http://schedule.wttw.com/series/22694/Blackout-American-Experience/

Saw this new documentary about the NYC Blackout on the night of July 13th, 1977. Really great interviews and news footage with some people directly involved - police, fire, ConEd, etc.

Any New Yawkers want to pass on some personal stories? I would like to hear about them. I remember watching live news coverage about it in Chicago, but first hand stories are much better.

I'll never forget the Summer of '77 in general. I graduated high school in June, Son of Sam, Elvis, and a lot of other reasons. That entire summer was hot as Hell. On the night of the blackout, I slept on the fire escape with my brother. But we did that a lot anyway.

Needless to say, there was no looting in the Belmont section of the Bronx that night. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for a lot of other New York City neighborhoods. That's not racial, it's just a fact. If you busted a window and stole a shirt out of a store in my neighborhood, well, let's just say you'd never do it again. And when everyone knows that, it's a bit of a deterrent.

It's a much different neighborhood today, though. But I don't want to hijack the thread. You brought back a great memory for me, Mark (the fire escape). Thank you, my friend .

My pleasure, buddy. I was hoping you would chime in soon. Thanks. I told Mrs. Mark that there was no way that looting happened in certain neighborhoods where wiseguys still had a major influence. Of course, she humorously rolled her eyes. You confirmed what I had highly suspected.

Again, I agree, my post contains no racial intent whatsoever. It was what it was. The news footage was disheartening and unfortunate for all.

For every scene they showed with people doing something bad, there were twice as many great stories about people helping each other and trying to do the right thing.

I remember that summer being very hot as well and sleeping outside a few times. I vividly recall hearing traffic and semis passing along I-55 and listening to White Sox games on WMAQ 670 AM... especially the west coast games that didn't get over until 1 a.m. You jarred a great memory as well, amico!

My aunt used to have a restaurant in the Vailsburg section of Newark around Sacred Heart Church. There was a cafe/eatery next door. There were always two older gentlemen outside the cafe sitting in chairs in the CENTER of the sidewalk.

Nicest guys in the world.When we were home for summer break, we'd go past and talk to them..and I used to worry about them because this is early 1990s Newark,NJ ...still the crack era.

One Saturday, I noted that NOBODY would walk past them on the sidewalk, everybody would step in the street and go around them. Even guys who I personally knew to be feared street guys.

Years later I figured out who they were, and it was a demonstration of what Pizza said. People know who to F with and who not to F with.

And fellas, of course there is nothing racial about this thread or any of the comments.

Camera footage isn't made up. MFers who were out there looting were mostly Black and Latino.

I know that firsthand. My best friend lived there back in those days and all his neighbors sat in front of their homes with their guns and rifles in plain view. The shops and stores on the main streets didn't have to worry. Period.

Incredibly accurate .

This is why I respect Gets so much. Just as I have no problem calling out fifth-generation Italian American kids for publicly rooting for guys in a life they know nothing about, he speaks the truth about the minority of rotten apples who ruin the reputation of the majority within his own community. It happens everywhere.

Trying to remember what I did during the black out. We had the flash lights, battery operate radio in the house. Frankly black out meant go out and steal because of the longer response time. I went out and bought food for the wife and kids before everyone closed.

Last time we had a black out. Bought muffins, donuts and bagels before they closed. I bought a lot of stuff from that bagel store.

Had to go to a wedding of my wife's best friends daughter Patrice. They had the wedding outside the church not in the church.

In the 70s stores did not have or not many had the electronic cash registers. So they did not close right away. During the last one everyone had the electronic ones so they closed right away. They did not even want to take cash. But the bagel store did

At home we went into the pool to cool off.

The wedding was held in Russo's by the Bay. No lights then they got the generator and everything was fine.

It was a hot summer night so my ex and I were staying home indoors with the a/c going. We had just started watching "Lovers and Other Strangers" on tv; a movie I was looking forward to seeing. Richard Castellano a/k/a "Clemenza" was starring in it and it was fine for the first twenty minutes or so. Then the lights went off. I was pissed! (This was long before cable, DVDs and On Demand, so if you missed a movie on tv you'd have to wait for them to play it again).

Is it just me or do I remember a Doris Day movie about NYC blackout? Am I right? Was that another blackout or same one? Or was the movie not based on real blackout. Seems like the movie was in the 60s but I might be wrong. Don't have a clue why I remember that? I have too much time on my hands. LOL



TIS

TIS - NYC had a big blackout in November, 1965. I think that's the one to which you're referring.

Thanks SC. I thought that movie was in the 60s. I can only imagine when NYC goes dark.




TIS

I remember that one, too. Now that one scared the shit out of me. But please keep in mind that I was only six years old .

That blackout wasn't bad at all. Despite some racial tensions in the City during that previous summer, there was no crime and certainly no looting at all. The blackout started about 5:30 p.m., just about the time it was dark out and just about the time that the rush hour going home was at its peak. Thousands were trapped in the subways and had to be guided out by emergency personnel.


On a personal level it was great for me... I lived in a group of four apartment buildings and was able to hustle to make almost ten bucks (a lot of money for a 14 year old then) by walking my neighbors up the stairs while I held a flashlight for them. Got tips of anywhere from a dime to a half buck!!

Wow SC, you were really a go-getter at such a young age, tho a nice gesture too, helping people.

(off topic) Ten bucks was a lot of money back then. I remember babysitting for 50 cents an hour. One couple had me sit every Monday for their bowling night. I was always confident they'd be gone for 4 hrs or more AND they usually paid a couple bucks more. 6/7 bucks was great. I would likely go buy an album from a Target type store when they cost $3.49 (or maybe $2.49??)


TIS

Remember NYC transit strike in 66 under Mayor Lindsay Mike Quell. I was still in Harlem then.

Mike Quill was the union leader who lead his personnel to that strike. A judge ordered the workers back to work and Quill was quoted as saying, "the judge could drop dead in his robes". Colorful guy. He had a heart attack and died a few days after the strike had ended.

I lived in Brooklyn and worked in downtown Manhattan during the '65 blackout and the '66 subway strike. I walked and hitchhiked home during the blackout. Unforgettable scene: walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, with a full moon silhouetting completely dark lower Manhattan. During the subway strike, I had to drive from Brooklyn over the bridge to Staten Island to the Hylan Boulevard Staten Island Rapid station; take it to the ferry terminal, and then walk to work. Two hours each way. I missed the '77 blackout because I had moved to NJ by that time.

This is mainly an opinion from my viewpoint since I'm not from the NYC area ( Nor born yet). I recall the rioting being referenced in Everybody Hates Chris ep and me being from a mid sized southern city was baffled. I'm thinking at first that wouldn't happen in my city ( we had blackouts from weather n downed power lines) , we just get the flashlights & candles out like no problem. Of course I thought more on it as this is the late 70s in which the drug era and murder rate increasing and NYC being the largest city makes a perfect place for assorted crimes during a blackout. I look at it with disappointment for those engage in the looting as the poorest reflection of those communities.