Timeline

1956

RESTORATION / SPAIN

Film Recording Used as the Recording Method Until 1956

The UPM Telecommunications Museum explains that, from the start of regular broadcasts through 1956, programs were recorded by filming them with a motion-picture camera and developing the film afterward. The recordings were used for delayed broadcasts and for archiving.

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1 source

1. Historias de las Telecomunicaciones – Museo de Telecomunicacionesblogs.upm.es · accessed 09/26/2026

1955

FILM / FRANCE

Premiere of Alain Resnais's 'Night and Fog'

Alain Resnais premieres his documentary 'Night and Fog', a work that redefines the representation of the Holocaust in cinema through a poetic structure and the use of black-and-white archival footage.

3 sources

1. En busca de lo real. 50 documentales esencialesopenaccess.uoc.edu · accessed 10/23/2026
2. Timeline: Holocausto y narrativa latinoamericanawww.timetoast.com · accessed 10/26/2026
3. marzo 2014 – 39escalones39escalones.wordpress.com · accessed 10/23/2026

13 February 1953

FILM / SPAIN

Filmoteca Española Is Founded

Filmoteca Española, a key institution for preserving Spain’s film heritage, was founded on 13 February 1953.

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1 source

1. 1 Dossiê El cine como patrimonio culturaldialnet.unirioja.es · accessed 09/28/2026

October 1952

COMICS AND MAGAZINES / UNITED STATES

Creation of the satirical magazine Mad

William M. Gaines founded Mad, a monthly humor magazine that focused on satirizing American popular culture and consumer products.

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1 source

1. Mad (revista)es.wikipedia.org · accessed 09/29/2026

1952

SOFTWARE / PERU

Dissolution of the archive department and end of the project

In 1952, the Ministry's reorganization dissolved the department that drove the archive, ending the recording project.

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1 source

1. La accidentada gestión de sonidos auténticos: Agendas ...www.cambridge.org · accessed 10/27/2026

1952

CARS AND MOTORCYCLES / UNITED STATES

Start of production of the Harley-Davidson K model

Harley-Davidson began producing the K model, considered the origin of the Sportster and the brand's first motorcycle aimed at directly competing with the sport bikes of the time.

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1 source

1. Harley-Davidson Sportster: 60 años de evolución deportivasoymotero.net · accessed 10/17/2026

1951

SOFTWARE / PERU

Return of original discs and tape copies

In 1951, the Library of Congress returned the original discs and provided magnetic tape copies to the Peruvian Ministry.

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1 source

1. La accidentada gestión de sonidos auténticos: Agendas ...www.cambridge.org · accessed 10/27/2026

1951

FOOD AND SWEETS / ARGENTINA

Founding of Arcor in Arroyito, Argentina

A group of entrepreneurs founds Arcor in the city of Arroyito, Córdoba province, aiming to offer quality food at accessible prices, benefiting from the protectionist context of the time.

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4 sources

1. Arcor - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia librees.wikipedia.org · accessed 10/17/2026
2. Origen y Fundación de Grupo Arcor: Historia y Evolución ...www.studocu.com · accessed 10/17/2026
3. Historia y expansión de Arcor | PDF | Alimentos | Businesses.scribd.com · accessed 10/17/2026
4. (DOC) El nacimiento de Arcorwww.academia.edu · accessed 10/17/2026

1951

FILM / SPAIN

Alba de América, a 1951 film

Orduña’s film, dated 1951, later became the subject of a study on the challenges of researching cinema’s social history.

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1 source

1. Las dificultades de la investigación en historia social del cine: Alba de América (Orduña, 1951)doi.org · accessed 10/02/2026

1950

SOFTWARE / PERU

First on-site recording trip to Huaraz

In 1950, the first on-site recording trip to Huaraz took place, with external financial support and electrical supply issues resolved.

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1 source

1. La accidentada gestión de sonidos auténticos: Agendas ...www.cambridge.org · accessed 10/27/2026

1950

TOYS / HONG KONG

Start of the manufacturing context for Playmates Dolls

Evidence places the manufacture of these dolls in the second half of the 20th century, a period marked by the expansion of toy production and export from Asia.

