How the times have changed. By watching this gritty 1976 NBC newscast, Bushwick newcomers will quickly realize why some native New Yorkers still avoid this neighborhood and, in the meantime, pinpoint the real-life personas that inspired those goofy gangsters in Michael Jackson’s "Beat It" music video.
The supposedly undercover video takes place in "the eighty-third precinct, a battleground for the police and young street criminals," where a teenage gang called "The Devil’s Rebels" roams the streets at night … looking for trouble. (Watch out, they’ve got baseball bats!)
The camera crew follows these thugs as they drink in the streets, fight in the streets and then get roughed up by cops in the streets. It all makes for a wonderful portrait of mid-70s nightlife in a neighborhood that is "as much of rats, stray dogs and burned out buildings as it is of people," in the TV reporter’s opinion.
pantsetc November 10th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
This is pretty incredible. The attire reminds me less of beat-it than of The Warriors. Less 80s glam, more 70s grime. Thanks Diego!
nast November 10th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Most of those guys “retired” and now live in Pennsylvania.
Raphael November 10th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
At least one of these guys still lives on Troutman Street. He helped me move my couch.
Nancy November 10th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I knew these guys. As kids, we sort of looked up to them; were awed by them.
chillinoncentral November 10th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
For the most part, if you kept to yourself, trouble didn’t seem to find you. I really didn’t see a lot of gang activity and I was all over the area both on foot and in a car (using those trendy CB radios at the time). But, regardless of my experiences, teens in the area would warn each other not to wear or combine certain colors when they dressed and to not turn their hats in particular angles because they could get beaten up.
Adam J Schwartz November 10th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Wow. i am always looking for this type of footage for my classes. I gotta hit those news archives hard!
good find!
Of course, the notion that it was the gang’s starting the fires is just one in a long string of mis perceptions of just what happened in Bushwick in the 1970′s.
Dubi November 17th, 2009 at 9:15 am
There is a book called “A Plague on Our Houses” that describes how the Rand Corporation and the Cities administration helped create the burn-out that devastated Bushwick in the 1970′s. I lived in Bushwick during this period and the Rebels and Savage Skulls were at each other all the time as well. It was scary at times, but by no means did they dominate life in Bushwick.
Tony Torres November 19th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I think my sister slept with half these guys. Anyone remember Little Man? He was killed in a gang fight back about 1974. I recall him hanging out in front of our stoop on Dekalb ave. in his bike waiting for my sister to come down.
savage severe November 20th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Too Ill
James December 4th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
many of them dead and no loss
Alex December 15th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
My name is Alex French. I’m a reporter for New York Magazine. We’re actually trying to get in touch with a few of these guys for a photo essay project. I’m wondering if any of you might be willing help put me in touch? Or provide suggestions or even first and last names for some of these guys?
Adam J Schwartz December 15th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I can suggest some possible sources for getting in touch with one of these dudes. You can find me at upfromflames at gmail