| The Batman/Superman Hour | |
|---|---|
 Title card | |
| Genre | Superhero action adventure |
| Based on | Batman by Superman by |
| Written by | Oscar Bensol Dennis Marks Bob Kane Jerry Robinson Joe Shuster Jerry Siegel |
| Directed by | Hal Sutherland |
| Voices of | Olan Soule Casey Kasem Jane Webb Ted Knight Bud Collyer Bob Hastings Jackson Beck Jack Grimes Joan Alexander |
| Narrated by | Ted Knight |
| Theme music composer | John Gart |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 34 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Allen Ducovny |
| Producers | Norm Prescott Lou Scheimer |
| Running time | 60/30 minutes |
| Production companies | Filmation National Periodical Publications |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
| Original release | |
| Release | September 14, 1968 – January 4, 1969 |
The Batman/Superman Hour is a Filmation animated series that was broadcast on CBS from 1968 to 1969.[1] Premiering on September 14, 1968, this 60-minute program featured new adventures of the DC Comics superheroes Batman, Robin and Batgirl alongside shorts from The New Adventures of Superman and The Adventures of Superboy.[2]
Series overview[]
This series marked the animation debut of Batman, his supporting cast and some of their classic enemies like Joker, Penguin, Riddler, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, and some villains exclusive to the series.
The success of The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure in 1967 had prompted Filmation to produce a Metamorpho pilot and begin development on other similar series.[3] These plans were cancelled when CBS secured the animation rights to Batman in the wake of ABC's recent success with the Batman live action television series.[3] Going into production close to the start of the 1968 TV season, what would become The Batman/Superman Hour required Filmation to pull as many additional animators from other projects as they could spare to ramp up production.[citation needed]
This series was the first time Olan Soule and Casey Kasem performed as the voices of Batman and Robin. When The New Adventures of Batman was produced in 1977, Adam West and Burt Ward reprised the roles they had originally played in the live action TV series. Soule and Kasem would return several times to reprise their roles in 1972's The New Scooby-Doo Movies, 1973's Super Friends, 1977's The All-New Super Friends Hour, 1978's Challenge of the Super Friends, 1979's The World's Greatest Super Friends, and starting in 1980 Soule voiced the character in the 7 minute shorter episodes that were produced through 1983. These 1980–1983 episodes aired under the generic Super Friends title. Kasem would go on to voice Robin with Adam West as Batman in 1984's Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show and 1985's The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians.
In 1969, the series was repackaged into 30-minute episodes without the Superman segments and renamed Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder. Batman would next appear in The New Adventures of Batman in 1977. In 1985, Warner Home Video released five selected episodes of the series on VHS as part of the "Super Powers" video collection. These videos were re-released in 1996 and are out of print. In 1996, episodes were included in The Superman/Batman Adventures on the USA Network. They later aired on the Cartoon Network and Boomerang.
Episodes[]
The Superman portion of the program consisted of new 61⁄2-minute shorts from Filmation's The New Adventures of Superman and The Adventures of Superboy.
The Batman half of The Batman/Superman Hour consisted of new shorts. One story was presented in two 61⁄2 minute segments and one story in a single 61⁄2 minute segment. Thirty-four stories were produced.
Cast[]
- Olan Soule - Batman, Alfred Pennyworth
- Casey Kasem - Dick Grayson, Chief O'Hara, Mayor of Gotham City, Additional Voices
- Jane Webb - Barbara Gordon, Catwoman
- Ted Knight - Narrator (Batman and Superboy segments), James Gordon, Penguin, Joker, Riddler, Mr. Freeze, Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Simon the Pieman, Dollman, Judge
- Bud Collyer - Superman
- Bob Hastings - Superboy / Young Clark Kent
- Jackson Beck - Lex Luthor, Narrator (Superman segments)
- Jack Grimes - Jimmy Olsen
- Joan Alexander, Julie Bennett - Lois Lane
Production credits[]
- Directed by Hal Sutherland
- Associate Directors: Rudy Larriva, Amby Paliwoda, Don Towsley, Lou Zukor
- Art Director: Don Christensen
- Storyboard: Sherman Labby, Oscar Dufau, Mike O'Connor, Jan Green, Gary Lund
- Layout: Dan Noonan, Ray Vinella, Herb Hazelton, C.L. Hartman, Jacques Rupp, Ray Jacobs, Kay Wright, Louise Sandoval, Takashi Masunaga, Mike Ploog, Bill Lignante, Marilee Heyer, Alberto DeMello, Dick Preisen, Frank Gonzales, Mel Keefer, Sylvia Mattinson, Kay Wright
- Background Director: Erv Kaplan
- Background Artists: Paul Xander, Bill Geach, Martin Forte, Jack Healey, Ted Littlefield, Art Lozzi, Jim Jones, Maurice Harvey, Venetia Epler, Bill McArdle, Lorraine Marue, Ann Guenther, Barbara Smith
- Animation: Bill Hajee, Ralph Somerville, Len Rogers, Murray McClellan, Len Redman, James Brummett, Bob Carr, Russ Von Neida, Bob Bransford, Joan Orbison, Bill Pratt, Marshall Lamore, Robert Bentley, Jack Foster, Norm McCabe, George Grandpre, Judy Drake, Bill Reed, Chic Otterstrom, Les Kaluza, Xenia, Bill Hutten, Otto Feuer, Ken Southworth, Jack Ozark, Reuben Timmins, Ed Friedman, Butch Davis, Virgil Raddatz, Bob Trochim, Virgil Ross, Tom McDonald, Dave Tendlar, Bob Matz, Paul Krukowski, Dick Hall
- Camera Supervision: Roger Brown
- Camera: Ray Lee, Ron LaPeer, Gary Milton, Sergio Antonio Alcazar, Roger Sims
- Editorial: Joseph Simon
- Negative Cutting: June Gilham
- Sound Effects: Enfeld Mahana Corp.
