Hugo For Mayor, No. 41, April 18, 1967. Produced And Directed by
Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Martin Taras, Morey Reden. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Dennis Marks.
Marked
bills are stolen from the bank, some of which show up under the chief’s
pillow. The mayor is found to have some of the marked bills on him as well, bad
timing since he’s up for re-election. It’s up to Batfink to clear both the
chief and the mayor, and also to defeat the incumbent’s opponent, none other
than that skilled politician, Hugo A Go Go. Hugo’s lab doubles as his campaign
headquarters. Batfink arrives blaming Hugo for planting the marked money -
because Hugo has the marked money bag to prove it! Hugo has a ballot box which
is large enough to fit both Batfink and Karate - and Hugo does just that and
throws the ballot box off the cliff. The box lands in the truck carrying ballot
boxes to the election board. The vote tally is 99 for Hugo, 98 for the mayor.
The last ballot box is opened and Batfink and Karate, both inside, cast their
votes for the mayor.
The Indian Taker, No. 42, March 23, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Myron Waldman. Scenics: Bob Owen,
John Zago. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Heywood Kling.
What's
this? Hugo
has set up an Indian camp (the Indian motif rather curiously set by Raymond
Scott's "Dinner Music For A Pack Of Hungry Cannibals"). He shoots an
arrow and steals the Riviera Tiara. Hugo sends out a smoke signal to smoke out
Batfink’s radar. Hugo also throws tomahawks at Batfink and Karate. Because
they refuse to smoke Hugo’s peace pipe, they get a lead pipe in the head and
get burned at the stake as Hugo dances and does Indian war whoops. The dancing
causes a rain storm. Hugo claims it’s because he's a new Indian.
The Devilish Device, No. 43, May 29, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti.
Animation: Martin Taras, Morey Reden. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Dennis Marks.
Ex-wrestling
champ Tiger Gluck guards the priceless violin of Maestro Fiddlefaddle. But Hugo’s devilish new device
changes the Tiger into a pussycat - the device gives people animal-like
qualities. Upon doing so, he steals the violin. Hugo uses the device to turn Batfink’s radar into a snake, which manages to hiss the villain’s name
anyway. Hugo then turns Karate into a dog and Batfink into a pecking chicken
which eats at feed which leads to a bomb detonator. But when Batfink reaches the
bomb, he disarms it and tells Hugo that Batfink would never turn chicken.
This is the first Batfink cartoon to use extremely jazzy Winston Sharples music from
the Paramount theatrical cartoon "The Trip". Cues from this cartoon,
and several others from the 1965-1967 period, would begin to dominate the music tracks.
Goldstinger, No. 44, March 30, 1967. Produced And Directed by
Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Myron Waldman. Scenics:
Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Dennis Marks.
Hugo
is up to his old tricks again. He’s invented a Goldstinger, which will turns
anything to gold. It works, so he turns a hot water bottle into gold. The gold
broker won’t pay much for the hot water bottle, so Hugo turns him to gold and
takes the cash register. Batfink’s radar returns goldplated. Karate falls
through the trap door, which smashes Batfink through the ceiling; he’s then
tied up by Hugo. Karate breaks through the wall and is turned into gold. Karate
manages to bend the Goldstinger into a boomerang, which when thrown at Batfink
turns Hugo to gold and gives Batfink a chance to turn everything back to its
natural state.
The Shady Shadow, No. 45, April 18, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Martin Taras,
Frank Endres. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Heywood Kling.
Hugo’s
newest experiment: he brings his own shadow to life. Hugo instructs his shadow
to rob jewels. The chief said the shadow didn’t leave any fingerprints.
Batfink immediately suspects Hugo. Karate and Batfink can’t overcome the
shadow. Karate tries to fight his own shadow. Hugo plans to use his shadow to
detonate a dynamite charge intended to destroy Batfink. Karate breaks through
the wall and trains a flashlight on Hugo’s shadow. Batfink stands in front of
Hugo’s machine. Batfink’s shadow destroys Hugo’s machine.
Party Marty, No. 46, March 1, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Morey Reden.
Scenics: Bill Focht. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Heywood Kling.
Cleopatra’s
love letters are on display at the library - sssh! But Party Marty comes in and
makes all sorts of noise and steals the love letters - sssh! At his party house,
Marty shoots fireworks at Batfink but as usual his wings save the day. Marty’s
cake has a bomb. Batfink is sent skyward by balloons as P.M. plays Pin The Tail
On Karate. As Batfink rises, the balloons begin to burst and Batfink’s rubber
bonds are dissolved by the heat of his re-entry. Sssh!
The Beep Bopper, No. 47, April 7, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Myron
Waldman. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Dennis
Marks.
Hugo robs a bank despite warnings that the bank has cameras that will take
his picture. The Chief shows Batfink and Karate pictures of Hugo in flagrante
delecto, mugging for the cameras the whole while. He also owes the bank
$1.75 for developing the pictures. When Batfink sends out his radar, Hugo uses
his new invention on it: the Beep Bopper, which will knock out Batfink’s beep
and enable Hugo to have it do what he wants. The Hugo-controlled radar leads
Batfink and Karate into a quicksand trap. Only a temporary setback. The Beep
leads the Batillac off the edge of a cliff. High tension wires break the
Batillac’s fall and shock the Beep back to its senses.
