WABC New York blackout 7 13 1977 part one

Almost one hour of a radio broadcast during the New York blackout on July 13, 1977. George Michael behind the mic at WABC. Part One

[@paulnadratowski3942]

I remember that the Statue of Liberty stay lit the whole time because it was powered by Jersey City. I was 16 and I remember going on the roof in Jersey city and looking at the darkened city.

[@sierra77lerual12]

Cool

[@drinkingpoolwater]

amazing memory. the lady was the only thing shining light!

[@frederickgriffith7004]

If I remember correctly my Older brother and younger sister and I were watching a rerun of BARETTA with our parents. I was 21 years old at the same. My brother and I just brought a brand new QUASAR color television set from the Alexander's on Fordham road for our parents. First thing Mama said when the lights went out was we might have to return the set because it had a short in it.Papa,being a retired career military veteran already sprang into action. Checking the entire Apartment Building to make sure that the neighbors were ok.Flashlights,batteries and transistor radios at the ready. WABC radio. What memories. I can always remember that echo effect. As a kid I used to connect an earplug to the transistor radio to listen to the music as I went to sleep.

[@frederickgriffith7004]

@@buzzyuncle340 Yep.Saw it all. Born in Massachusetts on an Army base.Have lived in the Bronx all my life. Saw the low points.Saw the revitalization.

[@eBrigid]

Thank you so much for posting, I am a HUGE radio enthusiast, and can pick up WABC, a flamethrower station, on AM down here in the deep South, just as clear as I can Radio Cuba. This is so clear too, great to hear George Michael again. Makes me feel like i am back home.

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

I listened to this broadcast under the covers at my summer camp in Litchfield, after lights out at 9:00 p.m. Amazing.

I was 13 in the Bronx , Tremont section. Remember being so glad mother bought ice cream that day. She said to us eat as much as you want it’ll go to waste. The next day every store was seen to have been broken into. Looted empty

[@CalmKit]

I was 17 (almost 18)in CT, recent high school grad, driving home in my moms Buick Skylark after just getting my drivers license. Listening in fascination. It was also the “Son of Sam” Summer, where every teen in the tristate area was spooked & on the lookout. The late, great Doctors Hospital on the Upper East Side, mentioned by seasoned reporter Kathleen O’Brien, closed in 2004. Bob Lape is still with us! Age 89. RIP Gus & George!

[@hcombs0104]

I lived in central NJ at the time, watching TV. Suddenly I saw nothing but snow...I wound up turning to channel 10, which was a Philadelphia station, and they started broadcasting an old rerun of Leave it to Beaver because they lost their connection to NYC.

[@debvalle7466]

My family had moved from Queens to Westchester 2 years prior and I saw the actual bolt of lightning that took out the power station, right from my bedroom window. It was bright orange, like volcanic lightning, and really stunning to see. Wild summer.

[@tomtv1]

Wow it was 42 years ago on July 13th. I had just graduated from high school. A hot and humid night in Brooklyn the lights went out at 903pm all my neighbors came out it was like a party then we heard about the looting. I was listening to this exact broadcast on WABC 77 on my front stoop. The lights did not go back on till about 300pm the next day.

[@johnaddeo2251]

Class of ‘77 as well. Midwood HS.

[@WhereIsGault]

Thank you so much for putting this up. I was born on that day in NY, and I always joke that I can control the weather so thanks again.

[@disoriented1]

I was age 13..in 'flyover' country..KCMO...my sister and I were watching a summer rerun of 'Charlie's Angels' on ABC, when the screen went dark..within seconds, our local ABC affiliate, KMBC TV posted a 'technical difficulty' screenshot, with a well known anchor voice announcing that we 'have lost our New York feed'...within a few seconds, we were watching 'Gilligan's Island' reruns...I didn't think much of it, my 21 year old sister was freaking out...

[@glenwoodreid5910]

George Michael Sports Machine

[@sacredcowmusicjukebox]

Looking back I didn't realize how different NYC was as opposed to today. I can't believe it happened again on the same date. The weather was exactly the same, but that is where the similarity ends. Not sure what would happen if it was a total blackout, though. A lot of those neighborhoods are gone or have been gentrified. But it was a crazy night in 77 !

[@watershed44]

indychauffuer I remember this! We were visiting my Grandparents on the Island, Manhasset, and was about 13 years old. The Island had power LIPA, but I was fascinated by listening to this broadcast, also listened to the leading news station at the time WCBS AM 88.

[@kingbee1500]

Apparently, ABC Radio learned from the 1965 blackout and re-did their emergency power matrix. All equipment in the studios sounds like it's getting full power and voltage at proper frequency (55-60 Hz) through improved systems (no "key of R" here tonight).

