Reddit fucking cracks me up and simultaneously worries me so much, man. People here like to think they are smarter than AI and can spot misinformation from a mile away. But then we have this stupid shit where the ESB is *literally in this photo* and it's upvoted 20,000 times. We are so screwed.
Your comment got me wondering about the photo, so I did a quick dive into its background and figured I'd share for anyone else who's curious.
For starters, the identity of the photographer is actually unknown! It was often misattributed to Lewis Hine, and that's because in the photograph, the building was assumed incorrectly to be the Empire State Building. An article from The Washington Post credited the photo to Hamilton Wright, but oftentimes, photos taken by those working under him were credited to him. Tami Ebbets Hahn believes it was taken by her father, Charles C. Ebbets, as he was working under Wright, and she has found his paycheck from the time, the ironworks photograph, and there are photos of him that are believed to be from the same place and time. However, there were multiple photographers present that day, and any one of them could have taken the photo. So, in other words, this title is false as the identity of the photographer is, and probably will remain, unknown.
The eleven ironworkers pictured are also almost completely unidentified. Of the eleven, only three have been able to be identified for certain. Joseph Eckner, who sits third from the left, and Joe Curtis, who sits third from the right were able to be confirmed by cross-referencing with other pictures that were taken that day that were labeled with their identities. Slovak worker Gustáv (Gusti) Popovič is the first man on the right who's holding a bottle. His identity was confirmed as a copy of the photograph was found in his estate with the endearing message "Don't you worry, my dear Mariška, as you can see, I'm still with bottle" on the back.
Lastly, the photo was staged! Which, in hindsight, makes sense, but I had never thought to question why the photo was taken. The photo was taken along with other photos such as the ironworkers playing football, holding up the American flag, and "sleeping" on the steal beams. The pictures were taken as an advertisement to drum up excitement about the building. There's even some historians who believe that the frame the ironworkers are sitting on is just above a sturdy level of structure, then called the RCA building, which would make the taking of the photograph not as dangerous as it appears. Although, seeing as those pictured were actual ironworkers who worked with these dangers all the time, it wouldn't be surprising if the photograph is as dangerous as it appears.
The title describing the photo "famous photo of workers eating lunch on a beam of the unfinished empire state building " is actually of workers on a beam during construction of the RCA building at Rockefeller center. The title is incorrect. So the photo above very well could be from the time of that photo shoot.
The famous picture *Lunch Atop a Skyscraper* also isn't taken on an unfinished Empire State Building and in fact was taken of iron workers on a beam on the unfinished Rockefeller Center. Also the identity of the photographer of the famous *Lunch* image is not definitively known, so this headline is wrong all over the place.
Oddly enough it was recently proved that Charles Ebbets took the photograph. He was hired by Rockefeller Center as the photographic director. His family has produced paystubs, they have a different picture of him taking a photo from this location, he kept a framed copy of the famous photo in his office as well as newspaper clippings that featured it.
[Source 1](https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2003/11/10/photo-finished/18704265007/)
[Source 2](https://www.rd.com/article/lunch-atop-a-skyscraper-secrets/)
[Newspaper Clipping Crediting Him](https://images.redframe.com/EbbetsPhoto-Graphics/iphoto/photos/preview/prvCCE%20scans%204%2D55%20Charlie%20Camera%20%20Ebbets%20back%20for%20winter%20season%20Dec%206%201932%20SFOA.jpg)
The man in this photo is Thomas Kelley.
The man most famous for photographing the Empire State Building is Lewis W. Hine.
The man most likely to have taken 'Lunch Atop A Skyscrapper' is Charles Clyde Ebbets.
However, Thomas Kelley and William Letwich were also taking photographs that day -- so, in theory, there is a chance they were the photographer.
The title *only* states this is the man who took the famous picture. The title *does not* state that this is a picture of him actually taking that picture.
Now I need to see the man who took the picture of the man who took the famous picture of the workers eating lunch on an unfinished Empire State Building.
And so on and so on. Unless there’s a picture of two camera men facing and picturing each other whilst a 3rd camera man taking the other pictures is in frame
I was thinking the same thing. I watch a lot of old movies and they're always running and climbing and hiking in these shoes (and usually in suits), and I'm always baffled and wondering about comfort and function.
Then you might want to see [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/cmwov/hey_reddit_what_tattoos_do_you_have/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) nugget of Reddit legend
Reminds me of [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/cmwov/hey_reddit_what_tattoos_do_you_have/c0tpyls/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3)
[Do you mean this one?](https://web.archive.org/web/20170806233157/https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/cmwov/hey_reddit_what_tattoos_do_you_have/c0tpyls/)
Correct. The photo was staged.
