Batman TV Milestones Of The Week

[AaronHandy3]

FEBRUARY 9, 1966

"Zelda The Great" (prod. # 8705-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 9th episode of Batman.

Based on "Batman's Inescapable Doom-Trap!" from Detective Comics #346 by John Broome. Although the evil character Eivol Ekdal appeared in the story, Zelda didn't; instead the magician was a man named Carnado. These episodes were originally entitled "The Inescapable Doom Trap"/"Zelda Takes the Rap" and scheduled to air January 26 and 27.

Frankie Darrow, who plays a newsman, was previously a Dead End Kid. Both Zsa Zsa Gabor and Bette Davis were considered for the role of Zelda. (Gabor eventually wound up playing Minerva in the series finale, "Minerva, Mayhem And Millionaires.")

FEBRUARY 10, 1966

"A Death Worse Than Fate" (prod. # 8705-Pt. 2) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 10th episode of Batman.

This is the first of 2 Batman episodes in which there was no Batfight; the second was Season-3 episode #1719, "Nora Clavicle and the Ladies' Crime Club." Anne Baxter (Zelda) later portrayed Olga Queen of the Cossacks in the third and final season.

Listen for an inside reference to this show as Alfred states his reason for not polishing The Batpoles on "Wednesday evenings" (Part 1 of Batman aired on ABC Wednesday nights @ 7:30 EST!): it was due to his obsession with "a certain television show!" (Guess which?!) Victor French (Hood #1) is best known for his role of Mr. Isaiah Edwards on Little House On The Prairie (NBC, 1974-84), and Mark Gordon on Highway To Heaven (NBC, 1984-89).

As The Dynamic Duo speed through Gotham City, the streets of New York's Times Square area are seen in the background, along with 2 movie theaters playing El Cid (Allied Artists, 1961) and Boys' Night Out (MGM, 1962). These particular movies were already 4 to 5 years old, so either Gotham City had problems booking new features or no one bothered to check on the age of stock footage of the film they used!

FEBRUARY 8, 1967

"Batman's Anniversary" (prod. # 9745-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 79th episode of Batman.

Based on a story featured in Detective Comics #140 (October 1948), which, of course, marked The Prince Of Puzzler's Riddling debut!

Actress Deanna Lund uses her character name from this episode as the title of her newsletters from her fan club "FRIENDS OF DEANNA LUND". This was John Astin's sole performance as The Riddler. Frank Gorshin, the original Prince Of Puzzlers, had a night club commitment which he couldn't avoid, but wasn't too happy at his substitution on the series, thus convincing him to come back in Season 3.

Notice The Riddler now carries a cane adorned with a "?" on the top. Also, not once does The Riddler wear his other outfit: a light-green, "?"-covered 3-piece suit with dark green derby hat adorned with a sequined "?" (he also didn't wear it in "The Ring Of Wax/Give 'Em The Axe" [#8725, 3/30-1/66]).

FEBRUARY 9, 1967

"A Riddling Controversy" (prod. # 9745-Pt. 2) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 80th episode of Batman.

The footage of The Dynamic Duo flying in The Batcopter is edited from the 1966 Batman movie.

During 1966, Thursday installments of the series were rated the fifth most popular TV show while Wednesday segments were tenth. NBC's Bonanza was the series riding the #1 spot.

FEBRUARY 8, 1968

"The Great Train Robbery" (prod. # 1723-Pt. 2) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 116th episode of Batman.

This was Cliff Robertson's final performance of Shame.

Arnold Stang (Peter [gun shop owner]) provided the voice of Top Cat, as well as The Bee in several commercials for Honey Nut Cheerios in the 1980s.