MARCH 4, 1939

SATURDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1939
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $7,875,940 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min_Wage_Hourly: $0.30
Median_Home_Price: $4,150.00
Gas_Price_Avg: $0.18
Bread_Price_Avg: $0.09
Movie_Ticket_Avg: $0.30
First_Class_Stamp: $0.03
Milk_Price_Avg: $0.55
Top Movies From 1939
1 Gone with the Wind
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Gone with the Wind
2 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
3 Jesse James
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Jesse James
4 Babes in Arms
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Babes in Arms
5 The Wizard of Oz
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The Wizard of Oz
6 Goodbye, Mr. Chips
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Goodbye, Mr. Chips
7 Dodge City
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Dodge City
8 The Rains Came
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The Rains Came
9 The Women
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The Women
10 Drums Along the Mohawk
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Drums Along the Mohawk
Son of Frankenstein
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Son of Frankenstein
Made for Each Other
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Made for Each Other
Idiot's Delight
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Idiot's Delight
Stagecoach
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Stagecoach
They Made Me a Criminal
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They Made Me a Criminal
Gunga Din
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Gunga Din
The Three Musketeers
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The Three Musketeers
Angels with Dirty Faces
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Angels with Dirty Faces
A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol
The Dawn Patrol
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The Dawn Patrol
Five Came Back
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Five Came Back
Listen, Darling
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Listen, Darling
Kentucky
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Kentucky
March 4, 1939 Trivia
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The Story of March 4, 1939

On March 4, 1939, the notable death of Henry Kerbaugh, a prominent rail contractor for the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania Lines, marked a significant loss in the railway construction industry at the age of 78.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of March 1939

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

1 Jet-Powered Aircraft
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Jet-Powered Aircraft
2 Helicopter Practical Design
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Helicopter Practical Design
3 Electronic Digital Computer Prototype
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Electronic Digital Computer Prototype
4 FM Radio Broadcasting Service
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FM Radio Broadcasting Service
5 Fluorescent Light Commercialization
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Fluorescent Light Commercialization
6 Color Film (Kodachrome Improvements)
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Color Film (Kodachrome Improvements)
7 Aircraft Radar System
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Aircraft Radar System
8 Remote Control Device
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Remote Control Device
9 Microwave Oven Concept
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Microwave Oven Concept
10 Automatic Fire Sprinkler Improvements
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Automatic Fire Sprinkler Improvements

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

HEADLINES ON March 4, 1939

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Henry Kerbaugh, Renowned Rail Contractor. Impact: Henry Kerbaugh's ambitious railway projects inadvertently led to the popularization of train-themed board games. Yes, Monopoly and Ticket to Ride trace their origins back to his construction plans.. Fact: Did you know that if railroads were built today, the trains would probably still be late? Thank you, modern technology..
  • Headline: Dispute Over Newark Land Valuation. Impact: The overpriced land in Newark set a precedent for future real estate disasters, including overpriced avocado toast. Thanks, Kerbaugh for the high stakes!. Fact: Did you know that in Newark, the price of land is inversely proportional to the number of potholes? It's a scientific fact... sort of..
  • Headline: Willie Turnesa Aims for Amateur Glory. Impact: Willie Turnesa's pursuit of the British Amateur Crown led to an unexpected rise in golf club memberships, causing a spike in plaid pants sales. Fashion history was forever altered.. Fact: Did you know that golf was once considered a game for the elite? Now, it's just a reason for middle-aged men to escape their responsibilities..
  • Headline: URGES DEMOCRACY FIGHT; Father Curran Asks Catholics to Lead Way for Cause. Impact: Father Curran's call for democracy saw a ripple effect that eventually led to countless memes about democracy, proving that even the most serious topics can be turned into viral content.. Fact: Did you know that asking Catholics to lead the democracy fight is like asking cats to lead a dog show? Good luck with that!.
  • Headline: SPECTOR RELEASED IN BAIL OF $17,500; Pleads Not Guilty to Charge of Conspiring With Manton to Obstruct Justice GRAND JURY IS DISCHARGED County Body Completes Work --Former Judge Resting in Hospital After Operation. Impact: Spector's bail saga inadvertently inspired future courtroom dramas and reality TV shows, leading to the modern obsession with legal dramas. Thank you, Spector, for 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'obstruction of justice' is often used in legal settings, but I prefer to think of it as 'creative problem-solving'..
  • Headline: BARNARD DANCE IS HELD; First Such Party Given for the College's Freshman Class. Impact: The Barnard Dance became an annual tradition that eventually resulted in decades of awkward dance moves being passed down through generations. Thanks for the cringe, Barnard!. Fact: Did you know that the awkward shuffle has been scientifically proven to be the most universal dance move? You can thank freshman parties for that..
  • Headline: Aunt of Duchess Arrives. Impact: The arrival of the Duchess's aunt sparked a series of royal gossip columns that still influence tabloids today. Who knew a family visit could lead to an avalanche of gossip?. Fact: Did you know that royal family members have more drama than a reality TV show? It's like 'The Crown', but with more tea and less historical accuracy..
  • Headline: $8,802 Furniture Auctioned. Impact: The auction of furniture for $8,802 inadvertently inflated the value of all second-hand goods, leading to the rise of hipster thrift stores and overpriced vintage shops. Thanks a lot, auction!. Fact: Did you know that people now pay more for used furniture than for new? So much for the 'new car smell'..
  • Headline: CAPT. W.F. M'KIERNAN; Head of Ozone Park Precinct Was on Force Since 1908. Impact: Captain McKiernan's long tenure became a benchmark for future police chiefs, leading to an entire generation of officers who think being on the force for over a decade is a badge of honor.. Fact: Did you know that being on the police force since 1908 means you've probably seen more changes than the average smartphone user? Talk about commitment!.
  • Headline: Max Won't Form Belgian Cabinet. Impact: Max's refusal to form a cabinet sparked a series of political debates about leadership that ultimately resulted in many people wondering if they could do a better job. Spoiler alert: they can't.. Fact: Did you know that forming a government is like assembling IKEA furniture? Everyone has an opinion, but no one really knows what they're doing..

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1939, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1939
$0.06
2025 dataset value
$3,433,942

Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1939, it would be worth $3,433,942 today (3433.9x return)

Rank #2
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1939
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$586,657

Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1939, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)

Rank #3
CVX
Chevron
Price in 1939
$0.31
2025 dataset value
$474,913

Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1939, it would be worth $474,913 today (474.9x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
Action Comics #10
Action Comics #10
$1,100
Detective Comics #27
Detective Comics #27
$3,000,000
Marvel Comics #1
Marvel Comics #1
$200,000
All-American Comics #1
All-American Comics #1
$150,000
Adventure Comics #40
Adventure Comics #40
$3,000
🧸 Top 5 Toys
View-Master
View-Master
$40.00
Little Golden Books
Little Golden Books
$300.00
The Game of Cootie
The Game of Cootie
$50.00
Tinkertoy Joy Boy and Joy Girl Sets
Tinkertoy Joy Boy and Joy Girl Sets
$150.00
Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol
Buck Rogers Atomic Pistol
$1,200.00
⚾ Notable Trading Cards
W.D. & H.O. Wills 'Life in the Tree Tops'
W.D. & H.O. Wills 'Life in the Tree Tops'
$236.61
Churchman's 'Treasure Trove'
Churchman's 'Treasure Trove'
$492,000
Cadet Suite Collection 'World Wonders'
Cadet Suite Collection 'World Wonders'
$0
Players Cigarettes 'Cycling 1939'
Players Cigarettes 'Cycling 1939'
$10.00