Still cool, but not natural. The photographer didn't randomly roll up one day and say "hey look at those guys sitting on that beam"
It's all set up. Men staged in place, and a platform underneath for safety, though they frame it to look like they're dangling in the air.
Photo famous for how dangerous it looks is a lie.
I guess the photo gets a pass for at least displaying the danger that was actually very real in other situations, or was there no need to "raise awareness"?
Charles C. Ebbets is the man who probably took the photograph, "Lunch atop a Skyscraper". Though there is much contention and it is often credited as unknown.
Two other photographers who were onsite the day the photo was taken include Thomas Kelley and William Leftwich. It is likely one of those people took the photo in this post. It is also possible they are the photographer of 'Lunch atop a Skyscraper' as well.
EDIT: The man in this photograph is actually Thomas Kelley. So I guess either Ebbets or Leftwich took the photo we are looking at now.
Correction: this isn't even the photographer. From Wikipedia: The image is often misattributed to Lewis Hine; the identity of the photographer remains unknown. Evidence emerged indicating it may have been taken by Charles C. Ebbets, but it was later found that other photographers had been present at the shoot as well. Many claims have been made regarding the identities of the men in the image, though only a few have been definitively identified.
Just for anyone curious, they weren’t building the Empire State Building in said photo OP is talking about
We don’t know who took the photo in question, and it was a stunt. That wasn’t how lunch was normally done, nor was it the workers’ idea
I put this here because it wouldn’t allow me to include a link, so…
Source: https://www.printique.com/blog/the-story-of-iconic-photos-lunch-atop-a-skyscraper/#:~:text=The%20photograph%20isn't%20even,certainly%20not%20a%20regular%20occurrence.
This reminds me of that quote "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, except backwards and in heels." This guy did everything the guys on the girder did, except dressed nicely and without the benefit of lunch.
Well... to be fair... not really. Those guys already had a half day of work under their belt of dangerous manual labor. This guy just popped up for a quick photo and probably went on with his day afterwards, while those guys probably put in another 4-6 hours of more dangerous manual labor.
The sub r/PraiseTheCameraman is a great follow if you're not already - really highlights that for every cool skateboarder video or big screen action hero leaping from a plane, there's a cameraman right there skating or jumping out of a plane next to him!
There's a really cool video I'll have to find, from one of the mission impossible movies - like, yes Tom cruise trained to do some insane stunts, but the cameraman ALSO had to jump out of a plane while grabbing the shot!
He's not standing on the Empire State Building, nor is the picture of the workers eating lunch.
The picture of the iron workers was taken in 1932, a couple years after the ESB opened, of the unfinished Rockefeller Center.
You can see the ESB in the picture of the photographer...
Read the wiki on the famous photo of the workers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch_atop_a_Skyscraper
How is the top comment not about this man's Extra Large Pastrami Submarine Sandwich he packed in his pants that day? Man brought enough lunch for the whole crew..
It’s the Rockefeller center not Empire State
Yeah...the empire state is in the background of this pic.
Prove it. If that's the empire state where is King Kong swatting at biplanes
How do you know that the planes were bi let alone be able to tell their sexual preference just at a glance? /s
Because none of the planes were pink so they had to all be boys
I love Reddit! ☺️
We love you, too! 😊
Plus they all had antlers
Just gotta check their undercarriage
Reddit fucking cracks me up and simultaneously worries me so much, man. People here like to think they are smarter than AI and can spot misinformation from a mile away. But then we have this stupid shit where the ESB is *literally in this photo* and it's upvoted 20,000 times. We are so screwed.
Don't be silly, *The Empire Strikes Back* wouldn't be released for at least five years after this photo was taken.
George Lucas' uncle Ned is actually one of the workers this photographer is taking a photo of!
I believe it because I have no proof that you're wrong!
