The Joker Trumps an Ace / Batman Sets the Pace – Batman season 1
The Joker Trumps an Ace – April 5 1966
A wave of senseless robberies by the Joker prove to be part of a plot against a visiting maharajah. He steals seemingly worthless items, such as hair pins from rich woman and a hole from a golf course. But he has something up his sleeve …
Based on a 1949 comic book story published in Batman issue number 53.
Norman Alden, who plays one of the Joker’s Henchmen, would later voice DC Comics superhero Aquaman on The Superfriends.
The Joker: There are only two ways to get out of there. One: I let you out. And two: you jump fifty feet straight up!
Batman: You still intend to free us if we can stay afloat for an hour?
The Joker: Oh, dear me! Surely you don’t think I’d joke about such a serious matter as that, do you? Time to start filling the tank!
Batman: But… that’s gas!
The Joker: I do believe you’re right! But then, who said anything about water?
Robin: But you can’t float in gas!
The Joker: No, but you can drown in it!
Batman Sets the Pace – April 6 1966
After an ingenious escape, Batman and Robin again pick up the trail of the Joker. The villain’s ultimate crime is designed not only to make him rich but to ruin Batman’s reputation.
Henchman #2: [after Batman and Robin walk up out of the chimney] Hey, boss, they’re gone!
The Joker: I know that!
Henchman #2: But how did they get out?
The Joker: They took the elevator! What do you think?
The Maharajah: [writing a check] Paid to the order of Bat-Man…
Batman: One ‘t’.
Cast of characters
- Adam West (The Outlaws is Coming) … Batman
- Burt Ward (Batman the Movie) … Robin
- Alan Napier (The Mole People, House of Horrors) … Alfred
- Neil Hamilton (Tarzan the Ape Man, What Price Hollywood) … Commissioner Gordon
- Stafford Repp … Chief O’Hara
- Madge Blake … Mrs. Cooper
- Cesar Romero … The Joker
- Dan Seymour (To Have and Have Not) … The Maharajah
- Norman Alden … Henchman #1
- Jane Wald (Dear Brigitte) … Jill
- Angela Greene … Mrs. Belmont
- Johnny Seven (The Apartment) … Henchman #2
[Editor’s note: The escape from the death trap is one of the most ingenious from the entire series. It’s one that stuck in my mind for literally decades from when I first saw the episode]