Batman - Episode Guide
The Episode Guide is Split Between Three Parts, to see the other seasons click below
Batman Episode Guide Second Season
Batman Episode Guide Third Season
Batman Show Credits - Thanks to Aaron Handy !
Also To see the guest appearances by episode Or by last name of the actor, click below !
Batman Guest Stars By Last Name PDF File
FIRST SEASON
1 - HI DIDDLE RIDDLE 1/12/66
2 - SMACK IN THE MIDDLE 1/13/66.
Starring Frank Gorshin as The Riddler
Written by Lorenzo Semple Jr. Directed by Robert Butler. Batman and Robin are sued for one million bucks for false arrest by the Riddler, who seeks to force Batman to unmask in court. Clues hidden in the legal documents bring the Dynamic Duo to a hot and trendy discotheque What A Way To Go-Go, as Batman does the Batusi with the Riddler's moll, played by Jill St. John. "I didn't know that I was going to have to do a dance in a disco before I came in," Adam West has noted. "That was all improvised on the set. The watusi was the dance that was popular then. I said, 'Okay, I'll do the Batusi.' And it just happened." Production values and the pilot's high budget are evident in the creative and original set designs, lighting and excellent use of color, noticeably absent in some underbudgeted third season misfires. Variations between pilot and regular series: opening theme is slightly different, Alfred's rarely used tuxedo is worn throughout #1/2 and the superimposed cliffhanger texts are angled. BatBits: Based on "Remarkable Ruse of the Riddler" from Batman #171 (5/65, written by Gardner Fox. Lyle Waggoner was originally cast as Batman and filmed for a test reel.
3 - FINE FEATHERED FINKS 1/19/66
4 - THE PENGUIN'S A JINX 1/20/66.
Starring Burgess Meredith as The Penguin
Written by Lorenzo Semple Jr. Directed by Robert Butler. Fresh out of the slammer, Penguin and his gang create several disturbances, including a giant umbrella which lands in Gotham. Nothing is stolen, so Batman and Robin theorize the antics are a ruse. 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. The references to Batman's past appear in material worked on by Lorenzo Semple Jr., initially the series head writer and someone who appears to have received the most influence from (or paid better attention to) established Batman comics lore. At the end of #4, Semple had Commissioner Gordon explain the origin of the Bat costume. "It's simple. As Batman realized when he set out on his crusade, nothing so strikes terror into the criminal mind as the shape and shadow of a huge bat." Semple felt strongly about using shadow imagery. "I think that's very important, and should be in all scripts from now on," wrote Semple in a November 6,1965 letter to producer Bill Dozier. "The bat-costume and bat-shadows throw terror and dismay into criminals. Indeed, that's the very kernel of the whole costume gimmick and we certainly didn't make that point in the pilot. Tell all toiling Bat-Writers to try to work it in." No such emphasis was ever made. BatBits: Based "Partners in Plunder!" from Batman #169 (2/65), written by France Eddie Herron. Mickey Rooney was considered for the role of the Penguin.
5 - THE JOKER IS WILD 1/26/66
6 - BATMAN IS RILED 1/27/66.
Starring Cesar Romero as The Joker
Written by Robert Dozier- Williams Dozier, The Executive Producer's son.. Directed by Don Weis. The Joker devises a utility belt of his own, and switches it with Batman's. He captures the Dynamic Duo and threatens to unmask them on live TV, a classic bit of Batlore. These episodes avoid the series' typical bizarro deathtrap cliffhanger, an excellent but underutilized change of pace. This is the best Joker performance by Cesar Romero. Hubi Kerns and Victor Paul, the stunt doubles for Adam West and Burt Ward respectively, are evident throughout the fight scene at the end of #6. The first season's more expensive optical on-screen POWs and EEYOWs are less obtrusive and obliterative than later version, allowing the action to be more visible. "White was forbidden on the set," said William Dyer, on Adam West's lighting stand-in. "You'd always wear a shirt the color [of the costume] or close to it. And if something was really important, they'd give you a smock to wear [in] the color they wanted. Ironically enough, you'll see all the heroines in white and cameraman Howie Schwartz would go bananas. 'Why did you do this to me again? You know I don't like white!' Patricia Barto did the costumes. She'd always do that kind of thing: he'd get furious." BatBits: Both Jose Ferrer and Gig Young were considered for the role of the Joker.
