A Seventy -Year Love Affair
with New York City
By Justin Clayton

Back to Issue 4

It’s no secret that throughout Fay Wray’s long and celebrated life, she loved and preferred to reside in New York City, rather than Los Angeles or any place else in the world. She was forever fascinated by the city’s pace and tempo, its throngs of people coming and going at all hours of the day and night, the many restaurants, theatres, museums, art galleries, churches, and its spectacular architecture, including an extra special affection for the Empire State Building which spanned over a seventy-year period. In Wray’s own words: “Each time I arrive in New York and see the skyline and the exquisite beauty of the Empire State Building, my heart beats a little faster. I like that feeling. I really like it!”

Fay Wray was a legend and a myth in her own lifetime all because of one movie (although she appeared in approximately 100 silent and sound films). But what a movie! Released in 1933, “King Kong” was a universal hit and an instant classic, foreshadowing and eclipsing anything else the actress would ever do. In time, Wray learned to accept “King Kong” and its place in her life, and graciously appeared at public functions to receive honors and awards bestowed upon her and this masterpiece of film art.

My association with Fay Wray began with one fan letter when I was all of twelve years old after seeing “King Kong” on television. Wray replied, and so did I in return, and the correspondence went on for over forty years. Although we met a couple of times at public events in Los Angeles, our in-person friendship happened during the last twelve months of her life, when, at age 96 she invited me to visit at her Trump Tower condominium in the winter of 2003. From that moment on, I visited Fay almost every single weekend, which included quiet walks around Manhattan, dining at home or at her favorite restaurants, watching classic films on television, and listening as she quietly reminisced about her fascinating life and career.

I was especially interested in the early years, and her association (either thru work or friendship) with such film legends as Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Loretta Young, Janet Gaynor, Cary Grant, Jeanette McDonald, Gloria Swanson, Jimmy Stewart, Robert Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, Lillian Gish, Spencer Tracy, Joel McCrea, Joan Crawford, Harlow, Dietrich, Garbo, and countless others. Fay remembered it all as though it happened just yesterday, and spoke in a most matter-of-fact manner, completely modest and seemingly unaware that she too was a part of Hollywood’s great Golden Era, and she too was one of the great screen legends.

As grateful as Fay was for her film career, she fell completely in love with Manhattan back in the early 1930s and, hence, would always reside in both Los Angeles and New York City. In her later years, in particular when I came along in 2003, she was content with quiet, leisurely strolls down Fifth Avenue and the surrounding streets, gazing at all the storefront windows, completely enchanted by all that she saw. She was fond of Tiffany’s, which was right under Trump Tower where she lived.

Although she admired the items on display, it was merely for aesthetics and not because she especially liked or wanted expensive jewelry. Fay loved our sunny weekend walks through Central Park, with a fascination for people-watching. She found children at play in the park of special interest, and at one point she observed a man carrying a young child on his shoulders. “I wish my father had carried me that way,” Fay softly lamented.

I asked if she wanted me to put her up on my shoulders? She burst out laughing at the very idea! Another favorite place in the park was dining at the lavish Tavern on the Green, which she had been to many times before. A preferred dish was smoked salmon, almost Cajun style. Fay also loved the Plaza Hotel, and dined at the same window table for over seventy years. When she entered, the staff would recognize her immediately and fussed to make the star comfortable.

Other patrons who were dining also recognized her from time to time. Fay was always so gracious and appreciative of all the attention, and even signed autographs when people came to her table. As a life-long practice Fay visited Elizabeth Arden’s salon, or as she would say “the red door,” usually weekly, to have her hair done, and for special events her make up was artistically applied by the Arden staff.

In early May 2004 Fay expressed an interest in visiting her beloved Empire State Building once more. It had been several years since she went to the top and another journey seemed to be on her mind. Then, on a quiet sunny afternoon on May 15th, through special arrangements with the building’s public relations department, Fay Wray returned to the Empire State Building for what would be her final visit, along with me, her long-time personal assistant Yolanda Turcios, legendary film animator Ray Harryhausen, and author Mark Vaz, who were in town visiting on business. The press had a field day! A crush of television crews, reporters and photographers descended on Fay and her entourage when we emerged from our cab.

We were privately escorted through the lobby, while the tourists stared in utter fascination, whispering “Look, there’s Fay Wray!” over and over. Security guards ushered us to the very top of the skyscraper, far above the observation deck. Fay gazed thru one of the porthole windows and pointed to the mass of buildings below. Cameramen and reporters zeroed in on the star, realizing that they were in the presence of an authentic living legend. Indeed, Ann Darrow had returned to the top of the world once more, and the world took notice! Later that night we watched the film footage of her historical visit on the news. Some broadcasts went even as far as China. I found it quite thrilling. But for Fay, it was just another day of being connected with Manhattan and its most famous skyscraper that she so loved.

