Batman - Episode Guide Season 1 1. Hi Diddle Riddle gs: Jill St. John (Molly) Richard Reeves (Go Go Club Guard (uncredited)) Michael Fox (Inspector Basch) Jack Barry (Newscaster) Ben Astar (Prime Minister) O'Flyn Damian (Gideon Peale) Richard Reeves (Doorman) William Dozier (Maitre 'd) Frank Gorshin (The Riddler) At The Republic Of Moldavia in The Gotham City World's Fair, The Riddler's scheme to use the law against The Batman is already taking shape, as the Moldavian prime minister slices into the Moldavian Friendship cake and unknowingly triggers a hidden bomb inside, releasing a concealed Riddle. This Riddle leads The Dynamic Duo to The Peale Art Gallery, where they catch The Prince Of Puzzlers in the act taking a cross from its proprietor, Gideon Peale, at gunpoint. They stop him with an explosive, but learn to their horror that Riddler's gun was actually a lighter, and the cross was his to begin with. Riddler whistles, and some lawyers arrive bearing subpoenas, which The King Of Conundrums is only too pleased to hand to The Caped Crusader. Batman is slated to be sued for false arrest! The Dynamic Duo must uncover The Riddler's plot before the case comes to trial, or Batman will be forced to reveal his true identity in court, completely destroying his value as an ace crimefighter and stunting his career forever. 2 cleverly hidden Riddles in the legal documents lead Batman and Robin to the new What A Way To Go-Go! discotheque; there, The Prince Of Puzzlers rejoins his gang, The Mole Hill Mob, and informs them that Batman has had time to solve his clue. As The Riddler and The Mole Hill Mob make their way through an underground corridor to the discotheque, his plan is once again put into action. Being a minor, Robin The Boy Wonder is legally forbidden to enter the disco, so he waits outside in The Batmobile and monitor The Batman on the Batscope, as he enters alone. While The Batman dances The Batusi with The Riddler's assistant Molly, he suddenly falls victim to drugged orange juice he unwittingly ingests; watching on The Batscope, Robin attempts to race into action, but falls victim to The Riddler's tranquilizer dart gun. Riddler tries to steal The Batmobile but accidentally triggers its antitheft rockets; he then tries to destroy the car, but the flames are extinguished by its Batostat Antifire Activator! Robin is carried away down a manhole by The Riddler and The Mole Hill Mob, while Batman finds himself in no condition to pursue them, and is forced to surrender his Batkeys to the police. And at the most inopportune time, too: The Batsignal flashes from the roof of GCPD. The policemen vow not to tell the Commissioner of Batman's drunken state. Meanwhile, in The Riddler's hideout, Robin is being strapped to a table as The Count Of Conundrums, surrounded by Molly and The Mole Hill Mob, attempts to operate on the unconscious boy!! b: 12-Jan-1966 pc: 6028-Pt. 1 w: Lorenzo Semple Jr. d: Robert Butler NOTE: Based on "Remarkable Ruse of the Riddler" from Batman #171 (May 1965), written by Gardner Fox; in it, The Riddler, jealous of the attention Batman is giving The Mole Hill Mob, arranges a trap so Batman will apprehend the gang and give The Riddler The Caped Crusader's undivided attention. This is the only time that Alfred Pennyworth wears a tuxedo throughout the entire episode. Also, Robin makes his only appearance wearing green cloth gloves (matching the fabric of his green tights); later episodes would have him wearing green leather gloves. The footage first seen in "Hi Diddle Riddle" of The Dynamic Duo preparing to zoom out of The Batcave ("Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed!" "Roger, ready to move out.") is recycled in many later episodes and in the 1966 Batman movie. Writer Lorenzo Semple Jr. composed the screenplay for the 1966 Batman feature film. "Hi Diddle Riddle" was misprinted as "Hey Diddle Diddle" in a TV Guide Close-Up detailing its telecast on ABC. The scenes of The World's Fair used in this episode are actual footage taken at the 1964-5 New York World's Fair. Dick Reeves (Doorman) played several villains in the 1952-58 The Adventures Of Superman series. Cathy Ferrar said "Gleeps! It's Batman!" in episode #1, gained some notoriety and became known as the "Gleeps Girl." She returned in episode #8727-Pt. 1, "The Joker Trumps An Ace," with an additional five syllables to her role ("Crime is certainly rampant these days!"). Aunt Harriet was written into the series to counter the rumors that Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson were gay. The series producers felt that a female aunt would "round out" Wayne Manor. Variations between the Bat-pilot and regular series: opening theme is slightly different and the superimposed cliffhanger texts are angled. Also these are the only episodes of Batman's entire series run to feature a "Special Guest" credit (Jill St. John as Molly) preceding the ever-present "Special Guest Villain" credit. Batman's disco appearance and subsequent dance number gave rise to a thankfully brief dance craze over the "Batusi". Though he fails to do so here, The Riddler would later on finally steal The Batmobile in Episode #8725-Pt. 1, "The Ring of Wax." At the time this episode aired, Alfred was thought to be dead in the comics. The producers originally envisioned a 60-minute Batman series, but decided to trim it to 30-minute 2-parters as exhibition. Episode repeated on ABC August 24, 1966 and April 5, 1967. 2. Smack in the Middle gs: Jill St. John (Molly) Michael Fox (Inspector Basch) Jack Barry (Newscaster) Ben Astar (Prime Minister) O'Flyn Damian (Gideon Peale) Richard Reeves (Doorman) William Dozier (Maitre 'd) Frank Gorshin (The Riddler) In The Batcave, Batman's attempts to contact his junior partner in crimefighting are met with futility; alerted by Alfred about Aunt Harriet's having a fit on noticing their beds were slept in, The Caped Crusader tells him to put her at ease by saying they're spending the night at Bruce's uncle's house. Meanwhile, The Riddler's "operation" on Robin involved only the making of plaster cast from Robin's masked face, used to make a perfect "Robin" mask for Molly. After enticing The Caped Crusader with a couple of riddles, The Prince Of Puzzlers and Molly (disguised as The Boy Wonder) lead Batman on a merry chase outside the abandoned turtle mill at Orleans Cove before their vehicle is disabled by The Batray. The Riddler makes his escape as Molly tricks The Batman into taking her into The Batcave. There, our keen-eyed hero makes spots the defect in the mask caused by the straws they gave Robin through which to breathe. An unmasked Molly, after making an unsuccessful attempt to shoot Batman, makes a break for it; The Caped Crusader chases her to the top of the atomic pile (used to power The Batmobile), where she slips and falls to her dastardly death! The Caped Crusader rescues the true Boy Wonder, but that rapacious Riddler manages to escape to The Moldavian Pavilion, where a gathering will honor the famous Mammoth Of Moldavia, which is stuffed with used, yet priceless Moldavian postage stamps. The Riddler plans to steal The Mammoth, and so he drenches the pavilion with nitrous oxide, dresses in an outrageous costume and elephant mask (Holy John Merrick!) which conceals his protective gasmask, and entertains the guests with a few jokes untill everyone has fallen unconscious from laughter. The Riddler and The Mole Hill Mob blast a hole through the floor and make ready to pilfer the priceless pachyderm when The Dynamic Duo leap out from inside the huge beast and subdue The Mob; whilst The Riddler runs for the rat hole and leaps into it. Batman leaps after him, and The Riddler shoots at him, misses, and hits a tank of noxious oxide causing it to explode, but not before Batman takes cover. The Riddler's body was never recovered, so it's assumable he will definitely live to plague Gotham City another day...but not if The Dynamic Duo can help it! (BTB, the lawsuit against Batman was thrown out of court, since The Riddler failed to show.) b: 13-Jan-1966 pc: 6028-Pt. 2 w: Lorenzo Semple Jr. d: Robert Butler NOTE: This is one of two episodes of Batman in which characters lose their life; the second is Episode #8705-Pt. 2, A Death Worse Than Fate, wherein the gunmen, intending to drill Batman and Robin full of bullets, shoot each other to death as The Dynamic Duo dodge them, aided by Zelda The Great (Anne Baxter). The Riddler's maniacal high-pitched giggle was inspired by the character Tommy Udo (portrayed by Richard Widmark) in the 1947 20th Century-Fox crime film-noir Kiss Of Death. Lyle Waggoner was originally cast as Batman and filmed for a test reel. Waggoner later on played Major Steve Leonard Trevor on Wonder Woman. For the 1966 Emmys, Batman was nominated as Oustanding Comedy Series while Frank Gorshin was nominated for Outstanding Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role In A Comedy ("Hi Diddle Riddle"). A third nomination was made for editing. The Batmobile's ever-popular Emergency Bat-Turn Lever is put into use for the first time in this episode. In all the scenes of the villains hideouts, the camera is slanted at an angle, almost "crooked"--to reflect the villains' being crooked themselves! The scene of The Batmobile leaving The Batcave to race the remaining 14 miles to Gotham was really filmed at Bronson Cavern in Hollywood Hills. This cave was used in many horror films including Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (Allied Artists, 1956). The problem they ran into when filming the scene was that The Batmobile was just about the same width as the cave entrance. To keep from ripping the fenders off of George Barris's creation, they undercranked the cameras so it could come out slowly and then later speed up the film to give the illusion of speed! The exterior shots of Wayne Manor were really filmed at 380 South San Rafel Ave, Pasedena, CA. Jill St. John (Molly) would go on to play the role of Tiffany Case in the James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever (United Artists, 1971). We learn here that Bruce Wayne has an uncle. Aunt Harriet speaks her first lines of dialogue on the series in this episode...in its final minutes! This is the only occurrence of the whole Batman TV series of a Batvillain escaping apprehension. For the first 2 seasons, a tag preview of next week's villain followed every Part 2 episode. William Dozier originally auditioned people to narrate the series, but when none of them seemed to fit, he decided do it himself. Repeated on ABC August 25, 1966 and April 6, 1967. 3. Fine Feathered Finks gs: David Lewis (Warren Crichton) Walter Burke (Sparrow) Lewis Charles (Hawkeye) Robert Phillips (Swoop) Alex D'Arcy (Jewelry Shop Owner) Johnny Jacobs (Assistant Shop Owner) Leslie Parrish (Dawn Robbins) Dan Tobin (I) (Mr. Jay) Burgess Meredith (The Penguin) Robert Phillips (Swoop, the Cellmate) Awaiting release from prison, The Penguin, that pompous, waddling master of fowl play, schemes to get his adversary, The Batman, to plan his crimes for him; his first step is to attract The Caped Crusader's attention. Penguin has his Finks Hawkeye and Sparrow distribute free umbrellas to patrons outside The House Of Ali Baba Jewelry Store and a local bank. The men passing them out call it a promotion, but the owners of the jewelry store and bank know that they weren't hired by them. While everyone's inside with the umbrellas, they explode and start spinning and cause a distraction, however even though it was the perfect setup for Hawkeye and Sparrow to commit a robbery, no heist was pulled. When Police Commissioner Gordon hears of it, he knows The Penguin's back in town and calls Batman and Robin in to investigate. Along with Warden Crichton, they view Penguin's survelance tape from prison and were able to find out little on his next crime. The Dynamic Duo decide pay a call on The Penguin, who, under the alias K.G. Bird ("cagey bird!!!") now operates an umbrella store. As soon as they leave, Penguin launches a monster umbrella, featuring a multicolored Batbrella (Complete with Pengy's hidden transmitter) attatched to its handle, from his store's roof! The umbrella lands in the middle of the street, and The Caped Crusader Batclimbs up to the giant handle to retrieve the curious Batbrella. Convinced it's a clue to Penguin's next crime, Batman and Robin take the bumbershoot back with them to The Batcave to further examine it. Unable to discover a significance of The Batbrella, Batman goes in his normal guise as Bruce Wayne inside the umbrella store and, while the Penguin isn't looking, he plants a a tiny transistor microphone (disguised as a spider) there so they can find out what he's up to. Unfortunately, Bruce apparently didn't count on The Penguin actually installing a burglar alarm in his store (?!!!!), and a siren goes off to alert there is a bug being placed in the room! The Penguin, Hawkeye and Sparrow immediately releases a net on Bruce Wayne and, unaware of his identity but mistaking him for a spy from a rival and competing umbrella store, and knocks him out with his Penguingas-umbrella. He then has Hawkeye and Sparrow tie him up and toss him into the furnace. Still entangled in the net, Bruce is placed on a conveyor belt that leads to the 12,000 degree furnace!! b: 19-Jan-1966 pc: 8703-Pt. 1 w: Lorenzo Semple Jr. d: Robert Butler NOTE: Based on "Partners in Plunder!" from Batman #169 (February 1965), written by France Eddie Herron; the only difference being The Penguin steals the jeweled meteorite (which was mentioned in the comic), instead of kidnapping Dawn Robbins (who didn't appear in the comic). Mickey Rooney was considered for the role of The Penguin. Enter David Lewis's first appearance as Warden Crichton. Batman's origin was never specifically dealt with during the series. Bruce Wayne mentions the murder of his parents in episode #1, refers to an umbrella that belonged to his late father in #3, and recalls "the murder of my parents by dastardly criminals" in #82. David Lewis (Warden Crichton) portrayed crime boss Otto Danzig in the 1962 movie "Kid Galahad" starring Elvis Presley. Repeated on ABC August 31, 1966 and May 17, 1967. 