There was time when NYC’s underground was a wild and dangerous place! Swiss photographer Willy Spiller was there and documented it all in a series of photos he took has now come to be known as Hell On Wheels.
A New York resident between the years of 1977 and 1984, Spiller witnessed the birth of rap music, the rise of grafitti, and Ed Koch’s election as mayor. Unfortunately, he also witnessed a spike in crime, a large portion of which took place in the city’s underground quarters. The rate of violent incidents in the New York subway was so high by 1980 that the NYPD had over 2300 police officers patrolling the system at all times. Spiller took his chances and documented what he saw.
Check out a full gallery of stunning images after the jump!
CLICK TO ENLARGE!
[via boredpanda]
I wish I could have lived through this period but I was much too young.
With the exception of the graffiti and bell bottoms it kind of looks like last Thursday
I ACTUALLY NISS THE GRIMEY-NESS AND GRIT OF YESTERYEAR!
SOCIETY WAS SOO MUCH MORE FUN. PEOPLE ACTUALLY SPOKE……INTERACTED.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE TIMES ARE GOING TO BACK TO RETRO….CLOTHES…MUSIC…ETC