APRIL 17, 1939

MONDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1939
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $7,875,940 IN 2025
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 By April 17, 1939
1 Dodge City
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Dodge City
2 Love Affair
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Love Affair
3 Stagecoach
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Stagecoach
4 The Little Princess
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The Little Princess
5 Gunga Din
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Gunga Din
6 Jesse James
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Jesse James
7 Son of Frankenstein
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Son of Frankenstein
8 The Hound of the Baskervilles
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The Hound of the Baskervilles
9 Midnight
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Midnight
10 You Can't Take It with You
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You Can't Take It with You
Made for Each Other
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Made for Each Other
Idiot's Delight
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Idiot's Delight
The Oklahoma Kid
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The Oklahoma Kid
The Ice Follies of 1939
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The Ice Follies of 1939
They Made Me a Criminal
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They Made Me a Criminal
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
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The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
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
April 17, 1939 Trivia
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The Story of April 17, 1939

On April 17, 1939, renowned contralto Marian Anderson captivated a capacity audience at Carnegie Hall, ending her recital with two arias by Handel and a selection of folk songs.

🧠 Inventions of 1939

Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.

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

The biggest hits of the year β€” Top 10 Pop & Country chart toppers

HEADLINES ON April 17, 1939

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Marian Anderson's Historic Carnegie Hall Recital. Impact: Marian Anderson's victory at Carnegie Hall inspired generations of artists, leading to a world where karaoke nights are dominated by wannabe sopranos and people passionately debating if they should sing 'Rolling in the Deep' or 'Bohemian Rhapsody' at their next family gathering.. Fact: Did you know that Marian Anderson was once denied the opportunity to sing at Constitution Hall because of her race? She eventually sang at the Lincoln Memorial, making it clear that nothing could keep her voice from being heard..
  • Headline: Marriage of Borglum's Daughter in South Dakota. Impact: Mary-Ellis Borglum's wedding to David Vhay initiated a long line of 'artistic family' weddings, where the only requirement is that your last name must be either an artistic medium or a famous landmark. Get ready for the Van Gogh-Great Wall nuptials!. Fact: Mary-Ellis Borglum's father was Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore. So, yes, she literally married into a family that was carving faces into granite..
  • Headline: THOMAS RECAPTURES FIRST PLACE IN CHESS; Turns Back Najdorf at Margate --Golombek Wins Long Match. Impact: Thomas's chess victory over Najdorf set off a chain reaction in the chess community, leading to the invention of chess boxing as a result of too many players getting bored waiting for their turn to make a move.. Fact: Chess is the only game where you can still be considered a genius while losing spectacularly, provided you wear a beret and sip espresso while doing so..
  • Headline: NEED FOR RELIGION CALLED VITAL NOW; Bishop Manning Urges That a Troubled World Turn to Church for Guidance. Impact: Bishop Manning's call for religious guidance triggered a wave of 'spiritual influencers' on social media, ultimately culminating in a new trend where people seek divine advice through TikTok dances.. Fact: Bishops have historically been known for their ceremonial robes, but if they wore hoodies and sneakers, maybe more people would show up to church!.
  • Headline: MISS REID HANDY ENGAGED TO WED; Riverdale Girl, an Art Student, Will Become the Bride of David F. Currier JUNIOR LEAGUE MEMBER Debutante of 1937 Graduate of Westover--Fiance Is an Alumnus of Yale. Impact: Miss Reid Handy's engagement led to a 50% increase in art students proclaiming their romantic aspirations through interpretative dance, which remains misunderstood by their peers.. Fact: Being a 'junior league member' sounds fancy, but it's really just a way to have a more exclusive group of friends while practicing your best tea party etiquette..
  • Headline: Chosen Boy Scout Head For Manhattan Council. Impact: Dr. S.W. Wynne's nomination as head of the Manhattan Council was the catalyst for a series of increasingly bizarre council meetings, which eventually led to the invention of the 'emergency donut' policy.. Fact: Scouting is the only place where you can learn survival skills while also mastering the art of crafting the perfect s'more. Priorities, right?.
  • Headline: MARGARET E. OHLSON TO HAVE JULY BRIDAL; Michigan Alumna Will Be Wed to George F. McAdams Jr. Subber--Tonkonogy. Impact: Margaret E. Ohlson's upcoming wedding led to a sudden spike in wedding planners with questionable taste and a penchant for Pinterest boards featuring llamas in tuxedos.. Fact: Wedding planning is the only time when it's socially acceptable to spend more on one day than some people make in a year. No pressure!.
  • Headline: OLIVI FIRST IN BIKE RACE; Philadelphian Wins Cox Event Despite Mishap at Start. Impact: Olivi's bike race victory inspired a generation of cyclists who believe they can outrun their problems, resulting in a rise in 'spandex therapy' groups across the nation.. Fact: Competitive cycling is one of the few sports where you can get a speeding ticket for going too fast on a bicycle. Talk about pressure!.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1939, here's what it would be worth in 2025.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1939
$0.06
Value in 2025
$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
Value in 2025
$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
Value in 2025
$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
⚾ Top 5 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