October 21, 1931: Streetlights turned off for one minute across the U.S.A. in honor of the late Thomas EdisonOctober 12, 1931: Christ the Redeemer statue, 93 feet tall, dedicated in Rio de Janeiro [1]October 24, 1931: George Washington Bridge links New York City and New Jersey [2]
The new Waldorf Astoria building opened at 301 Park Avenue in New York City, after the former hotel located at 350 Fifth Avenue had been demolished in 1929 to make way for the Empire State Building. At the time, the building was the largest and tallest hotel in the world.[4]
Rioting broke out in Glasgow in Scotland when police stopped a crowd protesting against unemployment from marching on Glasgow Green. MP John McGovern was among those arrested for hitting a policeman.[5][6] A similar event took place in Salford,England where protesters against unemployment, cuts in unemployment benefits and the "means test" clashed with police.
Born:Alan Wagner, television executive and opera critic, in Harlem, New York City (d. 2007)
Riots continued in Glasgow as a crowd estimated at 50,000 people fought police, with some looting shops and smashing windows.[6]
Pope Pius XI promulgated a new encyclical, Nova Impendet, which called for a "Crusade of charity and of succour" to help the unemployed and poor, especially the children who "are bearing the worst of the burden."[7]
Two Albanian officers were sentenced for the February 20 assassination attempt of King Zog. A former lieutenant was sentenced to seven years and a former army captain was sentenced to three years.[8]
The comic strip Dick Tracy, written by Chester Gould and featuring the adventures of a police detective, made its debut. Originally called Plainclothes Tracy, the strip appeared in the Detroit Mirror.[10]
British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald called a new general election for October 27.[12]
U.S. President Herbert Hoover announced that the country's bankers were forming a $500 million privately financed national institution to help banks extend credit.[13]
A mob of unemployed demonstrators in Manchester were repulsed trying to storm Town Hall while the council was in session. The protestors then sat in the street and refused to budge until they were dispersed by police batons and fire hoses. A total of 14 people were injured, including 5 police.[17][18]
Born:
Desmond Tutu, South African social rights activist, Anglican bishop and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, in Klerksdorp (d. 2021)
Chancellor Brüning announced his new cabinet. The only changes were Curt Joël as Justice Minister, Hermann Warmbold as Minister of Economics and Brüning naming himself the new Foreign Minister.[21]
Adolf Hitler met with President Hindenburg for the first time, accompanied by Hermann Göring. The private meeting lasted over an hour but was not productive.[22][23]
Szilveszter Matuska was arrested in Austria for causing a train derailment in Hungary, near Biatorbágy, that had killed 22 people and injured 120 others on September 13.[24] Sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary after extradition, Matuska escaped from prison in Vác in 1945 and was never recaptured.
A conference of Germany's right-wing factions, including the Nazis and Alfred Hugenberg's DNVP, met in Bad Harzburg to discuss how to defeat the Brüning government. An alliance was formed that became known as the Harzburg Front.[25][26]
Germany's Chancellor Brüning survived a confidence vote in the Reichstag by a count of 295 to 270. The Nazis and DNVP walked out again after the vote was taken.[32] "We will return only when there exists the possibility of preventing especially wicked measures directed against our people", Wilhelm Frick declared.[33]
The dismembered bodies of two women stuffed into a two trunks and a suitcase were uncovered at the Southern Pacific station in Los Angeles. Dr. William Judd was taken into custody as detectives began a search for his wife, Winnie Ruth Judd.[36]
On the day of Thomas Edison's funeral, Americans were asked (at the request of U.S. President Hoover) to turn off the lights in their homes at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time for one minute to mourn his passing.[40] In many cases, city government's turned off the streetlights for a full minute.[41]
A mysterious submarine sinking occurred in the Gulf of Finland. Initial reports indicated that a Soviet submarine hit a German steamer and sank with the loss of all 50 crew,[47] but a Soviet report said all the lives had been saved. The unidentified submarine was reportedly the old British HMS L55, which sank in 1919 but was raised by the Soviets in 1928.[48]
Died:Charles Comiskey, 72, American baseball player, manager and team owner who founded the Chicago White Sox in 1901; Comiskey Park was named in his honor in 1913
The Soviet Union cut the prices of commodities sold in commercial shops by 30% effective November 1, offsetting a 50% increase enacted over the summer.[53]
^Roberts, Garyn G. (2003). Dick Tracy and American Culture: Morality and Mythology, Text and Context. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 60. ISBN978-0-7864-1698-1.
^Plotkin, Abraham (2009). An American in Hitler's Berlin: Abraham Plotkin's Diary, 1932–33. University of Illinois Press. p. 159. ISBN978-0-252-07559-9.
^ abMercer, Derrik (1989). Chronicle of the 20th Century. London: Chronicle Communications Ltd. p. 407. ISBN978-0-582-03919-3.
^McCann Jr., Frank D. (1973). The Brazilian-American Alliance, 1937–1945. Princeton University Press. p. 18.
^Nowinski, M. (October 27, 1931). "Poland Tries 11 Political Chiefs in Revolt Plot". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 18.
^Thorpe, Andrew (1994). The Longman Companion to Britain in the Era of the Two World Wars 1914–45. Routledge. p. 17. ISBN978-1-317-89747-7.
^"M'Donald Elected as National Party Captures 541 Seats". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. October 28, 1931. p. 1.
^Linehan, Thomas (2000). British Fascism, 1918–39: Parties, Ideology and Culture. Manchester University Press. p. 88. ISBN978-0-7190-5024-4.
^"Soviets Decree Price Cuts in Private Stores". Chicago Daily Tribune. October 29, 1931. p. 4.
^"Grove Most Valuable in American Loop". Chicago Daily Tribune. October 29, 1931. p. 21.
^"15 Nations Agree to Arms Truce Powers Sign Up". Chicago Daily Tribune. November 1, 1931. p. 14.
^Weiss, H. Eugene (2003). Chrysler, Ford, Durant and Sloan: Founding Giants of the American Automotive Industry. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 52. ISBN978-0-7864-1611-0.
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