Then and Now

Most people when they think of Brooklyn they think of old Welcome Back Kotter re-runs. Or even better yet, Saturday Night Fever. It's funny both of them have John Travolta in the lead role, I'm not quite sure whether that's funny or sad. Even more strange is how much Brooklyn has changed since back in the seventies when both were produced. If you think about it, in the grand scheme of things that really wasn't that long ago. But I know some of the spots were some of the scenes of both were shot. Like the elevated train from the opening credits of Welcome Back Kotter. I know exactly where that spot is, and it looks very different now. Back then it was a lot grittier, a lot less hospitable. And the dance club from Saturday Night Fever, I was actually there seven or eight years ago. I wonder if it's even there. Anyway I assure you there was no longer a disco globe hanging from the ceiling. Now imagine if there's all these surface changes, just imagine how much the neighborhoods have grown up since then too. At the end of the day it's a shame how many people think that Brooklyn is just egg creams, pizza, knishes, gangs, and things like that. Because it is so much more than that.