Posted By Dan Greenfield on Dec 15, 2017 | 9 comments

A fitting tribute.

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UPDATED

— For the FIRST LOOK at the BATMAN ’66 exhibit, click here.

— For The 13 GROOVIEST THINGS at the BATMAN ’66 Museum Exhibit. Click here.

— For an INSIDE LOOK at the BATMAN ’66 Epic Villains Display, click here.

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The modern wave of 1966 Batmania has seen a gorgeous video release; hundreds of wildly fun collectibles; colorful books; groovy clothes; two entertaining animated features; and a massive outpouring of affection for Adam West upon his death earlier this year.

Now, Batman ’66 is a museum exhibit, featuring a Batcave full of costumes, props and other memorabilia.

The first-ever such retrospective will open to the public Jan. 12, 2018 at the Hollywood Museum on the anniversary of the show’s 1966 debut. Not only that, there will be a VIP gala on Jan. 10, featuring Burt Ward and Lee Meriwether, as well as Barbara Rush, who played Nora Clavicle. (The exhibit closes in April.) (UPDATED: JULIE NEWMAR to Attend BATMAN ’66 Museum Gala. Click here.)

Here’s the press release:

Hollywood, Ca. – President and Founder of the world-famous Hollywood Museum in the historic Max Factor Building (www.hollywoodmuseum.com), Donelle Dadigan, announced today that, the Hollywood Museum is thrilled that Burt Ward and world renown Batman ‘66 collectors, will work together in the first ever “BATMAN ‘66” exhibit, opening to the public on Jan 12th 2018 – the same date as the 52nd anniversary of the 1966 premiere of the ABC TV series, “Batman.”

On Jan 10th 2018, The Hollywood Museum will turn Hollywood in Gotham City, as they project the iconic Bat Signal on the side of the historic Max Factor building, at a VIP unveiling gala for “HOLY HOLLYWOOD HISTORY! BATMAN ‘66,” with special appearances by the show’s cast members and other stars in attendance.

The exhibit, which will consist of four popular sections (Wayne Manor, The Batcave, Gallery of Guest Super Villains, and The Collectibles of Batman ‘66), will pay tribute to the memory of Adam West and honor the other half of the Dynamic Duo, Burt Ward, and the iconic show, still seen today in the U.S. and around the world weekly.

Last year’s release of Warner Bros animated films “Batman: Return of the Caped Crusader” and this year’s “Batman vs Two Face,” Batman ‘66 is hotter than ever. Burt Ward (Robin), who has gone from Caped Crusader to Canine Crusader, with his nonprofit dog food, GENTLE GIANTS (www.gentlegiantsdogfood.com), helping dogs live twice as long, said “I never dreamed I would still be playing the same character 52 years later. I am thrilled that the Hollywood Museum in the historic Max Factor Building would honor our show in this way.”

The BATMAN 66 exhibit will feature original costumes and props from the show, which have not been seen since it originally broadcast from 1966-68. Dadigan says, “We have costumes and props that evoke one’s childhood memories of the ever popular TV series, “Batman”. There is something for everyone – from the Batmobile and Batcycle to Burt and Adam’s original costumes worn during the show’s 120 episode run on ABC TV Network, as well as guest villains – and one of my favorites – the original Dr. Casandra costume worn by TV and film star Ida Lupino, that has never been seen publicly before.”

Other highlights include original costumes and costumes recreated due to age and condition representing guest star villlians including The Riddler, The Joker, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze – to name a few; , life size sculptures of the three famous women who brought Catwoman to life (Eartha Kitt, Lee Meriwether and the original, Julie Newmar) with costumes, as well as Yvonne Craig (Batgirl), and more, including Adam West’s face and mannequin from 1966.

The extensive exhibit will also feature much sought after collectibles, including a the “gotta-have” children’s lunch box, action figures of every shape and size, batman and robin puppets, rare Batman Ice Cream boxes, drinking cups, board games, and many more extremely rare collectibles from 1966 too numerous to name and, in some cases, never before seen on public display.

Thousands of hours have gone into mounting this exhibit and a dedicated team of Hollywood Museum staff and world- renown collectors, including Wally Wingert, Scott Sebring, Pat Evans, Tom Woodruff Jr., Nate Truman, Mark Hardeman, Greg Maraio, Alex Zsolt, Christopher Chaisson, Bob Mitsch, Kelly Delcambre, Adrian Van Eck, Ivan Tabac, Brian Puls, Chaz George, Buddy Rogers, Troy Maynus, Daniel Fopma, Dave Tripet, Grigg Espinoza, Rob Klein, and Robert Jungweber have come together to loan amazing items that are now part of TV history – to help create this first ever Batman’66 exhibit, “Holy Hollywood History!” Wally Wingert has been named as the special Curator of this exhibit, with exhibit Organizer, Roger Neal.

Ward remarked “I am excited to see all of this. It will be like a homecoming to reunite with these items and to remember my friend and crime fighting partner, Adam West.”

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So, anybody up for a road trip?

MORE

— FIRST LOOK at the BATMAN ’66 exhibit, click here.

— The 13 GROOVIEST THINGS at the BATMAN ’66 Museum Exhibit. Click here.

— INSIDE LOOK at the BATMAN ’66 Epic Villains Display, click here.

— Burt Ward and Julie Newmar Discuss the BATMAN ’66 Exhibit. Click here.

— NEW DETAILS on the BATMAN ’66 Museum Exhibit. Click here.

— JULIE NEWMAR to Attend BATMAN ’66 Museum Gala. Click here.

— BATCOPTER Provides Piece of History at BATMAN ’66 Exhibit. Click here.