥️❤️💕
Burt Ward was unfairly taken advantage of, he probably had no professional agent. For Madge Blake, who just appeared a few times at the beginning and end of each episode, to make more money than the co-star, was borderline criminal. William Dozier and Co. got away with murder, but I have never heard Burt Ward complain about it. He should have.
@@christienelson1437 Burt Ward must have had the world's worst agent, for Madge Blake to make more than him was criminal. For Yvonne Craig to make so much more coming in season 3 was also criminal.
Alfred was underpaid IMO as he had a much bigger role than Alfred. Robin was underpaid as well.
@@nikita-dh5je But then she turned into about the only reason to watch the series, as by season 3 it stunk.
Hard to believe how little actors got paid in the 60's. I also heard the Diana Rigg interview where she mentioned while playing Emma Peel in the Avengers TV series she got less pay than some of the cameramen. She was the star of that show. Incredible. No wonder she quit and moved on.
She moved on to James Bond, so at least the money was better but she had to put up with George Lazenby. Plus, I don't think she got along with Brian Clemens.
Actually, I think the millions of dollars actors receive today is nothing short of ridiculous, and that includes pro athletes...
@@Bumpyi64 I'll never understand your mentality. If the money doesn't go to the talent, where would it go? The talent literally generates millions of entertainment dollars for these companies and somehow you don't believe they should be paid the appropriate share?
How little? Average today gross is 5700$ for a half hr episode. Be about $650 then. Net huge difference as taxes were way less than than now. Net avg now is 3750 after tax whereas that 650 then be 535 after tax. In today's terms that's 4745. Lol they made more then than now. I won't even get into fact purchasing power was far more then than just inflation differences too.
@@Bumpyi64 most do not get anywhere near that. Average for a half hr USA TV episode is $5700 which is like $650 then let Aline the huge taxe difference and purchasing power than vs now. Complete fallacy all actors make millions. Lol over 95% of them make under 100k a year. Most get paid a flat rate and not the royalties percents etc. Thats only for the mega stars. The guy with only a few lines not known well gets standard. My source... SAG-AFTRA and IRS stats
This was very Interesting.
Born in 63' I grew up with Batman. On Mon-Fri at 5pm I'd be in front of the family TV waiting for my favorite show. I remember when my Grandma was there, she'd read the "pow" "bang" etc that flashed on the screen during the fight scenes. My lil' friends and I would recreate the scenes always arguing over who would be who. Of course everyone wanted to be Batman.
Anyhow,. Thank you for this presentation, as it brings back good memories and provides that Insight as to how all the actors were paid.
I'd also like to add that I can't believe Batman was paid so much more than Robin. I feel the same when you talked about Robin squeezing the show for more doe for that 3rd season. Again thanks for this, it was a treat!😀
Poor Burt! It’s amazing that the women were paid fairly, many still don’t get equal pay, so that’s good at least. But still, Burt Ward got the raw end of that deal.
Robin got robbed. Yeah, he did. I mean, after all, he was surrounded by villains.
and not just the villains on the screen but "in the front office". I wonder if Adam West gave a shit what Burt got paid. He should have joined with Burt and said if Burt doesn't get equal pay ,then we don't act. Period.
@@ballsyrocker I’d say it with different words, but agree with the sentiment.
Villains: William Dozier, ABC, Burt's agent.
@@Bigbadwhitecracker Indeed, Burt’s agent was either incompetent or he got a little slice of the pie all for himself.
@@theauthor8901 One thing to remember is that he didn't even have an agent until two weeks after he had gotten the part. He went to the audition without one
It's the same with the David Cassidy story. Cassidy got paid nothing to be on "The Partridge Family" but he was making big $$$ doing concerts and he had additional "Benefits" from his groupies. Burt made a lot more money doing promotion for the show, and if you read his book he also got lots of "Benefits."
We should all buy his book so he can get some revenge.
I wouldn't be surprised if Adam West accepted such a minor raise in order to make sure the rest of the cast was taken care of.
