Will Rogers Memorial Center: An Appreciation
by Steve-O
As the crowds converge in West Fort Worth for the annual Stock Show and Rodeo, I’d like to say a few words on behalf of the Will Rogers Memorial Center, the 1936 Moderne masterpiece that provides the backdrop for city’s annual celebration of Western culture.
The Coliseum, the Pioneer Tower and the Auditorium are signature pieces of Fort Worth architecture. Designed by Wyatt C. Hedrick and Herman P. Koeppe in the dark days of the Great Depression, these buildings were a celebration of our frontier past and a symbol of a bright future to come. Today, we live in that shining world of tomorrow that our ancestors imagined in the 1930s. But how does the future look for Will Rogers Coliseum?
Fair to partly cloudy?
In Sunday’s Star-Telegram, Mike Lee reminded us that the rodeo might be getting a new home. I’d be happy to hyperlink to the story, but it apparently never made it onto the S-T Web site. Ahem. (And now, the Link.) Anyway, the story sets out the economic argument for a new arena.
And the case, I think, is a good one. The WRMC has attracted equestrian events from all over the country to Fort Worth, and that money goes into the local economy — about $16 million annually according to the Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2005. However, the modest 5,900-seat arena has kept organizers from attracting new events and attractions the way that larger facilities in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio do.
Although I appreciate the effort that Ed Bass and others have put into raising the roof on a new arena, I am concerned that not much discussion has been devoted to protecting the historic architecture at the complex.
Kevin Buchanan, the king of all-things-architecture in Fort Worth, assures me that the proposed new arena will be built nearby on the WRMC grounds, but would not impact any of the historic structures. He says the new arena would replace a parking lot on Harley Avenue, but the historic coliseum would remain. The auditorium would be gutted and modernized with better facilities and audio. The tower would be unaffected.
I hope that is indeed correct. However, I worry that promises on this issue are a little vague. Back in 2005, the Star-Telegram reported that demolition of the coliseum was still being considered. (See Buck’s comment below.) I tend to trust Kevin on these issues, but I can’t find anything, anywhere that says the assures that the WRMC will be protected. Have any guarantees been made to protect this historic site?
And, though outdated the coliseum may be, historic it is. According to Judith Cohen’s landmark book on Fort Worth architecture, Cowtown Moderne, the dome was revolutionary in its time. Designed by Herbert M. Hinckley Sr., it had no supporting columns to obscure views. In 1971, the coliseum received a Texas Historical Marker honoring Hinckley’s work.
However, engineering achievements are a fleeting thing. What was Hinckley’s marvel once upon a time is now considered cramped and long-in-the-tooth. I think that’s too bad, but I’m something of a throwback. I’m one of those guys who thinks the old Cotton Bowl in Dallas is fantastic venue steeped in history, but most everyone else thinks it’s a dump. And I’ll grant you this, when you are waiting in a long line for a restroom that snakes around a concourse, you probably don’t give a rip what’s steeped in history. You want more freaking toilets. So progress, I see your argument.
But honestly, innovative roof designs and toilets probably aren’t the first things you think about when you think about the WRMC. From a public art perspective, most people think about the 208-foot Pioneer Tower and the mosaics that adorn the entrances to the Coliseum and the Auditorium.
The tower was one of those key ingredients in public architecture in the 1920s and 1930s. If you were going to design a new city hall, state capitol, park or university main building, you needed one of those tower things. All you Freudians out there can make of this what you will, but if you compare the Pioneer Tower to Dallas’ own 1936 Art Deco Tower Building at 179 feet, Fort Worth can rightfully say ours is bigger.
And, although we know that size matters, you also need a good personality. What better way to do that than telling the story of where you are from through a mosaic? The 10-foot by 200-foot mosaics that adorn the Coliseum and the Auditorium were designed by Koeppe to depict the cultures that developed the culture of the Southwest. If you make it out to the Stock Show this year, take a few moments to admire this work. It really is special. So many works like this from local Depression-era artists — like the amazing murals that decorated many Texas post offices of the era — didn’t survive until this day. We’re lucky to have this right in our midst.
Here’s hoping that we hang on to a little bit of yesterday, even as we build for tomorrow.
Tags: stock show, Will Rogers Memorial Center
14 Comments, Comments or Pings
Tom Huckabee
Thanks for this, Steve-O.
I many vivid memories of these buildings and their grounds, like the time my dad took my brother and I to see Cassius Clay fight Sonny Liston on close circuit TV. It was in the theater, not the arena. We arrived just as they were ringing the first bell and took the only seats left, which were on the first row a little too close to the big screen. Only thirty or forty seconds went by before my dad said, “Let’s go.” People were booing at the screen. I got up and chased my dad up the aisle, pulling on his sleeve: “What happened? Why are we leaving?” My dad wasn’t talking, pissed that he’d blown twenty or thirty dollars on the tickets. My older brother interceded: “Clay knocked out Liston in the first round, stupid. It was probably rigged.”
“Well, don’t we get our money back?”
