Celebrate U.S. 20th Century in Philately: 1930's (No. 4)

1930’s: Depression, Dust Bowl, and a New Deal

 

By 1933 the average wage was 60 percent less than in 1929 and the unemployment had skyrocketed to 29 percent. Dust storms forced many farmers to give up their land.

Americans escaped the hard reality by playing Monopoly, reading the adventures of “Buck Rogers” and “Flash Gordon” and listening to Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust”.

Popular films included King Kong and It Happened One Night. For the first time African American athletes became national idols: Joe Louis in boxing, Jesse Owens in track and field. 

Prohibition was repealed in 1933.

President Franklin Roosevelt fought the Great Depression with his New Deal programs.

The “Star Spangled Banner” was chosen as the national anthem.

The Empire State building rose above the Manhattan Skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge spanned the San Francisco Bay. 

Back on the ground, the parking meter made the first appearance in 1935.

As the decade closed, many Americans were anxious about the growing war in Europe.

New words: all-star, oops, pizza, racism.

The Stamps

New Deal programs: President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs tried to pull the U.S. out of the Great Depression. They provided some relief and addressed the idea of a government regulated economy.

Eleanor Roosevelt: was an extremely vocal, active, and influential First Lady. During press conferences for women reporters and in her syndicated column, she championed the rights of women, youth, and minorities, and the disadvantaged.

LIFE magazine: Established on November 1936, LIFE magazine opened a new era of photojournalism. With limited text and photographs on almost every page, it expanded our awareness of current event and humanity.

Empire State Building:  Completed in 1931, New York City’s Empire State Building has 102 stories and rises 1250 feet above the ground. For more than 40 years it was the tallest building in the world.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt: Eight days after taking office, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made the first of his radio “fireside chats”. As if speaking directly to each listener, he explained complex issues and the measures being taken to deal with them.

Jesse Owens: On the afternoon on May 25, 1935, Ohio State University’s track star Jesse Owens was credited setting 5 world records and tying another. The following year he received 4 gold medals in international competition in Berlin.

Gone With the Winds: Margaret Mitchel’s 1935 novel Gone With the Wind, portrayed the Old South during the Civil War and Reconstruction. It was a number one bestseller for two years and continues to be sold throughout the world. 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: In December 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered as the country’s first feature-length animated film. The movie classic was comprised of 250,000 separate drawings and won a special Academy Award for Walt Disney.

Household Purchases: Showing faith in new technology household purchases focused on refrigerator, pop-up toasters, vacuum cleaners, and irons. The 1930’s also saw the spread of sliced bread and packaged frozen foods.

Superman TM: Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman TM first appeared in 1939. The Man of Steel was the world’s first comic book superhero. His sensational powers and dynamic deeds changed forever the content and the style of comic book.

Great Depression: Dorothea Lang’s 1936 photograph of of Native American Florence Owens Thompson symbolizes the courage of Americans as they tried to survive the hard times of the Great Depression.

Golden Gate Bridge: After more than four years of construction, the Golden Gate Bridge opened for traffic May 28, 1937.Boasting at 4200-foot long main span, the “International Orange” bridge carried the moderate price of $35,000,000.

Streamline Designs: Stressing efficiency and speed streamline designs were used for cars, planes, trains, buildings, and even appliances.  The New 20th Century Limited, shown on the poster at the Albany Institute, was an example of the aerodynamic style.

Monopoly TM game: Produced commercially for the first time in 1932, Monopoly TM game became the world’s most famous board game. In a period of economic depression, players enjoyed amassing fortunes and driving opponent bankrupt.

Bobby Jones: In 1930 amateur Bobby Jones became the first and the only person to win the Grand Slam of golf. The same year at the age of 28, he retired from competition.

Vahe H. Apelian