What was Philadelphia like in 1977?

Question

I know Philadelphia was rough in the 70's...but what about 1977, right after the bicentennial and right after Rocky hit the theaters? Did these incidents have any positive effect on the city? Did they give Philadelphians any kind of local pride? Also, where in 1970s Philly might a young man working his first post-college job have lived? (Thinking relatively safe but affordable, if such a place existed.)

Also would appreciate suggestions for any books to read that describe the city during this time.

Answer 1

I was no longer living in the City by '77, but I still spent a lot of time here, with family a friends. It was a much 'grittier" city than it is today. "Philly" has always had local pride, it didn't need Rocky, but Rocky certainly didn't hurt. The Bicential was a bit of a "bust", and I don't remember anything "fun" about it. Of course, the "Legionaires Disease" didn't do the city any favors. But, the Bellevue Hotel was really the only badly bruised business after that.



Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods. After college, most young philadelphians would live in the same neighborhood they grew up in. Lots of the neighborhoods that are "trendy" or uspcale now where slums in the 70s. Center City always attracted young folks, and so did Powleton Village and the University City area. Young working stiffs didn't move to Society Hill. Even today, young people don't stray far from home in Philly. I am always surprised to find how many of my grade school class mates still live in our old outh Philly neighborhood. I moved to the Jersey shore right after getting out of the service in the early 70s, and I was an exception to the rule. But I had spent my summers at the shore my whole life.



Disco ruled the world in the late 70s, and Philadelphia had lots of great disco clubs. So did the Cherry Hill area. Philadelphia was to suffer the indignities of the first MOVE seige and the death of officer Ramp befire the 70s ended. It was a tough city, that hid its culture and education from the world, not like today.



Philadelphia in 1977 was Frankk Rizzo's town. The other guys who answered you didn't seem to like him, but his tough mentallity kept Philadelphia from being destroyed like Newark had been. He was a hero to everyone who wanted safe streets (and a good patronage job). I met him when he was still Police Commissioner, and he was one of the most impressive public figures I have ever met.



"Steve from PA" has absolutely now idea what he is talking about with that nursing home fire story, Joe Rizzo helped make the Philadelphia Fire Deaprtment one of the best in the US. The only critcism his subordinates had was that he felt he had to run everything himself. Of course by doing that, he also took responsibility for everything that happened, good or bad. I have known him for years, and he is a fine man. Steve from PA must not have been a very good PFD photographer.



Picture Phladelphia with no buildings taller than Billy Penn on City Hall, lots of public transit lines were still trolley cars (and 'trackless" trollies), Cops still drove in "red cars" in some parts of the city. Market east still had the big name departments stores, Lits and Gimbels, but was becoming seedier by the day.



I don't know of too many books written about the city in that era, that don't have to do with crime. Steven Levi's "The Unicorn's Secret" is great. It does describe a lot about city life, the 'counter culuture' and a good picture of life in the late 70s in general.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ira_Einhorn

http://www.amazon.com/Unicorns-Secret-Onyx-Steven-Levy/dp/0451401662



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Mafia

This "Black mafia" book is a great crime story, and really gives a great picture of Philly's underworld in the mid 70s.



I miss the Philadelphia of the 1970s. It was tougher, more real and more in your face than the City is today.

Answer 2

There was no real "bounce" from the Bicentennial. In fact, it was a freaking catastrophe. Frank Rizzo, the mayor at the time, had announced to the world that he was prepared to call out the National Guard to help maintain order because of the throngs of tourists that would no doubt appear. This scared the crap ouot of a lot of potential tourists, and the sensible people who were not scared wondered how such an idiot would ever be elected mayor, and wisely stayed away. The crowds were way down. The final nail in the Philadelphia bicentennial coffin was when Legionaires Disease (a previously unnamed disease) broke out in the Bellevue Stratford (then and now one of the nicest hotels in the city) and killed off a bunch of harmless tourists (members of the American Legion, hence the name). So much for the world coming to celebrate.



Rocky was a little different - it was fun and exciting, and even to this day, if you go to the top of the steps of the Art Museum on a nice summer weekend day, you will not wait more than five minutes before someone runs up the steps and waves their arms around like Rocky.



