#54 In 1976, a group of Hare Krishna followers sing and play instruments in Times Square under the marquee of an adult theater advertising the film Sweet Cakes.

This striking 1976 street photograph captures a group of Hare Krishna followers singing and playing instruments in the heart of Times Square, turning the sidewalk into a moving scene of devotion and rhythm. In the foreground, musicians keep time with hand cymbals and a barrel-shaped drum, while robed participants and onlookers fill the frame behind them, creating a dense, energetic crowd.

Overhead, a bright theater marquee advertises the film “Sweet Cakes,” an unmistakable sign of the era’s gritty, neon-lit Times Square nightlife. The contrast between spiritual chanting and the adult theater signage makes the image especially memorable, highlighting the layered, sometimes jarring mix of culture, commerce, and street life in 1970s New York City.

Ideal for readers interested in New York history, vintage street photography, and urban documentary images, this photo offers a vivid glimpse of public performance and religious expression in a famous crossroads. It’s a snapshot of Times Square as it was—busy, loud, and full of unexpected juxtapositions—frozen in black and white.