MAY 14, 1939

SUNDAY
$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 May 14, 1939
1 Union Pacific
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Union Pacific
2 Confessions of a Nazi Spy
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Confessions of a Nazi Spy
3 Dodge City
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Dodge City
4 Dark Victory
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Dark Victory
5 Love Affair
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Love Affair
6 Stagecoach
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Stagecoach
7 The Little Princess
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The Little Princess
8 Gunga Din
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Gunga Din
9 Jesse James
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Jesse James
10 You Can't Take It with You
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You Can't Take It with You
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
The Oklahoma Kid
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The Oklahoma Kid
Midnight
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Midnight
The Ice Follies of 1939
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The Ice Follies of 1939
The Hound of the Baskervilles
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The Hound of the Baskervilles
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
May 14, 1939 Trivia
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The Story of May 14, 1939

On May 14, 1939, the United States was experiencing a period of cautious optimism as the world teetered on the brink of war.

🧠 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 May 14, 1939

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Dr. George W. Truett Reviews Photography. Impact: Dr. George W. Truett's work on photography might have unwittingly led to the rise of social media influencers. Who knew that a little bit of light and lens could transition us from cowboys to Kardashians?. Fact: Fun fact: The term 'influencer' didn’t exist back then, but if it did, Dr. Truett would have been the original oneβ€”just without the free products and sponsored posts..
  • Headline: Fluid Drive Introduced for Imperials. Impact: The introduction of Fluid Drive in cars revolutionized the automotive industry, leading to more people driving like they were in a video game. Thanks to this innovation, today’s road rage can be traced back to the fluid dynamics of the Imperials.. Fact: Fluid Drive: because who doesn’t want their car to feel like it’s in a perpetual state of gentle turbulence?.
  • Headline: New Mystery Stories. Impact: The release of 'Send Another Coffin' set in motion a cultural fascination with mystery stories. Little did they know, this would eventually lead to a plethora of true crime podcasts that would keep every coffee shop buzzing.. Fact: Fun fact: The only thing more mysterious than the plot of this story is why anyone thought 'Send Another Coffin' was a good title for a bestseller..
  • Headline: MODERN EQUIPMENT AIDS HOME SAFETY; Proper Precautions in Design and Furnishings Reduce Accident Toll STAIRS NEED WATCHING Poor Lighting, Loose Rugs and Slippery Floors Cause of Most Falls. Impact: The emphasis on home safety precautions may have inadvertently led to the rise of DIY home improvement shows. Now, instead of just avoiding slippery floors, we’re all trying to avoid the slippery slope of bad home decor decisions.. Fact: Did you know that 'home safety' was once just called 'common sense'? Thank goodness for articles like these to remind us how to not trip over our own rugs..
  • Headline: POISON RING SQUAD CONFERS IN BROOKLYN; Philadelphia Detectives Visit District Attorney Geoghan. Impact: The conferring of poison ring detectives in Brooklyn probably inspired countless mystery novels and films. Who knew that coordinating with the police could be the start of a new genre?. Fact: In a twist of irony, the only 'poison' in this meeting was the caffeine from all the coffee they likely consumed discussing the case..
  • Headline: NEW OPERA BY PIETRI. Impact: Pietri’s new opera might have laid the groundwork for the eventual explosion of Italian opera in America, igniting a love affair that would make even the most stoic New Yorkers weep at the sound of a tenor.. Fact: Fun fact: If Pietri had known that people would still be belting out operatic arias in the shower decades later, he might have charged for concert tickets instead of just sheet music..
  • Headline: A REVIEWER'S NOTEBOOK: MANY SHOWS; Brief Comment on Recently Opened Group and Solo Exhibitions --New Attractions in Museums and in the Galleries. Impact: The reviews of museum exhibitions created a ripple effect that would lead to the rise of art critics and bloggers. If only the artists knew their work would be judged with such harsh scrutiny, they might have just painted by numbers!. Fact: Did you know that back in 1939, β€˜art critic’ was just code for β€˜someone who thinks they know better than the artist’? Spoiler: they often don’t..
  • Headline: FOR AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS; NIGHT SHOTS AT THE FAIR Amateur Camera Men Can Get Striking Effects Despite Obstacles. Impact: The tips for amateur photographers would later inspire a global obsession with photography, leading to a billion selfies and making 'Say cheese!' a common phrase across generations.. Fact: Did you know that amateur photographers were once called 'snappers'? Today, they’re more likely to be called 'social media influencers' and are typically found in the wilds of brunch spots..

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