Batman (1960s series)

"Holy Benedict Arnold! Suzie, the Chief cheerleader - a member of The Joker's criminal gang!" --Robin

Title: Batman Seasons: 3 Network: ABC Character Created by: Bill Finger and Bob Kane Status: Cancelled

Summary
Batman was a thirty-minute prime time, live action television series broadcast by the ABC Network between 1966 and 1968. Premiering on January 12th, the series featured actor Adam West as the perennial character of Batman, while Burt Ward donned nylon stockings and fairy boots for his portrayal of the erstwhile sidekick, Robin.

The series took the tradition of Batman into uncharted territory, oftentimes mocking the character's heritage with trite dialogue and overly campy plot devices. The show was noteworthy for its memorable use of onomatopoeia during climactic fight scenes. Despite the clumsy nature of the series however, the show proved popular to many fans, and transformed Adam and Burt into modern pop culture icons.

When not fighting crime as Batman and Robin, the Dynamic Duo were often found at Wayne manor in their respective identities as Bruce Wayne and his "youthful ward", Dick Grayson. Living alongside them in the vast mansion, was doddering old Aunt Harriet (a character exclusive to the television series), and their mild-mannered butler, Alfred. Alfred possessed the good fortune of being the only other person to know Batman and Robin's secret identities.

Unlike the earlier movie serials of the 1940s, this was the first Batman project to feature Batman's rouges gallery of villains. Cesar Romero made numerous appearances as the Joker, while Burgess Meredith reinvented the image of the Penguin, with his crooked smile and trademark "Squawk". Julie Newmar provided Catwoman's rolling "R"s, only to be replaced later by Lee Meriwether, and again by Eartha Kitt. Two men provided their talents to the role of the Riddler - Frank Gorshin and John Astin.

By season three, declining ratings prompted the introduction of a third partner to the Bat Family, Barbara Gordon – aka Batgirl (played by Yvonne Craig). Although Batgirl was an immensely popular character, her presence could not save the series, and it was cancelled in 1968.

Principal Cast
Adam West as the Batman (Bruce Wayne) Burt Ward as Robin (Dick Grayson) Neil Hamilton as Commissioner James Gordon Stafford Rep as Police Chief O'Hara Madge Blake as Harriet Cooper

Episodes
 Season One Hi Diddle Riddle Smack In The Middle Fine Feathered Finks The Penguin's A Jinx The Joker Is Wild Batman Is Riled Instant Freeze Rats Like Cheese Zelda The Great A Death Worse Than Fate A Riddle A Day Keeps The Riddler Away When The Rat's Away, The Mice Will Play The Thirteenth Hat Batman Stands Pat The Joker Goes To School He Meets His Match, The Grisley Ghoul True Or False Face Holy Rat Race The Purr-Fect Crime Better Luck Next Time The Penguin Goes Straight Not Yet, He Ain't The Ring Of Wax Give 'Em The Axe The Joker Trumps An Ace Batman Sets The Pace The Curse Of Tut The Pharaoh's In A Rut The Bookworm Turns While Gotham City Burns Death In Slow Motion The Riddler's False Notion Fine Finny Fiends Batman Makes The Scenes  Season Two Shoot A Crooked Arrow Walk The Straight And Narrow Hot Off The Griddle The Cat And The Fiddle The Minstrel's Shakedown Barbecued Batman? The Spell Of Tut Tut's Case Is Shut The Greatest Mother Of Them All Ma Parker The Clock King's Crazy Crimes The Clock King Gets Crowned An Egg Grows In Gotham The Yegg Foes In Gotham The Devil's Fingers The Dead Ringers Hizzoner The Penguin Dizzoner The Penguin Green Ice Deep Freeze The Impractical Joker The Joker's Provokers Marsha, Queen Of Diamonds Marsha's Scheme Of Diamonds Come Back, Shame It's The Way You Play The Game The Penguin's Nest The Bird's Last Jest The Cat's Meow The Bat's Kow Tow The Puzzles Are Coming The Duo Is Slumming The Sandman Cometh The Catwoman Goeth (A Stitch In Time) The Contaminated Cowl The Mad Hatter Runs A Foul The Zodiac Crimes The Joker's Hard Crimes The Penguin Declines That Darn Catwoman Scat, Darn Catwoman Penguin Is A Girl's Best Friend Penguin Sets A Trend Penguin's Disasterous End Batman's Anniversary A Riddling Controversey The Joker's Last Laugh The Joker's Epitaph Catwoman Goes To College Batman Displays His Knowledge A Piece Of The Action Batman's Satisfaction King Tut's Coup Batman's Waterloo Black Widow Strikes Again Caught In The Spider's Den Pop Goes The Joker Flop Goes The Joker Ice Spy The Duo Defy  Season Three Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin Ring Around The Riddler The Wail Of The Siren The Sport Of Penguins A Horse Of Another Color The Unkindest Tut Of All Louise The Lilac The Ogg And I How To Hatch A Dinosaur Surf's Up, Joker's Under The Londinium Larcenies The Foggiest Notion The Bloody Tower Catwoman's Dressed To Kill The Ogg Couple The Funny Feline Felonies The Joke's On Catwoman Louis's Lethal Lilac Time Nora Clavicle And The Ladies' Crime Club Penguin's Clean Sweep The Great Escape The Great Train Robbery I'll Be A Mummy's Uncle The Joker's Flying Saucer The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra Minerva, Mayhem And Millionaires  Notes The theme song for the series was created by composer Neal Hefti, and remains one of the most memorable pieces of musical scoring to this day.

Trivia
For the first two seasons, Batman episodes were aired as two-part storylines, with the title of the second episode often rhyming with the title of the first episode. The Batman series was famous for showcasing various celebrity talents including: Edward G. Robinson, Jerry Lewis, Art Linkletter, Roddy McDowell, Milton Berle, Dick Clark, Steve Allen, Sammy Davis Jr., and many others. Related Articles

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