- Prints by Technicolor
- Production Coordinator: Rock Benedict
- Checking Supervisor: Marion Turk
- Ink and Paint Supervision: Martha Buckley
- Voices: Bud Collyer (Clark Kent/Superman); Bob Hastings (Superboy); Ted Knight (Narrator/all Batman villains); Joan Alexander (Lois Lane); Casey Kasem (Dick Grayson/Robin); Jackson Beck (Lex Luthor); Olan Soule (Bruce Wayne/Batman); Jack Grimes (James "Jimmy" Olsen); Jane Webb (Barbara Gordon/Batgirl; all villainesses); Cliff Owens
- Background Music: John Gart
- Executive Producer: Allen Ducovny
- Produced by Norm Prescott, Lou Scheimer
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 114–122. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- ↑ "A History of Batman on TV". IGN. http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/891/891807p2.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 McNeil, Darren (July 2004). "The 1968 DC Filmation Pilots". Back Issue! (TwoMorrows Publishing) (5). http://www.aquamanshrine.net/2008/05/aquaman-meets-blackhawks.html?m=1. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
External links[]
- Batman Superman Hour at Big Cartoon DataBase
- The Batman/Superman Hour at the Internet Movie Database
- Batman: Yesterday, Today and Beyond - The Batman Homepage - The Adventures of Batman
- The Big Cartoon Database - Batman Cartoon Info[dead link]
| Superman franchise media | ||
|---|---|---|
| Comic strips | Superman (1939–1966) •
| |
| Radio | The Adventures of Superman (US, 1940–51) • The Adventures of Superman (UK, 1988) | |
| Live-action serials and films | Serials | Superman (1948) • Atom Man vs. Superman |
| 1951 film series | Superman and the Mole Men • Stamp Day for Superman (short film) | |
| 1978 film series | Superman (1978) • Superman II (The Richard Donner Cut) • Superman III • Supergirl • Superman IV: The Quest for Peace • Superman Returns | |
| DC Extended Universe | Man of Steel • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | |
| DC Universe | Superman | |
| Animated films | Superman animated shorts (1941–1943) • Brainiac Attacks • Doomsday • All-Star Superman • Unbound • Superman/Batman: Public Enemies • Superman/Batman: Apocalypse • Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam • vs. The Elite • The Death of Superman • Reign of the Supermen • Red Son • Man of Tomorrow • Battle of the Super Sons | |
| Documentary films | Look, Up in the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman • The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened? • Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story | |
| Television | Live-action | Adventures of Superman • The Adventures of Superboy (pilot) • Superboy • Lois & Clark • Smallville • Supergirl • Krypton • Superman & Lois |
| Animation | The New Adventures of Superman • The Adventures of Superboy • Superman • The Animated Series • Krypto the Superdog • Legion of Super Heroes • My Adventures with Superman | |
| Novels | The Adventures of Superman (1942) • Superman: Last Son of Krypton • Miracle Monday • Superman: Doomsday & Beyond • Lois & Clark: A Superman Novel • It's Superman! • Superman Returns • Enemies & Allies | |
| Video games | Superman (1979) • Superman: The Game (1985) • Superman (1987) • Superman (1988) • The Man of Steel (1989) • Superman (1992) • The Death and Return of Superman • The New Superman Adventures • Shadow of Apokolips • The Man of Steel (2002) • Countdown to Apokolips • Returns • MultiVersus | |
| Music | "You've Got Possibilities" • Superman III (soundtrack) • Superman Returns (soundtrack) • "Save Me" (Remy Zero song) • Man of Steel (soundtrack) • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (soundtrack) • Metropolis Symphony | |
| Parodies | Captain Caveman (The Flintstone Comedy Show segment) • Mighty Mouse • My Hero (UK TV series) • Stupor Duck • "Superduperman" • Super-Rabbit • Underdog (TV series) • Super Grover (Sesame Street) | |
| Other media | It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman (musical) • The Adventures of Seinfeld & Superman (advertisement) | |
| Toys | Lego Superman | |
| Related characters | Lois Lane in other media • Lex Luthor in other media • Supergirl in other media | |
| Related articles | Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation • "Crisis on Infinite Earths" • Hollywoodland • Lucy and Superman • "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" • National Comics Publications, Inc. v. Fawcett Publications, Inc. • Sunman (1992 video game) • Superman curse • Superman ice cream • "Superman and Paula Brown's New Snowsuit" • "The Reign of the Superman" • Superman and Lois Lane • Superman '78 | |
