The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit tonight shortly before 9:00. The ceremony, broadcast on NBC, begins at 7pm. This year's tree is an 8-ton, 72' tall Norway Spruce planted 80 years ago in Hamilton, New Jersey by the Varanyak family.
7 BYTES OF TREE TRIVIA
--The first tree at Rockefeller Center was put up by the construction workers in 1931. The first official tree lighting took place 75 years ago in 1933, the same year that the RCA building opened to the public. (The ice skating rink was still three years away.) The idea of the "official" New York City Christmas tree was the idea of Merle Crowell, the publicist of the brand new (not even completed) Rockefeller Center. The annual lighting of the tree was one of his most brilliant publicity stunts, usurping the status of New York's first community Christmas tree, illuminated in Madison Square 21 years earlier. (It's what should be expected from a publicist who consistently reported that the 66-story RCA Building was 70 floors.)
--In 1942, there were three trees each decorated a different color--red, white and blue. In 1949, the tree was painted silver.
--The FIRST NATIONALLY TELEVISED LIGHTING was in 1951 on the Kate Smith Show.
--The LARGEST TREE was the 1999 behemoth--standing 100' high and hailing from Killingworth, Connecticut.
--The TREE TO TRAVEL THE FARTHEST DISTANCE came from Ottawa in 1966, as a gift commemorating the centennial of Canada's Confederation.
--There are FIVE MILES OF LIGHTS strung throughout the tree and a CRYSTAL SWAROVSKI STAR has been secured on the top since 2004; however, there are NO OTHER ORNAMENTS. The wind makes it treacherous. From Great Fortune, Daniel Okrent's phenomenal history of Rockefeller Center: "In one unfortunate season the tree's luster was tainted by the long aluminum icicles hanging from its branches that, loosened by the wind, 'flew around the area like spears.'"
--In 2007, the tree went green. (Or more green.) LED lights were used and after the holidays the tree was turned into lumber to build homes for Habitat for Humanity.
Paul Manship's Youth
Paul Manship's Maiden
My favorite Rock Center Xmas story is about a dog. Go figure...dog freak here. As you look down the Channel Gardens you see the 12 angels playing their trumpets to the heavens. They are painted aluminum and copper wire and have been there since 1954. They are the handiwork of Valerie Clarebout who was from England. After studying at the Royal Academy of Art, she immigrated and worked for a display company. Here comes the good part. One day she found herself $25 short that was required the buy the dachshund (commonly called a weiner dog) she desperately wanted. She made a 2 ft. model and took it to the Rock Center people who later asked her for 12 full size ones. She and her dog lived happily ever after. The angels however are plaqued with problems because of the fragile wire. If bent in handling, the paint flakes off. Exasperating, but well worth it in my opinion. Just pretend it's snow flurries!
Posted by: Elizabeth Rouse | December 08, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Oops! If the rule is "i before e except after c" then the dog would be called a WIENER dog. My bad....or...my bad blog. Heh!
Posted by: Elizabeth Rouse | December 08, 2008 at 01:43 PM