TOPIC: pilot too tall?

Just inspected a home built in 1950. I'm pretty sure the furnace is original, or close to original. The pilot was lit, but the airhandler did not shut off when the cover was removed, there was no safety button (it's an old Sears and Roebuck airhandler/furnace). The burner tubes were dirty and corroded, and there was evidence of flame rollout on the burner cover which had been removed prior to my arrival. The pilot flame was yellow, and about 3" tall. I did not operate the furnace in heat mode (the client says they intended on replacing it anyway). My question is (1) is the pilot okay to be all yellow, no blue, and (2) is it normal for a pilot to be burning so tall?

Blue... good.
Yellow... bad.
Tall flame... inefficient air/fuel mixture... often searching for oxygen if "dancing around". Handfull of possible issues. Requires servicing.

Thanks Jeff. I was sure the flame should be blue with a yellow tip. There is no "dancing", but the burners were not operating. I wrote the thing up as needing replaced, but didn't call it a safety issue. It's in a large, open basement, so I didn't think insufficient combustion air was an issue, but I'm not an HVAC guy. (I'm a helluva carpenter and electrician though). And by the way, I DO NOT think you're grumpy like Joe K says!!!