Should the Blue Flame be restored?
#1
Posted 22 March 2006 - 12:56 PM
Of all the old signs in Downtown Ft. Worth, this one would seem to be the easiest one to restore………(or would it)?
For those of you who might not remember the Blue Flame in its prime, it was a "bling-bling" sign!
..meaning, it not only was illuminated at night and rotated, it "flickered" like a flame...almost a mesmerizing, bordering on psychedelic, display of blue and white neon.
We know we can never have the CNB clock again or the WSL (SLC pre 1973) forecast sign and let us not forget the red and white Conoco inverted triangle surrounded by the Continental Life red neon letters.
I would think that "ol' Blue" would be sort of an eternal flame of the Ft. Worth Skyline, a sign and symbol maybe worth restoration. Thoughts???
Am I simply romanticizing a worn out broken piece of blue metal?
#2 ghughes
Posted 22 March 2006 - 03:07 PM
But I'm right with you there.
Who owns it? What's wrong with it?
#3
Posted 22 March 2006 - 03:22 PM
But I'm right with you there.
Who owns it? What's wrong with it?
City of Ft. Worth Water Department now owns the building (I guess we can call the flame a "water drop" now)!
I'm sure if it was powered up, nothing would happen. An access panel on the upper side edge of the flame has been open for some time. For many years the panel door hung open, now the panel is gone (might have come off during the tornado).
It looks like most of the neon tubes are busted and no telling if the rotation mechanism even works.
Actually, it looks quite simple in design. I'd like to get a close up of the internal workings of it.
My logic is that Dallas salvaged (actually replaced with a replica) the Pegasus on the magnolia building and MobilOil has long been gone from the building.
Why can't Ft. Worth salvage the former icon of Lone Star Gas?
In fact, I think (I could be wrong) that the only reason Dallas saved the Pegasus is because of the public out cry over the proposed removal many years ago.
Unless Ft. Worth voices a desire (so far just the two of us) I would imagine that the Blue Flame will be removed soon for being "an eyesore"!
Then again, code compliance comes into the picture. Is it's current state compliant? Would it be compliant if it was operational again? Moreover, are the current owners willing to pay the cost of restoration OR would that be a city paid expense?
I'd like to think this forum could be the catalyst to save it!
#4
Posted 22 March 2006 - 03:59 PM
#5
Posted 22 March 2006 - 04:34 PM
I know the Clock came in 1957
Conoco was around 1962????
SLC (later WSL) around 1966.
I have photos that show the Blue Flame prior to the install of Conoco and SLC/WSL. So I guess what I want to know, is the Blue Flame older than the clock? If so, It would be the oldest if not, it would be the second oldest and last to survive!
"SAVE THE FLAME"
#6
Posted 22 March 2006 - 04:42 PM
Would be nice to see it light up at least, I can live without it rotating. Again, it would be a nice sight to see at night.
#7
Posted 22 March 2006 - 05:38 PM
I'm feeling a little "blue" about the blue flame
Would be nice to see it light up at least, I can live without it rotating. Again, it would be a nice sight to see at night.
I second that. I think it is a neat, old icon. Who would have thought that the blue flame would become even more appropriate in the early 21st century now that Fort Worth has developed a natural gas industry?
#8
Posted 22 March 2006 - 06:53 PM
I'm feeling a little "blue" about the blue flame
Would be nice to see it light up at least, I can live without it rotating. Again, it would be a nice sight to see at night.
I second that. I think it is a neat, old icon. Who would have thought that the blue flame would become even more appropriate in the early 21st century now that Fort Worth has developed a natural gas industry?
Hmmm, maybe the flame could be the centerpiece of a public square, "Energy Plaza" on the now vacant block most recently occupied by the Landmark/CNB Building, and surrounded by the offices of various energy companies, most notably XTO. A landscaped park with a raised dias in the middle with the flame lit up and rotating in all it's once proud glory.
Nah, I suppose a 50 story office building would be better.
#9
Posted 22 March 2006 - 08:25 PM
#10 bburton
#11
Posted 23 March 2006 - 01:09 PM
#12
Posted 23 March 2006 - 01:19 PM
"it not only was illuminated at night and rotated, it "flickered" like a flame...almost a mesmerizing, bordering on psychedelic, display of blue and white neon."
I do know it was illuminated but I might be wrong on the "flickering" aspect. I do know that there was a sing in the Wedgewood Shopping Center back in the 60s and 70s that had a flame (a candle) that flickeded wildly. We could see it from my house off South Dr.
Was the Blue Flame "flashy" or was it staticly lit at night? It's been so darn long I can't remember!
Initialy I think I was correct the first time but after talking to my wife she said she did not ever recall it "flickering".
#13
Posted 23 March 2006 - 02:26 PM
I might be mistaking when I said..
"it not only was illuminated at night and rotated, it "flickered" like a flame...almost a mesmerizing, bordering on psychedelic, display of blue and white neon."
I do know it was illuminated but I might be wrong on the "flickering" aspect. I do know that there was a sing in the Wedgewood Shopping Center back in the 60s and 70s that had a flame (a candle) that flickeded wildly. We could see it from my house off South Dr.
Was the Blue Flame "flashy" or was it staticly lit at night? It's been so darn long I can't remember!
Initialy I think I was correct the first time but after talking to my wife she said she did not ever recall it "flickering".
