Ideas on Changing Movie Theater Marquee ?

Hi, Tom,

Send me an email with your idea and we will see what we can do for you.

Andre.

OK, Andre will send you email with thoughts.

Thanks!

Any updates for your custom marquee project ?  

I too would like to customize the marquee on whichever theater I eventually buy.  The two movies that I want to showcase are the 1934 "Silver Streak" (with the Pioneer Zephyr) and the 1939 "Wizard of Oz".  

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences.  

Bill,

For the Woodland Scenics theater I think I will just use word processor software, probably Word

and make some title strips to insert. Not sure how it would look if lighted. 

The movie posters are easy, can find those on web and shrink to size. I think some of the other theaters  might have marquees that are easier to change. If I get brave enough I might try to get plastic strips out but for now will just use the paper strips.

Tom,     PS: Also BRHS member !!

Hi Tom:

Thanks for the response & please post some photos after your modification.  What movies will your theater be featuring ?  

I plan to attend the BRHS 2016 Spring Meet in Batavia on 04/16/2016.  I will wear my "CB&Q Bill" name badge (in addition to the BRHS-issued name badge for the meet).  Hope to see you there !  It would be great to share our O-gauge Q experiences.  

To all:

I am designing a movie theater for a customer. I used to make a light box (a complicated process), but now stumbled onto what are called LED light panels. You can get them as small as 4 x 3 inches (about 1/8 inch thick) from ImagiLux. I plan on using homemade dry transfers or decals on the front side and either blackout or put a design on the back side. A friend had Staples print a high quality design onto the clear foil used for presentations. He taped the edges around the panel.

The panels need a  24 volt DC power supply.

Joe

I don't know how or what Woodland Scenics theater is manufactured of, but if there is a way to cut out the marquee letter board you can replace it with a paper copy made from your computer or press type sandwiched between 2 pieces of clear plastic and glued into place. I scratch build all my buildings and light them all with strip LED's. The marquee is visible day and night.

Gene,

That is awesome. Your buildings look great. Love the theater.

You have given me something to think about.

Thanks!

Tom

If you have access to a color laser printer,  you can print on laser transparency plastic sheets, the kind for overhead projectors, and just cut them out to size..... You can do the same thing for the windows and curtain with sillouettes for old train cars also.

I know it has been sometime since this topic was brought up, but has anyone changed the marque on the Woodland Scenics Theatre? If so, how satisfied were you with the results and any photos?

Cliff,

Thanks for reminding me !!  I did figure out a simple solution. I used Evergreen styrene strips. I had to experiment with a couple to get the size. I did the movie titles in Word, 3 point type, bold I think. The strips , once I got the right size, just pop in and stay. No glue. So I could change them out.  I also found and fit to size the Revenge of the Creature poster

I did glue the printed titles to the strips, just using white glue. I should have done a better job trimming the ends of the strips. They are for a and specific era/time.

When I was a kid the Cisco Kid really did come the LaGrange for the pet parade. I still have an autographed picture of him and his horse Diablo !! 

Tom, thanks for the information and update. I will try it. Happy Thanksgiving.

Cliff, Let us know how it works out for you, Happy Thanksgiving !

I will do that and thanks.

I know this thread is two years old, but wanted to see if anyone else had additional photos or experiences to share.  I like the detail of the WS theater.  Printing issue is easy but I didn't know how difficult it would be to pop out and replace the translucent marquee (I guess they are strips?) and movie posters and replace them with custom prints.  Seems like it might actually be fairly easy?

I guess the other option would be the Atlas theater which has cool lighting effects and customizable marquee lettering, but has a lot less detail on the building overall.

Any more thoughts?

Thanks

@S1000RRracer posted:

If you have access to a color laser printer,  you can print on laser transparency plastic sheets, the kind for overhead projectors, and just cut them out to size..... You can do the same thing for the windows and curtain with sillouettes for old train cars also.

Can be done on an ink jet printer, too, and Micro Mark sells kits to make your own decals that way, too.

Thank you.

I have done quite a bit of the customized printing for other scenery elements

My real question is, how easy is it to remove the existing material and replace it with customized print in this building.

@Tom Q Fan posted:

Cliff,

Thanks for reminding me !!  I did figure out a simple solution. I used Evergreen styrene strips. I had to experiment with a couple to get the size. I did the movie titles in Word, 3 point type, bold I think. The strips , once I got the right size, just pop in and stay. No glue. So I could change them out.  I also found and fit to size the Revenge of the Creature poster

I did glue the printed titles to the strips, just using white glue. I should have done a better job trimming the ends of the strips. They are for a and specific era/time.

When I was a kid the Cisco Kid really did come the LaGrange for the pet parade. I still have an autographed picture of him and his horse Diablo !!

How did you make the custom La Grange theater sign?

I got the sign by doing a search for the LaGrange theater signs. Over the years the theater has had several versions of the theater sign. In Google search I selected images and this was one of the signs. I resized it to fit over the original sign.

Jeff, hope this helps.

Tom

@Tom Q Fan posted:

I got the sign by doing a search for the LaGrange theater signs. Over the years the theater has had several versions of the theater sign. In Google search I selected images and this was one of the signs. I resized it to fit over the original sign.

Jeff, hope this helps.

Tom

OK Tom, thanks.