References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 June 28.

1936 January 1 First newspaper to microfilm its current issues, New York Herald Tribune. [1] January 2 First electron tube to enable night vision described, Saint Louis Missouri. [1] January 4 Billboard magazine publishes its first music hit parade. [1] January 5 Ramón M del Valle-Inclán playwright (Tirano banderas), dies at age 66. [1] January 6 Barbara Hanley became Canada's first woman mayor (Webbwood, Ontario). [1] January 9 John Gilbert actor (Love, Downstairs), dies at age 40. [1] Noël Coward's "Astonished Heart" premieres in London. [1] Semi-automatic rifles adopted by US army. [1] January 11 Charles Anderson enters Kentucky House of Representatives. [1] January 14 L M (Mario) Giannini elected president of Bank of America. [1] January 15 The first building to be completely covered in glass is completed in Toledo, Ohio. [1] [5] Non-profit Ford Foundation incorporates. [1] January 16 First photo finish camera installed at Hialeah Race track in Hialeah Florida. [1] Screen Actors Guild incorporates with King Vidor as president. [1] Spanish socialists/communists/anarchists form Unidad Popular. [1] January 18 Rudyard Kipling author (Gunga Din, Nobel Prize 1907), dies in Burwash England at age 70. [1] January 20 Edward VIII succeeds British king George V. [1] King George V of Britain dies at age 70, succeeded by Edward VIII. [1] January 22 French Laval government falls. [1] Louis Glass composer, dies at age 71. [1] January 23 Catholic People's Party (KVP) of Curaçao forms. [1] Dame Clara Butt alto singer (Country of Hope and Glory), dies at age 62. [1] January 24 Benny Goodman and orchestra record "Stompin' at the Savoy" on Victor Records. [1] January 28 Pravda criticizes Shostakovich's "Lady Macbeth" opera. [1] January 30 Fans asked to pick a new name for Boston Braves; they choose "The Bees" it doesn't catch on and is scrapped by 1940 season. [1] January 31 "Green Hornet" radio show is first heard on WXYZ Radio in Detroit. [1] February 4 First radioactive substance produced synthetically (radium E). [1] February 5 National Wildlife Federation forms. [1] February 6 Pravda criticizes Shostakovich's ballet "Clear Brook". [1] February 7 A flag is authorized for the Vice President. [1] Felix the Cat, Cartoon Character, by Van Beuren from Otto Messmer. [1] February 8 Pandit Jawaharlal follows Gandhi as chairman of India Congress Party. [1] February 9 Jacques Bainville French historian/essayist/journalist, dies at age 57. [1] February 11 Pumping begins to build Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. [1] February 12 Adolf Hitler decides the time is right for Germany to re-occupy the Rhineland. [10] February 14 National Negro Congress organizes in Chicago. [1] February 15 -60 degrees F (-51 degrees C), Parshall North Dakota (state record). [1] Hitler announces building of Volkswagens (starting slug-bug game). [1] February 16 Spanish Frente Popular (People's Front) wins elections. [1] February 17 "The Phantom" cartoon strip by Lee Falk debuts. [1] -58 degrees F (-50 degrees C), McIntosh South Dakota (state record). [1] Erich Schaeder German theologist (Theozentrische), dies at age 74. [1] S[amuel] N[athaniel] Behrman's "End of Summer" premieres in New York City, New York. [1] February 19 Manuel Azaña becomes Spanish premier. [1] February 20 John Hope president of Atlanta University, dies at age 67. [1] February 22 Construction on Ypenburg Netherlands airport begins. [1] Johan M Skjoldborg Danish writer (Dynaes Digte), dies at age 74. [1] February 23 First rocket air mail flight, Greenwood Lake New York. [1] February 26 Hitler introduces Ferdinand Porsche's "Volkswagen". [1] Military coup in Japan. [1] February 27 Ivan P Pavlov Russian physiologist (reflexes, Nobel Prize 1904), dies at age 86. [1] The French chamber ratifies the Franco-Soviet pact. [10] French ministers decide that in the event of German violation of the Rhineland Zone, they would not act alone, but only with co-signatories of the Locarno Pact. [10] February 28 Pedro Muñoz Seca La Caraba/La oca, dies at age 55. [1] February 29 Franklin Roosevelt signs second neutrality act. [1] March 2 Adolf Hitler issues final orders for troops to re-occupy their former garrison posts