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Vintage team sculpture moves to the O’Reilly Theater
during "The Chief" as tribute to Rooney and his brothers.

Pittsburgh Public Theater
presents
Tom Atkins as
The Chief
by Rob Zellers
and Gene Collier
Nov. 6 - Dec.14, 2003
www.ppt.org

"The Hope Harveys have already been admired by quite a crowd. We believe the display integrates well into the rest of the Theater's exhibit and is going to be extremely successful".

- Monica Bowin
Director of Production & Operations
Pittsburgh Public Theater at The O'Reilly

Considered the very roots of the Pittsburgh Steeler Football, the Hope Harvey Football Club was the first sports team managed by legendary Art J Rooney and the only time Rooney and his brothers, Dan, Jim and Vince played together on a team. This week, 23 members of one of the best-known sandlot football clubs of the 1920s will move to The Pittsburgh Public’s O’Reilly Theater for a lobby exhibit as part of the opening of "The Chief," a play honoring the man and his life. Inspired by an old Rooney family photograph, Kathy Rooney and sculptor Ray Sokolowski brought the team back to life through a work of art that carries both personal and historical significance.

"While this was a meaningful project for us, we also felt its importance from a historical perspective, says Kathy Rooney. "We wanted to honor my father and uncles, but the work also recreates a time in football history – these were hard playing sandlot teams who made their own uniforms and passed the hat for their paychecks, they are the true spirit of the game," she adds.

Kathy, an accomplished illustrator and the youngest daughter of Vince Rooney, worked with figurative artist and husband Ray to create what may be the only known replica of the team which included the popular "Northside eleven."

The Hope Harvey Club, one of the most successful sandlot teams of its time, were strong contenders even against the might of notable players such as Olympic Legend Jim Thorpe and his Canton Bulldogs. Each Hope Harvey player is depicted in the sculpture, exactly as he appears in the team photo dated 1923. The sculpture took more than one year to complete and the signed and numbered figures were hand-sculpted then cold cast in nickel resin.

The exhibit will be on display at the O’Reilly Theater November 6 through December 14. An exclusive limited edition series is available for purchase by collectors. For more information on the sculpture visit www.krooney.net.