Look Back To 1931: What Happened That Year

The National Government, the gold standard abandoned and the means test.

Here's 1931 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 1931

• Noel Coward's songs and the dance bands were the mainstream.
• 'Goodnight, Sweetheart' was published and became a standard.
• The BBC Dance Orchestra under Henry Hall began the following year.

In the news in 1931

• A financial crisis led to the formation of a National Government in August.
• Britain left the gold standard in September.
• The means test for unemployment benefit was introduced and deeply resented.
• The Invergordon Mutiny took place in September over pay cuts.

On screen in 1931

• Cinema was the cheapest night out and the most popular.
• Dracula and Frankenstein were released in America and shown here.
• Newsreels reported the crisis in weekly instalments.

In sport in 1931

• West Bromwich Albion won the FA Cup and promotion in the same season.
• Arsenal won their first league title.
• Malcolm Campbell broke the land speed record at Daytona.

Everyday life in 1931

• The dole queue became the defining image of the decade's early years.
• Ribbon development spread housing along main roads out of every city.
• Second-hand clothes and pawn shops were part of ordinary life in the worst-hit areas.

If you were born in 1931

• Anyone born in 1931 was eight when the war began.
• They were born in the year Britain came off the gold standard.
• Anyone born in 1931 turns 30 in 1961, 40 in 1971, 50 in 1981, 60 in 1991 and 70 in 2001.
• 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.

Shop birthday cards

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 1934
• Look back to 1933
• Look back to 1932
• Look back to 1930
• 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
• Congratulations cards
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What was the means test?

A 1931 assessment of household income and savings before unemployment assistance was paid. It was widely hated for intruding on families.

Was there a record chart in 1931?

No. The UK singles chart did not begin until November 1952.

How old is someone born in 1931?

Subtract 1931 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1971, 50 in 1981, 60 in 1991 and 70 in 2001.

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.