Old Cinema display boards

July 23, 2010 8:17 AM

What were the old, push-in-one-letter-at-a-time, stage/cinema times display boards called, and how might I get hold of one?

As I recall, they were covered in lines of a black felt-type material, and each horizontal gap could hold a series of white letters, to spell out a film or band title and the time. I certainly remember these from my home town in the UK in the eighties, and I think I am right to assume they were widely used. I would like to buy one, but can't seem to turn up anything remotely like my memory serves up.

posted by tawny to Writing & Language (3 answers total)

Best answer: Like so? This is a U.S. seller, but you can probably search the internet using the SKU or something to find a retailer in the UK.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:21 AM on July 23, 2010

Best answer: Here's a few available in the UK.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 8:24 AM on July 23, 2010

One quick recommendation (and I say this as someone who stood on a chair updating a board like this twice a week for 10 years) is that you buy multiple sets of letters right off the bat.

If you wait a year and then decide you need some more due to breakage or loss, you might not be able to get an exact match for shape or color.

And then you get to spend hours trying to keep the slightly different letters from ending up on the same line, desperate to make Zuzu & Zeke's Amazing Zebra Zpectacular not look weird and (more) unprofessional, while weeping gently to yourself, etc etc.
posted by bcwinters at 9:01 AM on July 23, 2010 [3 favorites]