New York Times, Sunday May, 19, 2013.
(“Weegee’s New York,” 1948, according to Weegee’s World.)
From MoMA’s website:
“Weegee’s Coney Island.” 1954. USA. Directed by Weegee. Part of Weegee’s New York. “Weegee (Arthur Fellig) filmed, Amos Vogel edited. The preciousness of the avant-garde shown at Cinema 16 was interrupted by this breath of fresh air. Weegee’s panorama of the crowd may be the greatest single shot in cinedom.” 14 min.
Weegee in the New Yorker, May 6, 2013.
Fellig the Zellig in the Village…
We’re in the process of releasing an official press release… Until then, we wanted to let a select few (that’s you) know, that we are creating an unofficial Weegee Museum of Photography.
We haven’t decided on an unofficial name yet. It must form a pleasant acronym and unfortunately most of the good acronyms are taken, these are the working names: WHAM (Weegee House of American Museum, no wait, that’s a little awkward), or WHY (Weegee House of Yesterday), or HUMP WHIP (House of Usher (Fellig’s) Museum of Photography and Weegee’s Home and International Museum of Photography), etc…
We have purchased 5 Centre Market Place. (and 5 Center Market Place) and will begin deconstruction before June 12, 2013…
We will refurbish the original rifle range in the basement, near the cafe, install a police teletype machine, provide free mandatory cigars, etc. etc…
Wee (WHAM, WHY, or HUMP WHIP, etc.) will be open 24 hours a day, and wee will keep Weegee’s hours, we’ll be open all night… (There will be no registrar dept., and if anyone has ever unnecessarily dismantled imaging equipment, and acted unprofessionally and reprehensibly, they will not be allowed to enter.) And of course the price of admission will be $17…
1955
“I’m always suspicious of Brooklyn home girls… They’re poison. They like to be driven home. (It’s always a stone’s throw from Prospect Park. You keep on driving till you land in Sheepshead Bay.) Then, when you reach their destination, they jump out, say “Thanks!” and run into their house
A Manhattan girl would invite you in for a drink and maybe have breakfast with you in bed in the morning, but not a Brooklyn babe… they take, they don’t give…”
Weegee By Weegee, p. 57
PM Daily, March 21, 1946
1955
Journey Into Light 1951
“The Story of a Man Who Turned His Back on God!” Starring Sterling Hayden and Viveca Lindfors…
Standing in the shadows… The only actor looking at the camera… Was the photographer Arthur Fellig… Playing a “Skid Row Bum…”
The number 10 “printed” on a piece of film and adhered to the lower left corner of a 4×5 film holder, that is not coincidentally numbered 10.
AF 56. Corner of Weegee print.
In the corner of some full frame Weegee prints (easily seen on some of the “portfolio” prints) there is an AF, Arthur Fellig, and a number. Usually it is inverted, interestingly not on the above print.
Perhaps these AFs were constructed like the above 10. And used from approximately 1942-1944. (More exact dates will be forthcoming.)
During this time period, it’s common to see other PM Daily photographers’ initials “written” on the corner of their prints. And many other press photographers have similar initials, names, and/or photo agencies (ACME, etc.) “written” on their negatives and prints…
(All images except for the film holder are screen shots from the great Met. Museum website.)
If the above AF thoughts are true, then it’s a useful way to date Weegee photos. And further proof that the photo “Summer on the Upper West Side,” often called “Summer on the Lower East Side, ca. 1937”, was made later, around 1944…
(To be continued…)
1948
June 1955
WEEGEEWEEGEEWEEGEE 