After months of discussion, Legacy Theater in Tyrone may soon have a marquee sign that will remind residents of the old-fashioned movie palaces.

Late last fall, Legacy owner Bethany Smith had approached the town about allowing a 1940s old-fashioned marquee to be placed on the front of the building. Smith explained she had already scaled down the number of bulbs, and wanted the theater to be the showplace for the area.

“I have never seen a theater without a marquee,” Smith said.

The problem during the October meeting was the Tyrone Sign Ordinance did not allow a marquee.

While the town’s leaders were sympathetic to her plight, there seemed to be nothing they could do at the time.

But during Thursday’s meeting, town attorney presented a draft copy of an addendum to the sign ordinance that would allow a marquee, but with an exception, according to town manager Barry Amos.

“You can still have 40 sq. ft of signage, but you can either have it on the wall or on the marquee, not both,” he said.

Amos said a monument sign would still be allowed at the front of the center listing the tenants, but the marquee could be the only sign on the front of the theater.

The marquee would be allowed to have changeable copy, and Councilman Mike Smola said he felt sure Smith would go along with the proposal.

“That’s a huge investment sitting there and we need to allow all the traffic that passes by on Hwy. 74 to notice it,” he said.

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