Culver City Throws Rocky Out of Ring by Refusing to Rename Street for Him
Producers of “Rocky” films lost by a decision Monday when the Culver City Council voted 4 to 1 against renaming a street after the popular movie character.
Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Inc. of Culver City had asked the city to change the name of Jean Place--where its offices are located--to Rocky Place. The company hoped the city would approve the change because all four “Rocky” movies, which have grossed more than $500 million, were filmed in Culver City.
Mayor Richard Alexander cast the lone vote in favor. Jean Place is a half-block-long, dead-end street that runs north from Washington Boulevard near Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.
The Planning Commission had denied the change Feb. 12.
The city staff reported that street names are changed either to avoid confusion or to “improve the community’s perception of an area.” Chartoff-Winkler’s proposal, it said, would do neither.
John Simpson, controller for Chartoff-Winkler, told the council his company was willing to pay the $950 cost to change the sign and city maps.
But councilmen called the proposal “self-serving.”
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