Start of World War II imminent in 1939...

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, August 28, 1939 



* World War II about to start

* Adolf Hitler defying World 

* Poland attacked in 3 days



The front page has a terrific banner headline in bold lettering: "FRANCE DRAFTS NEW PEACE PLEA AFTER HITLER OPENS DOOR" with various subheads. (see images) Nice for display. Germany would attack Poland 3 days later, starting World War II.

C... See More  

Eve of World War II...

NEW YORK POST, August 29, 1939 



* World War II about to start

* Adolf Hitler defying World 

* Poland attacked in 2 days



The front page has a nice banner headline: "OUR FINAL ANSWER IS MADE, OUR TROOPS ARE ON THE MOVE--Chamberlain; HITLER REPLY IS STILL SECRET" with subheads. Nice for display. Germany would attack Poland 2 days later, starting World War II.

Complete wi... See More  

Hitler On The Brink Of War 1939....

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Agatha Christie.... Gone with the Wind...

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE THIS WEEK MAGAZINE, September 3, 1939 (This Week Magazine section only)



* 1st in Agatha Christie Short Story Mystery Series

* How it Feels to be Scarlett O'Hara by Vivien Leigh



The front page has artwork by McClelland Barclay, known for his work on Navy recruitment posters and in The Saturday Evening Post, Ladies' Home Journal, and Cosmopolitan.

Page 3 start... See More  

Germany's illustrated magazine from the Nazi era...

BERLINER ILLUSETRIRTE ZEITUNG (Berlin Illustrated Newspaper), Germany. Sept. 7, 1939  This was the "Life" magazine of Germany from during the Nazi era. And this was the first issue printed after the Nazi invasion of Poland on September 1.

The front page shows a German bomber pilot on mission over Poland. There are many war-related photos inside including one of Hitler and Goring, a... See More  

HMS Courageous (50) sunk disaster...

THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, September 19, 1939



* HMS Courageous (50) sinking

* Royal Navy aircraft carrier

* German submarine U-29 torpedo



The top of the front page has a one column heading: "Toll in Sinking of Big Warship May Total 500" with subheads. (see) First report coverage on the torpedo attack on the HMS Courageous in the opening weeks of World War II with the lost of more t... See More  

1939 JFK photo while still in college...

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Sept. 22, 1939



* Very early John F. Kennedy - JFK

* Photo while still attending Harvard



The top of page 10 has a two column photo showing a young John F. Kennedy with heading: "Another Kennedy Son Arrives Here" Also a one column heading: "22 ARRIVE IN U.S. ON DIXIE CLIPPER" with subhead: "George F. Eliot and a Son of Kennedy Are Among 18 American... See More  

1939 Wizard of Oz debut... opening day...

TAUNTON DAILY GAZETTE, Mass., Sept. 26, 1939



* "The Wizard of Oz" premiere

* Opening day advertisement (eve)

* Judy Garland and more



Page 19 has an iconic advertisement in early film history. See images for a 8 x 4 inch ad for the premiere of "The Wizard of Oz" in Taunton, Massachusetts. (see images) This was the day before the opening for this famous movie.

Complete w... See More  

1939 Sachsenhausen Nazi concentration camp...

THE NEW YORK TIMES, September 30, 1939



* Sachsenhausen concentration camp opens 

* Oranienburg, Germany political prisoners



Page 6 has small, somewhat discrete one column headings: "Jewish Camp Set Up" "Germany Establishes Polish Center at Sachsenhausen" (see) Early report on the famous concentration camp just after the beginning of World War II. This item is being ... See More  

1939 World Series of baseball...

THE BETHLEHEM-TIMES, October 5, 1939



* 1939 World Series of baseball (game 1)

* New York Yankees vs. Cincinnati Reds



The front page has a scoreboard display above the masthead showing the Yankees winning 4-0. A two column headline reads: "PEARSON ALLOWS TOW HITS; YANKS TRIUMPH 4 TO 0" with subheads and box scores. (see) First report coverage on game 1 for the World Series of base... See More  

Adolph Hitler's phony plea for peace in 1939...

CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, October 7, 1939



* Adolph Hitler's Reichstag speech

* Asks the World for peace ? (ruse)



The front page has a nice banner headline: "WE'LL ACCEPT TRUCE--NAZIS" with subheads. (see images) Lengthy text continues on page 2 with related map. Photo on the back page.

Complete with 28 pages, rag edition in very nice condition. A few small binding holes alo... See More  

Frank Costello arrested for tax evasion...

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Oct. 10, 1939



* Frank Costello - Mafia gangster - mob boss

* "The Prime Minister of the Underworld"

* Arrested for income tax evasion re. gambling



The top of back page has a one column heading: "'SLOT MACHINE KING' IS ARRESTED HERE" with subheads. (see images for text)

Other news, sports and advertisements of the day. Complete with all 48 pa... See More  

'Jamaica Inn' debuts in NYC.... Alfred Hitchcok...

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Oct. 11, 1939 



* "Jamaica Inn" opening day advertisement

* Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara

* British director Alfred Hitchock - thriller film



Page 33 has a 9 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch advertisement for the opening day of "Jamaica Inn" in New York City. Also a brief article under the small heading: "Of Local Origin" (see images).

