tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47201191220427186862024-02-02T15:30:41.222-08:00Greg Pinto's Imaginary Cities BlogGreg Pintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12487135215344572995noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720119122042718686.post-20638185922583858752013-04-26T09:13:00.000-07:002013-04-26T09:25:31.558-07:00Location Three: Glorifying the "Sports Complex" <br />
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Philadelphia has
always been a strong-willed city known for its rugged, blue-collar
work ethic and never-say-die attitude. If you were to break down the
city into smaller pieces, South Philadelphia is the core of that
fighting spirit. It was built on the backbone of hard-nosed workers
and immortalized by the iron chin of Rocky Balboa.
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<br /></div>
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Throughout the
history of this city, the one release that its residents have always
enjoyed is sporting events. Although their passion is often
misunderstood and misrepresented in the national media, there is no
denying that Philadelphians are a passionate bunch when it comes to
their home team. As such, it would be borderline lunacy to glorify
any three buildings other than those that best personify South
Philadelphia, as well as the city as a whole: Citizens Bank Park,
Lincoln Financial Field, and the Wells Fargo Center—perhaps better
known locally as simply “the sports complex.”
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<br /></div>
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Citizens Bank Park,
located at One Citizens Bank Way in South Philadelphia, is the
youngest of the three stadiums, officially opening its doors to rowdy
Philadelphia Phillies fans for the first time on April 3, 2004 after
breaking ground on June 28, 2002. The ballpark was designed by former
Air Force pilot and Pennsylvania State University graduate Stanley
Cole, who also served as the chief engineer. He had made a name for
himself early in his architectural career by helping to design a
piece of the United Nations headquarters.<sup>1</sup> Populous, an
architectural firm specializing in sporting designs, also contributed
to the project, which cost $458 million.<sup>2</sup></div>
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<sup><br /></sup></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2008/0509/PHI_77173601_580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2008/0509/PHI_77173601_580.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Citizens Bank Park<br />
Photo Credit: ESPN</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<sup><br /></sup></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;">TripAdvisor
recently named Citizens Bank Park the sixth best ballpark in all of
baseball, citing its lowered playing surface (23 feet below street
level), which combined with its bowl-style seating, helps to create
an epic skyline of downtown Philadelphia.</span><sup style="line-height: 150%;">3</sup></div>
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<br /></div>
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More than a full
year after Citizens Bank Park broke ground, Lincoln Financial Field,
located at 1020 Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia, opened its
doors to fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, and it has since hosted a
number of sporting events, including the city's professional soccer
team—the Philadelphia Union—for one season in 2010, as well as
Temple University's football program, from 2003 to the present.
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<br />
Unlike their
baseball neighbors, the football group's ownership did not name a
single architect as the head of the project. Instead, the title of
“project manager” belonged to KUD International<sup>4</sup>, with
architectural firms NBBJ and Agoos Lovera Architects also
contributing to the stadium's design.<sup>5</sup> The project cost
$512 million.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/11/EaglesStadium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/11/EaglesStadium.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lincoln Financial Field with wind turbines.<br />
Photo Credit: Inhabitat.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;">Lincoln Financial
Field has been marred with a number of controversies, the most
serious of which was a 2006 report that one of the bridges connecting
the upper levels of the stadium had been swaying. However, following
an investigation, no issues were reported.</span><sup style="line-height: 150%;">6</sup></div>
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<br /></div>
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Lincoln Financial
Field also harbored a dubious trait that its predecessor, Veterans
Stadium, had earned—a jail inside of the stadium. The four cells
were done away with in 2005, however, as the unruly behavior seen in
the infamous “700 level” of Veterans Stadium did not carry over
into the Eagles' new home.<sup>7</sup></div>
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<br /></div>
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Outside of those
minor concerns, Lincoln Financial Field has consistently drawn rave
reviews. Prior to the 2013 season, NESN named the stadium the ninth
best in all of football.<sup>8</sup> The Eagles have also drawn
praise for their commitment to green energy. This offseason, the
organization installed 11,000 solar panels to accompany their
previously existing 14 wind turbines.<sup>9</sup> In this way, the
Eagles have been truly revolutionary, as far as stadiums are
concerned.
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<br /></div>
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Lincoln Financial
Field is also the only stadium on the list to have a big role in a
major Hollywood film, as parts of David O. Russell's <i>Silver
Linings Playbook </i>was filmed on
location.<sup>10</sup>
As one could assume, its function was simple: The home of the
Philadelphia Eagles.
