Posted 3:23 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025
After nearly 50 years of inspiring stargazers, planetarium prepares for its last season and alumnus steps in to continue the journey
There’s a cosmic phenomenon known as a gravitational wave — ripples in the fabric of space-time triggered by massive celestial events. It’s a concept you might hear about during a planetarium show, but it also symbolizes the far-reaching influence of UW-La Crosse’s Planetarium and its longtime director, Bob Allen.
For nearly five decades, from the basement of Cowley Hall, Allen has sent out waves of inspiration across communities — sparking curiosity in people of all ages, improving science education and launching the careers of future planetarium directors across the country.
“The experiences I had at the UWL Planetarium were incredible,” says Shawn Laatsch, ’92, director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center at the University of Maine. “They inspired me to do this professionally. Over the past 10 years, several of my own students have also become planetarium directors.”
This fall marks the final semester of programming at the UWL Planetarium, as Cowley Hall is scheduled for demolition to make way for the completion of the Prairie Springs Science Center. While the facility will close, the legacy of UWL’s Planetarium — and Allen — will live on through the lives he has touched.
"I hope that while you were here, you forgot you were in the basement of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse — that, just for a while, you forgot about the whole world out there: all the problems, the good news, the bad news,” says Allen. “I hope you were absorbed by this place — and that it made you feel something."
A universe of wonder, close to home
Since it opened to the public in 1966, the UWL Planetarium has welcomed more than 400,000 visitors — from curious third-graders to lifelong learners. Under Allen’s direction, monthly public programs and Friday night “Album Encounters” laser light shows set to rock music became signature experiences in La Crosse, helping people make sense of the night sky — and feel something deeper while doing it.
Allen’s reach extended beyond the dome. As a faculty member and planetarium director, he hired and mentored student assistants at the planetarium who would go on to become educators and planetarium directors themselves. He fostered hands-on learning, encouraged creativity and allowed them to build their own shows.
“It’s more than a job for Bob — it’s a passion,” says Laatsch. “That made a huge impression on me as a college student.”
Passing the torch: A new era of local planetarium shows
Although the UWL Planetarium is closing, public programming will continue in La Crosse. Chad Wilkinson, ’96, a former student of Allen’s and current director of the Central High School Planetarium, will carry the torch.
Wilkinson’s interest in the stars began with a telescope he received for his 12th birthday. That interest faded in his teen years — until college, when he took one of Allen’s classes.
“Bob’s energy and enthusiasm got me hooked on the subject again,” Wilkinson says.
Growing up, Wilkinson saw the UWL Planetarium as a magical place, reminiscent of the “Wizard of Oz” — where the magic happened behind the curtain.
“When I was here, you’d come in and see the show, and there was always that sense of wonder: ‘How does he make it all work?’” Wilkinson recalls. “Then you see the man behind the curtain — pushing buttons, pulling strings — bringing it all to life. It left an impression.”
When Central High School needed a new planetarium director in the early 2000s, Wilkinson stepped into the role. He now leads public programming at Central, which recently underwent a major tech upgrade — state-of-the-art Digistar 7 software and new projection equipment.
“You can fly anywhere, and people love it!,” says Wilkinson. ““If NASA has the data, we can go there.”
Currently, Central offers two public shows per month, with plans to expand if there’s interest. Content includes shows on alien life, trips to see blue sunsets on Mars, and more — featuring assets from NASA and the European Space Agency. Full-dome movies and a Google Earth-type format for viewing allows the audience to zoom in and explore the universe. Shows also include content created by another UWL alumnus, Bob Bonadurer, ’84, planetarium director at the Milwaukee Public Museum.
Bob’s “Astro family”: A legacy of mentorship
Over the years, Allen recruited dozens of student assistants — not for credit, but for the love of the subject. These students helped run shows, transported telescopes for outdoor viewing, and even led programs when Allen wasn’t available.
Three of those students — Bonadurer (’84), Laatsch (’92), and Dave DeRemer (’78) — went on to become planetarium directors themselves, forming what they fondly call Bob’s “Astro Family.”
“Bob let you shine,” recalls Bonadurer, planetarium director for the Milwaukee Public Museum. “He asked for your ideas and used them. It was a great working relationship.”
They remember the joy and creativity of live shows — Pink Floyd soundtracks, characters like “Joe Star” and “Mike Meteor,” and even the occasional water-spray prank for a sleeping audience member. Allen gave them the freedom to build presentations, think critically, and most importantly, share their love of the night sky.
“You had to be a bit of an octopus,” Laatsch laughs, recalling the hands-on nature of running the old planetarium equipment. “But you learned the sky in depth. You had to be creative. Bob pushed us to stay current with astronomy, to stay curious.”
Even after launching their own careers, Allen remained a mentor and friend to all three. “These are students who are not only in the field, but they hold a special place in my heart,” says Allen who has kept in close touch with each and can recite a short biography on their various winding career paths.
“The Planetarium will soon be gone, but it will not be forgotten,” says DeRemer, who led the Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium in Waukesha from 1978 to 2018. “I am forever grateful to Bob Allen, my teacher, mentor and life-long friend.”
Gravitational waves ripple through the universe long after their moments of origin. In much the same way, Allen’s work will continue to impact the lives of the curious minds he inspired and the generations they’ve touched.
Wilkinson, now stepping into a role Allen held for decades, sees it as an honor — and a responsibility.
“I would love to carry on what Bob has done and give credit to what he has done,” he says. “We’ll see where demand takes us. The most important thing is getting the word out. It would be great to continue that legacy.”
Final UWL Planetarium programming
Public Shows: Saturdays at 1 p.m., October through early December
Album Encounters: Fridays at 8 p.m., beginning Sept. 5
Learn more on the UWL Planetarium webpage.