AUGUST 19, 1938

FRIDAY
$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
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
Bringing Up Baby
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Bringing Up Baby
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife
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Bluebeard's Eighth Wife
The Adventures of Marco Polo
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The Adventures of Marco Polo
Jezebel
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Jezebel
Three Comrades
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Three Comrades
Holiday
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Holiday
Algiers
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Algiers
Vivacious Lady
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Vivacious Lady
Mad About Music
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Mad About Music
Merrily We Live
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Merrily We Live
The Buccaneer
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The Buccaneer
Four Daughters
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Four Daughters
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse
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The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse
Having Wonderful Time
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Having Wonderful Time
The Shopworn Angel
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The Shopworn Angel
The Baroness and the Butler
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The Baroness and the Butler
Block-Heads
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Block-Heads
A Yank at Oxford
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A Yank at Oxford
The Young in Heart
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The Young in Heart
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
August 19, 1938 Trivia
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The Story of August 19, 1938

On August 19, 1938, America mourned the loss of Henry Witthack, a 91-year-old veteran of the Civil War, who passed away in Astoria.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of August 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 ON August 19, 1938

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Veteran Henry Witthack Passes Away. Impact: Henry Witthack's passing marked the end of an era, where every Civil War veteran left us one by one, making room for a future filled with individuals who wouldn't know the difference between a bayonet and a butter knife.. Fact: It's interesting to note that Henry Witthack lived through some of the most dramatic changes in American history, yet avoided social media entirely. Wise choice, Henry..
  • Headline: Rooks of the Times Released. Impact: This novel led to an avalanche of 1960s liberal literature, paving the way for future authors to write about absolutely nothing and somehow get published. Thanks a lot, Preston.. Fact: Fun fact: 'spoofer' is actually a literary term for those who try to make a joke out of something serious. Sounds like half the authors in the 21st century!.
  • Headline: DANCE ATTRACTS SARATOGA PARTIES; Turf Writers Dinner Event Is Featured by Presentation of Plaques by G. H. Bull A.G. VANDERBILTS HOSTS Mr. and Mrs. Willis S. Kilmer Entertain--The John Hay Whitneys Have Guests. Impact: This glamorous dinner event helped solidify the idea that mingling over bland hors d'oeuvres was the pinnacle of high society, leading to generations of awkward small talk and overpriced wine.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'turf writer' has nothing to do with landscaping? It’s actually a euphemism for people who write about horse racing while secretly wishing they were at home with their cats..
  • Headline: JOHN M. TOBIN. Impact: John M. Tobin’s name faded into obscurity, proving that not every mention in history leads to a Wikipedia page. Sorry, John.. Fact: Fun fact: John M. Tobin might have been the most common name of the time. If only being common equated to being memorable!.
  • Headline: MAYOR WILL ATTEND LEGION CONVENTION; To Visit National Session in Los Angeles Next Monthh. Impact: The mayor's attendance at this convention inspired countless politicians to attend similar gatherings, resulting in an endless cycle of schmoozing and free food at the taxpayers' expense.. Fact: Did you know that politicians often attend conventions to get out of doing actual work? It's like a mini-vacation funded by your tax dollars!.
  • Headline: In The Nation; Some Practical New Idealism in Jersey Hague Behind the Scenes Dodging Around Hudson. Impact: This 'prisoners in Spain' revelation caused quite the stir, ultimately leading to a massive increase in the number of conspiracy theories about espionage and communism that still plague us today.. Fact: It’s ironic that while they were trying to escape, they ended up trapped in a political nightmare that sounds like a bad spy novel. Maybe they should’ve just stayed in the hospital..
  • Headline: CALL OUR YOUTHS PRISONERS IN SPAINN; Two Who Fled Tell Dies Committee Loyalists Bar Freedom to Volunteers Escaped From Hospital CALL OUR YOUTHS PRISONERS IN SPAIN Explains Communist "Aliases" Bridges Linked to Reds LaFollette Agents at Hearing. Impact: This flight delay created a ripple effect that resulted in the invention of in-flight snacks and the phrase 'we're not going anywhere for a while,' which airlines still use today.. Fact: Did you know that propeller troubles have been a consistent excuse for late flights since the dawn of aviation? Some things never change, including our patience!.
  • Headline: FRENCH PLANE TURNS BACK; Propeller Trouble Halts First Leg of TranSatlantic Flight.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1938, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1938
$0.06
2025 dataset 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
2025 dataset 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
2025 dataset 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