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Tag: 1928

  • Pop Culture Trivia Quiz: What Happened In 1928?

    Pop Culture Trivia Quiz: What Happened In 1928?

    Pop Culture Trivia Quiz: What Happened In 1928?

    28 Trivia Questions for 1928 History

    (answers)

    1. The Threepenny Opera debuted in 1928. What Pop Music Standard is from this musical play? (Hint: It was a #1 song in 1959)

    2. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1928?

    3. In 1928, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?

    4. This book, written by A.A. Milne, is best known for introducing Tiggir.

    5. What was Mickey Mouse’s first cartoon with sound?

    6. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1928?

    7. Who was the FBI agent assigned to head the prohibition enforcement in Chicago?

    8. What is the best-known name for this toy, also described as a ‘Whirligig’ or ‘Tagalog’?

    9. How many people lived in the United States in 1928?

    10. Who lead the FBI’s prohibition unit in Chicago?

    11. What is the name of the lion used to represent MGM Studios?

    12. Who was the President of the United States in 1928?

    13. What compartmental device for liquids was invented by Lloyd Groff Copeman?

    14. What American company was a sponsor for the 1928 Olympic Games? (hint: They still sponsor the games today)

    15. What was the average household income in 1928?

    16. Who was the first woman to make a successful transatlantic flight as a passenger?

    17. The Boulder Dam Project Act was signed into law in 1928. What do we call the dam that was completed today?

    18. Still in business today, what electric men’s personal device was invented?

    19. What easy-to-wear men’s clothing accessory was invented in 1928?

    20. How much did an average Ford Model A cost in 1928?

    21. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1928?

    22. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1928? William Shatner, Judith Krantz, Vidal Sasson, or Philip K. Dick

    23. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1928?

    24. It started in Europe in the 1920s; what artistic style became popular in the United States?

    25. Who won the 1928 World Series?

    26. What did Alexander Fleming discover on Friday, September 28, 1928?

    27. Who launched the first of several “five-year plans” that failed in the USSR?

    28. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1928?

    Trivia Team Bonus Questions:

    1. Who showed the world the first working all-electronic television system in San Francisco?

    2. Who was the American Vice-President in 1928?

    3. The 1928 Winter Olympics were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland. How many medals did the US win?

    4. Held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, how many medals did the US win in the 1928 Summer Olympics?
    56.
    22 Gold, 18 Silver, 16 Bronze.

    5. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1928?

    6. What was the first trans-Pacific flight between two countries?

    7. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1928?

    8. Who was the Pope in 1928?

    9. What was the highest-grossing movie of 1927?

    10. What sizeable medical device, primarily replaced by ventilators, was invented in 1928?

    The Answers:

    28 Answers for 1928 History

    1. The Threepenny Opera debuted in 1928. What Pop Music Standard is from this musical play? (Hint: It was a #1 song in 1959)
    Mack The Knife

    2. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1928?
    Sonny Boy – Al Jolson

    3. In 1928, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
    Men – 55.6 years, Women – 58.3 years.

    4. This book, written by A.A. Milne, is best known for introducing Tiggir.
    The House at Pooh Corner.

    5. What was Mickey Mouse’s first cartoon with sound?
    Steamboat Willie

    6. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1928?
    In 1928, The New York Rangers won over the Montreal Maroons (3 games to 2)

    7. Who was the FBI agent assigned to head the prohibition enforcement in Chicago?
    Eliot Ness

    8. What is the best-known name for this toy, also described as a ‘Whirligig’ or ‘Tagalog’?
    A Yo-Yo

    9. How many people lived in the United States in 1928?
    The population was an estimated 120,509,000 people.

    10. Who lead the FBI’s prohibition unit in Chicago?
    Eliot Ness

    11. What is the name of the lion used to represent MGM Studios?
    Leo the lion. (The lion’s real name was ‘Slats’ until 1928, and ‘Jackie’ from 1928-1956, although always nicknamed ‘Leo’)