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<br /></div>
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The
oldest of the trio is now called the Wells Fargo Center and is
located at 3601 South Broad Street, but it has also been called a myriad
of other names, including the CoreStates Center (1996-98), First
Union Center (1998-2003), and Wachovia Center (2003-10).
</div>
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<br /></div>
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The
project was led by architectural firm Ellerbe Beckett, which has been
functional for more than a century and has designed sports venues (as
well as other buildings) across the United States. Opened on August
12, 1996, the arena cost $210 million, which roughly translates to
$307 million in 2013 dollars—both of which are relatively cheap
when compared against other venues.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Wells_Fargo_Center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Wells_Fargo_Center.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wells Fargo Center<br />
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">While
the Wells Fargo Center is home to four of the city's sports teams;
the Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Wings, and
Philadelphia Soul; the arena has also gained a reputation for hosting
a number of concerts and other events, including the World Wrestling
Entertainment's Wrestlemania XV, </span><i style="line-height: 150%;">American Idol </i><span style="line-height: 150%;">auditions,
and several versions of the X-Games.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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While
these three arenas do not have a lengthy history in film, it is
interesting to compare how sporting venues are portrayed. For
example, the relationship between the passion of Boston Red Sox fans
and Fenway Stadium as the setting for Bobby and Peter Farrelly's
<i>Fever Pitch. </i>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sports
are interesting, but in Philadelphia, sports are more than just that.
These venues represent the fighting spirit of Philadelphia. Some of
this city's most iconic and treasured moments involve victory in
front of their “homes,” like the Phillies marching down Broad
Street to arrive in front of Citizens Bank Park in 2008, or the
Flyers posing in front of the now-demolished Spectrum twice in the
mid-1970s.
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<br /></div>
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These
three buildings aren't just “buildings.” They are treasured
pieces of life here in South Philadelphia. If you were to poll 10 of
the city's residents on the street about the most important buildings
in Philadelphia, nine would answer with one of the stadiums.
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<br /></div>
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Places
like City Hall and the Art Museum, for example, are important and
interesting, but neither is intertwined as closely to the heart of
Philadelphians as the sports complex. It's the rugged, blue-collar
work ethic that leaves those three buildings rocking when a game is
happening.
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<br /></div>
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That's
why it would be asinine to glorify any other set of buildings in
Philadelphia. None are as synonymous with the people as those
contained in the beloved “sports complex.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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___</div>
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</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Works
Cited</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span></sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Cook,
Bonnie L.. "Stanley M. Cole, 89, architect of ballpark -
Philly.com." Featured Articles from Philly.com.
<a href="http://articles.philly.com/2013-03-">http://articles.philly.com/2013-03-</a><a href="http://articles.philly.com/2013-03-16/news/37747592_1_ewingcole-architect-">16/news/37747592_1_ewingcole-architect-</a> phillies-charities
(accessed April 26, 2013).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span></sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Cook,
Bonnie L.. "Stanley M. Cole, 89, architect of ballpark -
Philly.com." Featured Articles from Philly.com.
<a href="http://articles.philly.com/2013-03-16/news/37747592_1_ewingcole-architect-">http://articles.philly.com/2013-03-16/news/37747592_1_ewingcole-architect-</a> phillies-charities
(accessed April 26, 2013).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">3</span></sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">“TripAdvisor
Announces America's Top 10 Ballparks| Reuters." Business &
Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com.
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/21/tripadvisor-">http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/21/tripadvisor-</a> baseball-idUSnPnMM80359+160+PRN20130321
(accessed April 26, 2013).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">4</span></sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Lincoln
Financial Field." Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal.
<a href="http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2003/09/20030915/Facilities/Lincoln-Financial-Field.aspx?hl=%22club%20seats%22&sc=0">www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2003/09/20030915/Facilities/Lincoln-Financial-Field.aspx?hl=%22club%20seats%22&sc=0</a>
(accessed April 26, 2013).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">5</span></sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Lincoln
Financial Field." Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal.
<a href="http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2003/09/20030915/Facilities/Lincoln-Financial-">www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2003/09/20030915/Facilities/Lincoln-Financial-</a> Field.aspx?hl=%22club%20seats%22&sc=0
(accessed April 26, 2013).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>6</sup>kofsky.
"Philadelphia Will Do » Good Lateral Vibrations."
