[Batman] The Batscholar on Episodes 49 & 50

[Ubiquitous]

While the pilot and the first Penguin episode where among the most watched
episodes, this one was THE highest rated episode of the entire series.
According to William Dozier it was because Liberace had an extremely large
fan club, who watched everything he did.

I was told that Liberace had a great deal of difficulty playing Harry. He was
seen wandering the sets snearing and trying to act mean in order to get into
character, but everyone who saw him said he was just too nice to be a bad
guy. He came off as a bad James Cagney impersonator. As for Chandell aka
Fingers, he was playing himself. Liberace was not an actor but a trained
musician with a gimmick, the flashy clothes and candlelabra atop the fancy
piano. But unlike Batman, his gimmick lastest for decades until his death in
1987 at the age of 67.

The episode had a lot going on with the twin roles, the three harem
girls/henchmen, who never stayed loyal to either brother and the assorted
piano mover henchmen. Plus Batman and Robin on vacation. And Gordon and
O'Hara's attempts at interrogation. I never quite figured out if this was an
attempt to fill in the episode with action to make up for piano playing.

The part about Chandell wanting to bump off Bruce and Dick to inherit the
Wayne fortune is interesting in that how does Chandell know that she will
inherit anything at all. They could have left everything to the Wayne
Foundation or Alfred for that matter.

Madge Blake was born in 1899 and Liberace was born in 1919. She was 20 years
older than him, She could have been his mother. (she was 67, he 47), Madge
had a recurring role as the head of Jack Benny's tv fan club, although was
five years older than her, she was supposed to be older than him.

The three henchwomen, were made up Marilyn Hanold, a former playboy
centerfold and low budget film actress (Frankenstein meets the Space Monster
and the Brain the Wouldn't Die). Sivi Aberg, a 1964 Miss Sweden and Miss
Universe runnerup and later was a regular on the Gong Shown as well as
returning to aid the Joker when he went surfing. And of course there is Edy
Williams last seen as the hostess in the Pink Sandbox, in the previous
Catwoman episode. Edy is a story unto herself and enough said about that. She
was one among the three and had no room to shine or even get her share of the
closeups.

I have always liked James Millhollin, he was known for his roles as
officials, store manager (The After Hours on Twilight Zone, with Anne
Francis) and one of my favorites as the director of the pet mortuary on the
Odd Couple. Here he comes off in a similar role that Robert Cornthwaite did
for the Archer. In the end both he and Chandell wind up being fed to Harry's
piano roll perforating machine (although I thought Batman had disabled it.
The machine or should I say the conveyor belt and the surrounding box cover
was redressed a number of times, and reused as part of Penguin's campaign
literature packager in the next episode and even the Colonel Gumm's giant
stamp machine in the Green Hornet episode.

The chief piano mover henchmen was played by Jack Perkins who spent most of
his career playing oversized and over intoxicated drunks on sitcoms.

According to Dozier "Liberace brought his own grand piano and his own
costumes. He wouldn't trust anyone else's piano." I didn't think the show had
the budget for his wardrobe changes.

Liberace remembered Batman this way, "Like some of the children, I loved the
villains because they were sort of anti-heroes and you always wanted to see
what they could do to put Batman and Robin in a predicament and then, of
course, it was fun to see how they got out of it."

As an interesting side note, I am not sure if it was intentional or just a
coincidence but this series attracted a number of gay villains, Liberace,
Cesar Romero, Van Johnson, Roddy McDowall, Roger C Carmel, Tallulah Bankhead.
no telling how many others appeared in small parts or henchman. Maybe it was
the camp atmosphere.

Director Larry Peerce is the son of famed opera singer Jan Peerce.

Dialogue Coach Milton Stark had fond memories of this episode because
"Liberace was so kind, at lunch periods, he'd sit at the piano and say 'What
do you want me to play. He'd play anything for them. He was very congenial,
very nice and a professional."

The major star of this episode was Madge Blake. She was given something more
to do than do her flustered aunt routine. She even gets to use a gun. While
going through Dozier's papers I found the following.

Actress Madge Blake (in a letter to producer William Dozier): "It's about
time I said an adequate Thank You for giving me the role of Aunt Harriet. But
I can`t think of an adequate way to say it! Already, kids know me as Aunt
Harriet instead of Flora MacMichael (on The Real McCoys) or Joey's Mother(on
Leave it to Beaver!). And how could anyone know that Batman would be a forest
fire. Even Johnny Carson on NBC! And did anyone persuade Bette Davis to give
us a plug on Hollywood Palace Saturday night? I love it and you for picking
me. Merci Beaucoup.

PS Did you know I write verse at the drop of a chewed up pencil? (Sell it
too!) I wrote this one yesterday, polished it today and when I read it to my
agent on the telephone he insisted I must send it to you. If anyone can use
it you're welcome:.

WHAM!! POW!!!! ZWAPPP!!!!! WHEEE!!!!!

A Crusader he is with his Cowl and his Cape And the wind rides the wake of
his steed! With Robin beside him, computers and tape Find clues to the dens
where crimes breed..... The Batmobile speeds them through chaos and. noise To
the Scum of the world's Misbegotten, Setting Ethical Traps for all girls and.
boys: Platitudes the grown-ups have forgotten. With hearts that are brave and
fists that are skinned, Though.their shields are Honor and Truth, (Honor and
Purity)They manage to clobber the Villains. who've sinned Against Mothers,
the Flag and Our Youth .(against mothers and social security!)..With Nuclear
Fission, and Batarangs thrown To heights that would panic an eagle, They use
Science and Logic and Black Magic blown. In a Crime War that's lethally
legal. All. Hail to our Robin. and stout-hearted BATMAN, May their names make
all Criminals quake Until each Dirty Dastard and each Fellow Rat - man Has
reformed or been. burned - at - the- stake!And so, while the Ratings remain
astronomical, May all of us prosper with plots atom-bombical.
Madge Cummings Blake 1966

Producer Dozier responded with the following note: "I was delighted by your
whimsical note and also by your poetry. Little did I realize you are a
Special Guest Poetess as well as a delightful Aunt Harriet. It is comforting
to have you in the series and you lend a note of real warmth and solidity to
it."

--
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