A marquis is a lighted billboard or sign that gives information about a subject such as a movie marquis.It can also advertise, relay messages,bible quotes, time frames plus lots of other information. What you view on a marquis also depends on the area of the country that you live in.
Actually, the term for a billboard or lighted sign is spelled 'marquee'. A 'Marquis' is the title of a minor French aristrocrat - the English version of it is 'Marquess'.