OCTOBER 9, 1939

MONDAY
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
Intermezzo: A Love Story
Learn More
Intermezzo: A Love Story
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

October 9, 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

October 9, 1939

On October 9, 1939, a notable military engagement occurred as British forces downed a Nazi plane at sea, contributing to the ongoing tension and conflict in Europe amid World War II. This incident not only highlighted the escalati...

Inventions & Breakthroughs of October 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 October 9, 1939

Full News Archive

  • Headline: British Planes Patrol Westwall and Document Activities. Impact: This successful plane downing led to a chain reaction where British pilots, thinking they were on a photo safari instead of a war effort, inadvertently inspired future generations of aerial photography enthusiasts. Who knew war could spark a love for Insta-worthy vistas?. Fact: Did you know that the British had to develop a whole new vocabulary for air photography? 'Click and capture' was not just a catchy phrase for them.
  • Headline: Finnish-Nazi Cooperation During WWII. Impact: Little did they know, this alliance-seeking would lead to future Finnish coffee breaks where they'd lament the bureaucratic nightmare of international relations. Such a fun way to bond over pastries!. Fact: Fun fact: Finland is known for its coffee consumption, so they probably needed all that caffeine just to deal with the stress of international negotiations!.
  • Headline: Firefighters Hold Memorial for Fallen Heroes. Impact: This memorial service became a turning point, inspiring future generations of firefighters to host elaborate memorials, leading to the modern trend of themed memorials that are more about the event than the loss. Who knew honoring the dead could become so elaborate?. Fact: Firefighters have been known to have a strong brotherhood, but did you know they also have a knack for throwing the best memorial parties?.
  • Headline: EXPERT BARES TRICKS ACHIEVED BY CAMERA; Explains How He Gets 'Shot of Pampas' on 44th Street. Impact: This revelation sparked a photography revolution, where every aspiring artist believed they could turn a mundane street into a work of art. Thanks to this expert, Instagram influencers today are convinced they can make the subway look like the Serengeti. Fact: Fun fact: The only thing harder than taking a good photo on 44th Street is trying to explain to your parents why it’s not just a picture of a crowded street.
  • Headline: QUICK END OF STRIKE SEEN; Contractor Says Men on Metropolitan Project Lack Grievance. Impact: This contractor's optimistic take on labor relations led to the rise of motivational posters in workplaces everywhere. 'Keep calm and carry on' became a mantra for every contractor who had no clue about their workers' true feelings. Fact: As it turns out, contractors predicting the end of strikes is like astrologers predicting the weatherβ€”everyone just hopes they’re right!.
  • Headline: Flight to Peru Delayed. Impact: The wheel mishap caused a massive butterfly effect leading to a whole new genre of travel stories about delays. Travelers everywhere learned that planes can be as temperamental as toddlers. Fact: Did you know that air travel delays are so common that there’s a secret club for frequent flyers? They meet at the airport bar and bond over their shared misery.
  • Headline: BUSINESS RECOVERY. Impact: This article was the start of many economists trying to sound optimistic while chaos reigned. It led to a whole industry of motivational speakers convincing businesses that recovery was just around the cornerβ€”just like the Loch Ness Monster. Fact: Fun fact: Business recovery is often more about optimism than actual recovery. It's like saying your diet is going well because you only ate one slice of cake instead of the whole thing!.
  • Headline: 852 SLUM CHILDREN AIDED; Job Service of Children's Aid Reports Figures for 9 Months. Impact: This initiative became a pivotal moment in the history of social work, leading to a greater understanding of community needs and inspiring future generations to create more programs. Sometimes, a number can spark a revolution. Fact: Did you know that for every child helped, there were at least five well-meaning adults trying to figure out the best way to assist without tripping over their own intentions?.
  • Headline: HOLY NAME GROUPS PARADE IN JERSEY; 150,000 Take Part in Many Places in Paterson Diocese. Impact: This massive parade became the gold standard for community engagement, leading to a never-ending competition for the largest turnout. Who knew that the Holy Name could inspire a friendly rivalry with other parades?. Fact: Fun fact: Parades are the only times when it’s socially acceptable to wear sequins at any age. Thanks, Holy Name!.
  • Headline: RUSSIA TELLS PLAN; Big Trade Exchange 'at Rapid Pace' Announced After Experts Arrive NEUTRALS EXPRESS DOUBT Observers in Moscow Believe Quick Statement Is Aimed at Aiding Nazi Peace Offensive. Impact: This announcement created ripples that would eventually lead to decades of international skepticism about Russia’s intentions, proving that sometimes the speed of diplomacy is just as slow as the speed of molasses in winter. Fact: Did you know that statements from Russia during this era were often treated like weather forecasts? They always seemed to change, and no one was ever quite sure if they should bring an umbrella or not.

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