Ma Rainey

Ma Rainey was not the first blues singer, however, she should have been. She was involved in an era which women were the marquee names in the genre of blues. She earned her name "The Mother of Blues", because she had been singing the blues for over 20 years before she recorded her debut record. She also shared a repertoire of minstrel and pop songs, however had a grittier/tougher vocal delivery than most cabaret singers of blues.

Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith was the first blues and jazz singer, and the most powerful. Her title, "The empress of Blues" was earned rightfully so. Her discography includes:

Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith/ Louis Armstrong/ Cab Calloway
Fats Waller & Bessie Smith
Please Help Me Get Him off My Mind
Thems Graveyard Works

She also appeared on a vast amount of compilations, and influenced decades of blues singers after her.

Alan Lomax

One of the most innovative and prominent figures in music throughout the 1930s was Alan Lomax. He was an ethnomusicologist and folklorist. Lomax recorded thousands of field recordings, with a focus of prisoners and the black community. Not only this, but he was a pioneering oral historian, he recorded detrimental interviews with memorable folk musicians.

Walt Disney and Adolf Hitler

Found this to be quite interesting. I've heard a plethora of rumors regarding the relationship between Walt Disney and Hitler. The rumors have varied, I've heard that he was an avid supporter of Hitler, and they shared a friendship. I've also heard that Hitler funded the building/expansion of Disneyland. I'm not sure if these rumors are true at all, but it is interesting to think about.

Thomas Hart Benton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84L8ccrGpC0

I found this short compilation video of Thomas Hart Benton's paintings. He was the enemy of modernism, and the inventor of regionalism. Always focusing on American values and often times hard labor, Benton rose to prominence as one of the leading painters during the WPA.

the mad butcher of kingsbury run

For the most part we learned about a decrease in crime during the depression era.  This is a post, however, on the unsolved serial killings that took place in Cleveland which came to be accredited to the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run by the press. 

It began in the fall on 1934 when a woman's torso with the legs severed at the knees was found washed up on the shore of Lake Erie.  The body went unidentified and the incident was quickly forgotten.
Then the bodies of two decapitated, emasculated males were found in 1935 along the Kingsbury Run--a weedy ravine along the east side of Cleveland.  The murders were dismissed as passion crimes when one of the bodies was identified as Edward Andrassy, a young man familiar to the police who had been having an affair with a married woman (her husband had threatened Edward's life).

In 1936 in January, the remnants of a 41 year-old prostitute were found behind a butcher shop.  In May of that same year a decapitated head was found along Kingsbury Run.  A few days later they found a body to match.  Though it was heavily tattooed, police were still unable to ID it.  At the end of July another headless body was found, this time across town from the Kingsbury Run.  A few months later a homeless spotted the torso of a male while waiting for a train.

Over a period of two years, twelve more bodies were found.  Despite money incentives in the papers and hundreds of suspect interviews, no one was ever charged with the murders. The remains of the final two victims were found in August of 1938 and after that, the butcher seemed to have disappeared.

There are a few theories as to the identity of the killer.  Some suspect that it was a local doctor named Frank Sweeney.  Later, an immigrant named Frank Dolezal confessed to the crimes, but recanted, claiming the police beat him to confession.  Another theory is that the butcher moved to Los Angeles.  And finally that it was a mentally unstable premed student who was from a wealthy Cleveland family. 

portland 1930s

I couldn't find much information on what was going on in Portland during the 1930s, but I did discover this neat blog that posts picture of Portland during the decade.

http://vintageportland.wordpress.com/category/1930s/

Also, I found out that in 1934 nearly 1400 members of the International Longshoremen's  Association participated in something called the west coast waterfront strike.  Their demands included:

• acknowledgment of the union
• wages increased from $.85/hr to $1.00/hr
• 6 hr workday
• 30 hr workweek
• a closed shop with the union in control of hiring

The strike lasted from June 9, 1934-July 31, 1934.  The results were in their favor with everything they asked for except compromises on $.95/hr and also the creation of a union hiring hall jointly managed by the union and management.

Here's a picture from the blog of SW Broadway in 1935.

Bonnie & Clyde

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were two criminals who were well known during the Great Depression during the public enemy era. They mostly robbed gas stations or small stores and occasionally robbed banks and were responsible for several murders, nine of which were police officers. Ambushed in Louisiana by the police, they were shot almost 50 times and killed.

