Strange Days, Dangerous Nights: Photos from the Speed Graphic Era

by Larry Millett, John Sandford (Foreword)

Fat men's races and fall-out shelters, murder victims and loose women, cheerleaders and immigrants, celebrities and children in distress were just some of the urban curiosities splashed across the pages of city newspapers during the Speed Graphic era (1930s-1950s). Championed by acclaimed news photographers like Arthur Fellig (a.k.a. Weegee), the Speed Graphic camera produced a new visual style that was as blunt, powerful, and immediate as a left hook. Driven by the desire to fill newspaper pages with sensational images, press photographers shot everything, day and night: automobile accidents, fires, murders, all the cop news that fought for a hot spot on the Front Page. And they covered uncounted numbers of social affairs?pictures called "grip-and-grins" in the trade: school events, sports, celebrities, oddities both of nature and humanity. Veteran journalist and mystery writer Larry Millett has unearthed over 200 of the best photos from the archives of the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the St. Paul Dispatch for Strange Days, Dangerous Nights. Included are the sensational stories behind the photos and biographies of some of the top press photographers of the day. An evocative look at another time, this is a visual history like no other, a feast for fans of photography and photojournalism, crime buffs, and urban historians?and a testament to the craft of those photographers who documented their era one shot at a time. "A collection of vivid and sometimes spectacular photographs that throw new light on the not-so-distant past, a place that is a bit like home, a bit like a movie, and a bit like another planet. It is heartening to find such stuff so well preserved and so expertly annotated.? -- Luc Sante, author of Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York, Evidence and The Factory of Facts

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Larry Millett has combined his interest in journalism, architectural history, and mystery fiction to create an unusual writing career. A native of Minneapolis, he attended school there and then went on to obtain a bachelor’s degrees in English from St. John’s University and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago.

He began working as a general assignment reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 1972 and became the newspaper’s first architecture critic after a year of study on a fellowship to the University of Michigan.

Larry’s first book, The Curve of the Arch, appeared in 1985. Since then, he’s written eleven other works of nonfiction, including Lost Twin Cities, which has been in continuous print for more than twenty years.

Larry began writing mystery fiction in 1996 by bringing the world’s most famous consulting detective to Minnesota for The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon. He’s published six other novels featuring Holmes, Dr. Watson, and St. Paul saloonkeeper Shadwell Rafferty.

Larry lives in St. Paul’s historic West Seventh Street neighborhood with his wife and occasional writing partner, Jodie Ahern, who is also an accomplished painter and a freelance copy editor.

Reviews

[Vince Tuss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should have bought this book 20 years ago, when the fabulous exhibit with more photos was at the Minnesota History Center. The photo I wanted to see wasn’t in the book, but there is so much from a bygone era. And some of the era when it was written has changed, too. Nice to have Union Depot a train depot again. Any history fan, not just one in Minnesota, would find many treasures. Lots of graphic photos, too. Not for the faint of heart.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Photos from the archives of St. Paul newspapers between 1941 and 1966. I'm a sucker for the "speed graphic era" showcased here and I recently moved to the Twin Cities, so this was an amazing five star experience. The access photographers had in this era is simply absurd, producing photos that are astoundingly intimate - whether they were posed or candid. I was constantly blown away by the newspaper captions Millett paraphrases and quotes from with each photo - so prude and quaint and conservative (typical for that era) while the photos were so graphic and gory and ruthless.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part "Lost Twin Cities," part photojournalist history book, I am transfixed by the vintage clothes, the fixtures, the epic hotel fires, and the bloodied bodies crumbled in car seats, sprawled out on bar floors and in living rooms. This book is a gem.

[Millie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating news stories and photos from the 30's-50's. I never knew about some of these (sometimes gruesome) crimes in the Twin Cities during this era. Makes some stories from today less shocking in comparison! Great book for people who want to learn past history/true crime for the Minneapolis/St. Paul and surrounding areas.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures were hauntingly beautiful and detailed times and places that just can't be seen any longer. Even some of the darker images had their own draw and in each chapter, the pull to keep turning the pages to see what else one could discover was constant. It would be nice to see more books written and put together in this style as it gives a very unique point of view.

[Harley Arena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some how I just love murder scene pictures.
I dunno how or why tho.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black & white news photos, in the area of St Paul, MN, from the late 1940's through the 1950's. Fascinating look into a time now long past.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, graphic photos. The speed-graphic era of photography was raw. Great photos and dialogue.