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Total Rocky's travel guide to Rocky’s USA. Here you'll
find maps and addresses to some of the most famous
shooting locations used in the series including those in
Pennsylvania, California, New York and Nevada.
Avid Rocky fan and adventurer Mike Kunda took to the streets of Philly last year to track down some of the more iconic locations used during the 1975 shooting as well as the subsequent films.
Special thanks to photographers
Mike
Lynaugh and Tom Mishka
for their invaluable contributions!
PHILADELPHIA
MUSEUM OF ART
[MAP]
2600
Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
Philadelphia,
PA 19130
www.philamuseum.org
To
prepare for the big fight, Rocky Balboa began a
training regimen of early morning runs through the
streets of South Philly that culminated atop the
steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. As Rocky
finished running up the Museum's 72-step entrance,
he raised his arms in triumph - creating one of
the most iconic images in cinematic history. Since
then, millions of visitors to Philadelphia have
climbed the stairs and raised their arms in
tribute to Rocky.
At
the top of the steps, you'll
find the bronzed soles of Sylvester Stallone's
Converse sneakers set in the cement, along with an
imprint reading "ROCKY".
This location is perhaps the most famous Rocky
spot of all and was used in every film in the
series except for Rocky IV.
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INDEPENDENCE
HALL
[MAP]
143
South Third Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.nps.gov/inde/
Located
in "Center City", downtown Philly,
Independence Hall is often referred to as the
birthplace of America. This historic park
houses one of our national treasures - the Liberty
Bell. In Rocky II, the front of the
Hall can be seen as Rocky runs through Center City
with a group of children.
Travel Tip: If
you can't make it to Pennsylvania to see the real
thing, California also just happens to have a
full-scale replica of Independence Hall, complete
with a museum and Liberty Bell inside. This
reproduction is located just across the street
from Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA and was
actually commissioned by Walter Knott himself in
1966.
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THE
SPECTRUM ARENA
[MAP]
3601
South Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19148-5250
www.comcast-spectacor.com
Since 1967, the Spectrum
(now First Union Spectrum) has opened its doors to
thousands of events. From major sporting events to
landmarks in entertainment history such as Elvis
Presley's last live performance and concerts with
Luciano Pavarotti and Frank Sinatra, the Spectrum was to Philadelphia as Madison
Square Gardens was to New York.
This arena hosted
both of the Balboa vs. Creed boxing matches and for
years afterward, also was the home of the famous
bronze statue of Rocky which has since been relocated.
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THE
PHILADELPHIA
ZOO
[MAP]
3400
West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia,
PA 19104
www.philadelphiazoo.org
Referred
to as "America's 1st Zoo", the
Philadelphia Zoo was featured in Rocky II.
Rocky's proposal to Adrian was shot in front of
the zoo's Carnivore House.
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ST.
THOMAS AQUINAS
[MAP]
1719
Morris Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19145
St.
Thomas Aquinas Catholic church served as the
setting of Rocky and Adrian's quiet wedding.
Located in the Italian District, St. Thomas is
still an active parish.
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THE
ITALIAN
MARKET
South
9th St. & Carpenter
Philadelphia,
PA 19147
Vegetable
vendors, butchers, fresh seafood and Italian
goodies of all kinds can be found in this
legendary district which is part of Rocky's
training ground during his daily run through South
Philly. Every merchant on the block has
their own Rocky story. "Chef's
Tours" of the street are available for
individuals and groups.
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MIGHTY
MICK’S GYM
[MAP]
2147
N. Front Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19122
The
dingy façade is still recognizable here, though
the area looks quite different now. The face
of Mighty Mick's never actually was a gym of any
kind.
Mike's
Travel Tip: "Start
by going down near Penns Landing at the waterfront
(The Delaware River). Take North Delaware Ave.
until you see Frankford Ave. Take Frankford Ave.
straight past E. Girard Ave., keep going 20-30
blocks until you see East Norris St. Take a left
or go to the next street that allows you to turn
left, then go straight a couple of blocks to North
Front St. Then take a right about two blocks and
on the right is 2147 N. Front St., Mickey's
Gym."
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J
& M TROPICAL FISH
[MAP]
2146
N. Front Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19122
The
run-down little pet shop where Adrian works was,
and still is, an actual pet shop. In one of
the rare occasions during the 1975 production,
both the exterior and interior of this
building were used in the film. And although
Talia Shire remembers the days spent filming
inside as being rather "pungent", this
shop is still all the rage among Rocky fans
and has been visited by thousands over the years.
Mike's
Travel Tip: "Start
by going down near Penns Landing at the waterfront
(The Delaware River). Take North Delaware Ave.
until you see Frankford Ave. Take Frankford Ave.
straight past E. Girard Ave., keep going 20-30
blocks until you see East Norris St. Take a left
or go to the next street that allows you to turn
left, then go straight a couple of blocks to North
Front St. Then take a right about two blocks and
on the right is 2147 N. Front St., Mickey's
Gym."
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ATOMIC
HOAGIE SHOP
12th Street and
Cantrell Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
This little shop was the hangout for Marie and the
neighborhood kids.
James'
Travel Tip:
"Most internet sources place the "Atomic Hoagie
Shop"
where Little Marie used to hang out, in the
Kensington area near the gym and pet shop. While
the Kensington Mini Mart resembles it, its not the
right location.
The real spot is actually in South Philly, 12th
and Cantrell to be exact. It looks nothing like it
did in the film anymore, but on the next block,
Winston Street, is the parking lot where he walked
Little Marie across. And on the other side, her
house at 1124 Jackson Street." |
ROCKY’S
APARTMENT
[MAP]
1818
Tusculum St.