Philadelphia Will Do » A blog about the funniest city on earth
published by Philadelphia Weekly..
http://willdo.pwblogs.com/2006/10/10/good-lateral-vibrations/
(accessed April 26, 2013).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>7</sup>"Sports
Stadiums." Sports Stadiums.
http://www.sports-venue.info/NFL/Lincoln_Financial_Field_Philly.html
(accessed April 26, 2013).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">8</span></sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Lucas
Oil Stadium, Cowboys Stadium Highlight Top 10 Best NFL Stadiums |
| NESN.com." NESN.com | Sports News | Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots,
Celtics.
<a href="http://nesn.com/playlist/lucas-">http://nesn.com/playlist/lucas-</a>oil-stadium-cowboys-stadium-highlight-top-10-best-nfl-stadiums/1/
(accessed April 26, 2013).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">9</span></sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bauers,
Sandy. "Philadelphia Eagles green: Lincoln Financial Field
generating energy with solar panels, turbines - Philly.com."
Featured Articles from Philly.com.
<a href="http://articles.philly.com/2013-04-16/news/38558948_1_don-smolenski-turbines-desean-">http://articles.philly.com/2013-04-16/news/38558948_1_don-smolenski-turbines-desean-</a>jackson
(accessed April 26, 2013).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>10</sup>"Movies
Filmed At Lincoln Financial Field." Movie Maps.
moviemaps.org/locations/24y (accessed April 26, 2013).</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />Greg Pintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12487135215344572995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720119122042718686.post-21734539451915798442013-03-25T20:00:00.000-07:002013-03-25T20:02:05.024-07:00Location Two: Robert Indiana's LOVE Sculpture<br />
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</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the most
iconic images the city of Philadelphia has to offer is the iconic
<i>LOVE </i>sculpture, with its bold
red letters and tilted “O,” located in Center City's JFK Plaza.
What better way to make a statement in the “City of Brotherly Love”
than blowing up a sculpture that shares part of its namesake?
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Contrary
to popular belief, Philadelphia's <i>LOVE </i>sculpture
is not the original. The original sculpture of the same title was
designed by American artist Robert Indiana as a Christmas card for
the Museum of Modern Art and has been on display at the Indianapolis
Museum of Art since 1970.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
plaza, originally designed to cover an underground parking lot, was
without art for a few years after its completion in 1965. It was
dedicated to President John F. Kennedy in 1967 and received its <i>LOVE
</i>sculpture in 1976 as part of the
celebration of the United States' bicentennial.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Interestingly
enough, the sculpture was never intended to remain in the plaza and
was removed two years later in 1978. Philadelphia had grown attached
to the sculpture, however, and there was an outcry for its return.<sup>1 (Photo of Urban Archives article in citations) </sup></div>
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<sup><br /></sup></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGtV4tHGzgsrfGIyWgwhaF89vp0AZHfVuxS3Oia1jJ3ul7QKCVPMWBCUszaTvkgT_DxswzItxd-MrmQ1etonzyAoh4RvL89Y3YKc-vB6s21a6vsZC52FW4lkY-4djeKI5lkkwCrAcCA/s1600/UPLOAD3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGtV4tHGzgsrfGIyWgwhaF89vp0AZHfVuxS3Oia1jJ3ul7QKCVPMWBCUszaTvkgT_DxswzItxd-MrmQ1etonzyAoh4RvL89Y3YKc-vB6s21a6vsZC52FW4lkY-4djeKI5lkkwCrAcCA/s320/UPLOAD3.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JFK Plaza without its tell-tale sculpture after its removal in 1978, courtesy of Temple University Urban Archives.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<sup><br /></sup></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The
city finally received its wish when the Chairman of the Philadelphia
Art Commission, F. Eugene Dixon Jr., purchased the sculpture and
personally returned it to the plaza, where it has remained since.</span><sup style="line-height: 150%;">2</sup></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Since
its installation in Philadelphia, Indiana's <i>LOVE </i>has
grown into a global sensation. In an interview with international art
website <i>ArtInfo, </i>the
talented Indiana proclaimed himself to be a painter first and a
sculptor second.<sup>3</sup>
This is somewhat surprising, considering the fact that there are 39
known sculptures scattered across three continents—the United
States, Europe, and Asia—as well as two sculptures in additional
languages—Italian and Hebrew.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Even
if he considers himself to be a painter first and foremost, the
84-year-old Indiana confessed in that same interview that it is his
goal to erect a <i>LOVE
</i>sculpture
in every city in the United States.<sup>4</sup></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<sup> </sup>In
Philadelphia, Indiana's <i>LOVE
</i>has
never been anything short of a smashing success. It has always been
the main draw for JFK Plaza, otherwise known as a dank space covering
