Light-bulb-studded changeable metal letters were manufactured by White Way Sign & Maintenance, Chicago, IL, circa 1950s. Each letter has brackets on the reverse for hanging, and an electrical cord to plug the letter directly into the marquee.
Letters originally came in two heights. They were located in a loft area of White Way Lighting original building located on Clybourne Street in downtown Chicago. White Way Lighting was known in particular for designing and lighting theater marquees as well as maintaining them. Our understanding is that as part of a maintenance contract, White Way would change the letters for their customers marquees.
White Way opened in 1916. Over the years they had built marquees for the Chicago Theater, Oriental Theater, and Wrigley Field. Their 34,000 ft. facility was located in Mount Prospect, IL, where they had about 20 employees. In 2014 they filed for bankruptcy, but were authorized to sell their assets at a public auction. Olympic Signs had the highest bid and thus acquired White Ways customers, projects, and maintenance files.
Neon Skeleton Point-of-Purchase POP Countertop Sign