Batman 1966 | Season 2 Episode Guide

The second season of Batman premiered Sept. 7, 1966, with the conclusion airing the following night, Sept. 8, 1966.  While most of the second season episodes followed this pattern, there are a few exceptions noted below.  Episode synopses are from Amazon Prime Video.  Season and Episode numbers, based on Amazon's wonky numbering scheme, are given first.  Sequential numbering of episodes, as listed in The Official Batman Batbook by Joel Eisner, are listed second.   Bulleted notes are my own insights.  

S201A E1 & E2 | Season Two, Episodes 35 & 36

"Shoot a Crooked Arrow"  Archer and his gang have come to Gotham City, winning the public's favor with their Robin Hood-style deeds of stealing from the rich to give to the poor.

"Walk the Straight and Narrow" Batman and Robin escape their previous peril and are back in action seeking to foil the Archer and his gang. 

• The Archer is a villain created for the show, though his trick arrows may remind comic book readers of the super-hero Green Arrow.
• Dick Clark provides the window cameo in these episodes, thinking the Dynamic Duo may be a musical group.
• Beginning with this season, the Batfight words (POW! etc.) look a little different.  Instead of a graphic with a transparent background overlaid on the scene, the graphic fills the whole frame for a few seconds.    
• During the Batfights in this episode, the Batfight Words take on Archer's manner of speaking: Clank-est, Ow-eth, and the like.  
• The Archer had the potential to be an interesting villain, however, he would not return after these episodes.
• Footage of the Batboat is used toward the end of the second episode.    

S201A E3 & E4 | Season Two, Episodes 37 & 38

"Hot Off the Griddle"  Catwoman makes her return known with a string of robberies.

"The Cat and the Fiddle" Catwoman disguises herself as a wealthy recluse--Minerva Matthews--to exchange a quarter million dollars for two Stradivarius violins.

• The Dynamic Duo and GCPD seem surprised by Catwoman's return, which suggests the Batman movie is not set chronologically between Seasons One and Two. 

S201A E5 & E6 | Season Two, Episodes 39 & 40

"The Minstrel's Shakedown"  The Minstrel, a villain with both musical talent and electronic ingenuity, is wrecking havoc with the Gotham City Exchange in an attempt to blackmail the exchange members.  

"Barbequed Batman?"  Failing to destroy Batman and Robin, the Minstrel enacts "Plan High C."

• These episodes mark the first appearances of The Minstrel.  He was created for the show and would not appear in Batman comic books until decades later.  
• The Minstrel's henchwoman is named Octavia, however the end credits call her Amanda.
• There must be another entrance to the Batcave from Wayne Manor, as Alfred does not enter the cave via the Batpoles.
• Phyllis Diller cameos as a cleaning lady at the Stock Exchange building.  
• Batman and Robin use a Batdrone in their pursuit of The Minstrel.
• The Minstrel claims to abhor violence.
• The Minstrel wears two different costumes, one of which is emblazoned with a griffin.   He also appears in a plainclothes disguise wearing glasses.
• Though The Minstrel threatens to break out of jail and kill Batman and Robin, he does not appear again.   

S201A E7 & E8 | Season Two, Episodes 41 & 42

"The Spell of Tut"  King Tut has relapsed into his kingly ways, this time showing a marked interest in scarab beetles and apothecary potions.  

"Tut's Case is Shut"  King Tut concocts an ancient mind control potion, abu raubu simbu tu.

• The Green Hornet and Kato provide the window cameo.  Batman and Robin recognize them as fellow crimefighters.  These episodes of Batman aired Sept. 28 and 29, 1966.   The Green Hornet television show had debuted September 9, 1966.
• Commissioner Gordon mentions his wife in these episodes.  

S201A E9 & E10 | Season Two, Episodes 43 & 44

"The Greatest Mother of Them All"  Ma Parker and her delinquent children are pulling off a crime wave in Gotham City.  

"Ma Parker"  Now in charge of the Gotham State Pen, Ma Parker and her jailhouse full of criminal cohorts use it as their base of operations.  

• Ma Parker is known throughout the country, however, this is her first visit to Gotham City.
• Legs' inmate number consists of her measurements: 35-23-34 
• Catwoman makes a cameo in Episode 44.
• Milton Berle makes a cameo in Episode 44. 
• These episodes first aired on Oct. 5 & 6, 1966.  However, the conclusion of Episode 44 takes place on Mothers Day.   

