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Subject: 1977 New York City Blackout

Written By: AstringOfPoloponies on 08/17/03 at 10:16 a.m.

Was anyone in New York City during the 1977 Blackout ?

Subject: Re: 1977 New York City Blackout

Written By: CatwomanofV on 08/17/03 at 02:08 p.m.

I was in Conn. at the time. We were watching a movie on WPIX (Channel 11 out of NYC) when it went out. Everyone moaned and groaned because I think there something like 15 minutes left of the movie. We switched channels and all the NYC channels were out and the local network channels said "please stand by". We went out by the beach. One clear days you can see Long Island but this day you could the lightning over the sound. It wasn't raining where we were so I thought it was heat lightning. It wasn't. That was the only way we were effected-losing the NY stations.



Cat

Subject: Re: 1977 New York City Blackout

Written By: Howard on 08/18/03 at 06:37 p.m.

Sorry,I wasn't.I was only 3 years old when it happened so probably my mother could tell what happened with me during the blackout.

Howard

Subject: Re: 1977 New York City Blackout

Written By: Paul_UK on 08/19/03 at 06:49 a.m.

I've experienced nothing on the scale of the recent power failure that the US had - I don't even recall the 1977 one - but I vividly remember the ones we used to get during the great energy crisis of 1973/74...

...things weren't helped by anyone and everyone going on strike whenever they felt like it (the days of union power!) - I remember the countless times we were all sent home from school when the power would suddenly "switch off" at 2pm...

Baths were not encouraged due to heating the water - so once a week was your limit...being the youngest of the family, I got the "dregs" after everyone else had been in...! All by candlelight, too...

Candles and matches were essential provisions - better still was remembering where you'd put them! These blackouts would last either 2 hours or all through the night...

And I'll tell you what helped finish off the crisis - it was when the TV started to shut down at 10pm each night! People started getting ratty over that! Who said the art of conversation had died?

How we take what we've got for granted sometimes...

Subject: Re: 1977 New York City Blackout

Written By: AstringOfPoloponies on 08/19/03 at 10:23 a.m.

Paul, was that in England ?

Subject: Re: 1977 New York City Blackout

Written By: Paul_UK on 08/19/03 at 12:15 a.m.

Not just England ASOP, but all over the UK - and I think some parts of  mainland Europe were affected...

...okay, I know it's not quite what the thread was about - but sort-of relevant, nonetheless...!

Now, where did I put them candles?

Subject: AND EARLY 70s ENERGY CRUNCH

Written By: AstringOfPoloponies on 08/19/03 at 03:33 p.m.

Hi, Paul I don't mind off topics  :). The 1973 energy crunch hit the U.S. too, as even reflected in reruns of "All In The Family" -Archie refers to it a lot.

I remember that people went to gas stations (petrol stations) at four o'clock in the morning just to wait in line for gas. I also remember that they had Odd and Even gas rationing . One day license plates ending in an odd # can buy gas, the next day, license plate numbers ending in an even number were allowed to buy gas.

I do not remember anyone in the U.S. making any of the sacrifices which you've mentioned in your post.

Subject: Re: AND EARLY 70s ENERGY CRUNCH

Written By: CatwomanofV on 08/19/03 at 04:43 p.m.


Quoting:
Hi, Paul I don't mind off topics  :). The 1973 energy crunch hit the U.S. too, as even reflected in reruns of "All In The Family" -Archie refers to it a lot.

I remember that people went to gas stations (petrol stations) at four o'clock in the morning just to wait in line for gas. I also remember that they had Odd and Even gas rationing . One day license plates ending in an odd # can buy gas, the next day, license plate numbers ending in an even number were allowed to buy gas.

I do not remember anyone in the U.S. making any of the sacrifices which you've mentioned in your post.
End Quote




I remember the odd and even days too-and all those long lines.




Cat

Subject: Re: 1977 New York City Blackout

Written By: maggie on 08/21/03 at 03:39 p.m.

hey there,

            I was in the movie "Superman 1", we were shooting right in the middle of town, (Times Square), when all the lights started to go out, almost block by block. We had our own generator,and seemed to be the only bright spot in town. Filming stopped as soon as the British crew figured out what was happening, and the rest of the night (and next day)  was spent as if we were living in  the 19th century.   I had a great time, everyone helped out, and the city  was one huge open air party.  Filming started up a few days later, and everyone had great stories to share.

Subject: Re: 1977 New York City Blackout

Written By: AstringOfPoloponies on 08/21/03 at 06:13 p.m.

MAGGIE, THAT IS SO COOL ! WHICH ROLE DID YOU HAVE IN "SUPERMAN".NEXT TIME I WATCH IT I'LL LOOK FOR YOU !

Subject: Re: 1977 New York City Blackout

Written By: Jonman on 08/21/03 at 10:18 p.m.

This blackout also happened during the "Summer of Sam"...if the movie is anything like what was happening then most of the people were very scared about going out...especially girls with long hair...

Subject: Re: 1977 New York City Blackout

Written By: AstringOfPoloponies on 08/23/03 at 05:16 a.m.

Yeah, Jonman. I was living upstate and going into NYC a lot right before I moved to California in July 1977.I remember how young women with long hair were freaked and SOS struck on my cousin's block, too. I moved out West to attend college at that time and was not really a part of that.

I saw "Summer of Sam" .I can only remember Mira Sorvino's character being treated badly by her boyfriend. Can't remember much else of it.The son of Sam actualy began much earlier than the summer, I believe.

Subject: Re: AND EARLY 70s ENERGY CRUNCH

Written By: Anthony716 on 08/25/03 at 12:37 a.m.


Quoting:

I remember that people went to gas stations (petrol stations) at four o'clock in the morning just to wait in line for gas. I also remember that they had Odd and Even gas rationing . One day license plates ending in an odd # can buy gas, the next day, license plate numbers ending in an even number were allowed to buy gas.
End Quote



I remember when low-life individuals would siphon gas from other people's tanks. Stores sold locking gas caps and those coiled spring contraptions that prevented a siphon hose from going into the tank. Then the low-lifes (or is it low-lives?) would pry off the locking caps or jam the spring thing into the tank with a broomstick (leaded gas hoses & tanks had a larger diameter).

Subject: Re: 1977 New York City Blackout

Written By: RetroGyrlBklynNYC on 08/25/03 at 06:10 p.m.

;D

I was 3 1/2...Being from Brooklyn, I was here for it....The terror of SON OF SAM added to the chaos, per my mother!

FYI...NYC had another major blackout about 2 weeks ago..its not so much fun..this time i am old enuff to realize that hehe ;D