7 - INSTANT FREEZE 02/02/66
8 - RATS LIKE CHEESE 02/03/66
Starring George Sanders as Mr Freeze
"Poor devil. Forced to live in an air-conditioned suit that keeps his body temperature down to 50 degrees below zero. No wonder his mind is warped." -Batman
Written by Max Hodge. Directed by Robert Butler. Batman and Robin attempt to thwart Mr. Freeze's plans to steal the Circle of Ice Diamonds, and are frozen in their steps by a deadly ice-gun. "I don't think I did a very good job with George Sanders," lamented director Bob Butler, of the actor who played Mr. Freeze. "I don't know if I didn't direct him enough. He was certainly a lovely guy, kind of a gentle, decent, professional guy. Why it didn't gel with him, I don't know." Sanders was less bombastic than others who followed in the role, including Otto Preminger and Eli Wallach. Sanders is more serious and perhaps more understatedly deadly. Some of this stems from Sanders' calm on-screen indifference as a cultured cad. In keeping with his screen persona, Sanders' 1972 suicide note observed that he was "bored." BatBits: Based on "The Ice Crimes of Mr. Zero" from Batman #121 (2/59) by Dave Wood. Mr. Zero was changed to Mr. Freeze for the TV show, and the comics followed suit. Watch for Teri Garr in the bit part of a girl in #7 She is standing in front of the ice rink. ( Also see the Guest Star section for a photo and sound file)
9 - ZELDA THE GREAT 2/9/66
10 - A DEATH WORSE THAN FATE 2/10/66.
Starring Anne Baxter as Zelda
Written by Lorenzo Semple, Jr. Directed by Norman Foster. Master escape artist Zelda the Great steals $100,000 from the First National Bank on April Fool's Day, and, believing the cash to be counterfeit, kidnaps Aunt Harriet, suspending her over a vat of boiling oil for ransom. Though not of supervillain status, Ann Baxter as Zelda and Jack Kruschen as Albanian genius Eivol Ekdol work because Semple's story is well written. Lorenzo Semple's initial outline for these episodes used comics escape artist Carnado. William Dozier wrote, "Let's remember we must work dames into these scripts, both for Batman and Robin, wherever feasible." The comment inspired Semple to modify his work. From a November 11, 1965 letter to Dozier: "Am changing the Great Carnado into Zelda the Great, a super-sexy femme escape-artiste and illusionist!" BatBits: Based on "Batman's Inescapable Doom-Trap!" from Detective Comics #346 by John Broome. These episodes were originally entitled "The Inescapable Doom Trap/Zelda Takes the Rap" and scheduled to air 1/26 and 1/27. Frankie Darrow, who plays a newsman, previously was a Dead End Kid. Both Zsa Zsa Gabor and Bette Davis were considered for the role of Zelda. #11
11 - A RIDDLE A DAY KEEPS THE RIDDLER AWAY 2/16/66
12 - WHEN THE RAT'S AWAY THE MICE WILL PLAY 2/17/66.
Starring Frank Gorshin as The Riddler
Written by Fred De Gorter. Directed by Tom Gries. Visiting King Boris ( Reginald Denny) is kidnapped by the Riddler, leading Batman and Robin into a trap. Director Tom Gries uses complex camera setups, occasional lengthier fluid takes, deep focus and some unusually dark sets for the series. Gries also directed #33/34, and brought visual excitement to the series. BatBits: At the beginning of #12, look for the blatantly (campy) stuffed dummies of Batman and Robin on the drive shaft.
13 - THE THIRTEENTH HAT 02/23/66
14 - BATMAN STANDS PAT 02/24/66
Starring David Wayne as The Mad Hatter
Written by Charles Hoffman. Directed by Norman Foster. Using his Super Instant Mesmerizer, paroled Jervis Tetch (alias the Mad Hatter) attempts to capture every member of the jury which originally convicted him, as well as Batman, who testified against him, burying the Caped Crusader in super-fast hardening plaster. With Hatter's criminal acts more appropriately tied to hats, these episodes are superior to the other Hatter installments (#69/70). David Wayne gives the Hatter a goofball accent (or whatever that is), but fails to make him a major league villain. Diane McBain has a gorgeous voice as Hatter's moll, Lisa. BatBits: Two-Face was originally considered as a first season villain, using the theme of a TV commentator who has a TV tube blow up in his face. 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.
