Friday, April 23, 2010

Batman "The Purr-fect Crime" - 1966 Part 1 of 2

Batman "The Purr-fect Crime"
Packet No. B4921
1966

When I was five I loved the reruns of the 1960's Batman television show. And I thought Julie Newmar as Catwoman was just about the coolest thing around.

Whenever the show came on I remember running to my mother and having her tie on my orange felt cape (one she had made specifically for these occasions) so that I could run on and off the the couch and around the family room as the show's theme music played. (Yeah, my mom is STILL pretty laid back.)

This show was my first exposure to Batman in any form, at least that I can remember, and even today I still think of Julie Newmar as THE Catwoman.

So it only seems right to me that in 1966, when Gaf released a Batman reel set that it would be a Catwoman story, "The Purr-fect Crime" that featured, of course, Adam West as Batman, Burt Ward as Robin, Alan Napier as Alfred, Neil Hamilton as Commissioner Gordon, Stafford Repp as Chief O'Hara and Madge Blake as Mrs. Cooper. And then their were the cast of villains, Julie Newmar as Catwoman and her henchmen played by Jock Mahoney, Ralph Manz and Alex Sharp.

Enjoy!



Midnight, in the Gotham City Art Museum ... in a dimly lighted hall is a glass display case holding a lovely golden cat statue ... a museum guard hears a "meow," draws his gun: "Who's there?" ... a cat-o-nine-tails knocks the gun from his hand ... a cat-costumed figure springs, the guard falls unconscious ... the figure flees with the cat statue ... At Wayne Manor, the next morning, a phone call interrupts Bruce and Dick's game of three-dimensional chess: "We suspect the Catwoman," Commissioner Gordon tells Bruce ... "It was one of two golden cat statues belonging to Mark Andres, the multimillionaire." Bruce hangs up. "To the Batpoles!" he tells Dick. The two slide down to their secret Batcave beneath the house...




1
"Catwoman has
stolen a golden
cat statue,"
said Gordon.

Booklet Text
The Batmobile screeched to a halt at Police Headquarters, and Batman and Robin leap out. Gordon was discussing the case with Chief O'Hara as they entered.

"We believe the Catwoman will strike again!" said Gordon. "Andrews owns two of these cats. The second is loaned to the Gothan City Exposition until tonight."

"So if Catwoman is going to steal that one, she'll do it tonight!" exclaimed Robin.


2
"I'll get the
other golden cat
and get rid of
Batman too!"

Booklet Text
In a downtown alley stood an innocent-looking fur warehouse. But inside it - what a strange office! Feminine decor. An ornate desk; a cat-shaped telephone. On the desk, two golden pedestals - one holding the cat statue stolen from the museum the previous night; the other empty, awaiting the statue's twin. Behind the desk, a beautiful woman, lithe and sleek, dressed in a skintight cat costume: black leotard, boots, long gloves with claws. She was speaking to two men in tiger shirts.

"Leo, did you get the books?"

"Yes, Catwoman," said the taller of the two men. He brought a carton of books and laid them on her desk.

"I'll get the other cat and rid myself of Batman and Robin in one pawstroke," she purred. The men left. She selected a volume, turned to a particular page, and compared the golden cat with a picture. She smiled ...




3
"This radioactive
spray, Alfred,
will help us track
Catwoman!"

Booklet Text
The Batmobile zoomed into the Batcave, where Alfred, Batman's faithful butler, was busy tidying up.

"Please help Robin with the atomic power channel, Alfred," said Batman. As they plugged a cable into the reactor, Batman mixed some chemicals. "Alfred, please attach a pressure can to this outlet tube."

"Y'see, Alfred," Robin explained, "we're setting a trap for Catwoman in case she makes off with the second statue tonight. We spray this radioactive mist on an object and then we can trace it on the Batometer. We'll find the Batomete. We'll find her and the statue."

A few minutes later the Batmobile roared up to the Gotham City Exposition. The two Caped Crusaders bought their tickets at the book. A they passed through the gate, the ticket taker picked up a porta-phone and spoke softly: "They're here, Catwoman."




4
The night, in the
exhibit hall, they
sprayed the other
golden cat.

Booklet Text
It was night, and the Exposition had closed. Batman and Robin were alone in the dim, eerie Hall of Culture. In an alcove, surrounded by Mayan burial sarcophagi, was a stand holding the second golden cat of Mark Andrews.

Batman sprayed the statue. "There, it's done." He looked at his watch. "Time to check the exits. I'll be back in three minutes and twenty seconds." He walked briskly away.

Behind the Boy Wonder, the lid of one of the sarcophagi began silently to open ... open ... open ...


5
She poisoned
Robin with a cat
scratch and took
the treasure.

Booklet Text
... and Catwoman came padding noiselessly out! Suddenly she sprang at him. "Holy cats!" blurted Robin. Her clawed glove scratched his arm. Instantly he became dizzy and toppled to the floor, calling weakly into the communicator: "Batman, help!"



