“You think Gotham City is a peaceful city? Ho ho ho! Put your gum under your seats, hold your breath, and get ready to cheer Batman and hiss his diabolical enemies! Hissable enemy number one is now about to strike!” 60 years ago, "Hi Diddle Riddle" (prod. #6028-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the premiere episode of Batman, a thrilling new 30-minute action series based upon the characters created by Bob Kane appearing in Batman and Detective Comics Magazine published by National Periodical Publications, Inc., starring Adam West and Burt Ward and executive-produced/narrated by William Dozier.
First appearance of Frank Gorshin as The Riddler.
It was based on "Remarkable Ruse of the Riddler" from Batman #171 (May 1965), written by Gardner Fox; in it, The Riddler, jealous of the attention Batman is giving The Mole Hill Mob, arranges a trap so Batman will apprehend the gang and give The Riddler The Caped Crusader's undivided attention.
Aunt Harriet Cooper (Madge Blake) was written into the series to counter the rumors that Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson were gay. The series producers felt that a female aunt would "round out" Wayne Manor.
The series would add a feature film version released by 20th Century-Fox in July 1966, and would air on ABC for 2½ seasons and 120 shows until March 14, 1968. It has maintained a huge cult status in the rerun circuit for 6 decades running.
HOLY HAPPY DIAMOND TV ANNIVERSARY, BATMAN!
(JANUARY 12, 1966—JANUARY 12, 2026)
I have a projector set up in my Batcave (den) that cycles the entire series, 24-7. Even when I shut everything down, when I boot up again, it just picks up and keeps on playing though the series. When it gets to the end it goes back to S1E1 and starts over again. So I always have an episode on in my house. If you ever c9me over, be warned! Lol
Bemor32 wrote: Sun Jan 18, 2026 7:25 pm
I have a projector set up in my Batcave (den) that cycles the entire series, 24-7. Even when I shut everything down, when I boot up again, it just picks up and keeps on playing though the series. When it gets to the end it goes back to S1E1 and starts over again. So I always have an episode on in my house. If you ever come over, be warned! Lol