4. The Penguin's a Jinx gs: David Lewis (Warren Crichton) Walter Burke (Sparrow) Lewis Charles (Hawkeye) Robert Philips (Swoop) Alex D'Arcy (Jewelry Shop Owner) Johnny Jacobs (Assistant Shop Owner) Leslie Parrish (Dawn Robbins) Dan Tobin (I) (Mr. Jay) Burgess Meredith (The Penguin) Bruce Wayne's burning feet revive him just in time, and he retrieves from his pocket his cigarette lighter containing a lifetime supply of butane gas, and throws it into the fire. A sudden blast ensues, eating up the oxygen, putting the furnace out, and throwing Bruce free from the net, far enough to make his escape. Later, at The Batcave, as The Penguin and his Finks cleverly eavesdrop courtesy of a bug he planted on The Batbrella, Batman and Robin decide that the Penguin's scheme is kidnapping the beautiful actress Dawn Robbins who is in town at a hotel in a penthouse apartment. Batman then discusses the whole scheme the Penguin must have, which is what The Fiendish Fowl expected! Batman and Robin go to Dawn Robbins (who is bored from the life of a movie star and wants to experience something exciting). They notify her that they believe she is in danger, and she agrees to let them stay and stake-out the place. The plot goes beautifully. The Penguin, Hawkeye and Sparrow swing across to Dawn Robbin's terrace on giant umbrellas; Penguin enters through the screen door while one of his Finks places a giant magnet by the door. The Pudgy Purveyor Of Perfidy gasses Dawn to sleep with his bewitching bumbershoot. As Batman and Robin try to stop the Penguin from kidnapping, the magnet is turned on and they are pulled to it because of the metal in their utility belts, rendering them powerless. Batman and Robin escape from the magnet with the aid of a passing bellboy and retrn to Wayne Manor to clip Penguin's wings once and for all. Knowing Penguin is listening in through the umbrella's bug, they announce that the ransom will be paid at Wayne Manor and that Batman and Robin will be waiting inside the armor statues immediately inside in the entrance hall. The Penguin goes to Wayne Manor and returns the actress. He then uses his gas-umbrella to knock out anyone inside the statues. He returns to his hideout to find out that Batman and Robin were waiting there--there had been dummies inside the statues all along. The Penguin is apprehended and returns to his cage. b: 20-Jan-1966 pc: 8703-Pt. 2 w: Lorenzo Semple Jr. d: Robert Butler NOTE: Leslie Parrish (as Dawn Robbins) is seen wearing the exact same gold outfit as Linda Lorimer in Season-2 episode #9711-Pt. 1, "The Clock King's Crazy Crimes," in her role as the Car Hop who serves The Dynamic Duo "Batburgers." The next time The Dynamic Duo are stuck to a magnet by the metal in their utility belts (which nearly becomes their undoing!) is in the 1966 Batman movie. The Penguin mentions his hideaway in Alaska for the first and only time in all episodes of the Penguin. Repeated on ABC September 1, 1966 and May 18, 1967. 5. The Joker is Wild gs: Nancy Kovack (Queenie) Jonathan Hole (Mr. Hovis/Museum Attendant) Merritt Bohn (Assistant Warden) Dick Curtis (The Inebriate) Jerry Dunphy (Fred/Newscaster) Al Wyatt (Henchman #1) Angelo DeMeo (Henchman #2) Cesar Romero (The Joker) The story begins with The Joker in prison pitching in (and enjoying) a ballgame. After a few pitches, the catcher switches the ball with one he has stashed in his padding, and tells The Joker "This is the one." As the batter hits the ball, a smoke cloud appears and before anyone had known what happened, The Joker escaped using a spring-loaded device that propelled him over the prison wall! The only thing The Joker left behind was a statue of his face and bust that was concealed under the spring contraption. Batman and Robin go to the museum to check everything out--they were suspicious the Joker would strike there in revenge because he had not been entered into The Comedy Hall of Fame. When arriving, they found out The Joker's statue was indeed there and decided he must be somewhere else. After everything's locked up they believe that no one can break in, but that doesn't mean they can't break out. While going back in they find The Joker trying to steal the valuable jewels inside. While the fight ensues, Batman is knocked out from a falling antique sword that had been hanging on the wall. As they are carrying Robin and him away, he uses a gas pellet from his utility belt. The Joker escapes out a trap door while his henchmen are gathered up. After being defeated once again by Batman's utility belt, a fed-up Joker decides to make his own. While in his hideout, The Joker comes up with an idea to steal the S.S. Gotham (from his henchwoman). He plans to eliminate Batman so he can take the ship. Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson arrive at the commissioners office for talk on the S.S. Gotham. While there, a clown doll is thrown through the window. Bruce Wayne asks to take it for a souvenir and back at the Batcave Batman and Robin try to figure out what The Joker's up to. They come up with the idea that The Joker will be at The Gotham City Opera Company, where Paliachi [sic] is being performed. While at the opera, Batman and Robin are caught when The Joker throws sneezing powder in their face and his henchmen grab our heroes. A horrified audience then watches The Joker make a move to unmask Batman and Robin... b: 26-Jan-1966 pc: 8709-Pt. 1 w: Robert Dozier d: Don Weis NOTE: Writer Robert Dozier is the son of Batman Executive Producer William Dozier. Both Jose Ferrer and Gig Young were considered for the role of The Joker. Cesar Romero refused to shave his moustache which gave him his career, so they had to cover it with makeup as well. Notice that The Joker's henchmen are named after legendary (and deceased!) comedians: Stanley Laurel, Oliver Hardy, W.C. Fields, and Ernie Kovacs. This was the first Bat-episode to be adapted as a ViewMaster (#1003). Repeated on ABC May 25, 1966 and May 24, 1967. 6. Batman is Riled gs: Nancy Kovack (Queenie) Jonathan Hole (Mr. Hovis/Museum Attendant) Merritt Bohn (Assistant Warden) Dick Curtis (The Inebriate) Jerry Dunphy (Fred/Newscaster) Al Wyatt (Henchman #1) Angelo DeMeo (Henchman #2) Cesar Romero (The Joker) As The Joker is about to remove The Batman's mask, The Caped Crusader escapes using a small Batmissle in his utility belt to set off the water sprinklers. The Joker uses a smoke bomb to make his escape. As they are chasing him on the catwalks above, The Joker uses trick confetti from his utility belt that wrap around Batman and Robin. He gets away before Batman and Robin can get themselves out of the confetti. The Joker then does a broadcast and gives the dynamic duo another riddle. They track him to his hideout, and while in a struggle The Joker switches Batman's utility belt with his. Batman is selected to christen the S.S. Gotham. The Joker decides to fill a champagne bottle with paralyzing gas. On the day of the christening, a crowd gathers. Joker's henchwoman hands Commissioner Gordon the bottle who in turn hands it to Batman. As Batman looks over the bottle, he notices the cork has been tampered with. After taking a pill and saying he had a headache, he hands Robin one as well and tells him to take it because it may be catching. As the bottle is broken, it releases the gas and everyone is knocked out. The Joker takes Batman and Robin back to his hideout (thinking they're knocked out) and broadcasts his ultimatum on television--either he gets the S.S. Gotham or Batman and Robin will be executed like the famous display in the wax museums. Batman and Robin spring into action having taken their Universal Drug Antidote Pill. The Joker is caught and brought to justice. b: 27-Jan-1966 pc: 8709-Pt. 2 w: Robert Dozier d: Don Weis NOTE: The Joker calls his villainous gameshow on TV What's My Crime?, based loosely on Goodson-Todman's favorite guessing game What's My Line? (CBS, 1950-67). Repeated on ABC May 26, 1966 and May 25, 1967. 7. Instant Freeze gs: George Sanders (Dr. Schimmell, Mr. Freeze) Shelby Grant (Princess Sandra) Troy Melton (Chill) Guy Way (Nippy) Roy Sickner (Mo) Robert Hogan (Paul Diamante) William O'Connell (Mr. Perkins) John Zaremba (Kolevator/Butler) Don Hannum (Art Rogers) Ken Del Conte (Al Scott) Dan Terranova (Dr. Vince) John Wills (Newscaster) Bill Hudson (Photographer) Teri Garr (Girl) Mr. Freeze seeks revenge against Batman for knocking a beaker of Instant Freeze on him during a past fight, an accident that has rendered Freeze incapable of going out in public without a special air-conditioned suit and forces him to live in a super-cooled house designed to keep his body temperature at a frosty 50 degrees below zero. Freeze begins his rampage of revenge by heisting some famous diamonds ("ice" in the criminal vernacular!) from The Gotham City Diamond Exchange. In The Batcave, Batman perfects an anti-freeze pill which, as he tries it out in a Deep-Freeze Cabinet, sadly, fails to do the trick in extreme cold. Then, on a tip from Commissioner Gordon, The Dynamic Duo, knowing Freeze's predilection for "ice," speed to The Exchange by Batmobile, but their attempt to nab Freeze is foiled when gang members Chill, Nippy and Mo release 5 Batman and Freeze decoys. After the resulting confusion in The Exchange by The Dynamic Duo between The Batmen and Misters Freeze gives the true Freeze and his lackies carte blanche to scram, The Caped Crusaders next try to prevent Freeze from stealing The Ghiaccio Circolo (Circle of Ice) Diamond, which belongs to the visiting Princess Sandra of Molino (a/k/a Sandra Carlson of Brooklyn). Freeze sets The Princess' curtains on fire with his flame-gun and darts out with the hot rock while Batman and Robin battle the flames. In a flash The Duo are out the window and down The Batrope to intercept Freeze at his Amalgamated Ice-Cream Company truck below, but the cold-hearted criminal zaps them into human icicles with his horrible ice-gun and gets away!! b: 02-Feb-1966 pc: 8707-Pt. 1 w: Max Hodge d: Robert Butler NOTE: Based on "The Ice Crimes of Mr. Zero" from Batman #121 (February 1959) by Dave Wood. Mr. Zero was changed to Mr. Freeze for the TV series, and the comics followed suit. Teri Garr cameos in a bit part of a girl in #7 (she is standing in front of the ice rink). Repeated on ABC May 18, 1966. 8. Rats Like Cheese gs: George Sanders (Mr. Freeze) Shelby Grant (Princess Sandra) Troy Melton (Chill) Guy Way (Nippy) Roy Sickner (Mo) Robert Hogan (Paul Diamante) William O'Connell (Mr. Perkins) John Zaremba (Kolevator/Butler) Don Hannum (Art Rogers) Ken Del Conte (Al Scott) Dan Terranova (Dr. Vince) John Willis (Newscaster) Bill Hudson (Photographer) Teri Garr (Girl) A very frigid Batman and Robin are immediately rished to Gotham City Hospital where they are thawed out with the help of the miraculous Super-Hypotherm-De-Icifier Chamber Mark VII, which reverses the freezing process. Freeze, meanwhile, has captured Paul Diamante (Spanish for "diamond," natch), the star pitcher of The Gotham City Eagles baseball team, just before the big game. Immediately upon learning of The Caped Crusader's surviving his freeze gun, Freeze offers to exchange Diamante for Batman. The hostage exchange happens via helicopter at the ballpark, where Batman is knocked unconscious and spirited away by helicopter. Robin, ordered by Batman not to interfere, has planted a homing device on the senior crimefighter and follows him to the Freeze hideout but is captured by his men. There, after dinner, Freeze demonstrates the pinpoint control of his house-freezing system: he slowly changes the temperature of his hideout so The Duo will be frozen to death. He isolates Robin in a small spot of warmth and begins to deep-freeze Batman. Luckily, Batman has remembered to wear his super-thermo-B-long underwear, preventing him from the extreme cold long enough to sock Mr. Freeze in the jaw and reverse the temperature controls. The tables are turned, Freeze and his men are put on ice, and justice prevails once more! Later, at a private party in Wayne Manor, Bruce and Dick are too eager to turn down a helping of baked Alaska, which was earlier on served to them (as the Dynamic Duo) in Freeze's hideout! b: 03-Feb-1966 pc: 8707-Pt. 2 w: Max Hodge d: Robert Butler NOTE: Dr. Vince (Dan Terranova) is an obvious spoof on the 1961-66 ABC medical drama Ben Casey. Although his real name in the comics is Victor Fries, on the TV show it was Dr. Shimmel. The late George Sanders (Mr. Freeze) was previously wed to future Bat-villainess Zsa Zsa Gabor from 1949 to 1957. Repeated on ABC May 19, 1966. 9. Zelda the Great gs: Anne Baxter (Zelda) Frankie Darro (Newsman) Jack Kruschen (Eivol Ekdal) Barbara Heller (Hillary Stonewin) Jim Drum (Officer Clancey) Stephen Tompkins (Bank Guard) Victor French (Hood #1) Bill Phillips (Hood #2) Jerry Doggett (Announcer) Douglas Dumbrille (Doctor) Once every year, on April Fool's Day, an unidentified villain robs one of Gotham City's banks of exactly $100,000. That thief is none other than Zelda The Great, a world-famous magician/escape artist who uses the ill-gotten gains to pay off a strange Albanian mastermind answering to the moniker of Eivol Ekdal, who devises Zelda's each and every escape device. The Batman decides to trap the thief by planting a story in the newspaper claiming the stolen money was counterfeit. When Eivol reads the fake article, he refuses to give Zelda his latest device, The Inescapable Death-Trap, until his demands are met. Noticing a story about a rare gem on display in a local jewelry store (another phony article instigated by The Caped Crusader), E.E. send Zelda to swipe the gem in exchange for his creation. Zelda guesses the bugged-gem trick and confounds our heroes when she successfully steals the jewel ? only to throw it away and then put through a phone call to Aunt Harriet and dupe her into believing her nephew Dick Greyson has been injured by a pop fly ball, and lure her to the Gotham playground. There Zelda kidnaps Harriet and spirits her away to her hide out, where she encases her in a straitjacket suspended over a vat of boiling oil, and holds her for ransom!! b: 09-Feb-1966 pc: 8705-Pt. 1 w: Lorenzo Semple Jr. d: Norman Foster NOTE: Based on "Batman's Inescapable Doom-Trap!" from Detective Comics #346 by John Broome. Although the evil character Eivol Ekdal appeared in the story, Zelda didn't; instead the magician was a man named Carnado. These episodes were originally entitled "The Inescapable Doom Trap"/"Zelda Takes the Rap" and scheduled to air January 26 and 27. Frankie Darrow, who plays a newsman, was previously a Dead End Kid. Both Zsa Zsa Gabor and Bette Davis were considered for the role of Zelda. (Gabor eventually wound up playing Minerva in the series finale, Minerva, Mayhem And Millionaires.) For once, The Dynamic Duo enter through the rear of Police HQ! Repeated on ABC June 22, 1966. 