What I found funny was the popular picture of Bonnie that was published after their home was raided for suspicion of being bootleggers. The picture shows Bonnie smoking a cigar and holding a pistol. Published along with this picture was also the poetry that she wrote often, including during her time spent in jail.

Naming the childrenz

To a certain extent, names can reveal information about a time period.  For example in present day we bare witness to such dazzling and unique labels as Apple, Blanket, Audio Science, and Pilot Inspektor.  Popular baby names from the 1930s reveal perhaps what can be called a simpler naming strategy.

My grandpa has nine brothers who were all born from in the 20s-30s time range.  They all had names that were beautifully uncomplicated and lovely such as Phil, Marty, Fred, Bob, Bill, Ernie, Ralph, John (plus 2 more I can't remember).

From the website listed below, I found the 5 most popular names in the 1930s.
In ranking order, for males: Robert, James, John, William, Richard.
In ranking order, for females: Mary, Betty, Barbara, Shirley, Patricia

For me (and to see if your name made the list):
http://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decades/names1930s.html

Driving in the '30s

Traffic laws began when cars gained popularity with the intention of reducing accidents.  In America one of the first traffic regulations was the registration of vehicles.  This began at beginning of the twentieth century.  Other laws followed like license plates and drivers licenses. 

By 1935 there were 39 states that issued licenses and fewer than that actually tested applicants.  Prior to the 1930s most people learned how to drive from car salesmen, family, and friends.  Soon, drivers ed was offered as part of the curriculum in high schools.

I found this pretty amusing video on the Voice of Safety:

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs brought a lot of firsts:  the first animated feature film produced in America, first fully produced in color, and it was Walt Disney's first production. It premiered in 1937 and was released nationally by 1938. 

The expectations for the film were low.  Disney's wife told him "No one's ever gonna pay a dime to see a dwarf picture."  In fact, it was not a flop--it went on to make four times more money than any other film released that year. 

Brave New World

You can't talk about 1930s literature without mentioning Brave New World. A personal favorite, I recommend this book to everyone whether you're into classic literature, sociology or sci-fi. Written by Aldous Huxley in 1931 and published in 1932, Brave New World is #5 on the 100 best English Language novels of the 20th century. The book is dystopian story set in a the year 2540 under the rule of The World State, a peaceful global society with a fixed population due to the ban of natural reproduction. Instead, children are created in Hatcheries and raised in Conditioning Centers where sleep learning and brainwashing is constantly used. Each fetus (which is not unique but rather the same as 95 others) is divided into five social casts from Alpha to Epsilon depending on the degree of arrested development in intelligence and growth bestowed upon the fetus.

I won't ruin the rest of the book, but it causes us to examine our own society in such a way that asks questions of taken for granted social norms within our society. I highly recommend it and found it to be an easy and highly satisfying read.

A Century of Progress International Exposition

The world's fair held in Chicago, Illinois during 1933 and 1934 was called A Century of Progress to celebrate the advances of science and technology from 1833-1933. Over 48,000,000 visitors came to see the Rainbow City that hosted performances by Sally Rand among others, baseball games, and a Homes of Tomorrow exhibition that featured homes modern home construction and convenience materials and techniques.

It was also the first international fair in American history that paid for itself. All of the debts were paid and the fair earned over $800,000.

Kodachrome

Kodachrome was a revolutionary type of color film introduced by Kodak in 1935. It was the first successfully mass-marketed color film that used a subtracted method. It became the longest selling color film.

Last year Kodak stopped manufacturing Kodachrome after 75 years. of production. It was a well loved in the photo-journalism world and was especially appreciated for it's longevity in use of photo-archiving. After reading about it's history as it was going out of, I found that many of my favorite photographs were taken using Kodachrome.

http://www.kodachromeproject.com/

1938's Dating Guide for Women

I found this and thought it was hilarious. Its reflection of sexist gender roles is pretty obvious here and hopefully doesn't need me to be pointed out. I think this is generally reflective of an attitude of the time, however. Women were required to adhere to a strict set of social codes that dictated how they dressed, spoke, presented themselves, ate and drank, and acted. The standards were mostly for the benefit of pleasing or looking appealing to men. It seems not much has changed, huh? Maybe the codes have changed, but strict guidelines for how to dress, act, and speak are still hanging over women's heads today for the benefit of heterosexual men's pleasure.

