The Universal Newsreel: The Thirties

Universal's twice-weekly reel through the nineteen-thirties: inaugurations, floods, disasters, sport and stunts, in the order the country received them.

Year: 1932
Made by: Universal Newsreel
Directed by: Universal newsreel unit
Free to use because: In the public domain — no licence terms attached

The note

Universal Newsreel ran from 1929 to 1967 and Universal donated the whole library to the American people in 1974, which is why it is public domain outright rather than by lapse. The thirties reels are the ones that most reward listening: the narration style of the period is a performance in itself, pitched somewhere between an auctioneer and a preacher, and the sound beds are location recordings from events nobody thought to preserve any other way.

Universal Newsreel, twice weekly in American cinemas from 1929 to 1967. Universal gave the entire library to the public in 1974 and it is held by the National Archives, so these are public domain outright rather than by lapse of renewal. What plays here is the reel’s soundtrack — narration, music bed and location sound.

107 recordings

Transmission

4 February

1932

107 recordings

Pacific Armada

Mightiest War Game

Sudden Gale Akron at Lakehurst NJ

Extra! Special! Roosevelt Inaugurated

President Roosevelt's Emergency Bank Bill Passed By Congress

Hitlerites Parade In Rain To Demonstrate Great Nazi Strength

Money Stream Flow From Treasury

Akron Disaster

Commander Describes Akron Tragedy While Navy Search Goes On

25,000 March In Giant Back Salary Protest By School Teachers

Akron Hulk Salvage

New Dirigible on Trial Flights

President Speaks To The Nation

Lindberghs Fly North On Epic Ocean Trip To Blaze New Air Route

Balbo Nears American Goal

Huge Throngs Welcome Balbo

Track heroes given medals

Stratosphere Balloon Falls

President Visits Foresters

5 Nations Seek Balloon Title

Great Throngs Hail Crack Regiment

Legionnaires Cheer Roosevelt As He Issues New 'Call To Colors'

President Asks Church Leaders

Farmer Plays Tune With Hands

Rival Candidates in New York Mayor Race

Anzac In Curious Racial Mix-Up

Gigantic Cattle Drive Starts

Navy Planes End Distance Hop

Cameraman Risks Life To Film 'Sub' In Striking Speed Tests

U.S. Thrilled As President Outlines Recovery Progress

Russian Recognition Nears

Torpedoes Launched From Air

Axe for Turkeys

Carl Laemmle Arrives Home

Lindberghs in Russia

Loving Husband

Primo Carrera

Senate Starts Racket Probe

State Theatre in Richmond

University Honors Roosevelt

Vest Pocket Cycle

Help Needy Says First Lady

Ancient Mexican Dances for President

City Gold Rush Starts

Czechs Celebrate Republic's Birth

Farmers Arm To Break Picket Line

Highlights In the News

Hunters Open Season

Kidnappers Lynched By Enraged Mob

Veterans Parade in Hoboken, NJ

Al Smith Hails End of Dry Law

Hairdresser Wins Lottery

King Dedicates Memorial

Loyola Students Compete For Keg

U.S. Recognizes Soviet Russia

Commander Settle Makes Record Stratosphere Hop

Noted Speed Pilot Killed

Highlights In the News

President Reports To Nation On The Progress Of Recovery

President Roosevelt Sails On 10,000 Mile Vacation Trip

Hauptmann Weapon Found As High Bail Is Set By Court

Hauptmann Identified At Hearing

Extra!! Scoop! - First Actual Pictures - Assassination

"Five and Ten" Princess Home Again

Von Papen Adds Vote To Victory

Wilenz Sure Of Convicting Hauptmann

Hauptmann Testifies

Roosevelt Addresses Boy Scouts

FDR Buys First Baby Bond

2200 Men Out On Strike At Motor Plant

Old-Fashioned Town Crier On Job Again

F. D. R. Sees Fear Vanishing

Red Cross Unit Bombed In Ethiopia

40,000 March In Gala Parade On St. Patrick's Day

Giant Dirigible Sets Record

Terrific Floods Sweep Citis In Western Penna.

Vet Revives 'Dead' Scottie

Democrats Cheer

Terrified Civilians Flee Air Raid