In 1967, William Dozier, the creator and executive producer of the Batman television series, concerned that the show’s ratings were falling, decided to introduce a female character on the side of law and order in an attempt to attract new viewers. He came up with Batgirl, who would help Batman (Adam West) and his adolescent sidekick, Robin (Burt Ward), in their crusade against the malign forces of “guest villains”. For this role, on a par with the caped crusader and the boy wonder, Dozier cast Yvonne Craig. Although Craig, who has died aged 78, had then been acting in films and television for a decade, she had Batgirl to thank for any fame she attained.
The Dynamic Duo became the Tremendous Trio when Craig first appeared in Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin, aired on 14 September 1967, the start of the third and last season of the series. As Barbara, the librarian daughter of Commissioner Gordon, she is kidnapped by the Penguin (Burgess Meredith), who bullies her into agreeing to marry him. However, unknown to everyone except Alfred, the faithful butler of the billionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne (aka Batman), Barbara has a secret crime-fighting identity. Inevitably, she escapes from the Penguin, and rescues the astonished Batman and Robin, who have been hopelessly strung up in the Penguin’s lair.
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