Holy Adam West! Walla Walla celebrates legacy of actor

Holy Batman!

To honor Adam West, an actor best known for his role as Batman and the man who has been called the "hometown hero" of Walla Walla, the community planned a full list of events Tuesday.

West was born on September 19th, 1928 in Walla Walla, he grew up on his family's wheat ranch, attended high school in the area and later attended Whitman College.

After the actor passed away June 9th, a petition was started to get a statue of the actor installed somewhere in Walla Walla. The idea sparked a movement to honor the actor who grew up in the Washington community.

The city declared September 19th "Adam West Day" and this is the first year of events planned for the community, including adding an honorary street sign declaring Alvarado Terrace and N. Clinton the "Honorary Adam West Way." It is the street where Adam West's childhood home still stands.

The Blue Mountain Humane Society also getting in on the celebration offering discounts on black cats to those wearing Batman attire.

List of events for "Adam West Day" in Walla Walla:

ALL DAY – (Downtown) “The Adam West Experience”
Every business that has a batman sticker in the window will be offering a special promotion in honor of Adam West.

11:00AM – (Land Title Plaza- 1st & Main St) – Opening Ceremony with Special City Presentation
Meet Batman and take free photos with The Batmobile courtesy of The Marcus Whitman Hotel.

1:30PM – (Marcus Whitman Hotel – 6 West Rose St) – “A Conversation with Ruben Procopio”
Hear the founder of Masked Avenger Studios, an award-winning artist, animator and sculptor, talk about his work on Batman Comics, Animated classics and how he was the personal sculptor of Adam West himself. Clips of Adam West’s work will be shown and there will be door prizes. Free photos with The Batmobile courtesy of The Marcus Whitman Hotel.

3:00PM – (Land Title Plaza – 1st & Main St) – Live Music with Debra Arlyn and Daniel Minteer
Kids activities, Batman mask giveaways and free photos with Batman and The Batmobile courtesy of The Marcus Whitman Hotel.

7:00PM – (Gesa Power House Theatre – 111 N. 6th Avenue) – “Starring Adam West Movie”
A free screening of the critically-acclaimed documentary film with a live Q & A with Director James Tooley and Producer Ralph Garmin immediately following. Doors open at 6:00PM. Seats are limited and first-come, first serve. Free photos with the Batmobile courtesy of McCurley Toyota of Walla Walla.

9:00PM (Parking lot directly across from Marcus Whitman Hotel) “Lighting of the Bat Signal”
Don’t miss this special event as we pay tribute to our home-town hero in the most fitting way possible – The Bat Signal.

After Party (Sapolil Cellars – 15 E. Main St.)
Come do the classic “Batusi” as you rock out to the cool sounds of Wide Stance (formerly the Hitmen). Door prizes. Funds raised will be going to Camp Rainbow Gold.

SOME OTHER ADAM WEST POINTS OF INTEREST:

-Walk through the Marcus Whitman hotel lobby that will be transformed with memorabilia and photos of Adam West.

-Take a walk to Heritage Park in downtown to see a rare photo of Adam and his brother John as young boys on the family farm. Photo was taken in 1935 when a young Billie Anderson (Adam West) was 7 years old.

-Take a stroll through Whitman College Campus (Boyer and Park Street) to see where Adam graduated from College. Stop by the Baker Alumni building at 364 Boyer Ave to see their tribute. Also drive by the Beta House Fraternity on 925 E. Issacs where Adam was a member.

-Drive by the famous Little Theater (1130 E. Sumach) to see where Adam's acting career began. His first play, "Ladies in Retirement", took place in the 1947-48 season. Adam's father, Otto Anderson, was one of the founders of The Little Theater.

-Drive by 1141 Alvarado Terrace to see one of the homes Adam grew up in. (His room was the window in the upper left.)

-Located next to Alvarado Terrace is Green Park School where Adam (Billie Anderson) attended.