KEEPING the subject matter of story lines from going stale, a number of topics seemed to have a sort of regular "Batting Order". In this manner, the SUPERMAN Show's writing team could treat us to multiple presentations in a particular topic; but working on variations to a particular theme. Treatment of subjects such as Superman's Double Identity, Loneliness of Being a Super Hero, 'the Evil Twin', Superman's friends and 'Fun with Kryptonite!' IN reprising the subject of mind control in 'Topsy Turvy', the series could look back to such psychologically oriented episodes as 'The Face and the Voice' (Season 2), 'Great Caesar 's Ghost' (Season 3) and the brutally grim 'The Mind Machine' (Season 1).
LIKE the Season 1's 'The Mind Machine', our subject for today, 'Topsy Turvy' makes use of the inventions of an eccentric genius of a scientist, which falls into the wrong hands; being used for evil instead of the welfare of mankind. Unlike the season one entry, there is plenty of counterbalancing levity to render the story less disturbing to the small fry viewing the proceedings.
WHEREAS 'The Mind Machine villain Lou Cranek (Dan Seymour) misuses the technological marvel to first manipulate victim's will, ultimately destroying him; Topsy Turvy heavy, Carni (Ben Welden) is frightened by the otherwise harmless upside-down machine.
THE STORY manages to mix in a one gang crime wave of robberies in which the modus operandi of the hold-ups makes use of the invention to cause such disorientation of all unsuspecting victims, enabling the gang total control over situation. As in most such stories, the bad guys stumble on the wonder weapon quite by accident.
ALSO much in common with most predecessors, this episode has the services of an eccentric inventor. In this case it's one Professor Pepperwinkle (Phil Tead ), who had become a recurring semi-regular in the series.* The good Professor's handy work falls into the opportunistic, criminally bent hands of crook, Carni (Mr. Welden) and YoYo (CharlesWIlliams). Rounding out the guest cast is Mickey Knox, who plays the pivotal role of the unsuspecting flagpole sitter. His plight is relieved with the arrival of Superman. The inclusion of this scene was a boon to the advancement of the adventure's proceedings.
ONE incident portrayed in the early part of the episode has the petty crook, Carni (Ben Welden, again) first unwittingly encounters the power of Pepperwinkle's gadget being tested. Being totally surprised and caught off guard as he enters the room where the upside down inversion is going down (or would it be going up?); Carni loudly exclaims: "HEY, RUBE!" REFERRING to any dictionary of English Language Slang will serve one well who may not be familiar with this highly esoteric jargon used in the story; being peculiarly given a highly limited, narrow meaning in a particular field. In this case, the name "Carni" is obviously shortened from Carnival. Although it is sometimes also spelled as "Carney" (as in Art Carney), the exclamatory use of "Hey Rube" is a universally used as a call for help in all carnivals, circus midways, rodeos and county fairs. Inclusion of this as a means of tracking down the bad guys is the same sort of clues culled from real life that were used in some of the best comic book stories; particularly in classic BATMAN stories that were penned by that series' principal writer, Bill Finger.
AFTER all these seasons on the air, the Superman show had undergone quite a metamorphosis. After a controversial, violent first season of film noir episodes, the series had been gradually dumming down to a truly kid's show. One could count on an installment in the last couple of years to be much more amusing than violent in its depiction of the action. 'Topsy Turvy' sure fills that bill! WITH an overabundance of "Topsy" and too little "Turvy", Schultz, I think it should be given a SS Rating. (That's two Superman 'S' Emblems.
NOTE * Right around this same period, the Superman Comics stories had introduced a comic relief eccentric inventor called Professor Potter; who was very much like Peperwinkle of the TV Series. It always was puzzling as to why that Potter moniker wasn't carried to the TV Tube.
POODLE SCHNITZ!! .