What a rag-tag bunch of parade-goers this is. According to Dirty Old Boston, this photo was captured during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade back in 1974 on the stairs of the old Southie Savings Bank.
Okay, we have lots of questions.
Are we positive this isn’t the Doobie Brothers?
What the hell is going in on the bank window?
Why is no one wearing anything festive? Not a St. Patrick’s Day plastic bowler hat worn in a jaunty fashion. No “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” pins. No one is playing one of those long green plastic horns annoying the shit out of everyone around them.
And why is no one drinking in public? Things were fast in loose in the ’70s. You’d think at least one of those people would be taking a swig out of Schlitz can.
And everyone looks miserable. I mean, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is in fact a parade and nothing to get wildly excited about but at least smile, clap or wave. Right?
Judging by the year 1974, I’m guessing it was, in fact an anti-busing motorcade. Busing in Boston started in 1974, and as history would prove, it was not well-received in Boston…but notoriously not so in South Boston.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
The bank would not have been open on a Sunday, the day St. Patrick’s Day parades have always been held so I think you are correct in eliminating that as the event drawing these spectators. It could have been a local dignitary’s funeral procession or d so one other procession held on a week day. Most anti busing motorcades, if I recall correctly, were held on weekends, which would, again, preclude the bank from being open back in those days.
Hahahaha. Those are not Southie people
Paul Del Shannon and Twinny McDonough Definitely Southie kids.
I thought that was Twinny. Yah definitely Southie peeps.