NAMES IN THE NEWS : Rocky Statue Fights for Survival
PHILADELPHIA — Long odds never bothered Sylvester Stallone’s cinematic alter ego Rocky Balboa, but his fans have an uphill battle to keep Rocky’s 8 1/2-foot bronze likeness atop the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
“Would you like to buy a prizefighter 8 feet high?” museum President Robert Montgomery Scott asked Wednesday.
Scott wants the statue gone from the front of the museum when filming is done for “Rocky V,” but the prop-turned-tourist-attraction is gaining supporters, including Mayor W. Wilson Goode.
“There is a contract between the ‘Rocky V’ production group and ourselves that it will be removed on Saturday but they’ve been pushing pretty hard to keep it there,” Scott said.
“Rocky” creator Stallone had the statue made for the third movie in his series about a Philadelphia club fighter who makes it to the top.
Goode said the statue represents “the struggle of so many people.”
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