Abstract: An electric light display apparatus of the light blocking type comprising slender discharge tubes arranged in parallel rows on the front side of the apparatus and each divided by openable light blocking members into a multiplicity of sections arranged continuously longitudinally of the tube. The sections are exposed or shielded by the blocking members individually to display the desired characters, illustrations or like images with a collection of bright portions and dark portions. The apparatus is simple in construction and less susceptible to malfunctions and displays images of high luminance which are distinctly perceivable visually without requiring a great power consumption.