Before Lynda Carter: Revisiting Cathy Lee Crosby's Wonder Woman

on

For many, the name "Wonder Woman" instantly conjures up the image of the iconic Lynda Carter, with her radiant smile and that unforgettable twirl as she transforms into the Amazonian superhero. But what if I told you there was another Wonder Woman—a very different one—before Lynda took the mantle? Buckle up, because we're diving into the quirky world of Cathy Lee Crosby's Wonder Woman from 1974.

Growing up, my earliest memories of Wonder Woman were shaped by Saturday morning cartoons like Superfriends and a few, precious episodes of Lynda Carter's series. Even at a young age, Lynda was the Wonder Woman for me—her strength, grace and that magical transformation into the iconic costume felt like the perfect embodiment of the superhero I idolized. Imagine my heartbreak when the channel airing the series abruptly pulled it shortly after I began watching it. Typical, right?


Fast forward to 1987 or 1988, when I saw a TBS promo announcing Wonder Woman. My excitement skyrocketed—was I finally getting more of the Wonder Woman I loved? My sister quickly popped that bubble, warning me it was nothing like the Lynda Carter series and "there's no spinning." She knew me so very well and she wasn’t wrong.

Cathy Lee Crosby's Wonder Woman was like stepping into an alternate dimension. It felt more like a James Bond flick, where Diana Prince was an athletic, martial-arts-savvy spy rather than the superpowered Amazonian princess I knew. Imagine if Wonder Woman was played by The Bionic Woman—minus the need for bionics, of course. No golden lasso, no superhuman strength, no indestructible bracelets. It was...odd. Fascinating in its way, but odd.


Crosby's take on Wonder Woman also looked very different. Blonde hair, a belted jacket and blue leggings—I know it was modern for the time and reflected the 1960s comic book styles. But for someone who had only known Lynda’s sparkling red, gold and blue costume, complete with a tiara, it felt like something was missing. Cathy Lee Crosby brought her charm to the role, but it was tough not to long for the iconic visual representation.


The plot leaned into espionage, casting Diana as more of a secret agent. And speaking of secret identities, there wasn’t much of one here. Diana Prince simply changed her clothes to become Wonder Woman. No magical transformation, no drama—just a quick wardrobe shift. Even Superman, with his infamous dash to a phone booth, had more flair! (And I know I wasn't the only kid side-eyeing the whole "snake in the hotel room" scene. Asking room service for a bowl of milk to fend off a snake? Come on. Even as a child, I knew better.)

The villain of the story, Abner Smith—played by the always-charismatic Ricardo Montalbán—was another oddity. I love everything I've ever seen Ricardo Montalbán in, Fantasy Island was a favorite as a kid and I loved him in Sweet Charity. While Montalbán delivered his usual brilliance, the character didn’t quite have the gravitas or intrigue to make him a memorable adversary. To top it off, he actually escaped at the end. A superhero story without the villain facing justice? That was a hard pill to swallow.

Despite all these quirks, there's something endearing about this version of Wonder Woman. Maybe it’s the charm of revisiting 1970s television and seeing an ambitious, albeit unconventional, take on a beloved character. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate Cathy Lee Crosby's portrayal and the effort to reimagine Wonder Woman in a new light before the character returned to her classic roots. Now, whenever I stumble upon this movie, I watch it—not without a cringe or two (looking at you, snake scene!), but also with a newfound appreciation.


Cathy Lee Crosby herself holds a special place in my heart. From That’s Incredible! to The Love Boat, she was a staple of my childhood TV experiences and her Wonder Woman was no exception. Over the years I wondered if Cathy was ever considered as a replacement for Farrah when she left Charlie's Angels because she would have been a great one, though I do love Cheryl as Kris. Anyway, this version of Wonder Woman is a fascinating piece of superhero history that reminds us of how characters can evolve—and sometimes take very unexpected detours. The live action "version" prior to the portrayl in this movie was even more different than this or anything you could think of and cannot be believed until one sees it.


What about you? Did Cathy Lee Crosby's Wonder Woman leave an impression on you, or are you team Lynda all the way? I’d love to hear your thoughts, memories, or even your "what were they thinking?" moments about this unique take on the Amazonian legend. Share your comments below—I’d love to geek out with you! And hey, if this nostalgic journey brought a little joy to your day, consider contributing to keep the lights on (and maybe fund a future deep dive into another underrated superhero classic). No pressure, of course—your support in any form means the world to me. Until next time, let’s keep celebrating the superheroes who shaped our lives—quirks and all! 🚀


Comments

Post a Comment