When I gave my platform for the office of Mensa chapter president, I promised
that I would tell the story of what happened when I invited the "Catwoman of
Batman" to Mensa. OK, TV trivia experts-- who was the original Catwoman on
Batman? Actually, if you're talking about the 60's TV series, there were three: Julie
Newmar, Lee Meriwether, and Eartha Kitt. The first two of these people I've met.
We'll start with Julie. She also had her own TV show in the mid-60's called "My
Living Doll". She played a sexy, female robot who did anything that she was told;
Even to the point of being too literal about every command she recieved! If she got
an order that she didn't understand, she would say in a monotone,
"Does-not-compute". Which became a common catch-phrase at my college, a nice
counter-phrase that really meant, "I-don't-know-what-the-heck-your-talking-about".
Although Bill Gates has yet to invent a computer system that looks like her, it turns
out that in real life she is quite intelligent! A year or so ago, she made a personal
appearance at a Denver nostalgia show. Still statuesque and striking at 57, she
answered questions and told us what she was doing these days. She's selling
real-estate in California, is divorced, and has a 12 year old son who is deaf.
Someone asked her about her reputation as a highly intelligent person. She
modestly passed it off as "everyone is intelligent in some way", but didn't
elaborate. So, as I clutched a photograph of her in preparation for an autograph, I
thought that I would find out more. (the photograph showed her in full catwoman
garb, complete with fuzzy ears and whiskers. Although I have strong opinions
about women with whiskers, in her case I'll make an exception) After she asked
me my name, (to assist her in writing, "Don, You're Wonderful, Julie Newmar" on
her picture) I asked her, "Are you a Mensa Member?" She said no, but she was
featured in an article a few years ago in the national Mensa magazine. Then I said,
"You should join; Two thirds of the group are men, and it's a great place to meet
smart, single guys." She looked up at me. Her eyes grew wide. She purred,
"Thanks for the advice!!" Yes, I believe I made software contact with the
shapeliest hard-drive that I've ever seen. This time "It-does-compute". Every month
now, I always check the new members list, just hoping, that just maybe..... Dream
on, Mueller.
One final note; I also mentioned that I once met Lee Meriwether; I did a radio
interview with her a few years ago. She was the most personable actress I've ever
met. But I'll save the details of that for a later column!
that I would tell the story of what happened when I invited the "Catwoman of
Batman" to Mensa. OK, TV trivia experts-- who was the original Catwoman on
Batman? Actually, if you're talking about the 60's TV series, there were three: Julie
Newmar, Lee Meriwether, and Eartha Kitt. The first two of these people I've met.
We'll start with Julie. She also had her own TV show in the mid-60's called "My
Living Doll". She played a sexy, female robot who did anything that she was told;
Even to the point of being too literal about every command she recieved! If she got
an order that she didn't understand, she would say in a monotone,
"Does-not-compute". Which became a common catch-phrase at my college, a nice
counter-phrase that really meant, "I-don't-know-what-the-heck-your-talking-about".
Although Bill Gates has yet to invent a computer system that looks like her, it turns
out that in real life she is quite intelligent! A year or so ago, she made a personal
appearance at a Denver nostalgia show. Still statuesque and striking at 57, she
answered questions and told us what she was doing these days. She's selling
real-estate in California, is divorced, and has a 12 year old son who is deaf.
Someone asked her about her reputation as a highly intelligent person. She
modestly passed it off as "everyone is intelligent in some way", but didn't
elaborate. So, as I clutched a photograph of her in preparation for an autograph, I
thought that I would find out more. (the photograph showed her in full catwoman
garb, complete with fuzzy ears and whiskers. Although I have strong opinions
about women with whiskers, in her case I'll make an exception) After she asked
me my name, (to assist her in writing, "Don, You're Wonderful, Julie Newmar" on
her picture) I asked her, "Are you a Mensa Member?" She said no, but she was
featured in an article a few years ago in the national Mensa magazine. Then I said,
"You should join; Two thirds of the group are men, and it's a great place to meet
smart, single guys." She looked up at me. Her eyes grew wide. She purred,
"Thanks for the advice!!" Yes, I believe I made software contact with the
shapeliest hard-drive that I've ever seen. This time "It-does-compute". Every month
now, I always check the new members list, just hoping, that just maybe..... Dream
on, Mueller.
One final note; I also mentioned that I once met Lee Meriwether; I did a radio
interview with her a few years ago. She was the most personable actress I've ever
met. But I'll save the details of that for a later column!
| ONE SMART CAT |
| (This appeared originally in the Denver Mensa Matrix in 1995) |
