Are the DVD's incomplete?
IMDB lists each episode as containing two stories. The DVD release, though, consists of 22 minute single story episodes.
So, is the DVD release incomplete?
Warner didn't include the companion Super friends cartoons, with the Challenge of... dvd release. They were released separately as Super Friends, Volume 2. The original Super Friends came afterward, released in two volumes, as Super Friends Season 1 Volume 1 and Volume 2. They then released the other seasons. It was hard enough to recall which titles corresponded to which season (apart from Challenge, which always stuck in people's heads) without Warner muddying the waters on dvd.
Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!
So, originally, Challenge Of The Superfriends was an hour show when it aired in first run on TV?
sharePretty much, though they had separate opening titles (this is aged memory, so don't quote me); but combined closing credits (since it was a single set of credits for the entire season). The Super Friends portion had the basic group of Superman, Batman & Robin, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman, plus the Wonder Twins and Gleek. They had their adventures and, as I recall, the only villain who showed up was Mr Mxyzptlk. That was broadcast for the first half hour. The second half hour was Challenge of the Superfriends, with the other JLA members and the Legion of Doom conglomeration of villains.
Here is the breakdown of the various series:
Super Friends-1 hour show, single story.
All-New Super Friends Hour-1 hour, several story segments, plus crafts, PSAs, and code puzzle.
Super Friends/Challenge of the Superfriends-1 hr show, with two separate half hour stories, 1 with the Super friends crew, 1 with the JLA vs LOD.
World's Greatest Super Friends-half hour episodes, many inspired by folklore and fairy tales.
Super Friends-1980 version, with three episode orders, including the "lost episodes," delayed by a writer's strike (and some only seen in syndication). The cartoons were in 7-minute segments, paired with reruns from the older shows. This is where El Dorado was introduced.
Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show-half hour show, tied in with the Kenner Super-Powers toys. Introduces Firestorm to the mix and includes Darkseid and henchmen. Adam West takes over as Batman, Casey Kasem is still Robin.
The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians-half hour, last Super Friends show, includes Cyborg, from the New Teen Titans comic book (as well as the returning Firestorm and Darkseid & Co.). Also features "The Fear," an episode which details Batman's origin. Joker appears in one epsiode, his first for H_B (he was in the Filmation batman cartoons).
Meanwhile, in 1977, the Filmation-produced New Adventures of Batman appeared on CBS, with Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin. It also features Bat-Mite, who was absent from the earlier cartoons, on the Batman/Superman Hour.
This is a pretty good rundown of the various shows and episodes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Super_Friends_episodes
Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!