    12. Who was the President of the United States in 1928?
    Calvin Coolidge (August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929)

    13. What compartmental device for liquids was invented by Lloyd Groff Copeman?
    The Ice Cube Tray

    14. What American company was a sponsor for the 1928 Olympic Games? (hint: They still sponsor the games today)
    Coca-Cola

    15. What was the average household income in 1928?
    $6,196.81

    16. Who was the first woman to make a successful transatlantic flight as a passenger?
    Amelia Earhart

    17. The Boulder Dam Project Act was signed into law in 1928. What do we call the dam that was completed today?
    The Hoover Dam

    18. Still in business today, what electric men’s personal device was invented?
    The electric razor was invented in 1928 by Col. Jacob Schick.

    19. What easy-to-wear men’s clothing accessory was invented in 1928?
    The Clip-on Tie

    20. How much did an average Ford Model A cost in 1928?
    $495 (Town Car $1400)

    21. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1928?
    $0.21 per gallon

    22. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1928? William Shatner, Judith Krantz, Vidal Sasson, or Philip K. Dick
    William Shatner (born March 22, 1931)

    23. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1928?
    The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder

    24. It started in Europe in the 1920s; what artistic style became popular in the United States?
    Art Deco

    25. Who won the 1928 World Series?
    In 1928, The New York Yankees won, beating the St. Louis Cardinals (4 games to 0)

    26. What did Alexander Fleming discover on Friday, September 28, 1928?
    Penicillin

    27. Who launched the first of several “five-year plans” that failed in the USSR?
    Joseph Stalin

    28. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1928?
    9 cents

    Trivia Team Bonus Questions:

    1. Who showed the world the first working all-electronic television system, in San Francisco?
    Philo Farnsworth

    2. Who was the American Vice-President in 1928?
    Charles G. Dawes (March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929)

    3. Held in St. Moritz, Switzerland, how many medals did the US win in the 1928 Winter Olympics?
    6.
    2 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze.

    4. Held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, how many medals did the US win in the 1928 Summer Olympics?
    56.
    22 Gold, 18 Silver, 16 Bronze.

    5. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1928?
    Reigh Count

    6. What was the first trans-Pacific flight between two countries?
    Charles Kingsford Smith made the first transpacific flight from the United States to Australia.

    7. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1928?
    Walter Chrysler

    8. Who was the Pope in 1928?
    Pope Pius XI, February 6, 1922 – February 10, 1939

    9. What was the highest-grossing movie of 1927?
    The Singing Fool

    10. What sizeable medical device, primarily replaced by ventilators, was invented in 1928?
    The Iron Lung (Negative pressure ventilator)

  • The Birth of The Clip-On Tie

    The Birth of The Clip-On Tie

    The Clip-On Tie Presented

    This week marks the anniversary of the invention of the clip-on tie. Invented on December 13th, 1928 by an unknown inventor, the clip-on tie was then further developed by Eastern Creatives Industries INC into the product that we know today. 

    The clip-on tie serves as a convenient option for those who find difficulty in properly adjusting a traditional tie. While learning how to tie a tie is a rite of passage for some, the clip-on tie exists for those who aim for a dapper look while barely lifting a finger. 

    The clip-on tie is simply a tie that is permanently knotted with a metal clasp on the back that clips onto dress shirts and other clothing. While viewed as cheap and tacky to some, the clip-on tie can be a last-minute lifesaver when traveling to a business meeting, job interview or other events that require you to look sharp. 

    The origins of the clip-on tie can be traced back to Iowa in 1928. However, the person behind the classic invention is still unknown to this day. Eastern Creative Industries INC expanded on this idea in the 1970s, developing an easier clasp that is widely recognizable by the public today. 

    Besides the aforementioned tackiness, some people complain about the clip-on ties removal process which has been said is much harder than putting it on. Many who’ve owned clip-on ties say that removing them often breaks that clasp and even gets stuck to their clothing.