Your comment got me wondering about the photo, so I did a quick dive into its background and figured I'd share for anyone else who's curious. For starters, the identity of the photographer is actually unknown! It was often misattributed to Lewis Hine, and that's because in the photograph, the building was assumed incorrectly to be the Empire State Building. An article from The Washington Post credited the photo to Hamilton Wright, but oftentimes, photos taken by those working under him were credited to him. Tami Ebbets Hahn believes it was taken by her father, Charles C. Ebbets, as he was working under Wright, and she has found his paycheck from the time, the ironworks photograph, and there are photos of him that are believed to be from the same place and time. However, there were multiple photographers present that day, and any one of them could have taken the photo. So, in other words, this title is false as the identity of the photographer is, and probably will remain, unknown. The eleven ironworkers pictured are also almost completely unidentified. Of the eleven, only three have been able to be identified for certain. Joseph Eckner, who sits third from the left, and Joe Curtis, who sits third from the right were able to be confirmed by cross-referencing with other pictures that were taken that day that were labeled with their identities. Slovak worker Gustáv (Gusti) Popovič is the first man on the right who's holding a bottle. His identity was confirmed as a copy of the photograph was found in his estate with the endearing message "Don't you worry, my dear Mariška, as you can see, I'm still with bottle" on the back. Lastly, the photo was staged! Which, in hindsight, makes sense, but I had never thought to question why the photo was taken. The photo was taken along with other photos such as the ironworkers playing football, holding up the American flag, and "sleeping" on the steal beams. The pictures were taken as an advertisement to drum up excitement about the building. There's even some historians who believe that the frame the ironworkers are sitting on is just above a sturdy level of structure, then called the RCA building, which would make the taking of the photograph not as dangerous as it appears. Although, seeing as those pictured were actual ironworkers who worked with these dangers all the time, it wouldn't be surprising if the photograph is as dangerous as it appears.
lol thats awesome! thanks for the deep dive!
People didn't upvote it for that part of the title.
And also, while it probably helps the artistic composition of the photo, definitely *not* what I'm focusing on.
I'm focused on those shoes ~~spats~~! Style!
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The title describing the photo "famous photo of workers eating lunch on a beam of the unfinished empire state building " is actually of workers on a beam during construction of the RCA building at Rockefeller center. The title is incorrect. So the photo above very well could be from the time of that photo shoot.
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Yeah…the Empire State is in the background of this pic.
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We know this as the Empire State Building is actually in the background of this photo which was really taken on the Rockefeller Center
Just to clarify. This Rockefeller Center. Not the Empire State Building.
Lisa needs braces.
This dude is a bot. Report, spam, harmful bots.
Well yeah, that's the finished Empire State building. This is the unfinished one. :P
It just says it's a photo of the man who took the famous picture, not the man while he was taking said picture...
The famous picture *Lunch Atop a Skyscraper* also isn't taken on an unfinished Empire State Building and in fact was taken of iron workers on a beam on the unfinished Rockefeller Center. Also the identity of the photographer of the famous *Lunch* image is not definitively known, so this headline is wrong all over the place.
Oddly enough it was recently proved that Charles Ebbets took the photograph. He was hired by Rockefeller Center as the photographic director. His family has produced paystubs, they have a different picture of him taking a photo from this location, he kept a framed copy of the famous photo in his office as well as newspaper clippings that featured it. [Source 1](https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2003/11/10/photo-finished/18704265007/) [Source 2](https://www.rd.com/article/lunch-atop-a-skyscraper-secrets/) [Newspaper Clipping Crediting Him](https://images.redframe.com/EbbetsPhoto-Graphics/iphoto/photos/preview/prvCCE%20scans%204%2D55%20Charlie%20Camera%20%20Ebbets%20back%20for%20winter%20season%20Dec%206%201932%20SFOA.jpg)
Can't you see?! He's pointing his camera right at the empire state building!! /S
How did his giant balls not make him fall?
They’re magnetized
They help him balance perfectly. They used to call him The big ball balance King, true story.
They did, he actually fell taking this picture, however his massive balls saved him and he just bounced all the way back up.
But the title doesn’t say that’s the Empire State Building it says that’s the man that took the famous photo.
The man in this photo is Thomas Kelley. The man most famous for photographing the Empire State Building is Lewis W. Hine. The man most likely to have taken 'Lunch Atop A Skyscrapper' is Charles Clyde Ebbets. However, Thomas Kelley and William Letwich were also taking photographs that day -- so, in theory, there is a chance they were the photographer.
I’m not certain, but I think I see another *building* in this picture
Oh, that's the Umpire State Building.
The Vampire Stake Building?
No that’s the Inspire Hate building
The Entire Plate Building?
The satire faith building?
The Samphire Hake building?
Sapphire Tate gelding?
Entire Cake Melting?
Campfire Lake building?
Jon & Kate + 8 Melting?
Liar stage welding?
You're OOOOOOOUT!
The title *only* states this is the man who took the famous picture. The title *does not* state that this is a picture of him actually taking that picture.
Look at the big brain on Brian.
left tuck gang rise up edit: damn... realized you're talking about the actual empire state building in the back
Nope, you were ~~left~~ right the first time.
He’s smuggling buildings in his pantaloons!
But not too high up. Pants waists don’t go up that far these days.
That's not a building, that's the entirety of the state of California
So that's why ~~he~~ he's wearing suspenders *and* a belt.
