History

The Hershey Theatre was built between 1929 and 1933 as part of Milton Hershey's "Great Building Campaign" of the Great Depression. It was designed to be a beautiful, elegant venue and it quickly brought in many of the world's leading performers and shows.

Initial Condition & Inspection of the Cast Iron & Aluminum Marquee

About the project

The Whiting-Turner Contraction Company hired B.R. Howard to perform a condition assessment of the marquee, provide treatment recommendations and then contracted us to restore the architectural feature as part of the larger building renovation endeavor they were working on.

During our initial assessment, our team documented significant deterioration across the marquee’s cast iron cladding and internal steel structure. Years of water infiltration had caused active corrosion, fractured bracket plates, and the loss of decorative elements-including bas-relief stars and critical tie plates that held the soffit panels in alignment. In some areas, structural failure caused sections of the front soffit to sag more than an inch, requiring immediate stabilization and controlled disassembly. 

The aesthetic of the marquee changed several times over its existence based on historic images and through physical examination. 12 layers of paint coatings had been applied on many of the features from the time it was constructed, and the surface is quite textured and rough due to these heavy accumulations. A DelFelsko Positech 6000 was used to determine the existing paint mil thickness which ranged from 25.6 - 44.3 mils. thick.

To fully restore the marquee, B.R. Howard implemented a multi-phase conservation treatment. We protected the façade with stainless steel and plywood, installed a full containment system, applied Pretox 8000 to safely convert and lift lead-based paint, and then used a low-pressure dustless vapor blasting system with hollow glass media to clean both cast iron and aluminum to a near-white metal finish (SSPC-10). This ensured a clean, chloride-free surface prior to priming—crucial for preventing future flash rust. 

Structural repairs included removing deteriorated brackets, fabricating new steel tie plates, and performing cast-iron weld repairs using low-hydrogen 7018 rods, with peening while red-hot to prevent cracking. After repairs, the entire assembly received two coats of Amerlock 600 epoxy primer, followed by a finish system selected for durability and historically appropriate sheen, including PPG Pitthane Ultra LS (Low Sheen) in “Sierra Chocolate” and hand-applied Metallic Gold on decorative stars and moldings. 

One of the most exciting components of the project was the update to the marquee’s visual design. Historic paint analysis revealed layers of early burnt umber, beige/titan buff, and metallic gold, which informed the new aesthetic direction. We fabricated new illuminated “THEATRE” signs from 3/16” aluminum with backlit Roman Neo SB letters, complete with neoprene gasket systems, Z-bar brackets, and cam-lock hardware—creating a watertight, historically compatible modern upgrade. 

Hershey Theatre marquee is a perfect example of the intersection between preservation, craftsmanship, and technical problem-solving. The restored marquee stands with renewed structural integrity, a refreshed historic color palette, and upgraded signage that honors the theatre’s legacy while meeting contemporary performance standards. It was an honor for our team to help ensure this landmark continues to welcome guests for generations to come.