World Events in 1931
Empire State Building Opens
On 1 May, President Hoover officially opened the Empire State Building in Manhattan. Standing at 102 storeys, it became the world's tallest building and a powerful symbol of American ambition, though the Depression meant it struggled to find tenants for years.
Britain Leaves the Gold Standard
In September, Britain abandoned the gold standard after a severe financial crisis and a run on the pound. The move devalued sterling by 25% and marked the effective end of London's dominance of international finance.
Japan Invades Manchuria
In September, the Japanese Kwantung Army staged the Mukden Incident and used it as a pretext to invade Manchuria. The League of Nations proved powerless to intervene, exposing the weakness of the post-war international order.
Statute of Westminster
The British Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster in December, granting legislative independence to the Dominions including Canada, Australia, and South Africa. It formalised the autonomy already practised by these nations within the British Commonwealth.
Al Capone Convicted
In October, Chicago mob boss Al Capone was found guilty of tax evasion after years of evading prosecution for violent crimes. He was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, ending his reign over organised crime in the city.
Music in 1931
"Goodnight Sweetheart"
Ray Noble and His Orchestra
Ray Noble's lush orchestral recording became one of the signature songs of 1931 in Britain, its romantic sentimentality offering comfort during the worst year of the Depression.
"Minnie the Moocher"
Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway's iconic scat-singing hit became a jazz standard and one of the first recordings by an African American artist to sell a million copies. Its 'hi-de-hi-de-ho' call-and-response became a cultural phenomenon.
#1 Film of 1931
Frankenstein
Box Office: $12 million
James Whale's adaptation starring Boris Karloff as the Monster became Universal's biggest hit and launched the golden age of horror cinema. Karloff's sympathetic performance and Jack Pierce's iconic makeup design remain indelible cultural images.
Born in 1931
James Dean
Actor — Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden; icon of teenage disillusionment
Mikhail Gorbachev
Last leader of the Soviet Union, architect of glasnost and perestroika
Desmond Tutu
South African archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize laureate for opposing apartheid
Rupert Murdoch
Media mogul — founder of News Corporation and Fox News
Anne Frank
Diarist whose wartime journal became one of the most widely read books in history
Lost in 1931
Thomas Edison
Inventor — phonograph, practical electric light bulb, motion picture camera
Age 84
Anna Pavlova
Russian prima ballerina, considered the greatest dancer of her era
Age 49
Knute Rockne
Legendary Notre Dame football coach who revolutionised the forward pass
Age 43
Technology in 1931
The Empire State Building showcased American engineering at its peak, completed in just 410 days. Radio was the dominant home entertainment, with millions tuning into serials and music programmes. Commercial aviation expanded slowly, and electric refrigerators began replacing iceboxes in wealthier homes.
- ● The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest structure at 1,454 feet
- ● Harold Urey discovers deuterium (heavy hydrogen), advancing nuclear physics
- ● The electron microscope is invented by Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll in Berlin
- ● RCA demonstrates an all-electronic television system
Cost of Living in 1931
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £560 | $4,300 |
| Average salary | £190 | $1,290 |
| Pint of milk | 2d | $0.06 |
| Loaf of bread | 4d | $0.08 |
| Dozen eggs | 1s 1d | $0.36 |
| Pint of beer | 5d | $0.15 |
| Cinema ticket | 6d | $0.25 |
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The Zeitgeist of 1931
Economic misery intensified across the globe as unemployment reached devastating levels — over 20% in both the US and UK. The contrast between Hollywood glamour and breadline poverty defined the era's strange duality. Political extremism grew in Europe as democratic institutions buckled under economic pressure.
In the News in 1931
The Empire State Building opened in New York. Britain abandoned the gold standard. Thomas Edison died, and Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion.