Madge Blake (May 31, 1899 - February 19, 1969)

Given her impressive resume it is hard to believe that Madge Blake didn't begin her career on screen until age 50. She appeared in her first film in 1949 and would go onto appear in 48 more films between then and 1966. In many of appearances however, she was uncredited. Some of her more notable film appearances were in The Long, Long Trailer, Please Murder Me, Ain't Misbehavin and Please Don't Eat the Daisies. Madge became a very well known and well recognizable character actress on television as the medium began to grow. She appeared on such programs as "City Detective", "The Public Defender", "It's a Great Life", "The Star and the Story", "Four Star Playhouse", "Cavalcade of America", "Private Secretary", "December Bride", "General Electric Theater", "Lassie", "Bachelor Father", "The Gale Storm Show", "Studio 57", "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars", "The Bob Cummings Show", "Dennis the Menace", "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet", "Make Room for Daddy", "Dr. Kildare", "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre", "The Addams Family", "The Lucy Show", "Bewitched", "Burke's Law", "My Favorite Martian", "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "The Smothers Brothers Show", "Mannix" and "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." There were a few more permanent television roles as well. During the 1961-1962 television season she played Joey Bishop's mother on "The Joey Bishop Show." She had a recurring role as Mrs. Margaret Mondello on "Leave it to Beaver", Florrie MacMichael on "The Real McCoys" and Tillie, the fan club president on "The Jack Benny Program." She made two very memorable appearances on "I Love Lucy." In the episode "Ricky Loses His Temper" she appeared as Mrs. Mulford, owner of a clothing shop and in the episode "Lucy and Superman" she played Martha, a perspective tenant of the Mertzes who spots Lucy out on the ledge in her Superman costume. In 1966, she began to play her most famous role, Aunt Harriet, on the ABC series "Batman." Starring Adam West and Burt Ward as the Dynamic Duo the show began on January 12, 1966. Blake's character was Harriet Cooper, maternal aunt to Dick Grayson (Robin). The character was added to the mix to act as sort of a "chaperone" to the two bachelor crime fighters. Even though Aunt Harriet was a supporting player she sometimes got involved in the action. In the episode "Zelda the Great" she is kidnapped by Zelda (Anne Baxter) and held for ransom. In "Hizzoner the Penguin" she donates a great deal of money to make sure the Penguin (Burgess Meredith) isn't elected mayor. In "The Devil's Fingers" she is romanced by the villianous Chandell (Liberace). In "Marsha, Queen of Diamonds" she and Alfred form a plan to save Batman from having to marry the Queen of Diamonds (Carolyn Jones) and claim that Harriet is the first wife of the Caped Crusader. By the end of the second season in 1967, Madge was having health issues and left the series. She made two small cameos in the episodes "Ring Around the Riddler" and "The Bloody Tower." Her absence was explained as having Aunt Harriet being away on a cruise. She is mentioned one final time in the episode "Louie's Lethal Lilac Time." The story sees Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson kidnapped by Louie, the Lilac (Milton Berle) and Alfred (Alan Napier) tells Barbara Gordon (Yvonne Craig) and some reporters that "Mrs. Cooper is in shock upstairs." Madge Blake was the image of the aunt, cousin, neighbor or grandmother that we wish we all had. Her contributions to film and television will never be forgotten.