Meyer Theatre

LouisRugani on January 18, 2011 at 6:33 am

Meyer Theatre to receive new marquee

Design will include features of Fox’s facade of 1930s

By Scott Williams
Green Bay Press-Gazette
January 17, 2011

Five years after a windstorm destroyed the Meyer Theatre marquee, the historic Green Bay venue will get a facelift.

Theater officials plan to spend more than $100,000 for a new marquee that will harken back to the downtown attraction’s original facade of the 1930s.

In contrast to the current rounded sign, the new marquee will be squared, three-sided and lighted – reminiscent of old-time movie houses.

Although the exterior sign is only one element of the 1,000-seat theater at 117 S. Washington St., officials say it is vital to the venue’s visibility and personality.

“It’s the front door,” said Rob Riordan, president of the theater’s board of directors.

The old marquee was destroyed in a March 2006 windstorm that left letters blowing down the street and panels in pieces on the sidewalk.

The current exterior sign became a low-cost replacement, but officials later decided it was not a good long-term solution.

Officials are moving ahead with a replacement after receiving financial support from benefactor Betty Meyer’s foundation and from Reinhold Sign Service Inc. of Ashwaubenon.

Riordan said the project could cost $120,000.

Rob Ott, spokesman for Reinhold Sign, said his company is excited to support the project and provide the labor.

Calling the Meyer a “cornerstone” of downtown Green Bay, Ott said the new marquee will be a highly visible addition to the central business district.

“There really isn’t anything like this around the city,” he said. “This is a unique project, just as the Meyer is a unique place.”

The venue opened as the Fox Theatre in 1930. After a run as the Bay Theatre, including a stint as a movie house, it underwent an $8 million restoration and returned to live stage productions in 2002.

The new marquee has been designed to look like the Fox Theatre’s original facade. Standing about 7 feet tall and 36 feet long, it will be equipped with lighted digital screens that will promote not only the theater’s productions but other downtown events.

Construction is scheduled to begin in spring and take three months.

Riordan said he hopes to have the new marquee in place before the theater kicks off its summer season. Giving a nod to the old Fox Theatre is important to the project, he said.

“This is our showpiece to everybody,” he said. “We want to make sure we’re true to the heritage of the theater.”

William on July 8, 2008 at 10:29 am

The Fox Theatre opened on Feb. 14th. 1930.

Roloff on April 16, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Does anyone know anything about the Green Bay Theater, which was in Green Bay, WI, on numbers 217-221 of some street? See my postcard in my flickrstream: View link
It sure doesn’t look like it could be the Bay theater.

lostmemory on January 6, 2007 at 3:06 pm

Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 2000

Fox Theatre (added 2000 – Building – #00000256)
Also known as Bay Theater
117 S. Washington St., Green Bay
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Immel Construction Company, Larsen, L.P.
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Local Gov’t
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater

kencmcintyre on August 11, 2006 at 3:21 pm

Here are two interesting photos from 1929:
http://tinyurl.com/lhamt
http://tinyurl.com/o5saw

treitano on May 10, 2006 at 4:07 am

Gorgeous interior! All redone and restored back from a triplex. I heard this has the widest proscenium arch in WI. Cost a bundle to redo. Now has live theatre.

Chuck1231 on August 27, 2004 at 10:06 pm

The Web Site for the Meyer theatre has some good pics and history of the theatre. http://www.meyertheatre.org/index.html