Batman, in a distant hallway, heard the cry on his communicator and raced swiftly back. He found Catwoman clutching the golden cat - but Robin, where was he?

"You feline devil!" snarled the Foe of Felons. "What have you done with Robin?"

"Now is that a way to greet an old friend?" taunted the Catwoman. "Teach him some manners, fellows."

Her henchmen, Leo and Felix, came bounding in. "You hit him high, Leo, I'll hit him low!" called Felix.


6
Batman fought
her henchmen -
CRUNCH!
THWACK!

Booklet Text
ZAP! Batman peppered their pates POW! with potent punches. He knocked Leo THWACK! against a sarcophagus ... the door swung open ... and an unconscious Robin tumbled out!

"Come on, cats, let's get out of here!" and Catwoman, and the three criminals fled with the golden statue, as Batman knelt by his young cohort ...

Later, at her desk, Catwoman laid the two golden cats side by side, covered them with a sheet of paper, traced a pattern ...




7
He revived
Robin and they
leaped into the
Batmobile.

Booklet Text
Back in the Batcave, Batman poked a Universal Antidote pill down Robin's throat. The boy stirred.

"Easy now, Robin," said Batman. "You were drugged with catacol. You'll be OK." As they climbed back into the car, Robin asked: "Did she get the cat?"

"Yes, Robin - just as I planned." The Batometer screen on the dashboard was pulsating. "All we do is follow the blips, and we're on the Catwoman's trail!"

Batman - you're heading into a trap!


8
Lured to the
Catwoman's lair,
they were trapped
between spikes!

Booklet Text
The blips led them to the fur warehouse. Blasting their way in with the Bat-Beam, they heard a door click shut behind them. Trapped! Catwoman's voice came from a hidden speaker: "Good evening, Batman and Robin. I have a wonderful night planned!" Things happened fast ...

Sharp spikes popped out of the walls ... the walls moved toward them! "Holy ice picks!" said Robin. But Batman felt of the spikes - they bent. Rubber! "Haha!" laughed Catwoman.

A panel opened; a hand threw in a bomb. POP! It gave off smoke, but didn't explode. A little flag popped out, bearing the word MEOW!



"You have to admit that was funny, Batman," she said. "Now, wave bye bye to Robin."

A clear plastic tube came down over the Boy Wonder and he was sucked up, WHOOSH, out of sight.

"You feline devil!" said Batman.




9
"Choose a door
Batman,"
she said. "I'm
behind one ...

Booklet Text
She spoke again into the microphone, "Batman, are you a betting person? "I never gamble," he said stiffly.

"This time you'll have to. In front of you are two doors. I'll stand behind one of them. Behind the other is a ferocious tiger. Which door, Batman - the lady or the tiger?"

He hesitated ... reaching for the door at the right ...


10
"... behind the
other is a tiger!"
Batman chose
wrong!

Booklet Text
The door swung open, and ... catastrophe! A tremendous tiger sprang out at the Gotham City Crimebuster!

WRONG CHOICE, BATMAN!

Will Batman ever see Robin alive again?
Will Robin ever see Batman alive again?
Will our Daring Duo escape the claws of the wily Catwoman?

Tune In for the thrilling conclusion
Same Bat-Time,
Same Bat-Channel!



Monday, April 12, 2010

Aquaman "The Menace of the Land-Sea Beasts"

Aquaman "The Menace of the Land-Sea Beasts"
Reel No. RP1167
1966

Who needs huge muscle-bound flying men and crime-fighters with big toys when you can have a ruling King with wavy blonde hair and a swimmer's build?

Sadly this reel was released as one in a collection of comic hero reels and didn't included its own paperwork. In this case it was
packaged as part of a Good Guys Gift Pak including an individual reel of Wonder Woman in "Peril Over New York" and set of Captain Marvel marketed as Shazam! in "The Return of Black Adam" among others. All of which I plan to share in the near future.

But quite frankly Aquaman is a favorite and because he rules I wanted to share this reel first.

And as a bonus these very scans have FINALLY gotten me my F.O.A.M. certificate from Rob Kelly's awesome Aquaman Shrine.



From my research I believe that this Aquaman reel was never part of its own reel and sleeve set. There was a point when Gaf started to reissue 3 reel collections to help get rid of back stock and then later started issuing 7 reel collections in round white reel container in their canister sets. Eventually producing new reel for these collections. It look like Aquaman was part of this later group.

So, with no more delay, here is Aquaman, the eye-candy of the DC Universe, in "The Menace of the Land-Sea Beasts"



1
"Dr. Beard's
atomic ray gun
changes animals,
Aqualad."


2
But the ray
"leaked" to the
coast of
Africa...


3
... and changed
land animals
into savage
sea creatures!


4
"They attacked
Dr. Beard's
diving bell!"


5
Aqualad seized
Dr. Beard's
ray gun. He
reversed ...


6
... the switch,
and the beasts
returned to
normal!


7
"Thanks!" said
Dr. Beard. "My
invention worked
too well!"