15 - THE JOKER GOES TO SCHOOL 03/02/66
16 - HE MEETS HIS MATCH, THE GRISLY GHOUL 03/03/66.
Starring Cesar Romero as The Joker
Written by Lorenzo Semple Jr. Directed by Murray Golden. Joker plans to undermine student morale and recruit high school dropouts for his gang, the Bad Pennies. The Clown Prince of Crime wires the Dynamic Duo to a slot machine about to generate 50,000 volts. Atypically, Dick Grayson helps solve crimes, infiltrating the Bad Pennies sans Batman. Much of the show revolves around Grayson, his school and classmates. Even though Burt Ward was several years out of high school, he still looked young enough to do justice to the role of a student. "I was 20 years old," Ward has observed regarding his initial involvement with the series, "and became 21 and had to go to court to get my contract approved so that I could work on the show." BatBits: 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. "The opposite of a girl is a boy!" -Robin puzzles out a clue
17 - TRUE OR FALSE FACE 3/9/66
18 - HOLY RAT RACE 3/10/66.
Starring Malachi Throne as False Face
Written by Stephen Kandel. Directed by William Graham. False Face steals the Mergenberg Crown, replacing it with a replica, then gasses Gotham Guardians and then epoxies them to subway tracks (with quick setting plastic cement) as a train approaches. In many episodes, the outcomes were either evident or foreshadowed long before the conclusion; not so here. With numerous twists, turns and false leads, this offbeat pair of episodes remains consistently oblique, even to the end, regarding whether Batman and Robin will ever apprehend the tricky False Face. The villain's abhorrence of the word true as well as his use of false clues are other nice touches. Batman at its best, for this writer's taste. "Not even his mother will recognize the actor playing False Face," said producer Howie Horowitz in a February 2 ABC press release. "He's a classically styled actor with a background in New York theater, movies and television." In Joel Eisner's The Official Batman Batbook , actor Melachi Throne lamented a modification to the original concept which called for makeup instead of a mask. Throne's credit appeared as "?" in episode #17 and #18. However, curious viewers could simply open TV Guide which listed his credit on both evenings. Batbits: Bill Finger created False Face in Batman #113 (2/58). "I'll be back in three minutes and twenty seconds." -Batman to Robin
19 - THE PURR-FECT CRIME 03/16/66
20 - BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME 03/17/66.
Starring Julie Newmar as Catwoman
Written by Stanley Ralph Ross and Lee Orgel. Directed by James Sheldon. In the series' first Catwoman adventure, the Feline Fury spirits away one of a pair of golden cat statuettes containing the secret to Captain Manx's lost treasure. Catwoman traps Batman to battle a ferocious tiger and balances the Boy Dinner over a pit of hungry tigers and lions. Noted director of photography Howard Schwartz in "American Cinematographer", "We try to use color in an exciting way and for that reason we use a great deal of colored light on the sets. We felt that amber was a 'cat color' we played everything in her office and lair in ambers. We went to the greens for the Riddler because he wears a green outfit, and on the Penguin we used purples. These colors are produced, of course, by placing appropriate gelatins over the lamps. Naturally we keep the colored light off the faces, except for extreme effects where somebody will turn on a red light or a green light or something of the sort." BatBits: Suzanne Pleshette was considered for the role of Catwoman, played by Julie Newmar. Catwoman's alter ego Selina Kyle was never shown on the show.
21 - THE PENGUIN GOES STRAIGHT 3/23/66
22 - NOT YET, HE AIN'T 3/24/66.
Starring Burgess Meredith as The Penguin
Written by Lorenzo Semple, Jr. & John Cardwell. Directed by Leslie H. Martinson. Penguin apparently dumps his criminal past when he routs several robberies and establishes the Penguin's Protective Agency to guard society's wealth. One of Penguin's first successes as the sentinel of aristocracy is to nab Batman and Robin while they are switching Sophia Starr's real jewelry for fakes. Marks the series' first use of the Batcycle.( This one a Harley Davidson - later to be replaced with a Yamaha- See Trivia -Bat vehicles for photos ) Leslie Martinson utilizes a lengthy, 69-second take with Batman, Penguin and Robin in close-up during the first half of #21. It makes for an interesting contrast against the more typical constant cutting. Another 35-second take at the end of that episode utilizes a Hitchcockian traveling camera which begins on Penguin/Gordon/O'Hara and finishes on the Doomed Duo, suspended behind a shooting gallery. The idea of the Penguin going straight has been part of the character's history in comics. It was previously used on numerous occasions, and among them: Batman #41, 70, 76; and Detective Comics #171. In a hilarious sequence, Batman remotely wrestles control of the Batmobile from Penguin after the dastardly bird has hijacked the vehicle. The scene obviously influenced a sequence in 1992's BATMAN RETURNS, where Penguin remotely took control of the Batmobile while Batman was driving. BatBits: Hairstylist Kathryn Blondell recalled, "They made a very expensive wig for Burges, who actually went out the night before and decided to have his hair dyed. He wound up using his own hair."
