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Batman Season 1

The Joker Is Wild

BatmanOne of Batman’s deadliest foes, the Joker, literally springs himself out of prison and embarks on a new crime spree in Gotham City, leaving clues to confound the Dynamic Duo. They foil the Joker’s museum heist of precious jewels – just – but when they follow the next clue to unmask the Joker at the Gotham City opera, the master criminal springs his trap: it’s all been to lure Batman and Robin so the Joker can unmask them.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Robert Dozier
directed by Don Weis
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), Cesar Romero (The Joker), Nancy Kovack (Queenie), Jonathan Hole (Museum Attendant), Merritt Bohn (Assistant Warden), Dick Curtis (The Inebriate)

Notes: BatmanGrappling with Batman himself instead of simply ordering his henchmen to do it, the Joker – in his first TV appearance – is clearly one of Batman’s more dangerous enemies. This marks Cesar Romero’s debut in the role of the Joker, and as is generally well known, he refused to shave his carefully-cultivated moustache for the part, instead opting to have it grease-painted over. (It’s still quite visible in many shots.)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

Batman Is Riled

BatmanA furious fight ensues before the Joker can unmask Batman and Robin on live TV, but during this fight, Batman discovers that the Joker has his own utility belt, modeled after Batman’s own indispensible crime-fighting gear. In their next fight, the Joker swaps Batman’s belt with his own, leaving the Dynamic Duo helpless to catch him. With a well-publicized appearance to attend, and Gotham City’s media questioning their competence, Batman and Robin are certain that they’re walking into another trap set by the Joker.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Robert Dozier
directed by Don Weis
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), Cesar Romero (The Joker), Nancy Kovack (Queenie), Jerry Dunphy (Newscaster), Al Wyatt (Henchman #1), Angelo de Meo (Henchman #2)

Notes: BatmanThe Joker’s crime wave in this episode and the previous one is described as the worst in Gotham City’s history. (It’s only the sixth episode of the series.) The Joker is sent back to prison, but returns to cause Batman trouble again within 10 episodes.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

Instant Freeze

BatmanA strange crime involving ice stolen from a skating rink signals the return of stone cold criminal Mister Freeze, unleashing a new crime wave on Gotham City. Batman is called into action, but since he remembers that he is responsible for Mister Freeze’s condition – their last fight left Freeze unable to survive in temperatures above 50 below zero – he wonders if his enemy is truly responsible for his insane actions. But when Mister Freeze steps up his crime spree, Batman has to hold his feet to the fire…or be frozen in place.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Max Godge
directed by Robert Butler
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), George Sanders (Mister Freeze), Robert Hogan (Paul Diamante), Shelby Grant (Princess Sandra), John Zaremba (Kolevater), William O’Connell (Mr. Perkins), Don Hannum (Art Rogers), Ken del Conte (Al Scott)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

Rats Like Cheese

BatmanBatman and Robin are rushed to Gotham City Hospital for a risky thawing-out procedure, and then discover that Mister Freeze has kidnapped famous baseball player Paul Diamante – and will accept nothing less than a hostage exchange involving Batman. Batman surrenders himself as demanded, but unknown to him, Robin has planted a homing device and plans to attempt a rescue…a plan that doesn’t quite happen as hoped. Now both of the Dynamic Duo is in the clutches of Mister Freeze, who intends to take his revenge upon Batman.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Max Godge
directed by Robert Butler
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), George Sanders (Mister Freeze), Robert Hogan (Paul Diamante), Shelby Grant (Princess Sandra), Dan Terranova (Doctor Vince), John Willis (Newscaster), Bill Hudson (Photographer)

Notes: The phrase “Curses, foiled again!” – commonly associated with the 1960s Batman TV series – enters the Bat-lexicon here, but it isn’t spoken by either Batman or Robin…instead, the show’s ever-present narrator says it in the opening teaser.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

Zelda The Great

BatmanIt’s April 1st in Gotham City, and a bank heist has the Gotham Police perplexed. Batman has a hard time finding clues as well, so he plants a story in the next day’s newspaper, promising the public display of a dazzling emerald that surely his mysterious new nemesis can’t resist. But Zelda the Great, master illusionist, is already watching, and she knows the emerald is a trap. So she decides to make her next illegal windfall happen by other means…such as kidnapping Aunt Harriet and holding her for a ransom.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Lorenzo Semple Jr.
directed by Norman Foster
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), Anne Baxter (Zelda), Jack Krushcen (Eivol Ekdal), Barbara Heller (Hilary Stonewin), Frankie Darro (Newsman), Jim Drum (Clancy), Stephen Tompkins (Bank Guard)

