Historical Events
- Mar 1 Bank holidays declared in 6 states, to prevent run on banks
King Kong
Mar 2 "King Kong" film directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, starring Fay Wray premieres at Radio City Music Hall and RKO Roxy in NYC
- Mar 2 Sanriku earthquake of 8.4 and tsunami hit Japan, country's most powerful earthquake in 180 years
- Mar 3 German presidential candidate Earnest Thalmann (KPD) arrested
- Mar 4 Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss dissolves Austrian parliament
- Mar 4 Frances Perkins becomes Secretary of Labor, 1st female member of the US Cabinet
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Mar 4 Franklin D. Roosevelt is inaugurated as the 32nd US President, pledges to pull the US out of the Depression, stating in his inaugural address "that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself".
1st Press Conference by a First Lady
Mar 6 Eleanor Roosevelt is the 1st First Lady to hold an official Press Conference at the White House [1]
- Mar 6 FDR declares a nationwide bank holiday, to shut down the banking system, pass the Emergency Banking Act and restore public confidence
Both Your Houses
Mar 6 Maxwell Anderson's stage drama "Both Your Houses" opens at the Royale Theatre, NYC; runs for 72 performances and wins a Pulitzer Prize
- Mar 6 Poland occupies the free city of Danzig (Gdańsk)
- Mar 9 "42nd Street" a musical film revolving around rehearsals for a Broadway show, directed by Lloyd Bacon, with choreography by Busby Berkeley, and songs by Harry Warren and by Al Dubin, premieres at the Strand, NYC; later adapted as a stage musical
- Mar 9 Bulgarian communists Georgi Dimitrov, Blagoy Popov & Vasil Tanev arrested in Berlin, Germany, on charges of complicity in the Reichstag fire; all were acquitted
- Mar 9 US Congress is called into special session by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, beginning its "100 days" in which it passes 77 laws
- Mar 10 Major earthquake (6.4 magnitude) in Long Beach, California kills 120, and destroys 70 school buildings
- Mar 10 Nevada becomes 1st US state to regulate narcotics
- Mar 12 Franklin D. Roosevelt conducts his first "fireside chat" as US President via radio, speaking directly to 60 million listening Americans, eight days after his inauguration
- Mar 13 American banks allowed to reopen after a government imposed bank holiday
Goebbels Nazi Minister
Mar 13 Joseph Goebbels becomes Nazi Germany's Minister of Information and Propaganda
- Mar 14 US Civilian Conservation Corp begins tree conservation program
- Mar 15 NAACP begins coordinated attack on segregation & discrimination
- Mar 16 Adolf Hitler names Hjalmar Schacht as President of Bank of Germany
- Mar 16 Hans Luther resigns as president of the Reichsbank and is appointed as German ambassador to the United States.
- Mar 18 Radio Clube de Mocambique's 1st radio transmission
Maribel Vinson US Champion
Mar 18 US Ladies' Figure Skating championship won by Maribel Vinson
- Mar 20 Dachau the first Nazi concentration camp, is completed
The Day of Potsdam
Mar 21 Day of Potsdam in Nazi Germany, a ceremony to open the new Reichstag after the fire in February; Adolf Hitler and Paul von Hindenburg shake hands in public
Hitler Made Dictator
Mar 23 German Reichstag hastily passes the Enabling Act and President Paul von Hindenburg signs it the same day, granting Adolf Hitler dictatorial powers
- Mar 23 Kroll Opera in Berlin, Germany opens
- Mar 24 92nd Grand National: Dudley Williams aboard 25/1 chance Kellsboro' Jack wins by 3 lengths and a neck from Really True
- Mar 24 Peter I Island incorporated as a Norwegian dependency
