Your opinions on Electronic Marquees?

[dyland]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 4:21pm

?

[GatorNY]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 4:22pm

Definitely not a fan.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 4:46pm

Not really a fan either, and definitely wouldn't want every show to have one, but Mary Poppins pulled it off well. Just isn't really necessary.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 4:54pm

Loved the old movie marquees & their letters. I tried to save an old movie palace in the early 70's via the NYC Landmarks law. Got an education than about how dirty politics can be. I have one of the marquee letters which one of the demolition guys gave me while it was being torn down.

[dyland]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 4:58pm

The Music Box marquee is beyond dreadful. God. The Lion King (in my opinion) isn't really nessessary. Looks good, butttttt.

[DEClarke]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 5:11pm

I like the MARY POPPINS one. The others are so-so. I guess if you can do something really eye-catching like MARY POPPINS go for it. However, if all the theaters get them, then there won't be anything special or eye-catching about them. So, it'll be moot at that point.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 5:15pm

I hate them. Except for POPPINS. I like that one. Hate them otherwise.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 5:17pm

Considering that there are so many storefronts with flashing lights etc galore, the LED marquee for The New Amsterdam wasn't as annoying as I thought it would be. It kind of fits in. However, the one for The Music Box is annoying and not needed. I mean, I get why they would do it, so that way they could save money when a new show comes in. But, it looks tacky.

[DEClarke]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 5:55pm

But I contend that The Music Box one looks tacky because the visuals designed for DEAD ACCOUNTS look tacky. Maybe it'll be better for PIPPIN????

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 6:02pm

A display is a display. The LED marquees are greener and cost-effective. Plus, it allows producers the opportunity to create a video rather than a still-picture.

There is no difference between hanging a printed sign on a marquee over putting up an LED marquee.

If you like the old-fashioned movie marquee letters, one could certainly duplicate that and light it with LED rather than bulbs.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 6:45pm

"There is no difference between hanging a printed sign on a marquee over putting up an LED marquee."

Except there is. The LED marquees may be cost effective in that they don't need to pay a crew to change them each time a show comes in. However, the constant scrolling through of logos for both Mary Poppins (and recently Dead Accountants) was something that I found to be an eyesore and not needed. I'll give the New Amsterdam a pass because the LED marquee for that theatre fits in with the motif of bright flashy lights of the 42nd street storefronts. However, it doesn't work at all on a street like 45th.


My feeling has always been that I hate Times Square. However, considering the fact that I love Broadway I put up with it to go to the theatre. If the theatres were located elsewhere I would and could happily never set foot in Times Square. Alas, that isn't the case. I have always viewed the theatres as a sight for sore eyes in the middle of an eyesore. In other words, I have always found the exterior of each theatre to be beautiful in it's own way and that looking at them has helped me put up with the bright lights and corporate branding that goes on all around them. But, if LED marquees are going to be the norm then I feel that the theatres are going to lose a bit of history and beauty along with it. And, no matter how you slice it, there is a big visual difference between seeing an actual marquee verses an LED one. No matter what you try to recreate with an LED it will never look the same as a traditional one.

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 6:47pm

WAIT... the Minskoff now has an electronic marquee? Or are you talking about that vertical LION KING electronic billboard that comes off the building and faces into Times Square beside the theatre's big glass windows? I don't really consider that to be part of the theatre's "marquee" per say.

Updated On: 1/13/13 at 06:47 PM

[winston89]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 7:06pm

They are talking about the vertical sign that is on the side of the building that overlooks times square.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 7:14pm

Love them tracer lights and stud lighting of old marquees

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/13/13 at 7:44pm

Not a fan of them and there is a difference. They are brighter and the scrolling is annoying. JMO

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/14/13 at 12:22pm

I never really minded the one for the New Amsterdam, because the whole street is lit up like Christmas treet, so it makes sense to stand out. But on a side street, where the music box is, it's an obnoxiously bright eyesore at night.

Also, no matter which angle you're looking at it to take a picture, your pictures still end up looking like you're taking a picture of a screen.


Up on the Marquee: PIPPIN

Updated On: 1/14/13 at 12:22 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/14/13 at 12:39pm

The MARY POPPINS one is really cool. The resolution is really great and it doesn't look "pixelated". The LED marquee at the Regal 14th Street & Broadway is just a mess of pixelated, stretched out, washed out images and logos...TRULY UGLY.

I have to check out the Music Box one on my way home tonight.

Updated On: 1/14/13 at 12:39 PM