AUGUST 27, 1939

SUNDAY
$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
The Oklahoma Kid
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The Oklahoma Kid
Stagecoach
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Stagecoach
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 Little Princess
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The Little Princess
Union Pacific
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Union Pacific
Gunga Din
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Gunga Din
Only Angels Have Wings
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Only Angels Have Wings
Young Mr. Lincoln
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Young Mr. Lincoln
Confessions of a Nazi Spy
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Confessions of a Nazi Spy
Love Affair
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Love Affair
Beau Geste
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Beau Geste
The Man in the Iron Mask
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The Man in the Iron Mask
Five Came Back
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Five Came Back
Each Dawn I Die
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Each Dawn I Die
Bachelor Mother
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Bachelor Mother
The Old Maid
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The Old Maid
In Name Only
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In Name Only
The Three Musketeers
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The Three Musketeers
Dark Victory
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Dark Victory
When Tomorrow Comes
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When Tomorrow Comes
On Borrowed Time
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On Borrowed Time
Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
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Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
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
Listen, Darling
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Listen, Darling
Kentucky
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Kentucky
August 27, 1939 Trivia
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The Story of August 27, 1939

On August 27, 1939, the Kennedy family was making preparations for their return to London, amidst a backdrop of rising tensions in Europe as World War II loomed.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of August 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 August 27, 1939

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Kennedy Family's London Homecoming. Impact: Little did they know that this trip would eventually spark a trend of American celebrities thinking they were royalty. The Kardashians would later take that to a whole new level, complete with reality TV.. Fact: The Kennedys are basically the Kardashians of their timeβ€”famous for being famous, but with fewer selfies and more political drama..
  • Headline: Hoover Warns Against Consequences of War. Impact: Hoover's warning about war was the geopolitical equivalent of a 'keep off the grass' signβ€”it was ignored, and the world just kept trampling forward into chaos. Thanks for the heads-up, Herbert!. Fact: Herbert Hoover was not just a president; he was also a great predictor of doom, much like your overly cautious friend who warns you against eating that questionable taco..
  • Headline: GAINS IN BUILDING HAILED IN NASSAU; State FHA Head Finds County Rivaling Queens in Rise of Home Construction Average Mortgage Is $5,300. Impact: The construction boom in Nassau laid the foundation for future suburban sprawl, leading to the creation of endless cul-de-sacs and the eventual rise of the garage sale culture. Thank you, FHA!. Fact: In 1950s America, the average mortgage was about $5,300. Today, that might buy you a shoebox in a questionable neighborhood. Progress!.
  • Headline: LOCAL ANGLERS TO FIGHT BATTLING TUNA; Contests for Big Game Fish Spread Along Atlantic From Jersey to Nova Scotia An International Test History of the "Tunny" Tourneys Smoothly Run. Impact: This angler rivalry would lead to the formation of the International Tuna Federation, which eventually became embroiled in a scandal involving tuna-sized trophies and questionable fishing techniques. The fish were not amused.. Fact: Fishing tournaments have evolved from simple contests to drama-filled reality showsβ€”who knew that catching a fish could lead to such a tangled web of intrigue?.
  • Headline: Residents of Moriches Urge Inlet Be Improved. Impact: The push for inlet improvements sparked a series of local government debates that ultimately led to the 'Great Inlet Wars' of the 1980s, where residents fought valiantly over who could name the inlet after their cat.. Fact: Inlet improvements are like family therapy for bodies of waterβ€”everyone wants to be heard, but nobody really knows how to fix the problem..
  • Headline: 53,687 BORROWERS REPAY HOLC LOANS; Liquidated Accounts Totaled $125,634,131 in Agency as of June 30. Impact: This massive repayment led to a brief economic boom, which eventually convinced banks that lending to anyone with a pulse was a good idea. Spoiler alert: It wasn't.. Fact: The Home Owners' Loan Corporation was so popular that it made loans seem like candyβ€”everyone wanted a piece, but not everyone could handle the sugar high..
  • Headline: TELEVIEWS OF PICTURES. Impact: This application for a television transmitter permit was the catalyst for the future obsession with binge-watching. If only they knew how many hours we’d waste on cat videos!. Fact: In the early days of television, people were so excited about the concept that they thought watching static was a good time. Talk about low standards!.
  • Headline: Hughes Tests Plane for Hop. Impact: Howard Hughes's relentless pursuit of aviation perfection eventually led to the modern era of commercial flight, where people endure cramped seats and crying babies in the name of progress.. Fact: Howard Hughes was not just a pioneer; he was the original 'fly it like you stole it' type of guyβ€”only he had the money to actually buy the plane..
  • Headline: Veterans' Congress Is Postponed. Impact: The postponement of this congress not only delayed important discussions but also highlighted the ongoing struggles of veterans, which would echo through decades of policy neglect and advocacy.. Fact: Postponing a veterans' congress is like telling a cat that it can't go outsideβ€”everyone knows there will be consequences, just not when they'll hit..

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