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boards. If an LED needs
to be replaced, the
H Heellppiinngg CClliieennttss NNaavviiggaattee module can be swapped
T Taaxx CCrreeddiitt FFiinnaanncciinngg out in under 10 minutes.
Reader boards must be
disassembled to reach
Closed over $900 MM of Projects the bulbs, resulting in an
o Federal Historic Tax Credits inoperable sign for hours.
o State Historic Tax Credits
o New Markets Tax Credits
Tips for retrofitting
Specialty in Historic Theatres Theaters that are
Support throughout Compliance Period considering a marquee
35 Years of relevant experience
renovation using a digital
Darlene “Dee” Smolik sign should keep a few best
President practices in mind.
Tel: 865-254-4343 1. Keep the new sign true
ds@plymouthsoundings.com to the original marquee.
Historic marquees often
have beautiful shapes
that owners will want to maintain. Digital signs can be curved or mitered to fit existing
structures, so the original cabinet can be salvaged. A good sign dealer and digital
sign manufacturer can come up with creative solutions to retrofit the existing cabinet.
If signs are being recreated, use a cabinet size that will fit standard signs instead of
paying for custom-size digital modules.

2. Get the highest resolution you can afford. Landmark theaters attract a lot of attention,
so you want to make sure your sign is high resolution enough so it can be read by
people in cars and pedestrians down the street, as well as by those who are standing
under it. In general, 10mm or higher is recommended for marquee signs; however, if
you can afford higher resolution you should buy it. Simply going from 10mm to 8mm will
deliver 44 percent higher resolution for a small increase in cost.
3. Ask for an animated rendering of the sign. This video will show what your sign will
look like as it’s operating, which will help stakeholders who may be resistant to using
the new technology. These renderings also can be helpful in gaining approvals from
historic districts and for raising money.
4. Look for a manufacturer that will stand behind the sign. A new marquee requires a
significant investment, so you’ll want to make sure that your digital sign manufacturer
has a good track record of service and support. Look for a company with a reputation
for manufacturing reliable signs.

Nothing compares to the nostalgia of visiting a historic theater, except perhaps finding ways
to modernize these structures without compromising their histories. LED signs can provide
all the excitement of old-fashioned marquees using a more modern and cost-efficient
technology.

About the author:
David Wuellner is the central region director for Watchfire Signs and has worked with nearly a
dozen historic theaters to restore their marquees.

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