For over forty years, New York-based photographer Meryl Meisler has been documenting the grit and the glamour, the decay and the rebirth of her home city, with a particular focus on the exhilarating -- and tumultuous -- '70s. Her previous book, A Tale of Two Cities: Disco Era Bushwick, juxtaposed the glittery nightlife of the period with images shot in Bushwick, including photos of residents hanging out in front of graffitied doorways and empty lots of rubble. Her newest collection continues this idea of a study in contrasts but this time turns its attention to the wild, libertine scene happening in Manhattan with the quieter, family-oriented traditions continuing in the suburbs. Purgatory & Paradise Sassy '70s Suburbia & the City includes photos of Meisler's own family members and friends at Jewish holidays, weddings, and the beauty parlor along with images of Patti Smith performing at CBGB, naked men on Fire Island and exotic dancers with tips collected in their fishnet stockings. The book, which is out now, can be purchased HERE and you can preview some of our favorite photos below.
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
Stiv Bators, Dead Boys. CBGB
NY, NY
April 1977
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
NY, NY
1978
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
Huntington Town House, NY
June 1975
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
NY, NY
Easter Sunday 1977
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
Cherry Grove Fire Island, NY
Labor Day 1977
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
North Massapequa, NY
Rosh Hashanah 1974
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
NY, NY
April 1978
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
The Mystery Club
Seaford, NY
June 1975
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
Huntington Town House
Huntington, NY
June 1976
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
NY, NY
June 1978
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
NY, NY
April 1977
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
North Massapequa, NY
June 1979
70s suburbia
photo by Meryl Meisler
Brooklyn, NY
March 1978