Times Square Blackout - NYC Power Outage News & Updates | Explore NYC Landmarks & Travel Tips

On November 9, 1965, the lights went out across nine northeaster states because of an electrical relay failure in Canada. The 13-hour blackout hit New York City in the middle of rush hour, leaving 800,000 trapped in subways.

Traffic moved slowly as police officers set up lights and stood at the intersections waving cars and buses on their way. Allyn Baum of The Times captured this photo of patrolman James Kelly of Troop "B" directing traffic in Times Square.

Printing facilities at The Times were offline that night but an abbreviated 10-page edition "written and edited by candlelight" was produced through the courtesy of The Newark Evening News (1873 - 1973). Circulation men acted as couriers taking copy to New Jersey through the Lincoln Tunnel.