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Spend An Hour Inside A 1980s Times Square McDonald's Party
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 11, 2015
Modified Aug 11, 2015
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 11, 2015
Modified Aug 11, 2015
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In 1989, convicted murderer (but then professional party boy) Michael Alig hosted an event at the McDonald's on Broadway and 46th Street. This was one of his outlaw parties, which Michael Musto described as "bashes illegally held at some public space or other, where everyone showed up on time for a change, knowing the cops would come and bust it up the second they got wind of it." This one took place at 3 a.m.
One hour of the night, from the cab ride there until everyone gets kicked out, has just been uploaded to YouTube. This was all shot by Nelson Sullivan, who (thankfully) filmed everything back then. Seriously, thousands upon thousands of hours of young people, just L-I-V-I-N in 1980s and 1990s NYC.
If it seems familiar, this footage was recreated in Party Monster.
Tagged
1980s
1989
mcdonald's outlaw party
michael alig
nelson sullivan
original
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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