William Leonard Von Eschen (1904 - 1943)

South Dakota United States
South Dakota United States
William's biography
This collaborative biography is for you to show & tell William's life so that he is always remembered. What's this?
Ethnicity & Lineage
Nationality & Locations
Education
Religion
Baptism
Professions
Personal Life
Military Service
Average Age
Family Tree
William's Family Tree
Partner
Child
Partner
Child
|
Sibling
|
Friends
Friends can be as close as family. Add William's family friends, and his friends from childhood through adulthood.
Photos
Nobody has shared photos of William Leonard Von Eschen! Please help add a face to the name by sharing a photo of William.
Comments
Leave a comment to ask questions, share information, or simply to show that you care about William.
Obituary
Share William's obituary or write your own to preserve his legacy.
1904 - 1943 World Events
Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during William's lifetime.
In 1904, in the year that William Leonard Von Eschen was born, the first underground line of the New York City subway system opened. London's underground system was opened in 1863 and Boston opened one in 1897, but New York quickly became the largest system in the U.S. More than 100,000 people paid 5 cents to ride under Manhattan that first day.
In 1912, at the age of only 8 years old, William was alive when Arizona was admitted to the United States in February (on Valentine's Day). It became the 48th state in the Union. Previously a Spanish - then Mexican - territory, the U.S. paid $15 million dollars for the area in 1848. Arizona was the last of the contiguous states to be admitted to the United States.
In 1927, when he was 23 years old, the first "talkie" (a movie with music, songs, and talking), The Jazz Singer, was released. Al Jolson starred as a cantor's son who instead of following in his father's footsteps as expected, becomes a singer of popular songs. Banished by his father, they reconcile on his father's deathbed. It was a tear-jerker and audiences went wild - especially when they heard the songs. Thus begun the demise of silent films and the rise of "talkies".
In 1932, when he was 28 years old, five years to the day after Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart flew solo from Newfoundland to Ireland, the first woman to cross the Atlantic solo and the first to replicate Lindbergh's feat. She flew over 2,000 miles in just under 15 hours.
In 1943, in the year of William Leonard Von Eschen's passing, on March 31st, the Broadway musical Oklahoma! opened. Written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II (the first of their string of successful collaborations), audiences loved it. The musical ran for 2,212 performances originally and was made into a movie in 1954.