American Experience

Blackout

First responders, journalists, shop owners, those inside the pressure-packed control center of Con Edison on West End Avenue, and other New Yorkers tell what happened when the lights went out on July 13, 1977.

Blackout Preview

30s

On the night of July 13, 1977, lightning strikes took out several critical power lines, causing a catastrophic power failure and plunging some 8 million people into darkness in the New York City area. First responders, journalists, shop owners, Con Edison employees, and other New Yorkers tell about what happened when the lights went out. Premieres 7/14 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Previews + Extras

  • No Police to Stop Them, from Blackout: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    No Police to Stop Them, from Blackout

    S27 E7 - 2m 58s

    Shop owners describe watching locals loot their store during the NYC blackout of 1977. "Blackout" premieres July 14 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

  • Blackout, Chapter 1: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Blackout, Chapter 1

    S27 E7 - 8m 12s

    July 14, 1977 dawned hot and humid in New York City. By 9:30pm the city would be plunged into darkness for more than 24 hours. In the wake of the power outage, tensions that had been simmering for years erupted into looting and violence. "Blackout" premieres July 14 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

  • Where did Brooklyn go? From Blackout: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Where did Brooklyn go? From Blackout

    S27 E7 - 2m 55s

    Watch the first three minutes of Blackout, premiering July 14 at 9/8c on PBS, about the 1977 blackout that swept New York City.

  • Why we Made Blackout: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Why we Made Blackout

    S27 E7 - 1m 44s

    "The civilization that was New York came unglued for 24 hours, and that's what our story is about." American Experience Executive Producer Mark Samels talks about why we made Blackout.

  • The Station House was in Darkness, From Blackout: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Station House was in Darkness, From Blackout

    S27 E7 - 2m 32s

    While workers at Consolidated Edison electric company scrambled to restart their failed power system, New York City's police force tried to maintain order with no lights or radio equipment. "Blackout" premieres July 14, 2015 on PBS American Experience.

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