It's hard to say this because I love the Bijou dearly, but I'm not a fan of it's exterior sign and marquee which were both installed in January of this year. The more I admit it, though, the more I find others who share the same opinion.
I knew it was a mistake the first time I saw the frustration of the man who clumsily placed each plastic letter up there with a long pole. I think that job got old in about five minutes. Imagine having to update that sign as frequently as shows come and go at the Bijou.
I assume the installation was premature. Whoever was in charge wanted the sign to be unveiled during their 100th anniversary jubilee, but there was not enough funds to put in something more fitting.
It's ok if the money wasn't there. I just wish they had waited. Knoxville could have celebrated the Bijou's 100th birthday without a new sign. The Bijou is well-worth celebrating without cheap bells and whistles.
I can't post the photos here because of copyright laws, but you can view a different version of the sign on the Bijou's website, which I think is better proportioned than what they actually installed. Also, these photos don't do my opinion justice. You have to see it for yourself.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Bij-ew
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10 comments:
That's really odd! It said Yo La Tango (Tengo?) yesterday afternoon And it's said other people (Margaret Cho I remember specifically). I've been spending a pile of time at that corner since Organized Play opened up at that corner. That said, the big blue and white plastic thing isn't the best match for the architecture.
I wonder why he said that then. i actually didn't even check out the sign when i left. i'll go look at it today.
eli, you're right. it did say yo la tengo. he must have been talking about something else.
I agree. I wish they'd saved their money on the marquee and put more money into making the blade sign bigger. The blade sign is nice, but it gets lost amid the Tennessee Theatre and movie theatre signs.
Oh, and I know U.S. Cellular's sponsorship is important to the Bijou, so I won't begrudge it that, but it drives me crazy that their logo is front and center on the marquee.
It pains me to say this, but I have disliked the marquee and the vertical sign from the time of unveiling. It has all the earmarks of a hasty and cheap process. As others have said the vertical blade is too small for the facade and the marquee just looks cheap and shoddy. The typeface looks hand-rendered almost. In other words, nothing about the signage is what a grand venue like the Bijou deserves. And, almost everyone asked say something like: "it just doesn't look right."
I walk by the Bijou every day and have to say that the blue and white hasn't grown on me one bit. It looks incredibly out of place and I doubt it will age well.
It was raining earlier this week when I walked under the Bijou marquee on my way to the Bistro. I was somewhat alarmed to see water streaming out of two of the light sockets. I'm no electrician, but that can't be good, can it?
agreed with all of the above. it's especially shocking that there's a beautiful arched entryway 90% blocked by the marquee. i dont quite understand how the bigger sign was easier done than the more slender one on the website (granted i just glanced at the picture and havent read anything about their decision.
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