23 - THE RING OF WAX 3/30/66
24 - GIVE 'EM THE AXE 3/31/66.
Starring Frank Gorshin as The Riddler
Written by Jack Paritz and Bob Rodgers. Directed by James B. Clark. Riddler seeks to plunder the Lost Treasure of the Incas. The Caped Crusaders are drugged, tied up and suspended over a vat of boiling wax by the Riddler's Remote Control Enormous Candle Dipper, facing doom at Madam Soliel's Wax Museum. Riddler had only been used in three comic book stories before his appearances on the TV series (Detective Comics #140,142, Batman #171) with the first two occasions way back in 1948. Therefore, it is nearly impossible to contrast a TV version of the villain with that of the comics. In fact, much of Riddler's future print characterization had a foundation in Frank Gorshin's intense interpretation. "The biggest problem with [doubling] Frank," recalled stuntman Eddie Hice, who doubled for Bruce Lee on GREEN HORNET, "was always the green leotards. He kept himself in real good shape. That's how I got the job, incidentally. I'm built like he is. When I showed up, Gorshin just went nuts. He says, 'Well, riddle me this. Look at this.' Every time they'd get a double for Gorshin, the guys didn't look right. They were kind of hanging out. They had a lot of problems [with weight]. Victor Paul called me. I was doing another show on the lot. Green Hornet. I was doubling for Bruce Lee. Anyway, I jumped over there and I got into the green tight outfit and they slicked my hair back. from then on I started doubling for him. Even if his [costume] tore or something, they could take my coat off and put it on him. [There was always a double outfit.] That's how unique it was." Hice also doubled John Astin in #79/80. BatBits: Based on "A Hairpin, A Hoe, A Hacksaw, A Hole in the Ground!" from Batman #53 (7/49) by Bill Finger.
25 - THE JOKER TRUMPS AN ACE 04/06/66
26 - BATMAN SETS THE PACE 04/07/66
Starring Cesar Romero as The Joker
Written by Francis and Marian Cockrell. Directed by Richard C. Sarafian. The Joker plans to pilfer the Maharajah of Nimpah's solid gold golf clubs, but instead kidnaps the Maharajah. The Dynamic Duo, in pursuit, are tied up and locked in a chimney filled with lethal gas. Some great ideas are heisted from a Joker comic book story in Batman #53. BatBits: Series guest stars reportedly received $2,500 for their nefarious appearances. Cathy Ferrar said "Gleeps! It's Batman!" in episode #1, gained some notoriety and became known as the "Gleeps Girl." She returned in this episode with an additional five syllables to her role ("Crime is certainly rampant these days.") At the time, she observed, "It's been phenomenal. I've done dozens of dramatic shows...but I never got this kind of reaction before."
27 - THE CURSE OF TUT 4/13/66
28 - THE PHAROAH'S IN A RUT 4/14/66.
Starring Victor Buono as King Tut
"How many times must I tell you? Queens consume nectar and ambrosia, not hot dogs." -King Tut to Nefertiti
Written by Robert C. Dennis and Earl Barret. Directed by Charles R. Rondeau. A student riot endows a Yale professor with a head wound, and the delusion that he is King Tut, Great King of the Nile, setting up an Egyptian Sphinx in Gotham's Central Park as ruler of the city. Captured by Tut, Batman finds himself subjected to the ancient Theban pebble torture which is supposed to render him a mindless slave. Thanks to Victor Buono's delivery as Tut, this episode is good for a few yucks when Buono is on screen. Makeup man Bruce Hutchinson recalled the original ornate makeup job planned for Tut, which made him look like a drag queen. "We both looked in the mirror and fell on the floor. He said, 'I couldn't go out of this trailer looking like this. I'd get arrested.' So we took all the makeup off and just put that funny little gold beard on him. It worked much better." BatBits: These episodes mark the series' first use of an original major antagonist for Batman, one not previously found in the comic books.