S201A E11 & 12 | Season Two, Episodes 45 & 46

"The Clock King's Crazy Crimes"  After a robbery aided by a rigged timepiece, Batman and Robin deduce the Clock King must be in Gotham City.  

"Clock King Gets Crowned" Aunt Harriet purchases a clock as a birthday present for Bruce Wayne, unaware that it is a plant by the Clock King. 

• Sammy Davis, Jr., provides the window cameo for these episodes.
• If it has not been made clear before, Mrs. Harriet Cooper is the aunt of Dick Grayson, not Bruce Wayne.
• Mrs. Cooper invites Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara and their wives to a surprise party in honor of Bruce Wayne's birthday.
• Bill Finger is credited as a writer of this episode, while Bob Kane is credited as the creator of Batman.  Today, DC Comics acknowledges Batman being created by "Bob Kane with Bill Finger," rather than Kane alone.
• These episodes are classic Batman '66--A crazy villain, a cleverly named moll and henchmen, a oversized prop as a deathtrap... however, Clock King does not return for a second appearance.  
• In the comic books, Clock King first appeared in World's Finest Comics #111 (August 1960).  He was considered an enemy of Green Arrow and bore no resemblance to the Clock King featured in these episodes. 

S201A E13 & 14 | Season Two, Episodes 47 & 48

"An Egg Grows in Gotham"  Egghead steals the Gotham City charter.

"The Yegg Foes in Gotham" When the lease payment for Gotham City fails to be made on time, possession of the city falls into the hands of Egghead.  

• Gotham City was founded by the Savage, Tyler, and Wayne families.
• Gotham City is leased from the Mohican Indians for a fee of nine racoon pelts. Chief Screaming Chicken is the Last of the Mohicans.
• Gotham City's population is 10 million people.
• Egghead estimates Batman to be in his early 30s.  He also notes that Batman is right-handed.
• Bruce Wayne was the Junior Marble Champion of Gotham City at age 11.
• The window cameo is Bill Dana as "Jose Jimenez."  Because they needed a Hispanic caricature to balance the Native American caricature?...    

S201A E15 & 16 | Season Two, Episodes 49 & 50

"The Devil's Fingers"  Chandell, the musical virusoso, visits Gotham City for a piano concert.

"The Dead Ringers" Batman and Robin escape Chandell's trap.

• According to the Official Batman Batbook, these episodes were received the highest ratings of the series.  
• Nevertheless, Fingers/Chandell was a one-hit wonder.  He would not return to the series.
• Aunt Harriet features prominently in these episodes.      

S201A E17 & 18 | Season Two, Episodes 51 & 52

"Hizzonner the Penguin"  When Penguin runs for Mayor of Gotham City, Batman is persuaded to run against him.  

"Dizonner the Penguin" The mayoral campaign seems to keep going the Penguin's way, but Batman is still confident in the polls.

• Commissioner Gordon's office is said to be on the 13th floor, however the exterior shot of the GCPD does not jive with this information.
• Paul Revere and the Raiders cameo on the first episode, as does belly dancer Little Egypt. 

S201A E19 & 20 | Season Two, Episodes 53 & 54

"Green Ice"  Mr. Freeze is in town, and has begun a new cold wave of terror.  

"Deep Freeze" The press continues to attack Batman and Robin, thanks to framing by Mr. Freeze.  As public animosity mounts, the Dynamic Duo decide to hang up their capes for the time being.

• Otto Preminger takes over the role of Mr. Freeze in these episodes.
• At the end of Episode 54, Burt Ward is trying to hide a bandaged arm. 

S201A E21 & 22 | Season Two, Episodes 55 & 56

"The Impractical Joker"  The Joker pulls off a string of key-related pranks throughout Gotham City, then with his magic box, proceeds to snatch a priceless jeweled key right under the noses of Batman and Robin.  

"The Joker's Provokers" After a reworking, the Joker's magic box holds the power to alter time forward and backward.

• When he was younger, the Joker was a well-known hypnotist. 

 S201A E23 & 24 | Season Two, Episodes 57 & 58

"Marsha, Queen of Diamonds"  Marsha, the Queen of Diamonds, is after the giant diamond that powers the Batcomputer.  

"Marsha's Scheme of Diamonds" Hoping to obtain the Batcave's bat-diamond, Marsha searches for a new potion to use on the Caped Crusaders.  