an underground parking garage that is a popular hangout for
skateboarders en masse.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
sculpture has all but taken over the plaza. In fact, throughout most
of the city, the area is more commonly referred to as “Love Park,”
as opposed to its official name, JFK Plaza. The general consensus
among locals and tourists alike is that the <i>LOVE
</i>sculpture
is a part of Philadelphia and a must-visit. Using the popular review
website <i>Yelp</i>,
it is difficult to find a negative review.<sup>5</sup></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<sup><br /></sup></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXAUKcAJ3hiEH-DYHzYGulLMd1Xhtg-JO6b3rlN3izh0P6yx0IDoXOyOAfi-UuFLxUAcHkrJRRoa8D9kazUg-Kw83orRSwZo9q3TYZUfSaaZT6xqkShOQIOogBl4BkB9lFW3dcFsCFQ/s1600/UPLOAD2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXAUKcAJ3hiEH-DYHzYGulLMd1Xhtg-JO6b3rlN3izh0P6yx0IDoXOyOAfi-UuFLxUAcHkrJRRoa8D9kazUg-Kw83orRSwZo9q3TYZUfSaaZT6xqkShOQIOogBl4BkB9lFW3dcFsCFQ/s320/UPLOAD2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<sup>Philadelphia's <i>LOVE </i>sculpture after being re-installed, courtesy of Temple University's Urban Archives.</sup></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<sup> </sup>Philadelphia's
<i>LOVE </i>sculpture
has not received an overly abundant amount of exposure in major
feature films, but has had some interesting “screen time,”
including the video game <i>Tony
Hawk's Pro Skater II.</i><sup>6</sup></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<sup> </sup>It
has certainly never been exposed to film in a way that public art is
featured in <i>Fight
Club</i>.
In that film, public art is used to make a statement; send a message.
In my experience, public art in films is almost never used to
destroy, but to build up.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Though they are sculptures on a much grander stage, pieces like the
Statue of Liberty and William Penn are placed in films because they
are recognizable. They are used to establish location and work
because of their popularity and recognition. “Lady Liberty” is a
symbol of New York, grandeur, and freedom. Penn is synonymous with
Philadelphia.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When
public art is shown in films, this is the way that it is primarily
used. That is what makes David Fincher's use of public art in <i>Fight
Club </i>so
interesting. He doesn't just go against the book. He basically throws
it out the window.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I
would follow in Fincher's footsteps. Philadelphia's <i>LOVE
</i>sculpture
is so engraved in its history that if you wanted to make a statement,
this is the way that it would happen. It would strike people deep
within their core emotionally, not only because of the obvious
ramifications, but because of the metaphorical implications as well.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Destroying a sculpture that literally says “love” in the “City
of Brotherly Love” would be a very powerful metaphor. It could mean
a loss of life or passion. It could show that something is missing or
fleeting from the city. The truth is that this would be an action
that could be interpreted in and endless number of ways, dependent
upon a personal attachment.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Indiana's
<i>LOVE </i>sculpture
is known around the world, but perhaps most meaningful in the city of
Philadelphia. If I were looking to make a statement, this would be
the sculpture that had to go.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">___</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u>Works Cited</u></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%;">
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">1</span></sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Unknown
(Philadelphia)</i></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
"LOVE is Coming Back, But It's a Lot Cheaper," April 29,
1978.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">2</span></sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Unknown
(Philadelphia)</i></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
"LOVE is Coming Back, But It's a Lot Cheaper," April 29,
1978.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">3</span></sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
Halperin, Julia. "Pop Art Icon Robert Indiana Talks Hope, Love,
and Shepard Fairey | Artinfo." Artinfo | The Premier Global
Online Destination for Art and Culture.
http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/749922/pop-art-icon-robert-indiana-talks-hope-love-and-shepard-fairey
(accessed March 26, 2013).</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">4</span></sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
Halperin, Julia. "Pop Art Icon Robert Indiana Talks Hope, Love,
and Shepard Fairey | Artinfo." Artinfo | The Premier Global
Online Destination for Art and Culture.
http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/749922/pop-art-icon-robert-indiana-talks-hope-love-and-shepard-fairey
(accessed March 26, 2013).</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">5</span></sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
"LOVE Park Frequently Asked Questions." ushistory.org.
