DECEMBER 26, 1938

MONDAY
$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
The Dawn Patrol
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The Dawn Patrol
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 26, 1938 Trivia
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The Story of December 26, 1938

On December 26, 1938, tensions escalated in Europe as Italy's provocative actions toward France drew significant attention.

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 26, 1938

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Italy Provokes France Over Territorial Claims. Impact: Daladier's trip to Tunisia and Corsica unwittingly set off a chain reaction of geopolitical tension that led to an unexpected surge in French cheese exports, because nothing says diplomacy like a good Camembert.. Fact: Did you know that France and Italy have been in a love-hate relationship since forever? It's like they're the Ross and Rachel of the European history!.
  • Headline: Lima Conference Votes on 110 Projects. Impact: The 110 projects voted in Lima were so inspirational that they sparked a worldwide movement of doing things—something that hasn't been quite matched since. I mean, who knew voting could actually lead to action?. Fact: Fun fact: 'Parley' is just a fancy word for meeting, but it sounds way cooler, like something out of a pirate movie!.
  • Headline: Vandenberg's Congressional Aims Unveiled. Impact: Vandenberg's demands for power and revisions echoed through time, ultimately inspiring countless memes about politicians asking for more power than they deserve. Thanks, Senator!. Fact: Senators asking for more power? Shocking! Next, you'll tell me they want more vacation days too!.
  • Headline: PHILIPPINE 'BAD MAN' WHO FLED SURRENDERS; Innocent Man Killed in Hunt for Murderer of Radio Operator. Impact: The failed hunt for Balagtas led to an unintentional spike in true crime podcasts, as everyone loves a good story about mistaken identities and unfortunate fates.. Fact: Did you know that police blunders often make for the best true crime stories? If only they had a better PR team!.
  • Headline: HERBERT, N. Y. U. STAR, ENTERS K. OF C. MEET; Will Strive for Third Straight Triumph in Columbus 500. Impact: Herbert's participation in the K. of C. meet became the catalyst for future athletes to overtrain, leading to an era of extreme sports and athletes who think they are invincible. Spoiler: they aren't.. Fact: Who knew that competing for a third straight triumph would lead to the rise of athlete burnout? Maybe they should've just taken a nap instead..
  • Headline: EX-CLUB MANAGER DISAPPEARS AT SEA; Karl Meinel Is Believed to Have Jumped From Steamer on Way to Providence GRIEVED OVER DEAD WIFE Former Official at Carteret and Other Clubs Disconsolate Since She Ended Life. Impact: Meinel's disappearance at sea led to a new trend of dramatic exits from life, inspiring countless movies where the protagonist jumps off a steamer, only to be found years later in a remote location living their best life.. Fact: Suicide is a heavy topic, and while we can't joke about it, it's worth noting that many people have fascinating stories about how they overcame despair. Let's just focus on those!.
  • Headline: U. S. AIMS AT LIMA SHARED BY BRITAIN; South American Interests of London Held Complementary to Those of Washington MENACE TO TRADE IS CITED Largest Single Source of Oil for Fleet Is Venezuela and the Surrounding Countries. Impact: The U.S. and Britain's shared aims at Lima inspired a long-standing tradition of backroom deals and whispered agreements, which somehow led to an increase in tea consumption in Washington. Coincidence? I think not.. Fact: British and American interests aligning? Shocking! Next, you'll tell me they agree on the best way to brew tea!.
  • Headline: Baby Smothered in Bed. Impact: The tragic smothering incident led to a great societal fascination with parenting, resulting in the birth of countless parenting blogs that, surprisingly, often have little useful advice.. Fact: It's a sad fact, but this tragic event highlights the importance of safe sleeping practices for infants. Parenting is hard, but it shouldn't be a guessing game!.
  • Headline: HAGUE AND SANTA VISIT ILL; Toys Given to 150 Children in Jersey City Medical Center. Impact: The joyous visit from Santa and Hague set off a wave of kindness that led to an annual 'Toys for Tots' program—proof that a little holiday cheer can go a long way, even in a hospital.. Fact: So Santa's real? I guess my childhood dreams aren't totally crushed. But seriously, who doesn’t love a good toy drive?.

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
Märklin Electric Trains
Märklin 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