It is probably the most famous picture of construction workers ever taken. It’s an amazing shot, not just for the photograph itself but for who these men were, what they were doing and their utter fearlessness. I can’t look at the photo without feeling a little queasy and yet they had lunch on a steel beam 800 feet in the air.
Lunch atop a skyscraper: the story behind the 1932 photo
You’d think their enormous cojones would have gotten in the way of walking around on those girders so casually.
Probably served as cushions in this picture too.
This photo has always reminded me of the last supper.
Heh. Then one of them ought to be yelling at the guy in the center, no? Maybe for eating a sandwich with unleavened bread.
Incredible image, and such a great story behind it. The photo hung in Sir Alex Ferguson’s office at Manchester United, and he’d show it to a new signing to demonstrate what teamwork meant to him. I think it probably resonated with Sir Alex, because it would’ve reminded him of his days as an apprentice, in the Govan shipyards of his native Glasgow. To me, it resonates the enduring nature of people during the great depression.
So many comments… So little time! lol
http://culturepopped.blogspot.com/2009/09/last-supper-atop-skyscraper.html
Rick Meyerowitz, the illustrator who did the “Animal House” movie poster, had his own take on that meal.
http://www.glennhorowitz.com/images/exhibitions/LastSupper.jpg
Doesn’t really the the story behind the photo though… just a nice fluff piece about the photo.