Read the full guide here.

Hindenburg

The LZ 129 Hindenburg was the biggest air ship of it's time. They decided to fill it with Hydrogen instead of helium because it was less expensive and North American natural gas was the only source of Helium. There was a ban on helium exports in the US at the time and it was expected to be lifted by the time it was finished being built, but it was not. 14 months later on May 6, 1937, at the end of the first North American transatlantic journey of its second season of service, killing 36 people.

I found it really interesting when I read this. I had assumed they used hydrogen because there was some sort of scientific advantage, not just because it was cheaper. Good lesson on cutting corners.

http://www.ciderpresspottery.com/ZLA/greatzeps/german/Hindenburg.html

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday is considered to be one of the greatest jazz singers and female vocalists of all time. She was born in Philidelphia in 1915. She was kicked out of her parents home at the age of thirteen and lived in very difficult conditions in her early life.

"Lady Day" has always been a favorite jazz musician of mine. She worked on a number of collaborations with some very famous and very talented artists, creating some of the most beautiful music to come out of American music culture.

Keynesian Economics

John Maynard Keynes was a British economist born in 1983. He spearheaded a revolution in the study and practice of macroeconomics that had a great effect on the 1930's and the recovery from the great depression. He came up with several ways of counterbalancing the natural boom and bust cycles of economies and advocated measures to reduce unemployment.

I have found Keynes to be a very interesting figure in my study of economics. He created of the of the most comprehensive theories on macroeconomics. I find it very interesting how so many politicians have begun advocating less sophisticated views of the economy as solutions. To me that means it's all the more imperative that we go back and study the history of this subject

http://www.maynardkeynes.org/keynes-career-timeline.html

Ansel Adams

Ansel Adams was one of the most influential photographers of the twenty first century. He developed a great number of techniques for creating and developing photos. He collaborated with many different famous artists throughout his career and played an essential part both the movement to establish photography as art and to differentiate it from other mediums.

Ansel Adams is a very important figure to me. He has inspired my photography perhaps more than any other artist. My grandfather was definitely influenced by him in his work. He was a geologist in his professional life and seemed to view the world through a similar lens as Adams.

http://www.zpub.com/sf/history/adams.html

Zoot suits

Flashy designs, creative patterns, brazen and colorful styles—this is what the people will always remember about zoot suits. It may not always gain appreciation in everyone’s eyes yet it never fails to catch attention. And strangely enough, this piece of men’s clothing has been popular since the 1930’s and 1940’s, and it had never missed out to be in the modern fashion scene!!!