If my memory serves me, the blue neon on the outside of the flame was timed to flicker on and off so that it looked like a flame. The sign at the Wedgwood Shopping Center was actually a natural gas torch on the top of the sign.
#14
Posted 23 March 2006 - 03:34 PM
Regarding "Ol' Blue", folks around the office here remember the flame "flicked" to some extent so memory has served me correct on that.
Still trying to determine its age, when it was installed, etc.
I think XTO should take a vested interest in this inconic symbol of their industry!
#15
Posted 23 March 2006 - 03:59 PM
WOW. I never knew they used a natural gas flame on the Wedgewood Sign. Must have predated me. The one I remember was metal with red & orange neon. I think it had the intials WW (Wedgewood) or WS (Wedgewood shopping center) or something to that effect.
Regarding "Ol' Blue", folks around the office here remember the flame "flicked" to some extent so memory has served me correct on that.
Still trying to determine its age, when it was installed, etc.
I think XTO should take a vested interest in this inconic symbol of their industry!
The shopping center was called Wedgwood Village. The sign with the torch was on the Wedgmont Circle N. side just across the street from the old Wot A Burger, not to be confused with What A Burger. We moved 3 blocks from there in 1958 and it was the first major shopping center built in Wedgwood. As a kid, I always thought the torch was a neat deal.
#16
Posted 23 March 2006 - 04:49 PM
WOW. I never knew they used a natural gas flame on the Wedgewood Sign. Must have predated me. The one I remember was metal with red & orange neon. I think it had the intials WW (Wedgewood) or WS (Wedgewood shopping center) or something to that effect.
Regarding "Ol' Blue", folks around the office here remember the flame "flicked" to some extent so memory has served me correct on that.
Still trying to determine its age, when it was installed, etc.
I think XTO should take a vested interest in this inconic symbol of their industry!
The shopping center was called Wedgwood Village. The sign with the torch was on the Wedgmont Circle N. side just across the street from the old Wot A Burger, not to be confused with What A Burger. We moved 3 blocks from there in 1958 and it was the first major shopping center built in Wedgwood. As a kid, I always thought the torch was a neat deal.
WV That was it!
#17
Posted 23 March 2006 - 05:08 PM
#18
Posted 23 March 2006 - 05:20 PM
You guys are bringing back all of my memories of old vintage signs. Does anyone remember the big "W" at Westcliff Center?
I remember it very well along with Worth Food Mart, the Fair, Moreland's Drug Store, and Bolen's Toy Palace among the many stores in that center.
#19
Posted 23 March 2006 - 05:50 PM
You guys are bringing back all of my memories of old vintage signs. Does anyone remember the big "W" at Westcliff Center?
Indeed I do and it still exist in a local warehouse in town. I worked at the Piggly Wiggly back in the 80s and my Dad had his Real Estate office on the South West Corner.
You use to be able to get a burger, fries and a malt at Moreland's Drug Store and who can forget Dale's Barber Shop??
#21
Posted 23 March 2006 - 09:07 PM
If my memory serves me, the blue neon on the outside of the flame was timed to flicker on and off so that it looked like a flame.
Sure it wasn't just a bad neon tube? Some neon signs "flicker" right before they burn out
Point well made!
#22
Posted 24 March 2006 - 11:07 AM
#23
Posted 24 March 2006 - 03:55 PM
FYI, Candlelite was on Vickery at Forest Park, on the southeast corner by the railroad.
#24
Posted 28 March 2006 - 01:45 PM
#25
Posted 28 March 2006 - 01:58 PM
Oh my sweet Lord in heaven........................NO!
#26
Posted 29 March 2006 - 12:26 AM
Yikes!!!
#27
Posted 31 October 2008 - 08:58 AM
One issue is probably that it's not as visible since the elevated portion of I-30 doesn't run near it anymore. It will be visible from the west facing windows of the Omni though...
#28
Posted 31 October 2008 - 02:19 PM
#29
Posted 31 October 2008 - 05:27 PM
I might be mistaking when I said..
"it not only was illuminated at night and rotated, it "flickered" like a flame...almost a mesmerizing, bordering on psychedelic, display of blue and white neon."
I do know it was illuminated but I might be wrong on the "flickering" aspect. I do know that there was a sing in the Wedgewood Shopping Center back in the 60s and 70s that had a flame (a candle) that flickeded wildly. We could see it from my house off South Dr.
Was the Blue Flame "flashy" or was it staticly lit at night? It's been so darn long I can't remember!
Initialy I think I was correct the first time but after talking to my wife she said she did not ever recall it "flickering".
If my memory serves me, the blue neon on the outside of the flame was timed to flicker on and off so that it looked like a flame. The sign at the Wedgwood Shopping Center was actually a natural gas torch on the top of the sign.
I could be wrong about this, but I seem to recall that the sign had an additional offset tip and it would alternate back and forth to vaguely simulate a flicker.
#30
Posted 31 October 2008 - 06:19 PM
Moved next to the 57, you would have to get past 5 to get to 22.
#31
Posted 31 October 2008 - 08:54 PM
#32
Posted 31 August 2018 - 05:25 PM
Could the Blue Flame be this project?
B. Discussion and consideration of a resolution authorizing the Chair to enter into a TIF Development Agreement with the Fort Worth Arts Council for the restoration of public art located at 908 Monroe St. (Michael Hennig, Business Development Coordinator; Martha Peters, Fort Worth Arts Council).
- rriojas71 likes this
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users