Philadelphia,
PA 19134-3416
The apartment
building is still nearly identical to the way it
looked in 1976. It is now occupied by an
elderly lady. Neighbors say that fans
flocked to this location for fifteen years after
the original Rocky, standing in the street
snapping photographs. For a few years after
that, traffic and interest seemed to die down
somewhat, but they say that there has been quite a
resurgence in the past few years and the fans are
back.
Mike's
Travel Tip: "Driving
straight ahead on N. Front St., go roughly two blocks
and bear right onto
Kensington Ave. Stay under the elevated subway
tracks. Go about eleven blocks straight ahead and
you'll come to a busy intersection and traffic
light. Drive straight
under the underpass, and on your immediate right
is Tusculum St. At the end of this block is the
apartment building. Beware - this is a one- way street,
so go down one block and turn right. Then take
the first right again onto Ruth St. Drive to the end and there
you'll find Rocky's apartment." |
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ADRIAN
& PAULIE'S HOUSE
[MAP]
2822
Rosehill Street
Philadelphia,
PA 19134-3440
This
unassuming neighborhood features the actual home which was
used as the front for Adrian and Paulie's house and later as
the home which the entire Balboa family shared in Rocky V.
A recent report indicates that the only major difference in
the house's exterior today is a new vinyl siding.
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LITTLE
MARIE'S HOUSE
1124 Jackson Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
Marie's house as seen in the original Rocky.
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PAT’S
KING OF STEAKS
[MAP]
1237
E. Passyunk Avenue
Philadelphia,
PA 19147-5060
www.patskingofsteaks.com
This Philly
staple has been beloved by cheesesteak fans since
1930. This lively eatery is where Tony Gazzo
brought Rocky to grab a bite to eat. Pat's
is still going strong today and even boasts a
plaque on the cement which reads "On this
spot stood Sylvester Stallone filming the great
motion picture Rocky. Nov. 21, 1975". |
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VICTOR
CAFE
[MAP]

1303
Dickinson St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215)
468-3040 |
www.victorcafe.com
Located near the
intersection of Dickinson and 13th Streets, this
intimate Italian restaurant opened in the 1930's
and quickly became South Philly's shrine to
opera. In January, 2006, Victor's was
outfitted as both the fascade and interior of
Rocky Balboa's Italian restaurant titled
"Adrian's". |
BONWIT
TELLER &
CO.
[MAP]
SW
Corner of S. 17th St. & Chestnut St.
Philadelphia,
PA 19013
Once a fashionable department
store chain, the exterior of this Philadelphia branch was
used in Rocky II as the store where Rocky purchases
his black Tiger jacket and a fur coat for Adrian. In
2000, Bonwit Teller & Co. went out of business for
good.
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LAUREL
HILL CEMETERY
[MAP]

3822
Ridge Ave.
East
Fairmount Park
Philadelphia,
PA 19132
(215)
228-8200
Used as the site of Adrian's grave in Rocky Balboa,
this old and revered cemetery is the final resting
place of many a famous name - including one of the
signers of the Declaration of Independence.
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MADISON
SQUARE GARDEN
[MAP]
4
Pennsylvania Plaza
New
York, NY 10001
www.thegarden.com
Known to most as "The World's
Most Famous Arena", MSG has hosted some of the most
famous events in sports and entertainment history,
including the final match between Rocky Balboa and Clubber
Lang in Rocky III.
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MAIN
STREET
GYM
[MAP]
318
S. Main Street
Los
Angeles, CA 90013-1319
One of the boxing world’s
favored locations in Los Angeles, the old Main
Street Gym was once owned by Howard (Howie)
Steindler. Steindler, the victim of an unsolved
murder in 1977, was a famed boxing manager and is
thought to have been the inspiration for Burgess
Meredith’s character of Mickey Goldmill.
According to boxing coach
Jimmy Gambina, the Main Street Gym doubled as the
interior of Mighty Mick’s Gym during the filming
of Rocky.
Travel
Tip: This location remains
unverified, so if you intend to visit, please
double-check your maps!
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THE
BILTMORE
HOTEL
[MAP]
506
South Grand Avenue
Los
Angeles, CA 90071-2607
www.milleniumhotels.com
This historic L.A. hotel was used
as the exterior façade for Balboa's palatial gym in Rocky
III.
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THE
ROSSLYN HOTEL
[MAP]
112
West 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
This ancient Los Angeles hotel is
seen briefly in Rocky III when the Balboa entourage
arrives in California. You'll recognize its immense
cast iron sign sitting atop the building which is located
at the corner of 5th Street and Main.
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KING
EDWARD HOTEL
[MAP]
131
East 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Seen immediately following the
view of The Rosslyn Hotel in Rocky III is the King
Edward Hotel, another historic spot in this seedy
district.
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MGM
GRAND HOTEL & CASINO
[MAP]
3799
Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.mgmgrand.com
Before this extravagant setting
was seen as the backdrop for Apollo's hopeful comeback in Rocky
IV, MGM's facilities were used by the production crew
a few years earlier. In 1982, the Garden Arena was
engaged for use as an arena in Rocky III.
The hotel's famed Ziegfeld Room
was transformed into the site of the exhibition match
fought between Apollo Creed and Ivan Drago. From
1974 until early 1979, the Ziegfeld Room hosted NBC's
"Dean Martin Celebrity Roast" of stars like
Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne and
many others.
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ATTENTION!
Please
keep in mind that a number of locations
listed here are actual residences and
must be shown the respect and discretion
that they deserve by any and all
visitors.
Be
sure to double-check addresses and maps
before venturing out into the cities.
If
you've come across a location not listed
in this guide, please contact
us and we'll add it to the list. |
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