“Life” doesn’t publish anymore, and the people at the Time/Life Web site have been of no help (nor has their search function). Just got off the phone with someone at the Time/Life photo division and she said it would cost me $85 to do a search for it!
If I can find out what issue it ran in, I could pretty easily get one from a street vendor or on the Internet . . .
It was taken in the 1940s or '50s and shows a snappily-dressed young lady who has just done a high-dive from the Empire State Building and landed atop a car. She’s lying peacefully, face-up, looking lovely; the car roof has enfolded her like a satin quilt. I’d love to get a print of this to frame in my office.
“Life” has published books that were compilations of their famous photographs. I saw that one in one such book published in the 70s. I think it was called “The Best of Life,” but I could be wrong. I don’t remember whether or not they attributed the original issues in the books, though.
How weird–this question just came up over at the Fathom board recently. Someone there had posted a site that has the photo, but Fathom is down. As soon as it’s up, I’ll post a link.
Screech—Thanks; I’ll go to the Strand and see if they have any copies of that book. Was it reproduced larger than a postage stamp?
Cher—you should see this photo; it really makes you want to jump off the Empire State Building. By the way, she must have jumped from the 34th Street side; try it from Fifth and you’ll just whack into a stepback.
I too have see that, in the book “The Best of Life”, which they published when they took their hiatus in the 1970’s. I was only 10 or so, and had never really thought about the concept of suicide. Beautiful picture, but it gave me the creeps at the same time.
Oh, Scarlett, you are my heroine (taking Scarlett in my arms by the fence at sundown and kissing her madly till she screams, “Eve, Eve, you ah no gentleman!”).
Now, to jump into some book sites and find me that issue! However did you know?
1947, huh? That makes sense. She was obviously a fashionable young lady, and jumped to her death after seeing previews of Dior’s 1947 “New Look” collection. Couture overload; sad, sad case.
I recall a photograph published in Life sometime in the mid-to-late 1980s. A picture from France, I think. A young woman had been attempting suicide by jumping off a building. The picture showed a fireman on the edge of the roof holding her one hand and she was dangling in midair. She was nude. The photograph was taken from behind, but beneath her butt cheeks, her dark hairy vulva was visible. It was probably the only shot of a naked vulva ever published in Life.
Eve, I have the book, so if you can’t find the issue and want a copy I can scan it for you and e-mail it. You can then get it printed from a disk. Post or e-mail me if you are interested.
You’re a doll, MissBunny, and thanks again, Scarlett!
Two phone calls later, and I have two used-magazine dealers here in New York hunting down the issue. If the accompanying article gives any details, I’ll go to the microfilm room at the library and see if I can find out the story behind our leaping lady.
SUCCESS! Gallagher’s on East 12th Street has that issue for $20, I’m going down to pick it up tomorrow at lunchtime. If I can’t find out her real name, Scarlett, I’ll name her after you . . .
MissBunny, I am but an innocent lass who knows nothing of “scanning.” Is it troublesome or expensive? If not, would you like to post the photo, so the 100-some Dopers who’ve looked at this thread can gaze upon Our Lady?
You can see the photo on-line at Thesis Summary on Michael Isner’s site http://www.isner.com/ . Isner (or the site owner, if not Isner) has a statement requiring permission to use the photo(s). I don’t know if this means that Isner is the photographer or if Isner is referring to the photo in the context of his essays on form.
Life Magazine is still around as a “Special Event” magazine and their website is still active at http://www.lifemag.com/Life/ . I was not able to find the photo, there. (There are a dozen or more Life books that are still in print or recently remaindered that may have the photo. Check Amazon or Barnes & Noble for possible titles, then check your library to see which book might have the photo. (You still have the issue of securing rights to it to enlarge and frame, of course.)
I can see how you could look at this every day. I was worried at first you were going for the effect in that Woody Allen movie (I forget which one), where his character has huge prints of famous atrocity photos in his apartment.
