FLOSSI AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER
The first Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center took place in December 1931 during the construction of the complex. It wasn’t an official event as we know it today but rather a spontaneous act by construction workers.
The tree was a 20-foot balsam fir decorated with handmade garlands and strings of cranberries, tin cans, and even paper. It was a modest gesture of holiday spirit during the depths of the Great Depression.
The first official tree lighting ceremony, complete with organized festivities, occurred in December 1933. That year, the event featured a 50-foot tree and marked the beginning of an annual holiday tradition.Today, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting is a globally recognized event, drawing crowds and television audiences to celebrate the season.
Rockefeller Center is an iconic example of innovative urban design and construction, blending Art Deco aesthetics with practical functionality. Daniel Okrent's book, Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center, offers a detailed exploration of its unique characteristics, shedding light on its ambitious vision and execution. Here are some standout features:
1. Art Deco Architecture
The design of Rockefeller Center epitomizes the sleek, geometric elegance of the Art Deco movement. Okrent highlights the creative use of vertical lines, setbacks, and ornamentation to create a sense of upward movement and grandeur. The use of limestone cladding and stainless steel accents further emphasizes the clean, modern aesthetic.
2. Integrated Urban Complex
Rockefeller Center was one of the first developments to integrate multiple commercial, cultural, and recreational functions into a cohesive urban complex. As Okrent describes, it features interconnected buildings designed around a central plaza, creating a "city within a city" that supports both pedestrian and vehicular flow.
3. Innovative Construction Techniques
Okrent details the extraordinary engineering feats required to build Rockefeller Center during the Great Depression. Techniques such as precision steel frame construction and the use of modular limestone panels allowed for rapid and efficient building while ensuring structural integrity.
4. Public Art and Design Integration
The complex incorporates significant public art, such as sculptures, frescoes, and bas-reliefs, reflecting progress, culture, and industry themes. Notable works include Paul Manship's Prometheus statue and Diego Rivera's (later replaced) murals, which Okrent describes as part of a broader cultural vision by John D. Rockefeller Jr. to merge art and commerce.
5. Underground Concourse and Transportation Integration
A key innovation was the inclusion of an underground concourse, which connected the buildings and provided easy access to public transit. Okrent highlights this as an early example of designing urban spaces with accessibility and functionality in mind.
6. Seasonal Features and Iconic Attractions
The Rockefeller Plaza, home to the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and the ice-skating rink, was conceived as a dynamic, multi-use public space. Okrent notes that these features were not originally part of the plan but evolved as ways to make the space more inviting and profitable.
