Historical Context: November, 1945

The Arcade Theatre in Newell, South Dakota promised “Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment” in November of 1945, two months after World War II had officially ended (Sept. 2, 1945) with the formal surrender of Japan.

Thanksgiving was celebrated Thursday, Nov. 22, and the new Gary Cooper movie — one that reunited him with Pride of the Yankees co-star Teresa Wright — opened for a weekend run the next day, Nov. 23. The movie was Casanova Brown (1945).

That same week, on Nov. 20,  former Third Rich military and political leaders faced war crimes charges as the Nuremberg Trials began in Nuremberg, Germany. Twenty-four individuals were accused. 

After 216 court sessions, the verdict on 22 of the original 24 defendants was handed down (October 1, 1946). Suicide or mental illness had prevented two from being tried. Three of the defendants were acquitted; four were sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 10 to 20 years; Three were sentenced to life imprisonment; and 12 of the defendants were sentenced to death by hanging.