10. A Death Worse Than Fate gs: Anne Baxter (Zelda) Frankie Darro (Newsman) Jack Kruschen (Eivol Ekdal) Barbara Heller (Hillary Stonewin) Jim Drum (Officer Clancey) Stephen Tompkins (Bank Guard) Victor French (Hood #1) Bill Phillips (Hood #2) Jerry Doggett (Announcer) Douglas Dumbrille (Doctor) Just as Zelda's deadline is about to expire, Bruce Wayne, Commissioner Gordon, and Robin arranges to deliver the ransom money through live TV and manage to convince her the money she heisted from the bank was real. When Aunt H. is returned, a matchbook advertising Ekdal's Gnome Bookstore falls out of her pocket. This clue Zelda hopes will lure The Dynamic Duo into her trap. Batman and Robin speed to Eivol's Bookstore, where they fall prey to Ekdal's Inescapable Doom Trap, a alrge transparent cage made out of Jet Age plastics. When deadly gas fills the cage, The Caped Crusader ignites it by placing hit metal utility belt buckle against the electrified grating at the cage's base, causing it to blast open the door and release them. Zelda, who has bore witness to the aggrandizing affair from Ekdal's hidden room, feels guilty and warns Batman and Robin about the gunmen hidden inside 2 mummy cases just outside The Doom Trap, waiting to blow them away! The Duo quockly duck out of the way just in time to avoid the gunmen's bullets, which insidiously do them in. Eivol Ekdal tries to make a break for it, but is stopped by a well-aimed Batarang tossed at him, and moments later, a wet-cheeked Zelda quietly surrenders. Ekdal is put away and Zelda ? having helped save Batman ? gets a reprieve and a job as a childrens' magician. b: 10-Feb-1966 pc: 8705-Pt. 2 w: Lorenzo Semple Jr. d: Norman Foster NOTE: This is the first of 2 Batman episodes in which there was no Batfight; the second was Season-3 episode #1719, "Nora Clavicle and the Ladies' Crime Club." Anne Baxter (Zelda) later portrayed Olga Queen of the Cossacks in the third and final season. Listen for an inside reference to this show as Alfred states his reason for not polishing The Batpoles on "Wednesday evenings" (Part 1 of Batman aired on ABC Wednesday nights @ 7:30 EST!): it was due to his obsession with "a certain television show!" (Guess which?!) Victor French (Hood #1) is best known for his role of Mr. Isaiah Edwards on Little House On The Prairie (NBC, 1974-84), and Mark Gordon on Highway To Heaven (NBC, 1984-89). As The Dynamic Duo speed through Gotham City, the streets of New York's Times Square area are seen in the background, along with 2 movie theaters playing El Cid (Allied Artists, 1961) and Boys' Night Out (MGM, 1962). These particular movies were already 4 to 5 years old, so either Gotham City had problems booking new features or no one bothered to check on the age of stock footage of the film they used! Repeated on ABC June 23, 1966. 11. A Riddle a Day Keeps the Riddler Away gs: Reginald Denny (King Boris) Susan Silo (Mousey) Marc Cavell (Fangs) Tim Herbert (Whiskers) Roy Jenson (Whitey) Bill Kendis (Newsman) Joy Harmon (Julia Davis) Johnny Magnus (M.C.) Tris Coffin (Ambassador) John Archer (Guest) John Hubbard (Maitre D') Marvin Miller (TV Announcer) Frank Gorshin (The Riddler) After surviving the explosion unscathed in Episode 1, that crafty Count Of Conundrums, The Riddler, returns to once again overturn ceremony. Here, the ceremony is a welcoming one for the visiting King Boris, who has arrived in Gotham City to present a gift from his country, a miniature replica of The Queen Of Freedom Monument. The Riddler and his new female assistant, Mousey, present The King with an exploding bouquet of flowers, which, of course, releases a hidden riddle which leads The Dynamic Duo to believe that Riddler's planning to steal the jeweled crown from The Miss Galaxy Contest. The Caped Crusader secretly replaces the crown with a paste one containing a miniature transmitter. Later that night, The Riddler makes a surprise appearance at the contest, swipes the crown, and escapes down a trapdoor. Rushing outside to The Batmobile, The Darknight Detectives spot The Riddler emerging from an open manhole; much to their dismay, he informs them he knew from the very start that the crown was a fake, throws it back to them, and disappears. Upon closer analysis, Batman discovered that the crown contains another riddle, which leads him to believe that The Riddler plans to kidnap the visiting King Boris. Unfortunately, The Dynamic Duo is too late to prevent King Boris' capture. The Prince Of Puzzlers plans to plant a timebomb inside the king's statue, which in turn will be placed inside The Gotham City Museum Of Fame housed in the base of the towering monument. Batman and Robin locate The Riddler's hideout but are immediately overpowered by The Count Of Conundrums and his repugnant River Rat Gang, catching them in a net and spraying them with an adhesive spray! Then they are strapped to a giant generator shaft which will spin them into oblivion! b: 16-Feb-1966 pc: 8711-Pt. 1 w: Fred DeGorter d: Tom Gries NOTE: Reginald Denny (King Boris) went on to portray his final role, that of Commodore Schmidlapp in the 1966 Batman motion picture. Marvin Miller (TV Announcer) played Michael Anthony on the 1955-60 CBS series The Millionaire. Repeated on ABC June 1, 1966. 12. When the Rat's Away the Mice Will Play gs: Reginald Denny (King Boris) Susan Silo (Mousey) Marc Cavell (Fangs) Tim Herbert (Whiskers) Roy Jenson (Whitey) Bill Kendis (Newsman) Joy Harmon (Julia Davis) Johnny Magnus (M.C.) Tris Coffin (Ambassador) John Archer (Guest) John Hubbard (Maitre D') Marvin Miller (TV Announcer) Frank Gorshin (The Riddler) While The Riddler's men escort King Boris and his statue back to Gotham, Batman manages to get his blowtorch from his utility belt and burn the armature, causing the reactor to short circuit and deactivate. The Dynamic Duo free themselves and return to The Batcave. Believing he has spun The Duo to their deaths, The Ridller proceeds wuth his blackmail scheme: to use King Boris as an unwitting pawn by his placing the statue inside the museum, and inform Commissioner Gordon that, inless he's paid a million dollars he'll destroy The Queen Of Freedom Monument! Meanwhile, after Whitey, one of The Riddler's men, dresses up as Batman and pays a visit to Commissioner Gordon's office and Bruce Wayne, Batman and Robin have solved the last of The Prince Of Puzzler's riddles, figuring out his scheme, and they set a trap for him inside the museum. The Riddler and The River Rats arrives to collect their cash -- only to find to their dismay that not only the statue containing the bomb isn't there, the satchel of money is phony! Suddenly, The Dynamic Duo appear from a balcony above, informing The King Of Criminal Conundrums that they've already deactivated the bomb, and then deactivate The Riddler and The River Rats themselves! Later, at Wayne Manor, Aunt Harriet goes out for a night on the town, while Bruce and Dick stay behind to go over business and algebra, respectively. b: 17-Feb-1966 pc: 8711-Pt. 2 w: Fred DeGorter d: Tom Gries NOTE: Look for the blatantly (campy) stuffed dummies of Batman and Robin on the drive shaft. During the recap scene at the beginning of this episode, we're supposed to be shown a sketch of The Riddler's waterworks hideout, but instead we are shown the sketch of Dawn Robbins' penthouse apartment, which appeared in episode #8703-Pt. 2, "The Penguin's a Jinx." Repeated on ABC June 2, 1966. 13. The Thirteenth Hat gs: Robert Montgomery (Silver shop manager) Bob Legionaire (Sporting Goods Manager) Norma Varden (Mrs. Monteagle) John Ward (Citizen) Monique Lemaire (Madame Magda) Diane McBain (Lisa) Alberto Morin (Octave Marbot) Gil Perkins (Dicer) Roland La Starza (Cappy) Sandra Wells (Babette) David Wayne (Jervis Tetch, The Mad Hatter) Jervis Tetch, The Mad Hatter, sets out to take revenge against The Batman and the 12 members of the jury that convicted him and sent him to prison. Using The Super Instant Mesmerizer concealed in his top hat, he begins stealing hats of the jurors--along with their owners! After collecting most of the jury (including Madame Magda, whom Lisa, Jervis's moll, works for), Tetch decides it's time to add Batman's cowl -- his "thirteenth" hat, he calls it -- so he and his assistasnts, Cappy and Dicer, sets a trap for The Caped Crusader and Robin The Boy Wonder at the studio of sculptor Octave Marbot, who is currently sculpting a statue of Batman. Masquerading as Marbot, Tetch tries luring The Dynamic Duo into removing his cowl so he can use it as a model for the staue's head. Knowing full well that Marbot has finished the head already, The Batman sees through The Mad Hatter's disguise, and, pretending to fall for his deception, The Dynamic Duo retire to the back room to remove The Batman's cowl in secret. There they find the real Marbot bound and gagged in the closet, and burst out to confront The Mad Hatter. During the battle that ensues, Tetch tries his Super Instant Mesmerizer on Batman, but the latter counterattacks with his Antimesmeriszing Batreflector; unfortunately, The Hatter dodges and Robin, standing behind him, is hit by the deflecting ray. Rushing to his aid, Batman is knocked asunder by Jervis Tetch, who manages to entomb The Caped Crusader in Super-Fast Hardening Plaster! b: 23-Feb-1966 pc: 8719-Pt. 1 w: Charles Hoffman d: Norman Foster NOTE: Gil Perkins (seen here as Dicer) later played Bluebeard in the 1966 Batman movie. Adapted from a February 1964 Batman comic story in which The Mad Hatter commits crimes based on the jobs of the 12 jurors who sent him to prison. Repeated on ABC June 8, 1966 and April 26, 1967. 14. Batman Stands Pat gs: Diane McBain (Lisa) Roland La Starza (Cappy) Gil Perkins (Dicer) George Conrad (Turkey Bullwinkle) Sandra Wells (Babette) Alberto Morin (Octave Marbot) Monique Lemaire (Madame Magda) David Wayne (Jervis Tetch, The Mad Hatter) After several minutes, Jervis Tetch is convinced that The Batman has smothered to death inside the plaster, and he has the real Marbot break it open in order to obtain a mold of The Caped Crusader's cowl. As Marbot slowly chips away at the plaster shroud, they hear someone chipping away from the inside! Lo and behold, Batman - who wisely held his Batbreath - emerges from the plaster, and The Mad Hatter and his cronies Cappy and Dicer make a hasty retreat. They try to utilize The Batmobile as a getaway car, but they unknowingly trigger its Antitheft Device strategically set up by The Dynamic Duo (there have been a rash of recent car thefts in the area). Learning that The Hatter has only one more juror to capture, Turkey Bullwinkle, owner of the Bowl-O-Drome bowling alley, Batman arranges for Alfred to plant a Homing Battransmitter in Bullwinkle's bowler, hoping that it will lead them to The Mad Hatter's hideaway. Later that night, at The Bowl-O-Drome, Alf succeeds in planting the device moments before The Hatter and his assistant, Lisa - posing as a reporter for Male Mode, a magazine devoted to men's fashion - swipe his hat. Unfortunately, as Bullwinkle confronts The Mad Hatter, they drop the hat, unwittingly exposing the Battransmitter. Jervis Tetch sees this as a golden opportunity to lure The Batman into a trap, and subsequently uses his Super Mesmerizer on Turkey Bullwinkle and makes off with his 12th and final juror and his bowler. The Mad Hatter deliberately leads The Darknight Duo directly to his digs, where he hopes to use his ghastly machinery of his homicidal hat factory to dispose of them. They do fall into The Hatter's trap, but manages to overpower their vengeful adversary, eventually sending him plummeting into a vat of shrinking solution. Bruce and Dick later buy a hat for Aunt Harriet on her birthday at Madame Magda's. b: 24-Feb-1966 pc: 8719-Pt. 2 w: Charles Hoffman d: Norman Foster NOTE: This was a variation of a Two-Face story as reprinted in Batman Annual #3 (1962), originally from Detective Comics #230 (4/56), written by Bill Finger, where a klieg light blows up in an actor's face. Ultimately, the character did not appear on the series. The Batmobile's Antitheft Device is used for the second and final time on the series in this episode. Diane McBain (Lisa) previously played Daphne DeWitt Dutton on Surfside 6 (ABC, 1960-62), and later did a turn on the ABC Daytime Drama General Hospital as Claire Howard in 1988. Her most recent role was as the grandmother on Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, currently on Fridays on ABC. She turns up on Batman again as Pinky Pinkston in Season 2 episodes #9751, "A Piece of the Action/Batman's Satisfaction." Repeated on ABC June 9, 1966 and April 27, 1967. 15. The Joker Goes to School gs: Donna Loren (Susie) Kip King (Nick) Greg Benedict (Two Bits) Bryan O'Byrne (Principal Schoolfield) Tim O'Kelly (Pete) Cherie Foster (Cheerleader #1) Linda Harrison (Cheerleader #2) Sydney Smith (Vandergilt) Glenn Allan (Herbie) Donna Di Martino (Third girl) Dick Bellis (Joe) Joan Parker (Fourth girl) Breeland Rice (Cop) Jim Henaghan (Fulton) Cesar Romero (The Joker) The Clown Prince Of Crime, The Joker, attempts to undermine student morale at Woodrow Roosevelt High School in order to recruit high school dropouts for his gang of Bad Pennies by rigging the school vending machines to give out silver dollars and negotiable stocks and bonds instead of milk. Alerted by Commissioner Gordon, Batman races out to the school. An immediate assembly is made by the school's student leaders: including Richard "Dick" Grayson, Pete, and Susie, the school's head cheerleader. Batman shows up to show slides of mug shots of The Joker, when suddenly, out of the blue, he pops up right in full view of everyone! The Batman attempts to arrest him for loitering on school grounds, but The Joker manages to get off on a mere technicality. Meanwhile, across Gotham City, a bar is held up by a gimmicked jukebox which when activated spouts a double-barrell shotgun; then two stocking-masked hoodlums, actually two of Joker's Bad Pennies, Nick and Two-Bits, rush in to rob the bar's reciepts from the register! The Joker reconvenes with Nick and Two-Bits at their hideout, The One-Armed Bandit Novelty Company; unbeknownst to everyone else, Susie is also a member of The Joker's Bad Pennies! She arranges to swipe some important exam papers to that The Joker can use them in a blackmail scheme, and also leads The Dynamic Duo into a trap set by The Joker. The Homicidal Harlequin and his Bad Pennies snag The Duo with one of the rigged vending machines which, instead of giving out silver dollars, locks them in shackles and emits sleeping gas! Batman and Robin are transferred to the inside of an insidious moving van, where they are strapped to electric chairs; on the wall is a one-armed bandit, which when activated will release instant and inescapable 50,000 lethal volts of electricity should it turn up three lemons!!!! b: 02-Mar-1966 pc: 8715-Pt. 1 w: Lorenzo Semple Jr. d: Murray Golden NOTE: In November 1965, Semple concocted a new villain named The One-Armed Bandit, "whose peculiar kick is gimmicked coin machines of all sorts." The idea ultimately wound up in these episodes with Joker in charge of the One Armed Bandit Novelty Company and vending machines that churned out silver dollars, quarters, answer sheets to exams and knockout gas. Linda Harrison (Cheerleader #2) later portrayed Nora in the 1968 20th Century-Fox scifi classic Planet Of The Apes; she was married to Fox president Richard Zanuck at the time of thie episode's production. Repeated on ABC August 10, 1966. 