Look Back To 1924: What Happened That Year

The first Labour government, the Empire Exhibition and the Chariots of Fire Olympics.

Here's 1924 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

Popular music in 1924

• 'Rhapsody in Blue' was first performed in New York in February.
• Dance bands led by Jack Hylton were recording and broadcasting constantly.
• Wireless music was still live, because recordings were considered poor quality for broadcast.

In the news in 1924

• Ramsay MacDonald formed the first Labour government in January; it fell in October.
• The British Empire Exhibition opened at Wembley in April and was opened by George V in the first royal broadcast.
• Lenin died in January.

On screen in 1924

• Sherlock Jr. and The Thief of Bagdad were released.
• Cinemas were the biggest buildings going up in most high streets.
• Newsreels covered the Olympics and the Exhibition.

In sport in 1924

• Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell won golds at the Paris Olympics, later the subject of Chariots of Fire.
• Newcastle United won the FA Cup.
• Huddersfield Town won the first of three consecutive league titles.

Everyday life in 1924

• The Empire Exhibition drew millions of visitors over two years.
• Wireless sets moved from crystal receivers to valve sets with loudspeakers.
• Cigarette cards, comics and the Saturday morning cinema club were children's culture.

If you were born in 1924

• Anyone born in 1924 was fifteen when the Second World War began.
• They were born the year of the first Labour government.
• Anyone born in 1924 turns 30 in 1954, 40 in 1964, 50 in 1974, 60 in 1984 and 70 in 1994.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

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How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 1927
• Look back to 1926
• Look back to 1925
• Look back to 1923
• Look back to 1922
• Look back to 1921
• The 1920s: the whole decade
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• Village fete and church hall games
• Card games your nan taught you
• Traditional British party games
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• The 1960s: the whole decade
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• The 1940s: the whole decade
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
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• Birthday cards for kids
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What happened at the 1924 Olympics?

Harold Abrahams won the 100 metres and Eric Liddell the 400 metres in Paris - the story told in the film Chariots of Fire.

What was the British Empire Exhibition?

A vast exhibition at Wembley in 1924 and 1925, opened by George V in the first royal radio broadcast.

How old is someone born in 1924?

Subtract 1924 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1964, 50 in 1974, 60 in 1984 and 70 in 1994.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.