Actor Michael Madsen and Zippy the Pinhead say "Save the 76 Ball!"
For immediate release
LOS ANGELES- ConocoPhillips, the Texas-based energy company that took over the historic California Unocal refineries and gas stations in 2002, recently commenced a campaign of design terrorism, ripping down the hugely popular orange and blue "76" branded ball signs in favor of a generic flattened "tombstone-style" red and blue disk.
Dismayed by the disappearance of a favorite piece of urban furniture, the authors of L.A.'s acclaimed 1947project crime and history blog launched an online petition begging ConocoPhillips to reverse their redesign policy and show proper respect for the beloved 76 ball brand. More than 2200 people have signed the petition and pledged to only buy gas under a 76 Ball sign, drawn by news coverage on the BBC, KTLA Morning News, Brandweek, Los Angeles Times (a cover story), Los Angeles Business Journal, KFI radio and PR Week.
The 76 Ball has a new champion in actor Michael Madsen, star of "Reservoir Dogs" and "Kill Bill." Madsen told the BBC, "There seems to be this driving force to tear down everything that's a little old. These are things that were landmarks, it's a symbol that I remember from childhood. What's the point of smashing them and putting up flat signs?"
Next month, cartoonist Bill Griffith will turn his incisive eye to the threat facing the 76 Balls. Readers of more than 200 daily newspaper comic pages will see Zippy the Pinhead communing with one of the classic "meatball" signs, just as he did with the threatened Doggie Diner signs that have since been preserved.
Kim Cooper and Nathan Marsak of the Save the 76 Ball, campaign are seeking a dialogue with ConocoPhillips, in hopes of preserving at least some of the 76 Ball signs and turning a potential PR disaster and national boycott threat into something positive. Cooper and Marsak are asking ConocoPhillips:
1) to work with them and with the Los Angeles Conservancy to select some historically significant 76 stations that will retain their balls;
2) to allow collectors to purchase 76 balls rather than storing and destroying them;
3) and to make a gift of spinning 76 ball signs to American signage museums so future generations can enjoy them.
Visit http://www.savethe76ball.com to learn more about the campaign to preserve one of the 20th Century's most successful and enduring design icons, and to see films of threatened 76 balls hard at work in Hawaii and California.
Save the 76 Ball campaigners Kim Cooper and Nathan Marsak are available for interviews, as is Michael Madsen and Bill Griffith. Contact Kim (amscray@gmail.com). See the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/76ball/petition.html
LOS ANGELES- ConocoPhillips, the Texas-based energy company that took over the historic California Unocal refineries and gas stations in 2002, recently commenced a campaign of design terrorism, ripping down the hugely popular orange and blue "76" branded ball signs in favor of a generic flattened "tombstone-style" red and blue disk.
Dismayed by the disappearance of a favorite piece of urban furniture, the authors of L.A.'s acclaimed 1947project crime and history blog launched an online petition begging ConocoPhillips to reverse their redesign policy and show proper respect for the beloved 76 ball brand. More than 2200 people have signed the petition and pledged to only buy gas under a 76 Ball sign, drawn by news coverage on the BBC, KTLA Morning News, Brandweek, Los Angeles Times (a cover story), Los Angeles Business Journal, KFI radio and PR Week.
The 76 Ball has a new champion in actor Michael Madsen, star of "Reservoir Dogs" and "Kill Bill." Madsen told the BBC, "There seems to be this driving force to tear down everything that's a little old. These are things that were landmarks, it's a symbol that I remember from childhood. What's the point of smashing them and putting up flat signs?"
Next month, cartoonist Bill Griffith will turn his incisive eye to the threat facing the 76 Balls. Readers of more than 200 daily newspaper comic pages will see Zippy the Pinhead communing with one of the classic "meatball" signs, just as he did with the threatened Doggie Diner signs that have since been preserved.
Kim Cooper and Nathan Marsak of the Save the 76 Ball, campaign are seeking a dialogue with ConocoPhillips, in hopes of preserving at least some of the 76 Ball signs and turning a potential PR disaster and national boycott threat into something positive. Cooper and Marsak are asking ConocoPhillips:
1) to work with them and with the Los Angeles Conservancy to select some historically significant 76 stations that will retain their balls;
2) to allow collectors to purchase 76 balls rather than storing and destroying them;
3) and to make a gift of spinning 76 ball signs to American signage museums so future generations can enjoy them.
Visit http://www.savethe76ball.com to learn more about the campaign to preserve one of the 20th Century's most successful and enduring design icons, and to see films of threatened 76 balls hard at work in Hawaii and California.
Save the 76 Ball campaigners Kim Cooper and Nathan Marsak are available for interviews, as is Michael Madsen and Bill Griffith. Contact Kim (amscray@gmail.com). See the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/76ball/petition.html
posted by Kim @ 12:37 PM