in Rhineland towns. If French forces take action, the troops are instructed to withdraw. [10] March 4 First flight of airship Hindenburg, Germany. [1] Ruben Mattias Liljefors composer, dies at age 64. [1] March 5 Spitfire makes its first flight (Eastleigh Aerodrome in Southampton). [1] French Foreign Minister Pierre Flandin tells British Anthony Eden that France will not act alone in the event of German violation of the Rhineland Zone. [10] March 6 Belgium ends Locarno-pact. [1] Josef Stransky composer, dies at age 63. [1] Rubin Goldmark composer, dies at age 63. [1] March 7 Adolf Hitler denounces the Rhineland provisions of Treaty of Versailles and Locarno Treaty. 14,500 German troops march in to join with 22,000 local police to re-occupy the Rhineland. [10] German representatives inform foreign ministers and ambassadors of the German re-occupation of the Rhineland, and outline a peace plan including 25-year non-aggression pacts for all countries bordering on Germany. [10] March 8 Peter H J "Piet" van Doorne director BOVA Red Peppers, executed at age 52. [1] March 12 The Soviet Union and the Mongolian People's Republic sign a mutual assistance pact, allowing Russian troops to be posted at key locations. The Soviet Union commits to the defence of Mongolia from aggression. [10] March 14 Federal Register, first magazine of the US government, publishes first issue. [1] March 18 Egon Friedell Austrian journalist (Kleine Portratgalerie), dies at age 58. [1] March 19 John Larkin IV actor/writer (Charlie Chan in Panamá), dies at age 63. [1] March 21 Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov composer (Chopiniana), dies at age 70. [1] March 22 Quote by Adolf Hitler, regarding the re-occupation of the Rhineland: "We and all nations have a sense that we have come to the turning point of an age.". [10] March 23 Italy, Austria and Hungary sign Pact of Rome. [1] March 26 First parliamentary debate on New Zealand radio. [1] Corning Glass Works ships a 20-ton, 200-inch cast Pyrex mirror-blank from Corning, New Tork, to Pasadena, California, to be finished for the Hale telescope. [1] Mary Joyce ends a 1,000 mile trip by dog in Alaska. [1] March 27 WOS-AM in Jefferson City Missouri goes off the air. [1] March 29 10,000 watch the 200" mirror blank passing through Indianapolis. [1] Nazi propaganda claims 99% of Germans voted for Nazi candidates. [1] April 1 Mikhail Vladimirovich Ivanov-Boretsky composer, dies at age 61. [1] Orissa constitutes a province of British India. [1] April 3 Bruno Hauptmann convicted Lindbergh baby killer, executed. [1] April 5 Tupelo Mississippi virtually annihilated by a tornado, 216 die. [1] April 6 ANP begins telex service in Amsterdam. [1] Tornado kills 203 and injures 1,800 in Gainesville Georgia. [1] April 10 200" mirror blank arrives in Pasadena. [1] April 11 Mitya Stillman composer, dies at age 44. [1] Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical "On Your Toes", premieres in New York City. [1] April 13 Demertzis Greek premier, dies. [1] Metaxas proclaims himself dictator of Greece. [1] April 17 Charles J M Ruys de Beerenbrouck Dutch Prime Minister (1918-23, 29-33), dies. [1] April 18 Ottorino Respighi Italian composer (Belkis), dies at age 56. [1] Pan-Am Clipper begins regular passenger flights from San Francisco California to Honolulu HI. [1] Seaborn M Denson composer, dies at age 82. [1] April 19 Anti-Jewish riots break out in Palestine. [1] April 20 Jews repel an Arab attack in Petach Tikvah Palestine. [1] April 23 Carl Hubbell's first start of season is his 17th straight win. [1] April 24 Alphons Diepenbrock composer, dies at age 73. [1] Bernard van Dieren composer, dies at age 51. [1] April 26 Dmitri Shostakovitch completes his 4th Symphony. [1] April 27 Frederik A Stoett linguist (Dutch Proverbs), dies at age 72. [1] Karl Pearson mathematician, dies. [1] April 28 Foead I king of Egypt (1922-36), dies. [1] April 29 Florentinus M Wibaut Amsterdam social alderman, dies at age 76. [1] May 1 Emperor Haile Selassie leaves Ethiopia as Italian invades. [1] FBI's J Edgar Hoover arrests Alvin Karpis. [1] May 2 Peter and the Wolf premieres in Moscow. [1] Emperor Haile Selassie and family flee Abyssinia. [1] May 3 French People's Front wins elections. [1] May 4 Pulitzer prize awarded