Historical Context: August, 1942

Bob’s Theatre on Main Street in Twin Bridges, Montana first opened as the Estlin Theatre in 1926. It was renamed Bob’s Theatre in 1941. The main feature Aug. 28-29 was a film noir classic, This Gun for Hire. Alan Ladd isn’t billed in this Movie Calendar vignette, but the film would be a career-launching picture for him.

In world news during this month, U.S. Marines make amphibious landings in the southern Solomon Islands in the first major offensive by the Allies against Japan. In other World War II news, the Nazi German extermination camp Treblinka II is being constructed in occupied Poland near the village of Treblinka. On Aug. 23, the Battle of Stalingrad occurred as Germany attacked the Russian homeland. An estimated 600 Luftwaffe planes bombed the city, killing 40,000 people.