Apparently not burt though -,-
Your research is second to none on UA-cam. It's amazing what you come up with.
Thank You :)
I remember reading a Life magazine article on the show, and the physical and psychological toll the roles took on Adam West and Burt Ward, how unhappy they were. Adam West had a back problem, was in pain, had to wear a girdle so he did not look ridiculous in his Batman costume. As a ten-year-old boy I did not understand that article since they got fame and steady work in a competitive industry. But those roles were soul-crushing for creative people.
Being paid the least of everyone must have added to Burt’s torture. They brought so much entertainment to kids in America and the producers paid as little as they could get away with. Greedy jerks.
Wow, I didn't know that about Adam West, but it reminded me of how Ruby Rose broke her back performing stunts for the new Batwoman show that was recently canned for low ratings.
At 3:10, Burgess Meredith truly had his acting career rekindled for his autumn years thanks to Sylvester Stallone. After playing Rocky's trainer Mickey in the first 3 movies, Burgess got so much more work, like in Grumpy Old Men. And his life ended with a true historical character to remember!
"It looks like Chuck is taking the skin boat to tuna town!"
The real crime about those actors' pay was that their standard contracts only covered a couple of reruns, so none of them got a dime from the hundreds of times all of these shows played in syndication over the decades! Nobody anticipated that they'd be shown into eternity back then.
Burt Ward was his own stunt double and was injured several times seems that they should have paid him a bit more.
Good point!
Burt worked hard on that show he deserved more. Thanks for the video, I enjoyed it.
Thing to remember here is that Seasons 1 & 2 were two half-hour episodes per week, so they were effectively doing a one-hour show every week, 17 pair in Season 1 (January start) and 30 pair in Season 2. 26 episodes per season was the norm for television at the time, as one pass of reruns got them through the whole year.
Season 3 was one standalone half-hour episode per week and there were only 26, so the show was really cut back. There were no longer cliff-hangers, although they would sometimes introduce the next week's villain at the end of an episode. Yes, they did work shorter hours to make those half-hour stories every week, but probably more than half of the previous seasons hours, because there are a lot of economies of scale on the two-parters. So, the weekly pay actually went down for everyone, but they were also working a bit less.
Basically, Bat-mania was a short-lived thing - hard to describe how popular it was at the start - and ratings were already coming down during Season 2. It had been completely new, but it was also something of a one-trick pony and people tired of it. I think the network only did the truncated, low-budget Season 3 to hedge their bets, in case it revived itself. It didn't. Batman was history, the actors did their best to move on to other projects.
This is a BLAST! When I was around 11 yrs old, I started a "Batman Club in Seattle Washington. I had the entire outfit. Between 8 & 12 of the neighborhood kids, some I knew, would pay me $1.00 to join and then $.10 per meeting. After we were done, I'd head to Winchels Donut shop on Fremont and/or the I.G.A. store across the street from there and eat my earnings. Crazy but true. Thank you. You have a new follower for life.
Really glad Burt finally found happiness and-a family ..interesting how life takes a different turn and he made his life helping our K9 friends … kudos 🙏
Interesting to know about the salaries. Blake was my great-aunt and died when I was very young. I knew she was a bit player so am not surprised she didn't get much money.
Woah! She was great in her roles :)
Madge Blake was hysterical as Miss Comstick, a school principal in the first episode of The Addams Family in 1964. When the truant officer starts acting erratically because he freaked out over meeting the Addamses, she says to her coworker, "I didn't know he drank."
It’s called taking advantage of Burt ward because he was nineteen years old.shame on the people who took advantage of Burt.these big movie people would never get away in today’s world
I remember Frank Gorshin on some talk show explaining how they were paid after the episodes aired. They did not get residuals back then so he said they got paid a certain amount the first time the episode aired, then to less upon subsequent showings. They stopped getting paid after I believe the episodes aired three times in reruns. By the mid 70s, I believe actors began getting residuals as often as they shows aired in perpetuity.
Yes, that is about right. Some got up to 5 showing and then it was over.
