A trio of Korean War vets hatch a plan to bust their sergeant out of prison with a stolen tank.  Will the Hornet be able to stop them in time? John and Jim are back with an episode that they are once again decided on.  They both agree the episode has merit, but one of them is overly enthused by the premise.  Also, they discuss the influences of the Batman series on The Green Hornet and the music of Billy May. 

The Green Hornet: A History of Radio, Motion Pictures, Comics and Television by Martin Grams and Terry Salomonson is a reference work we're consulting as we move through the series.  Pick up your copy by clicking on the link and getting it today. 

Take a listen and then let us know what you think of the episode by writing us here or at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

"How Many Herring in a Wheelbarrow?" &

"In Again, Out Again Penguin"

Aired September 27, 1968

Our series of reviews of the 1968 Filmation series continues as the Joker and Penguin return in solo stories for this episode.  First, the Joker is committing a series of petty thefts from technology firms.  It seems like a joke, but Batman suspects there's more to it than meets the eye.  Plus, the Penguin is committing crimes while still in his jail cell.  How does he do it?

In addition, John and Dan Greenfield, creator and author of the 13th Dimension website clarify the airdates confusion of the previous two podcasts, revel in the joy there must have been at the Saturday morning offerings of superhero shows in 1968, and discuss the Larry Storch/Ted Knight voicing of the Joker in the series.

Comment on the episode here or write thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

Dan Greenfield is the editor and co-creator of 13thDimension.com, a website devoted primarily to comics and pop culture, past and present. To him, the basic food groups are Batman, Planet of the Apes, Star Trek (the Original Series), James Bond, the Beatles and the Stones. But if he had to he'd be able to subsist on Batman alone. Channel 11 in New York was his favorite syndicated channel as a kid -- you can guess why -- followed closely by Channel 5. Channel 9 didn't really enter into it unless he was home sick and there wasn't much else on. He's married to his remarkably patient wife Wendy and his best sidekick is his son, Sam. They have two cats,Lex and Zod.

"The Beat of the Bat" is a full-length documentary that tells the story of the music of the 1966 "Batman" Television Series and how composers Neal Hefti, Nelson Riddle & Billy May gave Batman his first real musical identity- and one that has remained inexorably tied to the character for over 50 years!

In fact, if you saw the just released "Lego Batman Movie" you might have noticed the numerous references to the music of the TV series.

And face it, you can go up to anyone, anywhere in the world and sing "Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na!" and they will instantly know what you are talking about!

The music was as important to the show as the bright colors, campy dialogue and tongue-in-cheek performances. Yet, strangely, the story of how it came to be has never been told...

​Until now.

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John is joined by the director of the documentary, The Beat of the Bat, Pat Evans to discuss the importance of the project and the Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds needed to make it a reality.

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Any comments or questions on this episode, please post them here or by writing thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

The first album Pat Evans ever owned was Neil Hefti's "Batman Theme & 11 Hefti Bat Songs", which sparked his lifelong love of Bat-Music.  "The Beat of the Bat" is Pat's way of giving back to the talented composers and musicians who created that music.

A talented Graphic Artist, Pat's works has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter and the late, lamented Defamer. Since 2012 Pat has worked as a casting coordinator on many large studio films including "Jason Bourne", "Straight Outta Compton" and "Steve Jobs".

"The Beat of the Bat" marks his directorial debut.

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Websites

Facebook Page

Twitter

The Beat of the Bat

There's an arsonist on the loose in the city and the Hornet takes the case.  But Mike Axford has a former police investigator with a specialty in arson that he'd like to bring in.  He quickly learns that the man has more to prove than just the case.  John and Jim are at odds over the merits of this episode.  Take a listen and see 

​The Green Hornet: A History of Radio, Motion Pictures, Comics and Television by Martin Grams and Terry Salomonson is a reference work we're consulting as we move through the series.  Pick up your copy by clicking on the link and getting it today.

Take a listen and then let us know what you think of the episode by writing us here or at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

We take a look at another William Dozier pilot for another comic related property.  This time, it's Dick Tracy - He's a Good Cop.  This time though, Dozier went all out with a full length half-hour episode featuring Victor Buono as the villain, Mr. Memory - which starts the batter of questions about where this show was going.  