| Children's programming on CBS in the 1960s | ||
|---|---|---|
| First-run animated series | Mighty Mouse Playhouse (1955–1967) • Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales (1963–1966) • Linus the Lionhearted • The Heckle and Jeckle Cartoon Show • Tom and Jerry (1965–1972) • The Mighty Heroes • =The Underdog Show (last few seasons) • Frankenstein, Jr. and The Impossibles (1966–1968) • Space Ghost and Dino Boy (1966–1968) • The New Adventures of Superman • The Lone Ranger • The Road Runner Show (1968–1971; 1975–1978; 1978–1985) • The Beagles • The Herculoids (1967–1968) • Shazzan • Moby Dick and Mighty Mightor (1967–1969) • The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure • Go Go Gophers • Wacky Races (1968–1970) • The Archie Show (1968–1969) • The Batman/Superman Hour • Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines (1969–1971) • The Perils of Penelope Pitstop (1969–1971) • Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969–1972, 1974–1976) | |
| First-run live-action series | Captain Kangaroo (1955–1984) • The Magic Land of Allakazam • CBS Children's Film Festival | |
| Rebroadcasts | Sky King • The Roy Rogers Show • My Friend Flicka • The Alvin Show • The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin • The Quick Draw McGraw Show • The Jetsons • The Adventures of Lassie • Jonny Quest • The Monkees (1969–1972) | |
| Schedules | 1960–61 • 1961–62 • 1962–63 • 1963–64 • 1964–65 • 1965–66 • 1966–67 • 1967–68 • 1968–69 • 1969–70 | |
| Related programming and topics | Animation in the United States in the television era | |
| Superman / Batman crossover media | |
|---|---|
| Comic books | World's Finest Comics • Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity • Superman/Batman • Superman and Batman versus Aliens and Predator |
| Television | The Batman/Superman Hour • The Superman/Batman Adventures • The New Batman/Superman Adventures |
| Books | Enemies & Allies |
| Films | Superman/Batman: Public Enemies • Superman/Batman: Apocalypse • Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice |
| Video games | Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes • Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham |
| The Dark Knight Universe | The Dark Knight Returns (film) • The Dark Knight Strikes Again • The Dark Knight III: The Master Race |
| Fan films and parodies | World's Finest • HISHE: Super Cafe |
| Miscellanea | Composite Superman • Hiro Okamura |
| Animated TV series based on DC Comics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Former | 1960s debuts | The New Adventures of Superman (1966–1970) • The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure (1967–1968) • Aquaman (1968–1970) • The Batman/Superman Hour (1968–1969) |
| 1970s debuts | Super Friends (1973) • The New Adventures of Batman (1977) • The All-New Super Friends Hour (1977) • Challenge of the Super Friends (1978) • The World's Greatest Super Friends (1979) • The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show (1979–1981) | |
| 1980s debuts | Super Friends (1980–1983) • The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! (1981–1982) • Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984) • The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985) • Superman (1988) | |
| 1990s debuts | Swamp Thing (1990–1991) • Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995) • Wild C.A.T.s (1994–1995) • Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000) • The New Batman/Superman Adventures (1997–2000) • The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999) • Batman Beyond (1999–2001) | |
| 2000s debuts | Static Shock (2000–2004) • The Zeta Project (2001–2002) • Justice League (2001–2004) • Teen Titans (2003–2006) • Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006) • The Batman (2004–2008) • Krypto the Superdog (2005–2006) • Legion of Super Heroes (2006–2008) • Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008–2011) | |
| 2010s debuts | Green Lantern: The Animated Series (2011–2013) • Beware the Batman (2013–2014) • Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles (2015) | |
| Current | Young Justice (2010–2013, 2018–) • Teen Titans Go! (2013–) • Vixen (2015–) • Justice League Action (2016–) | |