This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/5/2023
Burt Ward is probably the most famous Robin of all-time, but the role was also excellently portrayed by 1949 Batman & Robin serial star Johnny Duncan. Born in 1923 on 80-acre farm 100 miles north of Kansas City, I contacted this living legend earlier during the spring of 2014. To my surprise, he had just finished the weeklong task of cutting the grass on the same farm where he was born. At 91 years old, he was mowing the lawn for the last time, as he was preparing it for sale. It was a job he had dutifully performed almost his entire life. When Mr. Duncan answered the phone, a lively, friendly, energetic, kind and wonderful man greeted me. After explaining my intentions, he spent the better part of an hour talking about filming, life in Kansas City during the depression, and the itchy wool costume he wore during the filming of the Batman & Robin serials which he immediately threw out after the filming. He had had enough of the irritation the heavy wool costumes caused in the summer heat. He left them laying on the floor of the set and simply walked away. Douglas Croft has the distinction of playing Robin the first time in the 1943 Series starring Lewis Wilson as Batman. The franchise was revived again in 1949, and Robert Lowery starred with Duncan as the 2nd Batman. Per my discussions with Mr. Duncan, he told me he was offered to co-star with Adam West for the 1966 series. Offered $750 a week for the role, at the advice of his agent, Duncan now having motion picture experience demanded $1,500 per episode. No return phone call was ever made, and Burt Ward was given the role. He did receive one conciliatory phone call from Adam West expressing his desire to have worked with him. MEARS had 3x5 cards, card sized photos, and 16x20 prints autographed during the private signing. Custom Johnny Duncan holograms with the May 13th, 2014, date was added to each item to document the date of the signing. The expert staff of JSA has also authenticated each signed photo. The signatures were all bold and beautiful, with no betrayal of the signature that may be expected by a 91-year-old signer. Working with Mr. Duncan was quite a pleasure, and his work as an early Robin should be seen by all. It was with great sadness I read that he passed away at his Daven Port, FL home on February 8th, 2016.To celebrate his life and career, MEARS is offering a very limited-edition Johnny Duncan signed 16x20 B&W high quality photo. Each photo is signed in near mint blue sharpie, “Johnny Duncan, Robin”. The photo has a dated (May 13th, 2014) Official Johnny Duncan hologram. To further document the authenticity of the signing, the professional staff of JSA has authenticated the piece and added their official hologram and matching card. Great image of Robin and Batman (co-star Robert Lowery) peaking from behind some warehouse crates.
(PIC0036)