16. He Meets His Match, The Grisly Ghoul gs: Donna Loren (Susie) Kip King (Nick) Greg Benedict (Two Bits) Bryan O'Byrne (Principal Schoolfield) Tim O'Kelly (Pete) Cherie Foster (Cheerleader #1) Linda Harrison (Cheerleader #2) Sydney Smith (as Vandergilt) Glenn Allan (Herbie) Donna Di Martino (Third girl) Dick Bellis (Joe) Joan Parker (Fourth girl) Breeland Rice (Cop) Jim Henaghan (Fulton) Cesar Romero (The Joker) Just as the deadly one-armed bandit spins 3 lemons, Gotham City suffers a massive blackout! The Joker and his gang beat a harried retreat, just as the cops arrive just in time to cut Batman and Robin out from the electric chairs before the power comes back on! After replaying the audiotape The Caped Crusader secretly made while in the van, The Dynamic Duo were able to make out Susie as one of the members of The Joker's criminal gang, much to Robin's shock. So Robin, in the guise of Dick Grayson, Undercover Agent, tries to trick Susie into leading him into The Bad Pennies and The Joker himself. Unfortunately, Bad Penny member Nick catches immediately on and sends Dick on his way....but not before tipping him off on an impending robbery at a local bar. The Dynamic Duo enter the bar, trigger the gimmicked jukebox which spouts a double-barrell shotgun, deflect its bullets with The Batshield, and use a Batbomb to destroy the crooked machine! They then realise that Susie is in danger and rush to her aid, just as The Joker, realising that The Dynamic Duo is on to Susie, gives her some perfume, which he instructs her to use only after she has planted answers to some important Nationwide Pre-College Exam papers she stole inside one of the rigged machines, not telling her that the perfume has been poisoned! In the gym, Batman and Robin confront Susie and warn her of impending danger, but she brushes them off. When she applies the poisonous perfume and slumps unconscious, Batman and Robin save her's life by using the Universal Antidote Pills in their utility belts, and she repays them by revealing the whole criminal scheme. Meanwhile, Joker, Nick, and Two-Bits arrive at the school in time to snap an incriminating picture of The Woodrow Roosevelt High School basketball team clutching the exam papers complete with the answers, which the team recieved from a rigged milk machine. The Joker then reaches a new low in crime: he plans to use the picture to disqualify and suspend the otherwise innocent teammembers for cheating, and stop them from playing Disko Tech in the night's big game, for he bet his cash on the opposite team and with the home players out of the game, the opposing team, Disko Tech would win from default. The Dynamic Duo suddenly swing down from the rafters on their Batropes to inform the students that the exam papers were phonies which they planted, rendering The Joker's picture useless. The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder then proceed to deliver the punch line, putting The Joker and his Bad Pennies out of circulation! Susie, by the way, is sent to The Wayne Foundation Institute For Delinquent Girls. b: 03-Mar-1966 pc: 8715-Pt. 2 w: Lorenzo Semple Jr. d: Murray Golden NOTE: The Joker's Las Vegas bookie is named Pete The Swede. The exact same electric chairs to which Batman and Robin are strapped inside the moving van are used again in Season-2 episode #9707-Pt. 2, "Ma Parker." Kip King (Nick) later provided cartoon voices, including that of Shecky on Hanna-Barbera's The Biskitts (CBS, 1983-85). Repeated on ABC August 11, 1966. 17. True or False-Face gs: Malachi Throne (False-Face) Gary Owens (TV Announcer) Joe Brooks (Brinks) Billy Curtis (Burns (midget)) Myrna Fahey (Blaze) Chuck Fox (Pinkerton) Michael Fox (Leo Gore) S. John Launer (Mr. Ladd) Mike Ragan (Cowboy) Patrick Whyte (Curator) The wily master of disguise, False-Face, steals The Mergenberg Crown by masquerading as the Queen's escort, and replaces it with a false one right under the watchful eyes of the police. Included with the paste crown is an obscure clue revealing to Batman and Robin that False-Face's next crime will be the hijacking of an armored car. They catch him red-handed at the Gotham City Bank, but he escapes in his Trick-Truck. The Dynamic Duo spirit False Face to an alley, where his flunkies give battle. The police arrive in time to apprehend the gang, but Fale-Face disguises himself as Police Chief O'Hara and escapes. Suspecting a counterfeit money scheme is in the works, The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder rush to the bank note printer's office and capture False-Face's slinky assistant, Blaze, who is attempting to make off with a load of money paper. At Police Headquarters Blaze is interrogated, with the fake O'Hara taking part. She is torn between infatuation with Batman and her loyalty to False-Face, but finally she agrees to lead the Caped Crusader to the criminal's hideout...but it's a ruse! False-Face, disguised as a gumball machine, gasses Batman while Blaze clonks Robin over the head. The Dynamic Duo are glued to the subway rail tracks by a super-strong epoxy, as a train hurtles toward them and will momentarily trisect them! b: 09-Mar-1966 pc: 8713-Pt. 1 w: Stephen Kandel d: William Graham NOTE: Malachi Throne (False Face) was credited during the submain titles and end credits of "True Or False Fase" and the submain titles of "Holy Rat Race" with a "?", much to his displeasure. Only in "Holy Rat Race"'s end credits is his full name finally established; this was corrected at his insistence so that his full name was listed and he received proper credit. TV Guide, however, listed Throne's credit on both evenings. The late Bill Finger created False Face in Batman #113 (February 1958); this episode was based on a June 1958 comic book story featuring The Protean Plunderer. Gary Owens (TV Announcer) was later the comical ear-cupped announcer for Rowan And Martin's Laugh-In (NBC, 1968-73). He would later provide the voice of the 1950s Batman in the October 10, 1998 "Legends of the Dark Knight" episode of The New Batman Adventures! Malachi Throne's real face can be briefly glimpsed. When he is "disguised" as the armored car guard, that's actually Throne's real face (although he's wearing a presumably fake mustache). Although Finger's original creation hasn't reappeared in recent times, the animated Batman Beyond series revived the idea of a villain named "Falseface" for its episode Plague. Malachi Throne did not do the voice of the character, although he was involved with that animated series (in the episode Speak No Evil. That's Billy Curtis as Burns. Arguably one of the most famous "little people" in Hollywood, he is probably best known and widely seen as The Mayor Of Munchkinland in that classic movie The Wizard Of Oz (MGM, 1939). False-Face was a more substitute version of Two-Face, who Bat-creator Bob Kane patterned after the 1926 horror film The Phantom Of The Opera starring Lon Chaney. Two-Face's name was Harvey Kent, but changed to Dent. Two-Face wouldn't be back until the early 1970s because of a 1954 book written by Dr. Fredric Wertham called "Seduction of the Innocent", Wertham also thought that Batman & Robin were homosexuals (because of his own homophobia he decided to take it out on The Caped Crusaders) but there was no proof,that's why from 1955 to today reader would see a comics code in every issue. Repeated on ABC June 29, 1966. 18. Holy Rat Race gs: Malachi Throne (False-Face) Gary Owens (TV Announcer) Joe Brooks (Brinks) Billy Curtis (Burns (midget)) Myrna Fahey (Blaze) Chuck Fox (Pinkerton) Michael Fox (Leo Gore) S. John Laumer (Mr. Ladd) Mike Ragan (Cowboy) Patrick Whyte (Curator) As the train barrels towards our heroes, Alfred hears a strange transmission on the radio that alerts him to the Dynamic Duo's peril. He contacts Batman who requests that Alfred throw the short-circuit lever of thhe Battransmitter, causing Batman's radio to blow up and melt the epoxy on his wrist. He uses his free hand to reach The Batlaser in his utility belt, which he uses to melt away the remaining epoxy and free himself and Robin just as the train passes through the station and by our heroes! Batman and Robin return to Gordon's office at Police HQ and deduce that False-Face will attempt a bank robbery in which real money will be replaced with his own fake bills, so that the only money that will be any good will be False-Face's ill-gotten gains. (After all, who would think of telling the real tender from the fake?) The two heroes secret themselves in the bank vault, surprising the villains. False-Face and Blaze escape in the disguised Trick-Truck but are pursued by The Dynamic Duo to Bioscope Movie Studios. False-Face, discovering Blaze's crush on Batman (she was the one who sent the radio message earlier), holds her hostage and lots of mayhem ensues in and around the matchstick movie sets. False-Face blows up Batman's clever inflatable Batmobile as the chase through the movie sets continues, ending with False-Face disguising himself as a cowboy to slug it out with Batman. One last diversionary smoke screen and out pops Commissioner Gordon ? a fake Commissioner Gordon. Batman sees through the disguise and rips off this last false face, and takes the protean criminal off to jail. Blaze reforms and goes off to become a shepherdess with her brother. b: 10-Mar-1966 pc: 8713-Pt. 2 w: Stephen Kandel d: William Graham NOTE: Malachi Throne (False Face) later provided the voice of The Judge in the October 31, 1998 "Judgement Day" segment of The New Batman Adventures and voiced Fingers in the November 4, 2000 "Speak No Evil" segment of Batman Beyond. He is best known to Trekkies as Commodore Jose Mendez/Voice: The Keeper in the 2-part "The Menagerie" episode of the classic Star Trek (NBC, 1966-69) and as Senator Pardek in the 2-part "Unification" episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation (Syndicated, 1987-94). During the scene at The Bioscope Movie studios in which Chief O'Hara drives up to The False Inflatable Batmobile, look carefully in the rearview mirror. You can see cameraman Howard Schwartz in the car's back seat! The late Myrna Fahey (Blaze), a runner-up in both the 1952 Miss Maine beauty pageant and in the 1956 "Miss Rheingold" (the beer company) beauty contest, played Kay Banks Dunston on the short-lived sitcom Father Of The Bride (CBS, 1961-62). At the ending epilogue of this episode, in the living room of Wayne Manor there is a meeting of two cast members from Elvis Presley's movie "Loving You" (1957). Myrna Fahey (Blaze) was the 3rd girl in "Loving You" and Madge Blake (Aunt Harriet) was the Hired Agitator in "Loving You". Take the first letters out of the 2 words Hired Agitator (H A) then switch them around (A H) They stand for Aunt Harriet. Repeated on ABC June 30, 1966. 19. The Purr-Fect Crime gs: Pat Zurica (Guard) Jock Mahoney (Leo) Ralph Manza (Felix) Harry Holcomb (Mr. Andrews) Alex Sharp (Henchman) Julie Newmar (The Catwoman) The Catwoman purr-loins one of a matched pair of Mark Andrews' priceless Golden Cat statuettes (which holds a secret to the lost treasure of Captain Manx) from a Gotham museum, so Batman and Robin rush to safeguard the other one from her clutches. After Alfred and Robin recharge The Batmobile with the atomic pile in The Batcave, The Dynamic Duo coat the cat with golden radioactive mist, and The Dynamic Duo wait in the shadows for Catwoman to appear. But the factions of law and disorder clash, and Robin is drugged by the felonious feline and her two accomplices, Felix and Leo. In the fracas surrounding Batman's efforts to save his pal, Catwoman and company make off with the second statue. After Robin resuscitates, The Duo, aided by the radioactive mist, trace Catwoman to her lair, The Gato And Chat Fur Company warehouse @ 2809 West 20th Street. There, Batman and Robin plummet through a trap door into Catwoman's clutches! After subjecting her prey to moving walls of spikes (made of rubber!) and a toy bomb, as a normal cat will do, she spirits The Boy Wonder away to unknown torments while The Caped Crusader is forced to choose between two doors (Holy Let's Make A Deal!) ? behind one is Catwoman; behind the other is a deadly Batman-eating tiger, answering to a rather unsuitable moniker of Tinkerbell! Much to his consternation, Batman chooses the door leading to the tiger and not the lady... b: 16-Mar-1966 pc: 8721-Pt. 1 w: Stanley Ralph Ross & Lee Orgel d: James Sheldon NOTE: Suzanne Pleshette was considered for the role of The Catwoman. The address used for The Gato And Chat Fur Company was actually the former Brooklyn home address of Batman staff writer Stanley Ralph Ross. Gato is Spanish for "cat"; Chat is French for "cat". In the comics, The Catwoman's right name was Selina Kyle--which was never used on the TV series. There was actually only one live tiger used on the show; the others in the pit were of stock footage. This is the only time the famed Atomic Pile was seen in use. This episode was the second one chosen by GAF ViewMaster to make into one of their disk sets. Repeated on ABC May 11, 1966 and April 12, 1967. This was the first episode of the series to be repeated on The Alphabet Network. 20. Better Luck Next Time gs: Pat Zurica (Guard) Jock Mahoney (Leo) Ralph Manza (Felix) Harry Holcomb (Mr. Andrews) Alex Sharp (Henchman) Julie Newmar (The Catwoman) Tinker Bell (Tiger) After Catwoman slips away to administer nameless horrors to Robin, Batman fends off Tinkerbell long enough to remove from his utility belt a pair of Batclaws, which he uses to climb up the wall and out of harm's reach. Realizing he won't be able to stay there for long, he plugs his Batears with a pair of Batearplugs and subdues the tiger with super-amplified sounds (20,000 decibels!) from a Batcommunicator on his utility belt. The Caped Crusader leaps from the wall, takes refuge in the room where the tiger was released, and heads out to save his sidekick---only to find himself lost in the catacombs of Catwoman's lair. Meanwhile, Catwoman is on to bigger and badder things, having Robin balanced on the end of a board over a pit of more hungry tigers and supplying sand (matching The Boy Wonder's weight) to the other end of the board. As the sand is released, the board lowers Robin slowly, deeper and deeper into the tiger den! Leaving her henchmen to her own devices, The Catwoman departs in search of Captain Manx's treasure, using a map created by fitting the two Golden Cats together and drawing their outline. Batman saves his chum in the nick of time, and pit their fists against Catwoman's lackies; during the battle, Leo escapes to join his female boss and warn her of Batman's pursuit of her. The Dynamic Duo spirit the Golden Cats to the Batcave, where they deduce Catwoman's scheme. Soon they are at McElroy Point, where the treasure is supposedly buried ? and suddenly they find themselves forced to navigate Catwoman's minefield (sabotaged by Leo, natch). The pair make use of The Batmobile Batarmor and Automatic Tire Device to escape the mines unscathed, just as The Feline-eous Femme Fatale and Leo locate the treasure in a nearby cave. Overcome by greed, Catwoman double-crosses Leo by gassing him to sleep, and she winds up being chased through the dark cave by the arriving Dynamic Duo. Catwoman arrives at the edge a bottomless crevice which she tries unsuccessfully to leap; with the heavy booty weighing her down, she barely manages to catch hold of a stalactite on the other side. Batman tries to save her but, because she refuses to let go of the treasure to save at least one of her lives, she plummets into the bottomless chasm! (Wonder if she landed on her feet?) Later at Wayne Manor, Alfred, Bruce and Dick, in the midst of playing chess, are surprised by Aunt Harriet, who presents them with Catwoman's pet feline and claims he stole a lobster she was preparing for dinner. Dick merely quips, "He comes from a broken home." b: 17-Mar-1966 pc: 8721-Pt. 2 w: Stanley Ralph Ross & Lee Orgel d: James Sheldon NOTE: Holy Disservice!! ABC News interrupted the original broadcast of the first episode with Julie Newmar as the sexy Catwoman with coverage of The Gemini 8 spacecraft with astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott aboard having problems with the controls not functioning correctly. Thousands of obviously uninterested Batfans called to complain about the interruption!!! Repeated on ABC May 12, 1966 and April 13, 1967. 