The Super Trap, No. 48, May 12, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Martin Taras, John Gentilella. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Dennis Marks.
All
electronic equipment in the city is being jammed, including Batfink’s hotline.
Hugo A Go Go shows up to unjam the electronics, for a price. Hugo tries to run
away, but Batfink pushes some buttons on a console and the doors close up. Hugo
defeats all of Batfink’s crimefighting doodads with his jammer. Batfink then
introduces the Super Trap. It’s a spring that winds around Batfink and Karate.
Hugo then gets out some dynamite and lights it. But Hugo can’t get out of the
cave, so he defuses the dynamite and opens the doors. Hugo unjams the door,
which also frees Batfink and Karate from the Super Trap.
Bride And Doom, No. 49, May 1, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: James Tyer.
Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Heywood Kling.
Hugo’s
just married to a lovely robot bride. She picks out her ring at an otherwise
closed jeweler. Batfink and Karate head for Hugo’s lab, where he’s adjusting
quite well to being a husband. Her mouth has a gun inside. The bridal bouquet
has a grenade inside. Hugo brings Batfink and Karate on the honeymoon to Niagara
falls (reused animation from Batfink On The Rocks)
and sends them down the falls on a raft with Hugo’s mechanical mother in law.
On the way down Mother In Law short-circuits which frees Batfink and Karate.
Near the end of the cartoon Hugo’s bride talks more sped-up gibberish,
translated here for your entertainment: "...dirty cover on a clean book,
let’s take it at face value and call it trash and dump it in the river."
(See Spin The Batfink for the first part of
this rant.)
Topsy Turvy, No. 50, April 24, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Myron
Waldman. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Dennis
Marks.
Professor
Flippo steals his invention, the Topsy Turvy box, while posing as a janitor at
the government’s top secret top secret building (it’s on the top shelf,
right below the Middle Secrets and Bottom Secrets). "What a racket! I sell
my plans to the government, they spend a million dollars to build it, and now I
steal it!" A cop catches him in the act but is turned topsy turvy. Batfink
interviews him while standing on his head. The criminal wore size 9½ shoes.
What about his face? "I don’t know what size his face was." The
Batillac arrives at Prof. Flippo’s but is turned upside down. After being
conked out by a topsy turvy safe, Flippo rigs the time on the Topsy Turvy
machine to turn over a vat of molten lead to boil Batfink alive. Karate opens
the door, knocking the Topsy Turvy machine so that it turns the room upside down
and saves Batfink’s life.
The Rotten Rainmaker, No. 51, June 8, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Martin Taras,
Peter Dakis. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Dennis Marks.
Ten
days of rain have stalled a rocket launch. The Rotten Rainmaker wants a million
dollars to stop the rain. He proves to Batfink that he can, but then resumes the
cloudburst. The Rotten Rainmaker sells an umbrella to Batfink. He then makes
hail, which fells Karate, but it just bounces off Batfink’s wings. Next comes
thunder and lightning, which defeats the Bat. Karate and Batfink are placed in a
plutonium rain chamber, which quickly fills with rainwater. By focusing incoming
sunlight on the rain cloud, they escape and bring the Rainmaker to justice.
Gypsy James, No. 52, May 29, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Bill
Ackerman, Frank Endres. Scenics: Bill Focht. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Heywood Kling.
Gypsy
James drives around town in his gypsy wagon (marked "G.J. Inc.")
stealing parking meters for small change. The police plan a roadblock (mostly
junk like old couches and dress mannequins), which doesn’t work. Batfink is
called on the case. James leaves a trail of emptied parking meters to his
hideout. There, he sees Batfink on his trail in his crystal ball. Gypsy James
sticks pins in a voodoo doll of Batfink, who feels the pain. Batfink arrives on
the scene only to be pelted by parking meters, which Batfink deflects off his
wings. But Gypsy James spreads out the wings on the voodoo doll, which renders
Batfink helpless. G.J. ties up the voodoo dolls of Batfink and Karate and shows
them their future in his crystal ball - going off the edge of a cliff in his
gypsy wagon. Which is exactly what happens. But James accidentally unties the
voodoo dolls of Batfink and Karate, freeing them and allowing to escape and
apprehend the criminal.
The last Batfink criminal to steal from parking meters was
Sporty
Morty, in episode #22.
The Kooky Chameleon, No. 53, May 19, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Graham Place.
Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Dennis Marks.
The
Chameleon pulls off art robberies by hiding behind backdrops that blend into the
scenery. The Chameleon fools the Chief by posing as a door and stealing his
picture. The bridge is out, but the Chameleon paints a backdrop. The Batillac
drives through the background and crashes. At the Chameleon's apartment, he
hides behind a backdrop that looks liek an ornate wallpaper pattern and
dispatches Karate. Later he clobbers Batfink with a frying pan. He ties them
both up and drives a steamroller in front of them. But Batfink uses his radar to
put up a plain grass background on top of them. He shears the steamroller in
half with his wings. The Chameleon is forced to trade his smock for a prison
uniform.
