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The Empire State Story

First transmitted in 2001, this programme chronicles the construction of the Empire State Building in New York, which was the world's tallest skyscraper when opened in 1931.

First transmitted in 2001, this programme chronicles the construction of the Empire State Building in New York, which was the world's tallest skyscraper when opened in 1931. The programme investigates the building's history through interviews with the people who contributed to the construction of this iconic building.

Available now

59 minutes

Last on

Sat 23 Mar 2002 18:30

All American Collection

All American Collection
This programme is part of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four’s All American - a collection of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ programmes from the archives about US culture. Available online to watch in full.

More about this programme

Packed with personal anecdotes and great storytelling, this programme creates a compelling blend of archive and oral history. The Empire State Building took one year and 45 days to build and was completed not only on time, but also under budget. The anticipated cost had been 43 million dollars, but the actual cost was just a little over half that. Could this happen today? Certainly not, according to the contributors whose testimony brings this story about New York's number one tourist attraction vividly to life.Β 

The programme also covers the tragic events of July 1945 when a United States B25 bomber smashed into the 79th floor of the building. That story is told largely through the testimony of a survivor, the pilot's widow, and a reporter who was sent to the scene.

About Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four Collection programmes

Programmes are selected, in part, for their historical context and reflect the broadcast standards and attitudes of their time, which may not accord to some current Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ editorial guidelines. We aim to select programmes which can be shown in their entirety but in some cases edits are required.

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Samuel West
Writer Jonathan Gili
Producer Jonathan Gili
Director Jonathan Gili
Series Editor Laurence Rees

Broadcasts

  • Fri 12 Jan 2001 21:00
  • Mon 15 Jan 2001 19:10
  • Mon 5 Feb 2001 09:00
  • Mon 5 Feb 2001 12:00
  • Mon 5 Feb 2001 15:00
  • Mon 5 Feb 2001 18:00
  • Mon 5 Feb 2001 21:00
  • Sat 10 Feb 2001 09:00
  • Sat 10 Feb 2001 13:00
  • Sat 10 Feb 2001 17:00
  • Sat 10 Feb 2001 23:00
  • Sat 14 Apr 2001 08:00
  • Sat 14 Apr 2001 11:00
  • Sat 14 Apr 2001 14:00
  • Sat 14 Apr 2001 17:00
  • Sun 29 Apr 2001 09:40
  • Sun 29 Apr 2001 12:40
  • Sun 29 Apr 2001 15:40
  • Mon 4 Jun 2001 08:00
  • Mon 4 Jun 2001 11:00
  • Mon 4 Jun 2001 14:00
  • Mon 4 Jun 2001 17:00
  • Mon 25 Jun 2001 09:40
  • Mon 25 Jun 2001 12:40
  • Mon 25 Jun 2001 15:40
  • Sat 23 Mar 2002 18:30

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