- Mar 27 Farm Credit Administration (US) authorized
- Mar 27 Japan leaves League of Nations
- Mar 27 Polythene discovered by Reginald Gibson & Eric William Fawcett
- Mar 28 1st SEC Men's Basketball Tournament: Kentucky beats Mississippi State, 46-27
- Mar 31 "Soperton News" publishes 1st newspaper on pine pulp paper, in Soperton, Georgia
- Mar 31 US Congress authorizes Civilian Conservation Corps
Famous Birthdays
- Mar 1 István Láng, Hungarian composer (Impulsioni), and pedagogue, born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 2023)
- Mar 3 Alfredo Landa, Spanish actor (The Crach, Sinatra), born in Pamplona, Spain (d. 2013)
- Mar 3 Lee Radziwiłł Ross (née Bouvier), American socialite, interior decorator, and hereditary princess-by-marriage, born in New York City (d. 2019)
- Mar 3 Marco Antonio Muñoz, Mexican Latin pop singer (Que Murmurmen; Escandallo), and actor (Sinful), born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
- Mar 4 Ann Burton [Anna Rafalowicz], Dutch jazz singer, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1989)
- Mar 4 David Sutherland, Scottish cartoonist (Beano - Bash Street Kids, Dennis the Menace), born in Invergordon, Scotland (d. 2023) [1]
- Mar 4 John Mills, British sculptor, born in London, England
- Mar 4 Leon Wildes, American immigration attorney (successfully defended John Lennon against US government deportation efforts), born in Olyphant, Pennsylvania (d. 2024) [1]
- Mar 4 Nino Vaccarella, Italian auto racer (24 Hours of Le Mans 1964; 12 Hours of Sebring 1970), born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy (d. 2021)
- Mar 5 Evgeni Vasiukov, Russian chess grandmaster (World Senior Champion 1995), born in Moscow, Russia (d. 2018)
- Mar 5 İsmail Ogan, Turkish freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 78kg 1964, silver 1960), born in Macun, Turkey (d. 2022)
- Mar 5 Norbert Linke, German composer, music educator, and musicologist, born in Ścinawa, Province of Lower Silesia, Prussia (d. 2020)
- Mar 5 Tommy Tucker [Robert Higginbotham], American R&B singer-songwriter, and piano player ("Hi-Heel Sneakers"), born in Springfield, Ohio (d. 1982)
- Mar 6 (Dorothy) "Dolly" Collins, English folk musician, arranger, pianist, and composer, born in Hastings, Sussex, England (d. 1995)
- Mar 6 Américo Lopes, Portuguese soccer goalkeeper (15 caps; Porto, Boavista), born in Santa Maria de Lamas, Portugal (d. 2023)
- Mar 6 Heiko Wierenga, Dutch politician (Mayor of Enschede, 1977-94), born in Borger, Netherlands (d. 2013)
- Mar 6 Kim Elgie, South African cricketer (South African bat v NZ 1961-62, Scotland RU intl)
- Mar 6 Ted Abernathy, American MLB baseball pitcher, 1955-72 (Washington Senators, Chicago Cubs, and 5 other teams), born in Stanley, North Carolina (d. 2004)
- Mar 6 William Davis, author/broadcaster (Battle at Bull Run)
- Mar 7 Jackie Blanchflower, Irish soccer midfielder (12 caps Northern Ireland; Manchester United 105 games; survived Munich air disaster), born in Belfast, Northern Ireland (d. 1998)
- Mar 8 Johnny Dollar, American country and rockabilly singer, born in Kilgore, Texas (d. 1986)
- Mar 9 Anatoly Kremer, Russian composer and conductor (Eksperiment), born in Moscow, Russia (d. 2015)
- Mar 9 Lloyd Price, American R&B singer ("Lawdy Miss Clawdy"; "Stagger Lee"; "Personality"), born in Kenner, Louisiana (d. 2021) [1]
- Mar 9 Mel Lastman, Canadian businessman (Bad Boy Furniture) and politician (Mayor of Toronto, 1998-2003; Mayor of North York, 1973-1997), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2021)
- Mar 9 W. Francis McBeth, American composer (Of Sailors and Whales), conductor, and pedagogue (Ouachita Baptist University, 1957-96), born in Ropesville, Texas (d. 2012)
