PM Daily, March 2, 1941

We recently saw this photo at a prominent on-line auction web site:

From the auction page:
“1940s B&W WEEGEE PHOTOGRAPH Crowd at Theater
Up for auction is a Very Rare, Vintage, Highly Collectible 1940’s B&W WEEGEE PHOTOGRAPH . Image is of a crowd going into a theater. 6.5″x4.5″ image printed on 8×10 glossy silver gelatin paper. Photo is in very good condition with imperfections due to its age and rarity. WEEGEE Imprint on back of photo. Don’t miss your chance to own this great piece of photo history.”

Later they admit:

“FULL DISCLOSURE: We are an auction listing and selling facility. We do not own any of the merchandise listed in this auction. All information regarding authenticity, background, condition, etc, is supplied to us by the customer/owner and we do not in any way validate this information. You are bidding on this item based upon your own decision and knowledge, so make sure you ask all necessary questions and do your own homework prior to bidding. Items are not refundable unless item is not as described in listing. All items will ship with insurance to cover the final bid price.”

We are very skeptical that it is a real “Weegee photograph.” In fact, some of us are over 90% sure that it is not a “real Weegee” photograph… based on our knowledge of that photograph (limited to two small jpegs), that photograph is only interesting as an “imitation” Weegee photograph…

After several years of research wee have finally identified the location of Simply Add Boiling Water, 1943.

After examining old subway maps:

And after walking around the base of the Brooklyn Bridge…
The construction of the FDR and the construction of the Alfred E. Smith housing projects obfuscated the location, but we now think the location is below the Brooklyn Bridge, on the north side.

Water Street no longer runs under the bridge…

“The Sign across the center of the building refers to the frankfurters, not the firemen! Weegee put his Speed Graphic with 51/4″ lens on a tripod and three No. 3 flashbulbs on extensions. Super Panchro Pres – 1/10 at F:8”

Minicam, March 1947

Surprisingly wee were back on Centre Market place, on a warm winter day, working on a re-photographic project…

Wee recently saw this on an Internet auction site.
The photographer was not identified.
The print was probably made in the 80s (maybe 70s or 90s).
The only interesting thing is that the print is made from a slightly different negative, not the famous, Weegee’s World negative, possibly the one that was printed in PM, on July 22, 1940…
It sold for $31.00.