Things are better now. People understand that shows can last decades and have 1000s of reruns
Glad everyone got what they wanted🙏👍👍👍
I still remember the lovely Julie Newmar, and her adorable version of Catwoman.
My whole life I've wondered how much Burt Ward was paid for each episode of Batman.........now I know! My life is now complete, thank you internet 😂
Great info! I agree, I think Burt should have asked for a good amount more in the last season. Such a major roll. That’s wild!
Experience or not. Ward was the second main character and hence should have been paid at least 500
Agreed. He should have been paid more, especially after the show became a hit after the first season. But we don't really know what HE agreed to and signed, being this was his first acting job and at 19, he might have been a little green and unknowing, and just glad to have the role.
@@hambone5718 I only found out since he was a little unfamiliar with Batman before the show as well so maybe that played into the producers as well
It really shows how overpaid actors are today
It was different era, syndication rights they got rip-off in the golden era of 📺, except few actor &actress, all the actor & actress it on cable tv they get no money
I'd say it goes to show how underpaid actors were paid back then.
@@robertglass3944 the dollar value was alot different , no cable stuff , back then few actor got syndication rights plus did they not it better to keep syndication than selling it etc etc
@@lloydkline6946, I get it. I watched the video, and I was there, (in the industry, in the seventies, and then again in the nineties, into the two thousands).
So, yeah, I know.
When sitcom actors can negotiate and GET a million dollars per show, yeah you can say they're over paid. Perspective in Hollywood is truly skewed.
Thanks. Good job
Burt was actually paid $350 a week or $175 per episode. He was the lowest paid because he had no acting experience. Burt didn't complain because he made a ton of money doing personal appearances on the weekend
Wow, they really screwed over Burt Ward! He was cute af back then.
Frank Gorshin/The Riddler was always my favourite villain. He was psychotic cool!
That does suck with Burt Ward being paid so little. Surprised to learn Alfred was paid less than Chief O'Hara and Commissioner Gordon. Alfred was just as important as Batman and Robin really. I also think he was the only one in the series who knew the identities of all 3 heroes.
Stafford Repp was successful out of showbiz as well. He owned several businesses and was a millionaire.
I read that Stafford Repp invested in a coin laundry business and made a fortune. He also liked to gamble on horses and died of a heart attack at the race track
Yep. Neil Hamilton hated him and it was mutual.
@@andrewbyrne2173 it was said that Neil Hamilton simply thought Stafford Repp overdid his "Irish accent". Although Batman was very "campy" Mr. Hamilton took the role very seriously and played it that way
Had there been a fourth season, I think Robin was supposed to be written out and Batgirl left in as Batman's new partner in crimefighting. That might have created some weird tensions on the show. I suppose the producers never appreciated Burt Ward's contribution to its success.
likely true if ABC continued to make the series-however if NBC had picked up the option on the show (as it has been said they would if the Batcave hadn't been torn down) they likely would have increased the budget and even returned it to the 2 nights a week format
This explains Wards lack of salary increase season three . The producers would just get rid of his character since Batgirl was coming on anyway. He had no leverage . Also, what a pitiful agent he had season one. Then again, he did walk in off the street. New kid gets a new agent . Both Inexperienced .
holey unappreciated Batman!
Cool video!!!
I watch all your videos.
I appreciate that! :)
Great info! I loved batman in the 60'😀
Wow they are great Actors Actress! Awesome ! BATMAN TV SEARIES
Always interesting stuff. My uncle Howie Horwitz was the producer.
Very Cool!
Your uncle was responsible for casting Yvonne Craig as Batgirl
Great Informative Video!
When it came to money Frank Gorshin had to fight for what he thought he was worth. That is why one episode has John Astin as the Riddler. When I bought the complete series of Batman and watched them back to back I was shocked to see John Astin because I don't remember him being the Riddler when I was a kid. As far as Burt Ward's salary I'm sure that his Agent was smart enough to ask for a more than fair salary for the movie. Sometimes it's necessary to play catch-up by asking for more because you were paying less previously.