But it wasn't enopugh to overcome the horrible impression of the bicentennial.

Answer 3

First off. I'd take Frank Rizzo over the Brotha & sisters running the town into the ground today. That other stuff is crap. Steve has got some issues/agenda going. I'm Black, I grew up in North Philly, and I'll take 1977 over 2011.

Rough? Hell, yes. The decline of the 1960's and white flight were in full swing. The Rocky & the bicentennial were tourist deals. Residents could care less. Rocky does show the town very well of that period though. Newspapers have a good look back at the period http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Philadelphia_The_1970s_.html?cmpid=102540079



Where would you live? Back then, the same neighborhood you grew up in. Folks did not stray all over in those days. Far more segregated to be sure. Many with College money were going more and more to the Burbs & NJ. Back then We did not have a Blue route or 422 corridor to go to. Even KOP was still kinda quiet.

Answer 4

'77 Dodgers. They have a much better pitching staff than the '09 Dodgers. The '77 Dodgers had Tommy John and Hall of Famer Don Sutton. Also, none of the pitchers on the '09 squad won more than 12 games. Compared to the '77 Dodgers who had 3. The '77 Dodgers also had an all-around better lineup. With Ron Cey, Dusty Baker, and Steve Garvey they were a force to be reckoned with.

Answer 5

Frank Rizzo had every minority terrorized in Philly in 1977..and nepotism and corruption was ramped..his brother was the fire commissioner and he had several other family members working for him..There is a very famous pic of him at a event with a tux on and billy club in his waist band..His brother was responsible for the deaths of aged african americans in a nursing home when he deemed the building to dangerous and pulled PFD out leaving wheel chaired bound african americans to burn..EDIT..of course john F would say this about Joe Rizzo..it was never said that he wasn't a good hands on commissioner, but it was obvious that federal mandates had to be put in place for the lack of fair employment for minorities And of course Joe the fact that Frank was his brother had nothing to do with him becoming comish...Joe ur not a minority so you cant say that a minority doesn't know what hes talking about..its a view from the oppressed..you benefited from the oppressor..AND yes any firefighter from the 80s and 70s will agree he prematurely pulled fireman out of then nursing home..Joe..just another typical ex philadelphian that wants to sweep Phillys past under he carpet..and Joe..U haven't lived in Philly since 1977 and u were a friend to the Rizzos..of course u will not mention some of WORST POLICE BRUTALITY CASES IN AMERICA...right here in Philly during the Rizzo years..and the fact that u would think I wasn't a good PFD photographer shows ur ignorance of me..I was employed by the Inquirer/Daily news because of my talent..But of course, I would expect a Frank Rizzo lover to attack someones character.. And Joe my best friend is a Philly firefighter of almost 20 years there are about 40 other firefighters retired and active, solders and officers that i can call friends..Joe have u ever slept ate and went on calls with firefighters as a civilian..if u did then u would know that very few are excepted..So my opinions are formulated not by media rant or prejudice..they are echos of actual firefighters.. In fact DAN S..google Frank Rizzo, look under wikeapidia..and then see for yourself whos view of 1977 is more accurate..One quote from Frank Rizzo.."Im a make Atilla the Hun look like a faqqot after the election"..Sorry Lana u fail too remember I had to school you on phila trolleys and parts of southwest phila that u claimed were west philly, yes there is a difference..Ive seen ur previous post and in every one when u tried to describe philly or any of the neighboorhoods you were out of touch...both u an joe are the typical types also that probably believe that the omisson of this countries fore fathers that they owned humans is right not to be included in grammar school history books..You both want to cover the uglness of Frank Rizzo and the horrible living conditions of most in the he hoods in the 70s..especially high rise projects that were specifically designed to deter minority sprawl...the language i speak most dont want to here...The fact that ur black and lived in North Philly and said u would take Frank Rizzo over Mayor Nutter proves that you are not black nor did you live in North Philly..Nutter is loved by white coroporate Philadelphia..He has 0 confidence by the police and fire depts AFSME and the majority of Black philadelphian..its obvious u werent even alive in the seventies or during the Columbia ave riots..