Batman (1966): Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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Batman

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Season Details & Credits

ABC | Season Premiere Date: January 12, 1966

Starring: Billy Dee Williams, Pat Hingle, Tommy Lee Jones

Summary: Batman is a thrilling 30-minute action series based upon the characters created by Bob Kane in 1939 from the Batman and Detective Comics Magazine published by National Periodical Publications, Inc. During his long career, he was featured in the Superman radio series and in two movie serials produced during World War II. In 1966, the ABCBatman is a thrilling 30-minute action series based upon the characters created by Bob Kane in 1939 from the Batman and Detective Comics Magazine published by National Periodical Publications, Inc. During his long career, he was featured in the Superman radio series and in two movie serials produced during World War II. In 1966, the ABC network decided to produce the first Batman television series which became an immediate hit. Starring Adam West, Burt Ward, Alan Napier, Stafford Repp, Neil Hamilton, Madge Blake and finally Yvonne Craig. It was one of few TV series to be seen on 2 different nights on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7:30. The episodes were generally two-parters: Wednesday's episode left a cliffhanger, which was usually resolved in Thursday's episode.
These cliffhangers closely followed the tradition created by Kane in the comic books.
The television series also followed the comic books' plot. Bruce Wayne was orphaned in his teens when criminals killed his parents. He inherited a huge fortune and was obsessed with fighting evil who plagued Gotham City. Under his mansion, Batman constructed the Batcave which was an elaborate laboratory used to fight crime. His young ward, Dick Grayson also orphaned became Robin: the Boy Wonder. Together they defended the city against the sick minded criminals that populated the underworld. The only person who knew their identity was Alfred Pennywirth, the Wayne's butler who raised Bruce after his parents were killed. In the Batlab and at the Batcave, Batman and Robin were helped by the most advanced technology to fight their enemies. The Police Commissioner James W. Gordon could ask Batman for help either through the use of the Batsignal or the Batphone. which was a direct line between the Police Station and Bruce Wayne's mansion. To defeat their enemies, Batman and Robin also used the Batmobile, their utility belts and other Batdevices.
The success of the series attracted several famous actors and actress to play the villains. Among the most famous enemies were The Riddler, The Penguin, The Joker, King Tut, Egghead and Catwoman.
The series spawned a feature film version released by 20th Century-Fox in July 1966. Batman incorporated the expressive art and fashion of the period in its sets and costumes. It also relied excessively on technological gadgetry transforming the show into a parody of contemporary life. It was this self-reflexive parody-camp of the comic character that boosted the ratings of the program to the top ten during its first season. The show was not to be taken seriously. The acting was intentionally overdone and the situations extremely contrived. Batman came to television under a massive advertising campaign followed by heavy merchandising placement. Originally scheduled to start in the fall of 1966, the show debuted earlier in the middle of the Spring season and it aired from January 1966 to March 1968. By fall 1966, ratings were already falling. To offset this trend, in the fall season of 1967, the show was cut to once a week and Batgirl was introduced. This time she came to save the show from falling ratings and not to protect Batman and Robin against accusations of a homoerotic relationship as was the case for her creation by the comic book writers in the mid-1950s. Batgirl was the daughter of Commissioner Gordon and a librarian who fought crime on her own and was at many times paired with The Dynamic Duo. Her debut, however, was not enough to save the series. The producers tried to spice the plots with the new sexy heroine, but it did not work and Batman went off the air in mid-season in the spring of 1968. It nonetheless has maintained a huge cult status in the TV re-run circuit ever since. Batman creator, Bob Kane, noted that this series saved the Batman comic series from cancellation when the show revived the character's popularity. Despite this, most comic fans despised this series for stereotyping superheroes and comics as campy nonsense. Furthermore, soon after the show was canceled, the character's comic series took on a dark and deadly serious tone that was reminiscent of the original comics in the late 1930's as a reaction to the TV show's light touch. The props used in the show and the movie such as the computers and guns were also used in Lost In Space (CBS, 1965-68), The Time Tunnel (ABC, 1966-68), Land Of The Giants (ABC, 1968-70) and Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea (ABC, 1964-68). Broadcast History (all times Eastern)
January 12, 1966 - August 31, 1967, ABC, Wednesday/Thursday 7:30-8:00pm September 14, 1967 - March 14, 1968, ABC, Thursday 7:30-8:00pm
120 Episodes In Color On Film… Expand

Genre(s): Comedy, Action & Adventure, Fantasy

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Season 1 Episodes

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S1:E34. Batman Makes the Scenes
Air Date: May 5, 1966
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S1:E33. Fine Finny Fiends
Air Date: May 4, 1966
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S1:E32. The Riddler's False Notion
Air Date: April 28, 1966

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User Reviews

digantasaha

May 30, 2012

This adaption of TheDark knght by Bob Kane is just awesome.It features Batman and his friend Robin fighting crime and saving Gotham.In this Batman has wonderful gadgets,his car ,the batcave are really awesome.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Digibutter64

Jun 2, 2018

This series isn't dark nor gritty. It's the epitome of the camp style, and it works in its favour.

