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 famous ice rink achieved cult status, replacing its organist with a live DJ, installing a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, and renaming itself after the nationwide dance craze it helped create: the Empire Roller Disco born. 1980’s celebrated street photographer Patrick D Pagnano was commissioned to document the Empire and its legendary cast of partygoers. The resulting photographs, collected in Empire roller disco For the first time, capture the vibrant vibe, outrageous style and sheer joy of Brooklyn Roller Disco at its dizzying peak.
Empire roller disco is published by anthology editions.
