Joel Eisner mentions, in his Batman book, that the role of Minerva in the series' final episode was originally intended for Mae West. It's not clear from the text whether he saw studio paperwork to that effect, or if it was something William Dozier told him in an interview.
Because there was a Mae West cameo in the script for "Ring Around The Riddler," which was apparently never filmed, it's been conjectured that the Mae West/Minerva connection was erroneous - but check out these December 1967 items that ran in the TV columns of various newspapers:
Dec 1st '67:
Dec 17th '67:
Also, for the record, there was this Dec 9th '67 item about Zsa Zsa's forthcoming appearance on the show:
Since Ms. West would presumably have received no billing for a standard cameo, those references to the "Mae East" billing gag seem like pretty good evidence that the producers had made at least tentative plans for a full-fledged "guest star" part for Mae.
Mae West as Minerva?
Moderators: Scott Sebring, Ben Bentley
Re: Mae West as Minerva?
Good digging, Mr. Glee.
This was addressed on the To The Batpoles podcast earlier this year, based on information podcaster Tim Young got from the proxy researcher at the University of Wyoming.
http://tothebatpoles.libsyn.com/083-fit ... e#comments
He talks about it a little after the 1:23.54 mark. Apparently, there was another episode after Minerva originally set to be shot the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, beginning on Dec. 27, 1967. And Mae West would've been the villainess.
This was addressed on the To The Batpoles podcast earlier this year, based on information podcaster Tim Young got from the proxy researcher at the University of Wyoming.
http://tothebatpoles.libsyn.com/083-fit ... e#comments
He talks about it a little after the 1:23.54 mark. Apparently, there was another episode after Minerva originally set to be shot the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, beginning on Dec. 27, 1967. And Mae West would've been the villainess.
'I thought Siren was perfect for Joan.'--Stanley Ralph Ross, writer of 'The Wail of the Siren'
My hobbies include gazing at the Siren and doing her bidding, evil or otherwise.
'She had a devastating, hypnotic effect on all the men.'--A schoolmate describing Joan Collins at age 17
My hobbies include gazing at the Siren and doing her bidding, evil or otherwise.
'She had a devastating, hypnotic effect on all the men.'--A schoolmate describing Joan Collins at age 17