SEPTEMBER 28, 1939

THURSDAY
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
Learn More
Gone with the Wind
2 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Learn More
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
3 Jesse James
Learn More
Jesse James
4 Babes in Arms
Learn More
Babes in Arms
5 The Wizard of Oz
Learn More
The Wizard of Oz
6 Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Learn More
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
7 Dodge City
Learn More
Dodge City
8 The Rains Came
Learn More
The Rains Came
9 The Women
Learn More
The Women
10 Drums Along the Mohawk
Learn More
Drums Along the Mohawk
Son of Frankenstein
Learn More
Son of Frankenstein
Made for Each Other
Learn More
Made for Each Other
Idiot's Delight
Learn More
Idiot's Delight
The Oklahoma Kid
Learn More
The Oklahoma Kid
Stagecoach
Learn More
Stagecoach
Midnight
Learn More
Midnight
The Ice Follies of 1939
Learn More
The Ice Follies of 1939
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Learn More
The Hound of the Baskervilles
They Made Me a Criminal
Learn More
They Made Me a Criminal
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
Learn More
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
The Little Princess
Learn More
The Little Princess
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Learn More
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Union Pacific
Learn More
Union Pacific
Gunga Din
Learn More
Gunga Din
Only Angels Have Wings
Learn More
Only Angels Have Wings
Young Mr. Lincoln
Learn More
Young Mr. Lincoln
Confessions of a Nazi Spy
Learn More
Confessions of a Nazi Spy
Love Affair
Learn More
Love Affair
Beau Geste
Learn More
Beau Geste
The Man in the Iron Mask
Learn More
The Man in the Iron Mask
Five Came Back
Learn More
Five Came Back
Each Dawn I Die
Learn More
Each Dawn I Die
Bachelor Mother
Learn More
Bachelor Mother
The Old Maid
Learn More
The Old Maid
Golden Boy
Learn More
Golden Boy
In Name Only
Learn More
In Name Only
The Three Musketeers
Learn More
The Three Musketeers
Dark Victory
Learn More
Dark Victory
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Learn More
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
When Tomorrow Comes
Learn More
When Tomorrow Comes
On Borrowed Time
Learn More
On Borrowed Time
Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
Learn More
Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
Angels with Dirty Faces
Learn More
Angels with Dirty Faces
A Christmas Carol
Learn More
A Christmas Carol
The Dawn Patrol
Learn More
The Dawn Patrol
Listen, Darling
Learn More
Listen, Darling
Kentucky
Learn More
Kentucky

September 28, 1939 Trivia

Multiple choice - Sign in to save + leaderboard - View all-time leaderboard
Score: 0 / 0
All-time leaderboard
Your results

Exact-date daily brief

September 28, 1939

On September 28, 1939, Dr. Bowie was officially installed at a seminary in a ceremony that underscored his call for resistance against the encroaching turmoil of World War II. As Europe descended deeper into conflict, with notable...

Inventions & Breakthroughs of September 1939

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

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

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

Headlines From September 28, 1939

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Dr. Bowie Advocates Peace at Installation. Impact: Dr. Bowie’s resistance sermon sparked a secret society of theologians who believed they could save the world through interpretative dance. Spoiler: it didn’t work out. Fact: Did you know Dr. Bowie’s real name was actually Dr. David Jones? He switched to Bowie to avoid confusion with the famous rock star. And who could blame him?.
  • Headline: European Conflict and Religious Ordination Highlights. Impact: The ordination of a priest near the front lines inspired a series of misguided attempts to use holy water as a weapon, leading to the world's first holy water missile. Fact: Did you know that $20,000 in 1940 is roughly equivalent to a small fortune today? Or enough to buy a decent vintage carβ€”if only it were still alive.
  • Headline: PENDERGAST ASKS PAROLE; Kansas City Leader's Plea to Be Considered by Board. Impact: Pendergast’s plea for parole led to a massive public relations campaign that inspired a generation of β€˜plea bargain’ enthusiasts, who thought they could talk their way out of anything. Fact: Did you know that asking for parole is the adult equivalent of asking your mom for just one more cookie? Spoiler alert: it usually doesn’t work.
  • Headline: SAYS OUR INDUSTRY FINANCES RED SPIES; Dr. Dubrowsky Testifies Firms Which Sell to Soviet Pay an Advertising 'Kickback' PUT AT $3,000,000 A YEAR Total 'Racket' Yield Is Set at $17,500,000--Dies Witness Charges Theft of Our Mail. Impact: Dr. Dubrowsky’s testimony led to a secret meeting of industry leaders who decided that funding spies was a bad look. They then shifted to funding cat videos instead. Fact: Did you know that 'kickback' is also a term used in the shady world of lawn care? Just kidding, it’s not, but wouldn’t that be amusing?.
  • Headline: 240 FROM ATHENIA LAND IN GRIM SCENE; Met by Anxious Crowds at the Pier, Many Hoping to Find 'Missing' Relatives Aboard WELFARE GROUP GIVES AID False Alarm on the Orizaba Sunday Added to Tension of Survivors of Torpedoing. Impact: The arrival of survivors led to a global initiative to ensure life vests were fashionable. This sparked the modern-day swimwear industry. Fact: Did you know that the term 'grim scene' is actually a euphemism for 'awkward family reunion'? Just check your local family gatherings.
  • Headline: H.G. Morison Jr. in Bar Post. Impact: H.G. Morison Jr.’s appointment as chairman led to a wave of nepotism where everyone else’s junior was suddenly qualified to lead. It became known as 'The Junior Effect'. Fact: Did you know that being appointed to a bar post doesn’t mean you’re now serving drinks? Disappointing, I know.
  • Headline: Rubel Tax Claim Is Settled. Impact: The settlement of the Rubel tax claim led to a long-standing family feud over who actually pays taxes and who just pretends to. It still rages on in living rooms across the nation. Fact: Did you know that tax claims are the adult version of 'he said, she said'? Just with less fun and more paperwork.
  • Headline: Two Hurt on Honeymoon Trip. Impact: The honeymoon accident led to a series of unfortunate events where couples decided to skip honeymoons altogether. They later regretted it during anniversaries. Fact: Did you know that honeymoon mishaps are often just a catalyst for funny stories at dinner parties? Silver linings, right?.
  • Headline: Virgin Islands Sight Submarine. Impact: The sighting of a submarine off the Virgin Islands prompted a massive increase in snorkel sales, leading to a bizarre trend where people began snorkeling in their bathtubs. Fact: Did you know that submarines are basically oceanic versions of a really big, secretive fish? Just without the scales and with more torpedoes.

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