This Week's Batman TV Almanac (9/18-24/05)

[AaronHandy3]

SEPTEMBER 21, 1966

"The Minstrel's Shakedown" (prod. #9713-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30 p.m. (EDT) as the 39th episode of Batman.

• The Minstrel's signature tune is "A Wandering Minstrel".
• At one point, Amanda (Leslie Perkins) can be seen wearing the exact same orange and purple blouse worn by Ida Lupino in her role as Dr. Cassandra in Season-3 episode #1722, "The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra" (3/7/68). Kathy Kersh can also be seen wearing the blouse in her role as Cornelia in upcoming episode #9723-Pt. 1, "The Impractical Joker."
• So what is it with cooking? Catwoman tried the same cliffhanging-stunt (except with a grill instead of a rotisserie) in the previous episode.

SEPTEMBER 22, 1966

"Barbecued Batman?" (prod. #9713-Pt. 2) first aired @ 7:30 p.m. (EDT) as the 40th episode of Batman.

• The Minstrel's female asistant is named Amanda in the credits; however in the actual show her name is Octavia!
• The Minstrel does not return in any future Bat-segment, despite his intentions to breakout in his final song.
• This is the first set of Bat-episodes where the titles don't rhyme with each other.

SEPTEMBER 21, 1967

"Ring Around The Riddler" (prod #1707) aired @ 7:30 p.m. (EDT) as the 96th episode of Batman.

• Sad Note: This episode retained the 10th and last original onscreen appearance of Frank Gorshin as The Riddler, despite his claim that, "like a boomerang, I shall be back." Oh, The Riddler does return, in Episode #1722, "The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra" (March 7, 1968), but Gorshin does not!
• Madge Blake (as Aunt Harriet) makes one of 2 cameo appearances on Batman in this episode. This was done to accommodate her ill health (she succumbed to a heart attack at age 69 on February 19, 1969).
• This is the only time throughout the entire third season The Dynamic Duo are seen executing their famous Batclimb; apparently this is stock footage, perhaps gleaned from Season-1 episode #8723-Pt. 1, "The Penguin Goes Straight".