Empire Roller Disco

A snapshot of Brooklyn's legendary Empire Roller Disco.

"...Pagnano’s photographs remind us of the importance of documenting moments as they occur so that we can savour the pleasures of the past and look at the present with fresh eyes." - Huck

Brooklyn’s Empire Rollerdrome opened its doors in 1941 and soon became the borough’s premier destination for recreational and competitive roller skating. But it wasn’t until the late 1970s that the celebrated rink reached iconic status by replacing its organist with a live DJ, installing a state of the art sound and light system, and renaming itself after the nationwide dance craze it had helped to originate: the Empire Roller Disco was born. In 1980, Forbesmagazine sent the acclaimed street photographer Patrick D. Pagnano to document the Empire and its legendary cast of partygoers. The resulting photographs, gathered in TK for the first time, capture the vibrant spirits, extraordinary styles, and sheer joys of Brooklyn roller disco at its dizzying peak.