49 Fascinating Black and White Photos That Capture Street Scenes of New York in the 1970s _ Nostalgic US Treasures

   

Chris Protopapas is a Greek-Belgian who came to the United States at age 12, in 1967 and became an American in 1975.

“I got my first camera in 1974, an antique Nikon rangefinder, and have been photographing my home (New York City) and the world ever since. Most of my work is on film, and I have been slowly scanning it as time permits, on a very high-end drum scanner. ”
These fascinating black and white photos he captured street scenes of New York from the fall of 1974 to 1977 “with my Nikon S3 and a 35mm Zeiss lens. I guess I should have spent even more time documenting the city in those days, especially the little storefronts which are almost all gone now.”

Musician, Washington Square Park, New York City, 1974

 

Musician, Washington Square Park, New York City, 1974

 

Musicians, Centrak Park, New York City, 1974

 

Musicians, Centrak Park, New York City, 1974

 

Musicians, Centrak Park, New York City, 1974

 

Musicians, Centrak Park, New York City, 1974

 

Musicians, Washington Square Park, 1974

 

Orpheum theatre, 2nd Avenue, circa 1974

 

Rolls-Royce dealer, east 58th street, NYC, circa 1974

 

Soho, circa 1974

 

U.S. Mail trucks, Port Washington, New York, 1974

 

Vito's Bike Shop, Westbury, New York, 1974

 

Vito's Bike Shop, Westbury, New York, 1974

 

Vito's Bike Shop, Westbury, New York, 1974

 

Gay Pride rally, Central Park, 1975

 

Klein track bike at the New York bike show, February 1975

 

Optimo, cigarette vendor, New York City, October 1975

 

 Panasonic track bike at the New York bicycle show, 1975

 

 St. Mark's Place, between Second and Third Avenues, looking West to Astor Place, 1975

 

 St. Mark's Place, the large building in the center is The Electric Circus, the door on the right is the side exit of the St. Marks Cinema, 1975

 

Accident scene, 6th Avenue, 1976

 

Baruchim Ha Ba'im, Civic Center Synagogue, New York City, 1976

 

 East Village, NYC, circa 1976

 

Gordon Novelty Co. Broadway, New York City, 1976

 

Grand Central Station, New York, 1976

 

Hairdresser supply shop, New York City, 1976

 

Keen's Chop house, Empire State Building, 1976

 

Must Vacate storefront, New York City, 1976

 

Old Shoes are like Old Friends, they are Comfortable and Wear Well, New York City, 1976

 

Shoe Repair, NYC, 1976

 

Telephone shop, New York City, 1976

 

The High Line, 1976

 

Twins, New York City, 1976

 

 Twisted, New York City, 1976

 

Wedding Veils, New York City, 1976

 

Art Sale, New York City, 1977

 

Big fish, New York City, 1977

 

Claremont Riding Academy, West 89th street, 1977

 

 Old Fulton Fish Market, 1977

 

 St. Patrick's Day, New York City, 1977

 

The Silver Dummy goes for a walk, 1977

 

The Silver Dummy goes for a walk, 1977

 

West 90th street and Amsterdam Avenue, 1977

 

 
The Model Citizens band (left to right Eugenie Diserio, Gloria Richards, Tomas Lamprecht), 1977