July 13, 1977: On this 30th anniversary where were you that night, the lights went out in New York City?

Question

So how did you cope without air conditioners or fans operating back then? On that sweltering Wednesday Evening, of July 13, 1977 I was in the comfort and safety of my home, with my family. While I watched outside the livingroom window, I noticed some of the lights of the streetlamps were out. Then at approximately at 9:15 p.m. the madness had began, at first I thought it was just my neighborhood, but it's the entire city affected by the blackout. Stores were looted, ransacked and vandalized. There were even some arsonous fires throughout the night, in most sections of The Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan. Me and my family was well prepared, of having some flashlights handy for use. I turned on a small transistor radio, which only receives AM frequency. There was no running water in the apartment. Power was restored by the morning, sure was a shame for food, being thrown out from the refrigerator.

Answer 1

sure i remember... it was the summer that son of sam was caught, as well, about a month later. not only was it sweltering, not only was it dark, it was also freaking scary!! i had long brown hair, so, i remember i was always nervous when i went out, and therefore stayed inside that night. i kept a spray bottle of cold water and lemon and kept spraying myself with that (also jean nate, which helped, some). yeah, the food loss was amazing, i had just shopped that day, so, i lost everything! the area of brooklyn i lived in wasn't in flames, but, as i said, i was scared with no lights. it was a different itme, though, since i recall hearing neighbors getting together, and people slept on roofs, to try to catch any breeze.

Answer 2

I’m doing an interview with Felix Romero and the rest of his theater group Teatro Otra Cosa for Latin NY at the Teatro Puerto Rico in the South Bronx the night of the 1977 NY blackout. Not more than 3 minutes after the lights go out there's a cry outside on 138th Street:

"Hit the jewelry store!"

People are waiting since the blackout in ’65 for their chance to clean up. By the time we get to the corner, the crowd is already lifting the steel gate in front of the store and piling in. One guy drives a car into a storefront and frees up an appliance center. Months later, you can trace all the looters by their electric bills. You see, there's a significant increase in the use of electrical power due to those new stereos, washers, greenhouse generators, and atomic reactors people now have hooked up to that heavy duty electric chord in the hallway. I know because Joe and Angie -- two Otra Cosa performers -- see their light bill go from 12 dollars a month to 150 dollars a month. I have to get from 138th Street and St. Ann's in the South Bronx to the apartment I share with my girlfriend Rosie Hurricanes on Nagle Avenue in upper Manhattan. Isa Diaz gives me a lift as far as 168th Street in Manhattan. That's when I notice how confused and frightened people are. The buses are running free and are crowded. Emergency flood lamps near the George Washington Bridge on 180th Street create eerie shadows. Then there's the policemen in riot gear and shotguns. (Where were they in the South Bronx. Well, they're not stupid.) I finally arrive at Nagle Avenue and in front of our building stands the genius of a super. Gasoline can in his left hand and a huge torch in the right. In the dark he looks like one of the Flying Monkeys in the Wizard of Oz. He's there to protect the property. You know, that guy robs my apartment a few months later.

Answer 3

I remember a guy fell off the upper deck at Shea Stadium during this event.
I graduated from college that year and NJ was okay on that night.

Answer 4

A little too early for me but i was there for the one in 2000's. the whole northeast had a blackout for 2 days but my house was out for only a few minutes.

Answer 5

Montreal, what's your point