She became a sort of mascot for the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team because when her recording of God Bless America was played, the Flyers never lost (so they say).
Taking down her link to the team now because of some popular song she sang from the '30s is just imbecilic.
Icon Paul Robeson sang the song too. Do the activists also want to revoke Robeson's blackness?
Yes during their two Stanley Cup winning seasons (74/75 & 75/76) the Flyers would win when they played Kate Smith's recording of God Bless America instead of the National Anthem prior to games. It became a kind of fetish to the point where they had her come sing it live, possibly multiple times, but I believe only once during a Cup finals game.
The statue originally stood outside the Spectrum which was the Flyers original arena, then was moved to their new building, the Wells Fargo Center when the Spectrum was torn down.
We used to call that building the "Rectum".
I did too, and I am from there. We all called it the Rectum.
Saw many a concert in there. Cream, Steppenwolf, Dreadful Gate, LedZep, Pink Floyd......
I saw Carol King (my first concert), Paul McCartney, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Eric Clapton twice, The Moody Blues, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, The Who (loudest by far), Yes, and probably others. They got all the big names there.
Yes was another one, the Topographic tour. Jefferson Airplane. Also CCR in a very short show (40 minutes). Saw Clapton with Derek and the Dominoes but I think that was at the Electric Factory. Van Morrison was definitely at the Factory. I've seen ELP but not sure where --- probably the Rectum.
Oh and the Doors too.
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