BRATTLEBORO — It will be a year in July that a truck driver struck and demolished the marquee of the Latchis Theatre.
Last week, Latchis Arts announced that a new marquee will be installed in September.
“It's been a lengthy process,” said Latchis Arts managing director Gail Nunziata, “but the design is final, and we are on the production schedule.”
The manufacturer; Wagner Electric Sign Co. in Elyria, Ohio; has been fabricating theater marquees since the 1950s, with restoration of historic theater signs a specialty.
“The new sign will look familiar,” states Anne Latchis, Latchis Arts board member, and member of the founding family who built the theatre in 1938. “It is the best reincarnation it can be, working within preservation guidelines.”
She added that the Design Committee - which consists of Latchis, Nunziata, and theater manager Darren Goldsmith - is “very happy with the final design.”
New to the scheme are stainless steel borders and art deco decoration. Recreating an original design, neon letters spelling “LATCHIS” will top the north and south faces of the readerboards. “There will be more room to list movies and live events, plus the letter changes can happen from the ground, not a ladder.
“Hallelujah!” noted Goldsmith.
“We know it's felt like forever,” said Nunziata. “We hope the community will love what it does for the Latchis and for this end of Main Street. Look forward to a marquee party when installation is complete.”
Funding for the marquee replacement came from the driver's insurance policy. Planning and design upgrades were made possible by a State of Vermont Economic Initiative Historic Preservation Grant from the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation funded with federal special purpose funds secured by U.S. Sen.Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.