(Saturday, February 8, 1936, 10:25 a.m. EST) — Charles Curtis, the 31st Vice President of the United States (1929-1933, under President Herbert Hoover), died today of a heart attack in in Washington, D.C. He was 76 (click here to watch moving pictures of Curtis).
Category Archives: 1930s
President Roosevelt authorizes vice presidential flag 80 years ago today (Feb 7 1936)
(Friday, February 7, 1936) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 7285 today authorizing a flag for the office of the vice president.
‘Modern Times’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour (Feb 5 1936)
Video: 'Modern Times' trailer
(Wednesday, February 5, 1936, 8:30 p.m. EST) — The gala world premiere of Modern Times, a comedy film written and directed by Charlie Chaplin in which his iconic Little Tramp character struggles to survive in the modern, industrialized world, was held tonight at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City.
The film starred Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Henry Bergman, Stanley Sandford and Chester Conklin.
Cobb, Ruth among first baseball Hall of Fame inductees 80 years ago today (Jan 29 1936)
(Wednesday, January 29, 1936) — The first inductees of baseball’s Hall of Fame, including Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth, were named today in Cooperstown, New York (although a public announcement was delayed until Feb. 2, 1936).
Britain’s King George V dies at his home in Norfolk 80 years ago this hour (Jan 20 1936)
Video: 'The Death Of His Majesty King George V (1936)'
(Monday, January 20, 1936, at 11:55 p.m. GMT) — Britain’s King George V, 70, died tonight in his bedroom at Sandringham House in Norfolk after his physician, Lord Dawson of Penn, injected the mortally ill monarch with morphine and cocaine to hasten his death.
The king was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward VIII, who would abdicate the throne 11 months later to marry American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson.
‘A Night at the Opera’ opens in New York City 80 years ago this hour (Dec 6 1935)
Video: 'A Night at the Opera' trailer
(Friday, December 6, 1935, doors opened at 10:15 a.m. EST) — A Night at the Opera, a comedy film about three zanies who turn an operatic performance into chaos in their efforts to promote their protege’s romance with the leading lady, opened today at the Capitol in New York City.
Directed by Sam Wood, the film starred Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Kitty Carlisle, Allan Jones and Margaret Dumont.
China Clipper takes off on first mail trip across Pacific 80 years ago this hour (Nov 21 1935)
Video: 'Pan American Clipper (Sikorsky S-42) 1935 Pan American Airway, aka Flying Clipper, Pan Am Clipper'
(Friday, November 21, 1935, 3:46 p.m. PST) — A flying boat, the China Clipper, took off today from Alameda, California, carrying more than 100,000 pieces of mail on the first trans-Pacific airmail flight.
Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO) labor union formed 80 years ago today (Nov 9 1935)
Video: 'AFL vs. CIO split in 1935'
(Saturday, November 9, 1935) — United Mine Workers president John L. Lewis and other labor leaders formed the Committee for Industrial Organization (later renamed the Congress of Industrial Organizations) today in Washington.
‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ opens in New York City 80 years ago this hour (Nov 8 1935)
Video: 'Mutiny on the Bounty' trailer
(Friday, November 8, 1935, doors opened at 9:45 a.m. EST) — Mutiny on the Bounty, a drama film about the sadistic Captain Bligh who drove his men to revolt during a South Seas expedition, opened this morning at the Capitol in New York City.
Directed by Frank Lloyd, the film starred Charles Laughton, Clark Gable, Franchot Tone, Movita Castaneda and Mamo Clark.
Parker Brothers begin marketing ‘Monopoly’ board game 80 years ago today (Nov 5 1935)
Video: 'The surprising history behind the board game "Monopoly"'
(Tuesday, November 5, 1935) — Parker Brothers, an American toy and game manufacturer and brand, today began marketing Monopoly, a board game designed to demonstrate that an economy which rewards wealth creation is better than one in which monopolists work under few constraints.