    Others say that in more hands-on work settings, the clip-on tie is easier to fall off thus revealing the wearer’s less renowned choice in attire. Still, the clip-on tie gave many opportunities to those who refrained from wearing a regular necktie because of the complicated knotting process. The clip-on tie gave a chance to those who no longer wished to avoid wearing ties altogether. 

    The clip-on tie comes in all varieties of lengths and styles just as regular ties do. From patterned to solid color, clip-on ties never falter in providing style for their wearers. Most of the time, people can’t even tell the difference from a regularly tied necktie. 

    Since the 1920’s when it was first conceptualized, the necktie both clip-on and regular has seen a decrease in modern work settings with many choosing to work from home in today’s socio-economic climate, and due to the pandemic. The clip-on tie’s popularity has also decreased since it’s major use in the 70s and 80s. 

    Still, the clip-on tie has had a major impact on fashion, primarily men’s fashion and is still used by workers in office spaces and other business settings today. The clip-on tie may have a diluted history and questions on why it needs to exist, but no doubt it has helped people around the world feel fashionable with ease. 

  • 1928 History, Fun Facts and Trivia

    1928 History, Fun Facts and Trivia

    1928 History, Facts and Trivia

    Quick Facts from 1928

    • World Changing Event: The discovery of Penicillin on September 28, 1928, in London, England, by Alexander Fleming.
    • Influential Songs include Mack The Knife by Bertolt Brecht, and I Wanna Be Loved By You by Helen Kane.
    • The Movies to Watch include The Passion of Joan of Arc, The Circus, The Crowd, and The Cameraman.
    • The Most Famous Person in America was probably Charles Lindbergh
    • Columbia Records founded CBS in 1928, and Columbia itself was bought out by CBS in 1938.
    • No copies of the 1928 film The Patriot exist and are considered “lost.” The film won the Academy Award for Best Writing Achievement and was nominated for Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Picture.
    • Notable books include House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne and Ernest Shepard.
    • The price of one pound Oreo of cookies in 1928 was 35 cents
    • The Biggest Movie Star was Lon Chaney
    • The visual inspiration for The Joker (from Batman) came from a 1928 movie called The Man Who Laughs.

    Top Ten Baby Names of 1928

    Mary, Betty, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret, Robert, John, James, William, Charles

    US Life Expectancy

    (1928) Males: 55.6 years, Females: 58.3 years

    The Stars

    Josephine Baker, Clara Bow, Dolores Costello, Louise Brooks, Joan Crawford, Marion Davies, Dolores Del Rio, Greta Garbo, Myrna Loy, Mary Pickford, Anna May Wong

    Miss America

    none

    Time Magazine’s Man of the Year

    Walter Chrysler

    Firsts, Inventions, and Wonders

    Sliced bread was invented in 1928 by Otto Rohwedder and was referred to as the ‘best thing since bagged bread’.

    Babies have been eating Gerber baby foods since 1928. Dorothy Gerber started making them for her daughter in 1927.

    1928’s most comfortable invention was the Lay-Z-Boy recliner.

    The 3-M Company began marketing Scotch Tape.

    Mickey and Minnie debuted in the Silent cartoon short Plane Crazy, first released on May 15, 1928.

    Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were also called initially “penny cups” since they cost just one cent each when Harry Burnett Reese started selling them in 1928.

    Speedos were invented in 1928 by Alexander MacRae, a Scottish underwear maker in Australia. A similar product was available in 1914 called Fortitude.

    Amsterdam invented the Blue P Parking Sign for the 1928 Olympics.

    Alexander Fleming discovered that the ‘penicillium’ mold could be made into penicillin to cure many life-threatening diseases. It wasn’t fully utilized until World War II.

    Columbia Records founded CBS in 1928, and Columbia itself was bought out by CBS in 1938.

    Velveeta Cheese went on sale for the first time.

    Chef Boyardee was founded by restaurant owner Hector Boiardi in 1928.