In "The Plot to Kill NATO", Mr. Memory kidnaps three NATO ambassadors at the request of Major Powers.  His method of operation seems interesting enough, but there is still something lacking in his character.  And yet, despite this, the pilot is an enjoyable viewing experience with a lot of recommend including Jan Shulman as Liz and the well choreographed fight scenes.

John is joined by his The Hornet's Sting co-host, Jim Beard, to pitch these questions.  Just how committed was Dozier to this property? What would a relationship with Chester Gould have been like had the show gone forward? Why wasn't one of the established villains used in the pilot?  And why did Dozier still build in little nods to Batman and The Green Hornet when both shows were on their last legs?

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Any comments or questions on this episode, please post them here or by writing thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

A native of Toledo, Ohio, Jim Beard was introduced to comic books at an early age by his father, who passed on to him a love for the medium and the pulp characters who preceded it. After decades of reading, collecting and dissecting comics, Jim became a published writer when he sold a story to DC Comics in 2002. Since that time he's written official Star Wars and Ghostbusters comic stories and contributed articles and essays to several volumes of comic book history.

His prose work includes GOTHAM CITY 14 MILES, a book of essays on the 1966 Batman TV series; SGT. JANUS, SPIRIT-BREAKER, a collection of pulp ghost stories featuring an Edwardian occult detective; MONSTER EARTH, a giant monster anthology; and CAPTAIN ACTION: RIDDLE OF THE GLOWING MEN, the first pulp prose novel based on the classic 1960s action figure.

Currently, Jim provides regular content for Marvel.com, the official Marvel Comics website, and is a regular columnist for Toledo Free Press.

Websites

http://www.facebook.com/thebeardjimbeard

http://www.sgtjanus.blogspot.com

We move into the post-review era with the first in a series of episodes looking at the Batman related works of the producers and stars of the show and at the pop culture influences from the series.  First up, a look at William Dozier's attempt at adapting another DC property - Wonder Woman.  In this curious short, "Wonder Woman: Who's Afraid of Diana Prince?" we are only given a taste of the potential of the series.  Which begs the question, why wasn't a full pilot produced, especially in light of the fact that a full script was commissioned, co-written by Batman scribe Stanley Ralph Ross?  This question and possibly a few more will be asked by John and his guest, Chris Franklin of the Super Mates Podcast.

Any comments or questions on this episode, please post them here or by writing thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

Chris Franklin is a mild-mannered graphic designer by day, but at night, he retreats to his secret headquarters festooned with action figures, and podcasts with his long-suffering wife Cindy on the Super Mates podcast, a proud part of The Fire and Water Podcast Network. Together they take a look at all things geeky, such as comics, TV, movies, and toys, from a couple’s perspective.

District Attorney Scanlon is running for re-election and it looks like it's going to be a rough one as his life is threatened.  The Hornet has to step in to investigate, but how does he do it without connecting himself to the DA?  This is an interesting episode of the series as it addresses a number of questions, the least of which is why should one elect someone who has failed time and again to catch public enemy number one, The Green Hornet?  

The Green Hornet: A History of Radio, Motion Pictures, Comics and Television by Martin Grams and Terry Salomonson is a reference work we're consulting as we move through the series.  Pick up your copy by clicking on the link and getting it today.

 Take a listen and then let us know what you think of the episode by writing us here or at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

"FREEWAY TO DEATH"

AIRED: DECEMBER 16, 1966

The Hornet and Mike Axford teaming up?  How is this possible?  When Britt orders Mike to work with the Hornet in order to bring down a construction racket, Mike has his own ideas that could threaten his life.  John and Jim are in agreement that this is a "Must Watch" episode, but they're not entirely sure why.  Is it the appearance of Jeffrey Hunter?  Is it the Black Beauty versus three bulldozers?  Is it the Hornet Mortars?  Is it the Hornet and Mike working together?  Take a listen and maybe you can help them figure it out.  Also, the two take a moment to talk about the late Van William and his legacy of The Green Hornet.

The Green Hornet: A History of Radio, Motion Pictures, Comics and Television by Martin Grams and Terry Salomonson is a reference work we're consulting as we move through the series.  Pick up your copy by clicking on the link and getting it today.

 Take a listen and then let us know what you think of the episode by writing us here or at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.