Post by boxman on Jan 21, 2007 16:18:00 GMT -5
www.philly.com/mld/philly/16507595.htm
Posted on Sun, Jan. 21, 2007
Inqlings | For sale: A piece of Rocky's turf
By Michael Klein
Inquirer Columnist
A piece of cinematic history is for sale, and the buyer might be able to snap up two movie stars, too.
Joseph Marks tells me he wants to sell the building at 2146 N. Front St. in Kensington, which housed J&M Tropical Fish and doubled as Adrian's pet shop in four Rocky movies, including Rocky Balboa.
Marks closed J&M three years ago after a 40-year run, and the building sits as it was, under the El, behind a steel grate. (Walk in, and it's 1975 again.) Though Marks is touting its place as "a Hollywood set," he acknowledges that "it's in disrepair. I'll sell it as a handyman's special." He would not state a price; he says he has a lawyer but not a real estate agent.
"I'm not going to equate [the shop] to the Rocky statue," Marks says. "But it's not an unfamiliar landmark in Philadelphia, I'm sure. If someone can pay big bucks for Elizabeth Taylor's costume jewelry, I figure someone can buy this little piece of Hollywood."
He says he would consider a deal involving Cuff and Link, the turtles seen in Rocky and Rocky Balboa.
Marks also still has a prop "J&M" sign created by a set designer.
Since closing the store, he has worked as an assistant manager for GNC; his wife, Dorothy, is recovering from cancer surgery, he says.
"We're not getting any younger," says Marks, 61. "My wife and myself want to enjoy the last legs of our life."
In other Rocky news, Sylvester Stallone was named honorary chair of the Philadelphia Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Carnival at the Wachovia Center on Feb. 25. One auction item will be an autographed Flyers sweater with "Balboa" on the back. (Defenseman, right?)
Posted on Sun, Jan. 21, 2007
Inqlings | For sale: A piece of Rocky's turf
By Michael Klein
Inquirer Columnist
A piece of cinematic history is for sale, and the buyer might be able to snap up two movie stars, too.
Joseph Marks tells me he wants to sell the building at 2146 N. Front St. in Kensington, which housed J&M Tropical Fish and doubled as Adrian's pet shop in four Rocky movies, including Rocky Balboa.
Marks closed J&M three years ago after a 40-year run, and the building sits as it was, under the El, behind a steel grate. (Walk in, and it's 1975 again.) Though Marks is touting its place as "a Hollywood set," he acknowledges that "it's in disrepair. I'll sell it as a handyman's special." He would not state a price; he says he has a lawyer but not a real estate agent.
"I'm not going to equate [the shop] to the Rocky statue," Marks says. "But it's not an unfamiliar landmark in Philadelphia, I'm sure. If someone can pay big bucks for Elizabeth Taylor's costume jewelry, I figure someone can buy this little piece of Hollywood."
He says he would consider a deal involving Cuff and Link, the turtles seen in Rocky and Rocky Balboa.
Marks also still has a prop "J&M" sign created by a set designer.
Since closing the store, he has worked as an assistant manager for GNC; his wife, Dorothy, is recovering from cancer surgery, he says.
"We're not getting any younger," says Marks, 61. "My wife and myself want to enjoy the last legs of our life."
In other Rocky news, Sylvester Stallone was named honorary chair of the Philadelphia Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Carnival at the Wachovia Center on Feb. 25. One auction item will be an autographed Flyers sweater with "Balboa" on the back. (Defenseman, right?)
