Category Archives: 1930s

Ivar Kreuger, famous match king, kills self 80 years ago today (1932)


Video: Short history of Ivar Kreuger (in Swedish; death at 4:12)

(Saturday, March 12, 1932) — The so-called “Swedish Match King,” Ivar Kreuger, 52, was found shot dead today in his Paris apartment, an apparent suicide, leaving behind a financial empire that turned out to be worthless.

‘Shanghai Express’ opens in New York 80 years ago today (1932)


'Shanghai Express' clip

(Tuesday, February 2, 1932) — A beautiful temptress re-kindles an old romance while trying to escape her past during a tension-packed train journey in Shanghai Express, which opened today in New York City.

Directed by Josef von Sternberg, the film stars Marlene Dietrich, Clive Brook, Anna May Wong, and Warner Oland (click here to watch the entire film).

Gandhi arrives in England for ‘dumb’ millions 80 years ago today


(watch Gandhi's arrival in London @ 1:12 into embedded video)

(Saturday, September 12, 1931) — Mahatma Gandhi, the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement, arrived in London this afternoon in a chilling and drenching rain, determined to do his best at the second Round Table Conference for the “dumb and semi-starved millions” of India.