Video: 'Frankenstein' trailer
(Thursday, November 19, 1931, 11:55 a.m. EST) — Frankenstein, an American pre-Code science fiction horror film about an ardent young scientist and his devoted assistant who piece together a human body from pieces collected from various sources, not realizing it has a madman’s brain, premiered today at the RKO Downtown in Detroit. Continue reading Horror film ‘Frankenstein’ premieres in Detroit 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 19 1931)
Video: 'World's Largest Suspension Span (1931)'
(Saturday, October 24, 1931, ceremonies were scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. EST) — The George Washington Bridge, a double-decked suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting the New York City borough of Manhattan with the New Jersey borough of Fort Lee, was officially dedicated today. Continue reading George Washington Bridge connecting New York and New Jersey dedicated 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 24 1931)
Video: 'Pacific Conquered - the first non-stop trans-Pacific flight, 1931'
(Monday, October 5, 1931, 7:14 a.m. PST) — Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon Jr. completed the first nonstop flight across the Pacific Ocean, making a controlled crash landing of their red Bellanca J-300 Long Distance Special, the Miss Veedol, today on a strip cut out of the sagebrush on Fancher Field near what is now East Wenatchee, Washington, 41 hours and 13 minutes after taking off from Misawa, Japan. Continue reading Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon Jr. complete first nonstop flight across Pacific Ocean 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 1931)
Video: 'The Japanese Attack Manchuria 1931'
(Friday, September 18, 1931, at around 10:20 p.m. local time; during the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, part of the Interwar period) — The Kwantung Army of the Empire of Japan invaded Manchuria tonight immediately following the Mukden Incident, a false flag event staged by Japanese military personnel as a pretext for the invasion. Continue reading Japanese invasion of Manchuria begins 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 18 1931)
Video: 'M' trailer
(Monday, May 11, 1931) — M, a German drama-thriller film about a mob that sets out to catch a child killer whose crimes are attracting too much police attention, premiered today at the UFA-Palast am Zoo in Berlin. Continue reading ‘M’ premieres in Berlin 90 years ago #OnThisDate #OTD (May 11 1931)
Video: 'New York A Documentary E 5 Cosmopolis' (Empire State Building opens May 1, 1931,at 1:37:27)
(Friday, May 1, 1931, 11:30 a.m. EDT) — The Empire State Building, the tallest building in the world for 40 years, opened today at 350 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, as President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in the White House that turned on the lights of all 102 stories.
Continue reading Empire State Building opens in New York City as world’s tallest building 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1 1931)
Video: 'Scottsboro: An American Tragedy'
(Wednesday, March 25, 1931, morning CST) — The “Scottsboro Boys,” nine African-American males aged 12 to 19, were taken off a train in Paint Rock, Alabama, today, falsely accused of raping two white women.
Continue reading Nine Black teenagers in Alabama are falsely accused of raping two white women 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 25 1931)
Video: 'History of Las Vegas: Casinos and Crime'
(Thursday, March 19, 1931, afternoon PST) — Nevada Gov. Fred B. Balzar signed Assembly Bill 98 into law this afternoon, legalizing most forms of gambling in the state in order to bring economic relief during the Great Depression.
Continue reading Nevada Gov. Fred B. Balzar signs measure legalizing casino gambling 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 19 1931)
Video: 'Beyonce National Anthem at Presidential Inauguration Ceremony 2013 | ABC News'
(Wednesday, March 4, 1931) — “The Star-Spangled Banner” became the national anthem of the United States today as President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution, which had passed the Senate the previous afternoon and passed the House the previous year.
Continue reading ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ officially adopted as national anthem of the United States 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1931)
Video: 'City Lights' trailer
(Friday, January 30, 1931, 8:30 p.m. PST) — City Lights, an American pre-Code silent romantic comedy film about the misadventures of Charlie Chaplin’s Tramp as he falls in love with a blind girl and develops a turbulent friendship with an alcoholic millionaire, premiered tonight at the new Los Angeles Theater on Broadway between Sixth and Seventh streets.
Continue reading Charlie Chaplin’s ‘City Lights’ premieres in Los Angeles 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 30 1931)
