BATMAN ’66 WEEK: A Bat-pilgirmage you have to make…
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It’s BATMAN ’66 WEEK! Click here for more Batgrooviness! — Dan
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By WALT GROGAN
Holy Road Trip, Batman! In late November, 2024, my high school buddy, Frank Bonilla and I took on a daring mission — locating and infiltrating the fabled Batcave! And not just any Batcave, old chum, but the one featured in the classic 1966 Batman TV show!
Nope, we didn’t fly to Los Angeles and sneak through the entrance in Bronson Canyon, rather we drove almost three hours from Chicago to Logansport, Indiana, a beautiful, small town situated between the Wabash and Eel rivers and about an hour and a half north of Indianapolis.
As we drove, Frank and I talked about our love of the show and I annoyed him by pointing out every cow, horse, and sheep I saw on the way. I love animals and we passed by plenty of farms, so we saw a lot of them! Sorry to say, I didn’t see a Bat-Cow!
The Batcave we were traveling to is situated inside the Fiberglass Freaks’ Batman Museum. Yes, there is a museum dedicated to the 1966 Batman TV show in Logansport — you’ve read about it here at 13th Dimension — and if you drive down East Market Street, you can’t miss it!
To say that Frank was excited is a pure understatement. We got there a bit early as the museum doesn’t open up until 1 p.m. during the week and Frank was eager to get in. Patience, Boy Wonder!
Finally, the shop opened and we were warmly greeted by manager Randy Hayes and assistant manager Abby Racop. Admission is very reasonable and there’s a photo-op package, for an additional charge.
The first thing you’ll encounter after gaining admission is a fully stocked gift shop replete with t-shirts, Funko Pops, photos, buttons, Hot Wheels, Corgis, Legos, action figures, and lots of other stuff from all incarnations of Batman. Plus there are displays of memorabilia that you won’t want to miss — so make sure you spend some time there before you leave!
Frank and I were about to get started on our tour when we were greeted by Mr. Fiberglass Freaks himself, Mark Racop. If you don’t know, Mark has been building officially licensed, drivable, 1966 Batmobiles since 2003.
Mark took us on a personalized tour, with the first stop being The Wayne Manor study.
And here’s a view without us three lugs in the way!
The study is a really good replica, even down to the books on the bookshelf — and look at those lamps and trophy fish! It’s like being on the real set itself!
Now you’re probably wondering, “Does that Shakespeare bust have a hidden switch and does the bookcase slide open?” Well, of course it does!
If you look closely enough, you’ll see a sheet of plexiglass preventing you from sliding down the poles, because, well, “Holy Lawsuit in Waiting, Batman!” However, you can look over and down into the Batcave.
After exiting Bruce Wayne’s study, the next stop is a theater showing a bit of Batman, Fiberglass Freaks, and Logansport history and featuring some famous Batman fans. It’s a nice place to stop and take a rest. Don’t miss it!
Around the corner from the theater is a great photo op and part of the photo-op package: You can recreate the famous Bat-climb and even have a “celebrity” pop out of the window!
From there it’s over to the Rogues Gallery, featuring six mannequins of the Caped Crusader’s most dastardly foes: Mr. Freeze, Catwoman, the Penguin, the Riddler, the Joker, and the Mad Hatter!
They’re all standing in front of display cases featuring themed memorabilia. And they are also part of the photo-op package.
It was finally time to descend to the Batcave! Once downstairs, you enter a huge display room containing Mark’s impressive Batman collection — but out of the corner of your eye, you’ll see the Batcave!
The Batcave is awesome! You’re greeted by mannequins of Batman and Robin and then there’s the Batmobile and it’s the first one Mark built, when he was only 17 years old! The atomic pile is there, as well as the Lighted Lucite Map of Gotham City, along with various Batcomputers.
And then there’s the other end of the Batpoles!
But don’t be tempted to press the Compressed Steam Batpole Lift or you’ll be zipped back up to the Wayne Manor study! Just kidding, of course. Those Wayne Foundation lawyers are no Joker.
Next up is Batgirl and her Batgirl cycle. Frank is a huge Yvonne Craig Batgirl fan, and, as a vocal advocate, I’m sure he played a role in Todd McFarlane making a Batgirl Cycle, so seeing a full-scale replica of it was icing on the cake!
Finally, there’s a sculpture of the 1955 Lincoln Futura, which formed the basis of George Barris’ Batmobile. By comparing it to the final version, only a few feet away, you can see what Barris decided to use and what he modified.
And here’s Frank taking some time to gander at Mark’s JazzInc Batmobile! It’s an impressive model! Frank actually has one but hasn’t unboxed it. (That I’ll never understand. Life’s too short to keep things hidden in a box or behind packaging!)
Although you could speed through all of the exhibits, I suggest that you take your time. Frank and I spent about two hours visiting the museum and just immersed ourselves in it. Looking around a bit, I even spotted a Zelda the Great poster that I had missed on my first walk-through.
The Fiberglass Freaks team of Mark, Randy, and Abby are very welcoming, extremely friendly, and will gladly take photos of you. And best yet, they are constantly improving the exhibits and adding more memorabilia. I definitely look forward to returning to the museum in the near future.
Just a quick word about Logansport: Had we not been exhausted, from what I could see, it would have been fun to walk around the town. There are plenty of restaurants near the museum, with others a quick drive away.
For more info about the museum, check out their website or give them a call at (574) 722-3237.
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MORE
— The Complete BATMAN ’66 Index of Features. Click here.
— America’s Only Permanent BATMAN ’66 MUSEUM Is Now OPEN: Here’s a LOOK INSIDE. Click here.
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A 10-year-old Walt Grogan fell in love with the Big Red Cheese thanks to essays written by Dick Lupoff and Don Thompson in the paperback edition of All in Color for a Dime, released in 1970 and bought for him by his father off a paperback spinner rack in a liquor store on the South Side of Chicago. Walt runs The Marvel Family Web Facebook page devoted to all incarnations of the Fawcett/DC Captain Marvel and blogs about Captain Marvel at shazamshistorama.com.
January 16, 2025
Told ya so 😉
January 16, 2025
Cindy and I went in November and we loved every second of it. Mark and the staff couldn’t have been more friendly and welcoming. I can’t wait to go back! Great pics and thanks for sharing!
January 16, 2025
I was there in November and geeked out the whole time. Highly recommended
January 17, 2025
Holy nostalgia trip! Thanks for the pics, the story and for making me feel like a kid again!
January 17, 2025
wait, i can BUY my own driveable Batmobile?!? i wonder how much? $$$$ …this article reminds me i gotta get to the Enterprise set reconstructions in eastern NY state!
January 17, 2025
Cannot wait!! Thanks for the insights & all the details that sealed the deal for my making plans!
January 21, 2025
On my way!
January 22, 2025
I’m Mario Fedrick
Age 64 a big Batman
Fan me & my little Brother use to take my
Mothers sheets to cut
Capes for us we got in so much trouble for that But it was so much fun the trouble was worth it!!! Im alittle
Sick with cancer when I’m feeling alittle better
We are planning that trip it would be a dream come true, for me and my baby brother Dennis Fedrick