• Carolyn Jones is well known as the actress who played Morticia Addams on the 1960s television show The Addams Family.  The final episode of The Addams Family aired April 8, 1966.
• Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara both mention their wives at the end of the second episode.  Alfred reveals that he has never been married.  

S201A E25 & 26 | Season Two, Episodes 59 & 60

"Come Back, Shame" Shame is back, and is using stolen vehicle parts to assemble a truck so fast even the Batmobile won't be able to catch him.

"It's How You Play the Game" With his special truck finished, Shame goes to work on his final caper--the theft of four prize cattle worth over one million dollars.

• Shame is back... Unfortunately... 
• In Episode 59, we get to see Bruce and Dick ride the Batcycle in their civilian identities.  Alfred also rides the " Alf-cycle."   

S201A E27 & E28 | Season Two, Episodes 61 & 62

"The Penguin's Nest"

"The Bird's Last Jest"  *****

• As Batman and Robin ascend the building which houses Penguin's restaurant, the theme from the "Addams Family" is heard.  The celebrity window cameo turns out to be Lurch, played by Ted Cassidy.  The Addams Family aired from 1964 to 1966 and the show was filmed in black and white.  Batman was filmed "In Color," so it is likely some viewers were seeing Lurch in color for the first time. 
• Penguin uses a false name, P.N. Guin.  

S201A E29 & 30 | Season Two, Episodes 63 & 64

"The Cat's Meow" The Catwoman "steals" the voice of a television talk-show host in the middle of an interview with Bruce Wayne.

"Batman's Kow Tow" Batman and Robin escape Catwoman's trap by hitting the precise note needed to shatter the glass chamber in which they're prisoners.  They quickly get on the trail of Catwoman.

• The Junior Prom is coming up, and lucky Dick Grayson "wins" free dance lessons from a disguised Catwoman.  However, her cover is blown when she has an allergic reaction to dogwood.
• Though not mentioned in the synopsis above, part of Catwoman's scheme is to steal the voices of British singing duo Chad [Stuart] & Jeremy [Clyde], who play themselves.
• Don Ho provides the window cameo for this set of episodes.  
• The romance between Batman and Catwoman continues to evolve.  

S201B E01 & 02 | Season Two, Episodes 65 & 66

"The Puzzles Are Coming" The Puzzler, a villain with a fondness for both Shakespeare and aviation, indicates he is after the fortunes of Artemus Knab.

"Batman is Slumming" The Puzzler continues with his plan to hijack Artemus Knab's new airplane, the Retsoor, all the while leaving puzzles behind for Batman and Robin to ponder.

• "Fred De Gorter's script actually began as a Riddler vehicle entitled, "A Penny for Your Riddles/They're Worth a Lot More!"  His first draft, dated April 22, 1966, was probably intended as an early second season episode.  Frank Gorshin did not return to reprise his role, so De Gorter rewrote the script for a new villain, Mr. Conundrum.  A revised final draft of "The Conundrums are Coming/The Duo is Slumming" was dated September 27, 1966.  Later, the script was modified for another new character, the Puzzler (also the name of a Superman villain in the comic books,) hence the final title."  p. 185.
• These episodes aired Dec. 21 and 22, 1966.  Santa Claus provides the window cameo in Episode 66. 

S201B E03 & 04 | Season Two, Episodes 67 & 68

"The Sandman Cometh" Catwoman and the Sandman have teamed up, and they're after the fortunes of J. Pauline Spaghetti, a rich insomniac.

"The Catwoman Goeth" Though Batman escapes the Sandman's trap, Robin is left to wander in a deadly maze.

• According to The Official Batman Batbook by Joel Eisner, the "second part of this episode has two titles due to the fact that it was re-edited to include Catwoman."  Some TV prints have "The Catwoman Goeth" as the title; others have "A Stitch in Time."  
• The Sandman is a European criminal.  
• The Sandman has the worst costume of any Batman villain.  Am I right?   

S201B E05 & 06 | Season Two, Episodes 69 & 70

"The Contaminated Cowl" The Mad Hatter has escaped from prison, and is on a quest to add Batman's cowl to his collection of hats.  

"The Mad Hatter Runs A Foul" What appear to be the skeletons of Batman and Robin are found at Gotham City's Atomic Laboratory, where the Mad Hatter left them to irradiate.

