To The Batpoles! Batman 1966

As season two rolls on, women are still filling familiar roles: OK with crime, but killing the Dynamic Duo is going "too far"; ditzy moll who dreams of diamonds and Hollywood; "team-up" baddie who's completely superfluous to the male partner's plans. We also get a season one throwback of a moll who crushes on Batman, and a Catwoman assistant (and Batman producer's niece) who wants to be a singer. We're once again joined by novelist Nancy Northcott to discuss women in the middle of season two! Plus, a high school (apparently) orchestral version of the theme, more of Adam West on the Mike Douglas Show, and a look back at High C's one appearance on our podcast.

The cultural impact of Batman '66 was felt for decades after, and still reverberates. This time we discuss a couple more late-20th-century cartoons that showed evidence of that impact: Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures, which in 1987 gave us Night of the Bat-Bat, featuring Bat-Bat, a hero with the powers of a bat and a penchant for corny one-liners; and numerous episodes of The Simpsons, including 1992's Mr. Plow, in which Adam West makes a couple of heavily-Bat-referencing appearances; and 1995's Radioactive Man, which gives us the "campy '70s version" of that hero. Holy stand-in! ALSO: Niall Stenson's take on Neal Hefti's Batman theme; Adam on the Mike Douglas Show; your response to our episode on It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman; and we eulogize a committed Bat-fan and regular correspondent to our show, High C. Batman Movie Themes (1966 - 2016) on Guitar Mighty Mouse The New Adventures - Night of the Bat-Bat Night of Bat-Bat - Audio Commentary by John Kricfalusi and Tom Minton

Why does False Face impersonate Chief O’Hara? Where is FF’s hideout? Since when does Aunt Harriet drops censor-tempting puns? Why does Blaze tell the Duo “It’s faster on foot”? These questions and more are up for discussion as we look at the Outline, First Draft, and Revised Draft of True or False Face/Holy Rat Race! Also, Merv Griffin’s 7-year-old son Tony asks Adam West some burning questions, Mina Pang and her dad jam out with the Batman theme, and we read your mail about our Joker Jury episode. OUTLINE First Draft Revised Draft Script discussion thread

Mr. Freeze is back - WILD! He’s gone all Steve Jobs and put a device in everyone’s pocket — one that will plunge Gotham City into year-round winter! Can Batman turn the tables? Meanwhile, Batgirl is going up against a “villain” who, well, very nicely offered Bruce “milk and cookies” in the TV series itself. Yup, it’s Lisa Carson! Did anyone ask for this Egyptian heel turn? Tim and Paul discuss the 10th issue of the Batman ’66 comics series. ALSO: Adam talks with Merv about whether being Batman is going to his head; Holy Deja Vu spotlights actor Dan Tobin; and we read your response to our discussion of Batman ’66 issue 9 in episode 185! See the False Face scripts and comment on them BCV performs the Batman theme

Just a couple of months after Batman hit the airwaves in 1966, another superhero emerged from the comics, as Superman arrived at the Alvin Theater on Broadway in It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman. How did the musical's creators approach the same question William Dozier and Lorenzo Semple, Jr., dealt with in 1965: how to make a "children's character" appealing to adults? We compare and contrast the two shows' approaches. After a good start, the musical closed in less than four months; was Batman to blame? And, what's the deal with that late-night 1975 TV version? All this, plus Adam's story of meeting the pope, and your response to our Hizzoner the Penguin script episode! Concord Theatricals offers two weeks with the musical's libretto at no charge

As we know, many episodes of Batman — especially in the first season — were based on stories from the comics. And additional comics stories were floated as possible episodes but didn’t make the cut. This time, we focus on one such story: The Joker Jury, by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff, originally appearing in Batman 163 (May 1964) and adopted into an unproduced treatment by Max Hodge, writer of the first two Mr. Freeze arcs of the show. What changes did Hodge make to the story and why? Why might this not have been produced? PLUS: Chris Holland’s rock guitar version of the theme, more Adam West on the Merv Griffin Show, and some of your mail about Episode 183’s bat-costume discussion with Chuck and Lynne Williams. The Joker Jury comics story The Joker Jury treatment 13th Dimension: Photos of bat-costumes owned by collector "Alfred"

The cover of Batman '66 #9 includes Zelda the Great hanging above the Duo, and Shame's boots in the foreground. Zelda's in the issue, but where's Shame? Um... in issue #8?! (We discussed that story in episode 182!) Jeff Parker's Zelda story has its moments, but in other ways it's just weird. Meanwhile, Tom Peyer's backup story brings back Alfred's cousin Egbert from The Joker's Provokers, but brings to mind what a version of Alfred in Peyer's The Wrong Earth might have been like! This time, we discuss issue 9. Also, we give our own answers to some previously posted bat-questions, hear more of Adam on The Merv Griffin Show, read a bit of mail, and listen to Pylon's version of Hefti's Bat-theme.  

