Category Archives: 1930s

Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa falls to Italian invaders 80 years ago this hour (May 5 1936)


Video: 'Italian Troops Enter Addis Ababa (1936)'

(Tuesday, May 5, 1936, 4:00 p.m. EAT; during the March of the Iron Will, part of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War) — Ethiopia’s era of independence, which had lasted since biblical times, ended this afternoon when the Italians occupied Addis Ababa.

‘Mr. Deeds Goes to Town’ opens in New York City 80 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1936)


Video: 'Mr. Deeds Goes to Town' trailer

(Thursday, April 16, 1936, 10:00 a.m. EST)Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, a screwball comedy about a small-town poet who has to deal with the corruption of city life when he inherits a fortune, opened this morning at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

The film was directed by Frank Capra and starred Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur and George Bancroft.

Bruno Hauptmann put to death for killing Lindbergh baby 80 years ago this hour (Apr 3 1936)


Video: 'Hauptmann Execution Announcement & Description 221295-08.mp4'

(Friday, April 3, 1936, 8:47:30 p.m. EST) — Silent to the end except for renewed declarations of his innocence, Bruno Richard Hauptmann, 36, was electrocuted by the State of New Jersey tonight for the kidnap-murder of Charles A. Lindbergh Jr.

60+ people killed in Pittsburgh’s Great St. Patrick’s Day Flood 80 years ago today (Mar 17 1936)


Video: 'Floods Sweep Cities In Western PA 1936/03/18'

(Tuesday, March 17, 1936) — Pittsburgh’s Great St. Patrick’s Day Flood began today as the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers, swollen by rain and melted snow, started exceeding flood stage; the high water was blamed for more than 60 deaths.

Hitler sends German troops into Rhineland in violation of Versailles 80 years ago this hour (Mar 7 1936)


Video: 'The March On The Rhine Aka Germans March Into The Rhineland (0)'

(Saturday, March 7, 1936, not long after dawn CET) — The Remilitarization of the Rhineland took place today when Adolf Hitler sent German forces into the Rhineland in violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact. Continue reading Hitler sends German troops into Rhineland in violation of Versailles 80 years ago this hour (Mar 7 1936)

‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ wins Outstanding Production at 8th Academy Awards 80 years ago this hour (Mar 5 1936)


Video: 'Mutiny on the Bounty wins the 1935 Academy Award for Best-Pic ,.mpg'

(Thursday, March 5, 1936, 8:00-10:12 p.m. PST)Mutiny on the Bounty, a drama film about the sadistic Captain Bligh, who drove his men to revolt during a South Seas expedition, won Outstanding Production tonight at the 8th Academy Awards. Continue reading ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ wins Outstanding Production at 8th Academy Awards 80 years ago this hour (Mar 5 1936)

First videophone conversation demonstrated in Berlin 80 years ago today (Mar 1 1936)

(Sunday, March 1, 1936) — German Minister of Postal Affairs Paul Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach inaugurated the first videophone conversation today in Berlin with Leipzig’s chief burgomaster.

Germany’s Gegensehn-Fernsprechanlagen (visual telephone system), was developed by Dr. Georg Schubert, who headed the development department at the Fernseh-AG, a technical combine for television broadcasting technology.

Nazi Germany’s Reichstag gives Gestapo secret police absolute authority 80 years ago today (Feb 10 1936)


Video: 'Gestapo Documentary' (15 videos)

(Monday, February 10, 1936) — The Nazi Reichstag passed the ‘Gestapo Law’ today, investing the Gestapo secret police with absolute authority exempt from any legal review.