Coming soon: Hyart Theatre sign will soon light up the night once again

It has been more than eight years since a hailstorm destroyed the iconic neon lights on the tall Hyart Theatre sign, but after years of efforts to repair the lights, the sign will soon come alive again, albeit with LED lights.

The devastating hailstorm that struck the Lovell area on July 26, 2018, took out the neon lights at the Hyart, destroying a classic work of neon art. For the first few years, attempts were made by the Hyart Board of Directors to restore the neon tubing, but craftsmen able to reconstruct the neon were found to be few and far between.

In the meantime, the sign was painted, but the lights remained dark and unrepaired.

The board next worked with a number of sign companies, but each attempt was met with disappointment and failure – until now.

“Replacing the lights proved to be a much bigger challenge than expected,” Hyart Board secretary Christina Robertson said. “Because of the age and unique design of the historic lighting, it was difficult to find a company willing to take on the restoration. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent flooding (in the lobby) created additional delays, extending the timeline even further.”

Funding was another obstacle, Robertson said.

“The replacement of the lights was not covered by the theater’s insurance, because they were considered part of the roof structure,” she said. “As a result, the Hyart relied on generous donations to make the project possible.”

Robertson said the majority of the funding for the sign project has come from a generous gift from the late longtime Hyart owner Loretta Bischoff and her business manager, Elsie Martens. Community members have chipped in, as well.

“The Hyart Theatre is deeply grateful for the many contributions from community members whose support helped bring the project to this point,” Robertson said.

A few months ago, after other sign companies failed to deliver on projects to repair the lights, the Hyart Board hired Epcon Sign Group of Billings. Work began in early September to prepare the sign for the new lights, and LED tubing work began within the last two weeks and should be completed by the end of next week, Robertson said, although additional electrical work will need to be completed before the lights can be illuminated once again.

“While this project restores the main theater lighting, there are still some additional lights that will need repair,” Robertson added. “Those repairs were not included in the current project and will need to be addressed separately as funding becomes available.”

Once the lighting has been restored and shining over Main Street once again, the Hyart plans to celebrate the milestone with a community celebration, Robertson said, adding that the event will also recognize several recent improvements to the theater including the new carpet, new curtains and the newly completed sidewalk. Insurance paid for the carpet and curtains, and Jeff Peterson of Armor Coat donated his time and labor for the sidewalk work.

“The Hyart Theatre looks forward to sharing this special moment with the community and celebrating the return of one of Lovell’s most recognizable landmarks,” Robertson said.