【纽约当年】NY’s greatness in the Past: 1. Lunch Atop a Skscraper
纽约当年了不起 1. Lunch Atop a Skyscraper
两周前我写博文《何处节日无灯明》（https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myblog/80301/202312/26690.html），介绍了洛克菲勒中心和第五大道的圣诞树和节日灯火。一说到洛克菲勒中心，我就不禁联想起与之相关的一张90年前的老照片"Lunch Atop a Skyscraper"。
Two weeks ago, I wrote a blog post titled ""The Festival Always Has Colored Lights." (https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myblog/80301/202312/26690.html), introducing the Christmas tree and holiday lights at Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue of New York City. When it comes to Rockefeller Center, it inevitably brings to mind an iconic photo from 90 years ago, "Lunch Atop a Skyscraper."
这张照片，可能是美国最著名的反映工人阶级的老照片。它摄于1932年9月20日，地点是洛克菲中心最高的摩天楼30 Rockefeller Plaza的施工现场。当时11名建筑工人坐在摩天大楼一根钢梁上，悠闲地吃着午饭，抽着烟，聊着天。照片的背景是曼哈顿西北侧和中央公园。他们坐在850英尺的高空，没有安全绳，也没有安全网。我不算是个有恐高症的人，但细看都感觉几分心惊胆战。
It may be one of the most famous photos reflecting the working class in the United States. Taken on September 20, 1932, at the construction site of the tallest skyscraper in Rockefeller Center, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the photo features 11 construction workers casually having lunch, smoking, and chatting on a steel beam, with the backdrop of the northwest side of Manhattan and Central Park. They are sitting at a height of 850 feet, without safety ropes or nets. I'm not someone very afraid of heights, but looking closely gives a sense of awe.
要解释清楚这张照片，有必要了解一下洛克菲勒中心（Rockefeller Center）和它的历史。洛克菲勒中心座落于纽约市曼哈顿区第五大道西侧，它是由十几座大楼组成的集合体，各大楼底层相通，它1930年代由洛克菲勒家族出资建造。
To explain this photo, it's essential to understand Rockefeller Center and its history. Rockefeller Center is located on the west side of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, comprising several buildings interconnected at the lower levels, funded and built by the Rockefeller family in 1930’s.
提及美国史，人们无法避开洛克菲勒家族。洛克菲勒家族在过去 150 年的发展史，就是整个美国历史的缩影。洛克菲勒家族是美国国家精神的在有产阶层中的杰出代表，而且至今影响着世界。老洛克菲勒（John D. Rockefeller）凭借他在石油行业创造的巨额财富，在1910年成了世界上第一个亿万富翁。后来，他又投资于煤矿、铁路、保险公司、银行和各种类型的生产企业。虽然他在晚年也开始捐助一些慈善事业，但在很多人眼里，他总的来说是那种唯利是图、金钱胜过一切的典型的美国大资本家。
When discussing American history, one cannot ignore the Rockefeller family. Their development over the past 150 years reflects the entirety of American history. The Rockefellers are outstanding representatives of the privileged class in the American national spirit and continue to influence the world nowadays. John D. Rockefeller, the patriarch, became the world's first billionaire in 1910, thanks to his massive wealth in the oil industry. Later, he invested in coal mining, railways, insurance companies, banks, and various types of enterprises. Although he began contributing to charitable causes in his later years, many still see him as a typical American capitalist driven solely by profit.
老洛克菲勒的年迈以后，他唯一的儿子小洛克菲勒（John D. Rockefeller jr.）成了家族的掌门人。 他是一个与父亲很不一样的人，不仅接管了家族的生意，同时还更有心去做慈善事业。他建立了洛克菲勒基金会，把慈善事业扩展到保护历史文物和生态环境，提高不发达国家的医疗和文化水平等许多方面。例如，正是由于他的努力，英国在北美大陆殖民时代所创建的名城—弗吉尼亚州的威廉斯堡古城，以及法国的凡尔赛宫等，才得以完整地保存下来。中国是除美国以外受惠于洛克菲勒基金会最多的国家，著名的协和医学院和协和医院就是由该机构出资兴建的。
After John D. Rockefeller's senior years, his only son, John D. Rockefeller Jr., became the family's leader. He was different from his father, not only taking over the family business but also actively engaging in philanthropy. He established the Rockefeller Foundation, expanding charitable efforts into preserving historical artifacts and the environment, improving healthcare and cultural standards in underdeveloped countries, and more. For instance, due to his efforts, landmarks like Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia and the Palace of Versailles in France were preserved intact. China is one of the countries benefiting the most from the Rockefeller Foundation, with the famous Peking Union Medical College and Union Hospital being funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.