http://www.ushistory.org/lovepark/faqs.htm (accessed March 26, 2013).</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>6</sup>
"Love Park." Yelp. www.yelp.com/biz/love-park-philadelphia
(accessed March 23, 2013).</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u>Urban Archives Article</u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2IJGcj98K_sTZf1uz2m9uHDemWZ2B6RaxbzXPfr7xqYySLunLOtWwNYaNM9bRvRfjrqdlsxCMO1PlMCZBRn2YIlHnD_UMSjF9hhKiEYpiUfQ-CSvrlwF3AS1KU1cT15ACZeeMC5ykw/s1600/UPLOAD1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2IJGcj98K_sTZf1uz2m9uHDemWZ2B6RaxbzXPfr7xqYySLunLOtWwNYaNM9bRvRfjrqdlsxCMO1PlMCZBRn2YIlHnD_UMSjF9hhKiEYpiUfQ-CSvrlwF3AS1KU1cT15ACZeeMC5ykw/s200/UPLOAD1.jpg" width="174" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<br />Greg Pintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12487135215344572995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720119122042718686.post-68706276031427203382013-02-17T16:55:00.002-08:002013-02-18T11:03:21.270-08:00Location One: South Philadelphia's Broadway Theatre<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
When the Broadway
Theatre opened on 2042 S. Broad St. in South Philadelphia in 1913, it
quickly became one of the greatest entertainment attractions that
part of the city had to offer. Long before the sports complex was a
twinkle in the town's <span style="line-height: 150%;">eye, the Broadway Theatre housed 2,183
individuals and hosted an array of events.</span><sup style="line-height: 150%;">1</sup></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Designed by well
known theater architect Albert E. Westover, the Broadway Theatre's
white brick and terra cotta facade gave it a look of grandeur and
quality, while speaking to the acts housed inside.<sup>2</sup></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<sup><br /></sup></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8lDZ0emdAG7gwNp-jgbTAH7wILnorAmS_thZLG6_tZ-DtHO3QwFqUAoib1qtXPuOL-1lVPZccf835OUGKTmYgdfOwwAuFcfSQnm-Zs2U5lzOJc2I_0rvbiR_xO36kNx5jDVJVLAT3g/s1600/Broadway+Theatre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8lDZ0emdAG7gwNp-jgbTAH7wILnorAmS_thZLG6_tZ-DtHO3QwFqUAoib1qtXPuOL-1lVPZccf835OUGKTmYgdfOwwAuFcfSQnm-Zs2U5lzOJc2I_0rvbiR_xO36kNx5jDVJVLAT3g/s320/Broadway+Theatre.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broadway Theatre, via Temple University Library's Urban Archives</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"> That is right. The
Broadway Theatre first opened as a vaudeville theater, but was
eventually converted into a movie theater as the technology became
popular.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Though it contained just a single screen, South
Philadelphia residents flocked to the theater to catch some of the most
popular films of all-time.</span><sup style="line-height: 150%;">3</sup></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<sup></sup> Though
the Broadway Theatre showed no genre of film in particular, it did an
excellent job of bringing the most popular films to the “big
screen.”
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Outside of films,
the Broadway Theatre quickly became known for its elegant Halloween
parties. The promotion, first arranged by manager Dominic Lucente,
nicknamed the “Mayor of South Philadelphia” because of his
popularity, was a costume party that offered gifts and prizes for
children and served as one of the theater's best promotional events.<sup>4</sup>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
As other theaters
grew and the sports complex became a realistic endeavor in South
Philadelphia, however, the Broadway Theatre's popularity began to
fade and one of the greatest entertainment attractions in the city's
history was demolished in 1971.<sup>5</sup> A Walgreens parking lot
now stands in its place.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
__</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Works
Cited</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">1
) "Broadway Theatre -- Philadelphia Architects and Buildings."
Philadelphia Architects and Buildings.
http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/5826
(accessed February 18, 2013).</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 150%;">2
)"Broadway Theatre -- Philadelphia Architects and Buildings."
Philadelphia Architects and Buildings.
http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/5826
(accessed February 18, 2013).</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 150%;">3
) </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 150%;">Evans,
Shawn. "Neighborhood Movie Theaters." The Philly History
Blog.
<a href="http://www.phillyhistory.org/blog/index.php/2011/06/neighborhood-movie-">www.phillyhistory.org/blog/index.php/2011/06/neighborhood-movie-</a> theaters/
(accessed February 17, 2013).</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 150%;">4
) "Comments about Broadway Theater in Philadelphia, PA - Cinema
Treasures." Cinema Treasures.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4912/comments (accessed February
18, 2013).</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 150%;">5
) "Broadway Theatre -- Philadelphia Architects and Buildings."
Philadelphia Architects and Buildings.
http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/5826
(accessed February 18, 2013).</span></div>
Greg Pintohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12487135215344572995noreply@blogger.com0