Wow that is shocking.. I thought they made thousands of dollars each per episode.. but back then you could purchase a house for a couple grand.. maybe not in CA but the rest of the states you could
That would be the downpayment in the 60's. No houses for $2000. A lot(land)yes!
Love the video mate. I feel that I might know you? Is your initials G.C. by any chance?
Bingo 😉
I have heard Burt Ward did all his own stunts and suffered many a injury during that series.... It seems outrageous and unfair for such an individual to be so under paid compared to the other actors- particularly since he played a main character!
Burt Ward was taken advantage of....
No he wasn't. Him and everyone else agreed to the pay.
Burt got a raw deal.
Even though he was drunk at the time outside of the luau in Beverly Hills, Adam West, looking back on the whole thing I wish I had been able to engaged in a conversation but the truth is that I was so busy that I couldn’t stand there and really say much more than it was nice to meet you. Very regretful looking back.
Thanks for doing all the research. Not too bad of a salary. Burt Ward maybe needed a better agent to negotiate for him.
This is fascinating information.
Batgirl paid x3 more than Robin; so much for the Patriarchy
Also the fact that Burt Ward actually had to do his own stunts.
@@Go4Bro and was injured first day on the job.........shit!
And that Fair Labor ad she was in with Bert Ward and Dick Gautier.
🤪
Those who made the most money were they white guys who signed the checks. That being said, Ward should have made more.
Thank you for the research. Residuals would be an interesting follow up. Especially if B. Ward was compensated.
The thing about Hollywood is that it is NEVER equal.
I think Bart Ward saw this as a stepping stone to bigger things.
The Show was on Wednesday and Thursday nights consecutively. Never wanted to miss a show was great fun as a kid.
There was one session where they had a 3-series.I think the thursday after It did not come on
I believe Aunt Harriet created in order to discourage the "are Batman and Robin gay?" comments. This is probably why she was paid so well, because they didn't want to lose the shows wholesomeness. I think it was implied that she was related to both Bruce and Dick Grayson, and thus explains how Dick came to be Bruce's ward.
They RIPPED off Burt Ward. I don't care if he was inexperienced, HE DID THE JOB. After the show was a proven hit, he should have hired an entertainment attorney to represent him, and go in there and fight for a fair salary. After the first season, he held the cards, and should have called their bluff. At that point, I believe they would NOT have wanted to mess with the successful formula of the show (by getting another Robin- because of the expense involved to start the interview process over again). Look what happened, he was typed-casted, so getting "fired" really would not have mattered. Over the years, these people have made MILLIONS off this show (dvd sales, t.v. rights etc..), however the actors get ZERO. In the end, they ALL got ripped off.
I agree 100 % as I stated above, also. He would have had the upper hand to get what he wanted with a good lawyer rep. His youth gave the "powers that be" balls to screw him.
Well- researched video about the cast members' salaries. As you revealed how much each star made, I thought about a PSA regarding equal pay for women, made a few years later featuring the Terrific Trio, in which Batgirl has to rescue Batman and Robin. Burt Ward and Yvonne Craig reprised their roles, but Dick Gautier played Batman. (Adam West skipped this PSA as he was trying to distance from Batman.) As they time bomb ticks down, Batgirl complains that she was getting paid less than Robin. Well, so much for reality in commercials (or PSA's)!
Yeah that PSA should have had Robin look over at her when she said that 🤣
I remember that commercial as a kid, I also have that PSA and the unaired promo freaturing Batgirl 🦇 and Killer Moth 🦋 . It was a $1 bin at Walgreens about a decade ago.
GREAT VIDEOS, THANKS FROM LONDON ENGLAND. Hope the actors all bought real estate off Burt Ward realtor!
Yvonne Craig did that famous "equal pay for women" commercial, but she had a better deal than Burt Ward. I can't believe he made less than she did given his seniority in the series AND he still made less than Commissioner Gordon. Crazy!
I was going to comment on that exact thing. Beat me by 3 months.
