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1943 - Episode Four 

"Slaves of the Rising Sun"

We continue our look at the 1943 Batman serial with the fourth episode, "Slaves of the Rising Sun".  In it, we discuss the history of Bruce Wayne's romantic relationships, the sadistic nature of Dr. Daka, and Batman's relationship with the government.  Plus, we look at the career of Shirley Patterson who plays Linda Page.

 

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

Direct download: Batcave_Podcast_-_Batman_1943_Serial_4.mp3
Category:1940s Serials -- posted at: 2:04pm EDT
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Alyas Batman en Robin

In 1989 Regal Entertainment, based in the Philippines, produced a musical comedy spoof of the Batman 66 series.  At that time, Michael Keaton's Batman was about to hit the screens.  DC Comics and Warner Bros. halted the release of the film for two years over copyright infringement.  It should have been held back for the crime of being an awful film.

John and Robert Long sit down in the Batcave to discuss this film that is much more an homage to Batman than some of the other films we've discussed in the past.  That doesn't make it a better film though.  Despite this, they do find some points of interest to talk about such as how the costuming seems to mimic those of the Mego action figures of the 70s, how the music in the film are all plays on other popular songs, and how meta this film really is.

Warning:  Just before posting the episode, John found a copy of the film with subtitles.  He and Robert were fairly accurate with their interpretation.

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

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1943 - Episode Three 

"The Mark of the Zombies"

We continue our look at the 1943 Batman serial with the third episode, "The Mark of the Zombies".  In it, we see the process by which Dr. Daka converts humans into his living zombies and we watch as Batman foils another attempt at stealing the badly needed uranium.  Plus, we wonder how Daka ever came to being the diabolical leader he's supposed to be; we discuss the colorful career of J. Carrol Naish (Daka); and we comment on how Alfred may be the most interesting character in this serial.

 

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

Direct download: Batcave_-_Batman_1943_-_Episode_3.mp3
Category:1940s Serials -- posted at: 3:14pm EDT
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"Queen Bee"

September 11, 1976

Monster Squad was a one season NBC Saturday morning live action show for kids in 1976.  In it, Walt, who worked in his uncle's wax museum, discovered that he could bring the figures of Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, and the Wolfman to life.  Wanting to atone for the sins of their past, the trio, with Walt's crime computer set our on a mission to stop evil wherever they found it.

And in our first episode review of this Stanley Ralph Ross-helmed series, the Squad take on Queen Bee (Alice Beasley) and her bee drones, Spelling Bee and Bumble Bee as she tries to take over the world.  John is joined in the Batcave by Revolution SF host and DragonCon American Sci-Fi Classics Track co-moderator Joe Crowe to discuss the parallels with this series and Batman 66.  And there are quite a few.

They discuss the henchmen, the merchandise for this series, and attempts at layering the humor as was done in the 60s Batman series.

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

Direct download: Monster_Squad_-_Queen_Bee.mp3
Category:Monster Squad -- posted at: 11:15am EDT
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It's July 29, 1966. The Batman movie is set to premiere the next day in Austin. The Austin Statesman provided a 16 page supplement filled with fun articles and advertisements for Batman. In an age of instant Internet access, we kids back then would have treasured such an insert. 

 

Download the pdf. 

Direct download: Batman_Movie_1966_Supplement_-_Austin_American_States_July_29_1966.pdf
Category:general -- posted at: 8:33pm EDT
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Batman 66 #9

"Zelda's Great Escape" &

"Showdown with Shame"

Published: March 19, 2014

Zelda the Great is free and back to her scheme of coming up with inescapable traps that she needs the unwilling help of Batman and Robin to solve.  Plus, Shame and Batman have a showdown on top of a moving train. 

John and Dan talk about John's disappoint with Zelda returning to crime, the "poor deluded girl" lured into a life of crime and adventure, and how the Shame story could easily be a third season episode.

Direct download: Batcave_-_Batman_66_Comic_-_9.mp3
Category:Batman 66 Comic -- posted at: 8:32am EDT
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We conclude our look at the Filmation 68 Batman series.  In it, we discuss the voice work, the animation, and our favorite stories.  In addition, John and Dan Greenfield, creator and author of the 13th Dimension talk about the times the series aired on cable, how the show managed to take some of the better elements of the 66 series while also leaning on the comics, and how the series got better as it progressed.