1 source

1. Muñecas – MUSEO PEDAGÓGICO COLOMBIANOmuseopedagogico.pedagogica.edu.co · accessed 10/20/2026

18 August 1949

FASHION / GERMANY

Adi Dassler founds Adidas

Adi Dassler founded Adidas in Herzogenaurach, beginning the history of the German sportswear brand.

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1 source

1. La historia de adidas: desde 1949 hasta hoywww.adidas.co · accessed 10/20/2026

1949

EVERYDAY LIFE / COLOMBIA

Bogotá’s archive documents water in everyday life

The Bogotá Archive preserves documents about water in everyday life in 1949 and the characterization of some neighborhoods around this resource.

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1 source

1. El agua en la vida cotidiana de 1949 y la caracterización ...archivobogota.secretariageneral.gov.co · accessed 10/15/2026

1949

MUSIC / UNITED STATES

RCA Victor launches the 45 rpm single

In 1949, RCA Victor responded to the LP with a 7-inch record spinning at 45 rpm, aimed at the singles market and the sale of individual songs.

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1 source

1. El nacimiento del disco de vinilo es ...www.instagram.com · accessed 10/30/2026

1949

MUSIC / PERU

Creation of Peru’s Folkloric Music Archive begins

The Peruvian folkloric music archive was created between 1949 and 1952, amid a transnational context shaped by intellectual agendas, institutional challenges, and cross-border connections.

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1 source

1. La accidentada gestión de sonidos auténticos: Agendas ...www.cambridge.org · accessed 10/25/2026

June 1948

TECHNOLOGY / UNITED STATES

Columbia introduces the microgroove LP

In June 1948, Columbia Records introduced its 12-inch, 33⅓-rpm LP format in New York. Narrower grooves and a slower speed than the 78 rpm record allowed longer playback on each side. RCA Victor responded the following year with the 45 rpm single, and the two formats competed for a time to establish their roles in the market.

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5 sources

1. Surcos a través del tiempo: El formato cambiante del discowww.google.com · accessed 10/30/2026
2. Historia del Vinilo - Diffusion Magazinewww.diffusionmagazine.com · accessed 10/27/2026
3. La historia del vinilowww.maplatine.com · accessed 10/27/2026
4. Disco de vinilo - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia librees.wikipedia.org · accessed 10/30/2026
5. Disco fonográficoes.wikipedia.org · accessed 10/27/2026

1948

SOFTWARE / PERU

Purchase of the Presto recorder by the Ministry of Education

In 1948, the Peruvian Ministry purchased a Presto recorder, enabling the start of folklore recording sessions.

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1 source

1. La accidentada gestión de sonidos auténticos: Agendas ...www.cambridge.org · accessed 10/26/2026

1948

TELEVISION / SPAIN

Television tests at the Trade Fair

After the Spanish Civil War, Philips conducted television tests at the 1948 Trade Fair, before broadcasts began in Spain.

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1 source

1. Los inicios de la televisión en Españawww.rtve.es · accessed 09/24/2026

1947

TECHNOLOGY / ARGENTINA

Construction begins on the gas pipeline between Comodoro Rivadavia and Buenos Aires

Construction of the pipeline began in 1947 and was completed in 1949; expanding networks and lower supply costs encouraged the adoption of gas cookers.

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2 sources

1. la evolución de los bienes durables en Argentina, 1920-1970journals.openedition.org · accessed 10/28/2026
2. la evolución de los bienes durables en Argentina, 1920-1970www.scielo.org.co · accessed 10/28/2026

18 October 1946

EVERYDAY LIFE / CHILE

Founding of the Osorno Municipal Historical Museum

The Osorno Municipal Historical Museum is founded in Chile, an institution that would later evolve to include records of everyday life and local heritage memory.

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1 source

1. Museo Histórico Municipal de Osornoes.wikipedia.org · accessed 10/19/2026

1946

COMPUTERS / UNITED STATES

Use of punched paper tape in University of Pennsylvania computers

Machines developed between 1942 and 1946 at the University of Pennsylvania used punched paper tape to input programs and data into memory, employing a teletype for outputting results.

