Posted: 5/22/15 at 2:46am
I was randomly Googling around, and I saw the marquee for The Commitments in London. It's such a massive neon sigh with a great 3D marquee. When has something like this every happened in the states? Is it because our theaters are so close together?
Posted: 5/22/15 at 3:23am
That theatre in particular (the Palace) always has great marquees. Last time I visited London, I believe Singin' in the Rain was playing. Google that marquee, it is another great one. I wish we had stuff like that here...I really hate the fad we are going into with the digital marquees, they are just plain ugly to me.
Posted: 5/22/15 at 7:38am
The Palace has had some fantastic marquees over the years
Posted: 5/22/15 at 8:00am
The Palace is pretty much an exception, all our marquees are pretty boring otherwise. Though We Will Rock You had a pretty good one -
Posted: 5/22/15 at 9:08am
The digital marquee has come over here as the Prince Edward Theatre and the London Palladium both have them.
The Phoenix Theatre which was home to Once and now Bend it like Beckham has a good marquee.
Posted: 5/22/15 at 10:23am
Wicked's Apollo Theater marquee is pretty fantastic too.
Posted: 5/22/15 at 10:28am
I am just asking..without having any idea of the answer...but is it possible that NYC has different rules/laws about what can be used as a marquee? Could there be any NYC housing code, or city law that that would prevent more elaborate configurations?
Updated On: 5/22/15 at 10:28 AM
Posted: 5/22/15 at 1:30pm
Probably Kathy, also those buildings are all much bigger than most Broadway houses. They look awesome, though.
Posted: 5/22/15 at 1:32pm
I think a lot of those Palace marquees are really tacky, and take away from the beauty of the building. Maybe it's just me, though.
Posted: 5/22/15 at 2:00pm
Tacky? No way. They get me excited to see the show within while still complimenting the building. The JCS marquee was particularly cool.
I just feel like if you walk down 45th or something it's all just so boring. No one does anything interesting to the outside of the theatre. Maybe because the turn around rate is so fast for some theaters? etc? I dunno.
Posted: 5/22/15 at 3:11pm
Asside from maybe being some regulation, I also just don't think most Broadway houses lend to that sort of thing, most being along a narrow street so you don;t really get to see them at a good distance to need a splashy marquis. That being said, some have had various gimmics over the years.
Into the Woods had that big inflatable foot
Grease was painted pink
Priscilla tried the shoe I think
Hairspray had a spray bottle (but it was tiny)
Les Mis at the Broadhurst had a nice set-up also
I just don;t think the broadway houses really need all that, and I love how 44th st looks
In contrast, some of the London houses are very underwhelming too, look at Phantom at Her Majesty's, from a distance you might not even realise that was a theatre