• Elements of these episodes are based on "The Mad Hatter of Gotham City" from Detective Comics #230 (April 1956).
• Lyndon B. Johnson was President of the United States from Nov. 22, 1963 to Jan. 20, 1969.  His home away from the White House was a ranch in Texas.  

S201B E07, 08 & 09 | Season Two, Episodes 71, 72 & 73

"The Zodiac Crimes"  The Joker and the Penguin team up on a crime wave based on signs of the zodiac.  The pair, aided and abetted by a woman known as Venus, keep Batman and Robin on the run.  

"The Joker's Hard Times"  Batman and Robin narrowly escape the Joker's death trap and quickly get back on the villain's trail.  

"The Penguin Declines"  Batman, summoning all the strength he can muster, breaks his chains and frees Robin from the giant clam.  

• The three-part episodes were quite a departure from the first season.  There were thoughts of turning at least one three-parter into a theatrical release, "The Zodiac Crimes/The Joker's Hard Times/The Penguin Declines."  In early December, Post-Production Coordinator Bob Mintz instructed film editors "to cover themselves with dupe negatives on any scenes being cut down for the TV version that might possibly run longer in a theatrical version."  This would preserve the original negative of a lengthier sequence for use in a movie, while a dupe was used to assemble the final version of the TV show.  No such theatrical versions of the shows have been found.  p. 154
• Bruce Wayne maintains a midtown apartment.  Perhaps there is a smaller version of the Batcave under the building?
• Chief O'Hara is seen out of uniform.  Mother Machree!
• The Batcoper makes an appearance in this set of episodes.    

S201B E10 & 11 | Season Two, Episodes 74 & 75

"That Darn Catwoman"  The Catwoman manages to drug Robin.  The junior member of the Dynamic Duo is now the Catwoman's mindless slave.  

"Scat, Darn Catwoman"  Batman agrees to let the Catwoman drug him.  But he appears to have a headache and the Catwoman permits him to take an aspirin.

• Lesley Gore is introduced as Catwoman's protégée Pussycat. 
• Pussycat sings in both episodes.  Gore was a well-known singer who recorded "It's My Party," a number one hit, at age 16.
• J. Pat O'Malley plays Pat Pending.  O'Malley provided voices for characters in Walt Disney animated features including Tweedledum and Tweedledee in Alice in Wonderland.  (Coincidentally, Tweedledum and Tweedledee are villains in the Batman comic books).
• Catwoman's mode of transportation is a Cat-illac.   
• Batman brings Catwoman to the Batcave.   

S201B E12, E13, E14 | Season Two, Episodes 76, 77 & 78

"Penguin is a Girl's Best Friend"  As a front for his next crime wave, the Penguin forms a motion picture company.  He teams up with Marsha, Queen of Diamonds, and gets Batman and Robin to take part in his movie.

"Penguin Sets a Trend"  In order to keep a close eye on the Penguin (and hopefully locate the stolen chain mail armor), Batman and Robin rejoin Penguin's movie efforts. 

"Penguin's Disastrous End"  Batman and Robin get back on the Penguin and Marsha, Queen of Diamonds' trail.  Several escaped lizards lead them to the villains' hideout, where they find the stolen chain mail suits.

• Marsha's Aunt Hilda is again played by the delightful Estelle Winwood.  Winwood played Samantha's Aunt Enchantra in the episode of Bewitched titled "Witches and Warlocks are My Favorite Things," which aired Sept. 29, 1966.    

S201B E15 & E16 | Season Two, Episodes 79 & 80

"Batman's Anniversary"  During a party of Batman's crime-fighting anniversary, the Riddler appears and nabs a golden calf filled with money for charity.

"A Riddling Controversy" After two more robberies, the Riddler has enough money to purchase Professor Charm's Demolecularizer.  

• With this episode, John Astin takes over the role of the Riddler.  Astin is well known as the actor who played Gomez Addams on the 1960s television show The Addams Family.  The final episode of The Addams Family aired April 8, 1966.
• According to The Official Batman Batbook by Joel Eisner, the these episodes are based on a story featured in the October 1948 issue of the Batman comic book.  That issue also marks the first appearance of the Riddler.  

S201B E17 & E18 | Season Two, Episodes  81 & 82

"The Joker's Last Laugh"  Counterfeit money is being distributed by respectable citizens in Gotham City.  Batman and Robin investigate, and find of the Joker's lifelike robots substituting for a bank teller.  

