COLUMN: Remembered and seen in so many ways

The other night while channel surfing I came across the 1989 movie “Big.” Starring Tom Hanks, his character, as a child, wishes he was an adult and sure enough it happens. During his time as an adult he works for a toy company and is spending time at a New York City toy store. During one scene, my attention went to the background of the toy store.

I noticed what looked like stuffed-toy animal gorillas hanging on the wall. Looking even closer, the wall resembled the exterior of the World Trade Center. For movie historians, that combination was a depiction of the 1976 movie “King Kong.” I’ve seen that movie, too. When Kong is causing havoc in New York City, Jeff Bridges’ character tells the authorities he thinks Kong will head to the World Trade Center because it will remind him of a rock formation on the secluded island he was found. The World Trade Center opened in 1973, just three years prior.

It’s one of the many ways the World Trade Center was used during its existence. Wednesday we remember the 23rd anniversary of the disturbing day the buildings collapsed during a terror attack on the U.S. Those buildings will forever be the symbol for that day and the approximately 3,000 lives lost.

One of the Facebook pages I follow is dedicated to the World Trade Center. I have never been to New York City. It’s compelling to read people’s stories and opinions about the buildings and how they interacted with the people and culture of lower Manhattan, let alone metro New York City.

It’s fascinating to know how often it’s been used in media and across the spectrum. A few years before “Big,” the movie “Crocodile Dundee” also has a shot of the World Trade Center, another movie I ran into during the summer.

The buildings are in the beginning of the opening credits of a short-lived animated, comedy television show “The Critic” in the mid-1990s. Comedy actor Jon Lovitz provided the voice for the main character; a single, bitter movie critic who has other challenges in life. I thought the show was great because how it poked fun at Hollywood. TV executives didn’t think so as the show only lasted two seasons. (Lovitz was also in “Big.”)

An episode of “Seinfeld,” arguably the most popular comedy TV show ever, also has a view of the World Trade Center. In my opinion, the show’s sets were focused on Jerry’s apartment and the coffee shop. Even knowing Seinfeld’s appreciation for the city as he showed his support for NYC during the COVID pandemic, select New York City landmarks were emphasized during the show’s run.

No matter what the World Trade Center is in, I hope someone or some organization is keeping those shots, movies and TV shows for historic purposes. Fifty, 75 or 100 years from now people then will know what the World Trade Center looked like and, more importantly, what happened on Sept. 11, 2001. It’s one thing to see it on a TV or movie screen, I just wonder how many family picture books including vacations or trips to New York City include the World Trade Center. Those families may hold those pictures and books even tighter. Future generations of the family will hopefully see those pictures and they may also wonder and ask questions.

Some commentary I’ve read over the years included how some New York City residents in the late 1960s and early 1970s were not in favor of the World Trade Center. Knowing how tall the buildings would be, those people didn’t want it to stick out like a sore thumb. The buildings would ruin the city’s skyline. The buildings defined the city’s skyline.

Having worked in small-town and rural parts of the country, I’ve always joked if a town’s street signs were removed would anyone notice? Residents have typically become accustom to landmarks or know who lived in a certain property decades prior. New York City isn’t any different.

Contributors to the Facebook page seem to be from New York City and explain their experiences and history with the buildings. One person said when working there in the 1970s, the buildings had a tendency to sway enough during high wind days to feel the movement. And, of course, being that much higher elevated, the winds could be stronger than what is felt on the street. I asked if people who interviewed for jobs in the World Trade Center were informed of the building’s sway during high winds. One person responded stating he worked in the buildings and was never told in advance.

I just hope someone will be around in the future to tell the story of Sept. 11 so it won’t be forgotten.