Stanford Sherman’s Hizzoner the Penguin is a bit hard to reckon with. Satire on Batman is not in line with Lorenzo Semple Jr’s vision for the show, and the 1966 political references date this arc much more than many others. And yet, it has some brilliantly funny moments. This time, we take a look at Sherman’s treatment, first draft, and final script for Hizzoner to learn about the development of the story, possible reasons why Sherman was unhappy with the result, and previously unnoticed moments that suddenly stand out - for good and ill. Also, Scotty McKay’s Here Comes Batman (a song that’s also related to the show by three degrees of separation), Adam West on The Merv Griffin Show, and your reaction to our episode on Assistant Director Reuben Watt. "Hizzoner the Penguin" scripts: Treatment First draft Final Discuss the scripts on the '66 Message Board Here Comes Batman clip from the movie Creature of Destruction The full record of Here Comes Batman

A huge aspect of the Batman show is the colorful costumes, overseen by designer Jan Kemp. Sadly, Kemp is no longer with us, and his records, if they exist, are not easily available, so if you want to make a really accurate Batman ’66 replica costume, some detective work is required. Chuck and Lynne Williams have done just that, making patterns from original costumes owned by collectors, tracking down existing supplies of fabrics that are no longer made, and more. This time, we hear from this dynamic duo about their detective work and what they’ve learned about how the costumes were made, what happened when the prop department needed to get involved (for example, the Mad Hatter’s mesmerizer hat), why Batman’s cowl and cape tended to turn purple over time, and more. Plus, the Alfred Music Marching Band version of the theme, and your mail about the Thirteenth Hat script and more. Vicki Lawrence talks with Jan Kemp and the Bat-crew Adam on the Howard Stern Show: An original cowl? Batgirl Teaches Batman a Less

On January 18, 1968 — just two weeks after her final appearance on Batman was broadcast — Eartha Kitt attended a White House ladies’ luncheon held by Lady Bird Johnson. After a brief, unsatisfying conversation with Lyndon Johnson, Kitt, annoyed, stood up and denounced the Vietnam War. This prompted an apparent effort by the President to kill her career in the US. We discuss a recent video from the New Yorker that explores this incident, with clever tie-ins to her Batman appearances. Also, we dust off our Batman ’66 comics collections and take a look at issue 8, featuring the story King Tut Barges In. PLUS: A Japanese surf band tackles that Batman theme, we complete our listen to the “Featurette” interview of Adam and Burt from the Batman: The Movie DVD, and read your mail on … various past episodes! New Yorker documentary: When the Government Tried -- and Failed -- to Silence Catwoman The Washington Post looks back 50 years later Eartha Kitt vs. LBJ: Newly Found Audio Next script: "Hizzoner the Penguin" T

A lot of people work behind the scenes on a TV show, and some of them are never named in the credits. One is Assistant Director Reuben Watt, who nonetheless did get some credit in the form of coverage in magazines aimed at African-Americans. (The image shown here is from the cover of Sepia magazine.) The June 1966 issue of Ebony included a photo feature on Watt, which tells us some interesting things about Watt, the status of African-Americans in Hollywood in the ‘60s, and the Batman show itself. This time, we discuss the article. Also, we’ve been presenting our listeners with “Bat-questions,” but what are our own answers to these questions? We answer the first three questions we presented to you. PLUS: The Randy Waldman version of the Batman theme, Adam West talks about the famous “bomb” scene, and we read your mail on our Batman and Bill episode. American Bandstand: "Batman is Coming!" Batman promo from final episode of Shindig Long, hard battle to earn creators fame, if not fortune (Cleveland Jewish Ne

The Thirteenth Hat/Batman Stands Pat is Charles Hoffman’s first produced Batman script. But what did earlier versions of the story look like? It turns out that the original plot had the Mad Hatter simply stealing the jurors’ hats! The stakes - and potential profits from Hatter’s crime wave - had to be raised. At the same time, certain too-expensive-to-film gags and distracting subplots were abandoned. Join us as we discuss the five-page “springboard”, 22-page treatment, and full first draft script for this classic episode. PLUS: Adam West on the many cameos by big stars (and future big stars) on the show, the Joel McNeely/Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Chorus version of the theme, and we read your mail on our look at Stanford Sherman’s Marsha script, and reaching back to our Batman and Robin episode! The Thirteenth Hat documents: Springboard Treatment First draft Annotated first draft  

Batman and Star Trek are among the most iconic TV series of the 1960s, and many fans fantasize about a crossover between the two shows. In 2005, amateur film director Christopher Allen didn’t just fantasize: he decided to make a film, Star Trek vs. Batman (released in 2006), where Batman and Robin meet Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the Enterprise crew. While Chris had imagined just shooting it in a garage with cheap props, the denizens of a certain all-seeing, all-knowing 66 Batman message board (AAAH-ah, AAAH-ah) and other connections helped turn it into a more elaborate and memorable production. This time, Chris joins us to explain how the whole thing came about. Holy crossover! Plus, the Sandy Nelson version of the Batman theme, and more of your musings in the Bat Inbox! Star Trek vs. Batman review on FanFilmFactor.com The Making of Star Trek vs. Batman Star Trek vs. Batman part 1 (alternate link) Part 2 Part 3 ;  

