Unexpected Gay Subtexts in Batman

Aside from the most obvious gay subtexts on the Batman series were some subtles ones. In the second appearance of the Mad Hatter, The Contaminated Cowl/The Mad Hatter Runs Afoul, the villain (played by David Wayne with a sibilant s) sprays the Caped Crusader with radioactive spray turning his cowl a bright pink. Was this a hidden message to gay viewers--like the code phrase Friends of Dorothy--that Batman played on their team? Speaking of that expression, I was on a cruise a few years ago with my friend Diane and the ship's newsletter listed a meeting of Friends of Dorothy on the lido deck the first night. I thought, what is this, 1955? Do we gays still have to hide our identity like Batman from unsuspecting straights? I later asked the cruise's social director the reason for the anachronistic reference? He explained that in the cruise line's experience, listing Friends of Dorothy rather than gay and lesbian passengers, was an easier policy and wouldn't upset more conservative passengers. It turned out there was a huge group of gay guys travelling together and we all became friends during the cruise, and the straight passengers figured it out.

Sidenote: Featured in that episode of Batman was Leonid Kinskey, best known as the Russian bartender Sascha in Casablanca, as Prof. Overbeck, a German atomic scientist.

A few episodes later, there was a three-parter guest-starring the Penquin and Marsha, Queen of Diamonds, a villainess not featured in the comic books, played by Carolyn Jones, Morticia of The Addams Family. In the first segment, Penquin Is a Girl's Best Friend, Pengy tricks Batman into acting in a movie he's directing with Marsha as his star. As director of the project, Penquin forces Batman to kiss Marsha during several takes of a love scene. The female crook has coated her lips with a love potion to make Batman her willing slave. For some reason, the Masked Manhunter is reluctant to smooch the gorgeous villainness and he kicks his legs up and visibly resists. Robin later says "Boy I'll bet you never want to kiss another girl again." What kind of message is being sent here?

In an earlier episode, Marsha tricks Batman into marrying her in order to save Robin whom she has captured--mmmm, more subtle hints at the true relationship of Batman and Robin. Marsha wants to get the Bat-Diamond in the Batcave, but Batman vows no stranger will ever enter his secret liar. "Well, then marry me, darling, and I wouldn't be a stranger." Not exactly the firmest foundation for connubial bliss.

At the last minute, the Caped Crusader is saved from a fate worse than death by the quick thinking of Alfred who shows up with Aunt Harriet claiming she is Mrs. Batman--a beard if ever I saw one. We also learn Alfred has never been married. Double Hmmmm.