"…She sings very loud, but good."

March 9, 2012
Dora Pelletier, Sammy's Bowery Follies
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http://www.youtube.com/get_player
Photo from PM Daily, April 16, 1944
Audio from Sammy’s Bowery Follies ca. 1955

“Dora,” Weegee says, “is a singer of sentimental songs at Sammy’s. She sings very loud, but good.” PM Daily, April 16, 1944

Weegee says that one evening while I was at Sammy’s absorbing the atmosphere and drinks, a midget walked in. He was about three and one-half feet in height. I invited him to have a drink with me. He said he just arrived from Los Angeles where he had been working for the Brown & Williams Tobacco Corp., walking the streets dressed as a penguin advertising there Kool cigarettes. The midget was flush and started buying me drinks. He proudly showed me his social security card and told me that he was 37 years old, and single, as the girls were only after money. After the seventh round of drinks this midget got boisterous and offered to fight any man (his size) in the house.”
PM Daily, April 16, 1944

This is not a Weegee photograph: "MERRY CHRISTMAS – OPUS INCERTUM"

March 3, 2012
auction, counterfeit, fraud
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This caught our eye earlier this evening (03/07/2012):

MERRY CHRISTMAS – OPUS INCERTUM.
Bookseller: Andrew Cahan: Bookseller, Ltd., ABAA (AKRON, OH, U.S.A.)
Original silver gelatin photograph 3 3/8 x 3 3/8 inches, on double weight photographic stock 4 x 5 inches. Stamped on the blank verso “CREDIT PHOTO BY WEEGEE THE FAMOUS”. There is moderate dust soiling evident on the blank white margins of the print as well as on the blank stock (verso), otherwise a very good example. Certainly an odd “Christmas Card” from the official photographer of the Naked City. Bookseller Inventory # 50706″

This could be yours, for a mere $450.00.

Of course it reminded us of this (10/27/2011):

This photo sold on eBay for $99.00.

“straight from his archive stamped and limited
Beautiful original vintage silver gelatin photograph by the famous Weegee,measures 3×5 in.Here’s your chance to own a piece of photographic history.With Weegee stamp on verso.In good condition especially for it”s age and rarity”

Perhaps this was not a photograph made by Weegee…

Obviously, this photo was not made by Weegee…

Several months ago a few clowns (vintageexpertchristine and howardus) were (and still are) selling forged/fraudulent photos on eBay with phony Weegee stamps on the backs. And now these photos are returning to the marketplace… from eBay to abebooks…

Weegee visits Jersey City…

February 22, 2012
accident, Jersey City, train
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Pledge to the WFMU Marathon!

PM Daily, April 27, 1942

1. Four people died and 260 were injured when New York-bound Hudson-Manhattan train from Newark jumped rails at 10:50 last night in Jersey City Exchange Pl. Station/ First two cars of train telescoped, left; third car landed on platform. Cause of the crash had not been determined early today. The motorman was arrested on a manslaughter charge.

2. Firemen dig into rammed cars. They used acetylene torch to free 13-year-old Negro child in one car. The child was taken to hospital with more than 200 injured people.

3. Inside of car shown at right in first photo looked like this. Hats, packages, other articles carried by passengers were strewn around. This car, third in train, was first to jump track. Andrew Sabol, of Brooklyn, a passenger said: “As the train came into the station it began lurching from side to side. Then it stopped. Lights went out…”

4. After it came to rest, first car of train titled at angle. Service on busy Newark-New York City line was held up for hours. Crash cut telephone cables, disrupting service for 275,000 phones in Staten Island, Jersey City and Newark.
PM Daily, April 27, 1942

Dora Pelletier Live at Sammy’s! (part 1)

February 4, 2012
Dora Pelletier, Sammy's Bowery Follies
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http://www.youtube.com/get_player
Photo from PM Daily, April 16, 1944
Audio from Sammy’s Bowery Follies ca. 1955

“Dora,” Weegee says, “is a singer of sentimental songs at Sammy’s. She sings very loud, but good.” PM Daily, April 16, 1944

Weegee says that one evening while I was at Sammy’s absorbing the atmosphere and drinks, a midget walked in. He was about three and one-half feet in height. I invited him to have a drink with me. He said he just arrived from Los Angeles where he had been working for the Brown & Williams Tobacco Corp., walking the streets dressed as a penguin advertising there Kool cigarettes. The midget was flush and started buying me drinks. He proudly showed me his social security card and told me that he was 37 years old, and single, as the girls were only after money. After the seventh round of drinks this midget got boisterous and offered to fight any man (his size) in the house.”
PM Daily, April 16, 1944