What Happened in 1940
Historical Highlights of 1940
- The first peacetime draft in U.S. history was signed by President Roosevelt as America prepared for the possibility of entering WWII.
- Breaking tradition, FDR became the first U.S. president to win a third term.
- Germany, Italy, and Japan formed the Axis alliance with the signing of the Tripartite Pact.
- A 40-hour working week was implemented by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Booker T. Washington became the first African American to featured on a U.S. postage stamp.
Pop Culture & Fun Facts from 1940
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McDonald’s opens their first restaurant in San Bernardino, CA.
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Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American to win an Academy Award., for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind.
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The first-ever Billboard music popularity chart appeared — laying the foundation for the Top 40.
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People started saying cheese when smiling for the camera. In the earliest days of photography.
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The Superman radio show debuted.
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Tom & Jerry cartoon shorts created by William Hanna & Joseph Barbera debuted.
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The film "Great Dictator" released. It was a satire film by and starring Charlie Chaplin.
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Bugs Bunny debuted in "A Wild Hare" and confuses and humiliates a hunter named Elmer Fudd.
Science & Inventions of 1940
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The first models of what would become the Jeep were built for U.S. military use, revolutionizing wartime transport.
Sports Highlights of 1940
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The 1940 Summer Olympics, originally scheduled for Tokyo, were officially canceled due to the war.
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Boxer, Joe Louis, the “Brown Bomber” retained the heavyweight title.
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The first televised baseball game was featured on WGN-TV. It was an exhibition game with the White Sox vs Cubs.
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World Series Champions: Cincinnati Reds
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Basketball Champions: Indiana
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NFL Champs: Chicago Bears
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Stanley Cup Champs: New York Rangers
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U.S. Open Golf: Lawson Little
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U.S. Tennis (Men/Ladies): Donald McNeill/Alice Marble
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Wimbledon (Men/Women): not held
Top Songs of 1940
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In the Mood – Glenn Miller Orchestra
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Only Forever – Bing Crosby
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I’ll Never Smile Again – Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (featuring Frank Sinatra)
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When You Wish Upon a Star – Cliff Edwards (Jiminy Cricket)
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Frenesi – Artie Shaw
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Polka Dot Stomp – Count Basie
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The Breeze and I – Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
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Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar – Will Bradley Trio
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Blueberry Hill – Glenn Miller
Top Movies of 1940
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The Grapes of Wrath – Henry Fonda stars in this adaptation of Steinbeck’s Dust Bowl classic.
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Rebecca – Alfred Hitchcock’s first American film; a gothic thriller that won Best Picture.
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The Philadelphia Story – Romantic comedy starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart.
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Fantasia – Walt Disney’s bold and artistic animated feature combining classical music and animation.
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The Great Dictator – Charlie Chaplin’s daring satire of Hitler and fascism.
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Pinocchio – Disney’s second animated feature; brought “When You Wish Upon a Star” to life.
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His Girl Friday – A sharp, rapid-fire newspaper comedy with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell.
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The Shop Around the Corner – Heartwarming romantic comedy later adapted into You’ve Got Mail.
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Northwest Passage – Spencer Tracy-led frontier adventure.
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Foreign Correspondent – Another Hitchcock thriller, focused on international intrigue and war reporting.
FREE 1940 Year You Were Born Printable
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