King Kong!
King Kong was released 85 years ago today. April 7, 1933 (wide release)
Happy Beer Day!
An American Airways plane in Chicago is being loaded with cases of 3.2% beer to be delivered to nearby cities.
Even though prohibition did not officially end until Dec 5, 1933, 3.2% beer became legal to drink at midnight, April 7, 1933.
Argosy, Sept. 4, 1937
Jungle Jim
Character created for Champions Online
Night-Club Map of Harlem, 1932
Night-Club map of Harlem from the Feb 1, 1932 edition of Manhattan Magazine (1MB)
Points of interest under the Harlem Moon: A dozen Marijuana cigarettes guaranteed to give a three-day jag. If the Crab Man says “Top or bottom?” (meaning his basket) say “Bottom” and you will get a “shorty” of gin. The white haired apostle who wanders about passing out benedictions and philosophy. Hot peanuts, the Harlem National Food. When there’s no room on the dance floor, they just stand still and shake — that’s the “bump.”
The café au lait girls which are the color of coffee and cream. The waiters who tap dance to and fro with trays bearing glasses of water (and other liquids) and never spill a drop. The police dogs which the sheiks hire for the Sunday Parade. The eternal Harlem question: “What’s th’ number?” meaning 3 Pari-muted digits of the seventh race, which all Harlem bets on. Most of the gamblers pick their numbers from the dream books.
Empire State Building Construction
The construction of the Empire State building involved more than 3,500 workers. According to official accounts, only five workers died during the construction, although the New York Daily News gave reports of 14 deaths. An amazing number considering the complete lack of safety equipment.
Green Hornet Radio Ad, 1936
“City of San Fransisco”, 1938
“CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO” streamliner left Oakland Pier terminal in two sections on January 2, 1938, when the new ultra-modern 17-car train was inaugurated to supplant the original 11-car train which had been in operation since June 14, 1936, for the SP-UP-C&NW between San Francisco and Chicago. Both trains carried capacity loads of holiday travelers. The original streamliner was assigned to other service after this trip. (Wikipedia)
Bennie Railplane, 1930
The Bennie Railplane was a form of rail transport invented by George Bennie (1891–1957), which moved along an overhead rail by way of propellers. Bennie, born at Auldhouse, near Glasgow, Scotland began work on the development of his railplane in 1921. In 1929-1930 he built a prototype on a trial stretch of track over a 130-yard (119-metre) line at Milngavie, off the Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Railway, with one railplane car to demonstrate the system to potential clients. The car ran along an overhead monorail, stabilized by guide rails below. It moved by propellers powered by on-board motors. It was intended to run above conventional railways, separating faster passenger traffic from slower freight traffic. Bennie believed his railplane cars had the capability of traveling up to 120 mph (193 km/h) and would offer a “fast passenger and mails and perishable goods service”. Slow and heavy goods freight and local passenger services would continue on the traditional rail service below. Each car could carry a maximum of 48 people, although the prototype had seating for fewer. (Wikipedia)