In June Fay flew to Los Angeles to attend her granddaughter’s wedding. She returned earlier than expected, however, because she missed New York. As much as she enjoyed her family, she found life in Hollywood utterly boring. Fay and I resumed our relationship; dining, walking down Fifth Avenue and the other great neighborhood streets, taking in Central Park, eating Sabrett hotdogs which she loved, and watching classic black and white movies on television. There were also public events, which I escorted her to, such as the film premiere of “Broadway, the Golden Years,” and a party later at Sardi’s. Anyone who was anybody at the event came to Fay’s table to greet the legend; Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, Jane Powell, Richard “Dickie” Moore, Rex Reed, Michelle Lee, Lainie Kazan, Farley Granger, Celeste Holm, filmmaker Peter Jackson, and many others.

Later that week, Peter Jackson dropped by Fay’s condominium to specifically ask if she would do a cameo in his remake of “King Kong.” Fay was flattered, and found Jackson rather interesting, but politely turned him down. Fay confided that she was not thrilled that “Kong” was being remade, but felt that if anyone could do it justice Jackson was the one.

In July Fay was briefly hospitalized for a few days. I visited her daily and brought her ice cream and coffee, and flowers, which she loved, and helped pass the time while she recuperated. One afternoon as Fay was resting, I turned her television set on. By some bizarre twist of fate “King Kong” was playing. When Fay heard her famous, blood curdling screams, she immediately sat up in bed and pointed at the screen. Staff members were concerned by her reaction, but when I explained that their patient was the one and only Fay Wray, they almost went into shock!

After Fay’s release from the hospital, we resumed our strolls down Fifth Avenue and Central Park, only this time I had to push her in a wheelchair. She didn’t mind. It got her out of the apartment, and she was able to embrace New York again. One Sunday afternoon in Central Park, Fay spent considerable time watching a sidewalk artist sketch a portrait of a young girl. Fay’s eyes would dart back and forth, from the girl to the pad, from the pad to the girl. She smiled when the sketch finally came to life, and nodded in approval that the artist had done a very fine job indeed.

At 7:30 Sunday morning on August 8th I received a troubling phone call from Yolanda that Fay had not slept well the night before and was asking for me. I arrived at her apartment by 9. Fay was happy to see me, but seemed preoccupied and not quite herself. I called her physician, who arrived at noon and proceeded to examine her in the bedroom. When he finished, he came into the living room and informed us that she was a “fighter.” I went into the bedroom and sat next to Fay and asked if there was anything I could do? Her only request was that I lay next to her on the bed, which I did. I asked if she’d like to watch a movie? She said she did. “How about ‘King Kong?’” I asked. “Okay,” she replied.

I popped the tape in and pressed play. Max Steiner’s haunting score came blaring thru the speakers, while the star and her fan watched for the last time together one of the most celebrated movies ever made. When the film ended, I began to kid her: “It was beauty killed the beast. You did it, Fay!” “Yes,” she playfully responded. “I did it! I did it!” And then she grew sleepy and closed her eyes. I kissed her forehead, covered her comfortably in her blanket, and left the room while she napped. I told Yolanda that Fay was sleeping and I was leaving for the day.

Later in the afternoon I received a call that Fay was awake but appeared disoriented. I raced back to Trump Tower, but it was too late. She passed away shortly before I arrived.

I treasure my memories with this great, legendary lady. The many years of correspondence and the letters that we exchanged; when I first met her in Hollywood; my visits with her at Trump Tower; our travels through her beloved Manhattan, Fifth Avenue, Central Park; the many fine restaurants she enjoyed; sitting in her condominium and listening as she quietly reminisced about her career; keeping her company as she contently watched classic movies on television from her great golden era of Hollywood filmmaking. Our spectacular, almost surreal journey to the top of the Empire State Building.

I could not help but fantasize, if only for a moment, that I was really with Ann Darrow, the beautiful blonde heroine of “King Kong,” the star of one of the most beloved films of all time. And finally ironically, or perhaps even prophetically, watching “King Kong” together for the very last time, on the final day of her life.



Fay Wray often mentioned that she looked forward to celebrating her 100th birthday. She died a few weeks shy of her 97th. Up until the end, she still remained positive and enthusiastic about life, especially of New York City. She wanted to take a boat cruise around Manhattan Island in the fall. There were museums to visit, art galleries, plays, concerts, and the cinema that she so looked forward to. With her passing, she now exists in the dreams and fantasies of others, forever preserved as the beautiful, innocent blonde captive of a fifty-foot-tall prehistoric gorilla.

For me, it was a privilege to have been a part of her life, especially in her final year. Indeed the world took notice of her passing, as it made headlines all over the world. But no public acknowledgement was as great as that of her beloved Empire State Building, when on August 10th it dimmed its lights for 15 minutes in reverence of the woman who helped immortalize the building as much as it did her.