A photographer has revealed what really happens in the back of a limo through beautiful candid shots of passengers in the 1980s – all telling stories of love, lust and some surprising secrets.
Kathy Shorr was just 22 when she spent nine months capturing New Yorkers’ most intimate celebrations through her limo’s partition window in 1988.
Fresh out of photography school, Shorr took an unusual route for a woman at the time by taking the wheel of a Lincoln town car in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood – armed with just her Nikon camera and a desire to document real life.
She witnessed some of life’s sweetest moments unfold – from a raunchy prom night, a nervous groom-to-be planning the perfect proposal, and a famously ‘mean’ talk show host who dramatically revealed his off-air persona.
Her black-and-white photographs captured New Yorkers from all walks of life living out their champagne limousine dreams in an era when anyone could feel like royalty – even if it’s just for the night – if they could scrape together the $75 hourly fee.
Now, over three decades later, her vintage photographs have been published in the book ‘Limousine’.
In an interview with DailyMail.com, she revealed some of the extraordinary stories behind those captivating shots.
In an interview with Dailymail.com, Kathy Shorr revealed some of the extraordinary stories behind the candid shots of passengers she captured in the back of her limo in 1980s
Kathy Shorr was just 22 when she spent nine months capturing New Yorkers’ most intimate celebrations through her limo’s partition window in 1988. Now, over three decades later, her vintage photographs have been published in the book ‘Limousine’
A prom couple’s steamy night in Central Park
One spring evening, Shorr picked up a teenage couple from their prom.
The young lovebirds requested a detour through Central Park, where the mood quickly turned steamy.
Mozart’s Magic Flute played softly through the speakers with the windows open on a cool evening.
‘It was a balmy night in New York… I opened the front windows because it was just that kind of nice air,’ she described.
‘All of a sudden the back of the car started rocking,’ Shorr revealed with a laugh. ‘The whole car was really rocking!’
‘I just drove them home afterward like nothing happened,’ she added.
She witnessed some of life’s sweetest moments unfold – from a raunchy prom night, a nervous groom-to-be planning the perfect proposal, and a famously ‘mean’ talk show host who dramatically revealed his off-air persona
Her black-and-white photographs captured New Yorkers from all walks of life living out their champagne limousine dreams in an era when anyone could feel like royalty – even if it’s just for the night – if they could scrape together the $75 hourly fee
TV’s ‘meanest host’ revealed his true persona
When notorious talk show host Morton Downey Jr. – known for his aggressive on-screen persona – climbed into her car one night in Chelsea, Shorr feared the worst.
But she was shocked by the man she got to know.
While his wife dozed off in the back seat during their hour long drive back home to New Jersey, Downey spoke with Shorr the whole time.
He revealed his dream was initially to be a singer, and proceeded to serenade her. Shorr admitted he had a nice voice and recalled him being one of the nicest people she’s ever met.
‘He sang to me in the back of the car as I was driving,’ Shorr told Dailymail.com
‘He turned out to be one of the sweetest and nicest people,’ she revealed. ‘Nothing like his TV personality at all.’
After the heartwarming encounter, Downey left a very generous tip at the time of $100.
When talk show host Morton Downey Jr. – known for his aggressive on-screen persona – climbed into her car one night, Shorr feared the worst but was surprised he ended up being one of the sweetest men she had ever met. (Pictured with his wife dozed off in the back seat)
A bridge and groom posed in the back of the limo
The ‘perfect’ proposal that ended with a shocking snub
Not every glamorous evening had a fairy tale ending, as Shorr discovered during one meticulously planned proposal.
She picked up a man who was planning a proposal – who had big plans to go above and beyond.
The proposal was successful, with the help of Shorr.
She perfectly timed their arrival in Times Square to catch the would-be groom’s billboard message, bought flowers, and watched the girlfriend say ‘yes’.
‘Everything went like clockwork and really well,’ she said.
But after the whole evening, Shorr was left empty-handed.
‘And you know that this guy did not give me a tip,’ she said.
‘That’s one of the things I learned about how sometimes people with means treat other people.’
