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On the date

Saturday, August 16, 1930

From the day

Perspective: The Street Photographer · Sight

The flashbulb pops, freezing a dame in a bias-cut crepe dress as she pauses to stare at the silver ghost of the R-100 dirigible drifting through the humid August haze. Beneath the shadow of the airship, a storefront window displays a plush Charlotte Clark Mickey Mouse, its velvet ears mocking the hollow-eyed men lingering on the corner. One fella with a crushed fedora and perfect finger waves in his hair catches my lens, murmuring, "Brother, can you spare a dime?" just as the neon signs begin to bleed into the darkening London gutter. I ignore the plea to focus on the sharp silhouette of a socialite whose puff sleeves catch the flickering light of a newsreel broadcast.

Memories from that day

No memories yet. Add yours if you remember this day.

The Headlines

R-100 OVER BRITAIN; FLEES STORM AREA; DUE TO LAND TODAY; Airship Is on Straight Course From Fastnet Rock, Ireland, to Cardington. DAMAGED FABRIC REPAIRED Member of Crew Climbs Guy Rope to Sew Covering While Craft Speeds Homeward. CROWDS START TO HANGAR All England Keeps in Touch With Progress of Dirigible Through Official Broadcasts. Speed May Upset Schedule. Air Minister Arrives. Official Messages Delayed. R-100 OVER BRITAIN; DUE TO LAND TODAY By FERGUS GRANT, Correspondent Aboard tho R-100 for The New York Times and The Montreal Gazette. Storm Damages Ship's Stove. Head Winds Reduce Speed. Enjoy Tropical Sunset. Wide Range of Speeds. Airship Off Fastnet Light.

Read in The New York Times →

Best-selling Sheet Music

Happy Days Are Here Again

Milton Ager

The must-have

Charlotte Clark Mickey Mouse

On This Day

  • The first color sound cartoon, Fiddlesticks, is released by Ub Iwerks.

    Wikipedia →
  • The first British Empire Games are opened in Hamilton, Ontario, by the Governor General of Canada, the Viscount Willingdon.

    Wikipedia →

Slang

Slang of the decade

General

damefellaswelllousy

Hardboiled

clip jointgriftershamusgunsel

Swing Era

alligatorjitterbugkiller dillerin the groove

Catchphrases of 1930

  • Brother, can you spare a dime?

Tech Check

Jet Engine Concepts, Scotch Tape & Flashbulbs.

Style of 1930

Silhouette: Bias-cut and clinging

Material: Satin and crepe

  • Puff sleeves
  • Backless gowns
  • Finger waves

Cost of Living (1930)

Loaf of Bread

$0.09

Gallon of Gas

$0.20

Average Home

$3,900

New Car

$640

Meanwhile

  • The Great DepressionGDP fell 30%; triggered by Black Tuesday (1929-10-29).

Time Elapsed

34,992 days ago

(95 years, 317 days)