TRUE STORY, back in the 80z I moved into a beachside condo and the landlord met me to give me the key and introduced me to the gentleman down the hall who was going into his condo. He asked me later on if I recognized him and I replied, for some reason I do. He smiled and said it Alfred from the original Batman. Sure enough it was ! The next morning I woke up to a beautiful set of new bedding, complete with comforter at my front door. The note read, " Welcome, Alfred ".
Yes, it's a true story. 👍
What!? That is wild!
I agree Burt Ward got crapped on....
What’s funny to me is they made an equal pay psa with the main characters and in it, batgirl says “I’m paid less than Robin” when in reality she was making around 3 times as much as him per episode
Man Burt got hosed hard on the payroll. Then again I get he was the lesser experienced actor. Still though his skills were good enough to get him one of the lead roles so he should’ve been paid at least half or so compared to Adam West
He should atleast been paid 700
He got hosed on salary, but his net worth today is 20 million dollars. He cashed in on the character outside the show.
If i was paid that much, i''d faint on sight of the payslip
😂
How many days did it take to shoot an episode? You can figure out there salary for the whole year with this information. Good job sir on this insightful video.
That is... difficult to accept. Whether Ward had prior experience or not, he did pretty well at selling his role. The whole thing seems personal rather than professional.
Burt Ward really got the shaft!!
I like your channel CC.
Thank You! I appreciate that 😁
Burt Ward got so screwed. He had a terrible agent. I can't believe that. My understanding was that the network wanted him gone and replaced by batgirl so paying him so low was probably kind of their way to force him to quit the show, which he didn't. Absolutely insulting.
Neil Hamilton was a big star in the silent era. I think he should have been paid more
NBC nearly picked up the show for a fourth season after ABC cancelled the show.The producers had already deconstructed the Batcave set
so the network jump didn't happen. Had it done so, Batgirl may very well have replaced Robin.
ABC would cancel Wonder Woman in the 70s,but in that case, CBS moved in and picked up the show for another two seasons.
Man the studio were the more villainous then any of the Batman's villain gallery...!
Burt Ward got a raw deal for sure he should have made more money
Producer: You'll be paid the least but you get to ride in the Batmobile.
Burt Ward: I'll do it for free.
🤣
Noting the greatness of the entire series, they were ALL very much underpaid. I am glad they stayed on the show until the end though. I only wish Gorshin would have been the 2nd season Riddler. John Astin did a fine job, but only Frank Gorshin can portray a proper Prince of Puzzlers.
Part of the explanation is that almost nobody thought the series would be a success. That it was a ratings giant the first two years was totally unexpected. Soon, it was "hip" for major celebrities to make cameo appearances. The shocking thing for me was how little Adam West's raise was for Season 3. That would make me think he lobbied for raises for the other cast members and was probably told that would come out of his raise. It could also be that West was also paid residuals on the repeats and merchandizing where the others were not. I don't know that for a fact but it was common for the stars to be paid like that since Lucy and Desi started the trend.
I couldn’t get home fast enough… there were no kids on the streets when Batman. How could they not know they had a smash?
I agree, Burt Ward should have demanded more money, but it didn't stop Networks just changing actors, look at Bewitched, maybe he was afraid that he'd just lose his job and getting something is better than nothing.
That's horrible. Personally, I wasn't a fan of batgirl. They should have dropped that idea and paid robin and alfred more.
Or they could have kept Cat Woman and Batgirl and made them the stars and get rid of Batman and Robin. :-)
@@HepCatJack or gave Batgirl a spin off. Either way I still wasn't a fan of Batgirl.
Well they only had Batgirl because she was a character in the comics. But yeah she didn't quite fit in with the TV show.
@@lesterforney6200 not accurate. Batgirl was created for the 1966 TV show, afterwards she appeared in the comics.
Well, the series ended with that Batgirl B.S. Looks like no one cared to watch it anymore. I didn't.
Caesar romaro in ww2 was a chief boatswainmate in the coast guard.