Shorr said her photos symbolize more than just celebration, but a vanished era when ordinary New Yorkers could feel luxury, even if just for one night
It was also before smartphones and tinted windows created barriers between people
The bridesmaid with beer
Shorr pointed out how her work captured the fascinating contrast between formal appearances and real personalities that emerged during her time behind the wheel.
The photographer recalled a particularly memorable ride with a group of bridesmaids – all elegantly dressed in their formal attire and projecting a sophisticated image.
‘One day, I was driving this group of bridesmaids, and one of them said to me, ‘Hey, Kathy, stop at that deli over there. I want to get a six pack,” Shorr revealed to DailyMail.com.
The woman returned to the limousine – still impeccably dressed in her bridesmaid finery – casually carrying a six-pack of Heineken beer.
When Shorr captured the moment, the bridesmaid proudly displayed her alcoholic purchase on her lap, creating a striking visual contrast.
‘That was kind of that juxtaposition of dignity and, you know, street stuff,’ Shorr explained.
She highlighted how quickly the carefully constructed personas would fall away during longer journeys.
‘When we get dressed up… we get dignified, and we get different, and we put on a different personality. And this would happen with people in the limousine,’ she observed.
‘But after a while, of course, if you’re driving people for eight hours… the real you does come out.’
When people look at these photos now, they’re struck by how accessible luxury was, she explained. Luxury was accessible to the working class – now that dream feels ‘out of reach’ for most
An elderly couple headed to an event are pictured above in the limo
The mystery man
A secretive passenger was the only one to refuse to have his photo taken.
While almost all of Shorr’s passengers eagerly agreed to be photographed, there was one exception – a mysterious man who was concerned about being recognized.
Shorr did not recognize the man – but suggested the passenger may have been somewhere he shouldn’t have been or with someone he shouldn’t have been with.
‘There was one person, one man, that said that he didn’t want his photo taken. He didn’t want people to recognize him. I don’t know what you know. I don’t know really who he was.’
A young girl is pictured with her head sticking out of the sunroof
The surprised passenger
On one occasion, Shorr said a passenger was stunned to find her, a young woman, behind the wheel and driving them.
However she said the reaction was generally positive from passengers and she quickly established a routine, waiting until about an hour into each journey before making her pitch to snap a photo.
‘People were definitely surprised to see me. But you know, as I said to someone else, they they were surprised, but nobody ever questioned my confidence, like if I could do it. They were never like ‘What are you doing here? You know, it was like, Oh, are drivers a woman? You know, like, wow, surprise.’
A young boy is pictured wearing a suit on the way to a wedding
Nostalgia for the past
Shorr said her photos symbolize more than just celebration, but an era she believes has since disappeared when ordinary New Yorkers could feel luxury, even if just for one night.
It was also before smartphones and tinted windows created barriers between people.
When people look at these photos now, they’re struck by how accessible luxury was, she explained. Luxury was accessible to the working class – now that dream feels ‘out of reach’ for most.
‘At that time, everyone could live like a rich person for the day,’ she told Dailymail.com.
‘If you look at the people that I photographed, it’s all races, and a lot of different ethnicities, all kinds of people who celebrated in a way where they felt like this was the way to celebrate – to dress up, to have a fancy car at your disposal.’
‘It was also that time people were really going over the top and [getting] fancy, but it was accessible to everyone,’ she continued. ‘Nowadays, that’s not possible.’
Women on the street are poking their heads in to the back of the limo
A group is posed outside of the limo in front of what appears to be a church
But Shorr’s work today couldn’t be further from those champagne popping celebrations.
She now documents America’s darkest tragedies, as she works on a trilogy about gun violence – photographing shooting survivors, grieving mothers, and communities torn apart by school shootings.
Yet she brings the same intimate approach to these devastating stories.
When asked how she navigates such contrasting subjects, she said: ‘Everything is about having a dialogue and a respect for the people that you’re photographing.’
‘My goal is to make a photograph that shows the dignity of the person,’ she added. ‘Whether they’re having a good time or whether they’re dealing with something serious.’
