Ranked list Story Audio

Menu

Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time.

Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time.

in Places & People

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

519 Views

In the late 1970s, New York City was experiencing severe economic and political difficulties, unlike anything it had ever experienced before. During the recession, New York City city workers were laid off, and municipal services like sanitation and after-school programs were cut due to economic stagnation, industrial decline, and the threat of bankruptcy. Over 820,000 middle-class families fled to the suburbs in a movement known as white flight as unemployment in the city continued to rise. Feeling neglected by their government and angry at the cuts in social services, other citizens turned to violence; drug use, vandalism, and theft rapidly increased. During the power outage of July 13th, 1977, the darkness and confusion caused even more aggression, such as looting in the city.

Below are some stunning photos of New York City in 1978 and 1979 captured by Frank Florianz.

#1 Times Square area, around Christmas, 1978

Times Square area, around Christmas, 1978

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#2 City perspective

City perspective

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#3 Looking north on Park Avenue towards the Pan Am building

Looking north on Park Avenue towards the Pan Am building

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#4 Pretzel vendor

Pretzel vendor

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#5 Herald Square, Avenue of the Americas, around Christmas, 1978

Herald Square, Avenue of the Americas, around Christmas, 1978

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#6 88th Road, Woodhaven, New York (Queens) – July, 1979

88th Road, Woodhaven, New York (Queens) - July, 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#7 Yard sale nearby

Yard sale nearby

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#8 Candid views along Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven, NY – July, 1979

Candid views along Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven, NY - July, 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#9

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#10

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#11

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#12

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#13 Neighbor on 88th Road, Woodhaven, cooking up a meal, Summer 1979

Neighbor on 88th Road, Woodhaven, cooking up a meal, Summer 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#14 On a street in midtown Manhattan – all the remaining photos on this page are from the summer of 1979

On a street in midtown Manhattan - all the remaining photos on this page are from the summer of 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#15 Public Library, Manhattan – 5th Avenue at East 41st Street

Public Library, Manhattan - 5th Avenue at East 41st Street

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#16 Performance in front of Lincoln Statue, Union Square

Performance in front of Lincoln Statue, Union Square

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#17 Chambers Street, looking east towards the Manhattan Municipal Building at Centre Street

Chambers Street, looking east towards the Manhattan Municipal Building at Centre Street

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#18 Exchange Place, Financial District

Exchange Place, Financial District

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#19 John Street

John Street

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#20 Newstand at dusk

Newstand at dusk

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#21 Three views from Prospect Park, Brooklyn, including the bandshell

Three views from Prospect Park, Brooklyn, including the bandshell

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#22

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#23

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#24 Out and about in the Brighton Beach and Coney Island areas

Out and about in the Brighton Beach and Coney Island areas

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#25

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#26

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#27

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#28

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#29 Surf Avenue, Coney Island (Summer, 1979)

Surf Avenue, Coney Island (Summer, 1979)

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#30

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#31

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#32 Produce tailgate in Brooklyn, near the LIRR – Summer of 1979

Produce tailgate in Brooklyn, near the LIRR - Summer of 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#33 Albany Avenue and Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn

Albany Avenue and Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#34 View of Manhattan and the Twin Towers, from Brooklyn

View of Manhattan and the Twin Towers, from Brooklyn

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#35 American Museum of Natural History (Manhattan) and a few exhibits

American Museum of Natural History (Manhattan) and a few exhibits

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#36

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#37

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#38

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#39

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#40 Delacorte Theatre in Central Park (west side off 80th Street) on a rainy day – Summer of 1979

Delacorte Theatre in Central Park (west side off 80th Street) on a rainy day - Summer of 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#41 Outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art (5th Ave & E 81st St) in the rain at dusk

Outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art (5th Ave & E 81st St) in the rain at dusk

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#42 Queens, New York – Fall of 1979

Queens, New York - Fall of 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#43

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#44 Queens Boulevard at 40th Street, #7 subway viaduct at the left, Empire State Building in the distance

Queens Boulevard at 40th Street, #7 subway viaduct at the left, Empire State Building in the distance

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#45 East 61st Street and 5th Avenue, Manhattan, Fall 1979

East 61st Street and 5th Avenue, Manhattan, Fall 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#46 Carriages along Central Park, near Central Park South and 5th Avenue

Carriages along Central Park, near Central Park South and 5th Avenue

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#47 General Sherman Statue at Grand Army Plaza, Central Park

General Sherman Statue at Grand Army Plaza, Central Park

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#48 Upper West Side, Manhattan, Fall 1979

Upper West Side, Manhattan, Fall 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#49

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#50 Greeley Square at West 33rd Street, December, 1979

Greeley Square at West 33rd Street, December, 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#51 Nearby at West 32nd Street, December, 1979

Nearby at West 32nd Street, December, 1979

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#52 Avenue of the Americas at West 35th Street

Avenue of the Americas at West 35th Street

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#53 Avenue of the Americas at West 34th Street

Avenue of the Americas at West 34th Street

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#54 Spring, 1980: Sutton Theater at 205 East 57th Street – it was demolished in January, 2005

Spring, 1980: Sutton Theater at 205 East 57th Street - it was demolished in January, 2005

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#55 9th Avenue and West 55th Street, looking south

9th Avenue and West 55th Street, looking south

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#56 9th Avenue and West 40th Street, looking south

9th Avenue and West 40th Street, looking south

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#57 Entering the Lincoln Tunnel, Spring, 1980

Entering the Lincoln Tunnel, Spring, 1980

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#58

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#59

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#60

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#61 View of the George Washington Bridge from the Upper West Side, Spring 1980

View of the George Washington Bridge from the Upper West Side, Spring 1980

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#62 Junk shops on Canal Street at Cortlandt Alley

Junk shops on Canal Street at Cortlandt Alley

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#63 Broadway at West 81st Street, looking south, Spring 1980

Broadway at West 81st Street, looking south, Spring 1980

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#64 More junk shops, Church and Canal Streets near the Post Office

More junk shops, Church and Canal Streets near the Post Office

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#65

New York City in the Late 1970s Through the Lens of Frank Florianz

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#66 Looking south along Church Street near Leonard Street, a view of the Twin Towers, Spring 1980

Looking south along Church Street near Leonard Street, a view of the Twin Towers, Spring 1980

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#67 Church Street at White Street, looking east

Church Street at White Street, looking east

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#68 West Broadway and Franklin Street, Spring 1980

West Broadway and Franklin Street, Spring 1980

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#69 Chambers Street, looking east towards the Manhattan Municipal Building at Centre Street

Chambers Street, looking east towards the Manhattan Municipal Building at Centre Street

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#70 Job Lot Trading Company, 140 Church Street

Job Lot Trading Company, 140 Church Street

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Next post

Back to Top

Close Add post

Share this Post 🥺

Please take a moment to share this content. Your support is greatly appreciated! 🙌🙏