FEBRUARY 12, 1938

SATURDAY
1938 Coca-Cola advertising artwork
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1938
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $7,318,352 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min Wage Hourly$0.29
Median Home Price$4,300.00
Gas Price Avg$0.18
Bread Price Avg$0.09
Movie Ticket Avg$0.29
First Class Stamp$0.03
Milk Price Avg$0.54
Top Movies From 1938
Show screen release and event cards
1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2 Boys Town
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Boys Town
3 Alexander's Ragtime Band
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Alexander's Ragtime Band
4 Test Pilot
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Test Pilot
5 You Can't Take It with You
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You Can't Take It with You
6 Sweethearts
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Sweethearts
7 In Old Chicago
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In Old Chicago
8 The Adventures of Robin Hood
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The Adventures of Robin Hood
9 Love Finds Andy Hardy
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Love Finds Andy Hardy
10 Marie Antoinette
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Marie Antoinette
Algiers
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Algiers
The Buccaneer
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The Buccaneer
After the Thin Man
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After the Thin Man
The Good Earth
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The Good Earth
Nothing Sacred
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Nothing Sacred
The Hurricane
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The Hurricane
The Prisoner of Zenda
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The Prisoner of Zenda
Conquest
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Conquest
Heidi
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Heidi
True Confession
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True Confession
Madame X
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Madame X

February 12, 1938 Trivia

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Exact-date daily brief

February 12, 1938

On February 12, 1938, English swimmers achieved remarkable success at the Empire Games, capturing two prestigious titles. Notably, Leivers dominated the distance event, while the women's team secured victory in the medley relay. T...

Inventions & Breakthroughs of February 1938

Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.

1 Ballpoint Pen
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Ballpoint Pen
2 Atomic Fission Discovery
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Atomic Fission Discovery
3 Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon)
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Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon)
4 Duplex Transmission Radio
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Duplex Transmission Radio
5 Gas Turbine Engine Improvements
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Gas Turbine Engine Improvements
6 Automatic Telephone Switching
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Automatic Telephone Switching
7 Instant Coffee
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Instant Coffee
8 Television Camera Tube Improvements
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Television Camera Tube Improvements
9 Aircraft Cabin Oxygen Systems
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Aircraft Cabin Oxygen Systems
10 Electric Hearing Aid
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Electric Hearing Aid

