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SEX, DRUGS AND...DISCO

Incredible black and white photos show the wild 1970s party scene in nightclubs across New York

PHOTOGRAPHER Meryl Meisler has released an exhilarating exhibition of snaps giving us a peek into the excitement of the epic era

NEW York City in the 1970s has become the stuff of legends.

Anyone who was anyone got down and dirty in the city’s downtown clubs with drugs, sex and disco the order of the day.

Meryl Meisler has launched her exhibition with a collection of wild photos from the 70s New York club scene
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Meryl Meisler has launched her exhibition with a collection of wild photos from the 70s New York club sceneCredit: Meryl Meisler

In a new exhibition, talented photographer offers outsiders the opportunity to peer behind the curtain at another world.

The exclusive Studio 54 disco scene saw outrageous outfits, frisky dancing and illicit fun take centre stage in an era of drama and excitement.

In an interview with Jocks & Nerds magazine, Meryl said: “I absolutely loved the disco scene; the music, the dancing, the mixed crowd and creative energy.”

The photos are taken from Meryl's books Purgatory & Paradise: SASSY ’70s Suburbia & The City and A Tale of Two Cities: Disco Era Bushwick which can be bought from .

Three's never a crowd in the New York clubs
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Three's never a crowd in the New York clubsCredit: Meryl Meisler
Partygoers queue outside a New York venue in the 1970s
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Partygoers queue outside a New York venue in the 1970sCredit: Meryl Meisler
The dancing gets underway as these topless revellers display their acrobatic prowess
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The dancing gets underway as these topless revellers display their acrobatic prowessCredit: Meryl Meisler
Glenn Hughes from The Village People performs to a sell-out crowd
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Glenn Hughes from The Village People performs to a sell-out crowdCredit: Meryl Meisler

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This group get down and dirty on the dance floor
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This group get down and dirty on the dance floorCredit: Meryl Meisler
Disco heroes The Village People leave a club after a gig performed to adoring fans
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Disco heroes The Village People leave a club after a gig performed to adoring fansCredit: Meryl Meisler
Hitting the deck! These guys get low as they dance in a New York club
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Hitting the deck! These guys get low as they dance in a New York clubCredit: Meryl Meisler
This dapper chap hitches a ride on the subway
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This dapper chap hitches a ride on the subwayCredit: Meryl Meisler
The Studio 54 disco scene saw outrageous outfits and frisky dancing
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The Studio 54 disco scene saw outrageous outfits and frisky dancingCredit: Meryl Meisler
Couples let their passions run wild without worrying about who was watching
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Couples let their passions run wild without worrying about who was watchingCredit: Meryl Meisler
A group of revellers pose as they leave world famous Studio 54
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A group of revellers pose as they leave world famous Studio 54Credit: Meryl Meisler
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