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HxVP1s0hO+dwmc4nK7b2GzJ2EdkHmAtG6ForUkruMpHkxiDQ7lEYPJdsiC1kDaZ1gT3pro2HtF3kiVJvdPKWGzQgpGla8HS7bmwpqaokcdzS5zWC/C+G27apqGpIYBG29gLudk29s7fWfnwyPEqi1FWyKr0pPMXBskvyWK31sJEkmHI3s0N4elzystPp58w+YjDQbWklJ8xGy5OXMIJi297ifU3wb8bpxBLdRlPos3DnvMjhvwgAdzSbN9vNSNsIvt7s/OyCRa5rgA7wO8cwdycSQY4urcQXWJY7ebe9QLaifM2EMYzMj7ZNG3Cw7+Z8lXNYtdD8nNRA8/s0jHtLtkoJwvZ3FrvVyQNukF0TNHyibIg2Y07cfBvt81hjqnkPWrTr/re7SNQJMmRtADW3327Tj37O4BVMx8x5oFNmJNrbe9ScT2jLCDzuUxpIwDclvLNP4IwdjmeaAhmFvQHr+KQJh9ketFfT5kXb5rnyTfib5oHEEg+yBszF1ef1Sh4lUmj0c9zcbRiaCAS3Ox22Wp9Vy9YQKl1QpCM4GeGIewplPqFRkfRFvc9w9pKtIjXzowRsQZ7WdHsAJMb5WdxBHsup3RhdDEyEvc/BliO053zU78kaciFjusWs1QytqGskcGtlkaBYZAOIG5BpOmaouj7Ny4Z2Bts7zkqvV6aJsHMAgic15bch5fnazT6QBO1U062VR/en8LfgmcumZXbXA+AQOtKVJllc8/WJ8OS1zoXjHyKT/rO/xYsWjqnO2keS3HoVbegecj88/Z/KxBfGrspyS2sQ5m3NkDZjL911IRoTWDJOIW5jwQZNHoxtTpBjHAH9p0jOSDndkjYwX+DWi3DvV3fTtiYQCbNyAubchYLKp9Z5KWqhnjwuJn0g17Btc19QLh1s8WwjuYtb0ZOJm9ccm2BaHCxBIucQ3HP1IFRSWivI0NP2R+clAS6xTSymGkjaMN8cjvRYOJ2Aead1b31d2xO6uAenUEXvxEV/SPPYOaNRastMYjDTHTjMsuccp+1K7eOSCu6U62rLaSmlMxJBqai4MbGg/Rtw9kEm1wFVelesipooqCnN8PaldxO4G3mtN1j09HSU7gyzbNIAbYBoC86aV0j10rpHC5cb3uUEaShuTkvb9n1lIdK23oesoG+JOqLNwG7b5LlPhLxiblyJUlBFG3tYT5negG+1za/mvmvPFF65n2PWU70PSNnmZFhtiNibnIWvdBeejxoNO/f2/+0K33UDqxoU0zHMviBddvdYBTmFBJhceM0ojJfFt0AmC5CwHWCTFV1B/1pf8ANy9Aws7Q7wvO+knXnlPGSQ+b3FABsa4Is0QFKaUAXXOxbj0H5aPlB+/d62RrGGNWxdDFT+yztAc9zZGuLW4b2cwAZuLRfsnK98kGk3Q2qNbp0vzjp5ntuQHEwsaS0lpw3kJOYO5cl0vODYUbyeUsOXkUErdEacu5Vtusk1nE0FQA0El2KECwzNiXC+z1Ku6W6XerjIZSSB7m9gyObbtXAdZtyd+WSA3RuWmAb3EzyXLbWDp5Bk76wu12fIclYzROmfm60N7kD0pDwvub6yqhqTKI2wwvJLpaeJti0i2LrJ3A8LB5F+QV+cCGgNGZyHIICQObYBoGFuQFshbgELS1cI29pzW5fWIF+4Hak4uqHcvPOsOlhLWzySlzsTnYd9s7AZnIcggsnSDp0SRPDTcEhoIzvbM+5Zx1Z4HyT6q0s9wAaS1o2AG3nZA/SEn23/iKBuYD9k+RQ3MPAhO/0rKP3j/xH4r5ulpQ4Oxu873QN4YzcWBPcn3VG2wp0zTUm558ClO0tL9t3mUDMQb7FTepsd62PliP+0qOOlZbWxO81pOi9Exjq5A0B2FpvzLRf2oJ5mxLugsOSLkgl0s7EgJRQLpvTHePaF5oq3/OPPFzvaV6XpjYheZ5jcnvKBAcUoFJsiRxlxAaCSdgGZ9SDhBBINwRfLuWw9CE4ZR1jnXt1jNm2wjJNu4XyWY0+q9S/wBGF/lb2rT+jbQkkNPLDM3B10l9oJwhgB7tvtQXLU8vdEXy3Dg57WtNuy0nrAbDecYJUuX2xO45BApXNEkzRYWMbvBzGtGe/wBD1Igdci+wIB6X7NI5uwvGHwO31Eqj65UIqK7RjBcNkxxXG0NZc5X5OVu0nPjdYmzW5lVvTNSPl2j3NFxEytlA2F1mMYzzfkED3QeiIm6TeWvxOhaGBmWTepjGJ9vrG4HgeKsNXQ434jNJE0bBHhHncEqH1HLJvlUzHdqar6u+8MgaAB4gONualtOaTNPG4yxOwtv22NL2ci63aZu2jxQVrTum3wxPvNdpBDRKyzyNlw9gw+YCw6Whke4kNvck+kzf4qQ1r1lfVSuJNmXIDRst4clAhA//AFenP1P98f8AyXRq5UEXEd7cHMPqDlHldbIQgcv0JP8AdP8AL4JH6CnP7p/km+M8SkmQ8T5oHTdDVA/dSD+k/BOfkFTb6B/fhd7FE9ceJS2yniUEiWSNPbie3mWn3ha/Qt7DP5Gf4hVvUmJr6NhcMRxPGeeQPNWWLkgctR/zuTeNHQTFl84ri6Qg6x1gTwDj5ArzU4L0m/6N/wDI/wDxK824dncPYECVPahzhtfFfYSW+JGSgynugpwyphedjZGk917FBu2FLptIMjnjjcbGXEGbrloxWv4epOY2ArM+k3SLmV0ADrCIMe0ja04r39SDWLltS3/UjcLfxRHF52kd+EossoaCSUzq5nCnjkcC10WCWxBuW2IeCdgJY8794VZ1z1lFurjIJdvHA7PNAQ1bqypbAw9gm7yPsA5/BC03UtdNVVQwiKnEdJBc4Q5zCJJMJ2fS9W3buKd6o0RhpHSNIFTUnBDfMtbfBjw7TYkvI4NF7ZkUjpJqGsENDE7EymBLyLduZ18RPE5583oBaiaQqKOsjIcx0D5G9Y0SxG97tDwMVw4Yj4ZL0a8AtPMH1ryDbqw128Oa7xGdl6m1N1jjraOOaM3uAHDe1wGYPig8+a8apzR10wbGC0uxNsWbDnsJvyUB+rdSTlE7wLfitd6e9WAY46xgzaRHLbe13oO8CLf1BYiUEidWqn7iQ9wv7Fx2rlUBnTzf23fBMGvItY2TvrCY83HIC2Z4n4oEyaFn+4l/tv8AghP0PN9zL/bf8F8Kh32neZSjWyfbfs+07y2oOHQ0w/cy2/6b/ghnR8oOcbxb+F3wRP0lL94/8Tvirv0ftL4ZHSEu7TQMRJtlfK5y2oHmouVE0G4OOTI942KyxOzTMRgHLLb69qdxC6BzEj4Cm0JTjrUE4Wr7AlApWFACryhlP+lL/g5edG0riNnBejdKj9kqDwgmP/puXm6yA4onb2lF/R/J3kmeIr7riN580GkUXSTIxjW9RfCAL9rdlwTTR0P6U0tG+RjmtFnObY2wxi5FzxNlQ21Tx9Z3mVoPQ3XF1XIzHaV0Z6rHdzeybuFgcskGpa0aRbBTTTPLSHHsDK2wAC3K3qKzPUilmralpxvZAHWc4HDivdxYHC3adYDkrRrXoVkpAr627Wm4ip4XC534nXcCd10Gs1zYyl6ikoZGwNAa1zrtaDfI4hnivnfagldf9KmnkhhprCVzHYcIF24iGZcMmkeCyWo0LUYiXQzXJNy6N5J5nLapXT+kJm4TLibLI0EEvu5sQOWYAsTn6+Kq1ZpuYu+lktwxu+KA1doqUMzikHex3wRtWdYKygl6yDG2/pMLHljx/E21vHamTNY6losJ5R/W74okWt1Y3ZUzfjJQWvW7pYqa2ldTvgbGH2xlocb2IcLBw7OY4rO3BTo12rPv5D3m/tR3a61eAHrTe/Bt/WEFaIS+suLX2KcdrxVOtd7T3sjPtapWDXKTCBghJ5wxH/tQUsrhcrz+t8mXYg/sxf8AFdl1uvbFTUp5mFqCjwwF3G29X7USQCOUDIhzD4FpHuT7QWkWVRe009OzBhddsTMxcggg5WOWxSMVE2O+EAYrZANAyvsDQOKBTno0c6bPIVSqdd3B7mtYMiQDtJsbXQX1kiP1iozNNyPAxPc3k0BF+X/xyeYQXZuu1J975Nk/4pR18pB+9P4JPgkspGD6jB3M/wDCeQxN3DyB9iBnJrpTysdEOtd1rXM+jNrOBbmSctqrrNRqc/UPm4K6xMHD2rks8bPSysOBOVw2+Q4kIKd/+PacjJrvxoT+jSG2V/Mn3K9saBls5G3xRXRcifC3vQZw7o1hOx7x5e9G0ZqW2mnZLHI/E03zw2I2EGw8FeaqWKNuKRwaPH2A3TCo05SkHtl1tzWv8LZW9aC2UdQ4kAxPL7XGXYz39Z6I878k8jo6gvJc9pG3DbsjbYNO08yfJZtq50hVEU2CojL4CThkaLuaL5FzRe4t496vkGvlJvmDf5mub6iLoMO10r3y18zpGGNwdg6s/Uw5Wy7r8wQqrVDtmy3zWqj0bXyNJ6z5Qey10ccwxW2CR2DDYbidnFV9/RHSnPHNfiHD3sQY6Qk2WuSdD0G6aXyYfcmz+h6L/wDpeO+Nv/JBlhCkI6W7eQB8d5WgDofZf/8AaP8AbHucnTui4AZVI/t/+5Bkrm5qXopRh2cldKroiLjdtQ0Hfdhse6xQYuiudl/noiO5/wAEFU2FIfnt2K3P6OZx+8i/3/8AFBk6PKj7UZHe4e5APUaIY5nbOyweZJ9ysVQ9NtXdVJ4ceLq+1bY4nYTtFual/wBBE+k7waPigh55QBckADfdZ5HTOdMThJGIm9jZa4NV4icwSeLs/Ulfq/ENn58LIM3EZvsKJgdwK0P9AR8vUnH6rD7J8kGanWSp++cvjrHU3v1z79/uTABfYfcgkBrLU/fP80r9ZKk5GaS3efOyj2jJJcUEm3WWpGyaTj6RQKjTU0h7cr3d7imDSk3QOzXvt6R80F87jvKGRsXAgViJ3lFfM4Ado5c0Efn1JTzkfH3oDyacqDl10tuGN2w8796VTaZnj9GV4N75OP5KY4c/zzRHj3IJKTWqpJuZnnlc+xTFD0kyxtsYo3DvcD/lb1Kpv3IYHvQaNS9KLD9JCR/K6/tUhT9JFKTn1rL/AMIIHfYrK+KQ8ZINph1vo3EWqG58QQpaCsZJmyRjh/C4HwsF5+Yfz4okchByJHcSEHoJ8ZzyFvzyQDFb6o8LLDqbT9RH6E0g/qPvU9ojW2qMtjM4izsiGnYOYQah8nP2T5pLqMkZX8SEx0PpGR7e06+Q3NHHgOSlmZt/PFABtMRmQUkMdfL1lOojfajmEcEEW+A32BOflsv2j5pQ9K25G6sIP//Z

