Yvonne Craig, both herself and as Batgirl
New character introduced because of Catwoman’s popularity
By Timothy John Forbes
Seven years ago today, I drove from Massachusetts through Vermont, and had stopped in Saratoga Springs for some mineral water. As I partook of Hathorn Spring, located across from Congress Park on that somewhat warm late summer afternoon, actress Yvonne Craig was on my mind. I knew it was the anniversary of her debut on the Batman series, and she had passed away nearly a month ago from cancer. Though I had no place to live at that moment because the place I rented had been foreclosed, Yvonne was on my mind.
Fast forward to 2022. And she remains in my mind. Her first outing that night is a good one, and she brought a special presence to an otherwise failing series. By Season Three, budget cuts had taken its toll on the series, which had been such a hot item 18 month prior. Back in 1967, I resented the changes that took place at that time, but by the 2000s, I appreciated Yvonne’s work greatly.
And because Catwoman had become so popular on the show, it led to Batgirl’s creation in late 1966. A pilot film was produced in January 1967 for a proposed series, but that did not get off the ground. By this time, producer William Dozier had lost a lot of clout when it came to his dealings with ABC, because his other shows (notably The Tammy Grimes Show, but sadly The Green Hornet, too) had either tanked, or were failing.
Batman would itself be off the air in six months and one day later, but Yvonne’s influence is still felt today. The character has her own comic book series in 2022, though Warner Brothers scrapped a film for her this year. Yvonne was herself very popular with comic con attendees, who would continue to see her in the 1990s and 2000s. Though she is no longer with us, her presence remains as strong as ever. Here’s to you, Yvonne!!!