29 - THE BOOKWORM TURNS 4/20/66
30 - WHIlE GOTHAM CITY BURNS 4/21/66.
Starring Roddy McDowall as The Bookworm
Written by Rik Vollaerts. Directed by Larry Peerce. Bookworm, the well-educated master of stolen plots, toys with Batman and threatens to blow up the Amerigo Columbus Bridge. However, the blow-up is only a pictyure enlarged on a warehouse wall. Bookworm traps the Dynamic Duo inside a monstrous recipe book with billowing steam about to turn our heroes into the Cooked Crusaders. These episodes recycle some classically successful Batman plot devices such as a stolen Batmobile, Wayne Manor violated and big props. Comic book writer Bill Finger's decades of classically memorable Batman scripts certainly influenced the content of these installments. Like the Riddler, Bookworm is one more interchangeable antagonist who frequently and intentionally leaves clues and hopes to rub out that Batnuisance. Instead of originating more devices and manic villains, of which there were many in the generally untapped comic books, Batman writers fell into an ultimately lethal Batformula and redundancy eroded the series' success. Roddy McDowall gives the Bookworm a wonderful, edgy quality. The villain had volumes of potential, and was even supplied with a smidgen of origin/motivation: he could only copy, not write/create anything original, not unlike the series' scripters. Unfortunately the character never returned. 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. Victor Paul, who was Burt Ward's stunt double and, along with Hubie Kerns, the series' stunt coordinator added, "I was hanging upside down in this giant bell tower. I'm always the guy hollering for Batman. I'm tied on this six-foot gong inside a bell that's 12 feet in diameter. They're swinging me back and forth. Then I told them, 'The blood is starting to go to my head. I can't hang upside down forever.'" BatBits: Jerry Lewis was the first cameo Gothamite during a Batclimb. Aired in 1966, these epsiodes appeared during National Library Week.
31 - DEATH IN SLOW MOTION 04/27/66
32 - THE RIDDLER'S FALSE NOTION 04/28/66.
Starring Frank Gorshin as The Riddler
Written by Dick Carr. Directed by Charles R. Rondeau. The Riddler turns moviemaker, capturing his criminal escapades on film. Robin is strapped on a conveyor belt in a lumberyard, about to be sawed in two as Riddler records the event. Batman comes to the rescue, but liberates a dressed dummy. Meanwhile, the Riddler is about to drop Robin from the ledge of a high building, similar to a well-known Harold Lloyd stunt. This teleplay's story originated in the comic books as a Joker adventure, and was insufficiently modified to a Riddler-oriented vehicle. Batman comic book villains are not so easily interchangeable. The ultimate demise of the Batman series could very well be traced to episodes #29-32, the series' first low spots. BatBits: Based on "The Joker's Comedy Capers!" from Detective Comics #341 (7/65) by John Broome. Francis X. Bushman, who played Mr. Van Jones, a well-known film collector, was a silent film star who was voted most popular leading man in American films from 1914-1917. He died August 23, 1966, just months after his BATMAN appearance, at age 83.
33 - FINE FINNY FIENDS 05/04/66
34 - BATMAN MAKES THE SCENES 05/05/66.
Starring Burgess Meredith as The Penguin
Written by Sheldon Stark. Directed by Tom Gries. Penguin and his fiends capture and brainwash Alfred, forcing him to reveal secrets about Bruce Wayne's upcoming Multimillionaire's Annual Award Dinner. Batman and Robin are caught in the Penguin's umbrella field, gassed and then locked inside a vacuum tank. Similar to many third season episodes, Alfred plays a pivotal role. In 1966, Adam West commented on the series' hectic schedule, noting, "The demands are so inordinate that I must get away from it all every weekend at the beach. It's hard work. On a shooting day (we shoot every day, except weekends), I work from 7 in the morning to as late as 10 and 12 at night." Noted Willaim Dyer, West's stand-in, "When we finished the first season, we went right into the feature. Then we went to New York to promote it." BatBits: An average of nine pages of script were shot each day during the first and second seasons. Scripts ran about 67 pages in length for two episodes.
Batman Episode Guide Second Season
Batman Episode Guide Third Season
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