Unearthed: Top 7 Astonishing Fun Facts from 1936 You Never Knew!

1. First Escalator Debuts at Luna Park

Step right up and hold onto your hats, folks: the stairway to amusement park heaven got a moving makeover in 1909 at Luna Park, Coney Island, with the debut of the first escalator! No more huffing and puffing on stationary staircases for the masses, as these wondrous moving steps – complete with handrails that speedily kept pace – soon conquered department stores, shopping malls, and even airports, catering to an ever-increasing surge of bustling bipeds.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Hoover Dam Powers Los Angeles

In 1936, the Hoover Dam was playing a game of "I've got the power!" with Los Angeles, as it began flexing its might by sending electricity over a whopping 266 miles of transmission lines: Strikingly, the dam's main objective was to control and distribute water to the thirsty West, with power generation merely a secondary, albeit electrifying, advantage.
Source => history.com

Did you know Minnie Mouse has a vast family tree that dates back to 1932? Discover her surprising connections in "Mr. Slicker and the Egg Robbers" comic strip!

=> Fun Facts about 1932

3. Summer Olympics Broadcast Live on TV

Before Netflix and chill, there was Olympics and amusements halls: In 1936, the Summer Olympics in Berlin pioneered the use of television technology to broadcast the games live to select locations in Berlin, Leipzig, and Potsdam, paving the way for the eventual marriage of sports and screens – though it would take a few more years to matchmake the two for an Evening at the Living Room!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Monopoly's Mysterious Origins

In a twist worthy of a game of Clue, Monopoly's origins were shrouded in mystery, intrigue, and false claims that would have even Colonel Mustard scratching his head: The truth was ultimately revealed to be all Boardwalk and no Park Place, as the real brains behind the beloved board game was Elizabeth Magie, not Charles Darrow, whose fame was as counterfeit as the game's colorful currency.
Source => europeana.eu

5. Monopoly's Launch by Parker Brothers

Before reality had a chance to hand out "get out of jail free" cards or send us on a journey around the cardboard universe, life had to invent the ultimate tool of economic warfare: In 1936, Monopoly came into existence, thanks to Parker Brothers. This legendary board game, though originally known as "The Landlord's Game" in the 1900s, has since dominated family game nights, spawned endless themed editions, and successfully established world domination on a whole new level.
Source => usatoday.com

6. BBC's Equestrian TV Broadcasts

Before the days of binge-watching Netflix and squabbling over the aux cord, Brits had a more sophisticated way of engaging with technology: horse riding through the airwaves! In 1936, the BBC officially launched its television services, and early broadcasts included a demonstration of equestrian pursuits rather than the puppet escapades of "Muffin the Mule."
Source => bbc.com

7. Kodachrome Revolutionizes Color Photography

In an era when capturing moments in technicolor was the stuff of fantasies, one film swooped in like a chromatic superhero, endowing ordinary folks with the power to trap vibrant rainbows in a tiny roll of wonder: Allow us to introduce you to the magical Kodachrome, a 1935 creation by Kodak, that first revolutionized color photography. By making 16mm, 8mm, 35mm, and 828 formats available, it singlehandedly transformed how our memories were painted for an impressive 74-year streak, before sadly fading into the monochrome of discontinued legends in 2009.
Source => kodakdigitizing.com