Other ... See More  

HMS Royal Oak sunk...

THE TOPEKA DAILY CAPITAL, Topeka, Kansas, October 15, 1939 



* HMS Royal Oak battleship sinks 

* German U-boat attack 



This 24 page newspaper has one column headlines on the front page: "800 Missing After British Warship Sunk" and

"German U-Boats Score Second Major Sea Victory of War"



Other news, sports and advertisements of the day with more on the e... See More  

1st movie preview of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"...

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Oct. 20, 1939



* Original "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" review

* James Stewart & Jean Arthur - Frank Capra

* Political comedy-drama film - movie



Page 27 has the first movie review by the Times of what is considered one of the greatest films of all time and what made Jimmy Stewart a major movie star, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The review is headed: &quo... See More  

Zane Grey death...

THE NEWS, New London, Connecticut, October 23, 1939 



* Zane Grey death 

* American Author 



This 12 page newspaper has one column headlines on the front page: "ZANE GREY DIES AT 64" "Coronary Thrombosis Take Life of Well Known Author" "Wrote Novels of West"



Other news of the day throughout. Light browning with minor spine wear, otherwise in ... See More  

Zane Grey death...

THE TOPEKA DAILY CAPITAL, Topeka, Kansas, October 24, 1939 



* Zane Grey death 

* American Author 



This 14 page newspaper has a small one column headline on the back page: "Zane Grey, Beloved Western Author, Dies From Heart Attack".



Other news, sports and advertisements of the day. A little spine wear, otherwise good condition.



wikipedia notes: Zane Grey was kn... See More  

Joe Dimaggio's 1st MVP award....

THE NEW YORK TIMES, October 25, 1939 



* Joe DiMaggio wins his 1st MVP award 

* New York Yankees - Yankee Clipper 

* MLB baseball - Best title to have in ?



The sport's section (page 31) has a six column headline: "DiMaggio Voted Most Valuable Player in American League" with subheads that include: "YANKS' OUTFIELDER WINS ON 280 POINTS" "Foxx Ne... See More  

Hollywood actress Alice Brady death...

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Oct. 30, 1939



* Alice Brady death (1st report)

* Broadway stage actress

* Hollywood silent film - movie



The top of page 17 has a one column heading: "ALICE BRADY DEAD; STAGE, FILM STAR" with subheads and photo. (see) Nice to have from the city where she lived and died.

Other news, sports and advertisements of the day. Complete with all 36 pages, rag edition i... See More  

Rockefeller Center construction completed...

THE NEW YORK TIMES, November 2, 1939



* Rockefeller Center complex completed

* Commercial buildings construction ends

* Best title to be had ?



The front page has a two column heading: "Rockefeller Center Is Completed As Its Creator Pleads for Peace" with subhead. (see) First report coverage on the completion of construction continues inside with related photo. Always nice to have ... See More  

Assassination attempt on Hitler...

THE BETHLEHEM GLOBE-TIMES, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1939



* Adolph Hitler assassination attempt (1st report)

* Pre Operation Valkyrie

* Bürgerbräukeller



This 24 page newspaper has a four column headline on the front page: "BERLIN BLAMES BRITAIN FOR ATTEMPT AGAINST LIFE OF REICHSFUEHRER HITLER" with subheads. 



Other news, sports and advertise... See More  

Adolph Hitler assassination attempt...

THE SPRINGFIELD UNION, Massachusetts, November 11, 1939 



* Adolph Hitler assassination attempt 

* Johann Georg Elser  



This 20 page newspaper has one column headlines on the front page that include: "MISSILE THROWN AT HUGE PICTURE OF ADOLPH HITLER" "Window Before It in Berlin Store of Fuehrer's Photographer Smashed" and more. (see)



Other news of... See More  

Nile Kinnick & Iowa to upset Notre Dame...

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, November 11, 1939



* Nile Kinnick to upset Notre Dame (DAY OF)

* Iowa Hawkeyes - NCAA college football



Page 2 of the sport's section has a two column heading: "TEXAS A. & M., CORNELL, IRISH FACE TOUGH FOES" See image for brief  text on the day that Nile Kinnick would lead the Hawkeyes to the win.

Complete with all 24 pages, light toning at the... See More  

Nile Kinnick upsets Minnesota...

THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Michigan, November 19, 1939



* Nile Kinnick stars - Iowa Hawkeyes

* Minnesota Golden Gophers upset



This 50+ page Sunday newspaper has various college football reports in the sport's section with a one column heading on the front page of this section (inside, near back): "Hawkeye Rally in Final Period Beats Gophers" with stats and lineup. See images for t... See More  

Thanksgiving in 1939... Great for display...

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, November 23, 1939 



* Thanksgiving focus piece written by Chester H. Rowell



On pg. 28 is a full page Thanksgiving piece written by Chester H Rowell, and early leader of the Progressive Movement in California. The piece is titled: "GIVE THANKS THIS DAY !" and is framed by autumnal artwork.

Complete in 30 pages, light toning, small address label on the f... See More