Notes: Even for 1960s Batman, this episode breaks the fourth wall an awful lot, with everyone from Zelda to a newspaper vendor taking time out to address the audience.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

A Death Worse Than Fate

BatmanThe unusual duo of Bruce Wayne and the Boy Wonder appeal to Zelda the Great on live TV to release Aunt Harriet. But just as Batman tried to lure Zelda into a trap, she and her cohort plan to return the favor with lethal results – a plan that will spell the end of the Dynamic Duo unless someone has a change of heart.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Lorenzo Semple Jr.
directed by Norman Foster
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), Anne Baxter (Zelda), Jack Krushcen (Eivol Ekdal), Douglas Dumbrille (The Doctor), Victor French (Hood No. I), Bill Phipps (Hood No. II), Frankie Darro (Newsman), Jerry Doggett (The Announcer)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

A Riddle A Day Keeps The Riddler Away

BatmanA foreign king is visiting Gotham City, but it greeted by a surprise from the Riddler. Batman and Robin are immediately called in to keep the Riddler from disrupting the king’s visit, but are caught flat-footed when the king is abducted before their very eyes. But the king and his riches aren’t the prize; the Riddler will settle for nothing less than ridding the world of Batman.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Fred de Gorter
directed by Tom Gries
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), Frank Gorshin (The Riddler), Susan Silo (Mousey), Reginald Denny (King Boris), Marc Cavell (Fangs), Tim Herbert (Whiskers), Roy Jenson (Whitey), Tris Coffin (Ambassador), Johnny Magnus (M.C.)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

When The Rat’s Away The Mice Will Play

BatmanBelieving that Batman and Robin are out of the way, the Riddler refocuses his criminal ambitions on the visiting foreign king, or more precisely, the gold-encrusted treasure the king carries as a gift to Gotham City. The Riddler even sends one of his henchmen to visit Commissioner Gordon…in the guise of Batman. But even more awkwardly, “Batman”‘s visit occurs while Commissioner Gordon is discussing business with Bruce Wayne…

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Fred de Gorter
directed by Tom Gries
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), Frank Gorshin (The Riddler), Susan Silo (Mousey), Reginald Denny (King Boris), Marc Cavell (Fangs), Tim Herbert (Whiskers), Roy Jenson (Whitey), Marvin Miller (TV Announcer)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

The Thirteenth Hat

BatmanA sinister man whose top hat conceals a mesmerizing ray is stalking Gotham City, stealing hats from their owners…and then stealing their owners. As the number of kidnap victims grows, Batman and Robin are called in to investigate. The Mad Hatter, a criminal Batman had already brought to justice once before, is at large again, and for some reason is obsessed with obtaining Batman’s cowl.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Charles Hoffman
directed by Norman Foster
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), David Wayne (The Mad Hatter), Diane McBain (Lisa), Roland La Starza (Cappy), Gil Perkins (Dicer), Sandra Wells (Babette), Alberto Morin (Octave Marbot), Monique Le Maire (Magda), Norma Varden (Mrs. Monteagle)

Notes:

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

Batman Stands Pat

BatmanBatman determines that the Mad Hatter is nearly done collection twelve victims – the twelve people who sat on the jury who convicted him. The piece de resistance of the Hatter’s collection will be Batman’s cowl: the captor who brought him before that jury. He intends to remove it from Batman’s head…whether Batman is dead or alive.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Charles Hoffman
directed by Norman Foster
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), David Wayne (The Mad Hatter), Diane McBain (Lisa), Roland La Starza (Cappy), Gil Perkins (Dicer), George Conrad (Turkey Bowinkle), Alberto Morin (Octave Marbot), Monique Le Maire (Magda), Norma Varden (Mrs. Monteagle)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

The Joker Goes To School

BatmanWhen a milk vending machine at Dick Grayson’s high school begins spewing out silver dollars for every dime inserted, it’s very strange, but is it a crime? In fact, it’s the tip of the iceberg of the Joker’s latest scheme: if he can lure the teens of Gotham City into quitting school because money comes easily to them…they’ll make easy recruits to his criminal gang when the money stops coming so easily. Dick is forced to keep a low profile to avoid being recognized as Robin, but when he does become the Boy Wonder again, he finds himself caught in the Joker’s shocking trap along with Batman.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Lorenzo Semple, Jr.
directed by Murray Golden
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), Cesar Romero (The Joker), Donna Loren (Susie), Kip King (Nick), Greg Benedict (Two Bits), Bryan O’Byrne (Principal Schoolfield), Tim O’Kelly (Pete), Glenn Allan (Herbie), Sydney Smith (Mr. Vandergilt)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

