What Happened in December 1935

Historical Events

Neuron Discovery Wins Nobel

Dec 10 James Chadwick is awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics for his discovery of the neutron

Marie Curie Daughter Wins Nobel

Dec 10 Nobel Prize for Chemistry awarded to Irene Joliot-Curie (daughter of Marie Curie) and her husband Frédéric Joliot for the discovery of artificial radioactivity

Physicist and Chemist Irène Joliot-Curie

Foxx to the Red Sox

Dec 10 Philadelphia Athletics sell infielder Jimmie Foxx's contract to Boston Red Sox for $150,000 (about $2.8M in 2020 dollars)

MLB Hall of Fame 1st Baseman Jimmie Foxx

Dec 10 White Sox sell Al Simmons to the Tigers for $75,000
Dec 14 Test Cricket debut of "Chuck" Fleetwood-Smith v South Africa, Durban
Dec 15 In major upset, Dutch grand master Max Euwe becomes World Chess Champion beating Russian Alexander Alekhine (9 wins, 13 draws, 8 losses) in Zandvoort, Netherlands

Detroit Lions' First Title

Dec 15 National Football League Championship, University of Detroit Stadium: Detroit Lions beat New York Giants, 26-7; Lions first title

Douglas DC-3's 1st Flight

Dec 17 1st flight of the Douglas DC-3 (C-47 Skytrain/Dakota) airplane.

Bradman's Sheffield Debut

Dec 18 Don Bradman scores 117 in his debut Sheffield Shield cricket match for South Australia in an innings & 5 run win over his old team, New South Wales

Beneš Succeeds Masaryk

Dec 18 Edvard Beneš becomes President of Czechoslovakia after Tomáš Masaryk retires

Dec 18 The Lanka Sama Samaja Party is founded in Ceylon

Ad Catholici Sacerdotii

Dec 20 Pope Pius XI publishes encyclical Ad Catholici Sacerdotii on the importance of priestly celibacy

Dec 22 Yaeko Iwasaki, student of D S Harada Roshi, 1st awakening in Kamakura
Dec 24 National Council of Negro Women forms
Dec 28 Pravda publishes a letter by Pavel Postyshev, who revives New Year tree tradition in the Soviet Union
Dec 28 W P A Federal Art Project Gallery opens in NYC
Dec 30 Italian bombers destroy Swedish Red Cross unit in Ethiopia
Dec 31 Charles Darrow patents the board game Monopoly, goes on to be the 1st millionaire game designer
Dec 31 CPH becomes Dutch Communist Party

Events in 1935

Famous Birthdays

Dec 1 Roger Christian, American ice hockey left wing (Olympic gold 1960; Christian Brother's Hockey Sticks), born in Warroad, Minnesota (d. 2011)
Dec 2 David Hackett Fischer, American educator and historian (Albion's Seed), born in Baltimore, Maryland
Dec 2 Jeannie Morris, American sports journalist and author (Chicago Daily News, WMAQ; 'Brian Piccolo: A Short Season', 2014 Ring Lardner Award), born in Redondo Beach, California (d. 2020)
Dec 2 Jürg Wyttenbach, Swiss pianist, composer, and conductor, born in Bern, Switzerland (d. 2021)
Dec 4 Fred Rumsey, English cricket fast bowler (5 Tests, 17 wickets; founded Professional Cricketers Association 1967), born in London, England
Dec 4 Robert Vesco, American financier and fugitive, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2007)
Dec 5 Calvin Trillin, American author (New Yorker), born in Kansas City, Missouri
Dec 5 Yury Vlasov, Ukrainian weightlifter (Olympic gold USSR heavyweight 1960, 64; World C'ship gold x 4) and writer, born in Makeyevka, Ukraine (d. 2021)
Dec 6 George Williams, American soul singer (The Tymes), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2004)
Dec 6 Jean Lapointe, Quebecois-Canadian comedian, singer and senator, born in La Matanie, Quebec

Wang Hongwen (1935-1992)

Dec 6 Chinese politician (member of the Gang of Four), born in Xinjing, Manchukuo, China

