Sequel to Batman: Return of the Caped Crusdaers Announced, with WILLIAM SHATNER as Two-Face!!!!

Oh my gob, I'm having a NERDGASM!  The new 1966 Adam West and Burt Ward animated movie isn't even out yet, and they are already making a sequel... a sequel with WILLIAM SHATNER as Two-Face!  My two favorite heroes from 1966, Adam West and the Shat-man, in one movie!  My brain is exploding with joy!

Read all about it at the Hollywood Reporter...
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/william-shatner-voice-two-face-936010

New Trailer for Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders!

Check it out, courtesy of the fine folks at IGN:

Adam West! Burt Ward! Julie Newmar! All reprising their Classic Batman TV Roles in Animated "Batman: Return of the Caped Crusdaers!"

Adam West!  Burt Ward!  Julie Newmar!  All reprising their Classic Batman TV Roles in Animated "Batman: Return of the Caped Crusdaers!"

The-One-True-Batman is back!  Adam West is returning as Batman in a new animated feature Batman: Return of the Caped Crusdaers.  West will be joined by Burt Ward as Robin and Julie Newmar as the Catwoman, with as yet unnannounced actors playing Joker, Riddler, and Penguin.  Adam West and Burt Ward first mentioned this over a year ago at a comic convention, but I hadn't heard anything about it since, and I was starting to give up hope that it was real.  But it is real!

The movie will be released on Digital HD on Oct. 11 and on Blu-Ray on Nov. 1.  For more info, including the first trailer, check out the full post at Entertainment Weekly:
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/08/17/batman-adam-west-burt-ward-julie-newmar-animated

Batman, Episodes 27 and 28 - "The Curse of Tut" and "The Pharaoh's in a Rut"

Batman, Episodes 27 and 28 - "The Curse of Tut" and "The Pharaoh's in a Rut"

50 years ago...
The 27th and 28th episodes of the Batman TV series aired on ABC TV.   Episode 27, "The Curse of Tut," aired on April 13, 1966.  Episode 28, "The Pharaoh's in a Rut," aired on April 14, 1966.

A Crowd Gathers Around Khnum in Gotham Central Park

These were the first episodes to feature Victor Buono as Professor William McElroy, aka King Tut.  Unlike all of the previous villains, King Tut was the first to be created specifically for the TV series.  Professor William McElroy was an Egyptologist who came to believe he was the reincarnation of King Tut after being struck in the head, and then went on a spree of ancient Egypt themed crimes.  There are some fun action scenes in this episode.  One stunt has Bruce Wayne being strapped to a runaway gurney as it races downhill towards a cliff.  Batman and Robin also get in to sword fights with the Egyptian themed villains.  It's also the second time on the series where Batman dances the Batusi.

Batman and Robin in Nefertiti's Crosshairs

Robin's catchphrases in these episodes included "holy hurricane," holy hieroglyphics," "holy whiskers," "holy asp," "holy skyrocket," and "holy taxidermy."

The Mummy's Eyes

More screencaps after the break...

Bat-Music #27 - Combo Kings - Batman A Go Go

Bat-Music #27 - Combo Kings - Batman A Go Go

Combo Kings... I know pretty much nothing about this band.  There was a band known as "The Combo Kings," or "Pervis Herder and The Combo Kings" in the early 1960s that put out a couple of singles. I think this is the same band.  Honestly, I don't know.  But in 1966, the single we'll be listening to today was released.  It's "Do the Slow Fizz" by Combo Kings, with the b-side "Batman A Go Go."  Both tracks are danceable, funky slabs of Philly Soul.  Slow Fizz is the superior track, but Batman A Go Go has that Batman novelty value that makes the record memorable to this day.  Let's check them out...