For decades, the creation of Batman, and all the characters and things surrounding him, was credited to Bob Kane. But it turned out that someone else, Bill Finger, was heavily involved in the character’s creation and was the uncredited writer of many of the early stories. Kane actively quashed rumors that the words “Batman by Bob Kane” were less than accurate. Kane became rich and famous; Finger died flat broke. Batman and Bill is a film about the controversy over Batman’s creation, and the successful crusade by writer Marc Tyler Nobleman to have Finger credited as a creator of Batman, after Finger’s only published Batman credit in his lifetime had been co-authorship of the TV arc The Clock King’s Crazy Crimes. This time we discuss the film. ALSO: Batman references on 1960s pop music shows, the Saturday Morning Jams version of Hefti’s Batman theme, and your mail about our discussion of Cannan and Cash’s “Marsha” script. The Hullabaloo Bat-Dancers The Velvelettes on Swingin' Time Paul Revere and the Raider

As we showed last time, Cannan and Cash’s Marsha script wasn’t produceable for many reasons. So Greenway handed off the project to Stanford Sherman, fresh off Hizzoner the Penguin, to salvage it, and he quickly realized he had no choice but to start from scratch. The result, of course, is the Marsha two-parter we all know (though perhaps not love). It comes as no surprise, though that some changes were made between the “final” script and what was shot. This time, we take a look at those differences. PLUS: Holy Deja Vu looks at James Millhollin, Adam and Burt make some jokes we’ve all heard a million times, Al Wood's ukulele version of the theme, and we read your response to episode 174 on women in season two! Read the Script

We don't know whose idea the character Marsha, Queen of Diamonds, was, but it’s clear that she was created with one woman in mind: Zsa Zsa Gabor. A script for the actress was commissioned by Greenway Productions through a talent agency to two writers, Tom Cannan, Jr, and Jack Cash. The script they produced, Marsha, The Queen of Diamonds (note the extra definite article) is riddled with problems, from requiring special effects way beyond the show's means, to flagrant mischaracterization of the Caped Crusader, to some really lame “holys” from Robin. This time, we pick through the wreckage of one of the more egregious scripts we’ve discussed on this show. Who will buy? Nobody. PLUS: A punk rock version of the theme by Thirty Going On Thirteen, and your mail about our episode on the development of the show. William Self interview on the TV Academy site

More than one attempt was made to include Two-Face among the villains of Batman ’66. We’ve already discussed Peter Rabe’s attempt; this time, we discuss a treatment by science fiction legend Harlan Ellison, The Two-Way Crimes of Two-Face. Why didn’t it go to a full script? What would have needed to be changed to fit the rules of the Batman ’66 world? How well does the 2014 comics adaptation, Batman ’66: The Lost Episode, capture both Ellison’s idea and the tone of the show? We touched on these issues in Deconstructing Comics 463 back in 2015, but this time we dig deeper! ALSO: The Iscamania version of the Batman theme, and your response to episode 172 on Mr. Zero! Den of Geek on the Ellison Batman treatment Dozier memo to Semple about meeting in Spain Unproduced first-draft script “Marsha, THE Queen of Diamonds,” by Tom Cannan, Jr, and Jack Cash    

These Batpoles were made for slidin’! This time, we enjoy the holidays and take a break from the Batpoles to present our special look at the 1967 Nancy Sinatra TV special Movin’ With Nancy! It’s a detailed, admiring, but sometimes irreverent look at a program we love.

While Batman season one seemed to have a consistent view of women - incapable of being hardened criminals, attracted to luxury items (and Batman), etc. - season two (as is true in many respects) tends to be less consistent. While some molls are ditzy and childish, others not only have agency, but seem more intelligent than the villain. Ma Parker and Marsha appear as the first two truly villainous women (aside from Catwoman) of the series. Even Aunt Harriet shows herself to be smarter and tougher than we'd previously seen. In this episode, we're once again joined by novelist Nancy Northcott to talk about women on Batman, this time in the first half of season two. PLUS: a MIDI version of the Batman theme, more from Adam West and Burt Ward about the movie and the series, Holy Deja Vu focuses on a particular season two moll, and we read your mail about our episode on Adam West Naked.  

What was the cultural environment in the US in 1965, as Batman was being developed? What were the events that led up to the decision that William Dozier would indeed make a Batman show? If TV in the ‘60s was thinking about what it could do better than movies, what’s the answer to that question, and did it show up on Batman? What were some of the rules that Lorenzo Semple Jr made regarding how Batman and Robin should be written? This time, we look at what was going on in 1965 and the discussions that led up to ABC and Greenway’s agreement to make Batman. PLUS: Marin Drake’s metal version of the Batman theme, Maxwell Smart encounters a very familiar Frenchman in Holy Deja Vu, more from Adam and Burt about the making of Batman the Movie, and your response to our episode 170 discussion about Batman on 1970s Power Records. Memo from Dozier to Semple 4/20/1965: The topic of the Madrid meeting (thank you Mr. Glee) Bruce Lee letters (thank you Ben Bentley) 8/10/1965: More info on Number One Son? 2/16/1966: Green Ho