POCATELLO — As the restored Chief Theater sign shines down on North Main, the effort that brought it back to life is going to receive statewide recognition with the Preservation Idaho Cultural Heritage Award. The award ceremony will be held in Boise on May 31 at 11:30 a.m.

This is exciting,” said Relight the Night Committee chairman Randy Dixon. “This is a very prestigious award and brings statewide notoriety to the Relight the Night neon sign restoration initiative in Pocatello.”

A two-page centerfold with photos and a story that appeared in the Journal last November was featured in the spring issue of “The Art,” published by the Idaho Commission of the Arts. Dixon said the award and publicity are helping draw attention to the efforts people have made to revitalize historic downtown Pocatello.

Thousands turned out last November for the relighting of the sign — the first time it lit up the 200 block of North Main since the theater was destroyed by a fire in March of 1993. The Chief first opened in Pocatello on Jan. 5, 1938. Fundraising efforts by Dixon's committee, coupled with the city using money from the Stanrod House Historical Fund, made restoration of the sign possible.

Pieces of the original neon sign had been stored at Pocatello Regional Airport until they were taken to Yesco Signs in Salt Lake City for restoration last summer.

“There was 200 to 300 pounds of garbage inside that sign,” Dixon said. “And lots of rodent carcasses.”

When the Relight the Night committee was first established, Dixon said everyone involved had a clear vision of the importance of restoring the Chief Theater sign.

“We knew it, but without the finished product it was hard to convince the community.”

All that changed on a crisp Nov. 29 night at the conclusion of the annual Christmas holiday Old Town Parade of Lights.

“We have preserved the entire history of the Chief Theatre in Pocatello for our children as well,” Dixon said about his group's efforts. “Other neon signs are now being restored and will soon beautify Old Town again.”

Dixon said the committee has established a list of 25 additional neon signs that it would like to see restored and functioning. Ten of those signs have been refurbished. The sign from Fred's Photography is nearly restored and Dixon said the committee is really pushing to save the old Greyhound Bus terminal sign.

“It's one of only two running Greyhound neons left in the U.S.,” Dixon said. “We as a group want to make sure the city does the right thing with that historic sign and historic building. It's so special.”

Dixon said the restoration and display of neon signs in Old Town is rekindling interest in the historic part of the Gate City and that was his group's goal.

“I just couldn't be more tickled that we got something done in Pocatello,” he said.

Click here to read about the history of the Chief Theatre and see photos.