Combo Kings - Batman A Go Go


Combo Kings - Do the Slow Fizz

Bat-Music #26 - Seeds of Euphoria - Let's Send Batman to Viet Nam

Bat-Music #26 - Seeds of Euphoria - Let's Send Batman to Viet Nam

"Send Batman to Viet Nam" was a popular meme (or whatever the 1960s version of a meme was) in the Vietnam Era, appearing on pins and buttons alongside other images and phrases like the peace symbol, "make love, not war," "draft beer, not students," and "war is not healthy for children and other living things."  It became a song in 1967 when the Seeds of Euphoria recorded "Let's Send Batman to Viet Nam."  This is a folk song, but it's hard to tell if it is an anti-war protest folk, or just a novelty song trying to cash-in on two subjects looming large in the culture at the time.  The same record label released "Conscientious Objector," a song that condemned conscientious objectors and war protestors, so I'm thinking "Let's Send Batman to Viet Nam" might be more of the same.  Give it a listen and tell me what you think, is this song pro or anti the Vietnam War?
 
Seeds of Euphoria - Let's Send Batman to Viet Nam

Bat-Music #25 - The Musical Stylings of Burgess Meredith

Bat-Music #25 - The Musical Stylings of Burgess Meredith

In previous installments of Bat-Music, we've looked at the records that Batman stars Adam West, Frank Gorshin, and Burt Ward made to cash in on their new-found Batman fame.  Today, we'll be looking at "The Penguin" actor Burgess Meredith's attempt.  While he was primarily an actor, Meredith did have a few records under his belt prior to the 1966 Batman TV series.  His records tended to feature a combination of singing and spoken word and included such titles as "Songs and Stories of the Gold Rush,"  "Burgess Meredith Sings Songs From How The West Was Won," and "Burgess Meredith Reads Ray Bradbury." 

A Selection of Burgess Meredith's Vinyl Records

Here's "At the Miners' Ball," a track from Songs and Stories of the Gold Rush:

Burgess Meredith - At the Miners' Ball


For his obligatory musical cash-in on the popularity of Batman, Meredith recorded a two-sided single in his persona as The Penguin: "The Capture," and "The Escape."  Both tracks feature the same music, with Meredith sing-speaking over the music William Shatner style, spinning a story of the Penguin's Capture by the Batman, and his subsequent escape.

Burgess Meredith - The Capture


Burgess Meredith - The Escape

NECA 1/4 Scale Burt Ward Robin Action Figure

NECA 1/4 Scale Burt Ward Robin Action Figure

A few years ago, I reviewed NECA's giant 18 inch 1/4 scale Adam West Batman action figure.  Well, it's been a while, but I finally got around to picking up his partner in crimefighting, NECA's 1/4 scale Robin action figure.

Burt Ward Hero Pose

Like NECA's Adam West figure, this giant-sized action figure of Burt Ward as Robin is almost perfect, and I really love it.  A few of his joints are kind of stiff, just like the Adam West figure's were, but that can probably be fixed with by heating it up with some boiling water or hot air from a hair dryer.  Most of the details of the packaging, accessories, and the figure itself are pretty much the same as the Adam West figure, so I'll urge you to read that review for the details.  The main difference is that this figure is about an inch shorter, since of course Burt Ward was not as tall as Adam West.

On Display at Misfit Robot Daydream Headquarters (aka My Living Room)

 Aside from that, I'm just going to let my photos do the talking, so let's check them out:

Under the Batsignal

More photos after the break...

Batman, Episodes 25 and 26 - "The Joker Trumps an Ace" and "Batman Sets the Pace"

Batman, Episodes 25 and 26 - "The Joker Trumps an Ace" and "Batman Sets the Pace"

50 years ago...
The 25th and 26th episodes of the Batman TV series aired on ABC TV.   Episode 25, "The Joker Trumps an Ace," aired on April 6, 1966.  Episode 26, "Batman Sets the Pace," aired on April 7, 1966.   These were the third pair of episodes to feature Cesar Romero as The Joker.

Batman and Robin Are on the Lookout for Criminal Activities at the Golf Course

The Joker goes on a seemingly nonsensical crime spree, stealing things like a woman's hairpin, and a hole from a golf course. However, the random seeming crimes are really part of a diabolical scheme to defeat Batman once and for all... by forcing him to sign a bogus check.

The Joker and Jill (His Latest Moll)

Robin's catchphrases in these episodes included "holy Taj Mahal" and "holy Golden Gate."

The Joker tells riddles and leaves clues in these episodes, making it seem like they were originally intended for Frank Gorshin as The Riddler.  But the comic book story these episodes were based on *("A Hairpin, a Hoe, a Hacksaw, a Hole In the Ground!" from  Batman #53) was in fact a Joker story.

