The Penguin's a Jinx

"The Penguin's a Jinx"

"The Penguin's a Jinx" is an episode of Batman, first airing in the first season on ABC January 23, 1966 as its fourth installment. ABC rebroadcast the episode September 1, 1966 and May 18, 1967.

Plot synopsis

Bruce Wayne's burning feet revive him just in time, and he retrieves from his pocket his cigarette lighter containing a lifetime supply of butane gas, and throws it into the fire. A sudden blast ensues, eating up the oxygen, putting the furnace out, and throwing Bruce free from the net, far enough to make his escape. Later, at The Batcave, as The Penguin and his Finks cleverly eavesdrop courtesy of a bug he planted on The Batbrella, Batman and Robin decide that the Penguin's scheme is kidnapping actress Dawn Robbins, who is in town at a hotel in a penthouse apartment. Batman then discusses the whole scheme the Penguin must have. Batman and Robin go to Dawn (who is bored from the life of a movie star and wants to experience something exciting). They notify her that they believe she is in danger, and she agrees to let them stay and stake-out the place.

The Penguin, Hawkeye and Sparrow swing across to Robbins' terrace on giant umbrellas; Penguin enters through the screen door while one of his Finks places a giant magnet by the door. The Penguin gasses Dawn to sleep. As Batman and Robin try to stop the Penguin, the magnet is turned on and they are pulled to it because of the metal in their utility belts, rendering them powerless. Batman and Robin escape from the magnet with the aid of a passing bellboy and retrn to Wayne Manor. Knowing Penguin is listening in through the umbrella's bug, they announce that the ransom will be paid at Wayne Manor and that Batman and Robin will be waiting inside the armor statues immediately inside in the entrance hall. The Penguin goes to Wayne Manor and returns the actress. He then uses his gas-umbrella to knock out anyone inside the statues. He returns to his hideout to find out that Batman and Robin were waiting there; there had been dummies inside the statues all along. The Penguin is apprehended and returns to his cage.

Notes

• The Penguin mentions his hideaway in Alaska for the first and only time in all of the Penguin episodes.
• The next time The Dynamic Duo are stuck to a magnet by the metal in their utility belts (which nearly becomes their undoing!) is in the 1966 Batman movie.
• Leslie Parrish (as Dawn Robbins) is seen wearing the exact same gold outfit as Linda Lorimer in Season-2 episode #9711-Pt. 1, "The Clock King's Crazy Crimes," in her role as the Car Hop who serves The Dynamic Duo "Batburgers." Parrish would later appear on the show as Glacia Glaze/Emma Strunk in Episode #9759, "Ice Spy/The Duo Defy," the Season-2 finale.
• Penguin doesn't use the bugged umbrella as a tracking device to figure out the location of the Batcave.
• The next week's villain tag made its first appearance at the end of this episode: "Next week, Batman versus The Joker!"