Roxy is right: the only reason that you may now have a projecting marquee is due to 'Grandfathering' which allows things originating before an ordinance was passed to remain until the date of demise, whereupon the newer ordinance takes effect. If it looks a little shabby now, have it re-clad, with or without new lights or attraction boards. Likely the structural steel is still sound, but don't let it get to the state that anything is falling from it, or competitors or neighbors will be quick to complain to the city inspectors that your sign is unsafe and needs to come down. This could set into motion a long and expensive series of legal events that will result in more loss to you than the price of a marquee.
And Roxy is also right about the uniqueness of a projecting marquee today. Ever since the 1950s when they went out of style among civic arbiters of taste, only a few grandfathered ones have survived, but to many, they are the traditional sign and sight of a movie theatre, and therefore a kind of advertising you could not buy.
There are any number of larger sign companies that will gladly take on such a job, and if all you want is a re-cladding with aluminum and plastic, then likely a small local sign shop will take it on by farming out the fabrications needed. Wagner Electric sign Co. (
http://www.wagnersign.com/home.html ) is perhaps the most well known for theatre work, but has dozens of competitors across the land, such as Everbrite, which made and installed the 12-story high Vertical Sign and marquee on Milwaukee's RIVERSIDE in 1929. (
http://www.everbrite.com/products/index.html ) Best Wishes on the project. --Jim
[This message has been edited by jimor (edited December 25, 2006).]
[This message has been edited by jimor (edited December 25, 2006).]
Forums 
