Cesar Romero: In a Class by Himself

Adam West hosts the premier of this episode, which Peter Graves narrates, detailing the life and career of the ever-delightful dashing star of stage, screen and television Cesar Romero, from his 1907 birth, in New York City, NY, the eldest of four born to Maria and Cesar Romero, Sr., a wealthy sugar importer.

When young Cesar practices dancing with one of the family's talented maids in the kitchen, he decides early on to pursue a career in the Performing Arts, but completes his education at NYC Collegiate School, in 1925, and participates in many dance club performances during the 1920's.

Cesar first accepts a position as a courier at First National Bank of Manhattan, and then begins leaving his mark on Broadway, as he debuts in the Play "Lady Do" (1927).

But when the stock market crash of 1929 destroys the previously wealthy family's importing business, Cesar Jr. must now become the Romero's bread-winner. After persevering as an agile dancer on stage, an MGM talent scout spots him in the Play "Dinner at Eight" (1933), and suggests for Cesar Romero to head to Hollywood in 1934, to support William Powell and Myrna Loy in the film "The Thin Man."

After appearing with a variety of ethnic characterizations in supporting film roles at MGM, Universal and Paramount studios, the versatile Cesar Romero signs with 20th Century Fox, to display his skills on the dance floor in many a WWII-era Musical, after establishing his star portraying the title character in several "Cisco Kid" films.

Along the way, actor George Murphy dubs him with the nickname of "Butch," which endures throughout his long career.

Cesar not only continues to support his parents and siblings, he relocates them to his Brentwood, California, estate, as the siblings marry and have children of their own. Cesar volunteers to join the Coast Guard to serve in WWII, but requests no special privileges. However, many of his ship-mates recognize him as "Cisco Kid" and are said to enjoy his modest, yet entertaining, presence among them.

Back at 20th after the War, those lavish, escapism Musicals have fairly well run their course, and so Cesar is cast in edgier roles, as "Captain from Castile" (1947), opposite his close friend Tyrone Power, who, together with Cesar, is sent on a Latin American tour to promote the film, fueling Hollywood gossip rags with Gay rumors, which interview guests dismiss as unfounded, but add that it's fine if true because everybody loves Tyrone and Cesar, who all-too-soon becomes devastated by the tremendous loss of his closest friend.

This episode follows the perpetually meticulously-attired Cesar Romero and his Hollywood career from film into television, upon which his fame reaches new heights as he portrays the Joker on the "Batman" series (1966-68) and enjoys a long run in the medium, which includes his portrayal of Peter Stavros on "Falcon Crest" (1985-88).

When examining sketches for the potential Joker's costume on the "Batman" set, Cesar would laugh harder with each subsequent page until the crew would wonder what is going on back there, and someone suggests that he use that hearty laughter in performing as the Joker.

And you'll not want to miss Cesar Romero's duet performance of Tchaichovsky's "Piano Concerto Number 1 in B-flat Minor" on "The Martha Raye Show," in which he takes time out to clown around with his mischievous laughter, as he plays the keyboard with his forehead.

Interview Guests for this episode consist of Eduardo Romero (Brother), Marti Romero (Niece), Marcy Vosburgh (Friend), Evie Wynn Johnson (Friend), Alice Faye (Actress), Jane Wyman (Actress), Anne Jeffreys (Actress), Ruta Lee (Actress), Adam West (Actor/Guest Host), Chris FitzSimons (Producer), and James Parish, a.k.a. James R. Parish, James Robert Parish (Film Historian), with Peter Graves (Narrator). Cesar Romero appears in archive interview.

Still Photographs include Cesar Romero, Maria Romero (Mother), Cesar Romero, Sr. (Father), Maria Romero (Sister), Graciela Romero (Sister), Eduardo Romero (Brother), Liz Higgins, Florence Kelter, Marian Harris, Brock Pemberton, Linda Darnell, Ann Sheridan, George Murphy, Tyrone Power, Gary Cooper, Rudy Vallee, Julie Newmar and Ricardo Montalban.

Archive film footage includes Cesar Romero, Betty Grable, Alice Faye, Marlene Dietrich, George Arliss, Ronald Colman, Don Ameche, Sonja Henie, Ethel Merman, Joan Crawford, Warner Baxter, Jean Rogers, Virginia Fields, Carmen Miranda, John Payne, Tyrone Power, Panamanian President Enrique Adolfo Jiménez, Sheldon Leonard, Paul Douglas, Frank Gorshin, Burgess Meredith and Burt Ward.

Three of Cesar Romero's Broadway Plays are discussed here: "Lady Do" (1927), "Strictly Dishonorable" (1929), and "Dinner at Eight" (1933).

Film Clips include a screen glimpse of Cesar Romero through the years, in scenes from Cardinal Richelieu (1935), Clive of India (1935), The Devil is a Woman (1935), Happy Landing (1938), My Lucky Star (1938), Return of the Cisco Kid (1939), The Cisco Kid and the Lady (1939), Viva Cisco Kid (1940), Week-End in Havana (1941), Springtime in the Rockies (1942), Captain from Castile (1947), Tall, Dark and Handsome (1941), Love That Brute (1950), and Batman (1966), plus Newsreel footage of Cesar and Tyrone's Latin American tour to promote 20th Century Fox's Captain from Castile (1947).

Television Clips include Cesar Romero on "The Martha Raye Show" (1955), "Batman: The Joker Is Wild" (1966), and "Donahue" (1986).