Portland sign

The "Portland" sign is displayed on the exterior of Portland, Oregon's Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, in the United States.

Not to be confused with White Stag sign.
Portland sign
The sign in 2014
General information
Town or cityPortland, Oregon
CountryUnited States
Coordinates45.51679°N 122.68116°W / 45.51679; -122.68116

History
Postcard c. 1930–1945 postcard depicting the "Paramount" sign

The landmark is a tribute to the original sign that hung on the Paramount Theatre prior to 1984. A "Portland" sign was displayed when the venue was originally known as Portland Publix Theatre, which opened in March 1928.[1][2] In 1930, the theater's owners secured a contract to show Paramount films, and changed the name of their business to the Paramount Theatre. Accordingly, the sign's lettering, but not its overall design, was changed to "Paramount".

A one-year, $10 million renovation of the building began in September 1983, after the city of Portland acquired it. In connection with that work, the landmark 65-foot-tall "Paramount" sign was removed on March 18, 1984, to be used by Ballard Sign Company of Salem as a model for a new replica which would restore the "Portland" wording that the sign had used originally. The new replica sign, with neon letters five feet tall, was attached to the building on September 4, 1984.[1] The theatre re-opened four days later.[2]

In May 2017, the sign began a two-month, $500,000 renovation, which would include a fresh coat of paint and brighter neon letters.[3] It was removed from the building in early May and taken off-site for the work, which was funded by Metro (the operator of the Schnitzer Concert Hall).[4] Reassembly of the sign was to be completed in mid-August, with a re-lighting ceremony on August 16.[5][6]

In 2021, the marquee portion of the sign was changed from a manual-type to a digital, LED-type.[7]

See also

References
  1. Erickson, Steve (September 5, 1984). "Arts center displays new sign". The Oregonian, p. B1.
  2. Fitzgibbon, Joe. "Portland Paramount Theatre/Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall". The Oregon Encyclopedia.
  3. Greenwald, David (April 17, 2017). "Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall giving 'Portland' sign a refresh". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  4. Rogers, Jules (May 9, 2017). "Metro, Tube Art renovate famous 'Portland' sign". The Business Tribune. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  5. "'Portland sign' will be completely reassembled within the week". KATU. August 3, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  6. "The Iconic Portland Sign Returns to Broadway" (Press release). Portland's Centers for the Arts. August 9, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  7. Vondersmith, Jason (June 15, 2021). "Bits & Pieces: Marquee upgrade". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
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