"Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed!"
So said Robin (Burt Ward) to Batman (Adam West) every time the Dynamic Duo launched the Batmobile from the Batcave to battle dastardly do-badders on the original "Batman" TV show. That camp classic, which gave us 120 episodes and one movie from 1966 to 1968, is beloved not only by the baby boomers who watched it originally on ABC, but also by later generations that watched it in syndication.
But where it's never been available before is on DVD or Blu-ray, because the home video rights to the series have been tied up in legal limbo for almost 50 years. Until now, old chum! The complete "Batman" TV show will be available from Warner Home Entertainment on Wednesday in various formats, with a variety of bells and whistles, in prices ranging from $199.70 to $269.97.
But while we can all sing the theme song (the lyrics are pretty easy), how well do you really remember the original "Batman" TV show? Test your knowledge with our Bat-quiz!
1. A standard joke on "Batman" was a celebrity poking his or her head out a window as Batman and Robin climbed up the wall on their Bat-rope. Who of the following was not featured in a "wall gag"?
A) Jerry Lewis; B) Edward G. Robinson; C) Don Ho; D) Frank Sinatra
Answer: D. Other wall-gag veterans included Dick Clark, Green Hornet and Kato (Van Williams and Bruce Lee), Sammy Davis Jr., Jose Jimenez (Bill Dana), Sam Stone of "Felony Squad" (Howard Duff), Col. Klink of "Hogan's Heroes" (Werner Klemperer), Lurch of "The Munsters" (Ted Cassidy), Santa Claus (Andy Devine), Art Linkletter and Suzy Knickerbocker.
2. Who of the following did not play Catwoman?
A) Julie Newmar; B) Jill St. John; C) Eartha Kitt; D) Lee Meriwether
Answer: B. Meriwether was the Feline Felon in the movie; Newmar essayed the role for the first two seasons, and Kitt wore the whiskers in season three while Newmar was filming "Mackenna's Gold." While never playing the Feline Fatale, St. John did appear in two episodes of "Batman" as the Riddler's moll, Molly.
3. "Batman" occasionally swiped villains from other DC Comics superheroes. Who among the following was not originally a Bat-foe?
A) Clock King (Walter Slezak); B) The Puzzler (Maurice Evans); C) The Archer (Art Carney); D) All of the above
Answer: D. Clock King was a Green Arrow enemy, while the Puzzler and the Archer were Superman villains. Some of these characters became Batman foes in the comics as a result of the TV show.
4. What character was literally brought back from the dead to appear on "Batman"?
A) Commissioner Gordon; B) Aunt Harriet; C) Alfred; D) Chief O'Hara
Answer: C. Julius Schwartz, editor of "Batman" and "Detective" at DC Comics at the time, had killed off Bruce Wayne's butler in 1964 and added Aunt Harriet to the cast to address charges of gay overtones in Bat-comics. When the TV producers insisted that Alfred be part of the show, Schwartz and his writers dreamed up a way for Alfred to have survived his apparent demise.
5. Who of the following did not play Mr. Freeze?
A) George Sanders; B) Milton Berle; C) Otto Preminger; D) Eli Wallach
Answer: B. Berle played the villain Louie the Lilac. As for Mr. Freeze, the Frigid Fiend debuted in "Batman" comics in 1959 as "Mr. Zero," but his name was subsequently changed to Mr. Freeze to be consistent with the show.