"A Hairpin, a Hoe, a Hacksaw, a Hole In the Ground!" from  Batman #53

More screencaps after the break...

Bat-Music #24 - Rocky and the Riddlers - Batman

Bat-Music #24 - Rocky and the Riddlers - Batman

Rocky and the Riddlers released their single "Flash & Crash" in 1966, with "Batman" on the b-side.  "Batman" is a irreverent garage rock novelty song, sort of like a low-budget version of "The Monster Mash." 

Sample lyrics: "He wears purple bun-huggers and rides a Batmobile, around Gotham City he's a real big wheel.  When he's not out fighting crime he can always be seen down in the Batcave reading wrestling magazines."

Beyond the Batman novelty track, however, Rocky and the Riddlers were a brutish group of garage rock proto-punks that hit you int the head like a velvet covered brick.

Rocky and the Riddlers - Batman


Rocky and the Riddlers - You Weren't Using Your Head


Rocky and the Riddlers - Flash & Crash

Bat-Music #23 - Nelson Riddle - Batman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Bat-Music #23 - Nelson Riddle - Batman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

In July of 1966, in between seasons 1 and 2 of the Batman television series, 20th Century Fox released the full length Batman motion picture to movie theaters.  The movie featured most of the main cast from the TV series, except for Julie Newmar as Catwoman, who was unavailable during filming and was replaced with Lee Meriwether.

The motion picture soundtrack was composed and conducted by Nelson Riddle, who also did the music for the TV series (except for the memorable main Batman TV theme, which was written by Neal Hefti).  Many of the same musical cues from the TV show are repeated here, but expanded upon and drawn out.  It's not really as fun to listen to as the TV soundtrack, though.  The TV soundtrack album's music is shorter and punchier, and has fun dialogue clips from the show worked in to the tracks.  But this is still a must-have album for Bat-Music collectors, and it's excellent for playing in the background as you read through a stack of Batman comic books.

Nelson Riddle - Batman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Main Title 


Nelson Riddle - Batman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Torpedoes

Bat-Music #22 - Gate Wesley & Band - (Zap! Pow!) Do the Batman

Bat-Music #22 - Gate Wesley & Band - (Zap! Pow!) Do the Batman

A solid funk groove plays, over which the singer grunts and wails various Batman-related phrases such as "Batman, baby!," "Zap! Pow!," "C'mon Robin!," "Get the Batmobile rollin'!," and "Batman time!" as well as repeatedly asks for some orange juice (I suppose recording a funk track can be some thirsty business).  Then again, Batman himself did order orange juice in the nightclub scene in the first episode of Batman, so I suppose it all comes together nicely!  So pour yourself a tall glass of O.J. and enjoy this single from 1966, as Gate Wesley & Band "Do the Batman!"

Gate Wesley & Band - (Zap! Pow!) Do the Batman

Bat-Music #21 - Al Hirt - Batman Theme

Bat-Music #21 - Al Hirt - Batman Theme

Trumpet player and bandleader Al Hirt is famous for performing the theme song to Batman's sister show Green Hornet, but he also brought his signature trumpet playing to the Batman theme on his 1966 album "The Horn Meets the Hornet."  The Horn Meets the Hornet saw Hirt reacting to the success of his Green Hornet theme as a single by releasing a whole album of TV theme songs.  In addition to the Green Hornet and Batman, the album also features the themes from Get Smart, The Monkees, Tarzan, and more.

Note: I couldn't find an upload of Al Hirt's Batman theme on YouTube.  However, the entire album, featuring the Green Hornet, Batman and more, is on YouTube.  The whole thing is worth a listen, and it's only 26 minutes long, so it won't take up much of your time.  The Batman Theme begins at 12:03.  If you just want to cut to the chase, here's a link https://youtu.be/hNC-0vr1A2o?t=12m3s that begins with Batman.

Al Hirt - The Horn Meets the Hornet

Bat-Music #20 - The Camps - The Ballad of Batman

Bat-Music #20 - The Camps - The Ballad of Batman

"The Ballad of Batman" by The Camps is a rarity in that it's a song inspired by the Batman TV show that was released in 1965... one year before the show aired for the first time in 1966.