Dec 7 Jean-Claude Casadesus, French conductor (Orchestre national de Lille, 1976-2016), born in Paris, France
Dec 8 Dharmendra, Indian actor (Sholay), born in Nasrali, Punjab, British India
Dec 8 Tatiana Zatulovskaya, Israeli chess player (Women's Soviet Chess Championship 1960, 62, 63), born in Baku, Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR (d. 2017)
Dec 9 David Houston, American country music singer (Almost Persuaded), born in Bossier City, Louisiana (d. 1993)
Dec 9 Dominico Tromp, Aruba, stage leader
Dec 10 Terry Allcock, English footballer (Norwich City), born in Leeds, England
Dec 11 Femke Boersma, Dutch actress (Verjaring, Pastorale 1943), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dec 11 Ferdinand A. Porsche, German car designer (Porsche 911), born in Stuttgart, Germany (d. 2012)
Dec 11 Pranab Mukherjee, Indian politician, 13th President of India (2012-17), born in Mirati, British India (d. 2020)
Dec 11 Ron Carey, American actor (Barney Miller), born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 2007)
Dec 12 Al Harrington [born Tausau Ta'a], Samoan-American actor (Hawaii Five-O, 1969-75 -"Ben"; Hawaii Five-O, 2011-18 - "Mamo"), born in Pago Pago, American Samoa (d. 2021)
Dec 13 Arthur Summons, Australian rugby union fly-half (10 Tests; Gordon RFC) and rugby league five-eighth (9 Tests; Western Suburbs RLFC), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 2020)
Dec 13 Joe Christopher, American baseball player, born in Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands
Dec 13 Lindy McDaniel, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1960; NL saves leader 1959, 60, 63), born in Hollis, Oklahoma
Dec 13 Tom Wakefield, British writer, born in Staffordshire, England (d. 1996)
Dec 14 Barbara Leigh-Hunt, British actress (Search for the Nile), born in Bath, Somerset, England
Dec 14 Butch [David William] White, English cricketer (England opening attack Brown & White v Pak 1961), born in Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire
Dec 14 Lee Remick, American actress (Days of Wine & Rose, Long Hot Summer), born in Quincy, Massachusetts (d. 1991)
Dec 14 Lewis Arquette, American actor (Horror Show, Book of Love), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2001)
Dec 15 Joe Walton, American football coach (New York Jets 1983-89; Robert Morris University), born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania (d. 2021)
Dec 16 Howard Quilling, American classical composer (From Quiet Beginnings), and educator, born in Enid, Oklahoma (d. 2016)
Dec 17 Cal Ripken Sr, American baseball manager (Baltimore Orioles 1987-88; World Series 1983 [coach]), born in Aberdeen, Maryland (d. 1999)
Dec 17 George Lindsey, American actor (The Andy Griffith Show), (d. 2012)
Dec 18 Bonno Spieker, Dutch 2nd Chamber member (PvdA), born in Delfzijl, Netherlands (d. 2017)
Dec 18 Jacques Pépin, French chef, writer and TV personality (Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home), born in Bourg-en-Bresse, France
Dec 19 Barbara Bostock, American actress
Dec 19 Bobby Timmons, American jazz pianist (Moanin'), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1974)
Dec 19 Tony Taylor, Cuban baseball second baseman (MLB All Star 1960; Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers), born in Central Álava, Cuba (d. 2020)
Dec 20 Khalid "Billy" Ibadulla, Pakistani cricket batsman (4 Tests; 1 x 100; Warwickshire, Otago) and broadcaster (TVNZ), born in Lahore, Pakistan
Dec 21 Don Neely, New Zealand cricket historian, administrator (President NZ Cricket 2006-09), born in Wellington, New Zealand (d. 2022)
Dec 21 Edward Schreyer, Canadian politician (Premier of Manitoba), born in Beausejour, Canada
Dec 21 John G. Avildsen, American film director (Rocky, The Karate Kid), born in Oak Park, Illinois (d. 2017)
Dec 21 Lorenzo Bandini, Italian auto racer (24 Hours of Le Mans 1963; 24 Hours of Daytona 1967), born in Marj, Libya (d. 1967)
Dec 21 Phil Donahue, TV talk show host (The Phil Donahue Show), born in Cleveland, Ohio
Dec 21 Yusuf Bey (Joseph Stephens), American activist, born in Greenville, Texas (d. 2003)
Dec 22 Anatoly Sass, Russian rower (Olympic gold USSR double sculls 1968), born in Moscow, Russia (d. 2023)
Dec 22 John L. Finley, United States Navy aviator, born in Winchester, Massachusetts (d. 2006)
Dec 23 Esther Phillips [Jones], American R&B singer ("What A Diff'rence A Day Makes"), born in Galveston, Texas (d. 1984)
Dec 23 Johnny Kidd [Frederick Heath], British rock singer-songwriter (Johnny Kidd & Pirates - "Shakin' All Over"), born in Willesden, North London, England (d. 1966)
Dec 23 Paul Hornung, American College Football Hall of Fame halfback (Heisman Trophy 1956, Notre Dame; Pro Bowl 1959, 60, Green Bay Packers), born in Louisville, Kentucky
Dec 25 Sadiq al-Mahdi, Sudanese politician and Imam, Prime Minister of Sudan (1966-67, 1986-89), born in Omdurman, Sudan (d. 2020)
Dec 26 Abdul "Duke" Fakir, American rock vocalist (Four Tops), born in Detroit, Michigan
Dec 26 Barbara J Jacket, US athletic coach (Olympics 1972)