    The Biggest Pop Artists of 1928 include

    Gene Austin, The Carter Family, Frank Crumit, Cliff Edwards, Vernon Dalhart, Duke Ellington, Seger Ellis and His Orchestra, Marion Harris, Al Jolson, Isham Jones and His Orchestra, Helen Kane, Roger Wolfe Kahn and His Orchestra, Ted Lewis & His Band, Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, Vincent Lopez and His Orchestra, Nick Lucas, George Olson, and His Orchestra, Helen Morgan, Jimmy Rodgers, Nat Shilkret & The Victor Orchestra, Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians, Ted Weems, and His Orchestra, Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra

    Pop Culture Facts & History

    Ida Rosenthal founded Maidenform, which defined bra sizes like A, B, C, D, etc.

    The Lights Of New York was the first movie filmed entirely with sound.

    The Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928 is the second deadliest hurricane in U.S. History. At least 2,500 people drowned.

    The 1928 Summer Olympics were the first to feature a scheduled length of 16 days. Previously, the Olympic competition was stretched out over several months.

    The Passion of Joan of Arc was panned by the French government that commissioned it and a fire destroyed the negative, the original cut of the movie was thought to be lost forever. That was until a copy was found in a closet in an Oslo mental institution in 1981.

    The ‘Banana Massacre’ of 1928: ~1/2000 striking workers were murdered for United Fruit Company (now Chiquita).

    Amos & Andy debuted on WMAQ in Chicago.

    Thomas Midgley and Charles Kettering invented Freon. Freon is now blamed for the depletion of the earth’s ozone shield and being a handy portable air conditioning coolant.

    Shaving doesn’t make hair grow back thicker, darker, or faster, was first proven in a clinical study by Mildred Trotter.

    Betty Robinson, who won the first Olympic 100m for women in 1928 at just 16, was later involved in a plane crash. A man who discovered her wrongly thought she was dead drove her to an undertaker. She awoke from her coma seven months later, before returning to win a relay gold in 1936.

    Humorist Will Rogers ran a presidential campaign in 1928, with his only promise being that he would resign the presidency if he won the election.

    Although Levi Strauss first made his jeans in 1872, the company finally registered the name (Levi’s™) in 1928. He never married, so he never passed his ‘genes’ to children.

    Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s musical play, The Threepenny Opera, premiered. It featured the earliest version of Mack The Knife.

    Mickey Mouse officially appeared for the first time in Steamboat Willie, and his birthday coincided with Willie’s release date, November 18th. Many consider it the first “talkie cartoon”. Paul Terry released the talkie cartoon Dinner Time on Oct 14, 1928, a month before Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie, which got all the credit.

    Walt Disney himself voiced Mickey Mouse from his premiere in 1928 until 1946, when Walt became too busy to do it.

    The lowest toll ever paid for the Panama Canal was 36 cents. It was paid by Richard Halliburton in 1928 so he could swim across the canal.

    Joseph Goebbels attributed everything he knew about population control to just two books, Propaganda (1928) and Crystalizing Public Opinion (1923). To this day, the techniques in these books are used extensively by figures in politics, media, and advertising.

    Amelia Earhart flew her plane east across the Atlantic Ocean successfully in 1932, the first female having done so. She was also the first female to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger, in 1928.

    The slogan “Make your wet dreams come true” was used by 1928 presidential candidate Al Smith about repealing prohibition.