21. The Penguin Goes Straight gs: Kathleen Crowley (Sophia Starr) Harvey Lembeck (Eagle-Eye) Al Checco (Dove) Hope Sansberry (Mrs. Van Climber) Ed McCready (Crook) Douglas Bank (Lt. Copple) William Beckley (Reggie Rich) Bill Welch (Newsman [George]) Jim Drum (Cop [Clancy]) Burgess Meredith (The Penguin) While attending a matinee performance at a Gotham City Theater, The Penguin, with the aid of his trusty bulletproof umbrella, foils a would-be thief who attempts to steal beautiful actress Sophia Starr's great ruby. The forces of good suspect that this is a plot, but Penguin insists upon his good intentions. Later, at The Millionaire's Club, Penguin once again prevents a crime, this time fending off 2 crooks (actually Eagle-Eye and Dove, Penguin's Finks!) from kidnapping millionaire Reggie Rich from a steamroom. The Dynamic Duo finally show up, and Penguin announces his Penguin Protection Agency, intended to protect the wealth of Gotham City's society crowd (and as actual competition for Batman and Robin!), including Sophia Starr's Jewelry. In an attempt to prevent The Abominable Avian from swiping Sophia Starr's jewels, The Caped Crusader has Alfred the butler pose as an insurance company agent and sends him on a secret errand to photograph the jewelry, and switch Penguin's cigarette holder for one containing a hidden microphone. Unfortunately, Alfred didn't count on Penguin's bug detecting handle of his umbrella, and when he discovers the switch, Alf manages to yank the rug out from under Penguin and escape with the photos. That night, after using Alfred's pictures to create phony jewels to replace the real ones, which Penguin has been hired to protect, The Darknight Detectives break into Miss Starr's apartment in order to replace the real jewels with the fakes. Unfortunately, they are caught trying to make the switch and are charged with burglary by The Felonious Fowl and his Finks. The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder escape, but are now labeled fugitives from justice! When The Penguin throws a party at The Gotham Amusement Pier, The Dynamic Duo arrive to investigate, but quickly fall into a Penguin trap and are pelted with cement-filled umbrellas! They are strung up behind the balloon-shooting gallery, and the pop guns (wielded by an unknowing Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara) are loaded with real bullets! b: 23-Mar-1966 pc: 8723-Pt. 1 w: Lorenzo Semple Jr. and John Cardwell d: Leslie H. Martinson NOTE: This is the first Bat-episode directed by Leslie H. Martinson. He previously directed Adam West in the "The Devil's Godson" episode of Colt .45 (ABC, 1957-60), and would later helm the 1966 Batman movie. As The Batmobile careens through Gotham City's streets at night (en route to The Penguin's gala at Gotham Amusement Park), you can spot the famous Schwab's Drugstore which is (or was once) in Los Angeles. The idea of The Penguin's "going straight" has been part of the character's history in the Bat-comics. It was previously used on numerous occasions, and among them: Batman #41, 70, 76; and Detective Comics #171. For once this season, The Dynamic Duo don't stop @ Police HQ at all; instead, they are notified by Batphone as they travel through beautiful downtown Gotham. Repeated on ABC June 15, 1966. 22. Not Yet, He Ain't gs: Kathleen Crowley (Sophia Starr) Harvey Lembeck (Eagle-Eye) Al Checco (Dove) Hope Sansberry (Mrs. Van Climber) Ed McReady (Crook) Douglas Bank (Lt.Copple) William Beckley (Reggie Rich) Bill Welch (Newsman [George]) Jim Drum (Cop [Clancy]) Burgess Meredith (The Penguin) Just as Gordon and O'Hara shoot, The Dynamic Duo lift up their feet and deflect the deadly bullets with the bulletproof soles of their boots. The Batman then cuts himself and Robin free of their bonds with his Batknife, and they both escape. Upon discovering The Dynamic Duo's escape from his trap, The Penguin gets his new society friends to put pressure on Commissioner Gordon to rally Gotham to a manhunt ? or bat-and-robin-hunt ? and Gordon has no choice but to agree. Batman & Robin arrive at The Penguin Protection Agency, faking insanity and ready to tear The Penguin, Eagle-Eye and Dove apart! Following the ensuing melee, The Dynamic Duo immediately depart upon the arrival of the authorities, who, after chasing The Demented Duo for a couple of blocks, apparently kill them in a shootout in an nearby alley ? but the cops' guns were loaded with blanks, as Batman had planned. Convinced Batman and Robin are finished, Penguin and his Finks swipe The Batmobile and speed off to plans their master caper, which is scheduled to transpire during his wedding to Sophia (the theft of his own wedding gifts!). Eagle-Eye and Dove rig a water pipe, which explodes; then the umbrellas which Penguin has passed out burst out in spectacular display, diverting attention from the fact that the wedding gifts are being burgled, using the ex-Batmobile (rechristened as The Birdmobile!!) as a getaway car, and they head for their secret impregnable hideaway. Batman and Robin, riding The Batcycle, use their deep knowledge of the vehicle (and a remote control!) to force The Batmobile to do their bidding and deliver The Pompous, Waddling Master Of Fowl Play and his Finks to justice. Sophia Starr, despite this experience, still believes she can reform Penguin by marrying him, but believes otherwise when The Avaricious Avian fancies the wedding gifts more than his would-be bride! b: 24-Mar-1966 pc: 8723-Pt. 2 w: Lorenzo Semple Jr. and John Cardwell d: Leslie H. Martinson NOTE: This marks the debut appearance of The Batcycle, as an early prototype, constructed from a 1959 Harley Davidson with side car, rented from a Hollywood firm in the business of supplying vehicles for movie and TV productions. A more flashier Batcycle will be seen in the 1966 Batman feature film and used throughout the rest of the TV series' run. The Emergency Remote-Control Ejector Button, first used in this episode, is activated again in "The Bookworm Turns." This episode retains the first appearance of a Batvehicle other than the omnipresent Batmobile. Repeated on ABC June 16, 1966. 23. The Ring of Wax gs: Joey Tata (Tallow) Michael Greene (Matches) Linda Gaye Scott (Moth) Ann Ayars (Madame Soleil) Elizabeth Harrower (Miss Prentice) Al McGranary (Mayor) Frank Gorshin (The Riddler) The Riddler smuggles a revolutionary new ring of Universal Wax Solvent, a substance that can eat through anything, from the French Cognac District into the U.S. of A. inside a wax statue of Batman intended for display at Madame Soleil's Wax Museum. (Since the U.S. Government has forbidden its importation for fear that it might fall into the wrong hands, Riddler had to devise something to fool Customs!) In place of the wax Batman statue is a wax replica of The Conundrum King himself, which at its unveiling sprays the audience with a gun filled with red paint while a tape recorder blares out 2 Riddles. In his hideout at The Kandle Lite Kandle Factory, Riddler melts the wax-figure of Batman, containing the wax solvent, into a vatful of boiling wax, as Moth, his new female assistant, looks on. Meanwhile, Riddler's puzzles lure Batman and Robin to The Gotham City Public Library, where The Riddler and his 2 henchmen, Tallow and Matches, has broken into the rare book vault with his wax solvent to swipe a rare book about the fabled lost treasure of The Incas! When The Dynamic Duo arrive at the factory, they are unwittingly anticipated by The Riddler and company, who give battle; after which, he uses a can of his own Dr. Riddler's Instant Forever-Stick Invisible Wax Emulsion to glue The Duo's feet to the floor, and he and his cronies beat a hasty retreat. The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder track their foes back to The Wax Museum, where they are immediately overpowered and taken to Riddler's hideout, where they are suspended by rope over a huge vat of boiling wax, which Riddler plans to use to convert them into giant human candles! b: 30-Mar-1966 pc: 8725-Pt. 1 w: Jack Paritz and Bob Rodgers d: James B. Clark NOTE: Based on "A Hairpin, A Hoe, A Hacksaw, A Hole in the Ground!" from Batman #53 (July 1949) by Bill Finger. Linda Gaye Scott (Moth) is the heiress to the Scott paper company. These segments apparently took place before Mayor Lindseed's election, as a different mayor is in office in these episodes. Repeated on ABC July 6, 1966 and July 19, 1967. 24. Give 'em the Axe gs: Joey Tata (Tallow) Michael Greene (Matches) Linda Gaye Scott (Moth) Ann Ayars (Madame Soleil) Elizabeth Harrower (Miss Prentice) Al McGranary (Mayor) Frank Gorshin (The Riddler) The awful fumes from the molten wax ultimately force Riddler and crew to take refuge downstairs, giving Batman the distraction he needs to reflect a single ray of sun off the shiny buckle of his utility belt into an open barrel of an explosive formula! The explosion that results frees The Duo from their bonds only to knock them out. Believing the explosion has finished them off, The Riddler informs Commissioner Gordon, et al, of the demise of Batman and Robin, and he and his crew hasten to The Gotham City Museum, to break into the sarcophagus of the ancient Incan emperor Hualpo Cusi ? which supposedly contains the long-lost treasure. Meanwhile, a very much alive and well Batman and Robin regain consciousness and trace Riddler to the museum only to find it locked, with the only entrance seeming to be a small window on an upper floor -- too big for Batman to fit through, but small enough for a Boy Wonder. Robin climbs through the window and while making his way trhough the building to the front door to let Batman in, Robin is overpowered by Matches and Tallow, and brought to The Riddler, who has him tied down to a medieval rack to be stretched! The Caped Crusader suspects that The Boy Wonder is in trouble and makes ample use of The Batram under The Batmobile to smash open the museum doors. He arrives intime to rescue Robin and The Dynamic Duo thwart Riddler, Matches, Tallow and Moth in their attempt to plunder the ancient treasure, and stop their Universal Wax Solvent from destroying a rare old sarcophagus containing an Incan mummy and the treasure. Bruce Wayne and Richard Grayson later take Aunt Harriet to The Gotham City Museum to see the mummified exhibit of Hualpo Cusi. b: 31-Mar-1966 pc: 8725-Pt. 2 w: Jack Paritz and Bob Rodgers d: James B. Clark NOTE: Repeated on ABC July 7, 1966 and July 20, 1967. 25. The Joker Trumps an Ace gs: Jane Wald (Jill) Dan Seymour (Maharajah) Tol Avery (Mr. Prescott Belmont) Angela Greene (Mrs. Belmont) Norman Alden (Lookout) Byron Keith (Mayor Lindseed) Johnny Seven (Henchman #2) Bebe Louie (Girl Clerk) Cesar Romero (The Joker) The Clown Prince Of Crime, The Joker, returns to commit what appear to be senseless crimes: first he raids a fur salon, where he steals a hairpin from one of the rich patrons, then he pilfers one of the holes from a golf course. The Dynamic Duo, au naturel, are called in to investigate, arriving at Gordon's office just as an inflatable jack-in-the-box sent in by The Homicidal Harlequin is delivered. The Batman deduces that The Joker plans to steal the solid gold golf clubs belonging to the visiting Maharajah of Nimpah and immediately rushes down by Batmobile to the golf course to thwart the villain. Just as The Maharajah hits the golf ball into the hole he's playing, a cloud of colored gas spews from it, knocking everyone unconscious. (As it's revealed, The Joker stole this hole; he used the stolen hairpin as a trigger, and it was struck by the golfball and activated the sleeping gas smokebomb cleverly hidden inside the hole.) The Joker's henchmen then sees fit to kidnap the Maharajah (with a forklift, as the Nimpahnese monarch weighs over 350 lbs.!) and spirit him away by van. The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder immediately gives pursuit in The Batmobile, but, just as they gain on them, the van, which is covered by folding mirrors which allow it to blend totally into the background, quickly vanishes! Later, Batman and Robin trace The Joker to his GHQ at the abandoned Katz, Katz & Katz Company Oil Refinery, where they are captured and locked inside an enormous chimney. As if this isn't enough, deadly gas starts to pour in! b: 06-Apr-1966 pc: 8727-Pt. 1 w: Francis Cockrell and Marian Cockrell d: Richard C. Sarafian NOTE: Byron Keith makes his debut on the Batman TV series in his recurring role of Mayor Lindseed. Repeated on ABC July 13, 1966. 26. Batman Sets the Pace gs: Jane Wald (Jill) Dan Seymour (Maharajah) Tol Avery (Mr. Prescott Belmont) Angela Greene (Mrs. Belmont) Norman Alden (Lookout) Byron Keith (Mayor Lindseed) Johnny Seven (Henchman #2) Bebe Louie (Girl Clerk) Cesar Romero (The Joker) The Dynamic Duo press their backs together for support and climb up the wall to the opening above, as it is the only escape. The Joker and company hit the road just as The Dynamic Duo emerge from the chimney. Back in The Batcave The Dynamic Duo analyzes the traces of gas used for the kidnap left inside the hole as the golf course and discovers that gas can be obtained only at The Ferguson Novelty And Magician's Supply Company. Visiting the novelty company in their everyday identities as Bruce Wayne and Richard Grayson, they discover that it's actually doubled for a hideout for The Joker and that The Maharajah of Nimpah is being held there. They switch back to Batman and Robin garb and, that night, The Darknight Detectives pay a surprise visit to the company, where they subdue four of The Joker's lackies, but, unfortunately, The Harlequin Of Homicidal Humor himself eludes them, along with The Maharajah. Later, The Joker calls Commissioner Gordon, has him put Batman on the line, and demands $500,000 to ransom The Maharajah. He also requests that The Batman make the arrangements, be present when The Maharajah cashes the check, and endorse the check in his name at The Gotham City State Bank the next morning...knowing full well that The Caped Crusader's reputation would be irreparably damaged as a result. Morning dawns, and when The Maharajah arrives to collect the money, The Caped Crusader thrashes him and his men, and reveals that he and The Joker were one and the same from the very start. Noticing The Nimpahnese government never protested their Maharajah's kidnapping, The Batman called The Palace Of Nimpah and discovered to his relief that the true Maharajah of Nimpah had actually been away on a hunting trip in the Nimpah mountains all along. Later, Bruce is contacted by Batphone by Commissioner Gordon who tells him that he is rumored to leave for California to run for governor! Bruce (as Batman) puts Gordon's mind at ease by dispensing such rumors. b: 07-Apr-1966 pc: 8727-Pt. 2 w: Francis Cockrell and Marian Cockrell d: Richard C. Sarafian NOTE: Some great ideas are borrowed from a Joker comic book story in Batman #53. Repeated on ABC July 14, 1966. 