The 1970s in New York City were a wild time. The city was facing tough challenges like crime and money problems, but it was also buzzing with a raw energy that you couldn’t find anywhere else. In the middle of it all, photographer Rich Allen was capturing the city’s soul, one picture at a time. His photos show us a side of New York that most people didn’t see – a world of chopper gangs, Hell’s Angels, and everyday people just trying to get by.
Allen’s photos are like a time machine. They take us back to the gritty streets of the 70s, where graffiti covered subway cars and kids played stickball in empty lots. His lens focused on the people who lived on the fringes, the ones who didn’t fit into the usual boxes. He showed us the tough biker gangs like the Hell’s Angels, their leather jackets and motorcycles a symbol of rebellion.
He also captured the everyday moments of New Yorkers. We see kids hanging out on stoops, families gathered on fire escapes to escape the summer heat, and street vendors selling their wares. We see old buildings being torn down and new ones being built. The city was in a constant state of flux, and Allen’s photos document this transformation.
One thing that stands out in Allen’s photos is the fashion. Bell-bottoms, platform shoes, and leather jackets were all the rage. People expressed themselves through their clothes, whether it was the punk rock look or the disco style. Allen’s photos capture this diversity of style, showing us how fashion was a way for people to stand out and be themselves.
