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.
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)
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)
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.
Video: 'The Real Buddy Holly Story (Parts 1-10)'
(Monday, September 7, 1936, Labor Day, 3:30 p.m. local time) — Rock legend Buddy Holly, was born Charles Hardin Holley today in Lubbock, Texas. Continue reading Rock legend Buddy Holly born in Lubbock, Texas 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 7 1936)
Video: 'Swing Time' trailer
(Thursday, August 27, 1936, 10:05 a.m. EDT) — Swing Time, a musical comedy film about a dancer who tries to make it big to prove himself worthy of his fiancee only to fall for his dancing partner, opened this morning at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
The film was directed by George Stevens and starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
Video: 'PBS American Experience The Kennedys: The Father 1900 - 1961' (Aug. 21, 1936, at 23:16)
(Friday, August 21, 1936) — In a book entitled I’m For Roosevelt, published today, Joseph P. Kennedy, former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, presented arguments for why businessmen should support the New Deal and President Franklin Roosevelt for re-election. Continue reading Joseph Kennedy endorses FDR polices in new book 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1936)
Video: 'Russia remembers Stalin's purges'
(Wednesday, August 19, 1936) — The first of a series of show trials orchestrated by Soviet leader Josef Stalin began today in Moscow as 16 defendants faced charges of conspiring against the government.
Video: 'On This Day: Last Public Execution Held in US'
(Friday, August 14, 1936, 5:44 a.m. local time ) — Rainey Bethea, an African-American who was about 27 years old, became the last man to be publicly executed in the United States today as he was hanged in Owensboro, Kentucky, for raping and murdering Lischia Edwards, a 70-year-old white woman. Continue reading Rainey Bethea hangs in last public execution in U.S. 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 14 1936)
Video: '1936: Hero of the Olympic Games: Jesse Owens'
(Sunday, August 9, 1936) — African-American athlete Jesse Owens picked up his fourth gold medal today at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, as the U.S. team won the men’s 4 × 100 metres relay race in record time. Continue reading Owens wins fourth gold medal, crushing Hitler’s myth of Aryan supremacy 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 9 1936)
