181. Rocky Day

Note to readers: Because of a technical glitch, I have to republish several old posts, of which this is the first. Sorry for any bother.

What would bring several thousands out to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on a rainy Sunday morning? What would make them wait there for an hour and a half? Rocky Day!

By proclamation of the mayor and city council, December 3 will forever more be Rocky Day in the city of Philadelphia, a celebration of the fictional South Philadelphia sad sack who goes the distance in the ring by force of his grit and heart. The movie was released on this day 47 years ago, and even though the majority of the crowd at the Art Museum was not yet born then, the affection for the character Rocky Balboa lives on.

I was most certainly born then, and I think I saw it three times the first week it was released, and maybe another dozen times since, plus, I’m embarrassed to say, all the sequels. Even still, I start blubbering every time I hear him call for Adrian at the end.

Part of the appeal of the movie, I’m sure, was the back story of Sylvester Stallone, a hard luck loser who invented the character, wrote the script, and insisted on playing the role. And Stallone was what brought the crowds out in the rain today. When he finally arrived, he urged the crowd to live the lessons of Rocky and Stallone himself: Don’t give up, fight for your dreams, don’t be afraid to fail, be loyal to the ones you love.

If you remember anything about the movie, you’ll recall the iconic scene when Rocky finally gets in good enough shape to run up all 72 art museum steps and raises his fists and jumps up and down in triumph. Stallone attempted to donate to the museum a statue of his character in that pose for the top of the steps, but the fancy-pants, blue-blood museum people declined. As a concession, they allowed the Rocky statue to be placed near the street, around the corner. (Today, Stallone graciously urged the crowd to see the art inside the museum, too.) But Rocky gets the last laugh. The Rocky statue is a major Philadelphia tourist attraction, second only to the Liberty Bell, with a line of people always lined up to strike the pose and have their picture taken with it.

And a permanent Rocky Shop, which opened today, is prominently and visibly placed, right in front.