The Crime rates in the 1980s Philadelphia were very high. South Philadelphia was ravaged by Mafia warfare, gangs invaded the slums, and the murder rate skyrocketed. The city elected its first Black mayor in 1983, W. Wilson Goode, whose first administration was marred by the 1985 Move tragedy. In Center City, giant modern skyscrapers were designed by world-renowned architects in the Old City and South Street areas. Labor contracts signed by city employees during the Rizzo administration contributed to the city’s financial crisis that Green and Goode could not prevent. At the end of the 1980s, the city was on the verge of bankruptcy.
After the end of the Laotian Civil War associated with the Vietnam War in the 1970s, a group of Hmong refugees settled in Philadelphia. They were attacked in discriminatory acts, and the city’s Commission on Human Relations held hearings to investigate. The Hmong population in Philadelphia left for other cities in the United States between 1982 and 1984, and three-quarters moved to live with relatives in other states. During the 1980s, many Vietnamese and other Asian immigrants settled in the city, particularly in the Italian Market area. Moreover, many Hispanic immigrants from Central and South America have settled in North Philadelphia.
Here are some fascinating photos that offer a glimpse into 1980s Philadelphia.
the opening credits of the film Trading Places are also worth watching. The sequence showcases various parts of the city and highlights the stark economic disparities between them. In fact, the entire movie is a great watch.
I took a moment to review the photos but did not spot myself in any of them. Perhaps if the pictures were taken on South Street or at Zipperhead, I would have had a better chance.
I had to check…nope, I didn’t see me in any of the photos. Maybe if the pics were on South Street of Zipperhead.
The photograph of the corner with numerous flyers pasted on it brings back a fond memory for me. I recall encountering Jade Starling and Whey Cooler, members of the band Pretty Poison, while they were putting up flyers. My girlfriend and I asked if we could assist them, and they allowed us to join them backstage at Ripley’s for parties in the future. Those were the days – South Street was always an enjoyable place to be.
How did I not know they were Philly based? I may need to track down the members of Cinderella to hand in my Philly card.
How about those pictures of you at that mall record store where Mojo Nixon isn’t available?
Are you referring to the pictures taken at Sam Goody or Wall to Wall Sound and Video?
Love me some nostalgia but this looks even worse than today (and I think we objectively know the city is safer today even if things seem bad). Want to park on the front steps of the Art Museum? Sure.
l rember a sign painted on the side of a brick building, around Broad and Vine. “Manhattan Bowling Balls”. l don’t know if it was a store or a factory