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

Direct download: Batcave_88_-_Filmation_68_Overview.mp3
Category:The Adventures of Batman and Robin -- posted at: 8:00pm EDT
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1943 - Episode Two 

"The Bat's Cave"

We pick up our look at the 1943 Batman serial with the second episode, "The Bat's Cave".  In it, the Dynamic Duo bring a prisoner back to their secret base to interrogate and we see the grandfather clock entrance to the Bat's Cave.  Plus, we learn that Bruce can be a little sadistic as he fires an unknown energy weapon near his butler, Alfred; we discuss the career and wig of Douglas Croft (Robin); and we comment on the duplicate cliffhanger so early in the series.

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

 
Direct download: Batcave_-_Batman_1943_-_The_Bats_Cave_1943.mp3
Category:1940s Serials -- posted at: 6:00am EDT
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So how does one approach a Batman spoof that wasn't intended to be one?  John and Robert are sitting in the Batcave and watching the infamous Ray Dennis Steckler film, Rat Pfink A Boo Boo.  In it, our hero's girlfriend is being menaced in the first 45 minutes of the film.  Based on the setup, one would think that our hero would turn detective to try and stop it, but when she's kidnapped at the halfway point, he and the gardener in his girlfriend's building enter a closet and come out as the masked avengers - Rat Pfink and Boo Boo.

John and Robert Long are watching their Bat-Monitors and are cringing at the turn of the events for this film as well as the costumes our heroes wear, while marveling at some of the directing choices and laughing at some genuinely funny lines.  It all adds up to a movie that leaves you scratching your head and wondering what it was you just watched.​

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

 

Robert Long is a full time graphic designer and independent filmmaker.  As a first generation Batman syndication kid, he manages the 1966-68 Batman Television Series Group on Facebook.  He has had the pleasure to meet and work with Adam West and Julie Newmar with various projects in the past.  Visit Robert's production company - Smash or Trash Independent Filmmaking to learn more about it.

Direct download: Bomb_-_Rat_Pfink_a_Boo_Boo.mp3
Category:Some Days You Just Can't Get Rid of a Bomb! -- posted at: 6:00am EDT
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1943 - Episode One 

"The Electrical Brain"

It's the start of a new series of podcast reviews looking at the serials of the 1940s.  The serials are often cited as the inspiration for the 1966 TV series.  John and writer Jim Beard sit down in the "Bat's Cave" to discuss just how true this really is.  In the first episode, they discuss the racism of the time, the fighting style of the Dynamic Duo, the career of Lewis Wilson (Batman), and how Robin looks more like a Brady than a Greyson.  Take a listen and let us know what you think.

Direct download: Batcave_-_Batman_1943_-_The_Electrical_Brain.mp3
Category:1940s Serials -- posted at: 5:30am EDT
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"It Takes Two to Make a Team" &

"Opera Buffa"

Aired January 1, 1969

 

Our final look at the Filmation Batman 68 series is a celebration of all that your hosts love about the series.  It has a multi-villain story, Batgirl, Alfred, many nods to the Batman comics of the 50s, current pop culture references and so much more.  In the first story, Riddler, Penguin and Joker team up to break up the team of the Terrific Trio by playing mind games with Robin.  In the second story, the Joker thinks he has finally rid himself of the Dynamic Duo, but he finds himself haunted by their ghosts.

In addition, John and Dan Greenfield, creator and author of the 13th Dimension discuss how the second half of the series really hit its stride in terms of story telling and lament that there wasn't more after that.  They also give a brief wrap-up by talking about their favorite comics adapted and original villains.

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.

 

Links

13th Dimension Website

Facebook page

Twitter

Direct download: Batcave_87.mp3
Category:The Adventures of Batman and Robin -- posted at: 1:40pm EDT
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"Glitter Rock"

Aired: September 25/October  2, 1976

Glitter Rock has a plan to take over the world with his hypnotizing music.  But how can his music reach our to the entire world?   John and Kevin Eldridge of The Flopcast are back in Electra-Base and talking about the "Electra-Chicks" and their latest adventure.