[@tyrese3745]

And back during the 1965 blackout, NYC deejay vet Dan Ingram was covering his afternoon drive at that time.

[@evelynduncan6686]

I was living in Mogadore, Ohio, then and was listening to the radio that night. I picked up WCBS and listened to the broadcast; then, I rushed to tell my family, who was watching an Indians game. They didn't believe me at first.

[@keithclark1197]

This is a tremendous historical document! Thanks for posting. I will also try to add reverb to every conversation I ever have for the rest of my life ife ife fe fe e e

[@brianfletcher9774]

I’m sure as as radio listener, DX was good on this night; as the local stations fell off the air. Other than the legendary WABC !

[@CDJF1]

most stations have a generator.

[@chrisneidenberg3509]

Always sad to think about the demise of MusicRadio WABC - even almost 36 years later. What's sad here is that, even at this time in 1977, it was still very strong ratingswise, and (unbeknownst to the world at large) about a year away from the start of its eventual demise due to increased FM listening (like Disco 92 WKTU) that started its gradual four-year slide into oblivion. And you can see here that it still invested tremendously into resources to present local news, always prepared for emergencies such as this. Certainly not the case in 2018, even as it still presents hourly news.

[@medicinaemdia4895]

Generator power kinda comes and goes ???

[@pvj2234]

I was a 10 year old kid watching TV with my sister when it happen. We heard bangs, pops, glass breaking, etc, ...just another night in the South Bronx. Next day we realized the damage, Bronx was already a mess, but even more so. Cats was on every corner selling hot products.

[@drinkingpoolwater]

it helped sparked the rap music revolution. everyone had mixers and turntables that they could never afford

[@colinhalliley111]

I remember the 65 blackout .

[@alantorres6097]

As I type this, it is Tuesday, July 13, 2021. It was 44 years ago today when the madness started. God bless all those living in NYC today who survived this nightmare.

[@tcvesely]

Then The NYS Power Authority canvassed all the best Trade schools and hired and trained the best electrical students to work in the Power plants, replacing the Con Edison employees who screwed up! That's the fact Jack!....

[@tcvesely]

My brother and his best friend out of Edison HS in Jamaica queens were amongst the hired by the Power Authority..he after many years of service is recently retired and has no regrets.

[@evelynduncan6686]

Sad to see pictures of the Towers.

[@jeffwoehrle]

Indeed.

[@p70581]

Yes, it is.

[@craigusselman546]

The pictures of them during the blackout are haunting and kind of forboding.

[@Animalfarm6cats]

Wow!!!!!! On this day, I was 4 1/2 weeks from my 7th Birthday. I remember us being downstairs with our parents. My Dad, was lighting sparklers for us. Myself y Dad, brought us upstairs to eat an English muffin. We were hungry. As he was making them in the toaster the light went off. Everyone was out in front of the building. No light, equalled no air conditioner.

[@rxpro19]

I remember how hot it was that night.....still in the 90s at 9:30 was rare

[@johnaddeo2251]

I remember that. 85 was unusually warm at night in NYC, even in July. It was still 90 or a little better, that deep into the night, when the blackout hit. Was in my girlfriend’s backyard pool, listening to WABC, which was just another summer night in those days. I remember the plastic party lights, strung around the yard began to flicker and dim as the power started to fail. I remember the song, “Do You Wanna Make Love” by Peter McCann was playing on the radio. It got so dark, you could barely see you hand in front of your face. The Son of Sam was still on the loose, crime was rampant, the city was bankrupt, what a crazy time.

[@drinkingpoolwater]

omg! you painted a great picture. i’ll listen to that song and think of the blackout. i can’t imagine how crazy the city was back then. it was truly gotham

[@linnettecross4606]

I remember it was sad we lost one large shopping center never came back on Broadway bet east new york forever in Brooklyn.

[@johndonohoe3778]

I was at Fort Benning Georgia, lights out at 9pm anyhow. Called home to Westchester next day.

[@janetoconnor3636]

I live in Ohio but I remember hearing the news bulletin on my local FM radio station about this blackout. Just a few months before they told us about Elvis.

[@jaydemo5792]

But didn't Elvis die in mid August ? Definitely after the blackout......Plus , here in the 5 boroughs , we had the Son Of Sam to contend with , he was still running around killin' people but he got caught in that same month of August.....It truly was a Crazy summer in 1977......

[@drinkingpoolwater]

there’s a documentary about it called “the coldest year in hell 77” check it out! fun city!

