(Tuesday, March 14, 1932) — Photography pioneer George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak Co., died by his own hand with a single gunshot to the heart today at age 77 in Rochester, New York. Eastman, in intense pain caused by a degenerative disorder affecting his spine, left a note which read, “To my friends: my work is done. Why wait?”
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.
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‘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).
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St. Louis Cardinals win World Series 80 years ago today (1931)
Video: Cardinals win 1931 World Series
(Saturday, October 10, 1931) — The St. Louis Cardinals won the 1931 World Series today, beating the Philadelphia Athletics 4-2 at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis in the seventh and deciding game.
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‘Monkey Business’ opens in U.S. theaters 80 years ago today
(Saturday, September 19, 1931) — Monkey Business, the third Marx Brothers’ comedy film, opened today in the U.S. The story takes place in large part on an ocean liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
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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.
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‘The Public Enemy’ opens
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2hDKOhS7KM
(Thursday, April 23, 1931) — The Public Enemy, a film about a young hoodlum who rises up through the ranks of the Chicago underworld, opens in the U.S.
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Spain ousts king, proclaims republic
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNfE199JNTs
(Tuesday, April 14, 1931) — King Alfonso XIII of Spain went into exile today and the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed.