27. The Curse of Tut gs: Olan Soule (Newscaster) William Boyett (Policeman) Don 'Red' Barry (Grand Vizier) Frank Christi (Royal Scrivener) Ziva Rodann (Nefertiti) Bill Quinn (Board Member) Emmanuel Thomas (Reporter) Victor Buono (King Tut) The supervillain who calls himself King Tut is an ex-Yale scholar of Egyptology who sustained a head wound during a student riot and now believes himself to be the King of the Nile. He also plans to take over Gotham City, which he believes to be a modern-day ancient Thebes, and make it his own. Batman and Robin are called to the scene when an enormous Sphinx is plopped into the middle of Gotham's Central Park, from which Tut begins making his demands, including the demise of The Dynamic Duo! The Duo's attempts to break into the structure prove fruitless, and they become involved in a frantic fisticuffs with King Tut's "Tutlings". In the guise of debonair Bruce Wayne, Batman pays a publicized visit to the Egyptian exhibit at the Gotham Museum in the hopes of trapping Tut and his sidekicks, Nefertiti, Vizier and Scrivener. During the tour, creepy signs of life from an ancient mummy cause the crowd to scatter. Wayne calls for a doctor but the ambulance that arrives is driven by Tut's henchmen. Tut turns the tables, Wayne is seized and substituted on the stretcher for the mummy, who was really Tut all along. Wayne is strapped to a gurney and loaded onto the back of the ambulance which maneuvers down a long, winding road. During a sharp turn, the gurney carrying Bruce breaks free, but his attempt to escape goes horribly awry: he winds up hurtling toward the edge of a 300-foot-deep precipice on the runaway stretcher!! b: 13-Apr-1966 pc: 8729-Pt. 1 w: Robert C. Dennis and Earl Barret d: Charles Rondeau NOTE: Olan Soule (the Newscaster) later provided the voice of the animated Batman in Filmation's The Batman-Superman Hour and The Adventures Of Batman from 1968 to 1970, and the many incarnations of Hanna-Barbera's Super Friends between 1973 and 1984. King Tut is the first original major antagonist for Batman, one not previously found in the comic books! Emmanuel Thomas (Reporter) returned to play another Gotham news journalist in the 1966 Batman movie: Mr. Stanley of The Gotham Globe. Repeated on ABC August 17, 1966 and May 3, 1967. 28. The Pharoah's in a Rut gs: Olan Soule (Newscaster) William Boyett (Policeman) Don 'Red' Barry (Grand Vizier) Frank Christi (Royal Scrivener) Ziva Rodann (Nefertiti) Bill Quinn (Board Member) Emmanuel Thomas (Reporter) Victor Buono (King Tut) Just as the gurney is about to go over the side, Bruce Wayne manages to save himself by brute force: freeing himself from the straps which bind him and grabbing onto a guardrail, preventing himself from certain doom. Back in his superhero garb once more, Batman makes an announcement on TV that he has saved Bruce Wayne's life and is heading to Egypt to conduct research. In a second kidnap attempt, Tut sends his men to Wayne Manor to carry out his ploy. Batman, aided by a lifelike Wayne replica (oh, the irony!), manages to trick The Tutlings into taking him to The Nile Nabob. Enroute to the hideout in The Royal Barque, Batman is discovered and, in a scuffle, is knocked out, along with the homing device attached to him. Later at the hideout, Tut subjects Batman and faithless ex-queen Nefertiti to the ancient Theban pebble torture, in which the victim is driven mad with pebbles dropped on their foreheads. Utilizing cunning and skill, Robin and the doughty Alfred guess that Tut's headquarters is at an abandoned Egyptian Exhibition Pavilion. Alfred drives the under-age (and driver's-license-challenged) Robin there. Believing that The Pebble Torture has unhinged minds of Nefertiti and The Batman, Tut orders them to perform a mad dance to wild Batmusic! Unbeknownst to Tut, Batman, through sheer concentration (reciting the multiplication tables backwards!), renders himself impervious to the pebbles' effects and, with the help of Robin, subdues the gang ? with the exception of Tut, who overpowers Alfred and races away in The Batmobile. The Duo and Alf give chase in Tut's Royal Barque. Using his Batcommunicator, Batman activates The Voice-Control Batmobile Relay Circuit in The Batcave in order to activating The Batmobile's ejection seat. However, just as he puts through his orders, the radio goes dead, and, as if this weren't bad enough, Tut has discovered the button for the deadly Batbeam, and he doubles back in an attempt to use it against its own originators: The Dynamic Duo! Fortunately for The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder, a short circuit causes The Batmobile's gadgetry to foul up a little, causing King Tut to be sprung high into the air by the Ejection Seat instead of activating The Batbeam and bouncing right off The Royal Barque, landing at Batman's feet and The Caped Crusader brings Tut back to his sane, scholarly self with a final uppercut to the jaw. b: 14-Apr-1966 pc: 8729-Pt. 2 w: Robert C. Dennis and Earl Barret d: Charles Rondeau NOTE: The "Batman" cover issue of TV Guide announced that Robert Morely was slated to portray King Tut, which turned out to be completely unfounded. Repeated on ABC August 18, 1966 and May 4, 1967. 29. The Bookworm Turns gs: Roddy McDowall (The Bookworm) Jim O'Hara (Sergeant) Tony Aiello (Pressman) John Crawford (Printer's Devil) Jan Peters (Typesetter) Francine York (Lydia Limpet) Byron Keith (Mayor Lindseed) In order to lure Batman and Robin to Police Headquarters, The Bookworm, a nororious master of stolen book plots, stages a phony assassination attempt on Commissioner Gordon during the dedication ceremony of the new Amergio Bridge. Once The Dynamic Duo enter Police HQ, Bookworm has his moll Lydia Limpetplanting a book bomb in The Batmobile. After discovering that Gordon is very much not dead (he was ticketed for overtime parking while leaving a luncheon), The Batman is alerted by The Batmobile Bomb Detector of an impending explosion and immediately pushes The Batmobile's Radiocontrolled Ejector Button, the bomb is ejected and it explodes in midair before it does any damage! The Duo quickly return to their unharmed Batmobile to discover a literary clue in the form of the book bomb's cover. They race back to The Batcave, where they deduce from the book cover that Bookworm is planning to blow up the new bridge. The "blow-up," however, is a photographic ruse: Bookworm projects a large image of the bridge onto a warehouse wall! Our momentarily befuddled crimefighters trace the projection back to a giant projector mounted on top of a nearby bookmobile, where they get into a fracas with Bookworm's henchmen. The crooks escape along with their craven leader, but they leave the lovely Miss Limpet bound and gagged inside the bookmobile. The Dynamic Duo wisely suspect a Bookworm plot, and they knock her out with Batgas and spirit her away back to The Batcave, where they employ the use of The Hypermetric Lie-Detector in hopes of divining The Bookworm's plot. They learn what they can from Lydia, and they return her to the bookmobile, where Batman activates a Battrap for Bookworm. Leaving The Boy Wonder behind to guard her, The Batman pretends to speed off on the trail of Lydia's fatally false clues. In his absence, Lydia uses a trick book to gas Robin to sleep and she contacts Bookworm, who, along with his henchmen Printer's Devil, Typesetter, and Pressman, transfer Robin to The Wayne Memorial Clock Tower, erected in memory of Dr. Thomas Wayne, Bruce's late father (oh, the treacherous irony!), where The Boy Wonder is strapped to the clapper of the giant bell of Big Benjamin. When the clock strikes @ midnight, the bell will begin to toll the hour. The Bookworm departs, leaving Robin to be "rung" out! b: 20-Apr-1966 pc: 8717-Pt. 1 w: Rik Vollaerts d: Larry Peerce NOTE: Jerry Lewis was the first cameo Gothamite in this episode during a Batclimb ("Holy Human Flies!"). Ironically, these epsiodes appeared during National Library Week. Before bringing Lydia Limpet to The Batcave, The Caped Crusader, for the first time, makes use of a can of Batgas. The can of Batawake won't be used until Episode #8731-Pt. 2, "The Riddler's False Notion." The outside shot of the Wayne Memorial Clock Tower is actually Big Ben (London) at night. Repeated on ABC July 20, 1966 and June 7, 1967. 30. While Gotham City Burns gs: Roddy McDowall (The Bookworm) Jim O'Hara (Sergeant) Tony Aiello (Pressman) John Crawford (Printer's Devil) Jan Peters (Typesetter) Francine York (Lydia Limpet) Byron Keith (Mayor Lindseed) Recalling one of Lydia's cryptic remarks ("He strikes at midnight," she said) Batman divines the meaning, and, with Chief O'Hara (whom he met on the way), races to Big Benjamin to attempt to stop the clock and save Robin before it's too late. O'Hara fails to shoot out the clockworks, and, with but a minute to spare until 12 midnight, The Caped Crusader uses The Batzooka to shoot a line to the lightning rod on top of the clock tower and the second to the clock's hands; he then connects the ends of both lines to The Batmobile's nuclear power source into the positive terminal, in hopes of positively charging the clapper and the bell and thus repel each other! Just as Benjamin's clapper is about to strike, Batman's plan is successful, and Robin is saved. After the rescue, The Peerless Pair repair to The Batcave, where they research their foe's methods. Simultaneously, Bookworm is upstairs in Wayne Manor pilfering a rare alchemical text from Bruce's library; he then arranges for a giant-sized cookbook (the name of it is called The Delight Of Cooking by Suzan Barrie) to appear in the middle of 5th and Cedar streets in downtown Gotham. The Dynamic Duo race to the scene, open the book with a super-powered magnet from The Batmobile (actually, Bookworm and Lydia opened it, with a remote control), enter the book, find a small kitchen inside, and soon find themselves trapped inside the armor-plated book as scalding hot steam is pumped in!! Bookworm and Lydia see this as a chance to swipe The Batmobile, and they drive it to the rear of The Morganbilt Library, where he plans to use its Batbeam, to break into The Library and snatch all of the rare and priceless books stored within. As Chief O'Hara, Commissioner Gordon, and a group of Gotham's Finest attempt to open the giant cookbook, The Caped Crusader contacts Alfred at The Batcave and, with his help, locates the manhole under the book which Bookworm introduced his murderous steampipe! It is here that The Dynamic Duo make their escape, just as the police finally blast open the book to find it empty, and deduce The Duo had been consumed by the steam. Meanwhile, a very much un-steamed Batman and Robin pick up The Bookworm's conversation in The Batmobile by way of a concealed microphone; it's then relayed to them via an automatic feedback circuit in their Batcave, and they head for The Morganbilt Library, where they eventually subdue The Pernicious Plagiarist and his bookish crew at the library, saving Gotham City yet again. Bookworm and Lydia are taken to Police HQ for Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson to see in person before being hauled off to the pokey. b: 21-Apr-1966 pc: 8717-Pt. 2 w: Rik Vollaerts d: Larry Peerce NOTE: The late Roddy McDowall (The Bookworm) would become known for his role of Dr. Cornelius in Planet Of The Apes (20th Century-Fox, 1968). He later provided the voice of Jervis Tetch, The Mad Hatter, in several episodes of Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures. It was often stated that Joan Crawford played The Printer's Devil in these episodes; however, this occured due to a goof by one book which misspelled actor John Crawford's name, and many TV trivia and info books have since used this particular volume for reference without even questioning its error! For the scene of Robin strapped to the clapper of Big Benjamin, the giant bell in the Wayne Memorial Clock Tower, art director Serge Krizman recalled building a belfry well set that was 40-feet high. "I couldn't find a bronze bell that was eight-feet high so it had to be made all out of plastics," said Krizman. Cinematographer Howie Schwartz had to resort to a 9.5mm wide-angle lens to get it all in. Repeated on ABC July 21, 1966 and June 8, 1967. 31. Death in Slow Motion gs: Theodore Marcuse (Von Bloheim) Alex Bookston (Guard) Richard Bakalyan (C.B.) Burt Brandon (Wolf) Sherry Jackson (Pauline) Theodore Marcuse (VonBloheim) Francis X. Bushman (Van Jones) Walter Woolf King (Theater Manager) Judy Pace (Cashier) Virginia Wood (Sylvia) Frank Gorshin (The Riddler) The Riddler and his felonious fimmaking cronies (Pauline, C.B., Von Bloheim and Wolf) interrupt a silent film festival of a famous silent film collector Mr. Van Jones dressed as Charlie Chaplin and The Keystone Cops (much to the disgust of Van Jones, who believes the act takes all the attention from the movies!), and steal the box-office receipts! Batman and Robin trace Riddler via one of his Riddles to Mother Gotham's Bakery, where he not only plans to pilfer its payroll, but film the whole robbery in the style of an old film comedy. The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder rush to the bakery, only to be greeted by its unconscious bookeepers (put to sleep by Riddler's pies topped with sleeping cream!) and another Riddle left by the already departed King Of Conundrums. This new Riddle leads them to The Baker Street Branch of The Gotham Library (closed on Wednesdays due to lack of funds!), where they are hit over the head by a huge tome--which is also captured in its entirety on camera by The Riddler! As Riddler and his celluloid comical cohorts view and enjoy the day's rushes involving their adversaries in an abandoned cutting room of a bankrupt movie studio, The Dynamic Duo speed back to The Batcave to analyze the tome; it contains yet 2 more Riddles which lead our Duo to a Temperance Party (where the only refreshment served is lemonade) being given by Mr. Van Jones. As The Boy Wonder waits outside, The Caped Crusader enters to find that The Riddler has spiked the lemonade with Temper Tonic, causing the goodnatured party to turn into a hot-tempered free-for-all! Once again The Riddler's ever-present camera crew catches the action. Meanwhile, back at The Batmobile, Pauline, The Riddler's moll, disguises herself as Little Bo Peep and gasses The Boy Wonder to sleep, kidnapping him and taking him to the abandoned Gotham Lumberyard, where in a matter of minutes a giant buzzsaw threatens to slice him in two! b: 27-Apr-1966 pc: 8731-Pt. 1 w: Dick Carr d: Charles Rondeau NOTE: Based on "The Joker's Comedy Capers!" from Detective Comics #341 (July 1965) by John Broome. Francis Xavier Bushman (Mr. Van Jones) was a for-real silent film star who was voted most popular leading man in American films from 1914-1917. A heart attack resulting from a fall took him on August 23, 1966, scant months after his next-to-final onscreen appearance in these episodes of Batman, at age 83. (Coincidentally, Neil Hamilton [Commissioner Gordon] was also a silent film star as well!) The late Theo Marcuse (VonBloheim) portrayed Dr. Gamma in the B/W version of the series premiere of Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, "Eleven Days to Zero" (#6008, Sep. 14, 1964). Repeated on ABC August 3, 1966. 