ABOUT THIS EPISODE
We receive a mysterious micro-cassette containing a 20-year-old voicemail message from Sylvester Stallone. It allows us to tap into the mind of the man himself — uncovering why he created Rocky and what elements of Philadelphia he used to build the world around him. We meet possibly the biggest Rocky fan ever. Then, from the top of the Art Museum steps, we explore what the Rocky statue can teach us about the future of our monuments.
Show Notes
- NPR interviews Michael Vitez and Tom Gralish, authors of Rocky Stories.
- Rocky Stories, by Michael Vitez and Tom Gralish.
- The documentary about Mike Kunda, The Pretender.
- Kunda’s podcast, The Rocky Files.
- Kunda’s Rocky Tours in Philly.
- Kirk Savage, Tangled Histories blog.
- Salamishah Tillet and Paul Farber, National Mall monuments exhibition.
- Rocky’s 40th anniversary documentary.
English
United States
IN THIS EPISODE
TRANSCRIPT 🔗
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OTHER EPISODES IN THIS PODCAST
Ask the average person who’s the most famous boxer from Philadelphia and they’re likely to reply with “Rocky Balboa.” In fact, it was the real-life heavyweight champion Joe Frazier who ran up the Art Museum steps and boxed raw meat sides at a slaughterhouse. We examine who is remembered when we bui…
An estimated 4 million people visit the Rocky Statue every year. That’s more than double the amount that go to the Liberty Bell. Surprising for a monument that the city once rejected as merely a movie prop. We speak to people who wait in line to snap a picture or run up the Art Museum steps to find…
We go down the Rocky rabbit hole to understand how the fictional fighter grew from one man’s rough sketch into a global icon. Exploring Stallone’s Instagram art history lessons, interviews about his paintings with Oprah, and a limited-edition art book worth thousands of dollars, we learn that hidin…
In a city that has seen dramatic change since Rocky’s time, why do so many still identify with this movie character? We tour the neighborhoods where Rocky lived to understand their modern-day challenges, like development, violence and addiction. Along the way, we meet courageous advocates and publi…
The Statue, the story of a monument to the greatest Philadelphian who never lived, from WHYY Digital Studios. Coming in 2023.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from WHYY, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.
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