While my mom was here over the Memorial Day weekend, we scanned a few old pictures that were her mom’s. One of them was this tiny little picture of her mother when she was 10 years old in 1928. This is my maternal grandmother with such a cute little bob haircut.
What’s uncanny is the resemblance from generation to generation. I see my mom, myself and my brother in her face with the eyes and freckles. Looking at her, I wondered what was going on in her life at this time, so I googled 1928 to see what was happening in the world then.
1928 saw quite a few innovations that we may take for granted today. The first air conditioned building opened in San Antonio, Texas. The first fully automatic photographic film developing machine was patented. The first radio telephone connection between the US and the Netherlands occurred. Scotch tape hit the market. Rice Krispies were introduced. Coca Cola enters Europe. The fathometer, which measures underwater depth, was patented. The first Iron Lung respirator was used at a children’s hospital in Boston. The first ever TV station was opened by General Electric in Schenectady, New York. Velveeta cheese was created by Kraft. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. Jacob Schick patents the first electric razor. First ever issue of Time Magazine with Japanese Emperor Hirohito on the cover. The clip on tie makes its debut. And the first transatlantic TV image was received in Hartsdale, New York.
Speaking of television, Scottish inventor J. Blaird demonstrates the first color TV in February of 1928. In May, WGY, Schenectady begins regular TV programming. In July, the first color TV broadcast occurs in London, England. Also in July, the first televised tennis match occurs. In September, the first TV Drama appears – WGY’s Queen’s Messenger.
While television was just being conceived, radio was gearing up for it’s soon to be heyday. Amos and Andy debuted on NBC Radio in Chicago. Radio stations begin broadcasting in San Diego, California; Wenatchee, Washington; Reno, Nevada; El Centro, California; Ft. Wayne, Indiana; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Washington, D.C.; Newport News, Virginia; with NBC setting up a permanent coast to coast network.
Aviation was also a huge topic in 1928. The first autogiro (which was the predecessor of the helicopter) took flight in the U.S. Air travel records of all kinds were set: Bert Hinkler took off in the first solo flight from England to Australia on February 7 and lands on February 22; the first transatlantic flight occurs by Fitzmaurice-von Hunefeld-Kohl; Maddus Airlines starts the first regular passenger flights between San Francisco and Los Angeles; Pitcairn Airlines, which later would be known as Eastern, began service; the first aerial cross of the Pacific takes off from Oakland, California; Sir Charles Kingford completed the first US to Australia flight; Amelia Earhart becomes the first female passenger to cross the Atlantic in a plane piloted by Wilmer Stultz; the German dirigible “Graf Zeppelin” lands in Lakehurst, New Jersey; Juan de la Clerva makes first autogiro (helicopter) flight over English Channel.
Other serious world issues were also taking place in 1928. The Soviet Union ordered the exile of Leon Trotsky. A dam burst in California killed 450. Mussolini modifies the Italian electoral system, ending the right to choose. Turkey passes separation of church and state. King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy survives an assassination attempt. England lowers age of women voters from 30 to 21 while Mussolini ends women’s rights in Italy. An explosion in a coal mine in Pennsylvania kills 195 miners. The Italian Embassy in Buenos Aires is bombed, killing 22. British parliament accepts female suffrage. 16 are killed in a New York City subway accident. India requests independence. Albania becomes a kingdom. A hurricane in Florida kills 6,000. Prussia forbids a speech from Adolph Hitler. U.S.S.R. launches its first five year plan. Petitions are started against Germany building a battle fleet. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek becomes president of China. China expels all Russian instructors and civil servants. President Hoover speaks of the American system of rugged individualism. Indonesia enforces child laws in Bahasa. Turkey switches from the Arabic alphabet to the Roman alphabet. Herbert Hoover beats Alfred E. Smith for President of the United States. Hirohito ascends throne as Emperor of Japan. The British steamer Vestris capsizes and sinks off the coast of Virginia killing 110. In December, police in Buenos Aires thwart an attempt on President elect Herbert Hoover.
In sports, a lot of memorable names were making the news of the day as well as the world hosting the second winter Olympics in Switzerland and the ninth summer Olympics in Amsterdam. In the Stanley Cup, the New York Rangers beat the Montreal Maroons. The 32nd Boston Marathon is run. For the first time since 1926, the Yankees are out of first place in April. The 54th Kentucky Derby and Preakness are run with Reigh Count winning the Derby and Victorian winning the Preakness. Walter Hagen shoots a 292 at the 63rd British Golf Open. Fritz von Opel reaches 200 mph in an experimental rocket car. Vito wins the 60th Belmont. On June 12, New York Yankee Lou Gehrig hits 2 triples and 2 home runs to beat the White Sox. On June 15th, Ty Cobb at 41 steals home for the 50th and final time of his career. The 32nd U.S. Golf Open is won by Johnny Farrell at Olympia Fields, Illinois. On June 25th, New York Giant Fred Lindstrom ties a record of 9 hits in a double header. The 41st Wimbledon Women’s Tennis is won by Helen Moody. Halina Knonpacka of Poland becomes the first woman to ever win a gold medal in the Olympics. The Phillies set a record of 25 errorless innings in a doubleheader on July 8th. Gene Tunney wins the heavyweight boxing title. On July 26th, the Yankees score 11 runs in the 12th inning to beat the Tigers 12-1. On August 1st, Babe Ruth hits homerun number 42 of the season. The New York Yankees clinched pennant #6 and swept the Cardinals in the 25th World Series. Boston Gardens officially opened.
And the Entertainment World also recorded major milestones in 1928 such as Madame Tussaud’s opening in London; Alfred Hitchcock’s first film, “Case of Jonathan Drew” was released; “Ol’ Man River” is recorded for Victor Records by Paul Whiteman and his orchestra; Mickey Mouse made his first appearance in the animated cartoon “Steamboat Willie”; the first all talking motion picture (Lights of New York) was shown in New York in July; George Eastman shows the first color motion pictures; the first recording session is held in Nashville with Warmack’s Gully Jumpers; the Ethel Barrymore Theater opens on West 47th Street in New York; and the George Abbott Theater (Adelphi) opens on West 54th Street in New York. Notable names in Entertainment from 1928 included: Eugene O’Neill with several of his plays making their debut, George and Ira Gershwin had several premiers along with George’s “An American in Paris”, Mae West (she made her New York City debut in “Diamond Lil”), Thornton Wilder (received the Pulitzer Prize), Katherine Hepburn made her stage debut (Night Hostess) in New York, Cole Porter and Ray Goetz (their musical Paris premiered in New York), and Louis Armstrong makes a 78 recording of “West End Blues.”
Wow. That’s a lot going on, but I wonder how much of that my grandmother was aware of. Growing up in Massachusetts, I am sure some of the excitement of what was happening in the entertainment world and sports must have made the local news, but would a little girl back then be a fan of baseball or go to the movies on Saturdays to see the matinee? I am sure if I googled the year when I was ten years old, I would find similar breakthroughs, similar world crisis and similar marvels that I probably did not realize were happening because maybe they were only important to the grownups at that time. After all, I was just a kid.
I am glad I had the opportunity to spend some time scanning these photos so that I have a record of my family to share. I may not have had the opportunity to get to know my grandmother well but today I understand a little more about what shaped her life when she was a little girl.
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