32. The Riddler's False Notion gs: Alex Bookston (Guard) Theodore Marcuse (Von Bloheim) Richard Bakalyan (C.B.) Burt Brandon (Wolf) Sherry Jackson (Pauline) Theodore Marcuse (VonBloheim) Francis X. Bushman (Van Jones) Walter Woolf King (Theater Manager) Judy Pace (Cashier) Virginia Wood (Sylvia) Frank Gorshin (The Riddler) After leaving Van Jones' fatal party, Batman returns to his now-empty Batmobile. There, along with Commissioner Gordon, he finds 2 more Riddles (shot from his Batvehicle's Antitheft Rocket chambers), which lead him to The Gotham Lumberyard, where The Riddler is shooting Robin's demise under the buzzsaw's teeth! As The Caped Crusader makes ready to save The Boy Wonder, The Riddler, disguised as a silent-film cliffhanger villain (complete with black top hat, cape and moustache!) attacks Batman with his bullwhip! Realizing his junior partner is in danger, Batman rushes to his aid, giving Riddler and C.B., Von Bloheim and Wolf the distraction they need to escape. When Batman reaches the boy at the saw, he finds he has been duped by a Robin-disguised dummy. Just then, Pauline spots The Caped Crusader and tries to make her escape, but is quickly captured and taken to The Batcave, along with Commissioner Gordon (as insurance that Batman won't use methods which might bounce back on him in court), after dosing them both with Batgas. There in The Batcave, Pauline reveals 2 more Riddles which lead The Batman to the top of The Chessman Building. Again, The Caped Crusader finds The Riddler filming The Boy Wonder, this time as Robin is about to be pushed off a ledge onto the street below, and the crooked crew is preparing to film Robin's fatal fall during an unsuccessful "Harold Lloyd"-style scene. Batman tosses down a Batarang just as Riddler thrusts Robin over the edge, and the boy catches it between his teeth. The Batman then lifts him up to the top of the building, but The Duo lose The Riddler and his felonious filmsters, who escape by helicopter and treat The Dynamic Duo to a skywriting clue that has a false meaning. Later, The Riddler, dressed as a desperado, arrives the home of silent-film magnate Van Jones, who has agreed to pay $100,000 for the footage of Batman and Robin; however, Riddler, not content with the money, has his cronies steal Van Jones' entire film collection and hold it for a sizable ransom! This dastardly scheme is, of course, foiled by our heroes, who weren't fooled by Riddler's doubledealing clues one bit! The Dynamic Duo later show up at Wayne Manor to give Aunt Harriet a special birthday kiss. b: 28-Apr-1966 pc: 8731-Pt. 2 w: Dick Carr d: Charles Rondeau NOTE: Batman makes reference to The Batcopter in this episode. The Batcopter will appear for the first time in the 1966 Batman movie. Watch for Commissioner Gordon in The Batcave once more in Season-3 Episode #1708, "The Wail of the Siren." The Riddler debuted in Detective Comics #140 (October 1948), and became perpetually forgotten in the Batman comicbook realm until Frank Gorshin's over-the-top, Emmy-nominated portrayal of The Prince Of Puzzlers virtually made him a star overnight on the Batman TV series, as he made the most appearances of any Batvillain in its first season: 8. The ledge used here as part of The Chessman Building will be resued as part of Police Headquarters in Season-2 episode #9709-Pt. 2, "Tut's Case is Shut." This is the second time this season Aunt Harriet Cooper celebrates her birthday (how time flies!); the first was in Episode #8719-Pt. 2, "Batman Stands Pat." Repeated on ABC August 4, 1966. 33. Fine Finny Fiends gs: Victor Lundin (Octopus) Louie Elias (Swordfish) Julie Gregg (Finella) Dal Jenkins (Shark) Charles La Torre (Manager) Lisa Mitchell (Miss Natural Resources) Ann Reece (Beauty) Frank Wilcox (Millionaire) Bill Williams (Multimillionaire) Burgess Meredith (The Penguin) The Penguin kidnaps Alfred Pennyworth after luring him to a phony fish store selling cut-rate caviar. Alfred is then brainwashed by the pudgy purveyor of perfidy in preparation for his plan to rob The Multimillionaires' Annual Award Dinner. Since Alfred is arranging the dinner, he's one of the few people with information on the dinner's secret location and which bathing beauty will be chosen to accept the award money for this year's honoured charity. Before he can be missed, Alf is returned home without the slightest idea of what has transpired, but Batman and Robin are puzzled by his given to nervous tics. Later, a fishook which had fallen out of Alfred's morning coat appears inside one of the canapes the butler prepared for the buffet before the awards. The hook tips off The Caped Crusader that The Penguin's hideout is on a fishing pier owned by the bird under the moniker of Knott A. Fish ("not a fish," get it?! Never mind.). The Penguin and his Finks capture The Dynamic Duo and places them inside a vaccum tank filled with balloons for a trap that will take Batman and Robin's breath away--literally! As the air is slowly sucked out of the room, the baloons begin to break; The Dynamic Duo will become a Doomed Duo once the final baloon has burst! b: 04-May-1966 pc: 8733-Pt. 1 w: Sheldon Stark d: Tom Gries NOTE: In the scene where The Batman shows Alfred a series of mug shots of criminals for recognition, take note of first two pictures. They are of none other than Executive Producer William Dozier and Producer Howie Horwitz. (And Alfred failed to recognize them?! Holy Selective Amnesia!) Repeated on ABC July 27, 1966. 34. Batman Makes the Scenes gs: Victor Lundin (Octopus) Louie Elias (Swordfish) Julie Gregg (Finella) Dal Jenkins (Shark) Charles La Torre (Manager) Lisa Mitchell (Miss Natural Resources) Ann Reece (Beauty) Frank Wilcox (Millionaire) Bill Williams (Multimillionaire) Burgess Meredith (The Penguin) Believing The Dynamic Duo has been finished off, The Pudgy Purveyor Of Perfidy and his Finks quickly dash to establish their "alibis". Meanwhile, Batman has reached the emergency tank of Batoxygen in his utility belt to stay conscious long enough to use his Batknife and sever the bonds tying him and Robin so they can escape the deadly vacuum tank. Now convinced that Alfred Pennyworth has been brainwashed, The Caped Crusader gives him the information The Penguin wants. When Penguin calls Wayne Manor and signals Alfred to relay the info, the butler reveals that the dinner is to be held on board the good ship S.S. Gotham Neptune and that the chosen beauty queen is Miss Natural Resources. The Penguin then releases Alf from his power, causing him to forget what has transpired. That very night, Penguin switches his latest moll, Finella, for Miss Natural Resources and arms her with an umbrella triggered with knockout gas. Fearing for the attending millionaires' safety, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson decide to attend the dinner as The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder. All goes well until time arrives for dessert with the giant cake containing Finella. As she pops out of the cake, she uses Penguin's gas-filled umbrella to put the millionaires to bed; as they slumber, The Penguin and his Finks snatch the charity money and rush back to their hideout to divvy up the loot. But poor Finella suffers a fit of remorse for her actions. Unknown to her, and Penguin, The Dynamic Duo had taken AntiPenguin Gas Pills beforehand, and took a shortcut to the felonious fowl's hideout; there they lay in wait for Penguin, thrash him and his lackeys about, and re-cage him. The Multimillionaires' Annual Award Dinner transfers to Wayne Manor for safety, and Finella (appearing in a mink stole) is given a police escort there by Commissioner Gordon. b: 05-May-1966 pc: 8733-Pt. 2 w: Sheldon Stark d: Tom Gries NOTE: In the first season, Burt Ward (Robin)'s salary was $350.00 per week. (Holy Pittence!) Repeated on ABC July 28, 1966. The Batman movie opened in Austin, TX in the same week as these repeats. Feature Movie Batman- The Movie gs: Lee Meriwether (The Catwoman/KITKA) Cesar Romero (The Joker) Burgess Meredith (The Penguin) Frank Gorshin (The Riddler) Alan Napier (Alfred) Stafford Repp (Chief O'Hara) Neil Hamilton (I) (Commissioner Gordon) Madge Blake (Aunt Harriet Cooper) Reginald Denny (Commodore Schmidlapp) Milton Frome (Vice Admiral Fangschleister) Gil Perkins (Bluebeard) Dick Crockett (Morgan) George Sawaya (Quetch) Maurice Dallimore (British Delegate [uncredited]) Teru Shimada (Japanese Delegate [uncredited]) Ivan Trisault (West German Delegate [uncredited]) Jack La Lanne (rooftop cameo) Emmanuel Thomas (Mr. Stanley [uncredited]) Acting on an anonymous tip that Commodore Schmidlapp, propreitor of the famous Big Ben Distilleries, is in danger, millionaire Bruce Wayne and his youthful ward Dick Grayson cut short their peaceful afternoon motor ride, race back to Wayne Manor, descend promptly into The Batcave, and, after switching to Batman and Robin, courageous warriors against crime, drive The Batmobile to The Gotham Airport, where they switch to The Batcopter and fly off in search of the commodore's yacht. Upon locating the yacht, Batman lowers The Batladder and prepares to board her, but the entire ship vanishes just before he's about to set foot on deck! As Batman slowly sinks into the ocean, Robin raises The Batcopter and discovers a huge shark has clamped its jaws around Batman's leg! Batman attempts to beat off the shark, but with no success, and he tells Robin to had down a can of Shark-Repellant Batspray. The Boy Wonder switches on the autopilot, descends The Batladder with the can of spray, and hands it to The Caped Crusader, who applies it to the shark and it relases its grip and plummets to the water below--only to explode on impact! Hours later, in Police HQ, The Dynamic Duo find themselvs on the recieving end of a thousand questions when a press conference is called to explain the disappearance of the yacht. Among the reportrs is a certain Kitanya Irenya Tatanya Kernska Alisoff--KITKA, for short!--a Russian journalist from The Moscow Bugle, who is, in actuality, The Catwoman in disguise. To avert a citywide panic, Batman allays the reporters' fears, and after they leave, Batman, Robin, Gordon, and Chief O'Hara checks out a status report of Gotham City's known supercriminals not currently immprisond, and discover that The Penguin, The Joker, The Riddler, and The Catwoman are out on the streets. Believing any (or all!) of them could be responsible, The Dynamic Duo speed back to The Batcave to check on a vital clue. Meanwhile, Miss KITKA returns to The Ye Olde Benbow Taverne, which is the secret GHQ of the infamous United Underworld ("Today Gotham City--Tomorrow The World!"), where she joins her partners in crime, Penguin, Joker, and Riddler, changes into her regular Catwoman garb, and confronts her partners with the news of Batman's surviving the exploding shark trap. After checking on the captive commodore (who hasn't a clue he's been kidnapped) there's much infighting among the bad guys until Penguin, realising Batman and Robin whill have by now fighured out how the ship vanished, plans another trap. He then has his preatomic submarine prepared for an immediate launch! Back in The Batcave, The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder examine the film taken by The Automatic Batcomputer Batcamera under a magnifying lens and discover a cleverly camouflaged illegal marker buoy stationed at the exact spot where the yacht vanished. They then believe the crooks left fingerprints, and so they drive The Batmobile to a secluded Batpier, where they switch to The Batboat and plot an immediate course for that criminal buoy! They arrive at the buoy and, on closer examination, they discover a giant projector was used to project an image of Schmidlapp's yacht, but, because of salt and corrosion, cannot find fingerprints. Penguin, Joker, Riddler and their Finks has been spying on The Duo via periscope in his Penguinsub, and has Fink Mr. Morgan activate a super-powered, remote-controlled Penguin Magnet cleverly hidden in the buoy. The magnet attracts the metallic objects in Batman's and Robin's utility belts, pinning them to the buoy in a monstrous invisible grip! Penguin then orders Mr. Joker to shoot torpedoes at The Dynamic Duo, and before the first two can hit them, Batman manages to pry loose his utility belt transmitter and uses it to emit high-frequency signals and blow them up. But as the third torpedo speeds toward them, the transmitter's batteries give out! The villains hear the resulting explosion and, believing the heroes have been blown to smithereens, surface to feast their eyes on their watery remains, but they instead find the buoy deserted, for, thanks to a passing porpoise which intercepted the third torpedo, The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder are very much alive! The Dynamic Duo return to The Batmobile, where Batman puts through a call by Batphone to Vice Admiral Fangschleister at The Pentagon and to his shock learns that The Penguin (under the pseudonym "P.N. Gwynne"!) bought a war surplus preatomic submarine from The Navy! As The Caped Crusader and The boy Wonder ponder the grave repercussions of this information, The Riddler launches a Polaris Missle from The Penguinsub, which subsequently explodes and leaves in its wake two skywritten Riddles (in the form of jokes!) which prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the four supercriminals have joined forces. The Dynamic Duo immediately race back to Police HQ to relay this news to Gordon and O'Hara, and fear that the entire world may be at stake! Back at the United