Beanstalk Jack, No. 54, May 12, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Bill
Ackerman. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Heywood
Kling.
What’s
this? It’s a farmer planting beanstalk seeds. Beanstalk Jack steals the city
treasury and grows another ‘stalk as a police car passes by. Batfink gets the
cops down from the top of the beanstalk. The tractor tracks lead to Beanstalk
Jack’s barn. He grows another beanstalk, levitating his barn to the top of the
beanstalk. Another beanstalk pins Batfink to the ceiling, Still more trap
Karate. B.J. creates a Rube Goldberg device that will spell the end of Batfink.
It involves spilling acid onto a rope that will drop a bomb blowing up the house
and Batfink and Karate with it. But Batfink uses his Beep to deflect the acid so
that it burns the beanstalk that pins Batfink to the ceiling.
The Time Stopper, No. 55, May 19, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Martin Taras,
Jim Logan. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton.
Story: Dennis Marks.
Hugo’s
latest invention is a time-stopping box. Such an invention could do the world
good, but naturally Hugo goes on a crime spree with the box. Batfink, as usual,
checks upstairs. A time-stopped Karate is dispatched through a hole in the
floor. Batfink is frozen and clobbered with a rolling pin. They are sent
catapulting over a cliff, but Hugo can’t restart the time. Instead, it goes in
reverse. They’re saved again.
The Kangarobot, No. 56, May 1, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Myron
Waldman. Scenics: Bob Owen, Bill Focht. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story:
Heywood Kling.
The
mad inventor Hugo has created a robot kangaroo, which he uses to rob heliports
and such. Karate thinks a baby kangaroo did it. They follow the kangaroo to
Hugo’s lab - "right into mine trap". Batfink tries to arrest Karate,
but he has to box the Kangarobot first. The Kangarobot’s tail knocks Batfink
out. Hugo’s about to send the Kangarobot off the cliff and into the ocean
below with Batfink and Karate in the pouch. Last Minute Rescue #56: the
Kangarobot poops out on the poop deck of a passing ship.
Presto-Chango-Hugo, No. 57, June 8, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Martin Taras,
John
Gentilella. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Dennis
Marks.
Hugo’s
newest invention makes two people or animals switch personailities. He shoots
the Presto-Chango at Batfink and Karate, which switches their personalities. The
whole city’s been switched around. Karate and Batfink arrive at Hugo’s lab.
Hugo shoots a cannonball at Karate, who thinks he can stop it with his wings of
steel. But Batfink steps in and saves the day (when doesn’t he?). The spray
had worn off ten minutes ago, but our crimefighters kept up the ruse to fool
Hugo.
The cop who replies "Whatever you say, Chief" in a female voice is
a cameo appearance by Beverly Arnold.
Curly The Cannonball, No. 58, June 30, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Bill
Ackerman. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Dennis
Marks.
Curly
The Human Cannonball fires himself through the wall of a jewelry store,
bypassing the alarmed glass and a gate. Batfink's radar finds Curly at the
carnival. An explosive cannonball is fired at the Batillac to no avail. Karate
fires himself in the cannon and slingshots off a safety net. Wearing a helmet
with a dynamite detonator, Curly fires himself at Batfink and Karate, tied to a
pole. At the last second, Batfink and Karate jump, rooting the pole and sending
Curly off trajectory.
Robber Hood, No. 59, May 12, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Myron
Waldman. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Heywood
Kling.
Robber
Hood shoots his arrow to rob from the rich bank and give to the poor, namely
him. Robber Hood shoots an arrow through Batfink’s radar. They’re led into
the forest (which Karate can’t seem to see for the trees), where Batfink
happens on a horseshoe. R.H. shoots at Batfink with the usual result. Karate
runs into the forest to try to rescue Batfink, who’s tied up at the moment.
One final arrow shot at Batfink’s chest deflects: it’s the lucky horseshoe
found in the forest.
Did Frank Buxton have a cold the day this cartoon was recorded? Both Batfink
and Robber Hood sound like they have nasal congestion.
Slow Down! Speed Up!, No. 60, June 1, 1967. Produced And
Directed by Hal Seeger. Production Supervisor: Ray Seti. Animation: Martin Taras,
James Tyer. Scenics: Bob Owen. Voices: Len Maxwell, Frank Buxton. Story: Dennis
Marks..
Six-Gun
Smiley’s pistols are stolen in the midst of his fast draw - Hugo has a machine
that can selectively slow down and speed up time. Hugo blows up a bridge.
Batfink tries to save Karate and the Batillac, but is slowed down and shot at by
Hugo. He speeds himself up to expedite tying Batfink and Karate to a pole and
shooting them with a harpoon gun. Hugo slows down the harpoon, which gives
Batfink time to escape. Hugo is hoisted on his own harpoon.
All Cartoons On This Page
© 1967 Hal Seeger. Summaries © 2007 Dave Mackey.