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge opened to transit in the year 1937. It connected the city of San Francisco to Marin County and Oakland. At the time it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It's length has since been surpassed by eight other bridges but it remains the second largest suspension bridge in the United States.

All these things aside, the Golden Gate has become one of the most iconic bridges in the world. It has been one of the most photographed bridges the world over. It is acclaimed as one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It's just as American as the Statue of Liberty and the Grand Canyon.

Innovations

Many people only think of the depression when they thinok of the 30's. It dominates our cultural memory of the age. but there was something else that came out of the 30's.

There was renewed interest in mechanical innovation in 1930s cars that was not present in the 20's. The whole decade experienced a leap forward in automotive design and technical sophistication that benefits the car industry to this very day. It was 1930s cars that saw the introduction of automatic chocks, gearshifts on the sheering column, smoothly shifting transmissions, trunks that were built into the car and hydraulic brakes. It is hard to imagine a car without these features being produced today. It makes these improvements even more impressive. so many important design features came out of the 1930s car industry its hard not to wonder where we would be without that decade. .

Women in Sports

Mildred "Babe" Didrickson was not simply one the best athletes of the 1930's. she was one the greatest of all-time. She first made a name for herself during Olympic Trials. Didrikson entered as a one women team and finished first, the University of Illinois 22 member team finished second. Babe won 6 of the 8 events she competed in, and set world records in two. In the Olympics she was restricted to just three events, 80 meter hurdles, Javelin and high jump. She took two golds and a silver. After the 1932 games, she competed in exhibitions of several sports including pitching a scoreless inning against the Athletics. In the 1940's and 50's she became the best women's golfer in the world.

How did this monster of sports become a super athlete? no one knows, but how would she stack up today?

Crime of the Century

Renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh is is most recognizable from his non stop trans Atlantic flight in the Spirit of St. Louis.

