"The Batman/Superman Hour" (1968) TV series 1968-1969

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Writers:

Bob Kane (characters)
Joe Shuster (Superman character)

Seasons:

unknown

Release Date:

14 September 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Crime | Family

Plot:

The Dynamic Duo battles crime in Gotham City.

Plot Keywords:

Batman | Based On Comic Book | Superhero | Mask | Superheroine

Cast

Joan Alexander	...	Lois Lane (1 episode, 1968)
Casey Kasem	...	Guard Leader / ... (1 episode, 1968)
Frank Welker	...	Lions (1 episode, 1968)

Also Known As:

The Adventures of Batman (USA) (rerun title)

Runtime:

60 min | 30 min (17 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Filmation Associates

Trivia:

This was the first appearance in animation of Batman and his supporting cast.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the episode "Long John Joker" Robin tells Batgirl that the Joker took their utility belts, but they have them on.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Saturday Night Live: The Best of Saturday TV Funhouse (2006) (V)

The World's Finest Heroes share an hour show, but not together

Like I said with the Superman/Aquaman Adventure Hour, I would have loved to have been around when this series originally aired on CBS Saturday mornings. However, it was on a few years before my time. My first exposure to these Batman cartoons was on the Bozo show along with Superman and Superboy when I was around 11 to 12 years old. These cartoons were awesome despite the limited animation. I'd actually seen the 1977 Batman series first when I was about 5 or 6 years old. So I knew I was going to enjoy these shows since the character designs for Batman, Robin, and Batgirl as well as their alter egos in addition to the Joker and Penguin were all the same in both series. Catwoman was wearing her costume in the comics of the time period. The only screw up they did was making Commissioner Gordon look younger with brown hair and a clean shaven face as opposed to his comic book appearance.

I was mighty surprised to hear the voices of Olan Soule and Casey Kasem as Batman and Robin since I heard them on the SuperFriends, but I felt they were the second best voice overs for the roles compared to Adam West and Burt Ward. The Batman cartoons reminded me of the live action TV series only without the camp and the Dynamic Duo used their detective skills much more. Ted Knight used a lighter pitched voice as the narrator as opposed to the Ted Baxter voice he used on Superboy and Aquaman. Knight also voiced over Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, and the male villains. Jane Webb was good as Batgirl, but I hated that screechy witchy voice she used for Catwoman. From what I once saw, they would always air a 2 part episode first and then a 6 minute complete story. The one thing that made this Batman series better than the 1977 series were the inclusions of Alfred, Chief O Hara, and the Riddler. Sadly, their attempts to do Scarecrow and the Mad Hatter really bombed. And Simon the Pieman was nothing but a sick joke. At least we get to see Batman and Robin as well as Batgirl fight with their fists. Something that the parent groups and BS&P would outlaw in cartoons in the 70's, which would make Batman and Robin into gadget heroes in that decade.

As for Superman and Superboy, the one thing I noticed about these particular shows, is that the animation style had changed and they were animating Superman in the same style they were with Batman. In addition, the Superman episodes became 2 parter episodes as well while Superboy contained fully 6 minute shows in the new animation style.

I only wish that Filmation could have put Superman and Batman and Robin together in one show doing a World's Finest story. My final evaluation is this. WB needs to release the Batman, Superman, Superboy, Aquaman, and the DC Heroes cartoons on DVD. Don't leave them out.