In a moment of reckoning and reimagining for monuments, why do millions of people each year from around the world visit Philly’s Rocky Statue? What does a statue celebrating a fictional boxer tell us about how we memorialize some stories over others? Monument Lab's Paul Farber dives deep into the story of the statue to the greatest Philadelphian who never lived.

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
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/transcripts/6520665">NPR interviews Michael Vitez and Tom Gralish</a>, authors of Rocky Stories.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.pauldrybooks.com/products/rocky-stories">Rocky Stories</a>, by Michael Vitez and Tom Gralish.</li>
<li>The documentary about Mike Kunda, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXh7Y26qK4o">The Pretender</a>.</li>
<li>Kunda’s podcast, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRockyFiles">The Rocky Files</a>.</li>
<li>Kunda’s <a href="http://www.theyorockyfilmtour.net/about-your-tour-guide-mike-kunda">Rocky Tours</a> in Philly.</li>
<li>Kirk Savage, <a href="https://tangledhistories.org/uncategorized/refugees-immigrants-and-intolerance-as-american-as-apple-pie/">Tangled Histories blog</a>.</li>
<li>Salamishah Tillet and Paul Farber, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/07/arts/design/national-mall-exhibition-pulling-together.html">National Mall monuments exhibition</a>.</li>
<li>Rocky’s <a href="https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/40-years-of-rocky-the-birth-of-a-classic/umc.cmc.5cl3z394vahdva44r9yj9yt0o">40th anniversary documentary.</a></li>
</ul>

The Statue

Going the Distance

We journey to the bright lights of Hollywood to meet Rocky’s original sculptor, A. Thomas Schomberg. Also, we glimpse at rare, behind-the-scenes photos of Stallone and the artist during the statue&#8217;s creation. Back in Philly, we visit a foundry and a life-size replica of the Statue of David near City Hall to understand how statues are created. Finally, we go behind the scenes on opening night as Rocky the Musical makes its hometown debut.
Show Notes
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPNswDYMUqM">Amerika Idol</a> featuring Boris Staparac.</li>
<li>The <a href="https://www.schombergstudios.com/public-monumental#/rocky-monumental/">works of A. Thomas Schomberg.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.walnutstreettheatre.org/season/show/rocky-the-musical">Rocky the Musical</a> at the Walnut Street Theatre.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.pafa.org/">Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.</a></li>
<li>A brief <a href="http://www.beginnersschool.com/2015/05/04/history-of-sculpture/">history of sculpture.</a></li>
</ul>

Casting Rocky in Bronze

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 public artists who fight every day to bring hope and opportunity to their communities.
Show Notes
<ul>
<li><a href="https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/rocky-1976.pdf">Rocky, original screenplay</a></li>
<li>Michelle Angela Ortiz, <a href="https://www.ourmarketproject.com/">Our Market Project</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/OperationSaveOurCity/">Operation Save Our City</a>, Roz Pichardo FB Page</li>
<li>Learn more about “<a href="https://aldianews.com/en/leadership/advocacy/phillys-mama-sunshine">Mama Sunshine</a>”</li>
<li><a href="https://kctphilly.org/">Kensington Corridor Trust</a> website</li>
<a href="https://www.phila.gov/services/mental-physical-health/learn-how-to-get-and-use-naloxone-narcan/">Learn to administer Narcan</a>
</ul>

Rocky’s Stoop

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 build monuments to our heroes, and who gets left out — and visit the places around Philadelphia where Smokin’ Joe’s legacy lives on. 
Show Notes
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH6Th3eR3J8">The Fight of the Century</a></li>
<li>Mark Kram Jr., <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Smokin-Joe-Life-Frazier/dp/0062654462">Smokin’ Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.joefrazier.com">Official Joe Frazier website</a></li>
<li><a href="https://savingplaces.org/brent-leggs">Brent Leggs</a> and the National Trust for Historic Preservation</li>
<li><a href="https://www.jamesshulerboxing.com">James Shuler Memorial Boxing Gym</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByT5qbi7I6I">Joe Frazier and the Knockouts</a> on the Ed Sullivan Show</li>
</ul>

WHYY

The Statue by WHYY

Episodes