Look Back To 1933: What Happened That Year

Bodyline, the first Loch Ness photograph and the opening of the Tube map.

Here's 1933 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 1933

• 'Stormy Weather' and 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes' were written this year.
• Dance bands broadcast live from hotels and ballrooms most evenings.
• The gramophone was becoming a normal household item.

In the news in 1933

• Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in January.
• The London Passenger Transport Board was created and Harry Beck's Tube map was published in 1933.
• The first widely reported Loch Ness monster sighting was in May.

On screen in 1933

• King Kong and The Private Life of Henry VIII were released.
• Cinema organs, double bills and usherettes were standard.
• Television remained experimental.

In sport in 1933

• The Bodyline Ashes series in Australia caused a diplomatic row.
• Everton beat Manchester City in the first FA Cup final with numbered shirts.
• Arsenal won the league.

Everyday life in 1933

• The Tube map's diagram, ignoring geography, was an instant success.
• Unemployment was still close to three million.
• Lidos were being built in most large towns.

If you were born in 1933

• Anyone born in 1933 is the same age as Harry Beck's Tube map.
• They were six when the war began and twelve when it ended.
• Anyone born in 1933 turns 30 in 1963, 40 in 1973, 50 in 1983, 60 in 1993 and 70 in 2003.
• 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 1936
• Look back to 1935
• Look back to 1934
• Look back to 1932
• Look back to 1931
• 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
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What was Bodyline?

England's tactic in the 1932-33 Ashes of bowling fast, short deliveries at the body to counter Don Bradman. It caused a serious diplomatic dispute.

Who designed the London Tube map?

Harry Beck, whose diagrammatic map was first published in 1933 and is still the basis of the map today.

How old is someone born in 1933?

Subtract 1933 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1973, 50 in 1983, 60 in 1993 and 70 in 2003.

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.