"Batman's Anniversary" marked The Riddler's only appearance this second season, with THE ADDAMS FAMILY's John Astin replacing Frank Gorshin due to the latter's salary demands. This anniversary was broadcast 13 months after the show's debut, and this Riddler script, the only contribution from William P. D'Angelo, essentially carries on the Puzzler characterization done seven weeks before by Maurice Evans, a series of puzzles rather than riddles to confound the Caped Crusader, even once referring to himself as 'The Prince of Puzzlers.' Even if Gomez Addams isn't anyone's idea of a decent Riddler, the plot at least is an improvement over the aviation themed Puzzler piece, this Riddler interrupting Batman's festivities to commit a series of robberies to accumulate $3 million to purchase a Demolecularizer from its impoverished inventor, Professor Avery Evans Charm (Martin Kosleck), refused funding due to his being a high school dropout. The initial Bat fight takes place underwater in a 'bank wet,' and the death trap finds the Dynamic Duo drowning but not getting wet atop an anniversary cake, sinking in quicksand disguised as icing. Byron Keith makes the 8th of his 10 appearances as Mayor Linseed, and silent screen comedian Eddie Quillan pops in for a welcome cameo as the Newsie who sells Batman a paper containing The Riddler's latest puzzle.
Review of Batman's Anniversary
