Rocky is an iconic movie that has made an impact on millions of viewers all over the world. After all, who doesn’t love a good underdog story?! The film also had an undeniable impact on residents of Philadelphia who were there to experience the filming of Rocky.
The Italian Market, Schuylkill River, and Benjamin Franklin Parkway are just some of the Philadelphia landmarks recognizable in the film. But the connection to locals was more than that. Many locals can be seen in the background, especially in the most famous scene of Rocky running through the city as part of his training.
The orange thrown at Rocky as he runs? That was the owner of one of the stalls in the Italian Market. Because Sylvester Stallone was virtually unknown and the scene was being shot with a single camera, people didn’t know that a movie was even being filmed. The stall owner completely improvised. Another fun fact: Rocky’s signature outfit—the leather coat and fedora—was even purchased from a Philadelphia thrift store.