Question 1

True or false: Weegee's real name was Arthur Fellig and he was a pioneering crime scene photographer in 1930s New York.

Accepted Answer

True. Born Usher Fellig, he changed it to Arthur. His radio-like police scanner gave him an uncanny ability to arrive first at crime scenes.

Question 2

True or false: Weegee's photo 'The Critic' shows well-dressed women at the opera next to a disheveled drunk woman.

Accepted Answer

True. This 1943 image captures a stunning class contrast. The drunk woman's expression mocks the elite, making it one of Weegee's most famous social commentaries.

Question 3

True or false: Weegee published a book of his crime scene photos titled 'Naked City,' which later inspired the TV series.

Accepted Answer

True. His 1945 book 'Naked City' collected his gritty, unflinching images of New York crime and nightlife. It directly inspired the 1948 film and 1958 TV series.

Question 4

True or false: Weegee once photographed a man's own murder by setting up a hidden camera in his apartment.

Accepted Answer

True. In 1940, he set up a trip-wire camera in a man's room after death threats. It captured the victim being shot, though the photo was too graphic for publication at the time.

Question 5

True or false: Weegee was a ghostwriter for the film 'Naked City,' which won an Academy Award.

Accepted Answer

False. He served as a technical consultant and provided still photographs, but he didn't write the script. The film did win Oscars for cinematography and editing.

Question 6

True or false: Weegee invented the flash bulb to capture nighttime crime scenes.

Accepted Answer

False. The flash bulb was invented earlier by others. Weegee famously used a Speed Graphic camera with large flash bulbs, but he didn't invent them.

Question 7

True or false: Weegee's iconic style included using infrared film to photograph people in complete darkness.

Accepted Answer

False. Infrared film wasn't common in his era. He relied on powerful flash bulbs to freeze action and create harsh, high-contrast shadows.

Question 8

True or false: Weegee's camera was custom-built with a telephoto lens to photograph from rooftops.

Accepted Answer

False. He used a standard 4x5 Speed Graphic with a fixed wide-angle lens. His secret was being physically close to the action, not using long lenses.

Weegee Trivia Questions