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Batman Creator Bob Kane

Kane says his inspirations for the iconic superhero included drawings by Leonardo da Vinci and Zorro. He designed Batman to be more relatable than Superman; Bruce Wayne may be rich and strong, but he's also mortal. Kane recently worked as a consultant on Tim Burton's new film adaptation, and has a new autobiography, called Batman & Me.

22:44
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Other segments from the episode on July 4, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, July 4, 1990: Interview with Bob Kane; Commentary on Ray Charles; Interview with Ben Vaughn; Commentary on enunciation.
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06:56

A Great Blues Talent Among the Imitators

Shortly after Ray Charles endured a family tragedy, he started to go blind. His mother feared for his future, but Charles was able to make a career in music. Rock historian Ed Ward describes how Charles, who was steeped in the tradition of Nat King Cole, developed his own unique voice.

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03:51

The False Crisis of Poor Enunciation

Linguist Geoff Nunberg says that the attention paid to how people talk says more about class status and regionalism than a decline in effective communication. He explains.

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23:13

Batman Creator Bob Kane.

Batman creator Bob Kane. In his new autobiography, "Batman & Me," Kane tells how he came up with the idea for the caped crusader, and what influence he had on the T-V series and last year's movie. Kane drew Batman from its inception in 1939 to the late 60s.

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