Sorry for slacking off lately; just making up for lost time...

Batman TV Almanac (2/22-28/09)
 
FEBRUARY 23, 1966  
 
"The Thirteenth Hat" (prod. #8719-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as
the 13th episode of Batman.  
 
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.

FEBRUARY 24, 1966

"Batman Stands Pat" (prod. #8719-Pt. 2) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the
14th episode of Batman.

These episodes marked the debut appearance of David Wayne as Jervis Tetch, The
Mad Hatter.

This was a variation of a Two-Face story as reprinted in Batman Annual #3
(1962), originally from Detective Comics #230 (April 1956), 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. She turns up on Batman again as Pinky Pinkston in Season 2
episodes #9751, "A Piece of the Action/Batman's Satisfaction."

FEBRUARY 22, 1967  
 
"Catwoman Goes To College" (prod. #9749-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC
as the 83rd episode of Batman.  
 
Paul Mantee (Cornell) previously teamed up with Adam West in the 1964 Paramount
film Robinson Crusoe On Mars.  
 
A segment with Batman in prison (second half of #83) showed exactly how Batman's
cape and cowl were removed.  
 
FEBRUARY 23, 1967  
 
"Batman Displays His Knowledge" (prod. #9749-Pt. 2) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST
on ABC as the 84th episode of Batman.  
 
Julie Newmar made her final appearance as The Catwoman in these episodes.  
 
Jacques Bergerac (Freddy The Fence) is now the president of Revlon in Paris. He
reprises his role of Freddy The Fence in Episode #1726, "Minerva, Mayhem and
Millionaires," the series Batfinale.  
 
FEBRUARY 22, 1968  
 
"I'll Be A Mummy's Uncle" (prod. #1725) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the
117th episode of Batman.  
 
This marked the final appearance of the late Victor Buono as King Tut. Tut beats
up The Batdummy which was previously used against him in Episode #1709, "The
Unkindest Tut of All." Grabbing it with a sigh of recognition, he happily beats
it up!  
 
Jock Mahoney (H.L. Hunter) is best remembered as one of several actors who
portrayed Tarzan in the movies.  
 
Here, King Tut, once restored to his old self again, reveals his true name for
the first and only time: Professor William Omaha Mackelroy.

FEBRUARY 29, 1968 (HOLY LEAP YEAR!!!)

"The Joker's Flying Saucer" (prod. #1720) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as
the 118th episode of Batman.

Cesar Romero and Byron Keith both gave their final performances as The Joker and
Mayor Lindseed, respectively, in this episode.

The footage of The Dynamic Duo driving The Batcycle to the heliport where they
switch to The Batcopter is edited from the 1966 Batman movie.

Richard Bakalyan (seen here as Verdigris) previously played Arbutus in Episode
#1710, "Louie the Lilac," Sphinx in the Season-2 episodes #9755, "King Tut's
Coup/Batman's Waterloo," and C.B. in the first-season episodes #8731, "Death in
Slow Motion/The Riddler's False Notion."

Stock footage from the classic 1953 20th Century-Fox scifi film Invaders From
Mars was used to show The Joker's flying saucer in flight.

Although The Joker had a run-in with Alfred Pennyworth at the end of Season-2
Episode #9723-Pt. 2, "The Joker's Provokers," he failed to recognize him in this
episode.

The late Ellen Corby (Mrs. Green) was well known for her portrayal of Grandma
Esther Walton on The Waltons (CBS, 1972-81).

The idea of The Batcave being destroyed was later adapted in 1995's Batman
Forever.
 
Batman TV Almanac (3/1-7/09)
 
MARCH 1, 1967

"A Piece Of The Action" (prod. #9751-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as
the 85th episode of Batman.

These episodes guest-starred Van Williams and the late Bruce Lee as "Visiting
Heros" The Green Hornet and Kato, respectively, from their own 1966-67 ABC
series The Green Hornet (executive-produced by Batman's own William Dozier). The
Green Hornet and Kato are billed in the sub-main titles as "Visiting Heros".

Roger C. Carmel (best known as Harcort Fenton Mudd on Star Trek) does not
receive any main billing as "Guest Villain" in this episode.

Diane McBain previously played Lisa in "Batman Stands Pat"/"The Thirteenth Hat".

MARCH 2, 1966

"The Joker Goes To School" (prod. #8715-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC
as the 15th episode of Batman.

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.

MARCH 3, 1966

"He Meets His Match, The Grisly Ghoul" (prod. #8715-Pt. 2) first aired @
7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 16th episode of Batman.

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."

Stand-up comic Kip King (Nick) later provided cartoon voices, including that of
Shecky on Hanna-Barbera's The Biskitts (CBS, 1983-85).

MARCH 2, 1967

"Batman's Satisfaction" (prod. #9751-Pt. 2) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as
the 86th episode of Batman.

Note the odd scene in the episode, right after the Batcomputer goes out, when
Robin and Batman basically switch roles. Burt Ward starts talking in a pedantic
Batman-style, making incredible deductions, and calling Batman "old chum", while
Adam West says "gee" a lot and acts dumb.

Filming the climactic fight scene between The Dynamic Duo, Green Hornet and Kato
proved to be rather sticky, for the actors involved refused to allow their
characters to be defeated! Finally, producer Bill Dozier was summoned to
straighten out the whole deal, as the stunt doubles just sat there and waited.
Dozier said, "Look, it's a Mexican standoff. Nobody wins. You have this big
fight. At the end of it, you just stop it and stare at each other; that's the
end of the fight." Thus, the scene was reconstructed to--natch!--"Batman's
Satisfaction"!