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

Headlines From February 12, 1938

Full News Archive

  • Headline: English Swimmers Shine at Empire Games. Impact: This triumph led to a dramatic increase in the number of British swimmers, eventually resulting in a national obsession with swimming. Fast forward a few decades, and you have the Olympicsβ€”where everyone suddenly thinks they can swim like Michael Phelps, but most just end up splashing around in backyard pools. Fact: Did you know that swimming was once considered a dangerous pastime? I guess they didn’t have the Empire Games to reassure them that no, you won’t drown if you just kick a little harder.
  • Headline: Celebration of Colby Chesters 3d's Birth. Impact: The birth of this child sparked a long line of descendants who would one day dominate the world of... well, absolutely nothing of note. But hey, at least they have a great family tree!. Fact: Did you know that 3D is not just a reference to the child’s name, but also an indication of how many dimensions of disappointment their parents felt when they realized they hadn’t invented the next big thing?.
  • Headline: Innovative Teaching for Slow Learners. Impact: This revolutionary teaching method led to a generation of kids who thought every class should involve a dance-off. Who knew that the future of education would hinge on whether you could cha-cha your way through math problems?. Fact: Did you know that this was the precursor to reality TV? Because nothing says β€˜I’m learning’ quite like a cooking competition where the prize is just a passing grade.
  • Headline: THE PLAY; The East Side Professor'. Impact: The play’s success led to a wave of East Side-themed productions, ultimately resulting in the birth of 'The East Side Professor: The Musical' where jazz hands and existential dread collide in a way only the 21st century could appreciate. Fact: Did you know that 'The East Side Professor' was actually a totally fictional character? Just like every professor I had in college who claimed they 'knew everything' but couldn’t even figure out how to use the projector.
  • Headline: MARTELLA GAINS VICTORY; Cummings Also in Semi-Finals in U. S. Pro Squash Racquets. Impact: Martella's victory made her an instant icon in pro squash, inspiring a wave of wannabe squash players who quickly learned that just because it looks fun on TV, it doesn’t mean you won’t end up with bruises and a broken racket. Fact: Did you know that squash is one of the few sports where yelling at your opponent is not only encouraged but might actually help you win? Just ask any competitive player on a bad day.
  • Headline: Dionnes to Make New Movie. Impact: The Dionnes decided to make another film, which eventually led to the rise of the celebrity parent phenomenon. Now, every kid thinks they can become a star just because their parents starred in a VHS tape recorded on a camcorder in the 90s. Fact: Did you know that back in the day, making a movie was a little less about streaming and a lot more about hoping the film doesn’t get stuck in the projector? Talk about high stakes!.
  • Headline: GORDON SIGNS CONTRACT; Yankees' New Second Baseman to Report at Camp March 8. Impact: By joining the Yankees, Gordon inadvertently set off a chain reaction that would lead to millions of fans believing they could wear pinstripes and hit home runs, while most can barely hit the ball off a tee. Fact: Did you know that every time a player signs a contract, somewhere in the world, a kid dreams of being a professional athlete? Spoiler alert: Most kids don’t make it past Little League.
  • Headline: REV. Z. F. GRIFFIN; Oldest Keuka College Trustee, Also an Author, Dies at 93. Impact: Rev. Griffin’s passing marked the end of an era for Keuka College, leading to a profound shift in the school's leadership philosophy. It became a mission to find someone who could match his wisdomβ€”spoiler: they never did. Fact: Did you know that at 93, Rev. Griffin had probably seen more changes in education than most of us see in a lifetime? He was living proof that wisdom often comes with a side of gray hair.
  • Headline: Pewter Sale Brings $7,548. Impact: The impressive sale price sparked an underground pewter renaissance, leading to hipster cafes where the only drink served was from vintage pewter mugsβ€”because nothing says β€˜trendy’ like a metal cup that’s been around since the Middle Ages. Fact: Did you know that pewter was once considered a luxury item? Now it’s just another way for people to say, β€˜Look how eclectic my collection is!’ while sipping artisanal coffee.
  • Headline: INCOME INCREASED BY AMERICAN CAN; $17,927,833, or $6.08 a Share, in 1937 Compares With $17,226,845 in 1936 RISE IN CURRENT ASSETS Statements of Results of Operations in Various Periods by Other Corporations CHILDS INCREASES INCOME INCOME INCREASED BY AMERICAN CAN OTHER CORPORATE REPORTS. Impact: This income surge led to an uptick in corporate greed, which subsequently paved the way for the rise of the corporate overlords we know and love today. Thanks, American Can, for making capitalism just a little bit crazier. Fact: Did you know that American Can’s success was all about the can-volution? Because nothing screams 'financial triumph' like a shiny can full of... well, whatever you can fit in it.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: A historical $1,000 investment comparison using the stored long-range dataset.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1938
$0.06
Stored value
$3,433,940

Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1938, it would be worth $3,433,940 today (3433.9x return)

Rank #2
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1938
$0.25
Stored value
$586,656

Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1938, it would be worth $586,656 today (586.7x return)

Rank #3
CVX
Chevron
Price in 1938
$0.31
Stored value
$474,914

Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1938, it would be worth $474,914 today (474.9x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
Action Comics #1
Action Comics #1
$8,000
Detective Comics #16
Detective Comics #16
$10,200
Adventure Comics #32
Adventure Comics #32
$50,000
Famous Funnies #47
Famous Funnies #47
$1,200
The Funnies #12
The Funnies #12
$42,000
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Scrabble
Scrabble
$250.00
MÀrklin Electric Trains
MÀrklin Electric Trains
$300.00
Monopoly
Monopoly
$200.00
Tinkertoys
Tinkertoys
$150.00
Radio Flyer Wagon
Radio Flyer Wagon
$120.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1938 Gum Inc. Horrors of War #1 It's War
1938 Gum Inc. Horrors of War #1 It's War
$2,500
1938 Churchman's Boxing Personalities Joe Louis
1938 Churchman's Boxing Personalities Joe Louis
$32,000
1938 Wills's Three Castles Film Stars Clark Gable
1938 Wills's Three Castles Film Stars Clark Gable
$80,000
1938 Player's Cigarettes Film Stars Second Series Charlie Chaplin
1938 Player's Cigarettes Film Stars Second Series Charlie Chaplin
$250,000
1938 Gallaher Famous Cricketers Don Bradman
1938 Gallaher Famous Cricketers Don Bradman
$15,000