Gnassingbé Eyadéma (1935-2005)

Dec 26 General and President of Togo (1967-2005), born in Kozah, Togo

Dec 26 Noel Kelehan, Irish pianist, conductor (RTÉ Concert Orchestra), and arranger (Eurovision; U2), born in Dublin (d. 2012)
Dec 26 Rale Rasic, Australian soccer coach (Australia 1969-74; Marconi Stallions FC) and broadcaster (SBS), born in Dole, Bosnia and Herzegovina (d. 2023)
Dec 26 Rohan Kanhai, cricketer (one of West Indies' finest batsmen)
Dec 27 Norma Rae Beatty Ashby, broadcaster/TV producer
Dec 28 Fernando Lopes, Portuguese director (Encoberto, Matar Saudades)
Dec 29 Russell Watt, New Zealand rugby union wing (9 Tests; Otago, Southland, Wellington), born in Dunedin, New Zealand (d. 2022)
Dec 30 Bruno Canino, Italian pianist, harpsichordist, composer, and music director, born in Naples, Kingdom of Italy
Dec 30 Jack Riley, American actor (The Bob Newhart Show - "Mr. Carlin"; Rugrats - "Stu Pickles"), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 2016)
Dec 30 Omar Bongo, 2nd President of Gabon (1967-2009), born in Lewai, French Equatorial Africa [now Bongoville, Gabon] (d. 2009)

Dec 30 American Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (7 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1955, 59, 63, 65; perfect game 1967; Cy Young Award 1963, 65, 66; Triple Crown 1963, 65, 66; LA Dodgers), born in Brooklyn, New York

Dec 30 Wolfgang Dauner, German jazz-fusion pianist and composer (United Jazz + Rock Ensemble), born in Stuttgart, Germany (d. 2020)
Dec 31 Peter Allan, Australian cricket fast bowler (1 Test, 2 wickets; Queensland), born in Brisbane, Australia (d. 2023)
Dec 31 Rolf Haufs, German writer, born in Düsseldorf (d. 2013)
Dec 31 Ron Northcott, Canadian curler (World C'ship gold 1966, 68, 69), born in Innisfail, Alberta (d. 2023)

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (88 years old)

Dec 31 King of Saudi Arabia (2015-present), born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Born in 1935

Famous Weddings

Percy Lavon Julian

Dec 24 Chemist Percy Lavon Julian weds sociologist Anna Roselle Johnson

Famous Deaths

Dec 1 Bernard Schmidt, German optical instrument maker (inventor of the Schmidt telescope), dies at 56
Dec 2 James Henry Breasted, American Egyptologist and anthropologist, dies at 70
Dec 2 Martha Carey Thomas, American educator, suffragist, linguist and second President of Bryn Mawr College, dies of a coronary occlusion at 78
Dec 2 State of California uses gas chamber instead of hanging for 1st time: Robert Lee Cannon (29) and Albert Kessel (28) executed for role in Folsom Prison escape attempt resulting in murder of warden and guard (San Quentin State Prison. Marin County)
Dec 3 Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom, fourth child and second daughter of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark, dies at 67
Dec 4 Charles Richet, French physiologist (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1913 for work on anaphylaxis), dies at 85
Dec 4 Hylton Philipson, English cricket wicketkeeper (5 Tests, 11 dismissals), dies at 69
Dec 4 Johan Halvorsen, Norwegian violinist, conductor (Nationaltheatret Orchestra, 1899-1929), and composer (Bergensiana), dies at 71
Dec 5 Frans Erens, Dutch literary critic (Years Gone By), dies at 78
Dec 9 Walter Liggett, American crusading newspaper editor and muckraker (b. 1886)
Dec 13 John Nicolson, cricketer (South African lefty batsman 1926-27), dies
Dec 13 Victor Grignard, French chemist (Nobel 1912 - development of the Grignard reaction), dies at 64
Dec 14 Stanley G. Weinbaum, American sci-fi writer (Martian Odyssey), dies at 33
Dec 16 Thelma Todd, actress (Horse Feathers, Bohemian Girl), dies of 30
Dec 17 Lizette Woodworth Reese, American poet (Branch of May, Tears), dies at 79
Dec 18 Juan Vicente Gomez, Venezuelan general and dictator of Venezuela (1908-35), dies at 78
Dec 20 Martin O'Meara, Australian WWI soldier and Victoria Cross honoree, dies at 50
Dec 21 Kurt Tucholsky, German journalist/writer (Die Weltbühne), dies after taking sleeping tablets at 45
Dec 24 Alban Berg, Austrian composer (Wozzeck; Lulu), dies of sepsis at 50
Dec 25 Paul Bourget, French novelist and critic, dies at 83
Dec 28 Clarence Day, American author (Life with Father), dies at 61

On This Day