What Happened in 1934

First Prisoners Arrive at Alcatraz Prison (Likely Including Al Capone)

On August 11, 1934, a group of federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island, a twenty-two-acre rock outcropping one-and-one-half miles offshore in... Read more

US Ends Occupation of Haiti, but Retains Control of Its External Finances

In 1930, Sténio Vincent, a long-time critic of the occupation, was elected President. By 1930, President Herbert Hoover had become concerned... Read more

First All-American Soap Box Derby is Held

In the wake of the first car races, local kid auto races took place in the US at a very early stage. In 1914 the motion picture Kid Auto Races at... Read more

"The Count Of Monte Cristo" Is Released

The Count of Monte Cristo is a 1934 film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas, père's novel The Count of Monte Cristo. It was directed by Rowland V. Lee... Read more

"One Night Of Love" Is Released

One Night of Love is a 1934 musical romance, set in the opera world, starring Grace Moore and Tullio Carminati. It was written by James Gow, S.K.... Read more

Burning of the SS Morro Castle

The SS Morro Castle was a luxury cruise ship of the 1930s that was built for the Ward Line for runs between New York City and Havana, Cuba. The... Read more

"L'Atalante" Is Released

L'Atalante (also released as Le chaland qui passe) is a 1934 French film directed by Jean Vigo and starring Jean Dasté, Dita Parlo and Michel... Read more

Gandhi Announces Retirement from Politics to Focus on Village Economics

In the summer of 1934, three unsuccessful attempts were made on his life. When the Congress Party chose to contest elections and accept power... Read more

Gresford Disaster

On Saturday, 22 September 1934, an explosion occurred at the Gresford colliery, near Wrexham. Rescue workers worked tirelessly to reach the men... Read more

1934 World Series

The 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for... Read more

Carl Sagan is Born

Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science popularizer, and science communicator in astronomy and... Read more

Charles Manson is born

Charles Milles Manson (born November 12, 1934) is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose... Read more

Franklin D. Roosevelt Begins Trying to Reform Public Health

On November 14, 1934, taking note of the problem of “economic loss due to sickness,” which he characterized as “a very serious problem for many... Read more

"It's A Gift" Is Released

It's a Gift is a 1934 comedy film starring W. C. Fields. Considered by many to be Fields' best and funniest film, it concerns the trials and... Read more

Lyndon B Johnson Marries Claudia Alta Taylor

Johnson married Claudia Alta Taylor (already nicknamed "Lady Bird") of Karnack, Texas on November 17, 1934 after having attended Georgetown... Read more

Sergey Kirov is Killed

Sergey Kirov, a leader of the Russian Revolution and a high-ranking member of the Politburo, is shot to death at his Leningrad office by Communist... Read more