Look Back To 1930: What Happened That Year

The R101 disaster, rising unemployment and Amy Johnson flying to Australia.

Here's 1930 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 1930

• Dance bands led by Jack Hylton and Ambrose dominated the ballrooms and the wireless.
• 'Happy Days Are Here Again' was one of the year's most-played songs.
• There was no chart; sheet music sales decided what counted as a hit.

In the news in 1930

• Amy Johnson flew solo from England to Australia in May.
• The R101 airship crashed in France on 5 October, killing 48 people.
• Unemployment rose sharply as the Depression took hold.

On screen in 1930

• Talking pictures had taken over the cinemas within two years of arriving.
• Hitchcock's Murder! was released.
• There was no public television service yet.

In sport in 1930

• Uruguay won the first World Cup; the home nations did not take part.
• Don Bradman scored 334 at Headingley in the Ashes.
• Arsenal won the FA Cup for the first time.

Everyday life in 1930

• The wireless licence passed three million.
• Youth hostelling began in Britain with the founding of the YHA.
• Cigarette cards were collected by almost every child.

If you were born in 1930

• Anyone born in 1930 was a child through the Depression and a teenager during the war.
• They were nine when war broke out and fifteen on VE Day.
• Anyone born in 1930 turns 30 in 1960, 40 in 1970, 50 in 1980, 60 in 1990 and 70 in 2000.
• 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 1933
• Look back to 1932
• Look back to 1931
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• Victorian and vintage parlour games
• Village fete and church hall games
• Traditional British party games
• Seaside and beach 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
• The 1950s: the whole decade
• The 1940s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: 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
• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
• Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
• Nostalgia gift shop
• Retro party supplies
• Nostalgia birthday party by decade
• Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
• Guess the year quiz
• Care home reminiscence quiz
• Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
• Milestone birthday cards
• Shop birthday cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Birthday cards for kids
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What was the R101?

A British airship that crashed near Beauvais in France on 5 October 1930, killing 48 people and effectively ending British airship development.

Who was Amy Johnson?

The first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, completing the flight in May 1930.

How old is someone born in 1930?

Subtract 1930 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1970, 50 in 1980, 60 in 1990 and 70 in 2000.

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.