Look Back To 1936: What Happened That Year

Three kings in one year, the Jarrow March, Butlin's and the first television service.

Here's 1936 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 1936

• 'The Way You Look Tonight' and 'Pennies from Heaven' were written this year.
• Dance band broadcasts were the BBC's most popular evening output.
• Radio Luxembourg's Sunday programmes were hugely popular because the BBC's were not.

In the news in 1936

• George V died in January; Edward VIII abdicated on 11 December and George VI became King.
• The Jarrow March set out on 5 October.
• The Battle of Cable Street took place on 4 October.
• The Spanish Civil War began in July and British volunteers went to fight.

On screen in 1936

• The BBC began the world's first regular high-definition television service on 2 November, from Alexandra Palace.
• The Crystal Palace burned down on 30 November.
• Modern Times and Things to Come were in the cinemas.

In sport in 1936

• The Berlin Olympics were held in August, with Jesse Owens winning four golds.
• Arsenal won the FA Cup.
• Sunderland won the league.

Everyday life in 1936

• Butlin's opened its first holiday camp at Skegness at Easter.
• Television sets cost more than a small car and almost nobody had one.
• The abdication crisis was reported abroad for weeks before the British press broke its silence.

If you were born in 1936

• Anyone born in 1936 was born in the year of three kings.
• They are the same age as British television and Butlin's.
• Anyone born in 1936 turns 30 in 1966, 40 in 1976, 50 in 1986, 60 in 1996 and 70 in 2006.
• 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

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• The 1980s: the whole decade
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• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
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• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
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• How to make a balloon arch
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• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

Why is 1936 called the year of three kings?

George V died in January, Edward VIII reigned without being crowned and abdicated in December, and George VI succeeded him.

When did the BBC television service start?

2 November 1936, from Alexandra Palace in north London.

How old is someone born in 1936?

Subtract 1936 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1976, 50 in 1986, 60 in 1996 and 70 in 2006.

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.