Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Kate Smith

Kate Smith
Marc Mellon, 1987
* Statue of Kate Smith
* standing person
* Was behind the Spectrum at Broad and Pattison, which was demolished in early 2011. Reinstalled behind Xfinity Live in 2012 with a shorter plaque which omitted the second, third, and fourth paragraphs from the original inscription, which is listed here in full with the removed section in square brackets. The last picture is from the original location. In Aoril 2019 the Flyers shrouded and then removed the statue over Smith's racist recordings.
* inscription:
1907-1986
Blessed with a voice and presence which led her to stardom on Broadway, radio, and television, Miss Smith came to symbolize joyous, homespun, American patriotism.
[Her stirring rendition of "God Bless America" introduced on Armistice Day 1938 lifted the spirits of the nation after the Great Depression and inspired us to persevere through the agony of World War II.
When president Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced Kate to the King and Queen of England he said "This is Kate Smith... This is America!"
During World War II, Miss Smith raised more than $600 million in War Bond sales and in 1982, President Ronald Reagan presented her with the nation's highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom.]
Kate Smith had a special relationship with the Flyers and the City of Philadephia. Her live performances of "God Bless America" helped inspire the Flyers to become Stanley Cup Champions for the first time in 1974.
This statue, honoring one of America's greatest patriots, is a gift from the Philadelphia Flyers to the people of our great country.
Dedicated: October 5, 1987
* 39.903600,-75.170000 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Missing, Moved
* See also:
+marcmellon.com
+katesmith.org