The William Penn statue, located atop Philadelphia's City Hall, has been the subject of a fascinating urban legend known as the "Curse upon the William Penn statue." According to the legend, placing a statue or structure taller than the William Penn statue within the city would bring about a curse causing bad luck for Philadelphia's sports teams. This superstition originated in the late 1980s when the One Liberty Place skyscraper was built, surpassing the height of the William Penn statue. Soon after, Philadelphia's sports teams, which had seen a period of success, began to struggle significantly. The curse quickly gained traction, and it seemed as though the city's beloved teams were unable to achieve victory. The Philadelphia Phillies, the city's baseball team, endured a lengthy World Series drought, failing to win a championship for nearly three decades.
Somehow over time that voodoo Billy got swiped, perhaps as someone's souvenir, said D'Arcy Rudnay, Comcast's vice president of corporate communications. So without pomp or ceremony, a new, even smaller Billy was put in its place.
And over the peewee Penn s shoulder on the southern horizon, amid planes landing at the airport and cars streaming to the Commodore Barry Bridge, sits Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phils. It took 13 years for the Phillies to make it back to the World Series after winning their first title in 1980 and fans were looking for a turn for the best.
The Philadelphia Phillies, the city's baseball team, endured a lengthy World Series drought, failing to win a championship for nearly three decades. The Philadelphia Eagles, the football team, also saw a decline in performance, unable to secure a Super Bowl victory for many years. Finally, in 2007, a statue honoring William Penn was placed atop the Comcast Center, becoming the tallest building in Philadelphia.
Lifting the curse of William Penn
He's a petite Penn, a wee Willy really, but the prayers of superstitious Phillies fans ride high today atop his tiny windblown shoulders.
Can Phils win it for the little guy? A William Penn statuette attached to the final girder lifted to the Comcast Center went missing but was replaced.Read more Comcast
by By Michael Matza, Inquirer Staff Writer Published Oct. 22, 2008, 3:01 a.m. ETHe's a petite Penn, a wee Willy really, but the prayers of superstitious Phillies fans ride high today atop his tiny windblown shoulders.
Can the figurine on the roof of the Comcast Center, glued to the highest point, 975 feet above the ground, once and for all exorcise "the curse of William Penn" as the Fightin' Phils face the Tampa Bay Rays tonight in the World Series opener?
Legend has it that Philadelphia's sports teams have been jinxed from reaching champion status because real estate developers had the temerity to build higher than the top of the hat on the massive statue of William Penn above City Hall.
Philadelphia's image as a low-rise city was shattered in 1987, with the topping off of the Liberty Place skyscraper amid much brouhaha that "the gentlemen's agreement" not to overshadow Alexander Milne Calder's landmark statue of Penn was being violated.
AdvertisementSince then, more skyscrapers have followed, and the major Philadelphia teams have been denied their sport's top prize. Some fans have attributed the championship drought to a curse that the city's famous founder must have issued from the grave.
"I believe in the curse. I think there is something to it," said Sports Radio 950 talker Jody "Jody Mac" McDonald. "I'm not a superstitious guy by nature, but spitting in the eye of one of the founders of our city is a bad move."
Recognizing the currency of the curse without quite subscribing to it, the owners and managers of Comcast Center, the city's tallest building, had the foresight to affix a statuette of Penn to the final beam put in place during the June 2007 topping-off ceremony - just in case it could help, they said.
It didn't hurt that Comcast Corp. chief executive officer Brian Roberts and executive vice president David L. Cohen are avid Phillies fans.
So when the final beam went skyward that day, carrying the traditional evergreen branch and American flag, it also carried a Billy Penn "Mini Me" for good measure.
Somehow over time that voodoo Billy got swiped, perhaps as someone's souvenir, said D'Arcy Rudnay, Comcast's vice president of corporate communications. So without pomp or ceremony, a new, even smaller Billy was put in its place.
That 4-inch replica faces northeast, just as its mammoth inspiration does. And over the peewee Penn's shoulder on the southern horizon, amid planes landing at the airport and cars streaming to the Commodore Barry Bridge, sits Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phils.
"The more we lose, the more passionate we become," said Rob Marcolina, a University of Pennsylvania tech-support employee, who coproduced a 44-minute film about the curse and thinks it soon will be laid to rest.
"Now remember, I am a trained lawyer," Cohen said yesterday when asked about the curse and efforts to end it. "I'm trained to interpret things. My interpretation would be that putting Billy Penn on top of the highest piece of steel of any building in Philadelphia is enough to remove the curse."
Then, chuckling at what to him seemed the most delicious part, he added, "And you can't tell if I'm right until the Phillies win the World Series!"
He's a petite Penn, a wee Willy really, but the prayers of superstitious Phillies fans ride high today atop his tiny windblown shoulders.
This seemingly violated the curse, and shortly after, the Phillies won the World Series in 2008. This victory was celebrated as the end of the curse and a return to success for Philadelphia's sports teams. While many argue that this superstition is purely coincidental, the curse upon the William Penn statue has captured the imagination of Philadelphians, embracing it as a part of the city's sports lore. Whether or not there is any truth to the curse, it remains a prominent aspect of the city's history and culture. Today, the William Penn statue serves as a symbol of the city's spirit and resilience. It stands as a reminder of the years in which the curse loomed over the city's sports teams and the eventual triumph that followed. Overall, the "Curse upon the William Penn statue" is an interesting urban legend that showcases the power of superstition and its impact on the collective psyche. While it may be mere coincidence, the curse holds a special place in the hearts of Philadelphia sports fans and adds a unique dimension to the city's sporting history..
Reviews for "From Benjamin Franklin to Gritty: The William Penn Curse and Philadelphia's Major Icons"
1. John Doe - 1/5 - I found "Curse upon the William Penn Statue" to be quite underwhelming. The plot was weak and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with the characters. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, leaving me disinterested in the story. Additionally, the pacing was slow and there were unnecessary scenes that could have been trimmed down. Overall, I was disappointed by this film and would not recommend it to others.
2. Jane Smith - 2/5 - "Curse upon the William Penn Statue" left me feeling unsatisfied and confused. The movie lacked a clear direction and failed to provide a compelling storyline. The acting was mediocre at best, with unconvincing performances from the main cast. The cinematography also left much to be desired, as the visuals seemed uninteresting and poorly executed. I was hoping for something more captivating and engaging, but unfortunately, this film fell short of my expectations.
3. Robert Johnson - 1/5 - I was thoroughly disappointed by "Curse upon the William Penn Statue." The film failed to deliver an engaging plotline and instead focused on unnecessary subplots that added nothing to the overall story. The acting was subpar, with amateurish performances that felt forced. The dialogue was unrealistic and lacked depth, making it difficult to fully invest in the characters' journeys. Furthermore, the pacing was slow, leaving me bored and uninterested throughout most of the movie. I would not recommend wasting your time on this film.