Logan Theatre Removes Neon Signs for Repairs
The historic Logan Square cinema took down its vertical neon letters on Milwaukee Avenue for repairs and efficiency upgrades.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Logan Theatre removed the neon vertical letters spelling its name from the building Thursday, taking them off the facade that lights up Milwaukee Avenue for blocks. The marquee showing movie times remains in operation.
Why it matters
Ownership says the repairs and energy efficiency upgrades will make the signage easier to maintain and extend its lifespan. Not all neon letters had been lighting properly at night in recent years, making the work a practical fix for the historic landmark.
Ownership plans to relight the neon signage in mid-November, a timeline set against a building that has operated since 1915 and changed hands three times. The repair scope and total cost were not disclosed, and the November return date remains a projection rather than a confirmed completion.
The players
Mark Fishman
Mark Fishman is the owner of the Logan Theatre, which he bought in 2010 and which reopened after a renovation in 2012.
The details
The neon vertical letters spelling out Logan Theatre were removed from the building at 2646 N. Milwaukee Ave. on Thursday for repairs and energy efficiency upgrades. The marquee showing movie times remains in operation while the neon work is underway.
Timeline
1915: The theater opened as the Paramount Theatre, a single-screen cinema.
2010: Mark Fishman bought the movie theater.
2012: The theater reopened after a renovation.
Thursday: The neon vertical letters were removed from the building.
Mid-November: Ownership anticipates the sign will light up Milwaukee Avenue again.
Market Landscape
The Logan Theatre opened in 1915 as the Paramount Theatre, a single-screen cinema, and its neon marquee remains part of its identity as a Logan Square landmark. Repairing and upgrading that signage positions the venue to keep its street presence while the theater continues operating under its current ownership.
Shoppers and moviegoers will still see the theater's marquee showing movie times while the neon letters are down. The mid-November relighting would restore the illuminated signage that lights up Milwaukee Avenue for blocks.
The takeaway
The Logan Theatre's sign work shows how older neighborhood landmarks maintain their street presence through targeted repairs rather than full replacement. Residents watching for the mid-November relighting can track the project's progress along Milwaukee Avenue.
What happens next
Ownership anticipates the neon vertical letters will light up Milwaukee Avenue again in mid-November.
Further reading
For more on local storefront changes, see Openings & Closings in Chicago.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Block Club Chicago.
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Should Chicago neighborhoods work harder to preserve historic neon signs like Logan Theatre's?
