PM, Sunday, July 6, 1947
PM
“Weegee calls this his favorite photo…”
“Fire Alarm
Weegee calls this his favorite photo. It was made at dawn recently on Manhattan’s Lower East Side during a tenement house fire. ‘The couple on the sidewalk,’ Weegee told us, ‘are watching the fire and hoping their belongings will not be burned. That is, the ones which the man had to leave behind.’ What happens to New Yorkers when they’re burned out of their homes? Well, the Emergency Welfare Division of the Department of Welfare takes them under its wing; finds temporary quarters for them in hotels, rooming houses or the Municipal Lodging House; helps them find new permanent homes; provides emergency food, clothing and even money for expenses. Families with very low incomes and those on relief get replacements of destroyed clothing and furniture free of charge. Clothing and blankets are kept in a Division warehouse and are rushed to citizens whom fire has forced to jump out of bed and flee into the cold night.” PM, April 23, 1944, pp.m5
“How these pictures were made.
SALVAGE from a tenement house fire is a typical Weegee shot. He says: “The other photogs on the job thought I was nuts to turn my camera on the spectators instead of the fire – but of all the pix I’ve made, I like this the best.” Made with a 4×5″ news camera, fast pan film, one flash bulb, in 1/200th of a secons at f/16.”
“A couple driven out from the burning tenement… I don’t know their names… but I did hear someone call him ‘Pincus’… so here they are right across the street from their burning tenement… it looks like Pincus had time to grab a woman’s dress… his best coat… but minus the pants…” Naked City, 1945, p. 71

“Tenement fire, 1945.” Weegee, 1977, p. 65

“The clothing has been saved, 1943.” Weegee’s New York, 1982, p. 34

“A couple driven out from the burning tenement…” Weegee’s World, 1997 p. 120
75 Years Ago Today: “Here’s the Bad News…”
75 years and 3 days ago…
“She’ll Be Queen of the Photographer’s Party” – 71 Years Ago Today

PM, January 6, 1946, p. 11 (Unidentified Photographer)
“Miss Patricia Van Iver, model from Upper Darby, Pa., poses appropriately after being chosen yesterday as Queen of 1946 by the Press Photographer’s Assn., Inc. The 20-year-old beauty will preside at the cameraman’s 17th annual entertainment and dance at the Waldorf Feb. 1”
(Wikipedia: “Dolores Donlon (born Patricia Vaniver, September 19, 1926, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), is an American former model and actress.”)
“Don Freeman’s Newsstand takes in Eddie Condon’s New Bandstand” – 71 Years Ago Today…
“Don Freeman’s Newsstand Takes in Eddie Condon’s New Bandstand
In the groove on opening night – 47 West 3d St. Cast of characters seen below – Brad Gowan on Valve Trombone; Wild Bill Davison, Trumpet; Bud Freeman, Sax; Joe Marsala, Clarinet; Eddie Condon, Guitar; Dave Tough, Drums; And in front of the stand, flashing away with cameras – Gjon Mili, Lisette, and Weegee on the Speed Graphic – a hot time was had by all.
In foreground – Maggie Gowan (Brad’s wife) sitting with friend Eddie Edwards – known as Daddy Edwards of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, and creator of “Tiger Rag” and other classics.”
PM, January 6, 1946
Great Don Freeman website: donfreeman.info
This was Weegee…

New York Post, Friday, December 27, 1968, p. 14
“Crime Photographer Weegee Dies”
“…the Dali of photography, who once bemoaned the passing of Murder Inc…
He died yesterday of a brain tumor at Park West Hospital. He was 69…
His view of the world ran parallel: ‘I like things to be normal. A good fire or a murder every few nights. It’s natural for a woman to shoot her husband and a guy to throw his sweetheart off a cliff. I hate suppressed desires.’
In recent years he was also noted for abstract photos…”
(June 12 1899 – December 26, 1968)
“5500 New Yorkers Will Spend Christmas Like This… Sleeping in Flophouses, Eating in City Dining Halls”

PM, December 24, 1940, pp. 16-17 (PM Sketches by Willard Arnold)
“New York City will be host to 5500 destitute men at noon Christmas with a dinner of chicken fricassee, mashed turnips and potatoes, mince or pumpkin pie and coffee.
These men are usually called bums…”
PM Sketches by Willard Arnold
PM, December 24, 1940, p. 16
76 Years Ago Today…





















