35 Amazing Vintage Photographs That Capture a Sweet and Sassy New York in the 1970s

Meryl Meisler is a photographer based-in New York. Inspired by Diane Arbus and Jacques Henri Lartigue, she began photographing herself, family, and friends while enrolled in a photography class taught by Cavalliere Ketchum at The University of Wisconsin, Madison.

In 1975, Meryl returned to New York City and studied with Lisette Model, continuing to photograph her hometown and the city around her. Carrying her medium format camera everywhere with great delight – Meryl photographed the world she knew on Long Island– donning childhood uniforms and costumes for self-portraits, comedic insider views of family and friends homes, the hilarity of her parents’ Mystery Club circle. “Not in mine eyes alone is Paradise,” declares Dante in Paradiso. Many viewed ‘70s NYC as hell, purgatory at best. With an open mind and heart, Meryl found paradise photographing the streets and nightlife of The City, many so wild she never dared to show them until now.

Paradise & Purgatory: SASSY ’70s Suburbia & The City juxtaposes intimate images of home life on Long Island alongside NYC street and night life – the likes of which have never been seen. Quirky, nostalgic and a bit naughty, it’s a genuine cultural capsule of a decade that captivates today’s generation. The photos and stories illustrate Meryl’s coming of age: The South Bronx, suburbia, The Mystery Club, dance lessons, Girl Scouts, the Rockettes, the circus, school, mitzvahs, proms, weddings, gay Fire Island, the Hamptons, feminists, happy hookers, CBGB, Punks, Disco, After Hours and Go-Go Bars, Jewish and LGBT Pride, street life, home theatrics, holidays, friendship, family and love. She had to photograph it to make sense of it all, to hold onto the time, to release and now finally share it. The ’70s were sassy, but also sweet, and so was Meryl.

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Rare Behind the Scenes Photos From the Set of 'The Godfather' in Little Italy in 1971

Back in 1971, Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of Mario Puzo's hit novel 'The Godfather' was in the process of being filmed. It was to be released the next year, and would come to be known as one of the greatest films ever made.

The producers selected the heart of Little Italy in New York City—128 Mott Street between Hester and Grand to be exact—and guarded the scene intensely from the media.

As the studio hadn't released any photos of Marlon Brando in his Vito Corleone makeup, they tried extra hard to keep any cameras away from the filming.

According to NY Daily News, photographers who got something less than cooperation from the movie-makers.

When NEWS photographer Frank Giorandino was spotted trying to get a picture, the strong-arm squad yelled for Howard Newman, Paramount’s publicity man, who ordered Giorandino to stop. He and NEWS photographer Tony Pescatore found hands in front of their cameras when they aimed, or reflector lights turned on so that they couldn’t get a shot, or groups of people getting between Brando and their cameras. 

Pescatore knows the neighborhood. He got inside a buddy’s apartment and managed to get some shots before Paramount got to the buddy. He asked Pescatore to leave because he didn’t want to have trouble with the super, who apparently also became an instant friend of Paramount Pictures. 

The “guards” endeared themselves further by yelling at ladies hanging out of their windows - a time-honored tradition in Little Italy - and ordering residents to get off fire escapes. 

The “guards” did such a good job keeping Brando from public view that traffic was snarled, pushcart shopping became impossible and residents had trouble getting into their own buildings. As the temperatures and crowds mounted, the sound of angry Italians in full cry would have made Brando blush - if he understood Italian slang. 

The mess on Mott St. started at 6 a.m. and continued through most of the day. 

In contrast, nearby at Mulberry and Hester Sts., Red Buttons was shooting a film called “Who Killed Mary What’s ‘Er Name?” and there were no problems. The filmmakers, the Cannon Group, didn’t care if the public wanted to take pictures of the action, and on the location it was business as usual for the people who happen to live on the block.

Producer Albert S. Ruddy confers with Marlon Brando on set.

Marlon Brando getting his hair groomed during filming of the movie 'The Godfather' on Mott Street. ,

A producer adjusts Brando's hair.

Marlon Brando (center) crossing Mott St., between Grand and Hester Sts.

Marlon Brando has his hair fixed up for shooting. Brando plays Don Corleone in the movie and is gunned down outside Genco Olive Oil.

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28 Beautiful Color Snapshots of Everyday Life in Spain in the Mid-1950s

Paris-based photographer Jean Paul Margnac, during the school holidays of 1955, had decided to reach Dakar (Africa) by hitchhiking, and took these beautiful photos during his trip across Spain with a Zeiss Contax IIIa and Kodachrome film.

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Missouri More Than 100 Years Ago: 66 Amazing Vintage Pictures of Streets of St.Louis in the Early 20th Century

This was everyday life in St.Louis more than 100 years ago.

A boy on stilts stands in front of the produce stands in front of the F.J. Voepel Market, 1906

A man peers out of the window at Cole Brothers Lightning Rod Company at 316 S. Seventh Street, ca. 1900s

An empty cart for distributing beer in front of a bar on a street, ca. 1900s

Broadway and Locust, southwest corner, 1909

Broadway looking north from Keokuk Street, ca. 1900s

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Bizarre Cameras Used Before GoPros Existed – This Is How People Filmed Their Stuff

What did we do before GoPro? When it comes to capturing speed, back in the day, photogs tied themselves to the back of cars, hung off of trucks and then when that wasn't enough, they jury-rigged point-of-view (POV) cameras on racer's their helmets with metal brackets, cordes and special made contraptions.

Dat camera! Just imagine all the beefy neck muscles they had because this rig.

The f*ck it strap me to the car rig, or those moments you want big hood ornament.

Thank God for GoPros people don’t have to race the race cars anymore to get that perfect shot.

Check out this huge onboard camera, we’re sure drives appreciate technology getting smaller.

Anyone up for a piggy back ride?

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17 Snapshots Capture Everyday Life of Staff at National Westminster Bank, London in the Late 1960s

National Westminster Bank Plc, commonly known as NatWest, is the largest retail and commercial bank in the United Kingdom. Since 2000 it has been part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, ranked among the top 10 largest banks in the world by assets.

NatWest was established in 1968 by the merger of National Provincial Bank (established 1833 as National Provincial Bank of England) and Westminster Bank (established 1834 as London County and Westminster Bank). These interesting snapshots below document everyday life of staff at National Westminster Bank in the late 1960s

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Girls With Sexy Eyes: A Holiday Camp Contest in 1958

Girls at a Butlins holiday camp in Clacton, Essex, line up to take party in a beautiful eyes contest. The Red Coat (Margaret Higgs) hands out handkerchiefs to the girls and the contest begins!

The judge Don Cook parades past the girls assessing their eyes, and he even kisses one girl on the lips!

(© British Pathe)