- Mar 10 Bernadetta Matuszczak, Polish composer (Diary of a Fool; Apocalypsis According to St. John), born in Toruń, Poland (d. 2021)
- Mar 10 Ralph Emery, American country music DJ and television host (Nashville Now), born in McEwen, Tennessee (d. 2022)
- Mar 11 Saïd Amara, Algerian soccer midfielder (5 caps; Strasbourg, Béziers, Bordeaux) and manager (Algeria), born in Saïda, Algeria (d. 2020)
- Mar 11 Sandra Milo [Salvatrice Greco], Italian actress (8½; Juliet of the Spirits), and television personality, born in Tunis, French Tunisia (d. 2024)
- Mar 11 Terry J Hatter Jr, American judge in California
- Mar 12 Barbara Feldon, American actress (Get Smart - "Agent 99"), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Mar 13 Donald Henry "Pee Wee" Gaskins, American serial killer (claimed to have murdered over 100 people), born in Florence County, South Carolina (d. 1991)
- Mar 13 Frank H. Murkowski, American politician (U.S. Senator from Alaska, 1981-2002; Governor of Alaska, 2002-06), born in Seattle, Washington
- Mar 13 Gloria McMillan, American radio and television actress (Our Miss Brooks - "Harriet"), born in Portland, Oregon (d. 2022)
- Mar 13 Mike Stoller, American composer (Lieber & Stoller - Hound Dog; Charlie Brown; Jailhouse Rock; Ben E. King - Stand By Me), born in Belle Harbor, Queens, New York
Quincy Jones Jr (91 years old)
Mar 14 American jazz trumpeter. composer, arranger, record producer (Michael Jackson; Frank Sinatra; "We Are The World"), and film producer (The Color Purple), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Mar 14 René Felber, Swiss politician (Federal Council, 1987-93; President, 1992), born in Bienne, Switzerland (d. 2020)
Philippe de Broca (1933-2004)
Mar 15 French film director (Le Bossu), born in Paris, France
- Mar 15 Ronald Roseman, American oboist, composer, and music professor, born in Brooklyn, NYC (d. 2000)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020)
Mar 15 American jurist and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1993-2020), born in Brooklyn, New York
- Mar 16 Sandy Weill, American financier and philanthropist
- Mar 17 Myrlie Evers-Williams (née Beasley), American civil rights activist (NAACP chair), born in Vicksburg, Mississippi
- Mar 17 Penelope Lively, British writer (Moon Tiger, The Ghost of Thomas Kempe), born in Cairo, Egypt
- Mar 18 Dayton "Bones" Howe, American record producer and sound engineer (The 5th Dimension; The Association; Tom Waits), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Mar 18 Unita Blackwell (née U.Z. Brown), American civil rights activist and politician (1st African American mayor in Mississippi - Mayor of Mayersville, 1976-2001), born in Lula, Mississippi (d. 2019) [1]
- Mar 19 Philip Roth, American novelist (Goodbye Columbus, Portnoy's Complaint), born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 2018) [1]
- Mar 19 Renee Taylor [Wexler], American actress (Jack Paar Show; The Nanny - "Sylvia"), born in New York City
- Mar 20 Alexander Gorodnitsky, Russian geologist and poet
- Mar 20 George Altman, American MLB player, born in Goldsboro, North Carolina
- Mar 20 Ian Walsh, Australian rugby league hooker (25 Tests [10 as captain]; St. George RLFC) and coach (Australia 5 Tests; St. George, Parramatta), born in Bogan Gate, New South Wales (d. 2013)
- Mar 20 Jacques Guyonnet, Swiss composer, born in Geneva, Switzerland (d. 2018)
- Mar 21 John Hall, English real estate developer/multi-millionaire
- Mar 21 Michael Heseltine, UK Secretary of State for Defence (1986)/MP
- Mar 22 Abolhassan Banisadr, Iranian politician, President of Iran (1980-81), and writer (My Turn To Speak), born in Hamadan, Iran (d. 2001)