*My first 'Job' at Safeway was a staggering $1.60/hour!* ( *Holy Slave Labor, Batman!*)
*I went to work at 'Thrifty Drug' **#325** in the same plaza at $1.89/hour and thought 'This is a big deal!'*
( *Both jobs were in 1970...but I stayed at 'Thrifty' for 3-yrs. as a 'stock clerk' which meant I did everything except register work although I did handle the register for the 'Ice Cream' stand at the front of the store...a position of grave responsibility...and when I left I was making $3.25/hour + I had 2-paid vacations!* )
Julie Newmar worth every penny and then some. As a side note she co-starred in an episode of Route 66 with Martin Milner of Adam 12 fame. Worth watching.
she is worth watching in anything.
Poor Robin! Burt was doing his own stunts. He deserved more for sure. Especially knowing how athletic he was!
Well Burt Ward had the last laugh, he married a Billionaire!! Lol
So not only did they try to castrate Burt Ward but they also weren't compensating him fairly.
I had my glow in the dark batman ring , mask , tee shirt and watched every show my favorite was the joker it truly was the good ole days
I was shocked at how little money that actors made. Other actors in other shows were payed low also.
Maybe that’s why Bert Ward did a tell all?
While it was good that Batgirl got what she got, I did not like when she showed up in an episode. I didn't like the addition of her character.
I agree about Robin. I can kind of understand in a way him not getting so much the first season, but after 2 seasons, he should have been getting almost as much as the main criminals. I don't know if he had a stunt double or not or for that matter how they selected Burt Ward, but it wasn't a trivial part and I think he and Adam West had to have at least some athleticism to play in the show.
Also, while Madge Blake didn't play many episodes in season 3, she deserved at least some raise, maybe like $100.
I don't know what actors on other shows got, but this was a top rated show so someone had to be raking in the bucks and it seems like they could've spread a little more of it around.
Burt Ward did his own stunts. However, don't feel bad for Ward, his net worth today is 20 million dollars, so he profited very nicely from the role.
Burt had a stunt double
Cool info!
And in those days there were no residuals. Paid once instead of every time it aired.
Man! Much less than I could have ever imagined!
How much of Burts pay went to the agent? Or did he get his upfront from the studio?
Burt made it up on the tail end
WOW. This video genuinely shocked me and, I hate to say it, kinda changed the way I look back on my childhood fond memories. Poor XXXX XXXX (name left blank to avoid spoilers for those that haven't watched the video yet). Wow did that person get screwed.
My guess is the actors did not know what each other were making.
Burt Ward was the star.
Batgirl was ridiculous. Robin was terrific.
Burt Ward studied Judo and Evone Craig studied dancing. Also, Burt did his own stunts, while the other stars had stunt doubles.
Burt had a stunt double named Victor Paul
What shocked me was their 2021 adjusted dollars were comparable to higher end regular working folks today. That would never happen with a show of similar popularity today.
That is horrible how little they paid Burt Ward!
Burt ward had no experience, other actor were veterans actors, they should gotten more
@@lloydkline6946 exactly. lol. I made almost the same reply to a similar comment.
@@lloydkline6946 Burt was a main character. Don't hire inexperienced people to play main characters if you want to pretend that experience matters.
@@JeEhaO if rumors is that they were going to give batman 1966 a fourth season, but robin had to go & batman & batgirl,
@@JeEhaO Adam west west said no, stuck by burt ward, no forth season, they had too many superhero, I like Robin better than batgirl, anyway, third season was weak anyway, very few good episodes
Holy short changed Batman
I agree with you they did Burt wrong
Where was Burt’s agent? He/she should have been demanding a wage increase.
Burt Wards agent must have been asleep at the wheel.
He didn't have an agent.
Every actor in Hollywood has a agent
Average is only about $5700 for a half hr comedy now plus a season now is half or less that then. Then it was 20 to 26 episodes to make a season. Now as little as ten shows equals a season and no one goes past 20. Other than Burt they all got paid well right from the start esp first season pay. Standard for what was perceived to be a new kids show then was $200 for support $300 lead