#1977 blackout

[writtenbychip]

I'm new here!

Hi all! My name is Chip Francine and I’m new here at, Tumblr. With great enthusiasm, I’m thrilled to be here, and eager to share my fiction writing with all of you.

Having dedicated the past ten years to writing fanfiction (which brings me immense joy!), I have now mustered the courage to introduce my original fiction to the world. Scary process, a little, but also thrilling and exciting. 

I am excited to share my debut serial story with you, titled “A Bronx Romance.” This is a coming of age story focusing on two 19-year-old girls from New York City who fall in love in 1977.

As the weeks progress, and I figure out how to use this platform more, I will be posting snippets from the story, share a few facts about that era and talk about my writing process a bit.

I hope it will be an enjoyable and exciting experience for everyone! Thanks! And remember to follow! :)

[1977blackout]

Excerpt from Restaurant Confidential: The Down and Dirty Exploits of a Restaurant Manager

1977 Blackout in New York City

On July 13, 1977, at around 9:15 pm I am in the International Arrivals Building (I.A.B.) doing a walk-through to ensure that the food units and bars that usually close at 9:00 pm were indeed closed. I was nearing the end of my shift and my girlfriend Paula was going to pick me up in my car and we were going to go to her parents’ place in Vermont for a four-day mini-vacation. . .

Within one hour the backup lighting system failed and the airport was totally dark. Being a manager, the first thing you learn is to get the money, so I had all my management staff pull the gates in front of each bar and food operation and collect the money from the patrons. . . '

Available at Barnes and Noble - HERE

With the entire city and the airport blacked out, all flights were cancelled and literally thousands of people were roaming the airport in search of shelter and comfort.

Available at Barnes and Noble - HERE

[gotankgo]

Blackout, July 13–14, 1977

[haikumaker]

The NYC blackout of 1977

[tropicalcontinental]

Wait hold on scratch that regularly scheduled programming and that 10 morbillion years reveal this is an EAS Broadcast except it's not that at all and it's just more OC art (also old)

They are NOT this cuddly or even romantic (to me at least, I just can't see it as romantic) in their current iterations in fact my feelings on their relationship is complicated (me below for reference)

[rodpower78]

Stranded people sleeping in the lobby at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel during the blackout in New York City in July 13-14, 1977.

[mosleyboxing]

Mike TYSON x Cus D'Amato x Incredible Bongo Band x Grandmaster Flash

[onarangel]

Blackout by James Goodman

Paperback,July 5 2005

On July 13, 1977, there was a blackout in New York City. With the dark came excitement, adventure, and fright in subway tunnels, office towers, busy intersections, high-rise stairwells, hotel lobbies, elevators, and hospitals. There was revelry in bars and restaurants, music and dancing in the streets. On block after block, men and women proved themselves heroes by helping neighbors and strangers make it through the night.

Unfortunately, there was also widespread looting, vandalism, and arson. Even before police restored order, people began to ask and argue about why. Why did people do what they did when the lights went out? The argument raged for weeks but it was just like the night: lots of heat, little light-a shouting match between those who held fast to one explanation and those who held fast to another.

James Goodman cuts between accidents, encounters, conversations, exchanges, and arguments to re-create that night and its aftermath in a dizzying accumulation of detail. Rejecting simple dichotomies and one-dimensional explanations for why people act as they do in moments of conflict and crisis, Goodman illuminates attitudes, ideas, and experiences that have been lost in facile generalizations and analyses. Journalistic re-creation at its most exciting, Blackout provides a whirlwind tour of 1970s New York and a challenge to conventional thinking.

Info:amazon,com

[outofeverythingthisnamewasleft]

[screenshot-thoughts]

“New York during the blackout of 1977.”

[castlebyersafterdark]

getting distracted reading about big nyc blackouts because I wanted to look up one tiny thing for my wip. literally unimportant, the entire point just revolves around them living in the city, there's a summer heatwave as a plot device to put will in lingerie during it, but nooo. wikipedia ensnared me again...

[doraemon-facts]

Nobita doesn't like throwing things away. He says a broken lamp can be used during a blackout, a broken fan when it's not hot, and a broken glass when he doesn't want to drink anything.

Source: 四次元ポケット, 1977 (manga)

[mitchipedia]

People sleeping in the lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel during the 1977 New York blackout.

[misskentuckyrain]

The Queen to the King

Warnings: None (for this chapter only probably!) Fluff

Word count: -1.5k

Chapter One - The Prince Of Memphis

August 1977

What time is it? Opening one eye, you then close it, not quite ready to face the world. Opening both eyes, you give them a moment to adjust to the dim light. A small slither of sunlight has penetrated a small gap in the heavy blackout curtains he insisted on hanging in your bedroom.