"The Joker's Epitaph" The Joker is now Vice Chairman of the Gotham National Bank, due to an unsuccessful plan of Batman's.  

• Joker drives a customized "Jokemobile" in both episodes.
• Alfred dons the Batman costume and manages a "Batclimb."  

S201B E19 & E20 | Season Two, Episodes 83 & 84 

"Catwoman Goes to College"  Catwoman is released from prison, and claiming she wants to enrich her education, enrolls at Gotham City University.  

"Batman Displays His Knowledge"  Catwoman goes ahead with her scheme to steal several Batagonian Cat's Eye opals, but she has trouble finding someone to fence them since such rare stones would be easily spotted.

• Though uncredited in The Official Batman Batbook, it should be noted that Captain Courageous was played by Stanley Adams, who also played Cyrano Jones on the classic Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Trouble with Tribbles" (1967) and "I, Mudd," (1967) and provided the voice of Jones on the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "More Troubles, More Tribbles" (197X).

S201B E21 & E22 | Season Two, Episodes 85 & 86

"A Piece of the Action"  The Green Hornet and Kato are in Gotham City to bust a counterfeiting stamp ring.  

"Batman Gets Satisfaction"  Colonel Gumm moves out of the Pink Chip Stamps Factory, taking its owner Pinky Pinkston along as a hostage.

• Britt Reid and Bruce Wayne have been rivals since boyhood.
• Earlier in the season, Green Hornet and Kato had done a window cameo.
• Roger C. Carmel (Colonel Gumm) played Harcourt Fenton "Harry" Mudd on the Star Trek: The Original Series episodes "Mudd's Women" (1966) and "I, Mudd," (1967) and voiced Mudd on Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "Mudd's Passion" (1973).

S201B E23 & E24 | Season Two, Episodes 87 & 88

"King Tut's Coup"  After a blow to the head, Yale's Egyptology professor once again believes he is King Tut.

"Batman's Waterloo"  Though Batman escapes his watery trap, Robin is left in the hands of King Tut.  

• Lee Meriwhether (Lisa Carson) played Catwoman in the Batman movie.
• Grace Lee Whitney (Neila) also played Yeoman Janice Rand on the first season of Star Trek: The Original Series and reprised the role years later in the Star Trek Motion Pictures.

S201B E25 & E26 | Season Two, Episodes 89 & 90

"Black Widow Strikes Again"  The Black Widow uses her cerebrum short-circuiting device to rob bank after bank in Gotham City.

"Caught in the Spider's Den"  The Black Widow adjusts her cerebrum short-circuiting device to successfully alter Batman's brain.

• Aunt Harriet goes "mod" when she buys a pair of slacks.  This factors later in a case of mistaken identity.
• Black Widow has a sweet ride known as the Black Widow Cycle.
• A GCPD APB gives Batman's height as 6' 2".  It also says his cape, cowl, and trunks are purple.

S201B E27 & E28 | Season Two, Episodes 91 & 92

"Pop Goes the Joker"  The Joker appears in an art gallery and defaces paintings with paint-spraying guns.  

"Flop Goes the Joker"  The Joker persuades wealthy heiress Baby Jane Towser to join him in his artistic capers.

• In Batman (1989) the Joker and his goons deface and destroy works of art, including adding a red paint smile and green hair to a classical bust.

S201B E29 & E30 | Season Two, Episodes 93 & 94

"Ice Spy"  Mr. Freeze is back in town, and has plans to build an icy weapon that will have the world at his control.

"The Duo Defy"  Back in his iceberg headquarters, Mr. Freeze persuades the kidnapped Professor Isaacson to build him a thermodynamic ice ray beam.  

• Eli Wallach takes over the role of Mr. Freeze in these episodes.
• The Batcopter is featured in this pair of episodes.
• The strangest of all the celebrity cameos was the final one, which definitely stretched the definition of the word "celebrity."  Cyril Lord was a successful British businessman who sold luxury carpets.  His jingle, "This is luxury you can afford from Cyril Lord" was ubiquitous in the United Kingdom in the 1960s.  However, he was not especially popular in the United States, so his cameo was definitely a bit out of place, but he had worked out a deal with one of the producers of the show on some Persian rugs and part of the deal was that they would give him a cameo (cbr.com)