The Crime rates in the 1980s Philadelphia were very high. South Philadelphia was ravaged by Mafia warfare, gangs invaded the slums, and the murder rate skyrocketed. The city elected its first Black mayor in 1983, W. Wilson Goode, whose first administration was marred by the 1985 Move tragedy. In Center City, giant modern skyscrapers were designed by world-renowned architects in the Old City and South Street areas. Labor contracts signed by city employees during the Rizzo administration contributed to the city’s financial crisis that Green and Goode could not prevent. At the end of the 1980s, the city was on the verge of bankruptcy.
After the end of the Laotian Civil War associated with the Vietnam War in the 1970s, a group of Hmong refugees settled in Philadelphia. They were attacked in discriminatory acts, and the city’s Commission on Human Relations held hearings to investigate. The Hmong population in Philadelphia left for other cities in the United States between 1982 and 1984, and three-quarters moved to live with relatives in other states. During the 1980s, many Vietnamese and other Asian immigrants settled in the city, particularly in the Italian Market area. Moreover, many Hispanic immigrants from Central and South America have settled in North Philadelphia.
Here are some fascinating photos that offer a glimpse into 1980s Philadelphia.
#1 Reading Terminal, 1980s
#2 Fans of the Rolling Stones enjoying the concert at JFK Stadium 1981 in Philadelphia.
#3 13th and Arch looking south, 1980s
#4 Septa Route 56 trolley service on Erie Ave. passing under the Frankford El, 1989
#5 Philadelphia, 1980s
#6 Lit Brothers Building – Philadelphia, 1980s
On Market Street, between Seventh and Eighth Streets, is a block of buildings in the Renaissance Revival Victorian style. The buildings were built between 1859 and 1918.
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I used to work across the street from there at Arrow Decorating Co 718 Market St
#7 NW corner, 8th and Chestnut, 1980s
#8 20th and Market Streets, looking east, 1980s
#9 Elfrith Ally, Philadelphia, 1981
#10 Spring Garden Street Exit, I-76, Philadelphia, 1982
#11 7th and South, 1980s
#12 36 North 3rd Street, 1980s
#13 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade 1981
#14 2166 at Torresdale/Kensington. Erie Avenue is on the other side of the El. 21 August 1987.
#15 Art Museum in Philadelphia, 1982
#16 George Thorogood Performs At Veteran’s Stadium, 1981
#17 1600 Market Street, 1980s
#18 249 Arch Street, 1980s
#19 Southwest corner of 11th and Spruce Streets, 1980s
#20 704 South Street, 1980s
#21 Near 12th and Market, 1980s
#22 Northeast corner of 4th and South Streets, 1980s
#23 Philadelphia, 1980s
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Miss all the hot dog carts. They were s Philly traditional
#24 Philadelphia Chinatown, 1980s
#25 A SEPTA PCC car rolls past Reading Terminal Market at the corner of 12th and Filbert in downtown Philadelphia
#26 A demonstrator with a sign during an anti-inflation rally in Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, October 1984.
#27 A SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) Flexible bus, photographed in West Philadelphia, 1985
#28 Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia, December 1987
#29 12th and Cuthbert Streets, 1980s
#30 800 block of South Street, 1980s
#31 10th and Spruce Streets, 1980s
#32 4th and Monroe Streets, 1980s
#33 12th and Locust Streets looking north, 1980s
#34 Relatives and supporters of the radical back-to-nature group MOVE conduct an anniversary march through the Osage street neighborhood.
#35 Two male students walk through the winter snow on the campus of Drexel University.
#36 Ziggy, Philadelphia, 1982
#37 Northeast corner of 13th and Locust Streets, 1980s
#38 16th and Vine Streets, 1980s
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I worked for the Perini Corp for that area of reconstruction
#39 SEPTA Streetcar and Interurban
#40 SEPTA streetcars and interurban
#41 2778 at Germantown/Erie/Broad IB, Philadelphia, 1980s
#42 Philadelphia, 1980s
#43 Philadelphia, 1980s
#44 SEPTA PCC Girard Ave, Philadelphia, 1980s
#45 2662 at Germantown/Schoolhouse Lane OB, Philadelphia, 1980s
#46 Northeast corner showing the ground level retail space topped by the marble-clad, triple-height banking floor.
#47 Philadelphia Center City adult bookstore 1986
#48 Philadelphia, 1980s
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That looks like the store Teddy Pendergass’s first manager had a beauty products center. Her name was Taz Lang and she was brutally murdered.
#49 The Parkway House 2201 Pennsylvania Avenue The Parkway Philadelphia PA Buick Regal American Car MGS & Jean Spafford
#50 South Street from 4th Street Philadelphia April 1984 Eye’s Gallery on the left and Jim’s Steaks barely visible on the left front.
#51 Viaduct carrying SEPTA Regional Rail trackage from 30th Street Station across the Schuylkill River to Suburban Station.
#52 Street-level view along 12th Street with the office building entrance in the foreground.
#53 A young boy looks in the window a house (built in 1720) on Elfreth’s Alley in the Old City neighborhood , Philadelphia, 1980.
#54 Live Aid, Philadelphia, 1985
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That’s wear Teddy Pendergass made his first public appearance and sang since his terrible accident. The ovation he received brought tears to his eyes Philly loved Teddy and he lived Philly
#55 Philly girls, 1986
#56 Credit, Philadelphia, 1982
#57 Dead Head, Philadelphia, 1982
#58 Estro, Philadelphia, 1982
#59 Alvin’s Bargain Market on 54th Street, West Philadelphia, summer 1983
#60 West Philadelphia, 1983
#61 Belmont Avenue, West Philadelphia, 1985
#62 SEPTA PCC car 2710 (refurbished 1980) on Girard Ave. approaching Lancaster Ave., West Philadelphia, 1985
#63 5 The Philadelphia Police Department was using both the mid-size Ford LTD and full-size Crown Victoria platforms at that time, Philadelphia, 1985
#64 Southeast corner of 22nd and Chestnut Streets, 1980s
#65 PCC 2710, outbound on Route 10, has just emerged from the subway, and is about to pass Kawasaki 9078, in training service.
#66 Heading east on Route 56. 2099 is now in San Francisco. October 27, 1982.
#67 Society Hill, Philadelphia, 1981
#68 SEPTA’s AEM7 test train has been reconfigured to point south, and is now leaving Lansdale to return to Philadelphia, 1980s
#69 Air-electric PCC 2653 was one of the last six air-electrics to operate in the City of Brotherly Love in 1982.
#70 Philadelphia PCC fantrip, cruising along Route 23 on a quiet Sunday morning.
#71 SEPTA Streetcar and Interurban
#72 Market St., Philadelphia, 1980s
#73 SEPTA Philadelphia, 1989
#74 Philadelphia, 1980s
#75 Philadelphia October 1985
#76 Philadelphia, 1980s
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Packer Ave Food Distribution center???