    Nobel Prize Winners

    Physics – Owen Willans Richardson
    Chemistry – Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus
    Physiology or Medicine – Charles Jules Henri Nicolle
    Literature – Sigrid Undset
    Peace – not awarded

    Popular and Best-selling Books From 1928

    All Kneeling by Anne Parrish
    Bad Girl by Vina Delmar
    The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder
    Claire Ambler by Booth Tarkington
    The Greene Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine
    House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne and Ernest Shepard
    Jalna by Mazo de la Roche
    Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne and Ernest Shepard 
    Old Pybus     by Warwick Deeping
    Swan Song by John Galsworthy
    The Strange Case of Miss Annie Spragg by Louis Bromfield
    Wintersmoon by Hugh Walpole

    Sports

    World Series Champions: New York Yankees
    Stanley Cup Champs: New York Rangers
    U.S. Open Golf: Johnny Farrell
    U.S. Tennis (Men/Ladies): Henri Cochet/Helen Wills
    Wimbledon (Men/Women): Rene Lacoste/Helen Wills
    NCAA Football Champions: Georgia Tech & USC
    Kentucky Derby Winner: Reigh Count
    Boston Marathon Winner: Clarence DeMar Time: 2:37:07

    Only 5 NFL Games have ended with a 2-0 score:

    • November 29, 1923: Akron Pros 2, Buffalo All-Americans 0
    • November 21, 1926: Kansas City Cowboys 2, Buffalo Rangers 0
    • November 29, 1928: Frankford Yellow Jackets 2, Green Bay Packers 0
    • October 16, 1932: Green Bay Packers 2, Chicago Bears 0
    • September 18, 1938: Chicago Bears 2, Green Bay Packers 0

    More 1928 Facts & History Resources:

    Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com)
    Popular and Notable Books (popculture.us)
    Broadway Shows that Opened in 1928
    1928 Calendar, courtesy of Time and Date.com
    Fact Monster
    1920s Fads (BabyCenter.com)
    1920s, Infoplease.com World History
    1928 in Movies (according to IMDB)
    Retrowaste Vintage Culture
    1920s Slang
    Wikipedia 1928

  • 1928 Music: Popular Music, Songs and Artists

    1928 Music: Popular Music, Songs and Artists

    1928 Popular Music, Songs and Artists

    Al Jolson
    My Mammy
    Music by Walter Donaldson and lyrics by Joe Young, this song was one of Al Jolson’s most popular recordings and one that he would be remembered for, as he would film it three times. First in 1927s The Jazz Singer, second in 1928s, The Singing Fool and third in 1939 in a film entitled The Rose of Washington Square.
    Curiously it was not Jolson who originally introduced the song. It was William Frawley of TVs I love Lucy who first sang it in a Vaudeville style act. Jolson heard the song and made it his own.

    Al Jolson
    Sonny Boy
    The song was written by Ray Henderson, Bud De Sylva, and Lew Brown, and sung by Al Jolson in 1928’s The Singing Fool. The song would hit number one and stay there for 12 weeks. The recording Jolson made would make a million copies sold mark. Sonny Boy would become a hit for Eddie Fisher in the 1950s and would be used and referred to often in television show Queer As Folk.

    Bertolt Brecht
    Mack The Knife
    Composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for the musical The Three Penny Opera. The show was originally performed in Germany, but the song made it to The United States. When the show itself made its appearance in the U.S. it had a very short run in 1933, only to be resurrected in 1956 where it played off-Broadway for over six years.

    Mack The Knife would hit the charts on both the United States and The United Kingdom when Bobby Darin Recorded it in 1959. Others to record the song would be Louis Armstrong and Jerry Orbach, best known as Lt Lenny Briscoe in TVs long-running Law and Order.

    Cliff Edwards
    I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
    Jimmy McHugh (music) and Dorothy Fields (lyrics) This song’s origins are actually a bit obscured. There is some evidence to suggest that Fats Waller wrote the music and sold it to Mchugh. But whatever it’s beginning, the song would be recorded again and again by such artists as Judy Garland and Doris Day.

    Bing Crosby
    Ol’ Man River
    This song had been around for a year before it became popular in 1928. It was part of the Musical Show Boat which debuted in 1927 and had many firsts including being the first Broadway Show to allow white and black people onstage together. One of the most important things about this 1928 recording is that it put Bing Crosby on the charts for the first time. Crosby would go on to become a recording, movie and TV star. Ol’ Man River was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein.