中国有句老话“富不过三代”。洛克菲勒家族如今已经到第七代，他们不仅财务兴旺，而且在政治、文化、教育、医疗等方方面面都不断留下印记，而且整个家族名声不错。能做到这一点，第二代小洛克菲勒功不可没。
There's an old Chinese saying, "Wealth does not last for three generations." The Rockefeller family is now in its seventh generation, flourishing not only financially but also leaving its mark in politics, culture, education, healthcare, and various other aspects, maintaining a good reputation. Achieving this would not have been possible without the contributions of the second generation, John D. Rockefeller Jr.
1928年，当时的世界首富小洛克菲勒，与大都会歌剧院合作，开始了此建造洛克菲勒中心的计划。当时这是历史上最大的私人建筑计划。包括了十四栋大楼，占地22英亩。可是，就在工程即将开工之前，1929年美国股市崩盘，出现经济大萧条，美国经济出现毁灭性的灾难，无数产业倒闭，1500万人失业。这种情况下大都会歌剧院撤出了投资。
In 1928, the then-world's richest man, John D. Rockefeller Jr., collaborated with the Metropolitan Opera to initiate the construction of Rockefeller Center. At that time, this was the largest private building project in history, involving fourteen buildings and covering 22 acres. However, just before the project was about to start, the U.S. stock market crashed in 1929, leading to the Great Depression, a catastrophic economic disaster with numerous industries collapsing and 15 million people unemployed. In these dire circumstances, the Metropolitan Opera withdrew its investment.
此前的几十年，即十九世纪末、二十世纪初，是美国大发展的时代。美国经济迅速超越英国而领先世界。人类从未有过的奇迹，如电灯、电话、电影、飞机、塑料等，都是在那些年出现在这片神奇的土地上。美国代表着梦想和希望的实现，于是移民从爱尔兰、意大利、东欧各国、巴尔干半岛等地蜂拥而至。
The preceding decades, the late 19th and early 20th centuries, marked a period of significant development for the United States, surpassing Britain rapidly and leading the world economically. Miracles that had never been seen before, such as electric lights, telephones, movies, airplanes, plastics, etc., all emerged in this magical land during those years. The United States symbolized dreams and hope, attracting immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Eastern European countries, the Balkan Peninsula, and beyond.
1892年美国政府在纽约港外的埃利斯岛（Ellis Island）设立入境检查处，每年经此小岛入境美国者平均达几十万人，有时一天超过一万人。这些积极、勤劳，怀揣梦想的移民很快成为美国的主人，他们为美国的建设做出了非凡的贡献，而他们也在一步步实现自己的美国梦。然而，股灾和大萧条打碎了无数人的梦想，他们失去了工作，失去了储蓄，股票一文不值，连吃饭、住宿都成了问题。那是的美国面临的一个十分艰难的时刻。
In 1892, the US government established an immigration inspection station on Ellis Island in New York Harbor,, with hundreds of thousands of people passing through it each year. These optimistic, diligent immigrants with dreams quickly became the masters of new world, making extraordinary contributions to the America's development and gradually realizing their American dreams. However, the stock market crash and the Great Depression shattered countless dreams. People lost their jobs and savings, and stocks in hand became worthless, and even basic necessities like food and shelter became problems. The United States faced an extremely challenging time.
