Iconic American Photo ‘Lunch Atop a Skyscraper’ to Become a Bobblehead

Karen Ruud September 20, 12:00 pm

While New York's thousands rush to crowded restaurants and congested lunch counters for their noon day lunch, these intrepid steel workers atop the 70 story RCA building in Rockefeller Center get all the air and freedom they want by lunching on a steel beam with a sheer drop of over 800 feet to the street level. The RCA building is the largest office building in terms of office space in the world. (original caption). Image taken 9/20/32; filed 9/29/32. — Bettmann/Getty Images

What To Know

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum is releasing a limited-edition bobblehead replicating the iconic 1932 “Lunch atop a Skyscraper” photograph.
The collectible features all 11 ironworkers from the famous image, is limited to 1,932 pieces, and will be sold exclusively online.

On September 20, 1932, one of the most iconic American photos of the 20th century was taken of 11 men sitting on a steel beam, enjoying lunch during the Great Depression. What made it so outstanding was that they were up 850 feet in the air while constructing the RCA Building, now better known as 30 Rock, in New York City. To honor this momentous moment in American history and as part of America 250, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is pleased to announce that it will release a special bobblehead of the memorable scene.

The bobblehead is a replica of the famous black-and-white photograph taken of 11 ironworkers sitting on a steel beam. It is limited to only 1,932 pieces and will be sold exclusively on their website for $100. Each man’s head bobbles, and they will come numbered and are expected to start shipping in January with a flat shipping rate of $8.

“We are thrilled to unveil this replica bobblehead scene replicating the ‘Lunch atop a Skyscraper’ photograph taken in New York this week in 1932,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum cofounder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “Called the ‘most famous picture of a lunch break in New York history,’ the image has become a symbol of the city’s and country’s resilience and determination. This one-of-a-kind bobblehead scene will be a valuable keepsake for both New Yorkers and fans of the famous photo.”

Courtesy of National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum

History of the picture

The photo was published in the Sunday supplement of the New York Herald Tribune on October 2nd, 1932, with the caption: “Lunch atop a Skyscraper.” The famous photo, originally titled “Builders of the City Enjoy Luncheon,” appeared in a Time magazine 2016 list of the 100 most influential images. While others may know it as “Lunch atop a Skyscraper,” the image has been called different names over the years, including “Lunch on a Beam” and “Men on a Beam.” Despite its seemingly spontaneous nature, the photo was arranged as a publicity shot taken during the construction of the 69th floor of Rock Center’s RCA Building and was a staged photograph to be part of a campaign promoting the skyscraper.

With the help of a Rockefeller Center archivist, Christine Roussel, only two men have been identified, but many others have made claims regarding identities, according to a New York Post survey. Pictured are Joseph Eckner, third from the left, and Joe Curtis, third from the right. The first man on the right, holding a bottle, has been identified as Slovak worker Gustav (Gusti) Popovic. The photograph was found in his estate, with the note “Don’t you worry, my dear Mariska, as you can see, I’m still with bottle” written on the back. The sixth person from the left is claimed to be Peter Rice, a Mohawk construction worker and great-grandfather of Burton Rice of Rice Mohawk Steel. This photograph became an icon of New York City and has often been re-created by construction workers.

About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high-quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as for organizations, individuals, and teams across the country. Visit them online and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.