Thousands of good citizens gathered at Los Angeles City Hall Thursday night to pay tribute to the late Adam West, the man who was Batman for an entire generation.
Fans gathered, many of them dressed in their best Batsuits and Batgear while others donned some of Gotham City’s other infamous characters for the event, which included a model of the Batmobile West drove in the ’60s TV show.
Another Batmobile just arrived at LA City Hall! #Batman #RIPAdamWest @NBCLA pic.twitter.com/PF9ccLImIP
— Kenny Holmes (@KHOLMESlive) June 16, 2017
The Bat mobile has arrived for the Bat-Signal event @LACityHall honoring BatMan Adam West. #brightknight @DCComics @latimesphotos pic.twitter.com/WN8VOOUcLu
— Francine Orr (@francineorr) June 16, 2017
Looks like a concert. It's not. These are all #Batman fans here in downtown LA to pay tribute to Adam West. pic.twitter.com/FDKvMcmDnA
— George Pennacchio (@abc7george) June 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/LATHeroComplex/status/875556892281417729
Cosplayers swarmed at Adam West tribute in downtown LA. Crowds chanting adam ! Adam ! pic.twitter.com/T6jmJjtNHj
— cosplay n america (@cosplayamerica) June 16, 2017
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, who led the ceremony, were joined onstage by Burt Ward, the Robin to West’s Batman. Each of them paid tribute to West, but for some—such as Beck—it was also an opportunity to give a proper fan sendoff to the man they knew as the “Bright Knight.”
“So I’m a real-life chief of police and I can’t tell you how many times I have wanted to turn on the Bat-signal,” he said.
https://www.facebook.com/ABC7/videos/10154597027167452/
While many are still mourning the loss of West, who died at age 88 after a short battle with leukemia last week, Ward told the crowd that West would ultimately want them all to be happy because that’s what he strived to do during his life.
“My friend Adam would want every single one of you to be incredibly happy and to be joyous because he spent his entire life as a performer making people happy, making them laugh, and trying to make this world a better place,” Ward said.
Garcetti, Beck, and Ward led the crowd in a countdown to light the Bat-signal—which was provided by Warner Bros. and DC Comics—onto the tower at City Hall. It was the same symbol seen in West’s TV show, and on a clear night, it shined brightly.
We gather tonight to pay our respects to the original caped crusader, our beloved Adam West. #BrightKnight pic.twitter.com/ocW6aeXIgV
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) June 16, 2017
For fans in attendance and watching from home, it was truly a sight to behold.
The bat signal shines atop LA City Hall in honor of Adam West. #Batman pic.twitter.com/xWdytP2p3k
— Nidia Becerra (@nidia_b) June 16, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVY0BaHBG5U/
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#RIPAdamWest. We love you Adam! #Batman pic.twitter.com/S3ax6jFmJc
— Holy BatCast (@HolyBatCast) June 16, 2017
A closer shot of the #BatSignal shining on LA City Hall. All the feels. Just wish Mr. West could have seen it. #AdamWestTribute #Batman pic.twitter.com/sBCHtEt0Gu
— Jody Houser ✒️🗯️🎲 (@Jody_Houser) June 16, 2017
Adam West was a hero who embodied the goodness that lives in all of us & tonight we honor his spirit with the #BatSignal at LA City Hall. pic.twitter.com/VH31Zkk0xX
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) June 16, 2017
Rest easy, old chum.