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2 sources

1. UN VIAJE A LA HISTORIA DE LA INFORMÁTICAmuseo.inf.upv.es · accessed 10/16/2026
2. Crucigrama de Historia de la Computación | PDF | Equipofr.scribd.com · accessed 10/16/2026

1946

RESTORATION / GLOBAL

The International Council of Museums is founded

With UNESCO’s support, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) was founded, providing museums with legal and ethical backing and committing to the preservation and dissemination of cultural property. This is an institutional milestone related to heritage preservation, although it is not specific to music archives.

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1 source

1. Estudio y análisis de los museos de música en Europadiposit.ub.edu · accessed 09/27/2026

1945

MUSIC / UNITED STATES

The Library of Congress proposes an exchange of folk records with Peru

In 1945, the U.S. Library of Congress sent folk records to Peru and proposed an exchange, preceding later collaboration around the Peruvian music archive.

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1 source

1. La accidentada gestión de sonidos auténticos: Agendas ...www.cambridge.org · accessed 10/27/2026

1945

ANIMATION / SPAIN

Release of Garbancito de la Mancha

The first Spanish feature-length animated film is released, directed by Arturo Moreno and produced by Balet y Blay. The work was declared of national interest by the Franco regime.

6 sources

1. El cine de animacióneducomunicacion.es · accessed 10/26/2026
2. La animación española de largometrajenuevaepoca.revistalatinacs.org · accessed 10/17/2026
3. Historia de la animación en Españawww.esdip.com · accessed 10/26/2026
4. Historia del cine de animación | PDFes.slideshare.net · accessed 10/17/2026
5. La animación española de largometraje: pasado, presente y ...www.researchgate.net · accessed 10/17/2026
6. Pepita Pardell: paradigma de la invisibilización de la mujer en el cine animado españolopenalex.org · accessed 10/26/2026

1944

HOME DÉCOR / SPAIN

Restoration work affects the decoration of the Romanticism Museum’s rooms

The restoration affected the façade, a building wing, the staircase and the rooms’ decoration, as well as the corridors and garden. The source does not specify the colours, materials or motifs used.

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1 source

1. Archivo del Museo Nacional del Romanticismo (Madrid ...censoarchivos.mcu.es · accessed 09/23/2026

1943

RESTORATION / ARGENTINA

The Historical Provincial Museum of Santa Fe officially opens

The Historical Provincial Museum of Santa Fe was officially inaugurated in 1943.

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1 source

1. Censo-Guía de Archivos de España e Iberoaméricacensoarchivos.cultura.gob.es · accessed 09/23/2026

1942

COMICS AND MAGAZINES / UNITED STATES

George Lowther writes a Superman novel

In 1942, George Lowther wrote a novel about Superman. The article notes that Lowther was also a scriptwriter for the radio programme The Adventures of Superman, but establishes no specific narrative connection between the two stories.

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1 source

1. La evolución del origen de Supermantranslate.google.com · accessed 10/16/2026

1942

EVERYDAY LIFE / UNITED STATES

Fantasia begins to be reissued

From 1942 onward, Fantasia was reissued several times by RKO Radio Pictures and Buena Vista Distribution; the different versions altered, removed, or restored original footage and sound.

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1 source

1. Fantasía (película)es.wikipedia.org · accessed 09/25/2026

1942

EVERYDAY LIFE / SPAIN

The military maintenance unit is based in Torrejón de Ardoz

The unit responsible for the collection has been based in Torrejón de Ardoz since 1942, preceding the museum’s inauguration.

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1 source

1. Portada de la Colección museográfica del Automóvil | Patrimonio Cultural de Defensapatrimoniocultural.defensa.gob.es · accessed 09/25/2026

1942

FILM / SPAIN

The former NO-DO building becomes the organization’s headquarters

The former NO-DO building served as the organization’s headquarters from 1942, according to the Ministry of Culture.

