DECEMBER 2, 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
Angels with Dirty Faces
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Angels with Dirty Faces
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
Carefree
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Carefree
Algiers
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Algiers
Room Service
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Room Service
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
If I Were King
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If I Were King
That Certain Age
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That Certain Age
The Shining Hour
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The Shining Hour
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
Too Hot to Handle
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Too Hot to Handle
Blondie
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Blondie
The Sisters
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The Sisters
The Spider's Web
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The Spider's Web
The Young in Heart
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The Young in Heart
Listen, Darling
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Listen, Darling
The Cowboy and the Lady
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The Cowboy and the Lady
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
December 2, 1938 Trivia
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The Story of December 2, 1938

On December 2, 1938, Fort Lee, New Jersey, took a significant step by filing a bankruptcy petition, marking a critical moment in municipal finance as it sought federal court permission to restructure its debt.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 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 December 2, 1938

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Fort Lee's Historic Bankruptcy Filing. Impact: The bankruptcy of Fort Lee led to a series of questionable financial decisions by local governments, ultimately resulting in the creation of a special task force known for inventing the phrase 'too big to fail'β€”which, as we all know, worked out splendidly for everyone involved.. Fact: Fun fact: If only municipal governments had access to that mythical creature known as a budget, we might not be having this conversation..
  • Headline: Debate on National Spending Plans. Impact: The debate on spending sparked an era of endless discussions about fiscal responsibility, leading to a bizarre new trend where politicians started holding debates about debating. It's like Inception but with less action and more eye rolling.. Fact: Did you know that the word 'debate' is derived from the Latin 'debatere,' meaning 'to beat down'? Seems fitting, doesn't it?.
  • Headline: DOMINION TO HELP ALBERTA'S FINANCES; Aberhart Reports Promise of Aid in Reducing Interest. Impact: Alberta's financial aid from Dominion marked the beginning of a love-hate relationship with central government support, eventually inspiring a reality show called 'Keeping Up with the Secessionists.' Spoiler: It got canceled due to lack of drama.. Fact: Did you know that secession is just a fancy word for 'I didn't get my way' in political circles? It's like a toddler throwing a tantrum, but with more paperwork..
  • Headline: BUDAPEST NAZIS MARCH; Street Demonstrations Broken Up by the Police. Impact: The police breaking up the Nazi demonstrations contributed to a ripple of anti-fascist movements worldwide, eventually leading to the modern age of social media activismβ€”where everyone can now voice their opinions while sitting comfortably at home in pajamas.. Fact: Fun fact: The Nazis thought they were making history, but they ended up being the punchline for every bad joke about fascism ever told..
  • Headline: DEFENSE BY KERES MARKED CHESS DRAW; Estonian Showed Steady Game in Match With Alekhine NIMZOWITSCH DEFENSE. Impact: Keres's draw in chess against Alekhine sparked a series of international chess tournaments that are now responsible for more heated arguments than any family Thanksgiving dinner.. Fact: Did you know that chess is the only sport where you can win a match by not losing? It's like being awarded a trophy for showing up!.
  • Headline: ASKS FUNDS FROM JEWS; Dr. Goldman Says $10,000,000 Is Needed for Refugees. Impact: Dr. Goldman's plea for funds shifted public perception of refugee aid, leading to the formation of countless charities and a new trend of 'philanthropic influencers' who think a selfie with a donation is the same as making a real difference.. Fact: Did you know that $10 million is also the going rate for a single influencer's sponsored post? Makes you think about priorities, doesn't it?.
  • Headline: KEPT FROM HOSPITAL BY MOTHER, BOY DIES; Illness Is Fatal After Court Order Overrides Parent's View. Impact: The tragic death of the boy due to parental conflict over hospital care became a pivotal case that led to the establishment of laws protecting children's rights, but it also resulted in every family having at least one overly-dramatic court case in their backstory.. Fact: Fun fact: This case highlighted the often-overlooked battle of wills between parents and the medical establishmentβ€”because what's more fun than a good ol' fashioned family feud?.
  • Headline: BRIDGES IS REPORTED FORMING UNION HERE; Ryan Says West Coast C. I. O. Leader Is Here With Aides. Impact: H. Bridges forming a union in New York City set off a chain reaction of labor movements across the country, eventually leading to the modern-day phenomenon of employees demanding fair wagesβ€”who would've thought that would catch on?. Fact: Fun fact: Organizing unions is a lot like herding cats, except the cats are all wearing 'I want a raise!' buttons and are surprisingly good at negotiating..

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