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"The Joker Goes to School" is hardly the silly episode promised by the title (god help the third season), but another twisted Joker gag built upon corrupting the youth of Gotham City. One machine is discovered dispensing 20 silver dollars for a dime, another negotiable stocks and bonds, the Dynamic Duo wondering if indeed the green faced felon is involved. Demonstrating slides of the grinning gargoyle to the student body of Woodrow Roosevelt High, who should show up but the jovial jackanapes himself, loitering lawfully for just under two minutes, a clever ruse to avert suspicion elsewhere, where slot machines commit armed robberies! (once out of prison, Joker bought a controlling interest in the One Armed Bandit Novelty Co.). His partners in plunder are the Bad Pennies gang, all high school dropouts, hiding out behind the Easy Living Candy Store just off school grounds, orchestrating the robberies by automation when not devising clues to confound Batman. Our intrepid heroes are unaware that head cheerleader Susie (Donna Loren) is actually in league with Joker, luring her services by promising the finer things like furs or perfume. A clever ploy brings down the Caped Crusaders, ready to fry at midnight, trapped helpless in two electric chairs! Gorgeous Donna Loren, indeed still a teenager, was a singer and former Beach Party veteran, another cheerleader played by Linda Harrison, future Nova in "Planet of the Apes," a student body member played by Tim O'Kelly, later seen opposite Victor Buono's King Tut during the second season, but remembered as the deadly accurate sniper in Boris Karloff's "Targets."

The great Cesar Romero was fun as the mischievous, cackling Joker, and a role he put a lot of creativity into. He was always asked to do his iconic laugh on talk shows, and it was so weird because he had no costume or makeup.

Reportedly, Romero did not want to shave off his trademark moustache, so the makeup people simply shellacked more white paint on his face, which actually made him more creepier, and textbook campy. Absolutely. Here, the Joker zeroes in on Gotham City's Woodrow Roosevelt High School, attempting to put a little greed and larceny into the hearts of teens by stocking school vending machines with wads of valuable silver dollars, stocks and bonds --for the taking. Go for it! Batman and Robin to the rescue, but the Joker is a fairly slick and its one wild ride.

This episode is fast, which is why the series eventually went to airing episodes twice a week. You often wonder, and after all these years, what put the iconic Joker over the top -- his makeup or his outrageous mugging, and a cackle very similar to the Wicked Witch in WIZARD OF OZ. Listen carefully.

Look for Linda Harrison as one of the cheerleaders. Her career was just starting at this time, having appeared in a bit in THE FAT SPY (1965). Within a few years she would become a star (as Nova) in PLANET OF THE APES (1968). Funny character actor Bryan O'Byrne plays the principal, popular in such comedy shows as BEWITCHED, GET SMART and MY FAVORITE MARTIAN. Recommended for all of us pizza addicts. SEASON 1 remastered dvd box set dvd.

The kids at high school are suddenly goofing off school. The Joker has corrupted the youth of Gotham City by offering free money (He'll use that phrase in a movie one day.)

Each time a student places a dime in a vending machine. It dispenses silver dollar coins. The students feel they no longer need to learn. Batman tells them that nothing in life is free.

Batman knows the Joker is behind this. He purchased the One Armed Bandit Novelty Company soon after leaving prison.

The crooked jailhouse lawyer is doing all this to get himself a solid alibi. It's Batman himself. As the Joker and the bad pennies are up to no good. Using the one armed bandits by remote control to carry out some robberies.

Crime can be shocking. There is a lot here that was used in the 1989 Batman movie.

Once again the Joker has Batman trapped. It is an electrifying ending.