What happened on March 19 in world history? Here are 4 events worth remembering: See them above in our 57-second video, and below for more details!
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Willi and Willy meet in East Germany
In a historic Cold War moment, West German Chancellor Willy Brandt met East German Premier Willi Stoph in an attempt to ease tensions between the divided nations.
- This was the first official encounter between the leaders of West and East Germany since the country’s division after World War II.
- The meeting was part of Brandt’s policy of détente, aiming to normalize relations with Eastern Bloc countries and ultimately reduce hostilities in Europe.
- Though the meeting was significant, little was achieved, as Stoph demanded West Germany recognize East Germany as a sovereign state, which Brandt refused.
The Lumière Brothers record their first film
French inventors Auguste and Louis Lumière made history when they recorded their first moving images using their newly patented cinématographe, marking the birth of cinema.
- Unlike previous motion devices, the cinématographe combined a camera, projector, and printer in one, making film production and screening practical.
- Their first recording, Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory, captured employees exiting their family’s factory in Lyon and is considered one of the first motion pictures.
- Later that year, the Lumières hosted the world’s first commercial film screening in Paris, laying the foundation for the global film industry.
The Academy Awards are televised for the first time
For the first time in history, the Academy Awards were broadcast on national television, bringing Hollywood’s biggest night into American homes.
- The 25th Academy Awards, held at the RKO Pantages Theatre in Hollywood and NBC International Theatre in New York, marked the beginning of Oscars as a mass-media event.
- The broadcast, hosted by Bob Hope, allowed millions of Americans to watch the glamour and excitement of Hollywood’s elite in real time.
Gambling is legalized in Nevada
In an effort to boost its struggling economy during the Great Depression, Nevada became the first U.S. state to legalize gambling, paving the way for the rise of Las Vegas as the world’s casino capital.
- Facing financial hardship, Nevada’s legislature saw gambling as a way to generate revenue and attract visitors to the state.
- Although gambling was initially widespread across the state, it wasn’t until the 1940s and 1950s that Las Vegas became the center of the casino industry, fueled by mob investments.