Category Archives: Popular Music 1930s

‘Shall We Dance’ opens in Baltimore, Chicago 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 29 1937)


Video: 'Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers - Let's Call The Whole Thing Off HQ'

(Thursday, April 29, 1937)Shall We Dance, the seventh of the ten Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musical comedy films, opened today in Baltimore and Chicago. Continue reading ‘Shall We Dance’ opens in Baltimore, Chicago 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 29 1937)

Rock legend Buddy Holly born in Lubbock, Texas 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 7 1936)


Video: 'The Real Buddy Holly Story (Parts 1-10)'

(Monday, September 7, 1936, Labor Day, 3:30 p.m. local time) — Rock legend Buddy Holly, was born Charles Hardin Holley today in Lubbock, Texas. Continue reading Rock legend Buddy Holly born in Lubbock, Texas 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 7 1936)

Benny Goodman launches Swing Era at Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles 80 years ago today (Aug 21 1935)


Video: 'Benny Goodman At the Palomar Ballroom, Los Angeles Calif 1935'

(Wednesday, August 21, 1935) — The Benny Goodman Orchestra played a concert today at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles that’s considered to mark the beginning of the Swing Era.

Apollo Theater opens in Harlem 80 years ago today (Jan 26 1934)


Video: 'Apollo Theater Tour with Billy Mitchell' (7 videos in playlist)

(Friday, January 26, 1934) — The Apollo Theater opened today in New York City’s Harlem district with the show “Jazz a la Carte” headlined by Benny Carter and his Orchestra, Ralph Cooper and Aida Ward.

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.”