    George Metaxa
    Sweet Sue Just You
    This song as originally recorded in 1928 was played sweetly. With music by Victor Young and lyrics by Will J Harris, the song would become more popular in the mid-1930s when the song would be played in more of a swing style. The song was recorded many times by artists like Bing Crosby. It was used to prove Lucy Ricardo’s inability to sing in the I Love Lucy episode Breaking The Lease.

    Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians
    I Scream You Scream We All Scream For Ice Cream
    These days the song is remembered more for its title than any other reason. The song was written by Howard Johnson, Billy Moll, and Robert A. K. King. The title, at least, has been used in TV shows as different as The Two Fat Ladies and Barney.

    Helen Kane
    I Wanna Be Loved By You
    Written by Herbert Stothart and Harry Ruby, with lyrics by Bert Kalmar, for the 1928 musical “Good Boy”. The song became a hit when recorded by Helen Kane who would go on to be known as the Boop-Boop-a-Doop Girl. Miss Kane would be the inspiration for the cartoon character Betty Boop. The song has remained a standard and may best be remembered as sung by Marilyn Munroe in the movie Some Like It Hot

    Marion Harris
    The Man I Love
    This song was originally written for the musical Lady Be Good, by George and Ira Gershwin and entitled The Girl I love. The song was cut from the show. It would be later rewritten as The Man I Love and then cut from the 1927 anti-war musical Strike Up The Band. Florenz Ziegfeld would also try to use it in his show Rosalie and for a third time, the song would be cut. It became popular as an independent song and would be recorded often. The song was used most recently in an episode of Agatha Christie’s Marple called At Bertram’s Hotel.

    Nat Shilkret
    The Sidewalks of New York
    “The Sidewalks of New York” is a song about life in New York City during the 1890s. It was created by lyricist James W. Blake and vaudeville actor and composer Charles B. Lawlor in 1894. The song is also known by the title East Side West Side. The song became a popular recording in 1928 but would go on to be recorded by Mel Torme, Duke Ellington and The Grateful Dead.

    Top Artists and Songs of 1928

    Al Jolson
    My Mammy
    Sonny Boy
    There’s A Rainbow Round My Shoulder
    Pinetop Smith
    Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie
    Ben Bernie
    Let’s Misbehave
Bertolt Brecht
Mack The Knife
Bessie Smith
Empty Bed Blues
Bing Crosby
Ol’ Man River
Blind Willie McTell
Statesboro Blues
Cliff Edwards (Ukelele like)
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love (dear)
Just Like A Melody Out Of The Sky
Coon-Sanders Orchestra
Is She My Girl Friend?
Duke Ellington
Black and Tan Fantasy
Creole Love Call
Earl Burtnett and his Los Angelos Biltmore Hotel Orchestra
Sweet Sue, Just You
Emmitt Miller and his Georgia Crackers
Lovesick Blues
Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians
I Scream You Scream We All Scream For Ice Cream
Laugh Clown Laugh!
Gene Austin
Jeannine (I Dream of Lilac Time)
My Melancholy Baby
Ramona
George Metaxa
Sweet Sue, Just You
Harold Collins and his Orchestra
Fashionhette
Helen Kane
I Wanna Be Loved By You
That’s My Weakness Now
Helen Morgan
Bill
Jimmie Rodgers
Brakeman’s Blues
In The Jailhouse Now
T for Texas (Blue Yodel Number 1)
Louis Armstrong
Fireworks
Struttin’ With Some Barbecue
Weather Bird
West End Blues
Marion Harris
The Man I Love
Maurice Ravel
Bolero
Mississippi John Hurt
Frankie
Nat Shilkret
The Sidewalks of New York
Paul Robeson
Ol’ Man River
Paul Whiteman
Among My Souvenirs
My Angel
Ramona
Together
Ruth Etting
Love Me Or Leave Me
The Song is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)
Ted Lewis and his Orchestra
Is Everybody Happy Now?
The Carter Family
Keep On The Sunny Side
Wildwood Flower