“Smack In The Middle”—The episode that packed a wallop …

Yesterday, I discussed the pilot episode of Batman, which was first rerun on that date in 1966. “Smack In The Middle,” the second half of the pilot episode, was rerun 54 years ago tonight.

Though I was away when this aired on that night, this show made a huge impact on me as a 6½ year old on 13 January 1966, when it first aired. Molly’s death scene, in particular, was something that touched me, and I was reminded of that when seeing that episode again in the summer of 1981. That was when my interest in Batman was reignited.

What I really liked was how this show, in general, used color. Even seeing this in black and white, it’s clear that it stood out from the other shows of the era. It was like entering a magical world that I could call my own.

It’s effect in the 21st century

When I first saw this video of ABC’s presentation of Batman to its affiliates, I saw that the series could have had an edgier format. I loved the Peter Gunn music that Henry Mancini had composed, and used most effectively here. Also, I think the series could have lasted longer had it varied its storylines far more than it did, and gone for a slightly noirish feel, as well as be more serious, as it was in the pilot.

This inspired the creation of what would become the 2011 fan film, Batman 1969. It’s production was troubled, but it was indeed completed, and it is also the inspiration for our planned fan series, which would center on a female heroine inspired by Jill St. John. Production’s on hold currently, not the least of which is because of Covid-19, but we hope to get some story lines soon.