The Lakewood Theater, left, and The Shops at Lakeside, right. (Photo courtesy of Katherine Unmuth.)
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Lakewood has a fan in the suburbs. In an April 7 Twitter post, neighbor Katherine Unmuth noted that a sign in Flower Mound looks strikingly similar to the iconic Lakewood Theater in East Dallas.
The 30-foot sign that Unmuth saw was mounted in 2015 at The Shops at Lakeside in Flower Mound, according to an article on the property’s website. The retail center is part of the Lakeside DFW development that includes offices, homes, apartments, shopping and dining areas.
The article states the sign was inspired by mid-century movie marquees like the 1938 Lakewood Theater, which showed family friendly films to the neighborhood. When announcing the opening ceremony, the Dallas Morning News reported the theater’s tower “rises 100 feet and carries 7,000 watts of power for illumination.”
Lakeside may be able to boast that its LED sign is more energy efficient, but our neighborhood landmark is nearly three times as tall — and it was here first.
Before the bragging begins, just remember the signs share a common moment in their past. National sign company Kieffer Starlite in Denton manufactured Lakeside’s sign. It also partnered with the Lakewood Theater to complete its lighting restoration, according to its website. The company installed more than 3,000 feet of neon and replaced more than 500 bulbs and sockets in the ball at the top of the tower.
