West Erie Plaza Marquee

The marquee at West Erie Plaza’s theater was once a glowing beacon of mid-century charm, lighting up the plaza with its retro flair and welcoming moviegoers for over five decades. Installed when the Plaza Theater opened in 1953, the marquee became a beloved local landmark, symbolizing the golden age of cinema in Erie.

With its art deco styling and illuminated signage, the marquee stood watch as the theater evolved—from a single-screen “movie palace” to a four-screen cinema in later years. When the theater closed in December 2008 after its final showing of Yes Man starring Jim Carrey, the marquee went dark, but not forgotten. In 2012, VCG Properties acquired the plaza and began a major redevelopment. Before demolition began, the marquee was ceremoniously lit one last time, drawing crowds who came to snap photos and share memories.

Rather than discard it, developers carefully dismantled and crated the marquee for safekeeping, with plans to incorporate it into the plaza’s redesign. This gesture honored the community’s nostalgia and preserved a piece of Erie’s cultural history. Though the theater itself is gone, the marquee lives on as a symbol of the plaza’s past—and its potential for renewal.