Mel Finkelstein

Mel Finkelstein was a Pulitzer Prize nominated photographer who rode the streets of New York City as a “camera cowboy” for more than 40 years working as a newspaper and freelance photographer. Mel used his lens to capture the good, the bad and the ugly.
While still a student at Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, he joined the former New York Journal American as a 16 year­ old freelance photographer in 1948. Mel was hired by that paper as a staff photographer and worked there while it merged in 1966 into the World Journal Tribune. He joined the New York Daily News in 1967 after the World Journal Tribune folded.
Mel Finkelstein left the New York Daily News twenty years later to join the staff of the New York Post. He became the Photo Editor of the New York Post in 1988 and remained there till his death at the age of 60 in 1992.
Mel Finkelstein covered breaking news, photographed celebrities and politicians and carried out numerous feature and special assignments. Walter Winchell and Bobby Kennedy were frequent guests in his radio car as he cruised the streets at night, often beating police to crime scenes. Finkelstein was often referred to as “Rambo” for his willingness to go in risky areas.
Mel once “arrested” a mugger in Brooklyn, helped capture an armed bank robber, and talked many potential suicide jumpers down to safety. The walls of his Baldwin, Long Island home were covered with awards and trophies. These included the National Press Photographers Association “Photographer of the Year” award, the Newspaper Guild of New York’s “Page One” award, the Society of Silurian’s Award, the New York Press Photographers Association Award and most notably his Pulitzer Prize nomination award. Many of these awards were won repeatedly over his career.
Mel Finkelstein captured many iconic faces ranging from political notables like President John F. Kennedy to movie stars like Marilyn Monroe. He photographed sports celebrities including boxing greats Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier, football greats Joe Namath, and tennis stars Billie Jean King and Jimmy Connors, to name a few. Mel also was a regular on the baseball field covering the New York Mets and the Yankees.
Mel Finkelstein was recognized for his iconic images of music greats ranging from the Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, Blondie, Tony Bennett, and other notable musicians of the era. His photographs covering the Woodstock Festival symbolized the profound, changing era of the sixties. Mel was best known for his Civil Rights news coverage. His candid photographs taken during the 1960’s riots took the plight of the suffering into the homes and consciousness of those sheltered from the truth of the inequality of the times. Mel was born in Brooklyn, NY to Ida and Louis Finkelstein. His father, Louis, was an immigrant from Poland whose expert wood craftsmanship led him to become a well known stair builder in New York City, building elaborate staircases in the City’s finest Brownstones. He was recognized by the New York Historical Society as one of the best stair builders in the country.
Mel was the youngest of two sons. His elder brother Perry Finkelstein bought Mel his first camera. The two brothers would cruise the streets of New York City together to catch breaking news. Mel shot the still photographs while Perry filmed news reel features for CBS. Mel’s sweetheart at the time, later to become his wife, Janet Levande was the reporter. Together, they called themselves the Dynamic Trio.
Mel married his childhood sweetheart, Janet Levande. Janet passed away a year before Mel in February 1991. They had been married for 43 years. They have four daughters: Anita Rosenbloom, Susan Balin, Donna Wendler and Alana Levande, and 8 grandchildren.

Mel Finkelstein’s life collection of photographs are being archived and set for exhibition.

His biography and exhibit information can be found on
www.photobymelfinkelstein.com

• New York Daily News October 24, 1992
• New York Post October 24, 1992
• New York Times October 25. 1992
• Newsday October 25, 1992