He Meets His Match, The Ghostly Ghoul

BatmanRobin is distraught when he discovers that Susie, the head cheerleader at his high school, has become a pawn of the Joker. Batman suggests that the Boy Wonder can help, but not as Robin – he instead goes undercover as Dick Grayson, but his attempt to act like a high school dropout doesn’t fool the Joker…and this places Susie’s life in jeopardy unless the Joker can be stopped.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Lorenzo Semple, Jr.
directed by Murray Golden
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), Cesar Romero (The Joker), Donna Loren (Susie), Kip King (Nick), Greg Benedict (Two Bits), Jim Henaghan (Fulton), Dick Bellis (Joe), Cherie Foster (Cheerleader I), Linda Harrison (Cheerleader II), Breeland Rice (Policeman)

BatmanNotes: Just two years before Planet Of The Apes made her a household name, Linda Harrison makes her first on-screen appearance in this episode of Batman. She would go on to play Wonder Woman in an unaired pilot, Who’s Afraid Of Diana Prince?, filmed (and rejected) in 1967; it would be the 1970s (and two actresses later) before Wonder Woman, Batman’s DC Comics stablemate, would become a fixture of prime time.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

True Or False Face

BatmanThe theft of foreign crown jewels from beneath the noses of Commissioner Gordon and Chief O’Hara signal the return of masked criminal mastermind False Face, who just as quickly gives Gotham’s finest the slip. Batman and Robin are summoned to ponder False Face’s latest cryptic clue, deducing that an armored car will be his next target, but it’s too late – False Face is already impersonating one of the truck’s guards, and escapes the hatch the next part of his scheme by kidnapping impersonating Chief O’Hara.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Stephen Kandel
directed by William Graham
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), Malachi Throne (False Face), Myrna Fahey (Blaze), Billy Curtis (Midget), Joe Brooks (Fat Man), Chuck Fox (Thin Man), S. John Launder (Mr. Ladd), Patrick White (Curator)

Notes: Holy Star Trek personnel crossover, Batman! Writer Stephen Kandel was the creator of Harry Mudd, the original Star Trek‘s sole Batmanrecurring adversary, though he had already completed his work on the early Trek episode Mudd’s Women by the time this episode of Batman premiered. Special guest star Malachi Throne – credited simply as “?” here – was a fixture of 1960s and ’70s TV, and of genre TV in general, appearing in both Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as Ark II and Babylon 5.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

Holy Rat Race

BatmanWith Chief O’Hara in his clutches and the Caped Crusaders tied to the tracks in the path of an oncoming train, it seems that False Face has engineered the downfall of the Dynamic Duo. But a betrayal within the ranks of his hangers-on results in an about-face for Batman’s fortunes. Can someone as utterly scrupulous as Batman beat False Face at his own game of planting traps within traps?

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Stephen Kandel
directed by William Graham
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), Malachi Throne (False Face), Myrna Fahey (Blaze), Billy Curtis (Midget), Joe Brooks (Fat Man), Chuck Fox (Thin Man), Gary Owens (TV Announcer), Mike Ragan (Cowboy)

Notes: Yes, that is the true face of famed radio and television announcer Gary BatmanOwens (1934-2016). Guest star Mike Ragan (1916-1995) began appearing in westerns about as soon as Hollywood started making them, with his first such credit in 1947’s Buffalo Bill Rides Again; his enormous list of TV credits includes The Adventures Of Wild Bill Hickok, The Roy Rogers Show, The Gene Autry Show, The Lone Ranger, Cheyenne, Wagon Train, The Life And Legend Of Wyatt Earp, Rawhide, and a dozen separate appearances on Bonanza. It is not until the end credits of this episode that Malachi Throne is credited with playing False Face.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Batman Season 1

The Purr-fect Crime

BatmanThe theft of a priceless cat statue alerts Gotham’s finest – and the Dynamic Duo – that Catwoman is once again up to no good. A rather obvious clue is left to indicate Catwoman’s next target, but Batman isn’t ready to take the bait. He stands guard over one potential target while Robin watches another one…and becomes Catwoman’s prisoner. After toying with her prey, Catwoman decides it’s dinnertime…for her pet tiger…and Batman’s on the menu.

Download this episode via Amazonwritten by Stanley Ralph Ross and Lee Orgel
directed by James Sheldon
music by Nelson Riddle / Batman theme by Neal Hefti

BatmanCast: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Alan Napier (Alfred), Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon), Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara), Madge Blake (Mrs. Cooper), Julie Newmar (Catwoman), Jock Mahoney (Leo), Ralph Manza (Felix), Harry Holcomb (Mr. Andrews), Pat Zurica (Guard)

LogBook entry by Earl Green