POCATELLO — A group seeking to preserve and restore classic historic local neon advertising has formed and is already raising funds for its first project, the Chief Theater marquee which has been in storage ever since that venue burned to the ground in 1993. 

Relight the Night, which is a project of the Old Town Pocatello Foundation, has a goal to bring back at least 18 such signs in the future.

After the Chief’s restoration, other signs on the group’s agenda include Molinelli’s Jewelry, Whitman, Pocatello Electric, Maag Drug, Greyhound, The Paris, Chopsticks Café, Key Bank, Bangs Stationary Pencil, Harrison, the Idaho Motel, Odd Fellows Hall, Pocatello High Arch, Scott’s/Petersen’s, the Yellowstone Hotel, South East Furniture, Shanghai Café, Terrell’s Shoes, Fred’s Photo and the Oasis Bar, among others.

Some of these signs, even though decades old, are still in very good shape, others will need various levels of refurbishing. 

“It would be great to restore everything but we’ll take it one sign at a time,” said Randy Dixon, chair of the Relight the Night campaign and lifelong resident of the city. “Nine of the 18 are currently functional, but nine are in danger of becoming derelict.”

The soft glow of these iconic advertising entities — made using electrified, luminous tube lights that contain rarefied neon or other gases — has dotted the American landscape since the 1920s. Pocatello, as an older city in Idaho, has more than its fair share of these national wonders.

The Relight the Night campaign, which is a comprehensive project to save these historic neon signs, was introduced in June. The project is being spearheaded by the Historic Old Town Pocatello Foundation and is like many efforts across the nation to save the signs that are landmarks in downtown areas.  

According to Dixon, historic neon signs are pieces of art that remind the community of our favorite events, places, and people. He said it’s appropriate that the Chief Theatre sign be the first in this project’s series, since it was the center of Old Town for decades. Dixon helped restore it in 1983 and was devastated when it was destroyed in the fire.

“That was a horrible situation, but ironically, the marquee survived and it was stored away for almost 20 years,” he said. “I lived in Old Town for more than 31 years and that sign was so important to this area. Our goal is to restore the Chief sign and erect it in Old Town again. We are planning a Chief relighting ceremony in July 2013, in conjunction with Idaho’s 150th territorial celebration.”

Dixon added that the committee is made up of hard-working, highly-qualified and very dedicated individuals who are passionate about these restorative efforts.

The work will not be easy, though, as sign location, power sources and the cost of materials has to be factored into the equation. Currently, according to Dixon, an architect and two local lighting companies are looking into the projects. 

“We have to do our best to make them as energy efficient as possible,” he said.

To help raise money for the effort, Relight the Night T-shirts are available for $20, while the 2013 RTN calendars, featuring photos of the seven existing local neon signs and the Chief marquee, can be purchased for just a $5 donation.

Calendars and T-shirts are available at Old Town Pocatello located at 420 N. Main St., Myers Anderson Architects at 101 N. Main St., Pocatello Neighborhood Housing Services at 206 N. Arthur and the city of Pocatello offices.