While filming the climactic fight, which involves Robin holding his own with
Kato as played by world-class martial artist Bruce Lee (yeah, right!), Lee
initially began doing the fight sequence with Burt Ward in deadly seriousness,
ominously coming after him while Burt Ward squawking "It's only a TV show." Lee
finally cracked up, burst into laughter.

MARCH 8, 1967

"King Tut's Coup" (prod. #9755-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the
87th episode of Batman.

Lee Meriwether (Lisa) portrayed The Catwoman/KITKA in the 1966 Batman motion
picture. And many of you Trekkies will recognize Grace Lee Whitney (Neila) in
her role of Janice Rand on Star Trek (NBC, 1966-69).

Lisa Carson is seen wearing the exact same dress previously worn by Ziva Rodann
in her role as Nefertiti in Season-1 episode #8729-Pt. 2, "The Pharoah's In A
Rut" (April 14, 1966).

MARCH 7, 1968

"The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra" (prod. #1722) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC
as the 119th episode of Batman.

Look carefully at the villains which Dr. Cassandra springs from prison in this
episode, and you will notice that Cesar Romero, Frank Gorshin, Burgess Meredith,
Vincent Price, Victor Buono, and Eartha Kitt are not in their regular roles! All
were unavailable, so stunt doubles filled in for them.

The late Ida Lupino and Howard Duff were husband and wife between 1951 and 1984.
They even took some time to star in a sitcom, Mr. Adams And Eve (CBS, 1957-58).

This was the final appearance of the late David Lewis as Warden Crichton. For
the second time, The Batman makes use of a Portable Batphone in this episode
(the first was in "The Penguin Declines")--something which is undoubtedly a
precursor to today's cellphone! (Holy Avant Garde!)

The late G. David Schine (seen here as Himself [Floorwalker]) became infamous in
the 1950s as an aide to disgraced, anti-Communist demogogue Sen. Joe McCarthy
and his assistant Roy Cohn.
 
Last Week's Batman TV Almanac (3/7-14/09)
 
MARCH 9, 1966  

"True Or False-Face" (prod. #8713-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as
the 17th episode of Batman.  

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.  

MARCH 10, 1966  

"Holy Rat Race" (prod. #8713-Pt. 2) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the
18th episode of Batman.  

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.

MARCH 9, 1967  

"Batman's Waterloo" (prod. #9755-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the
88th episode of Batman.  

Not quite hidden in the background of Tut's hideout is a cardboard box with a
question mark on it! It was obviously left over from a previous Riddler episode.
 

The name of "Lisa Carson" was the real name of writer Stanley Ralph Ross's wife.
The name "John E. Carson" is, naturally, based on the late Johnny Carson, who
presided over 4,531 episodes of NBC's Tonight Show between 1962 and 1992.  

For the first time in the series, Commissioner Gordon discusses his daughter
Barbara Gordon with Batman, a precursor to her debut in the third season as
Batgirl, potrayed by actress-ballerina Yvonne Joyce Craig.  

This is one of the few times millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne kisses anyone on
the show.

MARCH 9, 2003  

Return To The Batcave: The Misadventures Of Adam And Burt, a television movie
that reunited Batman series stars Adam West and Burt Ward, was first broadcast
as a "CBS Sunday Movie," @ 9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT  on the CBS Television Network.
 

Other Bat-regulars to be featured were Julie Newmar, Frank Gorshin and Lee
Meriwether. It was a comedy adventure where Adam and Burt stumble upon a
diabolical plot to steal the original Batmobile from a charity benefit! While
trying to unravel the details and find The Batmobile, West and Ward flashback to
the tumultuous times of their 1966-68 ABC television series to reveal a bizarre
behind-the-scenes story of the creation of a television classic, from their
on-the-set explosions to their wild real-life encounters with fans.

Actual footage of Lyle Waggoner's screen test for Batman was featured. It even
featured Lyle voicing over the proceedings and a cameo by Lyle himself!

MARCH 14, 1968

Here endeth a 2 1/2-year era!  

"Minerva, Mayhem And Millionaires" (prod. #1726) first aired at 7:30 p.m. (EST)
on ABC as the 120th and final episode of Batman.

The short-lived ABC sitcom Second Hundred Years occupied Batman's former 7:30
Thursday night slot the following week and stayed there for the remainder of the
1967-68 season, so you notice that Batman didn't go into reruns that summer! In
other words, The Caped Crusader disappeared from the airwaves just as quickly as
he arrived.  

After the show was canceled by ABC-TV, NBC showed a great interest in purchasing
the show! Tragically, some network exec. at ABC, in a effort to get valuable
space on the studio lot had the whole set demolished, forcing NBC, not willing
to invest in the great cost to rebuild the set ($800,000!!!), to decline.  

The role of Minerva was originally intended for Mae West, who at the time was
being groomed for the role of Leticia Van Allen in the 1970 20th Century-Fox
release Myra Beckinridge.

The Dynamic Duo would later reappear on network TV as animated characters on CBS
Saturday Morning, September 14, 1968 (a full half-year after the end of the
live-action series' run), as part of Filmation's The Batman-Superman Hour, which
stressed action, and left the camp of the live-action TV series behind. (Adam
West and Burt Ward later reteamed to voice their animated counterparts in
Filmation's The New Adventures Of Batman, which first aired on CBS in 1977.)
Interestingly, The Dynamic Duo's first appearance as animated characters were in
the opening titles of the live-action Batman TV series!

 
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