Close-up of new digital sign in the marquee of the historic South Pittsburg, TN Princess Theatre installed by Ortwein Sign.

Princess Theatre Restoration Signage Project – South Pittsburg, TN

Project Name: Princess Theatre Restoration

Client: City of South Pittsburg
Location: South Pittsburg, TN
Completion Date: 2024
Sales Rep: Jana Salley

Project Overview

The Princess Theatre is one of the crown jewels of South Pittsburg, TN, originally opening in the late 1920s as the Palace Theatre before being renamed in the 1930s. Over the years, it has undergone multiple restoration campaigns to preserve its historic charm while adapting to modern use. In recent years, the South Pittsburg City Commission secured funding from the Tennessee Department of Tourism Enhancement Grant Program to continue its restoration efforts, with upgrades including new stage flooring and modern signage.

Ortwein Sign partnered with the City of South Pittsburg to design, fabricate, and install new marquee and poster signs for the theatre. The goal was to refresh the theatre’s exterior signage with digital displays while maintaining the venue’s historic character.

Signage Provided

  • Refreshed theatre marquee with historically sensitive design

  • Poster sign replacements

  • New electronic message centers with:

    • 10mm pixel pitch

    • Resolution of 144 pixels high x 96 pixels wide

    • High-visibility display, both day and night

Project Challenges

One of the main challenges was updating the theatre’s signage technology without compromising its historic aesthetic. The original marquee relied on manually interchangeable lettering, which was labor-intensive to maintain.

Our Approach

Ortwein Sign worked closely with City Manager Gene Vess and the South Pittsburg Historical Society to respect the theatre’s heritage while providing state-of-the-art digital signage. Our team managed the full process—design, fabrication, and installation—to ensure the updated marquee blended seamlessly with the theatre’s historic architecture.

Impact & Results

The new electronic message centers streamline the process of updating marquee messages, allowing the city to easily manage content while providing a vivid, eye-catching display for the community. The upgraded signage preserves the theatre’s historic look while embracing modern functionality, ensuring the Princess Theatre continues to shine as a cultural landmark.

Credit to the South Pittsburg Historical Society for historical information on the theatre.