‘Uptown down’: What happened to the Uptown sign at the Crown Uptown Theatre?

Some large cranes recently removed the vertical “Uptown” sign at the Crown Uptown Theatre near Douglas and Hillside, which prompted one nearby office worker to note, “Uptown down.”

General manager Ben Balleau said there’s no cause for concern, though. The sign is merely down for restoration, including getting some touch-up paint and all-new neon.

This follows work on the Crown’s well-known marquee, where light fixtures have been either fixed or replaced. New digital signs also have replaced the physical letters that workers used to have to put up by hand to advertise events at the theater.

“Now, it’s a digital screen that we can control,” Balleau said.

He called it “a bit of modernization that we wanted to bring” to the 1928 theater.

In addition to joining the 21st century, he said, it’s also an easier way to promote events, including with video.

“We’ve got a lot of exciting stuff going on this year.”

Next LED Signs and sister company Wichita Sign Co. did the work on the marquee and Uptown sign, which should be back in place in a few weeks.

“So everything’s gong to be working real nice there,” Balleau said.

“It’s, very, very bright on our corner now.”