SEPTEMBER 1, 1939

FRIDAY
1939 Coca-Cola advertising artwork
$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
Show screen release and event cards
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
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
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
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame
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

September 1, 1939 Trivia

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Exact-date daily brief

September 1, 1939

On September 1, 1939, the world was irrevocably changed as Germany invaded Poland, marking the official start of World War II. This aggressive act by Adolf Hitler's regime set off a chain reaction among European nations, leading B...

Inventions & Breakthroughs of September 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 From September 1, 1939

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Ruth Zimmermann's Wedding Day. Impact: In an alternate timeline, Ruth's wedding sparked a series of romantic entanglements that led to the creation of an underground matchmaking society, which eventually influenced every rom-com script ever written. Thanks, Ruth!. Fact: Did you know that weddings have been around for thousands of years? So if you think your wedding is special, just remember: the Egyptians had it first, and they didn't even have Pinterest.
  • Headline: Dickerson Resigns from Cahill Administration. Impact: This resignation caused a ripple effect that led to a nationwide trend of aides quitting to pursue their dreams of becoming dog groomers, thereby creating a shortage of political aides and a surplus of well-groomed pups in politics. Fact: Fun fact: Quitting your job to follow your passion is a lot easier said than doneβ€” especially when your passion is being a personal shopper for a cat named Mr. Whiskers.
  • Headline: Lepke Reward Rescinded by Estimate Board. Impact: The rescinded reward led to a clandestine network of criminals who began to believe they were untouchable, only to discover that bad guys have a way of falling spectacularly from grace, much like their favorite reality stars. Fact: Did you know that the word β€˜rescind’ is just as fun to say as it is to experience? Try saying it five times fast and see if you feel powerful or just confused.
  • Headline: DRASTIC CHANGES IN STYLES SHOWN; French Creations for Fall Displayed Hour After BeingTaken From LinerNEW SILHOUETTE DESIGNEvery Hat Reveals a Ribbon, aSnood or Some DrapedFullness in Back. Impact: This fashion revelation sparked a global obsession with snoods that led to a worldwide shortage of fabric and an unexpected resurgence of knitting as a competitive sport. Who knew the French could influence the Olympics?. Fact: Did you know that fashion trends often come back? So, if you saved your old bell-bottom jeans, it might be time to dig them out and prepare for some serious 'what were you thinking?' moments.
  • Headline: FIRST LADY NAMES THE LINER AMERICA; OUR QUEEN OF THE SEAS IS LAUNCHED AT NEWPORT NEWS. Impact: The launch of the liner 'America' set off a chain reaction of naming ships after iconic figures, ultimately leading to the creation of the USS Celebrity, a ship dedicated to hosting reality TV stars. Sailors beware!. Fact: Did you know that naming ships after people is a tradition that dates back to ancient times? So if you ever find yourself on a ship named after a celebrity, just remember that you've entered a long-standing tradition of questionable choices.
  • Headline: DENY LOUISIANA CHARGE; Smith and Weiss Arraigned on Embezzlement Indictment. Impact: The denial of charges kicked off a hilarious series of courtroom dramas that inspired a new genre of legal thrillers, leading to way too many late-night TV shows featuring overly dramatic lawyers yelling 'OBJECTION!'. Fact: Did you know that embezzlement has been around since people figured out how to hide money? So, it's practically a historical tradition, like Thanksgiving dinner arguments.
  • Headline: STORM REVEALS OLD COINS; Summer Visitors Dig Colonial Pennies in Delaware. Impact: The discovery of old coins led to a nationwide treasure-hunting craze, resulting in countless reality shows featuring people digging holes in their backyards. Spoiler: they're mostly just finding old dog bones. Fact: Did you know that coins can tell us a lot about history? So, next time you find a penny, think of it as a tiny time capsule from the past β€” or just a nuisance in your couch cushions.
  • Headline: THREE MEN QUALIFY FOR TW0 AIR RACES; Nine Fail to Place in Trial Heats at Cleveland for Trophy Competition NAVY FLIERS REHEARSE Test Manoeuvres at Field-- Army Group to Arrive Today for Share in Show. Impact: The competition between the Navy and Army pilots led to an arms race that eventually resulted in the invention of the world's first aerial dogfighting league, complete with sponsorships and merchandise. Because nothing says β€˜patriotism’ like branded fighter jets!. Fact: Did you know that flying an airplane is the only job where you can literally 'take off' from work? So if you ever feel overwhelmed, just remember that some people do it for a living.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: A historical $1,000 investment comparison using the stored long-range dataset.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1939
$0.06
Stored 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
Stored 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
Stored 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