Dr. Cassandra on “Batman”

I know, I know, I’ve already touched upon the villainess Dr. Cassandra appearing on the 1960’s show, “Batman.”

But, don’t think that’s going to stop me from talking about it further.

Portrayed by Ida Lupino, Dr. Cassandra, flattens the terrific trio of Batman, Robin and Batgirl with her Alvino ray gun into cardboard-like forms--with pulses!

Then, with the three crime fighters out of the way, Dr. Cassandra, accompanied by her sidekick Cabala (played by Howard Duff), makes her way into Warden Crichton’s prison office (thanks to her invention of pills that make a person disappear). Once inside, she gets on the PA system, and announces to the inmates she’s going to free all of the arch criminals, while keeping Warden Crichton at bay with her trusty Alvino ray gun. But, with apologies to all the others criminals in the pokey, just the arch criminals (who are housed, of course, in the arch criminals’ wing. “All others keep out!”) will be released. Freed from the slammer are: Catwoman (once again played by the incredible Julie Newmar), Penguin, Joker, King Tut, Riddler and Egghead.

The terrific trio are slid under Commissioner Gordon’s door like pieces of mail and are rescued by Alfred and restored to their 3-D selves once again. They find where the crooks are hiding and crash the party. But, the criminals take the disappearing pills, and well, disappear. So, our heroes and heroine turn out the lights so everyone’s on an even playing field. And, of course, in the end, good triumphs over evil, and the bad boys (bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do when they come for you) and bad girls are hauled back to the pen.

All the arch criminals on the loose in Gotham City? Gotta love it. (Unless you live in Gotham City, that is.)

For more on this episode, go to imdb.com:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0519521/fullcredits#cast

Here’s a clip from “The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra” episode from YouTube.com:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7aM-JpjyrI