Mike Klein’s August 13, 2006 column in the Philadelphia Inquirer has this update on the Rocky statue:
Looks like the fight over the location of the Rocky statue is headed for the final round, and the populist pugilist is poised to prevail by TKO.
Supporters of the statue, which Sylvester Stallone gave to the city in 1982, want it placed on the outskirts of the Art Museum steps, which Stallone made famous.
Some bluenoses on the city Art Commission, meanwhile, sniff that the piece is not art. (Look up the work of some commission members and decide for yourself whether that’s art.)
The statue’s chances looked dim as recently as Wednesday, when a commission review committee deadlocked, 3-3, on the site plan. City Public Property Commissioner Joan Schlotterbeck, who favors it, withdrew the application before it went to the full commission, which has shot it down twice before.
But I hear that through gentle arm-twisting, the full commission likely has the votes to approve the location, and a decision might come down before the next scheduled commission meeting Sept. 6. “We’re very hopeful,” Commerce Director Stephanie Naidoff said Friday.
Good timing. Sept. 6 is the start of “Philly Loves Rocky Week.”
Civic types, led by lawyer and Stallone pal Jimmy Binns, are organizing events including a boxing exhibition in JFK Plaza (Sept. 6) and a Rocky and Adrian look-alike contest (Sept. 7). Stallone has agreed to come in Sept. 9 to be grand marshal of the Hero Thrill Show.
The idea for the week was hatched after the Fairmount Park Commission approved the site location in May. At the time, Stallone was to attend a statue dedication on Sept. 8.
The ceremony may come off then after all.
For Mike Klein’s full article click HERE – Craig