这个时候，小洛克菲勒面临两个选择，要么是放弃整个计划，要么由一个人投资去完成。小洛克菲勒毅然选择了后者，决定独自承担起这个巨大的计划。他做出这种选择，重要原因是出自对民众和对国家的良心。在失业率高达25%的情况下，有工程才有工作，有工钱才有面包，有面包才有基本生活，进而这个国家才有活力和希望。道理其实人们都懂，但在经济动荡、未来不确定的情况下，小洛克菲勒的决定是冒风险的。最直接的风险是，如果国家经济没有起色，那么花巨资建好的大楼就租不出去。
At this point, John D. Rockefeller Jr. faced two choices: either abandon the entire plan or invest in it alone. He chose the latter, deciding to take on this enormous plan alone. His decision was crucial and driven by a sense of responsibility to the public and the country. In a situation where unemployment was as high as 25%, having a project meant having jobs, jobs meant wages, wages meant bread, and having the basics for life would bring vitality and hope to the country. While this reasoning was understood by anyone, in times of economic turmoil and uncertainty about the future, John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s decision was a risky one. The most immediate risk was that if the national economy did not recover, the completed skyscrapers would be difficult to lease.
洛克菲勒中心的工地创造了5万个就业机会。包括他们的家属在内，可以长期养活至少20万人。工地上普通工人每天挣3-4美元，大约相当于今天的60-80美元。这个工资水准是同期一般手工工人的两倍，让一家人有饭吃、有衣穿是问题不大的。
The construction site of Rockefeller Center created about 50,000 job opportunities. Including their families, it could sustain at least 200,000 people in the long term. Ordinary workers on the site earned $3-4 a day, roughly equivalent to $60-80 today. This wage level was twice that of the average manual laborer at the time, ensuring that families had enough to eat and wear.
洛克菲勒中心的工程于1930年5月17日正式动工。由于数万名工人和建筑工程师的辛勤劳作，它于九年后的1939年11月1日顺利完成，比原先的预期大大提前。另外，“洛克菲勒中心”这个名称并不是一开始就有的，而是幕僚Ivy Lee建议的。小洛克菲勒并不想以自己的姓氏命名，但考量到这名字能吸引商机和游客，还是接受了。
The construction of Rockefeller Center officially began on May 17, 1930. Due to the hard work of tens of thousands of workers and construction engineers, it was completed smoothly on November 1, 1939, much earlier than originally anticipated. Furthermore, the name "Rockefeller Center" was not initially chosen; it was suggested by the advisor Ivy Lee. John D. Rockefeller Jr. was initially hesitant to name it after his own surname, but considering that the name would attract business opportunities and tourists, he eventually accepted.
就在洛克菲勒中心建设期间，另外两个纽约标志性建筑—连接纽约和新泽西的乔治?华盛顿大桥（George Washington Bridge）和帝国大厦（Empire State Building）也相继完工。纽约市的活力振奋着美国人民的信心，这在大萧条的背景下是非常宝贵的。我们今天回首90年前，那个时代美国工人阶级的勤劳和坚韧，不能不让人肃然起敬。
During the construction of Rockefeller Center, two other iconic New York buildings—the George Washington Bridge connecting New York and New Jersey and the Empire State Building—were also completed. The vibrancy of New York City uplifted the confidence of the American people, which was invaluable against the backdrop of the Great Depression. Looking back 90 years ago today, the diligence and resilience of the American working class during that era command respect.
不仅工人阶级勤劳坚韧，而且为我们留下宝贵记录的摄影师们同样表现出勇敢和敬业。那个时代是便携式照相机的早期，小型折叠式相机依然相当笨重。而且相机还没有用胶片，而是玻璃底片。一次只能拍摄一张，然后就要到暗室或暗囊中去换底片，相当的辛苦且有较高的技术要求。
Not only was the working class diligent and resilient, but the photographers who left us precious records also showed bravery and dedication. This era was the early stage of portable cameras, and small folding cameras were still quite bulky. Additionally, cameras did not use film but glass plates. Only one photo could be taken at a time, requiring a visit to a darkroom or dark bag to change the plate, making it a laborious and technically demanding process.
