
What Happened in 1932
Historical Highlights of 1932
-
The Great Depression Continues – Unemployment in the U.S. reached 24%, worsening economic struggles worldwide.
-
Bonus Army March (June-July) – Thousands of WWI veterans protested in Washington, D.C., demanding early payment of their military bonuses; they were forcibly removed by the U.S. Army.
-
Franklin D. Roosevelt Elected U.S. President (November 8) – FDR defeated Herbert Hoover in a landslide victory, promising a "New Deal" to help America recover from the Depression.
-
Amelia Earhart's Historic Flight (May 20-21) – She became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.

Pop Culture & Fun Facts from 1932
-
Radio City Music Hall Opens (December 27) – The iconic entertainment venue in New York City debuted.
-
Tarzan First Appears on Film – Tarzan the Ape Man, starring Johnny Weissmuller, became a major hit.
-
Lego is Founded – The Danish toy company started as a small wooden toy business.
_svg.png)
Science & Inventions of 1932
-
Polaroid Camera Technology Developed – Edwin H. Land invented the first polarizing filters, laying the foundation for instant photography.
-
Neutron Discovered – James Chadwick identified the neutron, advancing atomic research.
-
Mars Closest to Earth (August 23) – The Red Planet made its closest approach to Earth in centuries.

Sports Highlights of 1932
-
Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, USA (February 4-13) – The U.S. hosted its first Winter Olympics.
-
Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, USA (July 30 - August 14) – Despite the Great Depression, the event attracted athletes from around the world.
-
Babe Didrikson’s Athletic Achievements – She won multiple gold medals in track and field at the Summer Olympics.
Top Songs of 1932
-
Night and Day – Fred Astaire
-
In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town – Ted Lewis & His Band
-
All of Me – Louis Armstrong
-
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? – Bing Crosby
-
Willow Weep for Me – Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra
-
Paradise – Russ Columbo
-
Let's Put Out the Lights (And Go to Sleep) – Rudy Vallée
-
Dinah – Bing Crosby & The Mills Brothers
-
Love Me Tonight – Maurice Chevalier
-
Say It Isn't So – Annette Hanshaw
Top Movies of 1932
-
Grand Hotel – Starring Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, and John Barrymore
-
Tarzan the Ape Man – Starring Johnny Weissmuller
-
Scarface – A gangster classic starring Paul Muni
-
Freaks – A controversial horror film by Tod Browning
-
Shanghai Express – Starring Marlene Dietrich
-
The Mummy – Starring Boris Karloff
-
Trouble in Paradise – A romantic comedy by Ernst Lubitsch
-
Horse Feathers – A Marx Brothers comedy
-
Red Dust – Starring Clark Gable and Jean Harlow
-
The Mask of Fu Manchu – A classic adventure film
