Fernando’s Story: A Window into 1970s East Village Childhood through Fascinating Photos

In the gritty, vibrant heart of 1970s New York City, a captivating story unfolded amidst the urban decay and cultural melting pot of the East Village. Photographer Rich Allen documented the lives of children playing truant in an empty lot, chronicling their adventures and resilience. Among these children was Fernando Madrid, a young boy whose story weaves a fascinating tapestry of childhood in a bygone era.

Life on East 3rd Street

76 E. 3rd Street, a microcosm of the diverse East Village, was home to Fernando and his siblings. It was a world where Puerto Rican, Black, East Indian, and other cultures collided and coexisted.  Rich Allen, dubbed “Picture Man” by the kids, would capture their youthful energy: climbing walls, building fires, and simply being children amidst the urban environment.

Fernando, with his inclination for playing ‘hooky’ from school, became the focus of Rich Allen’s photographic essay aptly titled “Hooky”. His escapades with his half-brothers, Orlando and Estebe, and other friends on those endless summer days formed the basis of an unstaged, documentary-style film. Allen followed the boys through their urban explorations – from neighborhood haunts to the West Village pool, across the Williamsburg Bridge, and even to the unfamiliar wonder of Chinatown.

A Child’s Eye View

Through Allen’s lens, the film reveals the city through the eyes of children who found adventure in every corner. Their journey by subway and on foot reveals a sense of boundless possibility.  Fernando’s naive question as they gaze upon the vastness of the harbor – “How’d they get all the water in here?” – encapsulates the mix of awe and unfiltered curiosity that defines childhood.

Life on East 3rd Street might have been rough, but the spirit of Fernando and his companions shines through. There’s a joy and unselfconscious freedom in their play that transcends the urban backdrop.

#1 Fernando on East 3rd Street, 1973.

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#2 Fernando on East 3rd Street, 1973.

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#3 Fernando in a darkroom on East 3rd Street, 1973.

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#4 Fernando on 1st Avenue, 1974.

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#5 Orlando, Juanita, Blanca, and Fernando in a park on East 3rd Street, 1974.

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#6 Fernando on East 3rd Street, 1974.

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#7 Fernando’s bike on East 3rd Street, 1974.

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#8 Fernando with his first dog on East 3rd Street, 1974.

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#9 Daisy and Fernando on Halloween on East 3rd Street, 1974.

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#10 Fernando and Jeffery on the Williamsburg Bridge, 1970s.

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#11 Fernando, Orlando, and Pipo on East 3rd Street, 1970s.

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#12 Orlando, Jeffrey, and Fernando on East 3rd Street, 1975.

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#13 Fernando on 2nd Avenue, 1975.

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#14 Fernando hitching a ride on 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue, 1975.

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#15 Lydia, Fernando’s mom, and Estebe on 3rd Street, 1975.

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#16 Fernando on East 3rd Street, 1975.

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#17 Fernando in charge of a hydrant on 2nd Avenue and 3rd Street, 1975.

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#18 Fernando in Washington Square, 1976.

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#19 Jeffery, Fernando, and Orlando in a block race from 1st to 2nd Avenue on 3rd Street, 1974.

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#20 Fernando with his first car on East 3rd Street, 1976.

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#21 Fernando at a tire swing in the Lower East Side, 1975.

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#22 74 East 3rd Street after the fire, April 1976.

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#23 74 East 3rd Street after the fire, April 1976.

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#24 Mary and Fernando on East 2nd Street, 1976.

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#25

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