Adelman, Bob. On and Off the Street by Bob Adelman and Susan Hall.

Viking, 1970. 1st edition, 1st printing. Hardcover in library binding with protected dust jacket.  Usual library evidence, including spine label, card pocket, and tape stains on flyleaves from tape used to affix former dust jacket protector, which has been replaced with a new one. Except for library evidence, very good with little sign of use.  True story of two friends,  Vincent and Danny, Black and white boys photographed by prolific photojournalist Bob Adelman over a two-month period. The boys lived west of Central Park in New York City.  Summary:

On and Off the Street (1970) is an intimate photo-essay that explores the intersection of race, friendship, and urban childhood in New York City. Produced by the acclaimed photojournalist Bob Adelman and writer Susan Hall, the book is a departure from their later, more gritty documentary work (such as Gentleman of Leisure), offering instead a sensitive look at integrated play.

Core Narrative

The book follows the daily interactions of two young boys—Vincent, who is Black, and Danny, who is white—as they navigate the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

• Dialogue-Driven: The text is presented as a candid dialogue between the two boys, edited by Susan Hall to capture the authentic cadence and unfiltered perspectives of children.

• Themes of Integration: Written at the tail end of the Civil Rights Movement's most transformative decade, the book serves as a hopeful, real-world example of racial harmony and the natural, "colorblind" way children form bonds.

Photographic Style

Bob Adelman, best known for his iconic photography of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, brings a professional documentary eye to the mundane activities of childhood.

• Urban Backdrop: The "Street" of the title is Central Park and the surrounding Manhattan avenues, which serve as a concrete playground.

• Candid Realism: The black-and-white photographs avoid sentimentalism. Adelman captures the boys in moments of disagreement, intense play, and quiet contemplation, providing a high-fidelity look at New York street life in 1970.

Key Information

• Published: 1970 by Viking Press.

• Format: A slim volume featuring roughly 50 monochrome photographs.

• Significance: It is an early example of the "new photojournalism" that would define the Adelman/Hall partnership—using a combination of tape-recorded interviews and "fly-on-the-wall" photography to let the subjects tell their own story.

Summary: On and Off the Street is a poignant, non-preachy document of a multi-racial friendship. It highlights the resilience and adaptability of children in an urban environment, treating their "play" with the same seriousness as a major news event.