11/08/2022
Girls in the Windows, 1960.
This iconic photograph shows 43 women in colorful clothing posing in 41 windows of a condemned brownstone building in Manhattan.
It was the summer of 1960, and photographer Ormond Gigli was working in his studio on 58th Street, across the street from a group of brownstones that were about to be demolished. The windows had been removed and Gigli had an idea of photographing a group of women, one in each of the window openings, wearing formalwear.
The demolition supervisor agreed to let Gigli go ahead – as long as his wife could be in the photograph. Gigli could shoot the next day during the worker’s lunch hour. When the workers returned after lunch, the building would be pulled down.
Gigli and his staff only had 24 hours to plan the photo, find volunteer models to pose for the shot, and get permission from the city. There was a gaping hole in front of the building so they also located a Rolls-Royce to sit on the sidewalk in front.
Word went out to local modeling agencies, and plenty of people volunteered to take part. The sun shone, the weather was lovely, and the photo shoot took an hour. After the photo was taken, the models left, and the building came down.
Facebook: Historical Photos of Women's Stories
