1970s New York was gritty. The gap between the “haves” and “have-nots” was widening, causing many families to relocate to the suburbs. The TV show Kojak did a great job showcasing how gritty 1970s New York was, but not nearly as well as these actual photos taken by the legendary Leonard Freed of Magnum Photos.

They’ve got such an authentic, gritty, “hardboiled” noir feel to them. I absolutely love them. Take a look!