“No, stupid.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
I saw my first rock concert there in 1968: Vanilla Fudge with an opening act that no one had heard of: Three Dog Night. I’m told the Jimi Hendrix Experience opened for the Monkees there about the same time. Something happened to Hendrix in Fort Worth that embittered him to the city. Nonetheless he returned the following year and topped the bill at the arena with his Band of Gypsies with Buddy Myles on Drums. Hendrix played a lackluster 45 minute set, barely spoke to the crowd and disappeared. I guess that was his revenge.
A year later, a couple of hundred hippies were demanding to be let in free to see Chicago Transit Authority. In the past, they would have just ripped the doors off the hinges and helped themselves to unoccupied seats. But the management had wised up and stationed two riot-control cops at every door. Eventually, the crowd gave up and dispersed, except for me and a couple of stoned-out long-hairs. The long-hairs decided on a suicide attack on one of the exit doors. All the cops in the vicinity deserted their posts to join in the pummelling of the hapless hippies. That allowed me to just breeze on in, easy peasy. Chicago hadn’t even gone on yet.
Then there was the time a girl I went ice skating with took me outside into the bushes to make love. I drove by there recently and saw that the foilage was too well-trimmed to provide ample cover for l’amore these days.
I hope they don’t tear those buildings down. Renovating the theater sounds like a great idea, as we need another good mid-sized entertainment venue in Fort Worth.
Tom
Jan 14th, 2008
Steve-O
Well, we have a new leader in the clubhouse for best comment of the year.
Tom, mucho thanks for sharing your memories. I’m hoping others will feel free to add their memories. My walk down memory lane can be found here.
Jan 14th, 2008
Bernie
To answer one of the questions you raised: No, unfortunately NOTHING has been done to protect Will Rogers Memorial Center.
It’s really quite outrageous, considering the complex’s cultural value to this city, that the city government won’t designate WRMC at least a “historic and cultural landmark”. That would at least afford it some protection from the wrecking ball.
We’re losing the historic fabric of this city, piece by piece. Word on the street is that the city won’t protect WRMC because the Bass family doesn’t want to be limited in its options for new arena construction.
Now, I’ll be the first to recognize that the Basses have done wonders for Fort Worth. Their record on Historic Preservation downtown has been great. But if they want to knock down Will Rogers, and the city allows it because of their past good deeds, it will be a sad day for this city.
Perhaps we should all write a letter to the Historic and Cultural Landmark Commission, and to our council representatives, and ask them to DESIGNATE WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL CENTER.
Jan 14th, 2008
Kevin
Again, though, the location that is almost universally stated as the site of the new arena is the parking lot on Harley Avenue, site of a former city vehicle service yard. Harley would also be realigned as part of the project.
Jan 14th, 2008
Bernie
Just because they plan not to raze the current colliseum, isn’t a valid reason not to legally protect it from demolition, IMO.
Jan 14th, 2008
Steve-O
I agree, I think the intent is there. However, my fear is that nothing is being promised in order to keep all options on the table. Mi no gusta.
Jan 14th, 2008
Buck
Nobody has ever suggested demolishing the coliseum.
The 2005 Star-Telegram story linked above doesn’t mention demolishing the current coliseum. It talks about demolishing the garage on Harley.
Somebody over on the Fort Worth Forum started a rumor that the coliseum was endangered, but that wasn’t true.
The complex does not have a historic zoning overlay because it is a city facility. The people already control it. Historic overlays are for private property.
Jan 14th, 2008
Bernie
As quickly as the Museum district is growing and changing… if it’s not designated, it’s endangered.
Historic Designation is NOT only for private property. Central Fire Station No. 2, and Nash Elementary are two great examples of public property that has been designated historic and rightly protected.
Just because a building isn’t in imminent danger, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t seize an opportunity to protect it from future encroachment.
Jan 14th, 2008
Will
Let’s not forget what happened to the 7th Street Theatre in the dead of night.
Jan 15th, 2008
Steve-O
Thanks for your comment and clarification, Buck. I am still concerned that in all the discussions about the future of the WRMC that nothing specific has been said about the future of the existing facility. Is it just assumed that the facility won’t be changed? Is it that providing a historic designation could provide more hoops (and expense) when work does begin? If anyone knows, please jump in.
Jan 15th, 2008
Buck
I have never heard anyone suggest changing the coliseum in any way, at least not in 20 years.
I think many years ago there was talk of lifting the roof and adding balcony skyboxes. But the new arena is a much better idea.
The Stock Show needs the arena to use for horse events, like the Justin Arena. So the coliseum will probably get disability access and better restrooms, but no physical changes.
At one point, the money for coliseum improvements was included in the price of the new arena. I assume that’s still in the plan.
Also, if a Brahmas or Flyers team ever returns to Fort Worth, it would be routed to the improved coliseum.
Jan 17th, 2008
Steve-O
Thanks for your comment, Buck. Disability access, improved restrooms and infrastructure changes that don’t compromise the architectural integrity of the building are certainly welcome changes.
Jan 17th, 2008
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