Category Archives: 1930s

UAW stages first sit-down strike at GM’s plant in Flint, Michigan 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 30 1936)


Video: 'Flint Sit Down Strike (1936-37) - UAW History'

(Wednesday, December 30, 1936) — The United Auto Workers union staged its first “sit-down” strike today at the General Motors Fisher Body Plant No. 1 in Flint, Michigan. Continue reading UAW stages first sit-down strike at GM’s plant in Flint, Michigan 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 30 1936)

‘You Can’t Take It with You’ opens on Broadway 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 14 1936)


Video: 'YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU on Broadway - Montage'

(Monday, December 14, 1936, 8:40 p.m. EST) — The comedy You Can’t Take It with You by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart opened tonight on Broadway at the Booth Theatre in New York City. Continue reading ‘You Can’t Take It with You’ opens on Broadway 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 14 1936)

‘Camille’ premieres in Palm Springs, California 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1936)


Video: 'Camille' trailer

(Saturday, December 12, 1936, evening PST)Camille, an American romantic drama film about a kept woman who runs off with a young admirer in search of love and happiness, premiered tonight at the Plaza Theater in Palm Springs, California. Continue reading ‘Camille’ premieres in Palm Springs, California 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1936)

Britain’s King Edward VIII abdicates 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1936)


Video: '11th December 1936: Abdication of King Edward VIII'

(Friday, December 11, 1936, 1:52 p.m. GMT) — Britain’s King Edward VIII abdicated the throne today so he could marry American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson; his brother, Prince Albert, became King George VI. Continue reading Britain’s King Edward VIII abdicates 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1936)

Fire destroys London’s famed Crystal Palace 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 30 1936)


Video: 'Crystal Palace Destroyed by Fire in 1936'

(Monday, November 30, 1936, at about 7:30 p.m. GMT) — Engulfed in a roaring sheet of flames, which towered so high into the night sky that it could be seen almost from the English Channel, the world-famous Crystal Palace, architectural pride of the Victorian era, crashed to the earth tonight a raging inferno of twisted girders and molten glass. Continue reading Fire destroys London’s famed Crystal Palace 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 30 1936)

San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opens 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 12 1936)


Video: 'San Francisco--Oakland Bay Bridge Opened 1937 Chevrolet Newsreel'

(Thursday, November 12, 1936, 12:30 p.m. PST) — The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, a complex of bridges spanning 4.46 miles over the San Francisco Bay in California carrying about 240,000 vehicles a day on its two decks, opened today as President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in Washington, D.C., giving the green light to traffic.

FDR buries Landon in presidential election landslide 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 3 1936)


Video: 'Election of 1936'

(Tuesday, November 3, 1936, during the 1936 presidential campaign) — Democratic incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York was re-elected today over Republican Governor Alf Landon of Kansas with the largest percentage of the popular vote in U.S. to this date. Continue reading FDR buries Landon in presidential election landslide 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 3 1936)

BBC Television Service officially begins regular broadcasts 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 2 1936)


Video: '1936 Television song'

(Monday, November 2, 1936, 3:00 p.m. GMT) — The British Broadcasting Corporation inaugurated “high-definition” television service today from a converted wing of the Alexandra Palace in London. Continue reading BBC Television Service officially begins regular broadcasts 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 2 1936)

‘My Man Godfrey’ opens in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 17 1936)


Video: 'My Man Godfrey' trailer

(Thursday, September 17, 1936, 10:15 a.m. EDT)My Man Godfrey, a screwball comedy film about a zany heiress who tries to help a tramp by making him the family butler, opened this morning at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

The film was directed by Gregory La Cava and starred William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Jean Dixon, Eugene Pallette and Alan Mowbray.