$1,111.11 Raised already!
02/24/2026
Our next major renovation project is one you all can see every time you drive or walk by the theatre: The marquee.
The current marquee is a recreation of one that was put in place in 1928 by the second owners, Mr. & Mrs. Henry C. Stearns. The underlying platform of the marquee is indeed the platform created for the 1928 version. The marquee was restored in 1989, then damaged in the 1994 earthquake.
Brought back to life, along with the rest of the theatre in 1996 (the re-opening was September 14, 1996), the marquee shown bright for a time, but eventually fell into disrepair, most notably after the theatre closed again in April, 2011.
No doubt if you have seen the theatre on a recent Saturday night, you’ll notice on the top center lights are the only ones to illuminate. This is due to non-working transformers for the rest of the neon as well as the obvious: Broken and missing neon tubes.
Last year (2025) was the first year we’ve been able to be open without any major operational issues: the theatre roof doesn’t leak anymore, the plumbing doesn’t back anymore, the popcorn machine is legal, the paint isn’t falling off the front of the building, etc.
So it seems to be a good time to fix marquee: We are launching a focused fundraising campaign to repair and relight the marquee!
For years, restoring the marquee’s glow seemed financially out of reach. Previous estimates to retrofit the structure with LED or laser lighting ranged from $48,000 to $67,000. Those costs placed the project well beyond what a small, community-based arts organization could responsibly undertake.
A recent development has changed that outlook.
The theatre has received a new estimate of $8,700 to repair and replace the original neon with real neon, preserving the authentic character of the building rather than substituting it with modern alternatives.
As part of the project, once the neon is removed, the marquee will be repainted in a unified color that better complements the theatre’s current exterior color scheme (not purple, don’t worry). In addition, the theatre is seeking a skilled sign painter who can hand-paint traditional color bars behind the bulbs, further enhancing the depth and visual impact of the restored sign.
Restoring the neon is not cosmetic. A fully functioning marquee strengthens the theatre’s visibility, supports ticket sales, and reinforces its role as a cultural anchor for Fillmore. It’s an investment in both preservation and sustainability.
The fundraising goal is $8,700 to cover the neon restoration, with additional support welcomed for paint and artisan sign work. Community members, local businesses, and preservation supporters are invited to contribute and help bring the marquee back to life. Please donate today 🙂
