“Sinatra brought ecstasy…”

PM, October 12, 1944
“Explanation: Sinatra Opened at the Paramount”
“Frank Sinatra began an engagement at the Paramount Theater here yesterday. He reached the theater at 6 a.m. yesterday, but by that time, a long line – about 1,000 kids, mostly bobby sox girls – had already been waiting for hours in the chill air of morning. While they waited and Sinatra rehearsed inside the empty theater with Raymond Paige and his orchestra. Rehearsal lasted until 8 a.m. and at 8:30, the doors of the theater were thrown open to the madly rushing, crowding, shoving, elbowing followers of The Voice. They had been playing cards, eating sandwiches from paper bags, and drinking hot coffee from thermos bottles while they waited. Some of the girls refused to have their pictures taken, covered their faces with their hands. They were playing hookey from school and jobs, and planned to stay in the Paramount all day and all night to see each of Sinatra’s five appearances on stage.”
“While he rehearsed and his followers waited, weary-eyed Sinatra drank milk, learned his cues, went through his paces at the mike with out singing, relaxed as much as he could.”
“Outside, meanwhile, the lines grew longer as the Bobby Sox Brigade converged on 43d St. and Broadway. At 7 a.m., when this picture was made, the line extended halfway to Eighth Ave.”
“Although 25 City policemen were on duty to keep the kids in order, special New York guards had their hands full keeping the entrance to the Times building on 43d St. clear.”
“After the doors were thrown open at 8:30, and the kids had been seated, and the feature picture had been run (during which the kids screamed “We want Frankie”), Sinatra brought ecstasy…”
“…to his legion of patient admirers. Photos by Weegee, PM”

PM, October 13, 1944
‘Sunday, Monday and Always’
These pictures were taken yesterday inside the Paramount Theater where Frank Sinatra was in the second day of a personal appearance engagement. Enough said, we think. Photos by Weegee, PM“
Fellig’s Foolish Foto-Bombing Frolics
[Photographers and rubberneckers around police headquarters]

Weegee Guide to New York, pp 64-65
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the above photo was not made by Weegee…
Of course the title, location and date are accurate, but in the line of shutterbugs scuffling for position, situated next to the camera-less dude who appears to be shouting with clenched fist… there’s a familiar face… the silver stained fingernails are clear as day…
(Would be useful to see the back of this print.) It’s a peculiar photo: there’s a row of about 11 guys, three are holding cameras, one is looking at the photographer, two might be laughing, three are looking at the guy who might be shouting and making a clenched fist with his right, gloveless hand or Weegee, only about four are looking at what they are looking at, presumably the criminal and police officer imminently emerging from police headquarters…
PHOTOGRAPHY IS HIS BUSINESS…
In Toronto:
“Wednesday, December 9, 2015, 6 PM
Join Brian Wallis… on a tour of the exhibition.”
More info, and the above quote, here (ryerson.ca).
“Proving the Cops Are Human” – 72 Years Ago Today…
“End of a Bandit Chase
Two policemen were critically injured early yesterday when their radio car cracked into a truck at 55th St. and Eleventh Ave. They were chasing two men who were fleeing in a stolen car after holding up a tailor shop at 446 W. 57th St. One suspect was later seized by other policemen.
Photo by Weegee, PM”
“Proving the Cops Are Human
A look of grave concern crosses the face of this policeman as he watches an injured woman being removed from the Western Electric plant at 395 Hudson St. following explosion that killed two early yesterday.
Photo by Weegee, PM”
(Perhaps a small discovery… “The Human Cop” in PM, December 1, 1943, p. 16.)
That’s Life…

LIFE, November 27, 1939, p. 27
Murder in New York
“After dusk on Nov. 16, Angelo Greco stood smoking outside his cafe in Manhattan’s Little Italy. Emerging from the darkness, a man drew a gun, fired four shots, fled into the night. Greco tumbled dead in his doorway. From windows above, heads popped out. Police cars screamed into the street. Close in their wake arrived Arthur Fellig, famed free-lance photographer (LIFE, April 12, 1937) who sleeps behind police headquarters, has a short-wave radio in his car. He listened briefly while neighborhood folk stolidly disclaimed knowledge of the murderer, then stepped back and photographed this dramatic street scene.”

LIFE, November 27, 1939, pp. 26-27
That’s Life…

Life, November 27, 1939, p. 55
(Photo illustrated an article about the Chief Medical Examiner of NYC, the article can be seen here…)
Still For Sale…
“Weegee’s Halloween Masquerade…” – “And don’t let Weegee fool you!”


November, 1955
“Trick mirrors? Uh-uh!
Plastic surgery on your favorite stars? Nope!
Seeing things? You certainly are!”
“When this guy takes Hollywood apart (and he’s been doing it for years), the movie capital rarely looks the same. So here, for your enjoyment, is a festive Halloween guessing game…
Can you identify the people on these four pages?
Some are easy, but some are tricky. So watch out!
Have fun! And don’t let Weegee fool you!”
A WEEGEEWEEGEEWEEGEE clasic…



















