The “BEREA” letters have two colors of neon, green and bright pink. Originally the flashing sequence was green, then green-pink, then pink, then back to green. Sometime perhaps in the 1980’s that was modified to continuous pink with slow flashing green, then at the very end to ‘no neon’ backlit with spotlights which looked horrible. There was three flutex glass panels on each side of reader board, the center seen in the night time shot later covered with ‘LOEWS’ signage. These had vertical neon tubes of several colors actuated with a fast scintillator making a vibrant, eye catching ‘color organ’ display. If there was any other animation on this marquee I cannot recall it, as I did pay close attention. It really was the dominant visual landmark in Berea in it’s heyday, nothing approached the visual impact at night when driving up or down Front street. Somewhere there is a night time long news shot from across the street showing the marquee animation which aired quite a bit at the time the projectionists strike began (late 70’s – early 80’s?), which then went on for years. Berea residents no doubt recall the single picketer who picketed for years every weekend night, and in most weather. CW
The “BEREA” letters have two colors of neon, green and bright pink. Originally the flashing sequence was green, then green-pink, then pink, then back to green. Sometime perhaps in the 1980’s that was modified to continuous pink with slow flashing green, then at the very end to ‘no neon’ backlit with spotlights which looked horrible. There was three flutex glass panels on each side of reader board, the center seen in the night time shot later covered with ‘LOEWS’ signage. These had vertical neon tubes of several colors actuated with a fast scintillator making a vibrant, eye catching ‘color organ’ display. If there was any other animation on this marquee I cannot recall it, as I did pay close attention. It really was the dominant visual landmark in Berea in it’s heyday, nothing approached the visual impact at night when driving up or down Front street. Somewhere there is a night time long news shot from across the street showing the marquee animation which aired quite a bit at the time the projectionists strike began (late 70’s – early 80’s?), which then went on for years. Berea residents no doubt recall the single picketer who picketed for years every weekend night, and in most weather. CW