to Harold L Davis (Honey in the Horn). [1] May 5 Edward Ravenscroft patents screw-on bottle cap with a pour lip. [1] Italian troops occupy Addis Ababa. [1] May 6 Hans Jelmoli composer, dies at age 59. [1] May 8 Oswald Spengler German philosopher (Underworld of Abendlandes), dies. [1] May 9 First KLM airplane to land on Bonaire. [1] Italy takes Addis Ababa, annexing Abyssinia (Ethiopia). [1] May 10 Manuel Azaña elected President of Spain. [1] Nahas Pasja becomes premier of Egypt. [1] May 12 Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Poisoned Kiss" premieres in London. [1] May 13 Quiroga Government takes office in Spain. [1] May 14 Edmond Allenby English fieldmarshal in Egypt, dies at age 74. [1] Samuel Pl'h Naber spy/librarian, dies at age 71. [1] May 15 Amy Johnson arrives in Croydon England from South Africa in record 4 days 16 hours. [1] May 16 First British air hostess (Daphne Kearley) flight to France. [1] May 18 Alick Maclean composer, dies at age 63. [1] May 24 Dutch bishops forbid membership of Nazi party. [1] May 25 Jan Levoslav Bella composer, dies at age 92. [1] May 26 First Government of Zealand in Belgium ends. [1] May 27 RMS Queen Mary leaves Southampton, England, for New York on maiden voyage. [1] [73.42] June 2 General Anastasio Somoza takes over as dictator of Nicaragua. [1] June 6 Aviation gasoline first produced commercially Paulsboro New Jersey. [1] June 11 Presbyterian Church of America founded at Philadelphia. [1] June 12 First 50 KW US radio station (Pittsburgh Pennsylvania). [1] C Jackson discovers asteroid #1394 Algoa. [1] June 14 C Jackson discovers asteroid #1490 Limpopo. [1] June 18 First bicycle traffic court in America established, Racine, Wisconsin. [1] June 22 Harry Froboess dives 110 m from airship into Bodensee and survives. [1] Virgin Islands receives a constution from US (Organic Act). [1] June 26 L Boyer discovers asteroid #2021 Poincare. [1] June 29 Empire State Building emanates high definition TV-343 lines. [1] Pope Pius XI encyclical to US bishops "On motion pictures". [1] June 30 Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, published. [1] 40 hour work week law approved (federal). [1] July 5 120 degrees F (49 degrees C), Gannvalley, South Dakota (state record). [1] July 6 114 degrees F (46 degrees C), Moorhead, Minnesota (state record). [1] 121 degrees F (49 degrees C), Steele, North Dakota (state record). [1] July 8 C Jackson discovers asteroid #1949 Messina. [1] July 10 109 degrees F (43 degrees C), Cumberland and Frederick, Maryland (state record). [1] 111 degrees F (44 degrees C), Phoenixville, Pennsylvania (state record). [1] New Straits Convention allows Turkish rearmament of Dardanelles. [1] July 11 Triborough Bridge linking Manhattan, Bronx and Queens opens. [1] July 13 A Midwestern U.S. heat wave sets the all-time highest temperature records for Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana. [1] [5] July 16 First x-ray photo of arterial circulation, Rochester, New York. [1] K Reinmuth discovers asteroids #1395 Aribeda and #1402 Eri. [1] July 18 Spanish Civil War begans, General Francisco Franco led uprising. [1] July 24 118 degrees F (48 degrees C), Minden, Nebraska (state record). [1] 121 degrees F (49 degrees C), near Alton, Kansas (state record). [1] July 25 115 acre Orchard Beach opens in the Bronx. [1] G Neujmin discovers asteroid #3761. [1] July 29 RCA shows the first real TV program (dancing, film on locomotives). [1] August 1 Benjamin E Mays named president of Morehouse College. [1] August 12 120 degrees F (49 degrees C), Seymour, Texas (state record). [1] August 14 Rainey Bethea hung, last US public execution. [1] August 18 106.5 degrees F-Hottest afternoon ever in Iowa. [1] August 24 Australian Antarctic Territory created. [1] September 2 First transatlantic round-trip air flight. [1] September 7 Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam) begins operation. [1] September 11 Franklin Roosevelt dedicates Boulder Dam, now known as Hoover Dam. [1] September 29 Radio used for first time for a presidential campaign. [1] September 30 International Commission of the Straits (Dardanelles and Bosphorus) ends. [1] October 1 General Francisco Franco establishes the state of Spain. [1] October 2 First alcohol power plant