Special Guest Villain
Van Johnson as The Minstrel



In 1957, almost a decade before his 1966 appearance as The Minstrel, Van Johnson starred in a musical version of The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Not only did the Hal Stanley television production showcase Mr. Johnson's singing talents, but he wore several costumes similar to those he would wear years later as "The Musical Monster."




This picture adorned the soundtrack album,

but Johnson sprouted a goatee when he portrayed the title role.

19th Century British poet Robert Browning's work based on a legend was set to Norwegian Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt suite. Written in 1876, this orchestral work includes the famous,
"In the Hall of the Mountain King." (Click here. You'll recognize it.)

Van played a dual role in the story, also appearing as a stalwart townsperson.

Although this character was largely ineffectual, he was the only virtuous male adult in Hamelin.

The film boasted an all-star cast, including Claude Rains, Kay Starr,
Jim Backus and Doodles Weaver.

The Minstrel sometimes wore an alternate costume, shown here:

Batman revisited the "Pied Piper" motif during its third season:

Batgirl said they were the "Pied Pipers of Gotham City." In this context, what does pied mean?

Pied is defined as, "having patches of two or more colors." Batgirl's cape certainly qualifies. It also means, "wearing a costume of two or more colors," so the entire Terrific Trio is "pied."


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