[@LizabethTucker]

I would visit my grandmother and aunt every summer. Until this one. My mother went up there instead, calling me about the blackout from the corner candy store payphone. As I remember, she said it was hot and muggy, but relatively calm in Whitestone, Queens.

[@paulsonj72]

Also like the giving of the time and counting down the time to get the correct time

[@TNitroH]

I was married just 11 days before this day and had my mind on other things! Pretty epic day in NYC!

[@lisaleelee553]

I remember the blackout of 1977 that was something

[@basspig]

I remember being shocked at the behavior of people during this blackout as opposed to the one that happened in November of 65. I totally different world after Lyndon Johnson's so-called Great Society.

[@themarkthompsonshow]

Great stuff

[@paulkardas1741]

I was working at Lower CT 7-11 during high school..... Had ABC on!!

[@creates100]

Much of new York city was such a dump you couldn't tell the difference between "before" and "after" the blackout

[@WhereIsGault]

Exactly to the hour 42 years later, here we go again

[@signsofthetimes111]

1+9+7+7=24 mirrored backwards 42

[@WhereIsGault]

This sounds crazy, but I was born at the exact time in Northern NY as the blackout in 77, so this story has always interested me, then to see the story on Drudge on my b day was crazy.

[@CarlosCruz-ll5ez]

the same year the son of Sam was on the loose killing, a lot of bad things happened that summer!

[@CarlosCruz-ll5ez]

@@Gevixel like Saturday night fever!

[@cliffpadilla5871]

I was two years old when this happened.

[@isidorocanones5975]

The coolest summer

[@janetoconnor3636]

Yeah it was cool from beginning to end from a Historically terrible Blizzard to the heat wave to Elvis and the plane crash of the Georgia rock group. Also the fire from the Beverly Hills club.

[@MrRed-tf7bv]

📻NYC 1977📻🗽🌃🌇🌆

[@bga33580]

40 years ago two days ago

[@leedevereaux7644]

I’d never heard it pronounced “AM-bew-LANSS” outside Baltimore before Bob Capers said it that way starting at 14:26

[@justinvanmarrum3285]

Why does it sound they are broadcasting in a tunnel?

[@radiodude1976]

WABC (among other big Top 40 stations of that era) was famous for using reverb as part of their sound processing. This is what you are hearing

[@sierra77lerual12]

I was born on 7/13/1977. Hmmmmm

[@leedevereaux7644]

Your mom probably was freaking out and it sent her into labor. Must have been a fast one if it was triggered by the blackout.

[@sierra77lerual12]

@@leedevereaux7644 I was born around noon. Apparently I "shocked" everyone with my eyes changing color around midnight from black to light gray?? All I know is that a day does not go by that I am not being shocked by inanimate objects. Lol

[@FUGP72]

does The Sports Machine work in a blackout, George Michael?

[@ericcollins8794]

The summer of 77 nyc,blackout,summer of sam the bronx zoo ny yankees,and the trade of tom terrific seaver to the reds

[@chaswr]

My 10th birthday

[@RetroPaladin85]

Is that reverb on the original recording?

[@allanfisch]

YES! It's WABC!

[@RetroPaladin85]

Ahhh I see.

[@allanfisch]

that was WABC!

[@paulnadratowski3942]

The Darkrunner Yes. WABC broadcasted with a reverb in those days

[@robhigh5365]

7:40 Mr. Spock!

[@RebeccaAbrahansson]

Soon this Will happen again and much worse things are coming. Repent and turn to God,, hes coming to judge the hole world

[@signsofthetimes111]

Sarah why did you say that a year ago ?

[@emmaduncan2991]

Wasn't there a big baby boost 9 months later?

[@harvardnshorty]

That was an urban legend.

[@JayWillyBrandname]

twelveandclara HORIZONTAL Urban Legend I'm sure LOL

[@JayWillyBrandname]

twelveandclara HORIZONTAL Urban Legend I'm sure LOL

[@sacredcowmusicjukebox]

No. UL

[@bobstigler]

...the bank made a $2000.00 error...that's like a $8000.00 error in 2018. Seems kinda a far fetched bank error story.

[@mayena]

The difference of the 14-15/8/2003 it was almost non eventful.

[@janetoconnor3636]

Not to me I felt the power flicker here and all of the major networks were all covering it. It also affected other states.

[@jazzyfayy1983]

how the taxi's was getting gas.

[@taxitalknyc7600]

How did the cabbies LIVE through that... THAT is the question !! ;D

[@jethrobodean8585]

Those damn Norwegians.

[@DeaconHo]

ok...

[@davidorgel8866]

Deacon Ho A

[@DeaconHo]

David Orgel LOL a year ago XD