1929

What Was Happening in 1929

The party ended on Black Tuesday as Wall Street crashed and the world held its breath

Born in

Number 1 Songs in 1929 — UK and US Charts

UK #1

"Tiptoe Through the Tulips"

Nick Lucas

Nick Lucas's gentle, charming recording was one of the biggest hits of 1929. It would enjoy a bizarre second life decades later when Tiny Tim revived it in the 1960s.

US #1

"Ain't Misbehavin'"

Fats Waller

Fats Waller's joyous jazz standard from the musical 'Hot Chocolates' became one of the defining songs of the late Jazz Age. Louis Armstrong's recording of the same song was equally celebrated.

Biggest Films of 1929 — Box Office Hits

The Broadway Melody

Box Office: $4.4 million

The first sound film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the first all-talking musical. It proved that musicals could be a box-office goldmine and launched a decade of lavish Hollywood song-and-dance spectacles.

Fashion and Style of 1929

Fashion, clothing and visual culture from the era

Architecture and Buildings of 1929

Buildings completed and structures opened in 1929

More About 1929

What Was Happening — A journey through the years