Category Archives: 1930s

Country music’s first superstar Jimmie Rodgers, 35, died 80 years ago today (1933)


Video: 'Jimmie Rodgers - Blue Yodel No 1 (T For Texas)'

(Friday, May 26, 1933) — The man credited with being country music’s first superstar died today of tuberculosis from a pulmonary hemorrhage while staying at the Taft Hotel in New York City at the age of 35. Jimmie Rodgers’ first million-seller was “T for Texas,” also known as “Blue Yodel.”

Federal Emergency Relief Administration, Agricultural Adjustment Administration created to help needy, farmers 80 years ago today (1933)


(Friday, May 12, 1933; part of the New Deal in response to the Great Depression) — The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) was signed into law today by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, giving the federal government the power to raise farm prices and to provide relief on farm mortgage foreclosures. Also known as the “Wagner Act”, the bill provided $500 million for farm relief.

Signed on the same day was the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), which would eventually spend four billion dollars to create job programs for unemployed U.S. workers.

Nazis celebrate May Day one day before banning trade unions 80 years ago today (1933)


Video: 'The World at War - Episode 1 - A New Germany' (May Day 1933 at 8:13)

(Monday, May 1, 1933) — The Nazis celebrated its brand-new official Labor Day holiday today with joyful events across Germany, most notably with a giant party on the grounds of Tempelhof airport in Berlin. The next day, however, it abruptly banned the trade unions, as police and Gestapo units raided union offices and confiscated their property.

U.S. goes off gold standard 80 years ago today (1933)


Video: 'FDR Ends Gold Standard in 1933'

(Wednesday, April 19, 1933; during the Great Depression) — President Franklin D. Roosevelt took the United States off the gold standard today by ordering that gold exports to other nations be halted. The effect would be to devalue the U.S. dollar by 36% (against gold-backed currencies) over the next eight months. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had increased by 55% on July 18, 1933.

President Roosevelt signs act creating Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) 80 years ago today (1933)


Video: 'The CCC' (parts 1-5)

(Friday, March 31, 1933; during the Great Depression) — President Franklin D. Roosevelt today signed the Emergency Conservation Work Act, which created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which provided unskilled manual labor jobs related to the conservation and development of natural resources in rural lands owned by federal, state and local governments.

Nazi Germany opens first concentration camp 80 years ago today (1933)


Video: 'The World at War - Episode 1 - A New Germany' (Oranienburg concentration camp at 5:45)

(Tuesday, March 21, 1933) — Local SA stormtroopers took over a vacant factory building in the town centre of Oranienburg today and set up the first concentration camp in the state of Prussia.

Zangara executed for killing Chicago Mayor Cermak in attempt on FDR’s life 80 years ago this hour (1933)


Video: 'The Attempted Assassination of Franklin D. Roosevelt'

(Monday, March 20, 1933, 9:27 a.m. local time) — The state of Florida electrocuted Giuseppe Zangara today for the shooting death of Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak at a Miami event attended by then President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt, the presumed target, on February 15, 1933.

Cermak died March 6, 1933, at a Miami hospital at age 59, two days after FDR took office.

’42nd Street’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago tonight (1933)


Video: '42nd Street Trailer (1933)'

(Thursday, March 9, 1933)42nd Street, a musical film about a producer who puts on what may be his last Broadway show, and at the last moment a chorus girl has to replace the star, premiered today in New York City.

Directed by Lloyd Bacon and Busby Berkeley, the film starred Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers.

Congress called into special session by FDR 80 years ago today (1933)


Video: 'HD Stock Footage Franklin D. Roosevelt - Bank Holiday - Repeals Prohibition (Mar. 9, 1933, at 1:13)

(Thursday, March 9, 1933; during the Great Depression) — Congress, called into special session by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, today began its “hundred days” of enacting New Deal legislation.