Crowd at Coney Island During the July Heatwave in 1940

Weegee’s photograph, “Crowd at Coney Island,” taken on July 21, 1940, captures a bustling scene of people enjoying a hot summer day at the beach. The photograph, published in the newspaper PM, depicts a massive crowd under a temperature of 89 degrees, with the caption “They came early, stayed late.”

People came to Coney Island for the salt water. Many of them spend the day and night and spend no more than 25 cents. They came with their bathing suits under their clothes, or they negotiated a furtive quick change under the boardwalk. Perhaps they brought a few sandwiches. Or maybe they will buy a few frankfurters... The beach policemen testify that there are youths who spend the whole summer on the beach and never pay a nickel’s rent.

Weegee, whose real name was Arthur Fellig, was a master of capturing candid moments. He was known for using a variety of techniques, including infrared film to shoot at night without being noticed, to document the underbelly and everyday life of New York.

“At Coney I had two kosher frankfurters and two beers at a Jewish delicatessen...” said Weegee. “Later on for a chaser I had five more beers, a malted milk, two root beers, three Coca Colas and two glasses of buttermilk. And five cigars, costing 19 cents.”