“…photographers atop the marquee of the Hotel Astor set off tray after tray of flashlight powder.”

December 6, 2021
1933


“I Got Hi;” Frank Ervin and His Band; Hurley; Moore; Combo (68-AA); 1955


“Drinking Blues”; Wynonie Harris; Henry Glover; King (4565); June 25, 1952


“Let’s Drink Some Whiskey”; Al Jackson; Reig; Jackson; Roost (607); 1950


“Sittin’ Here Drinking”; Earl Gaines; C. Kittrell; Champion (1004)


“Sloppy Drunk”; Walter Brown And Jay McShann’s Quartet; Walter Brown; Brown; Mercury (8046-B); 1947


“When I’ve Been Drinking”; Jay McShann and His Jazz-Men; Numa Lee Davis; Cleophus Curtis; Raymod Taylor; Jay McShann; Albert Wichard; Philo (P109B); July 1945


“Blues without Booze”; Bob Merrell and His Orchestra; Feather; Wilson; Bob Merrell; Chuck Clark; Count Hastings; Eddie de Verteuil; Al Jarvis; Vess Payne; Norman Keenan; Aladdin (3002A); April 1947


“When I Been Drinking”; Rosetta Howard; Big Three Trio; Broonzy; Columbia (37573); June 10, 1947


“NO MORE ALCOHOL”; Jimmy Liggins; Jimmy Liggins; Aladdin (3251); 1954


“Thinking and Drinking”; Amos Milburn and his Aladdin Chickenshackers; O. O. Merritt; Aladdin (3124); 1952


“I Ain’t Drunk”; Jimmy Liggins; Aladdin (3250); 1954


The New York Times, December 6, 1933


“Troubles Good-Bye”; Jimmy Liggins And His Drops of Joy; Jimmy Liggins; J. Liggins; Specialty (SP 520 B); 1947

“Ice cream sales are up 95 per cent.”

December 5, 2021
1941


“A Foggy Day”; Lester Young and His Orchestra; Gershwin; Lester Young; Jo Jones; John Lewis; Gene Ramey; Norman Granz; Mercury (8946); 1951


PM, December 5, 1941, p. 16, (Photos by Wide World and Irving Haberman.)

New York Gropes Through Twin Fog, Worst in Years

Skyscrapers swim in a sea of fog in this picture, taken yesterday from the RCA Building, looking south. Two fogs – meteorologically speaking – engulfed the city. One was a land fog, caused by a loitering mass of warm moist air from the south passing over relatively cool earth. The other a sea fog, caused by cold air over relatively warmer water, made going thicker near the harbor. Smoke spread out and mixed with the water vapor, lowering visibility still farther. The fog has hung here three nights, but may be dissipated today by rain and refreshing winds.

…Fog varied in depth from a few hundred feet to more than 1000. Last one like this, in January, 1935, stayed three days.


“Lost in a Fog”; Connie Boswell; Jimmie Grier & his Orchestra; Fields; McHugh; Brunswick (7303); October 1934


PM, December 5, 1941, p. 17 (Photo by Ray Platnick)

Looking north from corner of Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, toward Flatbush Avenue. The picture was taken at 10 o’clock last night. The motorists, up against fog that sometimes cut visibility to a few feet, drove slowly all over town, so there were fewer accidents in the fog than in clear weather. But one accident tied up Brooklyn Bridge 45 minutes. A peddler’s wagon was struck by an automobile, and his horse was killed. By good luck and alertness the fire engines got to the regular quota of blazes in time, without crackups.


“Foggy River”; Red Foley; Roy Ross and His Ramblers; Fred Rose; Decca (46024 A); July 31, 1946-


PM, December 5, 1941, p. 13

The man who gave Sacrface Al Capone his scar is under arrest as a vagrant.


“Troubles Good-Bye”; Jimmy Liggins And His Drops of Joy; Jimmy Liggins; J. Liggins; Specialty (SP 520 B); 1947


PM, December 5, 1941, p. 13

Gracie Mansion…


“I Ain’t Drunk”; Jimmy Liggins; Aladdin (3250); 1954


Remember him?

