KCRA3: HISTORY AGLOW - KCRA'S NEON SIGN FROM THE 1950S IS LIT ONCE AGAIN

The historic KCRA neon sign, which has not been lit in decades, is once again glowing in Sacramento.

The sign was hung in the 1950s when KCRA radio made its home at the corner of J and 10th Streets. It was then moved when KCRA 3 news started in 1955 off D Street.

“I know it hadn't been lit in over 30 years," KCRA and My58 President and General Manager Ariel Roblin said.

Roblin became general manager on July 1, 2020. That same day, she saw the battered sign clinging to the backside of the building. She made it her mission to breathe life back into it.

"History is important," she said.

Two years ago, the sign was sent to Pacific Neon for a complete renovation.

"If you saw the sign in its original form, it was pretty tired," said John Drury, Pacific Neon's president.

Everything had to be redone on the sign. That included all the wiring and neon glass.

When the restoration was done, the sign was moved to a new home in front of the KCRA building at 3 Television Circle.

Sacramento Congresswoman Doris Matsui and KCRA's Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan flipped the switch to light up the sign on Tuesday during a ceremony with station staff and neighbors.

Matsui talked about the importance of local news and said the station is also an integral part of the community.

"Local journalism is vitally important, today more than ever," she said. "There's so many ways of getting our news. Many times you don't know what's really true or not. But I want to hear it from my neighbors, my local constituents, the people on the ground."

Roblin said that the green "C" on the sign symbolizes "our commitment to community."

"Every day you come to work or leave on an assignment, let this sign and the green C, be the beacon on our lighthouse," she said.

Longtime KCRA photojournalist Brian Fong said he'd never seen the sign lit, "but it's going to be there for everyone to see now."

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