Garrett Brown, the Philadelphia-born inventor of the Steadicam, said the breakthrough that made the shot possible can be traced to a demonstration reel he filmed in the city in the early 1970s. The camera stabilization system allowed operators to capture smooth, mobile shots that previously required tracks, cranes or other equipment.
"We made a demo in Philly of 30 impossible shots," Brown said. "I love this city, and I know it intimately."
Brown said he searched for locations that could highlight movements conventional cameras couldn't achieve at the time - including climbing stairs and running. One of those locations was the art museum steps, where he filmed his then-producer, now wife, Ellen, running up and down. The footage became a centerpiece of the demo reel.
"And that shot became the anchor shot in the demo reel," Brown said. "As soon as they saw it in Hollywood, that was it. Forget about it."
Brown began developing the Steadicam in 1973, secured a deal the following year and used the system while filming Rocky in 1975. The invention relied on several components working together, including a spring-loaded arm attached to a vest and a fiberoptic viewfinder that allowed operators to see through the lens while moving.
"It's an instrument that a gifted person can artfully move," Brown said. "To put that lens exactly where you want it for the audience, without shaking it."
Brown went on to work on nearly 100 films. The Steadicam earned an Academy Award of Merit and became a standard tool in filmmaking, sports broadcasting and television production. He also patented the Flycam and Skycam systems.
Now 84, Brown leads Steadicam workshops and continues to teach the technology he helped pioneer. He said the "Rocky steps" sequence remains a powerful example of what the system could accomplish.
"I've sat there and watched it at times, and it's astounding," he said.
Brown believes the scene would still be remembered if filmed conventionally, but not with the same sense of momentum. "I think if the steps were shot conventionally, they might still be famous," he said. "But it wouldn't have the dynamic rush that it has when you're actually running up there."