In the first of a three-part series which crosses the globe, Alan Yentob tells the intriguing story of the birth of the skyscraper, the magical 'machine that makes the land pay', which became one of the icons of the 20th century. From the amusement parks and fairs of New York to the ruthless businessmen of Chicago, the influences that shaped the skyscraper are linked by passion, ego, greed and the relentless drive of technology.