Card of the Day - 2024-02-16

Topps Bat Laffs
Topps [trade : O/S : USA] “Bat Laffs” (1966) 43/55 – ABF-2.4.A

So this again harks back to our Batman listing. This one is 

T4. Front without caption, red number in circle. (55) 
     A. Sectional back headed "Bat Laffs".
     B. Sectional back headed "Batman" in "bat" outline. 

However in this case as you will see. it is live action, not cartoon, and this, in costume is Cesar Romero. 

This set ties in to the feature film, which was released in cinemas, and, like the tv series, starred Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin. However all the familiar characters were there,  apart from Julie Newmar, who played Catwoman. Her suit was filled instead by Lee Meriwether. I have not been able to find out why.

As an added bonus, not all the scenes that appear on these cards appear in the movie, some were promotional shots, and that is what makes this set so interesting to collectors. It is also one of the first to do that, paving the way for all the "Behind the Scenes" cards in more modern film tie-in sets. 

Now the cards come either with or without the wording "See the BATMAN Motion Picture release by 20th Century-Fox" above the copyright information. It seems likely that it was there from the start, as extra promotional material, encouraging the card collectors to go and see the film, which was released in July 1966, two months after the series ended. However we do not know why, or when, the line was removed.