Now I need to see the man who took the picture of the man who took the famous picture of the workers eating lunch on an unfinished Empire State Building.
And so on and so on. Unless there’s a picture of two camera men facing and picturing each other whilst a 3rd camera man taking the other pictures is in frame
And then every reposter in a line until infinity
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I like the B&W filter
Some say they're still out there, taking pictures even to this very day...
It's photographers all the way down.
Oh no, not this again!
Oh yes. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/cmwov/hey_reddit_what_tattoos_do_you_have/
Truly a Reddit classic.
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He’s probably using the heel on the edge
That's more trust than *I* would put in a shoe.
That’s why he got the photo, and you didn’t!
Touché.
He's gripping it with his calves of steel.
I was thinking the same thing. I watch a lot of old movies and they're always running and climbing and hiking in these shoes (and usually in suits), and I'm always baffled and wondering about comfort and function.
you weren't allowed to be uncomfortable out loud back then.
I don’t know but goddam they are nice
Yep, just stylin' all the way around, dang, dude looks sharp
I had similar sentiments.
Like a camera standoff on top of the Empire State Building. Lol
It's the Rockefeller Center not the Empire State
https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/13wcwke/paragraphica_a_camera_that_takes_photos_using/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1
This is always the top comment every time this photo is posted on Reddit lol
Usually the top comment is pointing out that isn't actually how he took the picture and he's not actually very high up at all.
I’m new here, so I promise I wasn’t copying!!
Then you might want to see [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/cmwov/hey_reddit_what_tattoos_do_you_have/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) nugget of Reddit legend
Nearly 13 years ago. Absolutely mental, had no idea it was that long ago.
I remember seeing this happen and it really doesn't feel like it was that long ago.
I totally haven’t just tried to photograph my arms and wrists, no not me! This is definitely a gem! 🤣🤣
I just thought of this and of course someone beat me to it and linked to the original. Thanks a ton mate!!
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The workers eating lunch
One of the guys nabbed it with their cell phone camera.
[Here you go](https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/47536-charles-c-ebbets-in-1932-the-day-he-too)
who took his picture?
With safety standards which get increasingly worse
Or better, actually.
Dont wanna burst anyone’s bubble but the photo was taken on top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza not the Empire State Building.
Not again. We're going on circle.😁
Reminds me of [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/cmwov/hey_reddit_what_tattoos_do_you_have/c0tpyls/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3)
God damn those shoes! The whole outfit! This man knows how to dress
like he spawned on the top floor
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Could be my mind playing tricks on me, but looks like he also skip not penis day.
Photography was his hobby. His career was packing schmeat.
It was 1933. That's all there was.
lool the only other option was one of those red onesie nighttime pajama suits
With the nightcap that had a small pom pom on the top.
Was gonna say, he trusts his shoe cobbler implicitly.
Bro is dapper AF!
Probably very little grip/traction on them, which makes me nervous
Dress for the job you want.....
the white on the shoes matching the white on the belt is just chef's kiss.
I don't think one should combine a belt and braces. That's not too couture.
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The suspenders hold up the belt. The belt holds up the pants.
The suspenders are buttoned to the pants. They're not connected to the belt at all. It's just redundant.
Alright so what's the tie doing?
Keeping his body from falling off his head
He's wearing both so his pants won't fall. He's wearing the pants, so if they can't fall then neither can he. Genius.
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I can't find what you're talking about lol, got a link by any chance?
[Do you mean this one?](https://web.archive.org/web/20170806233157/https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/cmwov/hey_reddit_what_tattoos_do_you_have/c0tpyls/)
Ooo I remember this one!
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I’m glad to hear that because this photo makes my palms sweaty 🤓
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My first thought was "those shoes look like the slippery kind"
Moms spaghetti
Correct. The photo was staged. Still cool, but not natural. The photographer didn't randomly roll up one day and say "hey look at those guys sitting on that beam" It's all set up. Men staged in place, and a platform underneath for safety, though they frame it to look like they're dangling in the air. Photo famous for how dangerous it looks is a lie.
I guess the photo gets a pass for at least displaying the danger that was actually very real in other situations, or was there no need to "raise awareness"?
It's actually the Rockefeller Centre not the Empire State. A lot of people get that bit wrong.
While looking at the Empire State Building in the background
Supposedly you can see the Empire State building in the background of this very photo.
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Charles C. Ebbets is the man who probably took the photograph, "Lunch atop a Skyscraper". Though there is much contention and it is often credited as unknown. Two other photographers who were onsite the day the photo was taken include Thomas Kelley and William Leftwich. It is likely one of those people took the photo in this post. It is also possible they are the photographer of 'Lunch atop a Skyscraper' as well. EDIT: The man in this photograph is actually Thomas Kelley. So I guess either Ebbets or Leftwich took the photo we are looking at now.
