ROCKEFELLERTREETRAGEDY

> "Perhaps I never had the opportunity to to select another tree. Perhaps I was meant to select that tree regardless of my persistent character, Perhaps we are all trollies, forced to follow the path of the track to each of our destinations. I take solace in that thought.
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> Or perhaps, the tree chose me.”
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> **-*John D. Rockefeller, A Recollection of the Tragedy***
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*ROCKEFELLERTREETRAGEDY* is the ninth and longest episode of Season One. This episode is different from the rest of the Season as instead of focusing on a National Monument, the episode instead revolves around the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Celebration, an annual event that occurs in Rockefeller Center every Christmas.

## Overview

*ROCKEFELLERTREETRAGEDY* tells us the tragic tale of the 1934 Christmas Tree Tragedy. The story is told to us through two perspectives, a storybook written and narrated by a young girl named Virginia Arnoldson and a memoir written and narrated by John D. Rockefeller, written 3 years after the tragedy in 1937. The video starts from Rockefeller's perspective and then transitions to Virginia's side, and from there rotates between their stories (During the transitions, *I'll Be Home for Christmas* by Jackie Gleason can be heard in the Background). At the very end, a short clip of the Center at night is included from decades later in the 1980s.

## Storylines

***A Recollection of The Tragedy by John D. Rockefeller, 1937.***

**Prologue**

The Memoir begins with JDR giving an explanation of events leading up to the tragedy with how and why he started the tradition. In December 1931, Rockefeller was visiting the Center construction site. While there, he witnessed the Workers collectively raising a Christmas tree, which they saved up their money for, at the entrance. They then decorated the tree with strings of cranberries, buttons, and tin cans. Rockefeller called the sight of the tree as uncanny with the words: "A fir in the middle of No Man's Land". Moved by the sight of comradery and kinship of the workers despite the Great Depression, Rockefeller was inspired and decided this to be a start of a brand new tradition, and thus the following year he traveled north in search of a tree for the Center.

***"Virginia in Wonderland" by Virginia Arnoldson***

*For twelve days and twelve nights, Mister Rockefeller looked for the best tree in the forest.*

*Rockefeller Worker 1: "How about this one Mister Rockefeller?"*

*Mister Rockefeller: "No, No, it's much too Short!"*

*Rockefeller Worker 2: "How about this one Mister Rockefeller?"*

*Mister Rockefeller: "No, No, it's much too Tall!"*

*Rockefeller Worker 3: "How about this one Mister Rockefeller?"*

*Mister Rockefeller: "No, No, it's much too Average!"*

*Mister Rockefeller soon feared that he would leave empty handed.*

*Then on the twelfth night, just as he was packing up his things, Mister Rocker heard the sweetest tune in the air.*

*It sounded as if the wind itself had fallen in love.*

*He and his men followed the song and found them selves at the base of a very, very special tree.*

*Rockefeller Worker 4: "How about this one Mister Rockefeller"*

*Mister Rockefeller: "It's perfect"*

*For the rest of the night, the men swung their axes at the Special Tree.*

*"Chop, Chop, Chop!"*

*However, when the sun rose the next day, the Tree was still standing. Their axes had left no marks at all!*

*Mister Rockefeller was surprised.*

*The next day, Mister Rockefeller and his men laid One Hundred sticks of Dynamite at the base of the Tree*

*"Three, Two, One, Boom!"*

*Yet, the Special Tree continued to stand.*

*Mr. Rockefeller was surprised*

*So Mr. Rockefeller decided to hire the best team of grave-diggers to take the tree out of the ground.*

*After a week of digging, they told Mr. Rockefeller;*

*Chief Digger: "The tree will be out in three years at this rate".*

*Mr. Rockefeller was surprised, but he decided to let the grave-diggers work.*

*He would pick the next three best trees for the next three Christmases.*

*But by the fourth year, The Special Tree was ready to display.*

***A Recollection of The Tragedy by John D. Rockefeller, 1937.***

WIP

## Archivist's Note

-Although primarily written by Virginia herself, the final draft of "Virginia in Wonderland" does contain words and phrases provided by her legal guardian for clarification.

-Construction of the Rockefeller Center began in early 1930, when pre-existing buildings in the area were demolished to provide space. The Center's original Christmas tree, raised by its own construction workers, was first seen by J.D. Rockefeller toward the end of this period of demolitions. Inspired, Rockefeller handpicked three trees for the next three Christmases (1931, 1932, 1933). The Special Tree would make its first appearance at the Center on the fourth year (1934).

## Credits & Cast

Directed by Alex Casanas

*Voice Actors*

John D Rockefeller - Lev Myskin

Virginia Arnoldson - Eliana Gallagher

## Gallery

RTT ThumbnailThe first tree at Rockefeller Center, erected by construction workers in 1931 shortly after the site was cleared. Above, the workers line up for pay beside the tree, adorned with garlands made by workers' families.