Underworld headquarters, Penguin, Joker, Riddler and Catwoman have a meeting to discuss their plan to kidnap the members of The Security Council from the United World Organization building on Gotham East River, but must first do away with Batman and Robin. Riddler hatches a plot to kidnap Bruce Wayne; since The Caped Crusader will try to rescue the millionaire, the villains combine their criminal cunning to set a trap for The Dynamic Duo. Catwoman disguises herself as Miss KITKA, and pays a visit to Wayne Manor to show Bruce a pair of Riddles written on Wayne Foundation stationery, which were delivered to her apartment. Believing these Riddles are a clear threat to her life, Bruce arranges to spend the evening with her, while Robin and a masked Alfred Pennyworth follow her close behind in The Batmobile. After dinner in The Folded Arms restaurant, a slow dance, and a carriage ride in Gotham Central Park (where KITKA secretly signals her criminal cohorts that Bruce has swallowed her cat-bait by accepting her invitation to her apartment), Bruce escorts KITKA home. Meanwhile, Robin contacts Comissioner Gordon and has him have Chief O'Hara flash The Batsignal as a ruse to lure the villains into their hands with a strike at KITKA. Mounted on jetpack umbrellas, Penguin, Joker, Riddler and their fine pinioned pirates Bluebeard, Morgan, and Quetch fly to KITKA's apartment (located @ 73rd Street and Concord Avenue); landing at the apartment, the villains surprise Bruce and KITKA. Bruce does his best to fend off the fiendish felons, but is immediately overpowered. Robin, who turned off the Micro-TV Batscanner during a romantic moment between Bruce and KITKA, soon comes to regret his discretion as he and Alfred look skyward and spots them and the villains mounted on flying jetpack umbrellas, heading for the waterfront hideout! At the hideout, as The Joker puts the finishing touches on his secret jack-in-the-box, which he hopes will spring The Caped Crusader into the waiting arms of The Penguin's exploding octopus, Bruce Wayne regains consciousness and furiously demands to see KITKA. Blindfolded and bound, Bruce is led to a room where The Catwoman awaits him in her guise as KITKA; he knows the 3 supervillains are listening in by way of a concealed microphone, so he makes believe he has a secret transmitter hidden up his sleeve. As KITKA, also bound, wiggles around back to back in hopes of reaching Bruce's safety contrivance with her fingers, they are interrupted by Penguin, Joker and Riddler, who return Bruce to the main room and free him from his bonds in an attempt to remove his transmitter, but he immediately clobbers the credulous creatures!! During the battle, one of Penguin's pirates accidentaly topples on Joker's jack-in-the-box and is instantly sprung up and out of the window and into the arms of the exploding octopus. Bruce manages to escape out of the window, dive into the water below, and return to Wayne Manor, where he is greeted by Dick Grayson and Commissioner Gordon. Meanwhile The United Underworld commences wit The Penguin's Princely Plan. The Blackbird Of Prey orders Joker to drop one of his dream pills into Commodore Schmidlapp's tea and carry him down to The Penguinsub, and then he uses Schmidlapp's invention, The Total Dehydrator, to extract moisture from five of his Guinea Pigs into small piles of colored dust. Riddler has The Penguinsub prepared to get underway, while Catwoman places the dust in separate vials as Penguin plots another Battrap! Back at Wayne Manor after Commissioner Gordon's departure, Bruce and Dick, with characteristic speed and resolve, descend promptly into The Batcave, and, as Batman and Robin, speed by Batmobile to The Ye Olde Benbow Taverne, where they find no sign of Miss KITKA or The United Underworld, but instead find a fizzling bomb! Realizing the bomb could blow any minute, The Caped Crusader snatches it up and races off in search of a safe place to dispose of it, but everywhere he goes, he is met with frustration. Batman finally dispatches the bomb into the water in the nick of time and shields himself behind heavy iron pipes as it detonates. After Robin joins him, the duo are surprised by the sudden appearance of The Penguin, whom they see through his ersatz disguise as Commodore Schmidlapp. The Penguin manages to lure The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder into gassing him to sleep and taking him to The Batcave, where he uses The Drinking Water Dispenser to rehydrate his 5 death-dealing pirates--unfortunately, with the heavy water The Dynamic Duo use to recharge The Atomic Pile, naturally leaving the pirates in a highly unstable condition! The crooked quintet vanish after their bodies sustain the slightest impact, reducing them to antimatter! The Dynamic Duo place "Commodore" Penguin to sleep again, and speed by Batmobile back to Gotham City. However, during the trip, just after applying Batawake to Penguin, The Batmobile's manifold pressure begins to malfunction, and while Batman and Robin leave the vehicle to check it out, Penguin gasses both of them and swipes The Batmobile! But our ever-efficient duo were protected by AntiPenguin Gas pills, taken beforehand, and they head for The Batcycle, hidden in the nearby bushes, rev it up, and return to Gotham Airport, where they switch to The Batcopter and use its Batscanner to trace their stolen Batmobile to The United World Building. However, Joker, Riddler, Catwoman, and their pirate henchmen are en route to the building underwater in The Penguinsub, and Riddler fires off another one of his deadly skywriting missles. It zooms immediately into the path of The Batcopter, disengaging its tail rotor and sending it and Batman and Robin plummeting from the sky! Just as it seems fatal for our falling heroes, The Batcopter, out of a rather curous quirk of luck, crashlands on a display pile of foam rubber (in its crude form!) set up immediately outside The Foam Robber Wholesaler's Convention. The Riddler's missle explodes and skywrites 2 more Riddles, from which The Dynamic Duo devine that The Security Council at The UWO is in danger, and they run the remaning mile to the building. Meanwhile, Riddler, Joker and Catwoman successfully navigate The Penguinsub through a narrow channel and arrive at an abandoned submarine dock directly underneath the UWO building, where they blast open the door of the construction elevator and enter, just as The Penguin, inside the building, has a merry time gassing the guards asleep with his trusty bumbershoot. The United Underworld reconvenes and, with the aid of The Total Dehydrator, reduce the entire 9 members of The Security Council to piles of colored dust! They gather the dust in 9 separate vials and make their escape just as Batman and Robin confront them! The Catwoman threatens Miss KITKA's life, delaying The Dynamic Duo long enough for The United Underworld to amscray through the service elevator. Remembering the submarine dock beneath the UWO building, and deducing that The UU will undoubtedly head for sea through Short Island Sound, The Dynamic Duo race back to The Batboat and speed after the sub in hopes of catching it before it's too late! As Penguin, Joker, Riddler and Catwoman, aboard The Penguinsub, gloat over their fiendish achievements and prepare to issue their ransom demands from their secret island, The Dynamic Duo in The Batboat finally locates the sub. Penguin, alerted to The Duo's arrival via sonar, orders Riddler to launch a homing missle. The Caped Crusader, with his Batnoculars, spots a homing device in the missle's nose cone, and he and The Boy Wonder speed helter skelter in hopes of avoiding the missle, but it tracks their every move. Batman gives Robin the missle's frequency (164.1) and The Boy Wonder uses The Batradio to jam the missle so that it explodes harmlessly in the water, barely missing our heroes! An undaunted Penguin then fires torpedoes at The Duo, but Robin destroys the deadly fish with Batcharges. The Penguinsub tries to dive, but Batman circles them at full-thrust Batspeed, whilst Robin attacks the sub with further Batcharges -- enough to the point where it finally resurfaces. The Dynamic Duo board the sub and, in a fierce battle, takes on all comers and send them plummeting into the drink except Catwoman (cats hate water!), who shoves Batman and Robin over the side, too. The Duo round up the waterlogged villains and climb back up to the sub in order to apprehend Catwoman, who climbs up the conning tower, reenters the sub, and, in the control room, trips and knocks off her mask. The Dynamic Duo follow her inside and are shocked to discover that Catwoman and KITKA were one and the same all along! As Robin cuffs The Feline Felon, The Batman contacts the U.S. Coast Guard to come and take The Penguinsub in tow. He then spots the rack of dehydrated Security Council members, who survived the battle unscathed, and he slowly approaches and grabs up the rack. Just then Commodore Schmidlapp, who had been reading during the fight, enters the control room, stumbles into Batman, and smashes the rack of dehydrated council members on the plotting table. To further complicate matters, he sneezes and scatters the dust all over the place. The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder gather all of the dust and return to The Batcave, where they will try to separate the mingled dust into 9 homogenous piles with a Super Molecular Dust Separator. They succeed, and they take the dust to The United World Building, where they hook up the necessary apparatus (a water tank and a hose!), in an attempt to rehydrate the council with soft water. After a solemn moment (one of dedication and humble supplication), Robin turns on the water faucet to restore the Security Council to human form. The Council appears and all seems well; however, on closer look, they are not speaking their native tongues! Believing this mixing of minds may abet world peace, The Dynamic Duo realize their job is finished, and they leave, inconspicuously, through the window to begin another adventure (and a new season on ABC!). b: 30-Jul-1966 pc: 108 w: Lorenzo Semple Jr. d: Leslie H. Martinson NOTE: The Batman motion picture, intended to introduce the viewing public to the Batman characters, was originally scheduled to be made prior to the TV series debut; however, ABC, noticing the faltering ratings of several of its TV series, ordered the Batman TV series moved back from its intended premiere date (fall 1966) to a midseason January 1966 debut. Production on the movie was put on hiatus until filming on the TV series' first season finished. The movie was intended to aid 20th Century-Fox in selling the Batman TV Series to overseas markets. Its larger budget allowed the producers to create 3 new Batvehicles: The Batcopter, The Batboat and a souped-up Batcycle (having appeared only once on in the TV series' first season [in #8723, "The Penguin Goes Straight/Not Yet He Ain't"] as a prototype), and then use them in the series. Due to financial limits of the TV series, the footage of The Batcopter and The Batboat was lifted directly from the film and edited into the episodes where needed. The jet-pack umbrellas originated in a February 1965 Batman comic story; an early first draft of Lorenzo Semple Jr.'s script had the packs worn on the villains backs, as opposed to being ridden. Also, the umbrellas were supposed to arouse attraction of The USAF, which, under the command of Colonel Terry (listed in the Batman movie pressbook as being played by Sterling Holloway, but never filmed!), chases down the villains in jet planes. The Pengin's exploding octopus was preceded by a giant exploding umbrella in the screenplay's first draft. Contrary to Burt Ward's audio commentary on the DVD, Julie Newmar was not filming Mackenna's Gold at the time of the Batman movie's production; it wouldn't start filming for at least another year! A back injury was the true reason, and so ex-Miss America Lee Meriwether was cast as The Catwoman in Newmar's stead. This was Frank Gorshin's final onscreen appearance as The Riddler until the TV series' third season. Composer Nelson Riddle's musical cues heard in the Batman movie would be recycled in several second-season episodes. The rubber shark that attacked Batman prevouosly appeared as Peter Lorre (Commodore Lucius Emery)'s pet in the 1961 film version of Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea. Also, the interior shots of The Penguinsub appear to be the same ones used for The Seaview in the 1961 movie and 1964-68 ABC primetime versions of Voyage. The Batman movie opened on Saturday, July 30, 1966 at The Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas--a good 48 hours preceding an infamous shooting incident which took place in The Lone Star State Capital. Notice that all of The Batvehicles come complete with a red flashing Bat-beacon! The new Batcycle was constructed out of a 1966 Yamaha Catalina YDS-3 250cc. Its revamped sidecar was fitted with a go-cart, which, when activated by a button by Batman, would disengage from the sidecar and zoom to a designated spot...which it seldom did! The sidecar go-cart was used only once, in the Batman movie; when the redesigned Batcycle crossed over to the TV series second season, it was never used again...though stock footage from the movie of The Dynamic Duo driving The Batcycle to the heliport where the go-cart is seen in use prior to them switching to The Batcopter was stitched into Season-3 episode #1720, "The Joker's Flying Saucer." The Batcopter was a real helicopter based on the Bell 47 design. The Batboat was the creation of Glastron Industries in Austin, Texas---hence 20th Century-Fox's decision to premiere the Batman movie in the city. Commodore Schmidlapp was originally called Commodore Redhead. A Compressed Steam Batpole Lift and an Instant Costume Change Lever, both introduced here in the Bat-movie, explained to Bat-viewers exactly how Bruce N. Wayne and Richard Grayson can change to and from Batman and Robin. The President with whom Commissioner Gordon speaks towards the end of the film by phone is none other than Lyndon Baines Johnson himself...beagles and all! Aunt Harriet is seen in only 2 shots in the whole movie! As the end credits superimpose over The Dynamic Duo lowering themselves by their Batropes, those aren't dummies being filmed! Nope, that really is our faithful Bat-stars Adam and Burt risking life and limb, performing their own stunts, 25 stories high above the city's din!!! Number of (futile!) attempts The United Underworld make on The Dynamic Duo: 6. Cesar Romero now wears a Joker wig which has a brighter shade of green. He would wear this wig throughout the remainder of the series' run. Also, this is the only appearance of The Joker wearing a red mask (matching his attire). On the audio commentary on the DVD, Adam West says that Batman is lying when he says he saw the foam rubber out of the corner of his eye after the helicopter landed safely.