“Dead Poets” Theater Marquee Removed

A piece of Hollywood history right in our own backyard came down this morning.

More than two decades after it was featured in Dead Poets Society, the marquee in front of the Everett Theatre along Main Street in Middletown, Del. was removed Friday.

The Everett and the neon marquee were featured prominently during the scene of the movie where a performance of A Midsummer’s Night Dream is presented.

The piece of film history was in place for 92 years. Friday morning workers took it down because it was rusted and broken beyond repair.

But the old sing isn’t headed to the dump. The theater is thinking about possibly donating it to the town historical society.

And a new sing will take the old sign’s place.

“The new one is going to be exactly the same as the old one, we are following the same blueprints and it'll be beautiful -- it'll be just like it was back in the late 20s,” said Rob Stout from the Everett Theatre board of directors.

Once the side of the building is cleaned up, the new marquee will be put up -- ready in time for the theater's big gala to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of "Dead Poet's Society."

The 1989 movie, which won the Oscar for Best Screenplay while being nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Peter Weir) and Best Actor (Robin Williams) not only featured the Everett but many other area landmarks including St. Andrew’s School and Wolf Cave, according to IMDB.com.

The movie also featured hundreds of Delaware high schoolers as extras.

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