This time around, they take a look at Electra Woman star Deirdre Hall, they talk about the potential backstory that was hinted at in this episode, and John clearly sees more hints not only of the Batman 66 series, but of the relationship between Adam West and Burt Ward compared to Deirdre Hall and Judy Strangis.  Take a listen and let us know what you think by writing us here or at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com

Direct download: EWDG2_-_Glitter_Rock.mp3
Category:Electra Woman and Dyna Girl -- posted at: 10:37pm EDT
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The Wild World of Batwoman

John and Robert Long take on a Batman inspired movie that clearly was trying to cash in on the Batman craze with a heroine that calls herself Batwoman, has an army of Batgirls who help her fight crime, and that's about it.  Producer Jerry Warren exploited not only Batman, but the women in this movie about a mad scientist who wants to create a better world by having beautiful women mate with monsters he's created.  (At least, that's what we got out of it.)

John and Robert Long are watching their Bat-Monitors and are finding this one difficult to understand or appreciate even with thought it is in English. 

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

 

Robert Long is a full time graphic designer and independent filmmaker.  As a first generation Batman syndication kid, he manages the 1966-68 Batman Television Series Group on Facebook.  He has had the pleasure to meet and work with Adam West and Julie Newmar with various projects in the past.  Visit Robert's production company - Smash or Trash Independent Filmmaking to learn more about it.

Direct download: Batcave_-_Wild_World_of_Batwoman.mp3
Category:Some Days You Just Can't Get Rid of a Bomb! -- posted at: 11:46am EDT
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"The Sorcerer's Golden Trick"

Aired: September 11/18, 1976

As part of the Krofft Supershow, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl ran for 16 weeks in two part installments.  The series clearly borrowed a great deal in terms of concepts from the Batman 66 television show.  John and co-host Kevin Eldridge of The Flopcast take on these episodes, discussing them scene and scene and exploring what the "Voltage Vixens" have in common with the "Caped Crusaders".

In the opening episode, The Sorcerer escapes from a maximum security prison with a scheme to steal all the gold from Fort Knox.  But there is something wrong with the scheme as it involves the use of mirrors.  John and Kevin discuss the episode, the guest cast, and try to determine how the Electra Comps work and the extent of their powers.  Let us know what you think by writing us here or at thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

Direct download: EWADG_-_The_Sorcerer.mp3
Category:Electra Woman and Dyna Girl -- posted at: 12:00am EDT
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When is a Batman movie not a Batman movie?  When is a wrestling movie not a wrestling movie?  When it's the Batwoman.  This 1968 gem may not have the elements one expects in a Batman ripoff film, but it still has much more going for it than the previous outings.

John and Robert Long are watching their Bat-Monitors and enjoying this movie with only a few reservations.  

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

 

Robert Long is a full time graphic designer and independent filmmaker.  As a first generation Batman syndication kid, he manages the 1966-68 Batman Television Series Group on Facebook.  He has had the pleasure to meet and work with Adam West and Julie Newmar with various projects in the past.  Visit Robert's production company - Smash or Trash Independent Filmmakingto learn more about it.

Direct download: Batcave_-_Mexican_Batwoman.mp3
Category:Some Days You Just Can't Get Rid of a Bomb! -- posted at: 12:00am EDT
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James Batman 1966

Our next look at those movies from around the world inspired by the 66 Batman TV series takes us to the Philippines.  Mere months after the premiere of the television series, James Batman burst on to Filipino screens.  In fact, the movie came out before the American theatrical one did.  That in itself is impressive, but then there is the added wrinkle of Batman teaming up with James Bond.

That's right, two of the "Three Bs of the 60s" as Adam West once stated are featured in this film.  It's a shame that the boys from Liverpool are not represented in this film.  It might have made it more interesting.

John and Robert Long sit down once again in the Batcave and break down this film and it's not as pretty as the last one, even with the help of subtitles.

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

Robert Long is a full time graphic designer and independent filmmaker.  As a first generation Batman syndication kid, he manages the 1966-68 Batman Television Series Group on Facebook.  He has had the pleasure to meet and work with Adam West and Julie Newmar with various projects in the past.  Visit Robert's production company - Smash or Trash Independent Filmmaking to learn more about it.

Direct download: Filipino_Batman_1966.mp3
Category:Some Days You Just Can't Get Rid of a Bomb! -- posted at: 3:32pm EDT
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