The human fly - 1918

📜 Description
Photograph depicting Harry A. Gardners, known as the “human fly,” captured while climbing the exterior façade of the Temple Bar Building in Brooklyn, New York, without the aid of ropes, elevators, or scaffolding. The identification and context are confirmed by the original press caption on the verso, issued by Central News Photo Service, which specifies that the ascent was performed as part of a public exhibition connected to a Red Cross event.

The image documents a striking moment in early 20th-century urban spectacle, with Gardners suspended against the vertical surface of the building while spectators observe from windows above and street level below. The act, both performative and philanthropic, reflects a period in which such feats were staged to attract public attention and support charitable initiatives, particularly during the years surrounding the First World War.

As a press photograph preserved as a vintage print and classified Type I (PSA/DNA), this fotografia storica holds significant documentary value, capturing the intersection of entertainment, media, and public fundraising in 1918, while offering a rare visual record of one of the era’s most daring performers.

📚 Historical-Artistic Note
In the 1910s, figures such as Harry A. Gardners became widely known for scaling skyscrapers in major American cities, transforming urban architecture into a stage for spectacle. These performances often drew large crowds and extensive press coverage, becoming emblematic of a modern fascination with height, risk, and physical endurance.

The involvement of organizations such as the Red Cross situates this image within the broader context of wartime fundraising and civic engagement. Press photographs printed in silver gelatin during this period were essential tools for disseminating such events to a national audience, reinforcing both the heroic narrative of the performer and the social purpose of the act. The composition, emphasizing verticality and human scale against monumental architecture, reflects the visual language of early press photography.

🧾 Technical Sheet
Type: Original photograph, Type I (PSA/DNA), vintage print (press photograph)
Photographer: Central News Photo Service
Place: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Date: 1918
Material: Photographic paper
Technique: Silver gelatin print
Subject: Harry A. Gardners (“human fly”) climbing the Temple Bar Building
Certifications: PSA/DNA Type I
Dimensions: 20.5 × 25.5 cm
Marks / stamps / inscriptions: typed press caption on verso; credit line “Photo by Central News Photo Service, N.Y.”; editorial annotations

🔍 Condition Report
Very good overall condition. Photographic surface shows light handling marks and minor signs of use consistent with press circulation. The verso presents original caption, annotations, and slight age-related toning. Structurally sound and fully legible.