established, Atchison, Kansas. [1] October 9 Generators at Boulder Dam begin transmitting electricity from the Colorado River 266 miles to Los Angeles, California. [1] [5] October 11 "Professor Quiz", first radio quiz show premieres. [1] October 19 HR Ekins of "NY World-Telegram" beats two other reporters in a race around the world on commercial flights, by 18.5 days. [1] October 22 First commercial flight from mainland to Hawaii. [1] October 26 The first electric generator at Hoover Dam goes into full operation. [5] October 28 Franklin Roosevelt rededicates Statue of Liberty on its 50th anniversary. [1] November 1 Italian Premier Benito Mussolini coins the term Axis, when referring to the Rome-Berlin axis around which European states may work together. [10] Rodeo Cowboy's Association founded. [1] November 2 The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is established. [5] The British Broadcasting Corporation initiates the BBC Television Service, the world's first regular, high-definition (then defined as at least 200 lines) service (renamed BBC1 in 1964). [1] [5] November 3 President Franklin Roosevelt wins landslide victory over Alfred M Landon (Republican). [1] November 6 RCA displays TV for the press. [1] November 12 First TV Gardening show. [1] Oakland Bay Bridge opens. [1] November 18 Germany and Italy recognized Spanish government of Francisco Franco. [1] Main span of Golden Gate Bridge joined. [1] November 23 First issue of Life, picture magazine created by Henry R Luce. [1] [5] November 25 Germany and Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact, to cooperate in defense against Communistic International. Germany and Japan will share information on Comintern activities, and invite other states to adopt anti-Comintern defensive measures. Secret clause: both agree that if one is attacked or threatened, the other would not relieve the position of the Soviet Union, and both would not conclude political treaties with the Soviet Union that did not conform with spirit of the pact. The pact is in effect for five years. [10] November 30 London's Crystal Palace (built 1851), destroyed by fire. [1] December 1 Bell Labs tests coaxial cable for TV use. [1] EW Brundin and FF Lyon obtain patent on soilless culture of plants. [1] December 5 Armenian SSR, Azerbaijan SSR, Georgian SSR, Kazakhstan SSR and Kirghiz SSR becomes constituent republics of the Soviet Union. [1] December 8 Anastasio Somoza elected President of Nicaragua. [1] NAACP files suit to equalize the salaries of black and white teachers. [1] December 10 England replaces King Edward VIII stamp series with King George VI. [1] King Edward VIII abdicates throne to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson. [1] Luigi Pirandello Italian writer (Enrico IV, Nobel Prize 1934), dies at age 69. [1] Stockholm: physicist PBJ Debije receives Nobel Prize for chemistry. [1] December 11 King Edward VIII abdicates throne to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson; Duke of York becomes King George VI. [1] December 12 Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek declares war on Japan. [1] December 16 John Monk and Fred Finklehoff's "Brother Rat" premieres in New York City, New York. [1] December 17 Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and dummy Charlie McCarthy, make their radio debut on Rudy Vallee's Royal Gelatin Hour. [1] December 18 Su-Lin, first giant panda to come to US from China, arrives in San Francisco. [1] December 20 Baron De Borchgrave Belgian ambassador, murdered in Madrid. [1] December 21 The Junkers JU-88 bomber prototype first flies. [5] December 22 First common carrier license issued by ICC, Scranton Pennsylvania. [1] December 24 First radioactive isotope medicine administered, Berkeley California. [1] December 25 Belgian bishops condemn fascism and communism. [1] Pierre Maurice composer, dies at age 68. [1] December 26 Israel Philharmonic Orchestra forms. [1] December 27 Hans von Seeckt German general/advisor of Chiang Kai-shek, dies at age 70. [1] December 30 United Auto Workers stage first sit-down strike, at Fisher Body Plant. [1] December 31 Miguel de Unamuno Jugo Spanish philosopher/poet (Cancionero), dies at age 72. [1] William F Ellison Irish clergyman/astronomer, dies at age 72. [1]