Vintage Original 35mm Kodachrome Slide: Pan Am Building, Chrysler Building & Queensboro Bridge
Location: East Midtown Manhattan, New York City, viewed northeast from the Empire State Building toward the East River, Roosevelt Island, Long Island City, and Queens.
Date: April 1966, based on mechanical date imprint on the slide mount.

Item Description
This sweeping elevated panorama looks northeast across East Midtown Manhattan from the Empire State Building. The recently completed Pan Am Building dominates the left side with its original “PAN AM” rooftop lettering clearly visible, while the ornate New York Central Building, now the Helmsley Building, stands directly in front. Near the center, the stainless-steel crown and spire of the Chrysler Building rise above the surrounding skyline. The building marked “100” in the lower foreground is 100 Park Avenue. Beyond the towers, the Queensboro Bridge crosses the East River toward Queens, with Roosevelt Island below the crossing, Long Island City in the distance, and the red-and-white smokestacks of the Ravenswood Generating Station visible beyond the bridge.

Key Photographic Elements
The Pan Am Building opened in March 1963 and was only about three years old when photographed, preserving an early view of the landmark under its original airline name. The New York Central Building below it was completed in 1929 as part of the Grand Central Terminal development and creates a striking contrast between ornate prewar architecture and the massive postwar Pan Am tower. The Chrysler Building, completed in 1930, is one of New York’s defining Art Deco skyscrapers and briefly held the title of the world’s tallest building. Completed in 1949, 100 Park Avenue represents the first major wave of postwar office construction along Park Avenue south of Grand Central. The Queensboro Bridge opened in 1909 as a five-span, double-deck cantilever crossing and was the longest cantilever bridge in the United States when completed. The Ravenswood Generating Station began operating in 1963, while its enormous Unit 30, popularly known as “Big Allis,” entered service in 1965 as the world’s largest electric generating unit. This precisely dated panorama therefore captures several major transportation, architectural, and industrial landmarks during an important period of change in Midtown and Queens.

Condition Report
The slide retains clear and readable detail throughout the Pan Am lettering, Chrysler Building, Queensboro Bridge, East River, power station, and foreground architecture. A noticeable cool blue-violet cast and moderate atmospheric haze soften the distant Queens landscape, while deeper shadows affect portions of the foreground buildings. Scattered small dust specks and minor surface marks are visible, but there is no severe fading, heavy scratching, or significant blur. The original cardboard mount shows light age-related wear but remains intact and presentable.

 

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