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1 source

1. El nuevo Museo del Cine se ubicará en el antiguo edificio del NO-DO | Ministerio de Culturawww.cultura.gob.es · accessed 09/26/2026

13 November 1940

FILM / UNITED STATES

Fantasia premieres in New York and begins its roadshow

Fantasia’s first screening took place at New York’s Broadway Theatre on 13 November 1940. It was subsequently presented as a roadshow in thirteen US cities between 1940 and 1941.

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1 source

1. Fantasía (película)es.wikipedia.org · accessed 10/22/2026

1940

RESTORATION / ARGENTINA

A decree establishes the creation of the Provincial Historical Museum of Santa Fe

Governor De Iriondo established the Provincial Historical Museum by decree 892/1940, on the site associated with the Diez de Andino family.

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1 source

1. Censo-Guía de Archivos de España e Iberoaméricacensoarchivos.cultura.gob.es · accessed 09/27/2026

1940

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO / SPAIN

The Pando Agency documents photographic work

The Pando Agency, created by Juan Pando Barrero, carried out work between 1940 and 1993 for museums, galleries, collectors, artists and engineering industries.

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1 source

1. Fototeca - Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural de España | Ministerio de Culturaipce.cultura.gob.es · accessed 09/28/2026

1939

COMICS AND MAGAZINES / UNITED STATES

A Superman newspaper strip is commissioned

In 1939, McClure Syndicate commissioned a Superman newspaper strip. According to the article, this gave Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster an opportunity to expand the origin and use elements that did not fit the magazine format.

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1 source

1. La evolución del origen de Supermantranslate.google.com · accessed 10/16/2026

1939

RESTORATION / ITALY

MAUTO opens to the public in Turin

The museum opened to the public in rooms beneath the municipal stadium’s stands, at a venue described as provisional.

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1 source

1. El MAUTO - MAUTOwww.museoauto.com · accessed 10/25/2026

18 April 1938

COMICS AND MAGAZINES / UNITED STATES

Superman debuts in Action Comics #1

The source states that Superman debuted in Action Comics #1 on April 18, 1938; it also clarifies that the cover was dated June 1938.

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2 sources

1. La evolución del origen de Supermantranslate.google.com · accessed 10/16/2026
2. Supermanes.wikipedia.org · accessed 10/13/2026

1938

FOOD AND SWEETS / UNITED STATES

Founding of Dairy Queen by J.F. McCullough, Alex McCullough, and Sherb Noble

J.F. McCullough, his son Alex, and Sherb Noble founded Dairy Queen in Joliet, Illinois, introducing soft-serve ice cream as an innovation to prevent rapid melting.

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2 sources

1. ¿Sabes cómo surgió el imperio de helados #DairyQueen? ...www.facebook.com · accessed 10/15/2026
2. 44 años endulzando el camino: Origen, evolución y el ADN ...stenger.es · accessed 10/15/2026

1938

FILM / UNITED STATES

Disney decides to turn The Sorcerer’s Apprentice into a feature film

In 1938, Walt Disney decided to incorporate The Sorcerer’s Apprentice project into a multi-segment feature built around classical music.

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1 source

1. Fantasía (película)es.wikipedia.org · accessed 09/25/2026

21 December 1937

ANIMATION / UNITED STATES

Premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The evidence states that the film premiered on December 21, 1937, at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Hollywood.

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4 sources

1. nuevas lecturas en torno al personaje de Cenicientawww.researchgate.net · accessed 10/17/2026
2. Historia de la animacióntranslate.google.com · accessed 10/25/2026
3. El Cine animado de Walt Disney - Fundamentos del Arte IIprofeanacob.wordpress.com · accessed 10/25/2026
4. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfses.wikipedia.org · accessed 10/17/2026

28 August 1937

CARS AND MOTORCYCLES / JAPAN

Official founding of Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Motor Corporation is officially born as an independent company on August 28, 1937, separating from the Toyoda Automatic Loom structure.

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2 sources

1. Historia de Toyota: orígenes, hitos y modelos icónicoswww.icarsbarcelona.com · accessed 10/19/2026
2. Historia de Toyotatranslate.google.com · accessed 10/19/2026