The story goes that the band's record producer got wind of the show while it was in production, and had the band record "The Ballad of Batman" and its B-side "Batmobile" to submit to the television producers as possible theme songs for the show.

Thankfully the TV show went with Neal Hefti's classic Batman theme instead.  Otherwise we'd all be singing "we're behind the wheel, of the Batmobile, it's fun-fun-fun to drive it everyday," instead of "na-na-na-na na-na-na-na Batman," and that just wouldn't be the same.

The Camps, who also went by The Campers,  were Sonny Curtis on vocals and guitar and Jerry Allison on drums, although the duo was perhaps better known as members of "The Crickets," yeah those Crickets, as in "Buddy Holly and...," so even though their Batman theme never made it to TV, they still had a pretty decent day job to fall back on.  In fact, Jerry Allison played drums with the band for 60 years, from it's inception in the 1950s until earlier this year, when the Crickets played their final gig on February 6th, 2016.
.
The Camps - The Ballad of Batman


The Camps - Batmobile

Bat-Music #19 - The Marketts - The Batman Theme

Bat-Music #19 - The Marketts - The Batman Theme

This is one of many albums of instrumentals that was released to cash in 1960s Batmania.  it was easy to take a bunch of generic surf rock instros, slap Batman-themed names on them, and claim they were inspired by the show.  The Marketts album is a step above most of them, though.  They add things like bat sound effects, the Joker's laughter, vocal choruses with character names, and musical cues inspired by the Batman TV theme, so this album really does sound like it was legitimately inspired by the show.

Tracklisting:

1. Batman Theme
2. Bat Cave
3. Robin the Boy Wonder
4. Bat Signal
5. Batmobile
6. The Joker
7. The Penguin
8. The Bat
9. Dr. Death
10. The Riddler
11. Bat Cape
12. The Cat Woman

The Marketts - Batcave


The Marketts - Robin the Boy Wonder


The Marketts - The Joker

Bat-Music #18 - The Musical Stylings of Burt Ward

Bat-Music #18 - The Musical Stylings of Burt Ward

In 1966, the popularity of the Batman TV show had turned Robin actor Burt Ward in to the nation's latest teen idol.  Eager to cash in on his stardom, MGM signed Ward to a record deal.  The plan was to released two singles, and then a full length album.  Then in one of the weirdest pairings in musical history, they hired Frank Zappa to spearhead the project.

"Holy Odd Couple, Batman!"  Burt Ward's image as Robin was squeaky-clean, law-abiding, and all-American.  Zappa meanwhile was the king of the long haired freaks, about as far removed from wholesome Robin as you can get.  I believe this was before the release of Zappa's first album, so the people at MGM probably didn't know quite who it was they had signed to help guide their newest star to the top of the pop charts.

The biggest obstacle preventing Ward from becoming a music star wasn't Zappa writing music that was too weird, though.  It was that Burt Ward flat out could not sing.  After a few disastrous recordings with Burt singing, followed by a failed stint with a vocal coach, Zappa just had Ward talk over a musical background, William Shatner style.

One single would eventually be released, the Zappa-penned "Boy Wonder, I Love You," in which "Boy Wonder" reads from a weird letter from a fan (actually based on several pieces of fan mail Ward actually received), and a cover of Nat King Cole's "Orange Colored Sky" (a song that was also performed by Adam West).  One other song, "Teenage Bill of Rights," as well as several instrumental tracks that Ward had yet to record vocals for, were completed before MGM pulled the plug on the sessions.  These other tracks have never officially been released, but they are widely available as bootlegs.

Burt Ward - Boy Wonder, I Love You


Burt Ward - Orange Colored Sky

Bat-Music #17 - The Liverpool Scene - Batpoem

Bat-Music #17 - The Liverpool Scene - Batpoem

Adam West tackled plenty of tricky foes back in his days as the caped crusader, but none quite like this, where the Batman theme backs up spoken word poetry pitting Batman against birth control pills, LSD, and the Vietnam War.  "Batpoem" is off of the 1968 Liverpool Scene album "The Amazing Adventures of the Liverpool Scene."