What he is less known for is a crime that was committed on march 1st 1932. his 10 month old son was kidnapped.

while a 10 week nation wide man hunt took place their were also negotiations taking place through an intermediary known as Jafsie. the negotiations led to the pay out of 50,000$ in 10$ and 20$ gold certificates.

Although payment was made on May 12th the body of Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr was found just two miles from the families home. Tracing the certificates led authorities to Bruno Richard Hauptmann. With more then 13,000 of the notes stashed in his garage he was convicted of kidnapping, extortion, and first degree murder. Hauptmann maintained through the trial and right through to the carrying out of the death sentence that he was innocent.

One thing that came from this tragedy is the Lindbergh Act making it a federal offence to kidnap a child and either cross state borders or else use any service that crosses the state boarder. including mailing ransom letters.

The loss of a child is devastating, do you think that making the crime carry a more severe punishment deterred anyone from committing it?

Cheap steak, cheap gas....why not?

	Population: 123,188,000 in 48 states
	Life Expectancy: Male, 58.1; Female, 61.6
	Average salary: $1,368
	Unemployment rises to 25%
	Huey Long proposes a guaranteed annual income of $2,500
	Car Sales: 2,787,400
	Food Prices: Milk, 14 cents a qt.; Bread, 9 cents a loaf; Round Steak, 42 cents a pound Gas: .10-.17 cents a gallon What really stands out from this list is the price of gas. A gallon of gas was between .10 to .17 cents in the thirties. Nowadays the average price of gas is around $3.90. It seems like .10 cents for a gallon of gas is nothing! The price of gas back then was reasonable for the time period. If gas has risen from .10 cents in the thirties and $3.90 currently, it makes you wonder where it's going next.

An Interesting Character

The Lone Ranger was one of America's favorite radio heroes in the 1930s. He had a sidekick named Tonto and they would gallop through everyone's living room on a mission to save the wild west. The Lone Ranger wore a black mask to hind his identity. He would yell "Hi-yo Silver, away", his horse would rare up and off they would go. The horse was of course Silver. He and Tonto, lived by a strict code of behavior, both on and off the radio. Later the show went on to TV; some where there is still reruns playing. The show stopped producing new episodes in 1957 so that is a long run for reruns. There were also movies made with the Lone Ranger as the star.

Marx Brothers

The Marx Brothers were a group of brothers with very funny names: Zeppo, Chico, Groucho, Gummo, and Harpo. With no hopes of employment with names such as those, they had no choice but to enter comedy.* The boys had a German mother and a French father and lived in New York. From 1929 to 1949, they made 13 films. The brothers did stage shows, movies, television shows, radio, and vaudeville.

"Humor is reason gone mad." --Groucho Marx (arguably the most well-known of the brothers).


The Marx Brothers were an extremely popular comedy team. In the 1930s alone, they were in a slew of famous films such as:
Animal Crackers (1930)
Duck Soup (1933)
Monkey Business (1931)
Horse Feathers (1932)
A Night At the Opera (1935)
A Day at the Races (1937)

Prior to reading about the Marx brothers, I always associated them with Marxism (the economic and socio-political worldview) and thought Groucho Marx was some often quoted but invisible cousin of Karl Marx. Clearly, this is not the case.




*This is not a fact.

"I, Too, Sing America" By Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America. 

I am the darker brother. 

They send me to eat in the kitchen 

When company comes, 

But I laugh, 

And eat well, 

And grow strong.

Tomorrow, I'll be at the table 

When company comes. 

Nobody'll dare 

Say to me, 

"Eat in the kitchen," 

Then.  

Besides,  

They'll see how beautiful I am 

And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.

This poem written by Langston Hughes was penned in 1925, 

so it was a bit before the thirties but remains relevant even to this day.

This is one of my favorite poems and it is about civil rights. 

Although the other inhabitants of the house are ashamed of the darker brother 

and send him to eat where he will be unseen by others, 

he still remains optimistic about a better tomorrow. 

Every person, regardless of race or appearance or anything as superficial as that, is America.

 I see the people of the house as representative of this country in that time period and 

company is representative of the self we (being the United States) choose to present to

the outside world.    

(I keep struggling with formatting and my block of text kept ending up as one very long line of text. The only way I found to separate 

text was to do this weird spacing. Sorry!)