"The Thirteenth Hat" casts David Wayne as Jervis Tetsch, better known as arch criminal The Mad Hatter, obviously inspired by 'Alice in Wonderland,' recently released from prison, vowing to get even with the 12 jurors that convicted him, and especially Batman ("few men die of threats, Robin"). To this end, and by his own obsession, he endeavors to steal the hats off the heads of all 12 jurors, as well as the people underneath, using the hypnotic mesmerizer in his top hat, to be held for a ransom of presidential hats worth millions. Of course, the crowning glory of his career would be Batman's cowl, which would also reveal his secret identity, the ultimate revenge for putting him behind bars in the first place. Seemingly one step behind every move made by The Mad Hatter, the Dynamic Duo are unaware that Madame Magda's abduction was orchestrated by her own employee Lisa (Diane McBain), secretly in league with Tetsch, who delights in showing off his dastardly hat factory in hopes of luring the Caped Crusader to certain doom under its cutting machinery. The climax has Batman agreeing to pose for sculptor Octave Marbot (Alberto Morin), but not until after The Mad Hatter has stashed him away and taken his place (complete with Van Dyke beard), capturing Robin and bathing Batman in a shower of plaster to provide an airtight tomb.
4 Reviews
Holy Hats Batman
DKosty12327 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
David Waynes Mad Hatter is after the Caped Crusader and the 12 jurors who put him in jail. In this first part, Batman is totally baffled what is going on.
Then at the climax Batman zaps Robin with a mirror reflecting the Mad Hatter's zapping beam and disables the boy wonder. Then, Batman steps into a fate with quick drying plaster that looks to be his doom.
How will the crusaders get out of this? That is where we are at, coming tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel.
More to come, maybe
David Wayne makes for an unusual criminal in this series and his special hat ray is one weapon that has no solution other than when it is not working.
The jury is still out tonight, will it get called in tomorrow?
Then at the climax Batman zaps Robin with a mirror reflecting the Mad Hatter's zapping beam and disables the boy wonder. Then, Batman steps into a fate with quick drying plaster that looks to be his doom.
How will the crusaders get out of this? That is where we are at, coming tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel.
More to come, maybe
David Wayne makes for an unusual criminal in this series and his special hat ray is one weapon that has no solution other than when it is not working.
The jury is still out tonight, will it get called in tomorrow?
The Thirteenth Hat
Prismark104 May 2024
Hats off to the Mad Hatter. The mesmerising Jervis Tetch (David Wayne) has been released from prison and wants Batman for revenge.
It was the caped crusader's testimony that put the helmet pincher behind bars. For now the Mad Hatter is settling for the jurors and their headgear as he takes them away.
His mind is set on taking away the Batman's cowl. Thereby exposing him to the world and the Mad Hatter has another trophy for his collection.
Batman is right on the Hatter's tail as he searches for clues. The Mad Hatter makes sure that the Batman is plastered.
This was the first introduction to the series of this Alice in Wonderland inspired baddie. He seems to share some villainy with the Penguin in a colourful way. Also those eyes under his hat that emit the mesmerising ray.
It was the caped crusader's testimony that put the helmet pincher behind bars. For now the Mad Hatter is settling for the jurors and their headgear as he takes them away.
His mind is set on taking away the Batman's cowl. Thereby exposing him to the world and the Mad Hatter has another trophy for his collection.
Batman is right on the Hatter's tail as he searches for clues. The Mad Hatter makes sure that the Batman is plastered.
This was the first introduction to the series of this Alice in Wonderland inspired baddie. He seems to share some villainy with the Penguin in a colourful way. Also those eyes under his hat that emit the mesmerising ray.
One of Top Entries in the BATMAN TV Series
redryan6419 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
AS WE SIT here before our trusty laptop, we can't believe that we haven't reviewed this episode (and its follow up, BATMAN STANDS PAT). In fact, no one has done so as of yet.
THIS IS REALLY an oddity for aficionados of the great, groundbreaking BATMAN TV Series; for it is one of those high quality, generously budgeted and very well written episodes of that first season. Furthermore, it is one of the TV scripts that were adapted directly from a Batman comic book story. In this instance, the highly embellished teleplay was taken and developed from "The Mad Hatter of Gotham City", published in the April 1956 issue of DETECTIVE COMICS, number 230. (The bit about revenge for a trial was added to the original storyline).
THE CASTING OF Mr. David Wayne in the role of the Mad Hatter was indeed a good one, which allowed the star to let go and really ham it up. His characterization went to the extremely eccentric, which made perfect sense; being that this villain is a sort of satirical send-up of all of us who are compulsive collectors.
ALONG WITH SOME top flight, tailor made musical queues, great costuming and special effects (Mad Hatters hypnotic top hat eye lights), this entry had one element lacking in the other installments. It is the sole two-parter (or one parter for that matter) that gave the actual name of the villain. We learn in the very beginning from Commissioner Gordon that 'Jervis Tetsch' is the name of the man who has the alias of 'the Mad Hatter."*
PLEASE SEE OUR review of part 2, BATMAN STANDS PAT, coming soon to your local computer!
NOTE: * Of all the Batman Villains, there were a few who didn't have a given and surname. The Joker never was identified with any name until the feature film BATMAN (WB, 1989) dubbed him Jack Napier. The Penguin was briefly called 'Mr. Boniface' in his first appearance until BATMAN RETURNS (WB, 1991) rechristened him 'Oswald Cobblepot.'
THIS IS REALLY an oddity for aficionados of the great, groundbreaking BATMAN TV Series; for it is one of those high quality, generously budgeted and very well written episodes of that first season. Furthermore, it is one of the TV scripts that were adapted directly from a Batman comic book story. In this instance, the highly embellished teleplay was taken and developed from "The Mad Hatter of Gotham City", published in the April 1956 issue of DETECTIVE COMICS, number 230. (The bit about revenge for a trial was added to the original storyline).
THE CASTING OF Mr. David Wayne in the role of the Mad Hatter was indeed a good one, which allowed the star to let go and really ham it up. His characterization went to the extremely eccentric, which made perfect sense; being that this villain is a sort of satirical send-up of all of us who are compulsive collectors.
ALONG WITH SOME top flight, tailor made musical queues, great costuming and special effects (Mad Hatters hypnotic top hat eye lights), this entry had one element lacking in the other installments. It is the sole two-parter (or one parter for that matter) that gave the actual name of the villain. We learn in the very beginning from Commissioner Gordon that 'Jervis Tetsch' is the name of the man who has the alias of 'the Mad Hatter."*
PLEASE SEE OUR review of part 2, BATMAN STANDS PAT, coming soon to your local computer!
NOTE: * Of all the Batman Villains, there were a few who didn't have a given and surname. The Joker never was identified with any name until the feature film BATMAN (WB, 1989) dubbed him Jack Napier. The Penguin was briefly called 'Mr. Boniface' in his first appearance until BATMAN RETURNS (WB, 1991) rechristened him 'Oswald Cobblepot.'
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