Important Events in 1931
- May 1 Empire State Building opens in New York City
- Jun 12 Al Capone is indicted on 5,000 counts of prohibition and perjury
- Sep 18 To create a pretext for the invasion of Manchuria, China, a railway explosion is faked by the Japanese
- Oct 18 American gangster Al Capone convicted of tax evasion
- Nov 7 Chinese People's Republic proclaimed by Mao Zedong
- Dec 11 Statute of Westminster gives complete legislative independence to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland (Free State), and Newfoundland (not then part of Canada)
More Historical Events
1931 in Film & TV
- Jan 30 "City Lights", American silent romantic comedy film directed by Charlie Chaplin, starring himself and Virginia Cherrill, premieres at Los Angeles Theater
- Feb 14 The original "Dracula" film starring Bela Lugosi as the titular vampire, is released
- Mar 14 1st theater built for rear movie projection (NYC)
- Sep 2 Bing Crosby makes his solo radio debut
1931 in Sport
- Feb 21 Chicago White Sox & NY Giants play 1st exhibition night game
Did You Know?
Barbara Eden
James Dean
Jim Jones
Mickey Mantle
Mikhail Gorbachev
Willie MaysFamous People in 1931
Lionel Barrymore
Oscar for Best Actor- Marie Dressler
Oscar for Best Actress - Pierre Laval
Time Person
of the Year
Lionel Barrymore
Marie Dressler
Pierre LavalWorld Leaders in 1931
- Herbert Hoover
31st US President - Joseph Stalin
Soviet General Secretary - Ramsay MacDonald
British Prime Minister
Herbert Hoover
Joseph Stalin
Ramsay MacDonaldWould You Believe?
Arkansas legislature passes motion to pray for soul of journalist H. L. Mencken, after he calls the state the "apex of moronia"
On February 3, 1931
Famous Weddings in 1931
- Feb 7 American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart (33) weds publisher George Palmer Putnam (43) in Noank, Connecticut
- Jun 8 Songwriter Johnny Mercer (21) weds chorus girl Ginger Meehan in New York City
- Jun 13 Actress Margaret Hamilton (28) weds landscape architect Paul Meserve
Famous Divorces in 1931
- Nov 9 Actress Gloria Swanson (32) divorces aristocrat Henri de la Falaise (33) after 6 years of marriage
More Weddings & Divorces
Alice Mary Robertson
André Michelin
Bhagat Singh
Daniel Williams
Ida B. Wells
Thomas Edison