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The stock market crashes.
The stock market crashes, marking the end of six years of unparalleled prosperity for most sectors of the American economy. The "crash" begins on October 24 (Black Thursday). By October 29, stock prices will plummet and banks will be calling in loans. An estimated $30 billion in stock values will "disappear" by mid-November. -
Presiden Herbert Hoover lecture
President Herbert Hoover says, "Any lack of confidence in the economic future or the basic strength of business in the United States is foolish." -
Unemployment
More than 3.2 million people are unemployed, up from 1.5 million before the October, 1929 crash. President Hoover remains optimistic, however, stating that "all the evidences indicate that the worst effects of the crash upon unemployment will have passed during the next 60 days." -
Low-Pay-Jobs
The street corners of New York City are crowded with apple-sellers. Nearly 6,000 unemployed individuals work at selling apples for five cents apiece. -
Herbet Hoover agaisnt payment of funds.
Texas congressman Wright Patman introduces legislation authorizing immediate payment of "bonus" funds to veterans of World War I. The "bonus bill" had been passed in 1924. It allots bonuses, in the form of "adjusted service certificates," equaling $1 a day for each day of service in the U.S., and $1.25 for each day overseas. President Hoover is against payment of these funds, saying it would cost the Treasury $4 billion. -
Food Riots
"Food riots" begin to break out in parts of the U.S. In Minneapolis, several hundred men and women smash the windows of a grocery market and make off with fruit, canned goods, bacon, and ham. One of the store's owners pulls out a gun to stop the looters, but is leapt upon and has his arm broken. The "riot" is brought under control by 100 policemen. Seven people are arrested.
Resentment of "foreign" workers increases along with unemployment rolls. In Los Angeles, California, Mexican Americans are -
New York Bank collapses.
New York's Bank of the United States collapses. At the time of the collapse, the bank had over $200 million in deposits, making it the largest single bank failure in the nation's history. -
Bud Caldwell is born.
Bud Caldwell was born in Flint, Michigan. -
Bud's mother dies.
Bud's mother dies, and he is placed in an orphanage. Bud has a suitcase with his belongings. In it, are a picture of his mother and a flyer to help him find his father. Bud had never met his father, but always believed he was Herman E. Calloway of the band Herman E. Calloway and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!! Bud carries a band flyer in his suitcase from when they played in Flint. -
Bud is placed in a temporary home.
Bud's caseworker assigns him to a foster home with the Amoses who already have a son, Tod. Tod provokes a fight with Bud, and claims Bud started it. Because of this, Bud is forced to sleep in the shed. Bud escapes the shed and tries to find an old friend at the public library. -
Bud goes on the lam.
After Bud finds out his friend, Mrs. Hill, has moved to Chicago he is back at square one. His friend, Bugs, finds him and convinces him to go on the lam so they can find a place to work and live far away from Flint, Michigan. -
Bud arrives in Hooperville.
Bud and Bugs find themselves in Hooperville while they wait to jump a train. It is here that Bud meets Deza Malone, who gives him his first kiss. -
Bud gets a ride from Lefty Lewis.
After Bud misses the train, he decides to hitch hike. He is picked up by Lefty Lewis who knows the man Bud believes to be his father, Herman E. Calloway. He takes him to his house to meet him. -
Bud arrives at Grand Calloway Station.
Bud meets Mr. Calloway who does not want anything to do with Bud, and is suspicious of his motives when he claims he is his son. However, the rest of the Dusky Devastators take him in. Miss Thomas, the vocalist for the Dusky Devastators, tends to Bud the most and convinces Herman to give Bud a chance. -
Bud learns the truth.
One night on the road with the band, Bud ends up riding back with Herman E. Calloway who still doesn't trust him. When Bud shows him the contents of his suitcase, some old rocks with dates written on them, Herman asks Bud who is mother is. Bud tells him that his mother was Angela Janet Calloway. We learn that Angela is Herman's daughter whom he had not seen she ran away when she was 21 years old. Herman never knew he had a grand son. -
The end.
Bud continues living at Grand Calloway station, and becomes an honorary member of Herman E. Calloway and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!! They call him Sleepy LaBone.
