Was Eartha Kitt The Original Catwoman?

Eartha Kitt was the second Catwoman on the original 1960s Batman series. She replaced Julie Newmar, who was shooting a film and unable to take the role in the 1967 season. Eartha Kitt's joining the cast came with some controversy, as there had always been sexual tension between Catwoman and Batman, but in the 1960s, hints at an interracial love affair could not be tolerated by the studios. Therefore, the flirtation between Catwoman and Batman was removed from the scripts. However, watching the show, sexual chemistry fairly oozed off the screen any time Batman and Eartha Kitt's Catwoman were there together. Apparently, it's not the words, it's the actor...