Category Archives: 1930s

‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ officially adopted as national anthem of the United States 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1931)


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(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)

Charlie Chaplin’s ‘City Lights’ premieres in Los Angeles 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 30 1931)


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(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)

Hurricane San Zenon strikes Dominican Republic, at least 2,000 people killed 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1930)


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(Wednesday, September 3, 1930, 1:20 p.m SDMT; during the 1930 Dominican Republic hurricane) — The Category 4 Hurricane San Zenon struck the Dominican Republic today, killing at least 2,000 and as many as 8,000 people, making it the the fifth deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record. Continue reading Hurricane San Zenon strikes Dominican Republic, at least 2,000 people killed 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1930)

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ premieres in Los Angeles 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 21 1930)


Video: 'All Quiet on the Western Front' trailer

(Monday, April 21, 1930, 8:30 p.m. PST) — Young German soldiers try to adjust to the horrors of World War I in All Quiet on the Western Front, an American epic pre-Code anti-war film that premiered tonight at Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles. Continue reading ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ premieres in Los Angeles 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 21 1930)

Former U.S. President William Howard Taft dies 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 8 1930)


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(Saturday, March 8, 1930, 5:15 p.m. EST)William Howard Taft, the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth chief justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices, died of heart disease today at his home in Washington. Continue reading Former U.S. President William Howard Taft dies 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 8 1930)

‘Gone with the Wind’ premiere sparks racial tension in Atlanta 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 15 1939)


Video: ''Gone With the Wind' trailer

(Friday, December 15, 1939, 8:30 p.m. EST)Gone with the Wind, an American epic historical romance film about Scarlett O’Hara’s battle to save her beloved Tara and find love during the American Civil War, premiered tonight at the Loew’s Grand Theatre at the corner of Peachtree and Forsyth Streets in downtown Atlanta. Continue reading ‘Gone with the Wind’ premiere sparks racial tension in Atlanta 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 15 1939)

British defeat Germans in first naval battle of World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 13 1939)


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(Wednesday, December 13, 1939, 6:18 a.m. local time; during the Battle of the River Plate, part of the American Theatre of World War II) — The German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee was critically damaged in a battle with the British warships Exeter, Ajax and Achilles today off the River Plate estuary in Argentina and Uruguay. Continue reading British defeat Germans in first naval battle of World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 13 1939)

‘Scatter-Brain’ by Frankie Masters peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1939)

(Saturday, December 2, 1939)“Scatter-Brain” by Frankie Masters and His Orchestra peaked at #1 on today’s Your Hit Parade weekly music chart for six non-consecutive weeks (Dec. 2/16/30, 1939, Jan. 6/13/20, 1940). Continue reading ‘Scatter-Brain’ by Frankie Masters peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1939)

Winter War begins as Soviets invade Finland 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 30 1939)


Video: 'Soviets invade Finland'

(Thursday, November 30, 1939, 6:50 a.m. Eastern European Time; during the Winter War, part of World War II) — The Winter War began this morning as Soviet troops crossed the border on the Karelian Isthmus after a half-hour artillery bombardment. Continue reading Winter War begins as Soviets invade Finland 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 30 1939)