Pioneers
photo: Estelle McInnes
“These sisters have more innate spontaneous style in their pinkies than most people got in their lumbering corpuses”
- LESTER BANGS, Music Journalist for Rolling Stone and Creem Magazines
Snooky and Tish with their mother, artist Estelle McInnes Bellomo © Marcia Resnick 1980
Raised with Creativity and Courage
“Our single mother worked day and night to raise us, we saw firsthand how, against all odds in that day and age, she made her girls feel loved and encouraged and made them believe in themselves enough to do whatever they set out to accomplish. A gifted commercial artist and professional illustrator, her “tools of the trade” were our toys. We played with her glitter, colorful pencils, and paint. Not all of it landed on paper—we considered them our cosmetics as well! She always supported our creative and performance ambitions, both literally and figuratively, trading her artistic services for dance classes for us. She also endured countless stage shows we’d put on in the living room, always the attentive audience, no matter how exhausted she was.”
- Tish and Snooky (excerpt from “Living In Color”)
The first in “anti-fashion”
They grew up gifted, inventive and free. They learned how to sing and dance and sew and their imagination knew no bounds. They were extraordinarily hip teenagers, fearless enough to hop a subway at night from their home in the Bronx to downtown Manhattan to join the bohemians, celebrities, and rockers in the East Village at places like Max’s Kansas City and CBGB. They hung out with the Warhol crowd, performed in underground musicals, and joined rock bands. Tish and Snooky became the darlings of the downtown scene.
People went gaga for the sister’s handmade stage costumes and club wear, so in 1977, along with their friend Gina Franklin, they decided to gather some of their original designs and start their own business by opening up their legendary Manic Panic shop, America’s very first Punk Boutique.
“The idea to start our own business came from seeing the reaction people had to our trendsetting looks whenever we were out in clubs and onstage. The hip downtown crowd loved our unique punk style and wanted a place where they could buy it. Working for someone else had never really appealed to us, but we did need “day jobs” to supplement our love of the nightlife and our singing careers. Running a boutique that catered to rock and rollers and artists meant we didn’t need to start work until somewhere around noon. There was a fashion void, and we were the right gals to fill it. We knew the underground culture because we were a part of it. NYC’s East Village was the perfect location; it was the epicenter of punk. The city was almost bankrupt; there were lots of empty stores, and rent was dirt cheap!” - Tish and Snooky (excerpt from “Living In Color”)
None more glam - get a load of those gams!
Costumes and wigs handmade by Tish, set design and photo by Michael Louis
“Downtown’s Laverne and Shirley, Tish & Snooky are lovable bohemians and rock legends who just happen to be world-class business superstars as well. They color our world with sunshine with everything they do.”
— MICHAEL MUSTO, American Journalist, Village Voice Columnist
“Tish & Snooky are the outlandish legends of the New York City punk movement. They are also world-renowned for their Manic Panic hair dye. The colorful sisters light up any room just by walking in, and their tight vocals and charismatic stage presence has earned them the endearing title of ‘Darlings of the Demented.’”
— DENNIS DUNAWAY, founding member of the Alice Cooper Band, current member of Blue Coupe
Performing as a singing dancing duo since childhood
Glitter glam costumes - the adult version
Exuding glamour and style at a young age!
Modeling and ultra chic! photo: Paula Gately Tillman
Shining stars of the stage
Always Rock 'N' Roll and fabulous. photo: Paula Gately Tillman
Heating up stages - punk with elegance! photo: Richard Godlis
MANIC PANIC, America's first Punk Boutique opened on St. Mark's Place in NYC on 7/7/77.
Running a boutique, performing, hosting fashion shows, modeling, rocking out every day!
Manic Panic Storefront, 1977
Tish and friend dressed in some of her original punk clothing designs, sold at Manic Panic
Palm Casino Revue 1974
ANDY WARHOL in Italian Vogue wearing one of Tish's original punk T Shirts
Inside the first Manic Panic boutique
“We opened the only punk rock store in America, which was hailed by the press as the first of its kind. Soon, word of mouth spread, fans flocked, and rockers and celebrities donned their best disguises to rummage through racks of distinctive clothing (some we made ourselves), vintage stiletto shoes, fantasy hair color, cosmetics, and one-of-a-kind accessories.” - Tish and Snooky (excerpt from “Living In Color”)
Snooky and Tish inside the original Manic Panic Boutique.
Manic Panic always had the best makeup!
No fur for us!
Shoes to die for.
Everything you needed to pump punk style.
Handmade outfits by Tish.
The very first Manic Panic employees: Howie Pyro (left), Lee Marshall, Howie Pyro, and Maria Aguiar (right)
Featured on SNL!
The Manic Panic storefront on St. Mark's Place was so iconic that it was used in the opening credits for the 1980-81 season of Saturday Night Live!