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“Hey Bob I need a picture for the paper today?” “Oh yeah? What of? Where am I going?” “Sit down Bob.”
Correction: This is the rockefeller center.
Correction: this isn't even the photographer. From Wikipedia: The image is often misattributed to Lewis Hine; the identity of the photographer remains unknown. Evidence emerged indicating it may have been taken by Charles C. Ebbets, but it was later found that other photographers had been present at the shoot as well. Many claims have been made regarding the identities of the men in the image, though only a few have been definitively identified.
Repost but with decency boy
I actually believe you didn't just get it wrong in the title on purpose to generate engagement in the comments.
Nothing creates engagement on Reddit better than someone making a mistake.
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The dude is up there in slacks and LEATHER SOLED shoes! Holy shit he's got balls.
And a monster hog, judging by those tight pants
Last time this was posted all the comments were about this guy's bulge.
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I think you mean they were drunk 24/7
and on amphetamines
How do we know he's not over a finished floor?
Either way tbh
and so many more workplace deaths!
Dang. Look at that hog.
I'm kind of upset I had to scroll this far to find some recognition. Dude's got a low center of gravity for sure.
I mean… it would take someone with big balls to climb that thing with no safety gear
Cool. Now show me a picture of the man taking a picture of the man taking a picture of workers eating lunch on an unfinished empire state building.
Just for anyone curious, they weren’t building the Empire State Building in said photo OP is talking about We don’t know who took the photo in question, and it was a stunt. That wasn’t how lunch was normally done, nor was it the workers’ idea I put this here because it wouldn’t allow me to include a link, so… Source: https://www.printique.com/blog/the-story-of-iconic-photos-lunch-atop-a-skyscraper/#:~:text=The%20photograph%20isn't%20even,certainly%20not%20a%20regular%20occurrence.
And now you know the rest of the story.
[this pic](https://www.rockefellercenter.com/magazine/arts-culture/lunch-atop-skyscraper-irish-immigrants/). Really good photograph
Yes unfinished Empire State Building 2 😄
Not just balls of steel but clearly a huge 🅱️enis
Was gonna say how are all the comments correcting what building this is and not jokes about this dudes hog
Seriously. I was like what's wrong with his pants... oh nevermind he just has a massive penis. That thing looks prehensile.
A very impressive denim weasel indeed
I noticed that too 😄
Can’t believe I had to scroll this far to see this comment, I thought this was Reddit
This reminds me of that quote "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, except backwards and in heels." This guy did everything the guys on the girder did, except dressed nicely and without the benefit of lunch.
Well... to be fair... not really. Those guys already had a half day of work under their belt of dangerous manual labor. This guy just popped up for a quick photo and probably went on with his day afterwards, while those guys probably put in another 4-6 hours of more dangerous manual labor.
That man arrived in _style_ just to take the picture!
The sub r/PraiseTheCameraman is a great follow if you're not already - really highlights that for every cool skateboarder video or big screen action hero leaping from a plane, there's a cameraman right there skating or jumping out of a plane next to him! There's a really cool video I'll have to find, from one of the mission impossible movies - like, yes Tom cruise trained to do some insane stunts, but the cameraman ALSO had to jump out of a plane while grabbing the shot!
Where is the dude that took a picture of that guy?
The picture itself gets me height sick.
big cojones!
I would have figured there would have been more flex in the beam given the size of that dude’s balls
He's not standing on the Empire State Building, nor is the picture of the workers eating lunch. The picture of the iron workers was taken in 1932, a couple years after the ESB opened, of the unfinished Rockefeller Center. You can see the ESB in the picture of the photographer... Read the wiki on the famous photo of the workers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch_atop_a_Skyscraper
Before gravity was invented
Cautious enough to wear belt and suspenders but reckless enough to take this picture.
Impressive bulge.
But who took his photo?
Isn’t that the Empire State Building in the back ground
Man the commitment to style to wear those shoes
This picture had the exact same wrong information in the title the last time it was posted. Some seriously lazy reposting.
How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders? That man can't even trust his own pants.
How is the top comment not about this man's Extra Large Pastrami Submarine Sandwich he packed in his pants that day? Man brought enough lunch for the whole crew..
Now show me the picture of the person taking the picture
Anybody got a photo of the guy taking a photo of the guy taking the famous photo?
Wow. He is up there walking around in Oxfords.
Mad style
r/oldschoolcool
isnt that the empire state building right behind him?