tempus fugit

By ceridwen

"The Legendary Blue Horizon Boxing Mural"

Philadelphia is known as 'the city of murals'. There are literally thousands of them - on the blank walls of vacant lots, on underpasses, on temporary hoardings and almost wherever you turn: spin-offs from a 1980s initiative to get rid of an epidemic of graffiti. They promote civic or health messages, commemorate well-known people and events or aim to foster a sense of community in a neighbourhood.
This one I spotted while walking down Broad Street, a major thoroughfare approaching Centre City, and I liked the way it was placed towards the top of the side wall of a large old building, and partially obscured by surrounding structures.
The title was given below and the boxers are Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes and George Foreman. The building has been a world-famous boxing venue since the 60s but it started out as expensive residences and then a Moose Hall.
An African American woman with a commanding presence filled us in about it when we stopped; later I realised that she herself was legendary as the boxing promoter who has run the venue in recent years.

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