DECADES: 1930s

When most people think of the 1930s in America, they will most likely think of the Great Depression. After the stock market crash of 1929, the economy was devastated. Unemployment rose to over 20% and many industries were hit hard. Many people faced homelessness or not having enough money for food and necessities. In response, some responded with acts kindness. Flour companies began making flour sacks with patterns on them so women could make sack clothing for themselves or their children. Soup kitchens were set up to feed the hungry. Photos from the era showcase the gravity of this situation with the staggering lines of people outside the kitchens. -In the Glasses:Some of the most sobering images of the Depression era feature men walking down the street quite literally wearing a resume around their neck due to their desperation for employment. So it was included here as one aspect of a dark time for the country. The flaming zeppelin is the German airship The Hindenburg. An unfortunate fire breaking out and causing the ship to crash was one of the greatest tragedies of the decade that took the lives of 35 people and completely stopped the trend of passengers riding in these airships. Not everything from the 30s was bad. In fact, we saw great innovations in certain technology. A great argument could be made that without the invention of the radio, we wouldn’t have televisions in our homes today. Radios became a staple in homes in the 30s. It was a truly revolutionary step into a new era of home entertainment. A great success in aviation came to us with the iconic Amelia Earhart. She was the first female pilot to successfully fly across the Atlantic and became a great pioneer in aviation.The running man you may not know about is Olympic Gold Medalist Jesse Owens. At the 1936 Olympics in Berlin Germany, Adolf Hitler was convinced that Aryan “perfection” would showcase itself at the games. Instead, Owens, a black American proved Hitler very wrong by being the first American to win four gold medals at Track and Field. Last, but certainly not least, scientists discovered a new small planet that they named Pluto after the Roman god of the underworld. Pluto later became the name of Mickey Mouse’s dog due to the discovery. (Pluto was later categorized as a dwarf planet in 2006.) -Style: In terms of fashion, a lot of 20s trends carried over. Flower and polka dot patterns were popular as well as different kinds of hats. Greens were a very popular color, so I tried to incorporate all these things but keep a more somber tone with the subject matter in the scene. Overall, the 1930s is mainly remembered as a decade of hardship. It certainly was for many but there were also many good spots too that have impacted us to this day.