PM, December 5, 1941, p. 13


“Black Coffee”; Sarah Vaughan; Webster; Burke; Joe Lipman; Columbia (38462); 1949


The New York Times, December 5, 1933


“40 Cups of Coffee”; Danny Overbea; King Kolex and his Orchestra; D. Overbea; Checker (774); 1953

“…lodged in the death house…”

December 4, 2021
1941


“Don’t Think That You’re Smart”; Memphis Slim; Peter Chatman; Bluebird (B-9028-B); Publication date: December 4, 1941


The New York Times, December 4, 1941

LEPKE AIDES IN DEATH TIER

Weiss and Capone Taken to Sing Sing by Four Guards


“I’ve Changed My Penthouse For A Pup-Tent;” Texas Rangers; Bob Crawford; B. Crawford; Okeh (06543); December 4, 1941


PM, December 4, 1941, p. 18 (Unidentified photographer)


The Last Ride for Louis Capone, left, and Emmanuel (Mendy) Weiss, hiding his face, is a train trip to Sing Sing. They are scheduled to take a last walk during the week of Jan. 4 into the little horror chamber that holds the electric chair. They were sentenced to die along with Louis (Lepke) Buchalter whose fight to avoid death may take many months.

Photo by Wide World
PM, December 4, 1941, p. 18


The New York Times, December 3, 1941 p.1


“Lend Me Your Love”; Memphis Slim; Peter Chatman; Bluebird (B-9028-A); December 4, 1941

“Nothing to say.”

December 3, 2021
1941


“He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word”; Golden Gate Quartet; Okeh (6529); Publication date: December 3, 1941





The New York Times, December 3, 1941 (Unidentified photographer)


“Moses Smote the Waters”; Golden Gate Quartet; Columbia (36937); December 3, 1941





PM, December 3, 1941, p.12


“I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)”; Jimmy Dorsey And His Orchestra; Helen O’Connell; Duke Ellington; Paul Webster; Decca (4103 B); December 3, 1941




So that there would be no hysterical outbursts in court, the families of the condemned men and their relatives were ruled out of the courtroom. They met in the corridor, however. Mrs. Weiss stands with her friends folded. Mrs. Buchalter is the woman at the right. The woman with her hand to her face was not identified. (Unidentified photographer)

Photographers caught up with Lepke leaving the courtroom. Weiss hides under his hat.

PM Photos

PM, December 3, 1941, p.12 (Unidentified photographers)


“Bones, Bones, Bones (Ezekiel In The Valley)”; Golden Gate Quartet; Wilson; Owens; Riddick; Frederick; Columbia (36937); December 3, 1941

(80 years ago today…)

“…’available’ for the death house…”

December 1, 2021
1941


“My Fate Is In Your Hands”; Earl Hines Trio; Earl Hines; Al Casey; Oscar Pettiford; Waller; Razaf; Signature (SI-1-2B); 1941





The New York Times, December 1, 1941 (Unidentified photographer)

LEPKE’S FATE PUT UP TO PRESIDENT BY DEATH VERDICT


“My Fate Is In Your Hands”; Rodman Lewis; Razaf; Waller; Perfect (12584B); 1930


PM, December 1, 1941, p. 1

GOOD NEWS

PM, December 1, 1941, p. 1


PM, December 1, 1941, p. 11 (Unidentified photographer)

A Convicted Killer:

Louis (Lepke) Buchalter will be sentenced tomorrow to die in the electric chair for murder. He was convicted yesterday morning. But he says he’ll fight to the highest courts. He’s shown leaving court.

Photo by Wide World

PM, December 1, 1941, p. 11



PM, December 1, 1941, p. 11

Lepke to Fight Death Sentence

PM, December 1, 1941, p. 11


PM, December 1, 1941, p. 11

Harlem Cop Shoots Boy as a Burglar

PM, December 1, 1941, p. 11




PM, December 1, 1941, p. 12

People Aren’t Really Bad, But They Get Black Eyes

PM, December 1, 1941, p. 12


“What Is This Thing Called Love?”; Lena Horne; Lou Bring; Ned Freeman; Cole Porter; RCA Victor (27820-B); December 1941

“…sold underworld slayings…”

November 30, 2021
1941


“Conga Brava”; Duke Ellington & His Orchestra; Ellington [1899-1974]; Tizol [Juan Tizol 1900-1984]; His Master’s Voice (E.A. 2766); December 1941






The New York Times, November 30, 1941, pp. 1 and 62


“KO-KO”; Duke Ellington & His Orchestra; Ellington; His Master’s Voice (E.A. 2766); December 1941


PM, November 30, 1941, p. 15, (Unidentified photographer)

Gangster Johnny Torrio [1882-1957] shown hiding his face… Commissioner Valentine denied reports that Torrio was picked up in connection with rumors of a plot to “spring” Louis (Lepke) Buchalter, on trail in Brooklyn for murder.

PM, November 30, 1941, p. 15


“Piano Boogie;” Dorothy Donigan; Bluebird (B-8979-A); December 1941



PM, November 30, 1941, p, 43, (Photos by Morris Gordon)

Women Study How to Blackout Homes And How to Fight Poison Gas Attack

PM, November 30, 1941, pp. 42-43


“Every Day Blues”; Dorothy Donigan [Dorothy Donegan (1922–1998)]; Bluebird (B-8979-B); December 1941

Doubled…

November 29, 2021
1941


“Double Trouble”; Big Bill; Melka; Columbia (37242); July 17, 1941


“Double Crossin’ Papa”; Rosetta Crawford; Perry Bradford; James P. Johnson’s Hep Cats; Decca (7584 B); February 1, 1939


“‘Double Trouble Blues”; Lowell Fulsom; Lowell Fulsom; Rosenbaum; Geddins; Aladdin (3088); 1948


“Down for Double”; Count Basie and his Orchestra; F. Greene; Okeh (6584); September 17, 1941


The New York Times, November 29, 1941

Police Guard is Doubled at Lepke’s Trial
To Prevent Repetition of Reles Incident

The New York Times, November 29, 1941


“Double Crossing Blues”; Johnny Otis Quintette; The Robins; Little Esther; Johnny Otis; Savoy (731-A); December 1, 1949

Sick…

November 28, 2021
1941


“Sick And Tired”; Fats Domino; C. Kenner; D. Bartholomew; A. Domino; Imperial (5515); 1958


“Sick, Sober, and Sorry”; Tommy Duncan and his Western All-Stars; Eddie Hazelwood; Tex Atchinson; Intro (6013); May 1, 1951


The New York Times, November 28, 1941

LEPKE TRIAL IS DELAYED

Illness of Judge Taylor Causes Postponement of Summings-Up

The New York Times, November 28, 1941


“Sick and Tired”; Lula Reed; Sonny Thompson; King (4748); 1954

Spark Harmony Framed Revenge

November 27, 2021
1941, PM



“FRAMED”; The Robins; Leiber; Stoller; Spark (107); October 1954


The New York Times, November 27, 1941


“Revenge”; Texas Jim Robertson and The Panhandle Punchers; Jenny Lou Carson; RCA Victor (21-0130-B); 1949


The New York Times, November 27, 1941

Lepke Was Framed, His Counsel Asserts

Defense Says Rubin, Seeking Revenge Planned Murder



“Revenge”; Henry Therrein; Akst; Lewis; Young; Harmony (712-H); 1928

Now the Japanese Know: U.S.A. Won’t Sell Out China


“Ev’rything I Love”; Benny Goodman and his Orchestra; Peggy Lee; Cole Porter; Okeh (6516); Publication date: November 27, 1941


PM, November 27, 1941

His Master Died in this room which was shattered by the blast of an illuminating-gas explosion last night, but a black shepherd dog Freca, was uninjured by either gas or the explosion. Police say Thomas Quinn, 31, a commercial artist, was found lying in front of a gas stove with all jets open in his west 26th Street apartment, but failed to make either a suicide or accident listing. Freca hid behind a small piano.

PM, November 27, 1941
PM photos by Weegee



“Just A Man And His Dog”; Red Foley; The Cumberland Valley Boys; Jack Rollins; Audrey Ganum; Decca (46291); December 18, 1947


Weegee, PM, November 27, 1941



“Lonesome Dog Blues”; Lightning Hopkins; Hopkins; RPM (346); September 1951

“…the case should reach the jury by Friday.”

November 26, 2021
1941


“One Woman’s Man”; Jay McShann And His Orchestra; Walter Brown; Jay McShann; John Tums; Decca (8607 A); November 18, 1941


The New York Times, November 26, 1941


“So You Won’t Jump”; Jay McShann; Eugene Ramey; Decca (8607 B); November 18, 1941


The New York Times, November 26, 1941


“Cryin’ Won’t Make Me Stay”; Jay McShann; Walter Brown; Williams; Decca (8623 A); November 18, 1941


The New York Times, November 26, 1941

LEPKE AND AIDES CLOSE DEFENSE

Racketeer Fails to Take the Stand to Answer Charge of Murder in Brooklyn

Long Summing Up Is Due

2 Days Likely to be devoter to Addresses – Jidge Rukles Out Widow’s Accusation

The New York Times, November 26, 1941


“Baby Heart Blues”; Jay McShann; Walter Brown; Decca (8623 B); November 18, 1941


New York Post, November 26, 1941

Reles Escaped Death in Jail

Gunman’s Plot failed, Says O”Dwyer at Cop’s Trial


“‘Fore Day Rider”; Jay McShann; Walter Brown; Decca (8635 A); November 18, 1941


PM, November 26, 1941

Reles’s Guards on Trial


“Hootie’s Ignorant Oil”; Jay McShann; Walter Brown; Bernard Anderson; Decca (8635 B); November 18, 1941