在那个时代，为报纸杂志工作的摄影师是professional文化人，在工作中还要考虑形象。在工地拍摄，他们经常还是西服革履，打着领带。这样的装束为他们在摩天大楼上的拍摄增加了困难、甚至危险。Lunch Atop a Skyscraper究竟是谁拍的呢？洛克菲勒中心将这张照片拍摄者标为“未知”。因为1932年9月20日在大厦69层拍摄的摄影师有Charles Ebbets、Thomas Kelley和William Leftwich三人，这张照片到底出自谁手，已经无法确定。那就同时向他们三人表示敬意吧！
During that era, photographers working for newspapers and magazines were considered professional figures, and they considered their image at work. When shooting at construction sites, they often wore suits and ties, adding to the difficulty and even danger of their photography on skyscrapers. Who exactly took the photo of "Lunch Atop a Skyscraper"? The Rockefeller Center credits this photo to an "unknown" photographer. On September 20, 1932, three photographers—Charles Ebbets, Thomas Kelley, and William Leftwich—captured the image on the 69th floor of the building. We don’t know exactly from whose hand the picture was. I salute all of them.
好，让我们再次回到这张著名的照片。我们用现代技术改成的彩色版。原照片首先登在1932年10月2日的《纽约先驱论坛报》（New York Herald-Tribune），它一经问世，就激发了无数人的好奇心。但一个基本的问题到后来再想回答时，发现已经太晚了。这个问题是：这11个人是谁？经过不同途径的辨认（档案和亲属），大致确认了其中的4人，但对最右端那位的辨认却有矛盾。现在一般认为，这11人中可能爱尔兰移民居多。我认为他们具体是谁已经不重要了。他们是那个时代美国工人阶级的象征。
Now, let's return to this famous photo once again, this time in a colorized version created using modern technology. The original photo was first published on October 2, 1932, in the New York Herald-Tribune, sparking the curiosity of countless people upon its release. However, when it came time to answer a basic question later on, it was discovered that it was too late. This question was: who are these 11 people on the beam? Through various means of identification (archives and relatives), the identities of roughly four people have been confirmed, but there is conflicting information about the identification of the person at the far right. Today, it is generally considered that the majority of these 11 people were mostly Irish immigrants. I think their specific identities are no longer important. They symbolize the American working class of that era.
最后说个有趣的题外话。这张著名的照片的玻璃底片的所有权，现在其实归中国公司“视觉中国”（Visual China Group）。长话短说，这个玻璃底片原先是被位于洛杉矶的Corbis Images拥有。2016年，扩张海外的中国媒体公司哪家“视觉中国”吞并了Corbis Images，因此后者海量的图片资料的版权就归“视觉中国”了。Corbis Images的一些珍贵的原片一直是委托宾夕法尼亚州一个叫Iron Mountain的公司保存的，这个公司是资料保存的专业公司，有严格恒温恒湿的的资料库。
Lastly, here's an interesting aside. The ownership of the glass plate of this famous photo now belongs to the Chinese company "Visual China Group." In short, this glass plate was originally owned by Corbis Images, located in Los Angeles. In 2016, the Chinese media company "Visual China" expanded overseas and took over Corbis Images, thus obtaining the copyright to the extensive image data of the latter. Some of the precious original plates from Corbis Images had been entrusted to a company called Iron Mountain in Pennsylvania, specializing in data preservation with strict temperature and humidity-controlled storage facilities.
早先因为一次失误，这个玻璃底片碎成了5块，但它依然是无价之宝。现在的一般印刷，已经数字化，不依赖这个底片。或许将来新的技术可以从底片中获得比现在更多的信息，但这有赖于底片在最适宜的条件下保存完好。这种玻璃底片，既是艺术，也是文物。即便“视觉中国”目前拥有它，鉴于Iron Mountain具有高水平的资料保存技术，该底片恐怕也不会被贸然运到中国的。
Due to a previous mishap, this glass plate was broken into five pieces, but it remains a priceless treasure. Modern prints are already digitized and don't rely on this plate. Perhaps future technologies can extract more information from the plate than now, but this depends on the plate being well-preserved under the most suitable conditions. This glass plate is both art and artifact. Even though "Visual China" currently owns it, given Iron Mountain's high-level data preservation technology, this plate is unlikely to be hastily transported to China.
【Edited from ChatGPT translation.】
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