Echo Project Marquee

Echo Project Marquee Documenting, supporting, and celebrating the transformation of this historic marquee as a symbol for

If you missed the official lighting -- no worries. You can still out the recording by following the link in our bio! ✨
05/28/2021

If you missed the official lighting -- no worries. You can still out the recording by following the link in our bio! ✨

⚡TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT WE LIGHT THE MARQUEE! 🎉 Now that the neon channel letters are installed, we are ready to celebrate...
05/27/2021

⚡TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT WE LIGHT THE MARQUEE! 🎉 Now that the neon channel letters are installed, we are ready to celebrate the many months of hard work that went into restoring this historic marquee for its new purpose: A symbol of hope in the community. RSVP for the lighting event via link in our bio. A HUGE thank you to all the volunteers involved in this project, including , K.H. / .neon, and .

Ready, set, (solar) power! and also installed a battery, so the neon can run off stored solar power when there’s insuf...
05/26/2021

Ready, set, (solar) power! and also installed a battery, so the neon can run off stored solar power when there’s insufficient sun to power it (i.e. nighttime or a cloudy day). The entire setup is completely off the grid! While not the first solar-power/neon combination, we love the metaphor that new ways of thinking can acknowledge the past while improving the future. Want to see the solar and neon in action? Follow the link in our bio to register for the marquee lighting event THIS THURSDAY EVENING, May 27, at 7 p.m. Central / 8 p.m. Eastern. Can’t make it in person? No worries -- the lighting will be streamed via Facebook Live!

While the team is hard at work getting grid electricity to the theater, (a.k.a. solar pro David Wilson) and installed...
05/19/2021

While the team is hard at work getting grid electricity to the theater, (a.k.a. solar pro David Wilson) and installed a 72-cell solar panel measuring 40” x 82” on the top of the marquee, so the neon can shine sooner rather than later. ☀️ The panel sits on top of a triangular platform they built and hoisted up to the marquee’s roof, so that the panel was at the best angle to receive the most solar energy. This platform also houses the electrical components of the solar setup. Check out Phase 9 for several videos of the installation, courtesy of . To continue the important work of rehabilitating this marquee, visit https://bit.ly/3uxwioz.

Ready, set, glow! >> With the neon bent and ready for install, an electronic transformer was placed in a steel combinati...
05/12/2021

Ready, set, glow! >> With the neon bent and ready for install, an electronic transformer was placed in a steel combination cabinet/channel letter. The transformer -- the white box seen peeking through -- is tucked inside the back of the cabinet, while the glass tubing was then gently nestled into the channel letters and prime for testing. While the setup initially had an issue, with some tweaking, these bold, beautiful neon letters began running smoothly. added finishing touches to the blockout paint, which blocks out portions of the neon viewers don’t need to see to really let the main design of the neon shine through. >> Swipe >> to see the neon lit, and check out Highlight 8 for video. Even the rain couldn’t stop this sunshine yellow neon from glowing inside its new home! Please join us in helping fund the rehab of this marquee by visiting https://bit.ly/3uxwioz

How it started vs. (swipe to see) how it's going. 😎 We know we promised the lighting of the “e” this post, but we couldn...
04/30/2021

How it started vs. (swipe to see) how it's going. 😎 We know we promised the lighting of the “e” this post, but we couldn’t wait to share this photo -- fresh from the painters. It’s hard to believe these are the same channel letters that were covered in rust and peeling paint not that long ago. (Check out the “Phase 2” Highlight above to truly appreciate the meticulous work that has gone into turning these letters into golden glory.) You think these look beautiful now, just wait until you see neon showcased in these big, beautiful letters! 😍

Please join us in helping fund the rehab of this marquee by visiting https://bit.ly/3uxwioz

While the E-C-H-O channel letters (that will soon house new neon) are at the painters, there is much to be done, includi...
04/28/2021

While the E-C-H-O channel letters (that will soon house new neon) are at the painters, there is much to be done, including working on the iconic “e” on the front of the marquee. Due to ½” of tar preventing the removal of the “e” channel letter, the workaround to restore this “e” included tracing the channel letter while it remained attached to the marquee, laying out/creating the “e” neon pattern, selecting glass and then bending it, bombarding/pumping, repainting the channel letter and installing the neon.

Swipe through for progress pics and check our Story/Phase 5 Highlight to see neon bending in action! Next step: Lighting the neon “e” in an unconventional way. Any guesses as to what we mean? Comment below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

To aid in the restoration of this marquee, please visit https://bit.ly/3uxwioz. To learn more about the mission behind the marquee, visit

Let’s pick some paint! 🎨 As previously revealed by sanding and stripping, our volunteers found multiple layers of paint ...
04/21/2021

Let’s pick some paint! 🎨 As previously revealed by sanding and stripping, our volunteers found multiple layers of paint on the E-C-H-O letters: an outer layer of green, a middle layer of red and an original layer of yellow. The trick is distinguishing which color best matches the stripped paint. Which color do you think we’ll choose to restore these channel letters? Double-tab to vote for ❤️RED❤️ or comment for 💛YELLOW💛. Stay tuned for the big reveal on the final paint color selected! In the meantime, please support our efforts to restore this historic marquee: https://bit.ly/3uxwioz

>>>> Swipe >>> to check out the continued transformation of the E-C-H-O letters after multiple layers of stripper and sa...
04/16/2021

>>>> Swipe >>> to check out the continued transformation of the E-C-H-O letters after multiple layers of stripper and sandblasting for 5+ minutes. The last few photos show the absolutely unbelievable difference! 🤯 The transformers have been installed (you can see the wires peeking out) and housings are now in place. Next step: A fresh coat of paint. Help bring this marquee back to life by visiting https://bit.ly/3uxwioz

Previously, volunteers worked to remove the rusted and dilapidated E-C-H-O channel letters from the marquee in preparati...
04/14/2021

Previously, volunteers worked to remove the rusted and dilapidated E-C-H-O channel letters from the marquee in preparation for sanding, stripping and sandblasting the paint off. Once back at the repair shop, upon further inspection, multiple layers of paint were discovered. Green, red and finally yellow appeared, indicating the original color was most likely this golden paint. Another interesting discovery was a dent that may have been created by David Prichard Hunter (swipe to see), who whacked the marquee with a hickory stick in protest on March 24, 1996. Read more about the incident: https://nyti.ms/3uPceys

To aid in the restoration of this marquee -- dents and all -- please visit https://bit.ly/3uxwioz

Meet the Echo Theatre, a circa 1910 building located in downtown Laurens, South Carolina. The theatre desperately needed...
04/07/2021

Meet the Echo Theatre, a circa 1910 building located in downtown Laurens, South Carolina. The theatre desperately needed a facelift for its newfound purpose as a center for hope and healing. Where else to start but with the grand marquee, bringing the exterior back to life, including its iconic “e”? Work began with the basics: Good ol’ fashioned removal of the chipped, rusted channel letters.

Next steps will be to sandblast the letters to remove the layers of paint and rust in order to properly prepare the surface for repainting.

To aid in the restoration of this marquee, please visit https://bit.ly/3uxwioz. To learn more about the mission behind the marquee, visit

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