Rockefeller Center Construction: New York. Click to view full-size.
This 1932 photo by fearless photographer Charles C. Ebbets shows workmen eating lunch on the 69th floor of the GE Building during the construction of Rockefeller Center. The photo was originally published in the New York Herald Tribune. Notice that the worker on the far right is holding what looks like a liquor flask. I guess it gets chilly up there.
In additions to his daring work as a photographer, Ebbets worked as a pilot, a race car driver, and a professional wrestler.
Related photos: Empire State Bldg; Sleeping Above Manhattan (1932); Relaxing Above Manhattan (1932); Night Above Manhattan (circa 1932);
excelente
Posted by: António Andrade | Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 11:02 AM
hello my name is shenea and i have to do a re-creation of a picture during a time that effected the united states history...i am looking for a picture similar to this one but the men are sleeping on the scaffold...by any chance do you have this pictrue or know where i can find it...even the name will be helpful...thankyou..my email address is
snow.babe14@hotmail.com
Posted by: shenea | Friday, November 23, 2007 at 02:42 PM
Shenea,
The photo is Sleeping Above Manhattan (Charles Ebbets, 1930).
Posted by: Dr X | Sunday, December 02, 2007 at 11:47 AM
I have this photo framed at home, costing me $400!! For the life of me and my whole family we were trying to figure out what the men were doing, our suggestion was that they had just received their paychecks and were relaxing during lunch hour!!
Posted by: | Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Does anyone know how to find out the names of the individuals in the photograph are? My husband looks exactly like the guy 5th from the right (shirt off). I'm curious to find out if he is a distant relative.
Posted by: Jennifer R | Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 11:42 PM
The man,third from the right, is my friends' father. I do not know his first name. His sons are twins, Timmy and Jimmy Walker of Pompano Beach, Fla.
Posted by: wm. philhower | Sunday, November 08, 2009 at 05:29 PM
I was once told a story about the procedure the iron workers took during the 1932 New York lunch period but the resourses credibility is questionable. I know they didnt use the modern day hydraulic or electric gun because like i said "modern". Any old school iron workers out there? My e mail adress is newmanb07@yahoo.com. Thanks.
Posted by: Bryan Newman | Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 06:57 PM
The one all the way on the right is my grandfather, Torger Torgersen
Posted by: bob torgersen | Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 09:36 AM
everytime I see this photo I get chills. I love the picture yet I can't even wrap my head around these men eating lunch up so high like that.
But it is amazing none the less.
Posted by: Tasha | Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 07:37 PM
The man 2nd from the left is Victor Pearson, my great uncle. He died shortly after this picture was taken.
Posted by: Tina | Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 08:21 PM
The third man from the left is my grandfather,Theodore Brown, from Kearny,N.J. sitting next to his friend John Cook, the forth man.
Posted by: Tom McKelvey | Friday, September 17, 2010 at 03:58 PM
I was told that there were 3 Newfoundlanders/former Newfoundlanders sitting on this beam. Does anyone have any information in this regard?
Posted by: Winston Carter | Friday, October 22, 2010 at 03:01 PM
The third man in on the left is Ralph Rawding. He is our Grandfather
Posted by: Flora Rawding | Saturday, January 01, 2011 at 08:58 AM
My hands are clammy just looking at this photo.
Posted by: STReulet | Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 12:02 PM
I was told the man right in the middle is my great grandfather, George Danboise. I want to research this further, but I cannot find their names anywhere. Any ideas of where I could look that up? Thanks! Jteal84@yahoo.com
Posted by: Jessica | Monday, March 28, 2011 at 11:51 PM
We are also looking for the names of the men. We believe the shirtless man is my father. Have some people in NY checking this out.
Posted by: Winnie | Thursday, June 02, 2011 at 05:20 PM
here you go
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch_atop_a_Skyscraper
Posted by: cary | Tuesday, December 06, 2011 at 01:38 PM
the 3rd man on the left just looks like my father. when i first saw that picture i could't get my eyes off of it.the pictures i have of my father, just looks like the one in the picture. he was killed when i was 4 years old and he was a ironworker and he was working up in Sharon, pa.i wish i could get the name of all the guys in the picture.
Posted by: becky [knupp] main | Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 07:19 AM
im actually trying to figure out more information on the guy, right side third person. this work will be for my nar/des class which i will be writting an essay about that person. Any information for me please contact me at my facebook -> Divalavinalenalee. sorry thier is no email so please dont mind.
Posted by: lena | Monday, April 09, 2012 at 02:50 PM
To answer several posts: my Grandfather, Jim Joy is the second from the left helping his friend light his cigarette. He was originally from Holy Rood, Newfoundland and for many years we were unaware of this famous photo. He lived until 1957 in the Bronx, NY Hope this helps!
Posted by: RalphT | Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 07:42 PM
I think it's cool how a few of these guys have been claimed and named by a few of YOU! haha. It's a great photo, I hope you all find out the names of all in the photo.
Posted by: Rob K | Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 12:03 PM
Hello All,
YEARS AGO I SAW A PICTURE OF THIS PHOTO SHOWING ALL THE LANDSCAPE BACK BEHIND THEM INCLUDING THE RIVER. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE TO VIEW A COPY OF THE WHOLE IMAGE?
Posted by: Rohan Segal | Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 11:25 PM
This photograph was taken by Lewis Hine not Charles Ebbets
Posted by: Amy | Wednesday, January 09, 2013 at 06:54 PM