Restoration of marquee to be first step in reopening Zoe Theater

posted by CSWalczak on June 24, 2010 at 10:45 am

PITTSFIELD, IL — As an initial move in the effort to eventually restore and reopen the 1951 Zoe Theater, closed since 1987, the Zoe Preservation Society has begun a membership drive and other fund-raising efforts to restore the theater’s distinctive marquee and have it in use by Christmas of this year. The long range plan is to restore the theater completely and return it to use as a cinema and as a venue for other community events.

While the theater isn’t ready for movies yet, the organization is hoping to get its marquee up and running, possibly “as a Christmas present to the community,” said Dan Long, the preservation society’s secretary.

“The Zoe marquee is the diamond on the square,” Long said. “We’re wanting to buy letters for the sign and do other work on the marquee.” Letters for the marquee could be used to send birthday, anniversary and other special greetings, Long said.

Here is the story from the Journal-Courier.

Theaters in this post

• Zoe Theatre