The series revolves around Batman and Robin (commonly called the "Dynamic Duo") working with the police to save Gotham City from many eccentric villains, including well-known ones such asThis series isn't dark nor gritty. It's the epitome of the camp style, and it works in its favour.

The series revolves around Batman and Robin (commonly called the "Dynamic Duo") working with the police to save Gotham City from many eccentric villains, including well-known ones such as Joker and Penguin, to more obscure ones like Egghead and King Tut. The heroes are often involved in crazy, but deadly scenarios (eg. trapped in giant ice cream cones), and the police force in the series pretty much rely on Batman to do their work for them and essentially see him as a god. It's all very unrealistic, but always hilarious.

The style won't appeal to everyone, but I, for one, have greatly enjoyed the series.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

btzneb92

Aug 12, 2012

It's a pretty damn entertaining movie. The camp and the parody-like qualities of it HAS to be intentional, with all of Robin's HOLY catchphrases and that hilarious final action scene where all of the villains and henchmen are basically just throwing themselves off the boat instead of beingIt's a pretty damn entertaining movie. The camp and the parody-like qualities of it HAS to be intentional, with all of Robin's HOLY catchphrases and that hilarious final action scene where all of the villains and henchmen are basically just throwing themselves off the boat instead of being hit by the "Dynamic Duo".… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Seasons & Episodes

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Series Overview
Season 4

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- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: January 12, 1966
Season 3

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- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 14, 1967
Season 2

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- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 7, 1966
Season 1

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- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: January 12, 1966
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  S1:E34. Batman Makes the Scenes
  Air Date: May 5, 1966
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  S1:E33. Fine Finny Fiends
  Air Date: May 4, 1966
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  S1:E32. The Riddler's False Notion
  Air Date: April 28, 1966
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  S1:E31. Death in Slow Motion
  Air Date: April 27, 1966
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  S1:E30. While Gotham City Burns
  Air Date: April 21, 1966
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  S1:E29. The Bookworm Turns
  Air Date: April 20, 1966
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  S1:E28. The Pharaoh's in a Rut
  Air Date: April 14, 1966
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  S1:E27. The Curse of Tut
  Air Date: April 13, 1966
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  S1:E26. Batman Sets the Pace
  Air Date: April 7, 1966
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  S1:E25. The Joker Trumps an Ace
  Air Date: April 6, 1966
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  S1:E24. Give 'em the Axe
  Air Date: March 31, 1966
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  S1:E23. The Ring of Wax
  Air Date: March 30, 1966
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  S1:E22. Not Yet, He Ain't
  Air Date: March 24, 1966
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  S1:E21. The Penguin Goes Straight
  Air Date: March 23, 1966
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  S1:E20. Better Luck Next Time
  Air Date: March 17, 1966
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  S1:E19. The Purr-Fect Crime
  Air Date: March 16, 1966
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  S1:E18. Holy Rat Race
  Air Date: March 10, 1966
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  S1:E17. True or False Face
  Air Date: March 9, 1966
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  S1:E16. He Meets His Match, the Grisly Ghoul
  Air Date: March 3, 1966
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  S1:E15. The Joker Goes to School
  Air Date: March 2, 1966
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  S1:E14. Batman Stands Pat
  Air Date: February 24, 1966
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  S1:E13. The Thirteenth Hat
  Air Date: February 23, 1966
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  S1:E12. When the Rat's Away the Mice Will Play
  Air Date: February 17, 1966
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  S1:E11. A Riddle a Day Keeps the Riddler Away
  Air Date: February 16, 1966
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  S1:E10. A Death Worse Than Fate
  Air Date: February 10, 1966
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  S1:E9. Zelda the Great
  Air Date: February 9, 1966
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  S1:E8. Rats Like Cheese
  Air Date: February 3, 1966
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  S1:E7. Instant Freeze
  Air Date: February 2, 1966
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  S1:E6. Batman Is Riled
  Air Date: January 27, 1966
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  S1:E5. The Joker Is Wild
  Air Date: January 26, 1966
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  S1:E4. The Penguin's a Jinx
  Air Date: January 20, 1966
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  S1:E3. Fine Feathered Finks
  Air Date: January 19, 1966
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  S1:E2. Smack in the Middle
  Air Date: January 13, 1966
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  S1:E1. Hi Diddle Riddle
  Air Date: January 12, 1966