OCTOBER 3, 1939

TUESDAY
$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
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
Golden Boy
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Golden Boy
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
October 3, 1939 Trivia
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The Story of October 3, 1939

On October 3, 1939, a daring theft occurred at a Fifth Avenue store, where a thief cut a hole in the glass storefront and made off with a luxurious $20,000 sable coat.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of October 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 October 3, 1939

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Sable Heist at Fifth Avenue Store. Impact: This theft sparked an immediate uptick in security measures and the unfortunate rise of the 'designer coat heist' trend, with aspiring thieves thinking they could just cut their way into high fashion. Spoiler: they couldn't.. Fact: Did you know that if you cut a hole in a glass display, it's not called a 'door'? It's called 'breaking and entering', which is less chic than it sounds..
  • Headline: Local Union Theft Admission. Impact: This confession likely led to a series of trust issues within unions, causing a dramatic spike in meetings filled with awkward silence and suspicious glances. Trust me, it's a slippery slope.. Fact: Did you know that admitting to a crime in a union is like signing up for a never-ending group therapy session? Guilt is a team sport!.
  • Headline: JAPAN'S PEACE AIM STRESSED IN POLICY; Premier and Foreign Minister Reaffirm Hope to Keep Out of European War WARN POWERS ON CHINA Cooperation Offered to Those That Understand Aim for a 'Tranquil' Asia. Impact: This declaration of peace may have led to a temporary sigh of relief, but it also paved the way for future misunderstandings and conflicts in Asia, proving that not everyone can agree on what 'tranquil' actually means.. Fact: Did you know that Japan's idea of 'tranquil' often involved sneak attacks? Talk about a mixed message!.
  • Headline: Incidents in European Conflict; Shell Explodes String of Mines. Impact: This explosive incident undoubtedly contributed to a growing fear of mines, leading to more bureaucratic red tape and the invention of the 'safety first' sloganβ€”because nothing says 'safety' like a minefield.. Fact: Did you know that exploding mines are the original party poppers of warfare? Just with far fewer streamers and a lot more shrapnel..
  • Headline: Kiefer Princeton Coach. Impact: The appointment of Kiefer as coach might have led to a renaissance of sportsmanship at Princeton, inspiring future generations to take up their own coaching careersβ€”mostly in dodgeball, because who doesn't love a good dodge?. Fact: Did you know that coaching at Princeton is almost as prestigious as being a professor? Just with less lecturing and more shouting at players to run faster..
  • Headline: VIENNA AGLOW AGAIN; Night Lights and Entertainment of City Resumed. Impact: The relighting of Vienna's nightlife likely rekindled the cultural vibrancy that inspires countless artists and tourists, proving that even in dark times, people crave a good waltz and a glass of wine.. Fact: Did you know that Vienna's nightlife is so enchanting, it can temporarily distract you from the looming horrors of history? Just don’t forget your dancing shoes!.
  • Headline: NATIONALISTS IN INDIA GET GANDHI'S REPORT; Committee Expected to Decide on Participation in War. Impact: Gandhi's report may have had a lasting impact on India's struggle for independence, launching debates that would echo through generations, leaving some wondering if they should have just taken up knitting instead.. Fact: Did you know that Gandhi once suggested non-violent resistance might be more effective than knitting? Although, I bet his sweaters would have been quite the statement!.
  • Headline: PLANS LAID TO HELP JEWS IN EUROPE; American Congress Revives 1917 Activity in Move to Upbuild Relief Work WIDE COOPERATION ASKED Committee to Be Named to Join With Distribution Group in Studying Problems. Impact: These plans for relief work may have laid the groundwork for future humanitarian efforts, proving that sometimes, in the darkest moments, compassion can spark a movement that echoes through history.. Fact: Did you know that humanitarian efforts often face more paperwork than actual help? Welcome to the bureaucratic side of goodwill!.

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