- Mar 22 Buddy MacKay, American politician (Rep-D-FL, 1983-89), Governor of Florida for 24 days, born in Ocala, Florida
- Mar 22 J. P. McCarthy, American radio personality (WJR Detroit), born in New York City (d. 1995)
- Mar 22 Michel Hidalgo, French soccer midfielder (1 cap; Monaco) and manager (France 1976-84; UEFA Euro 1984), born in Leffrinckoucke, France (d. 2020)
- Mar 23 Dave Frishberg, American jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and lyricist ("I'm Just A Bill"; "Van Lingle Mungo"), born in St. Paul, Minnesota (d. 2021)
- Mar 23 Geoffrey Leigh, CEO (Allied London Properties)
- Mar 23 Hayes Jenkins, American figure skater (Olympic gold singles 1956; World C'ship gold 1953-56), born in Akron, Ohio
- Mar 23 Norman Bailey, British operatic bass-baritone (Flying Dutchman), born in Birmingham, England (d. 2021)
- Mar 23 Norman Yemm, Australian actor (Oklahoma!), born in Elsternwick, Australia (d. 2015)
- Mar 23 Philip Zimbardo, American psychologist, known for the Stanford prison experiment, born in New York City
- Mar 24 David Harries, Welsh composer (Epithalamium), born in Portsmouth, England (d. 2003)
- Mar 25 (Charles William) "Wee Willie" Harris, English singer known as "Britain's wild man of rock 'n' roll", born in Bermondsey, England (d. 2023)
- Mar 25 Carlos Duarte, Portuguese soccer forward (7 caps; FC Porto, Leixões SC), born in Huambo, Angola (d. 2022)
- Mar 27 Frank Taylor, Chief Constable (Durham)
- Mar 28 (Vincente) "Tete" Montoliu, Catalonian jazz pianist, born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 1997)
- Mar 28 Li Xueqin, Chinese eminent historian, archaeologist, and palaeographer, born in Beijing, China (d. 2019)
- Mar 29 Jacques Brault, French Canadian poet (Quand nous serons heureux - When we are happy), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 2022)
- Mar 30 Jean-Claude Brialy, Algerian actor and director (Églantine, Circle of Love, Cousins), born in Aumale, Algeria (d. 2007)
- Mar 30 Joe Ruby, American animator (co-creator of Scooby-Doo), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2020)
- Mar 31 Nichita Stănescu, Romanian poet, born in Ploiești, Romania (d. 1983)
Famous Deaths
- Mar 1 Uładzimir Žyłka, Belarusian poet, dies at 32
Thomas J. Walsh (1859-1933)
Mar 2 United States Senator (Montana), dies of a heart attack at 73
- Mar 4 Willie Walker, American jazz singer and guitarist (Dupree Blues), dies at 36
- Mar 6 Anton Cermak, American politician (44th Mayor of Chicago, 1931-33), dies 23 days after being shot in by an assassin targeting Franklin D. Roosevelt in Miami, Florida at 59
- Mar 14 Balto, Siberian husky dog who led the sled team delivering diphtheria antitoxin from to Nenana, Alaska to Nome, Alaska in 1925, dies at 14
- Mar 16 Alfred Haar, Hungarian mathematician, dies at 47
- Mar 17 Ferdinand Von Alten, German-Russian actor (Champagne), dies at 48
- Mar 18 Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi, Italian navy officer, explorer and mountaineer (Ruwenzori Range, Uganda; Mount Saint Alias, Yukon), dies at 60
- Mar 20 Giuseppe [Joe] Zangara, electrocuted for assassination attempt on FDR
- Mar 25 Eric Jan Hanussen [Hermann Steinschneider], Austrian astrologist, clairvoyant, illusionist, and speaking tutor to Hitler, murdered at 43
- Mar 26 Eddie Lang [Salvatore Massaro], American jazz guitarist known as the "father of jazz guitar", dies of tonsil surgery complications at 30
- Mar 27 Lionel Palairet, British cricket batsman (2 Tests; Somerset CCC, Oxford Uni CC), dies at 62
- Mar 29 Alexander Schmuller, Russian-Dutch violinist and conductor, dies at 52
