Iola Theatre

Solution: The Iola Theatre project started with research. Because the original marquee no longer existed, DI studied archival photos to understand its shape, scale, typography, lighting pattern and decorative details. The team also used a colorization-style process to interpret grayscale values from the historic images and identify a palette that felt true to the era. 

From there, DI translated the historic references into a buildable marquee. The final piece is a unique three-sided sign with high-efficiency LED lighting, designed to capture the character of the 1931 original while making it easier to operate and maintain today. One key fabrication choice was using removable inserts with direct-printed gradient graphics instead of hand-painted gradients. That helped create a clean, consistent finish while reducing paint complexity and long-term maintenance challenges.

The team then had to solve for the marquee’s original support system. Some historic elements, including the chains and building shackles, were still in place. The hand-forged chains and hooks were reviewed by a structural engineer and found to be sound. To understand what was happening behind the façade, the team explored the structure from the outside, used a telescoping camera to look deeper into the attachment points and eventually accessed the attic to trace the support system. The investigation showed that the original hook attachment points had been over-engineered and tied deep into the building, giving the structural engineer confidence in how the restored marquee is to be supported.

The recreated marquee gives the theatre a renewed street presence and supports the Iola Theatre Association’s larger effort to restore the building as a center for community life. It also sets the stage for future fundraising and interior renovation, signaling that the historic theatre’s next chapter is already underway.