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A person wearing a yellow Ramones T-shirt and a white cap stands in a shop. They are surrounded by shelves of yellow plush elephants and a wall covered in colourful, egg-shaped objects.

Photography: 1970s American teenagers captured by Joe Maloney

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Date
1 November 2013

Oh to be a teenager in the late 70s, smoking weed in your car and driving to a lakeside fireworks display after a long day chilling at the waterpark. Photographer Joe Maloney was there and rather than spending his time rolling joints and eating cotton candy he actually made the effort to document what was going on around him. His photos are like the best parts of Dazed and Confused combined with the white-sock style of Do the Right Thing, making him my new favourite photographer.

A group of people dance on a sandy beach at night. In the centre, a person in a checked shirt and purple shorts strikes a dynamic pose.
Above

Joe Maloney: Fireworks, Asbury Park, New Jersey, 1980

A high-angle shot of a swimming pool with two people playing in the water. Beyond the pool, a large car park leads to a seafront with a Ferris wheel and a building labelled “Palace Amusements”.
Above

Joe Maloney: View from Empress Hotel, Asbury Park, New Jersey, 1980

People gather in a brightly lit indoor amusement arcade. A yellow ticket booth reads “TICKETS GOOD ON ALL RIDES” and “CHANGE”, while a red neon sign in the background reads “MAD”.
Above

Joe Maloney: Casino, Asbury Park, New Jersey, 1980

Two people sit in a black car at night. The person in the passenger seat looks out the window, while the driver wears a blue patterned headband.
Above

Joe Maloney:

Two people lean against a light blue chain-link fence in an urban alleyway. They wear athletic clothing, including short shorts and striped socks, while a large green dumpster sits behind them.
Above

Joe Maloney:

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About the Author

Liv Siddall

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Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

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