A Wild City

Whilst researching real and personal accounts of NYC in the 80s I came across one in particular "No Holds Barred" account.

 

 

"New York City in 1982 was a wild city. It was a vulgar, cruel and violent place seemingly without laws or rules or police. The city was living in the black and white television cool world of the 1950’s and the Burbank, California dramatic color television world at the same time. New York goons walked in pointed toe shoes, leather jackets and jewelry. Chelsea was where the Mafia threw away bodies, where transvestite hookers worked in daylight, and where you could see men pounding their love into each other on the docks. One of the clubs in the area was called Mineshaft. Time Square was a street gangsters paradise. Puerto Rican male hookers in wigs, high heels and lipstick worked 42nd street, while in the row of porno theaters showing whale sized cocks exploding everywhere. Rent boys polished off businessmen for cash before the briefcases went home to their suburban wives. There was a young white woman working as a prostitute dressed in the ragged Anne costume of a Broadway show phenom. She also had on the right wig and pancake makeup for the part. The billboard poster was nearby. She took her customers into the toilet stalls of the Port Authority Terminal Times Square bus station for her show and review."

 

 

How very fascinating and interesting. New York suddenly becomes an even more interesting place. After the 'Free Love' Era of the 1960s and 70s, NYC in the 80s is free love gone wild by the sounds of things. Sex and sexual experimentation was at its peak. The bright lights and vibrant bustle was accompanied by an open view on sexuality and clear public displays throughout the city referring to sex.

 

Teenagers in the city had much to learn and lots to be warey of in the big city at this time it seems......with eyes wide open, I'm certain living in the city that never sleeps during the 80s meant endless opportunities for teenagers to discover so much more about them selves than they could explore in smaller closer minded towns and cities.