By Stephanie Lun
Fantastical, far-out and most of all fun! What else would you expect from the Mascot Hall of Fame? The museum, located in Whiting, Indiana, celebrates professional and collegiate sports mascots from across the nation. A playground of mascot merriment, this family-friendly museum is also educational, combining the basic elements of STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) and pure whimsy. Northern Light Productions was the prime media vendor providing project management for the museum’s permanent collection and producing all linear video content as well as two interactive exhibits.
Upon entering the hall, visitors are invited to check all worry and stress at the door and immediately get in on the fun as the appropriately titled introductory video, “Fureshman Orientation,” begins the museum experience. Reggy, Whiting’s very own town mascot, serves as the official tour guide throughout the hall. Known as the “Purple Party Dude,” Reggy comes equipped with a backstory that includes his search for a hometown and the moment when he was adopted by a group of dancing babushkas at Whiting’s annual Pierogi Fest.
Traveling further into the exhibit, visitors experience a mini theater featuring highlight reels of noteworthy mascot duties, from acrobatic feats during live sporting events to volunteer community outreach throughout the years. What many consider to be the hall’s greatest attraction is the “Marvelous Mascot Maker,” a 10-foot-tall by 30-foot-wide installation where visitors are invited to play the role of mad scientist by pulling levers, pushing buttons, and cranking a wheel to build their own mascot. An exceptionally entertaining experience that seamlessly integrates physical and digital interactivity, the Mascot Hall of Fame wins the gold in originality.
