Look Back To 1937: What Happened That Year

The coronation of George VI, the Hindenburg and the first Billy Butlin summer.

Here's 1937 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 1937

• 'A Foggy Day' and 'Whistle While You Work' were written this year.
• Snow White's songs became the first film soundtrack most children knew by heart.
• Dance bands were still the centre of the BBC's evening schedule.

In the news in 1937

• George VI was crowned on 12 May and the coronation was televised in part - the BBC's first outside broadcast of that scale.
• The Hindenburg airship was destroyed in May.
• Neville Chamberlain became Prime Minister in May.
• The Guernica bombing in April shocked Europe.

On screen in 1937

• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released in December in America and reached Britain the next year.
• Television was available only within about 25 miles of Alexandra Palace.
• The Wimbledon Championships were televised for the first time.

In sport in 1937

• Sunderland won the FA Cup.
• Manchester City won the league.
• The first televised FA Cup final highlights were shown the following year.

Everyday life in 1937

• Air raid precautions began to be organised, two years before war.
• Holiday camps, charabanc trips and the seaside boarding house were the British holiday.
• The 999 emergency number was introduced in London in June.

If you were born in 1937

• Anyone born in 1937 was two when the war started.
• They were born the year the 999 number was introduced.
• Anyone born in 1937 turns 30 in 1967, 40 in 1977, 50 in 1987, 60 in 1997 and 70 in 2007.
• 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 1939
• Look back to 1938
• Look back to 1936
• Look back to 1935
• Look back to 1934
• 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

When was George VI's coronation?

12 May 1937, the date originally set for Edward VIII's coronation before the abdication.

When did 999 start?

30 June 1937, in the London area first, before spreading nationally.

How old is someone born in 1937?

Subtract 1937 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1977, 50 in 1987, 60 in 1997 and 70 in 2007.

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.