▶️ Lunch Atop A Skyscraper: The Story Behind The 1932 Photo

[Donkees]

We don't know their names, nor the photographer who immortalized them, but these men lunching 800 feet up show the daredevil spirit behind Manhattan's vertical expansion.

[Chainfire]

1. "The people who actually built the buildings are forgotten."

That is just the way it is, and always has been....We remember the politicians, bankers and developers.

I spent my life in construction work, and I will tell you the truth; I have always found that photo terrifying. Of course the Wallenda family had it technically right about great heights when they said that anything above 75 feet doesn't matter. I have worked on top of completed high-rises and I can tell you that, to me, it mattered if I had to go near the edge.

[Donkees]

6. We know three of their names now: Joseph Eckner, Joe Curtis, Gustav (Gusti) Popovic

What is also known is that a completely finished floor was likely beneath the workers, just a few feet below.

Even if the finished floor existed, the image is nonetheless terrifying to view, given that the workers aren't wearing any safety gear of any kind and that they are some 800 feet above the streets below.

https://www.photographytalk.com/photography-articles/8082-lunch-atop-a-skyscraper-the-story-behind-the-death-defying-1932-photo

[ZZenith]

2. I've always loved the guy on the far right.

Whiskey for lunch at 800 feet - why not?

[Donkees]

4. 'The first man from the right, holding a bottle, has been identified as Slovak worker Gustav Popovic

The first man from the right, holding a bottle, has been identified as Slovak worker Gustáv (Gusti) Popovič. The photograph was found in his estate, with the note "Don't you worry, my dear Mariška, as you can see I'm still with bottle" written on the back.[16]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch_atop_a_Skyscraper

[ZZenith]

9. Thanks for the backstory!

Sadly humorous. Humorously sad. I hope Mariška was able to cope.

[Donkees]

10. ''By the end of World War II, Gusti was killed by a grenade in his village ...

Gusti was originally a lumberjack and carpenter. In 1932 he sent his wife Mariška a postcard with this photograph on which he wrote, "Don´t you worry, my dear Mariska, as you can see I'm still with bottle. Your Gusti. He came back to Vyšný Slavkov at the beginning of World War II and became a farmer. By the end of World War II, Gusti was killed by a grenade in his village. His and Mariška's joint grave is in the Vyšný Slavkov cemetery.

https://www.facebook.com/cocoonbru/photos/a.1690816924522914/2050508891887047/

[ZZenith]

11. Well. Shit.

Nothing humorous about that.

I hope they knew some periods of joy between all the struggles.

[Donkees]

12. He is still honored in his village as its most glorious native:

This sign points the way to his grave, and the grave includes the photo





He sent her the postcard after she died

[debm55]

3. Donkees, Thank you for posting this. It always made me wonder how they got up from a sitting

position to stand up. That truly is an iconic photo.

[Donkees]

5. They jumped :) 'What is also known is that a completely finished floor was likely beneath...'

What is also known is that a completely finished floor was likely beneath the workers, just a few feet below.

Even if the finished floor existed, the image is nonetheless terrifying to view, given that the workers aren't wearing any safety gear of any kind and that they are some 800 feet above the streets below.



https://www.photographytalk.com/photography-articles/8082-lunch-atop-a-skyscraper-the-story-behind-the-death-defying-1932-photo

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. HIghest I ever had to work was at about 90 ft on an expanded metal catwalk.

No way in hell I'd be where those guys were.

[Earth-shine]

8. Third from the right. His last name is Hughs.

He was the father of my next-door neighbor when I was growing up in the 70s. Looks just like him.

This famous photo is staged. It is not spontaneous. The man's great-granddaughter told me so.

I never saw the "hats off" photo before.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

13. It's not easy to get twelve workers to ..hey, careful, dangit. ...

It's not easy to get eleven workers to pose like that.

[Donkees]

14. They added a new guy: