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1930 Fun Facts, Trivia and History |
Table of Contents Quick Facts from 1930 |
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1930 History Highlight:
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Top Ten Baby Names of 1930Mary, Betty, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret, Barbara, Patricia, Joan, Doris, Ruth |
US Life Expectancy(1930) Males: 58.1 years, Females: 61.6 years |
The StarsJosephine Baker, Joan Blondell, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Joan Crawford, Marion Davies, Dolores Del Rio, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy, Barbara Stanwyck, Thelma Todd |
Miss Americanone |
Time Magazine’s Man of the YearMohandas Karamchand Gandhi |
Entertainment History: The Academy AwardsThe 2nd Academy Awards occurred on April 3, 1930, at an extravagant dinner at the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. William C. DeMille, older brother of the famed director Cecil B. DeMille, acted as the evening’s host. This event marked the first time the eligibility period was extended to more than one year, covering films released between August 1, 1928, and July 31, 1929. Interestingly, the ceremony was private, attended mostly by industry insiders, and not broadcast on radio or television. The Best Picture winner was The Broadway Melody, and it also was the first sound film to win the top honor. One trivia nugget—there was no Best Actor or Best Actress category; instead, winners received an “Academy Award for Best Acting.” The 3rd Academy Awards were held on November 5, 1930, at the iconic Fiesta Room of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Conrad Nagel, a prominent actor of that era, hosted the ceremony. The eligibility year for the films was from August 1, 1929, to July 31, 1930, which was a departure from the previous year’s extended eligibility period. This year featured the first-ever awards for Best Sound Recording and Best Art Direction, adding some new categories. All Quiet on the Western Front took home the Best Picture award and was also notable for its anti-war narrative. Another fascinating piece of trivia: The awards ceremony was the shortest in history, lasting just 15 minutes. There were no acceptance speeches, and winners were announced in advance, stripping the event of some of its modern-day suspense. |
Firsts, Inventions, and WondersCartoon hottie Betty Boop first appeared in 1930, in Dizzy Dishes, although she was more like a poodle. She became more human-like in 1932. The first appearance of comic strip Blondie by Chic Young. January 13 – The first Mickey Mouse comic strip was published. The radio mystery program The Shadow aired for the first time. Scotch cellophane tape was invented in 1930 by 3M engineer Richard Drew. The ‘3M’ is the original company name – Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. Twinkies, a “Golden Sponge Cake with Creamy Filling,” was invented. MGM’s first color (Technicolor) sound cartoon, Fiddlesticks, was made by Ub Iwerks. |
KFC, also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, was founded by Colonel Harland David Sanders. He was not a military colonel. Clarence Birdseye was granted a US Patent (#1773079A) for his method of quick freezing food. Clyde Tombaugh was photographing the sky and comparing the pictures. He noticed a faint dot that had moved. The young man from Kansas discovered Pluto, named by 11-year-old Venetia Burney. Percival Lowell thought something was up between Neptune and Uranus and had been looking for the planet since 1905. The Irish Free State Hospitals’ Sweepstakes (Irish Sweepstakes) was founded. Paul and Joseph Galvin and William Lear created the first car radio called a “motorized victrola,” which they shortened to Motorola. In 1924, Kleenex was invented and advertised as a cold cream remover. It was rebranded in 1930 after many customers reported using the product primarily for blowing their noses. DuPont invented Neoprene (a versatile rubber). Spaulding developed the Kro-Flight golf ball, the first wound ball with a liquid center. The ball increased distance and control for golfers. |
The Biggest Pop Artists of 1930 includeArden-Ohman Orchestra, Earl Burtnett & His Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Orchestra, Duke Ellington, Libby Holman, Isham Jones and His Orchestra, Wayne King and His Orchestra, Ted Lewis and His Band, Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, Red Nichols & His Five Pennies, Regent Club Orchestra, Harry Richman, Leo Reisman Orchestra, Jacques Renard and His Orchestra, Nat Shilkret & the Victor Orchestra, Rudy Vallée & His Connecticut Yankees, Ted Wallace & His Campus Boys, Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians, Ted Weems and His Orchestra, Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra |
Strange NewsOn April 18, 1930, the BBC announced, “There is no news today,” and played piano music instead. A mysterious man visited Edgar Allen Poe’s grave every year from 1930-1998 and offered a toast with a glass of Cognac. Elm Farm Ollie was the first cow to fly in a fixed-wing aircraft and the first cow to be milked in an airplane. War Plan Red was a hypothetical plan for the U.S. invasion of Canada approved in 1930 by the American Secretary of War. George Stathakis died after going over Niagara Falls in a barrel, suffocating after becoming trapped behind a water curtain upon impact. His 150-year-old turtle, which came with him, survived. The Four identical Genain Quadruplet sisters born in 1930 all developed schizophrenia, suggesting a vital genetic component to schizophrenia. |
Pop Culture Facts & HistoryIn 1930, Babe Ruth made more than the President ($80,000 vs $75,000); when asked about it, he responded, “I know, but I had a better year.” The first commercially released “Looney Tunes” cartoon was 1930’s Sinkin’ in the Bathtub. Looney Tunes was created to promote WB’s music catalog in 1930. That’s why it’s “Tunes” and not “Toons.” The Motion Pictures Production “Hayes Code” was instituted, imposing guidelines on treating sex, crime, religion, and violence in films. It was in place until 1968. Agatha Christie, G. K. Chesterton, and other British mystery writers formed the Detection Club. Members swore to not use “Divine Revelation, Feminine Intuition, Mumbo Jumbo, Jeggiry-Pokery, Coincidence, or Act of God” in stories. Founded in 1930, the club still exists. Sir Frank Whittle (RAF) invented the modern jet engine, using a gas turbine to provide forward thrust. In 1919, Michael Keogh stopped an angry mob of men from killing two right-wing political agents they were beating up. In 1930, at a Nuremberg rally, Keogh recognized one of the agents he had saved. It was Adolf Hitler. The world’s “longest-running laboratory experiment” demonstrates the fluidity and high viscosity of pitch, a derivative of tar once used for waterproofing boats.” In 1930, pitch was left in a glass funnel to drip out and has only dropped nine times: about once every ten years. In 1930, there were only 14 Shih Tzu’s left in the world due to restrictions in dog breeding. All modern-day Shih Tzu’s are direct descendants of those 14 dogs. In North America and most other places, Hamsters are descended from one pregnant female, captured in Syria in 1930. The Bank of Italy (founded in San Francisco, California, in 1904) was renamed Bank of America. The Hotel Pennsylvania was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad and operated by Ellsworth Statler. It opened on January 25, 1919, and has used the Phone Number Pennsylvania 6-5000 (212-736-5000) since ~1930. It was also the title of a hit song for Glenn Miller. |
Nobel Prize WinnersPhysics – Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman |
The Number One Hits of 1930December 26, 1929 – January 10, 1930 January 11, 1930 – January 31, 1930 February 1, 1930 – February 7, 1930 February 8, 1930 – February 28, 1930 March 1, 1930 – March 7, 1930 March 8, 1930 – March 21, 1930 March 22, 1930 – May 30, 1930 May 31, 1930 – June 13, 1930 June 14, 1930 – July 4, 1930 July 5, 1930 – August 22, 1930 August 23, 1930 – September 19, 1930 September 20, 1930 – October 17, 1930 October 18, 1930 – November 28, 1930 November 29, 1930 – December 19, 1930 December 30, 1930 – January 16, 1931
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Popular and Best-selling Books From 1930Angel Pavement by J. B. Priestley |
FIFA World Cup (Soccer)Uruguay |
1930 United States CensusTotal US Population: 123,202,624 |
SportsWorld Series Champions: Philadelphia Athletics |
More 1930 Facts & History Resources:Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com) |