The Liverpool Scene - Batpoem

Batman, Episodes 23 and 24 - "The Ring of Wax," and "Give 'Em the Axe" (1966)

Batman, Episodes 23 and 24 - "The Ring of Wax," and "Give 'Em the Axe" (1966)

50 years ago...
The 23rd and 24th episode of the Batman TV series aired on ABC TV.   Episode 23, "The Ring of Wax," aired on March, 30, 1966.  Episode 24, "Give 'Em the Axe," aired on March 31, 1966.

Batman Looks to the Skies

 
These were the third pair of episodes to feature Frank Gorshin as The Riddler.

The Riddler Celebrates His Victory

The Riddler concocts a "universal solvent wax" as part of a scheme to steal "The Lost Treasure of the Incas." This adventure takes Batman and Robin to a spooky wax museum, a candle factory full of boiling wax, and a room full of medieval torture instruments.  This episode also feature Linda Gaye Scott as The Riddler's moll "Moth."  Moth wears a skintight purple jumpsuit that looks a bit like a preview of Batgirl's costume in season 3.

The Lawmen Visit the Library

Robin's catchphrases in these episodes include "holy mucilage" and "holy paraffin."

Batman Worries About Robin's Safety

More screencaps after the break...

Bat-Music #16 - The Flaming Lips - Batman Theme

Bat-Music #16 - The Flaming Lips - Batman Theme

This is a track from early in the career of The Flaming Lips (like maybe 1983 or 1984?), when they covered this because supposedly it was one of the few songs that they knew how to play.

The Flaming Lips - Batman Theme


Bonus Flaming Lips!  While this song is not Batman 1966 related, it was on the soundtrack to "Batman Forever," so there's still a "Bat" connection...

The Flaming Lips - Bad Days

Batman, Episodes 21 and 22 - "The Penguin Goes Straight," and "Not Yet, He Ain't" (1966)

Batman, Episodes 21 and 22 - "The Penguin Goes Straight," and "Not Yet, He Ain't" (1966)

50 years ago...
The 21st and 22nd episode of the Batman TV series aired on ABC TV.   Episode 21, "The Penguin Goes Straight," aired on March 23, 1966.  Episode 22, "Not Yet, He Ain't," aired on March 24, 1966.

Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara Interrogate a Criminal

These were the 2nd pair of episodes to feature Burgess Meredith as The Penguin.

The Penguin Protective Agency, Incorporated

The Penguin begins a REVERSE crime spree!  Instead of committing thefts, he starts preventing them, and forms the "Penguin Protective Agency" to protect the valuables of Gotham City's wealthy elites.  Batman and Robin believe this is merely a ruse to get his hands on and steal the valuables he is supposed to protect.  The Dynamic Duo attempts to replace a set of valuable jewels with replicas, to protect the real jewels from The Penguin.  But The Penguin catches Batman and Robin in the act, and accuses them of burglary.  Now Batman and Robin are the ones on the run from the law!

Cruising in the Batmobile

There's some fun stuff in these episodes.  Be on the lookout for Harvey Lembeck, who played "Eric Von Zipper" in the "Beach Party" movies.  He plays The Penguin's henchman "Eagle-Eye."

Cruising in the "Birdmobile"

Also look for the scene were Batman and Robin pretend that they have become mentally unbalanced and are going to kill The Penguin for revenge (don't worry, it's all part of their plan).  Burt Ward's twitchy performance in this scene is a hoot.

Batman and Robin's Corpses, After Being Gunned Down by the Cops

Finally, check out the Batcycle in the second episode.  It's the original Harley Davidson version of the Batcycle, which was only used once.  All subsequent versions featured the more heavily customized Yamaha Catalina Batcycle that was used in the 1966 feature film (mostly with stock footage from the film).  Robin has a full-sized sidecar on this bike, as opposed to the detachable go-kart he has on the Catalina cycle.

The Original Harley Davidson Batcycle

Robin's catchphrases in these episodes included "holy nick of time," and "holy leopard."

These episodes were loosely based on the comic book story "One of the Most Perfect Frame-Ups of All Time!!" from Detective Comics #58, where The Penguin, in his comic book debut, frames the Batman for a crime and has him arrested.




More screencaps after the break...