Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jan 7, 2024 | 4 comments

A BIRTHDAY SALUTE to the ultimate gentleman’s gentleman…

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UPDATED 1/7/24: The late, great Alan Napier was born 121 years ago, on Jan. 7, 1903! Perfect time to “reprint” this piece from our January 2022 Batman ’66 anniversary celebration. Dig it! — Dan

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By JIM BEARD

Though two actors preceded him and several followed, Alan Napier cemented the role of Alfred, Batman’s butler, in the public’s collective consciousness and for that I’m here today to praise him on the show’s anniversary. (His birthday was just the other day, too, on Jan. 7.)

When I think back on my beloved 1966-68 Batman TV series, it’s not just visions of Adam West and Burt Ward who spring immediately to mind, but the irreplaceable third member of the Dynamic Duo, the Bat-manservant himself, Alfred. And I can’t imagine anyone else whispering to “Master Bruce” that a call on the Batphone has just come in than that tall, distinguished gentleman’s gentleman with dapper discretion, Alan Napier.

Here are my 13 favorite Alfred adventures from the show, in chronological order:

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The Thirteenth Hat/Batman Stands Pat

In His Eye His Trademark Twinkle/Alfred Bugs Turkey Bowinkle

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The Penguin Goes Straight/Not Yet, He Ain’t

With Nary a Misplaced Word/Alfred Bamboozles the Bird

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Fine Finny Fiends/Batman Makes the Scenes

Alfred Shops for Cut-Rate Caviar/He Gains a Twitch in his Savoir Faire

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Batman (1966 Movie)

The Butler Dons a Mask/Putting Robin Back on Task

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Shoot a Crooked Arrow/Walk the Straight and Narrow

The Greatest Archer in Liverpool/Alfred Proves He’s No Fool

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The Impractical Joker/The Joker’s Provokers

Cousin Egbert Guards the Water/Leading Joker and His Gang to the Slaughter

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Marsha, Queen of Diamonds/Marsha’s Scheme with Diamonds

Alfred Teams with Aunt Harriet/They Rescue Batman from the Marital Lariat

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The Penguin’s Nest/The Bird’s Last Jest

Baked into the Penguin’s Pie/Alfred’s Upper Crust is About to Fry

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Catwoman Goes to College/Batman Displays his Knowledge

The Butler Brings His Law Book/He Gets the Caped Crusader Off the Hook

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Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin

The Dominoed Daredoll’s in a Rut/Alfred Learns her Startling Secret

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The Wail of the Siren

The Commissioner is In Too Deep/Alfred to the Rescue with Batsleep

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The Joker’s Flying Saucer

Little Green Men All Around/Alfred Goes Up to Take the Joker Down

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The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra

The Terrific Trio’s Feeling Flat/Back to the Batcave to Pump Up the Bat

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MORE

— 13 THINGS to Love About BATMAN ’66, by JIM BEARD. Click here.

— PAUL KUPPERBERG: My 13 Favorite BATMAN ’66 EPISODES as a First-Run Viewer. Click here.

— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale This Week — in 1966! Click here.

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Jim Beard has pounded out adventure fiction since he sold a story to DC Comics in 2002. He’s gone on to write official Star Wars and Ghostbusters comics stories and contributed articles and essays to several volumes of comic book history. His prose work includes his own creations, but also licensed properties such as Planet of the Apes, X-Files, Spider-Man, Kolchak the Night Stalker and Captain Action. In addition, Jim provided regular content for Marvel.com, the official Marvel Comics website, for 17 years.

Check out his latest releases, a Green Hornet novella How Sweet the Sting, his first epic fantasy novel The Nine Nations Book One: The Sliding World, and the most recent Batman ’66 books of essays he’s edited: Zlonk! Zok! Zowie! The Subterranean Blue Grotto Essays on Batman ’66 – Season One and Biff! Bam! Ee-Yow! The Subterranean Blue Grotto Essays on Batman ’66 – Season Two.