My pal Marv Wolfman writes…
There was definitely a Bat Cave on Owensmouth. Across the street from it was a block or two of really good antique stores which Noel and I frequented (the antique stores, not the strip club). But I remember always wondering why Warners never sued them out 0f their last tassel.
I suspect that if you and I drove around L.A. with an eye to spot trademark and copyright violations, we could find enough to keep the lawyers busy for years. It was especially bad when the Batman TV show was on and popular. And I would guess that the lawyers were busy with more egregious violations…or ones from which there was more money to be collected. This place down on Virgil Avenue had Looney Tunes characters on its front for many years. It apparently doesn't now but I don't know if that's because of legal action or not…
Several folks have written to say there was a Bat-themed club on Sherman Way near Owensmouth. That's apparently what my friend who worked for Filmation noticed. The building is reportedly still a strip club, sans bats. I hope at least someone there knows how to do the Batusi…and that there's a ban on jokes about sliding down the Bat-Pole.