How to hang in Africa, half a century ago

• How to hang out in Africa, half a century ago

The end of the 60s, the sexual revolution, the distant South Africa, the apartheid regime - seems to be absolutely nothing in common. However, look ... do not like?

Warning!

The content of this material intended only for adults (18 and over).

These photos were taken in the night clubs in Cape Town, South Africa in the late 60s.

The main site of action - the club "Catacombs" - in the daytime hairdresser for pets, and at night is one of the most popular and crowded night the restaurants.

The Club "Catacombs", February 23, 1968.

The visitors of the club - the so-called "party" at the time - was a wild mixture of bohemia and underground.

the rich old men with young women, secular women and homosexuals side by side here with the bandits, sailors and prostitutes, as well as unprecedented for the times of apartheid arrogance - interracial couples.

The Club "Catacombs", January 8, 1968.

Fashion 60th - mini-skirt, boots, bright makeup and lush greased back hair - demonstrates the results of the countries swept Western sexual revolution.

The Club "Catacombs", 1968.

The interior of clubs, to put it mildly, unassuming, and not much different from the nearby slums. Bare walls, a couple of tables and plastic bar.

Favorite drink visitors - a brandy and Coke.

The Club The Spurs, December 29, 1967.

Photo Author - Billy Monk - figure in the nightlife of Cape Town is very visible and known.

With a reputation as the favorite of women, womanizer, soldier and musician, he himself was an integral part of the party, which is photographed.

This is what it took for her, allowed him to approach their objects of shooting so close and get candid shots a night of fun. However, this also contributed to the glory of the man who can strike at any time, and not weak.

The Club "Catacombs", February 13, 1968.

On the Monk is little known. It is said that he was born on January 11, but some years - is unknown, no one ever knew how much he actually years.

He did not like talking about his childhood, is clearly not the last in the most prosperous family. Early his work was to somehow survive, mainly due to petty crime.

Before headlong plunge into the night life, he managed to stay in prison for breaking into the safe, visit the model and the diver for diamonds.

Some of the club "Catacombs", February 26, 1969.

In the "Catacombs" Monk went to work as a bouncer, but he was in this role is not too good, beating guilty of visitors to death.

When a job as a bouncer at the club had no luck, Monk, almost by chance, entered the world of photography. Continuing to work in the "Catacombs", he began to earn, taking a variety of public places with a very controversial reputation.

The Club The Spurs, February 27, 1967.

For two years, from 1967 to 1969, its bright flash highlights not only the dirty inside story of life underground clubs, but also a very diverse entertain the audience, they are visited.

Nightlife shown Monk, has been hidden from the public eye at the time, it is difficult to see it somewhere else now. In fact, he was the one who captured the darker side of life, earning his later pictures such success.

The Club "Catacombs", October 27, 1967.

Monk worked at the prime of apartheid in South Africa - a time when skin color determines where people can live, work, whom to marry and where to drink.

underground lifestyle "Catacombs" and its visitors was the place where the so-called infancy dissent - are violated all possible taboos and conventions of apartheid.

However, neither the Monk, or the objects of his shooting, did not consider themselves opposition and fighters against the regime. He was only trying to make money by selling pictures of the people in them as memories of the "beautiful evening" and they just wanted to have fun.

The Club "Catacombs", March 18, 1968.

Images Monk equipped with detailed annotations with names and dates, were found in 1979, 10 years after he stopped shooting, and in 1982 were presented at the exhibition in Johannesburg, which had a huge success.

The Club The Balalaika, December 1969.

However, the photographer was not able to attend his first exhibition. Two weeks after its opening shot in a ridiculous Monk domestic quarrel.

Once upon a time, while still working in the "Catacombs", Billy told one of his friends: "You'll see a photo I will succeed. They will talk about my pictures for a long time after I'm gone. " He proved absolutely right.