Squinting across at the clock perched on top of the pile of books you keep on your bedside table, you see that it's mid-morning, you meant to get up hours ago. Rolling onto your back, you run your hand across the sheets on his side of the bed. Cold. Wherever he was, he had been gone for a while. Sitting up with a sigh, you stretch, raising your arms up and letting out a louder than necessary yawn. Swinging your legs over the edge of the bed, you stand, stretch some more, and head to the master bathroom suite. Pushing open the already part open door, it takes a few seconds for your brain to register the scene in front of you. A silence shattering scream is all you hear…

December 1957

"Elvis Aaron Presley does your mama know you're out here, prowling the streets at all hours?" you teased as seconds earlier you had swung open the front door, not considering for a moment that at this time of night it might be relatively dangerous, to find Elvis leant against the door jamb. A broad grin spreads across his face as he looks up “Baby, you know I don’t prowl, I cruise those streets” he tries to say it in all seriousness but falters on the last word, laughing to himself as he stands upright. You laugh along with him as you step in closer and wrapped your arms around his neck “And to what do I owe this pleasure of finding you on my front door step this late at night? You’re lucky my daddy isn’t home, he’d be chasing you across the yard with a shot gun!”.

You were extremely thankful that this was not a possibility, he and your mama were at a friends for dinner, so likely would not be home until the early hours of the morning. Elvis winds his arms around your waist, humming gently “I think I’d outrun him and if not, well, there’s no one I’d rather sacrifice myself for” he nuzzles into your neck. You let out a squeal, “Elvis! Behave! The neighbours will see!” Elvis looks around and raises an eyebrow, you both know that’s unlikely at this hour, but still, he backs you into the hallway and closes the door behind him, kicking it shut with his foot.

“Now isn’t that better?” he leans back a little so he can look into your eyes. You roll them at him then smile, “Better for what Mr Presley?” Elvis tuts “Now honey you know Mr Presley is my daddy” You take a step back, running your hand down his chest “I’m sorry…” you lean in close to his ear and whisper “What is the reason for your late night visit……baby…?” nibbling his earlobe as you pull away.

“I…. I…. Ju… Just wanted to check on my girl, haven’t seen you in so long.” You roll your eyes again and laugh, “I saw you just last night!” Elvis takes one of your hands in his and starts kissing your knuckles gently “Like I’m sayin’ it’s been a really long time!” His kisses move further up your arm, skipping over to your neck, where he nuzzles in, sighing happily.

Your hand makes its home in his hair, lightly pressing him to you, moaning quietly “We can’t do this here, my folks might get home any minute and in all seriousness that won’t end well for you”.

“Don’t care…” Elvis mumbles into your skin, finally making his way to your lips, “I would die on that hill” he chuckles. You feel his hand move from where it felt like it had been burning a hole on your hip through your dress, slowly dragging down to the hem and then moving back up the inside, making a path up past your knee to your thigh. “Elvis…” You sigh, dropping your hand to his to begrudgingly stop his progress. “But I want to fool around….” he practically whines into your mouth, continuing his knee - trembling kisses. It takes all the will power in the world, but you manage to pull yourself away from him, putting a little distance between you.

“Not here, not tonight” a look of disappointment crosses his features. There is nothing you would like more than to let him have his way with you, but one of you needs to be sensible. “It’s not that I don’t want to” you lean in and kiss him again, “It’s just not the right time”. Elvis sighs, not too dissimilar to a toddler throwing a tantrum “Fine” You chuckle and kiss him once more in an attempt to ease his frustration.

Elvis straightens himself up and pulls you into the living room and sits on the sofa, pulling you into his lap. There are a few minutes of silence, you both sit there just enjoying being in each other’s company.

“Christmas is next week” he starts, “Mama asked if you and your parents would like to come to dinner on Christmas Eve?” You turn a little so you’re able to look at him directly, a little surprised at his invite. “Really?” Unable to hide the tone of surprise in your voice. Elvis chuckles “Really. Mama and daddy love you nearly as much as I do, they love having you around, and they’d love you to spend the holidays with us. What do you think? Will your folks be up for it?”

You sit silent for a little while, you and Elvis hadn’t got to the point of using the L word yet, so you were a little taken aback by his use of the word. “Darlin’?” Elvis pauses, then realising what he said. “You can’t be surprised that I love you? I thought I’d made it crystal clear!” he laughs, nervous about your lack of reaction. A bit more time passes before you suddenly blurt out, making him jump ‘You know I love you too, right?!?!” A large smile forms on his face, and he leans in and kisses you softly, “I do now”. You feel yourself going a little red, not regretting your words but a little embarrassed by your loud admission of love. “So about Christmas?.” Elvis continues.

“I’ll ask them in the morning, I’m sure they’ll agree. Mama will just be happy she won’t have to cook.” Elvis leans forward, wrapping his arms around you and kissing you softly, “And maybe you could stay with me Christmas Eve night? I can give you your Christmas present early?” He kisses you again, this time with a little more heat.

When you pull away for breath, you look into his eyes, darkened a little in the moment, “And what are you planning to get me for Christmas?”

Elvis kisses you again, his tongue nudging open your lips and playing with your own, pulling back he whispers “It’s a surprise, but you’ll know what it is as it will have a big red bow on it….”