DECEMBER 16, 1939

SATURDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1939
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $7,875,940 IN 2025
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 By December 16, 1939
1 Gone with the Wind
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Gone with the Wind
2 A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol
3 Kentucky
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Kentucky
4 The Dawn Patrol
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The Dawn Patrol
5 Ninotchka
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Ninotchka
6 Destry Rides Again
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Destry Rides Again
7 Drums Along the Mohawk
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Drums Along the Mohawk
8 Another Thin Man
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Another Thin Man
9 The Wizard of Oz
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The Wizard of Oz
10 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Son of Frankenstein
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Son of Frankenstein
Jesse James
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Jesse James
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
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
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Goodbye, Mr. Chips
The Women
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The Women
Only Angels Have Wings
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Only Angels Have Wings
Young Mr. Lincoln
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Young Mr. Lincoln
The Roaring Twenties
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The Roaring Twenties
Confessions of a Nazi Spy
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Confessions of a Nazi Spy
Love Affair
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Love Affair
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
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The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
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
Intermezzo: A Love Story
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Intermezzo: A Love Story
Dodge City
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Dodge City
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
Babes in Arms
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Babes in Arms
Dark Victory
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Dark Victory
The Rains Came
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The Rains Came
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
Allegheny Uprising
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Allegheny Uprising
Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
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Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
The Cat and the Canary
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The Cat and the Canary
At the Circus
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At the Circus
Angels with Dirty Faces
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Angels with Dirty Faces
Listen, Darling
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Listen, Darling
December 16, 1939 Trivia
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The Story of December 16, 1939

On December 16, 1939, significant labor issues took center stage as E.

🧠 Inventions of 1939

Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.

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

The biggest hits of the year β€” Top 10 Pop & Country chart toppers

HEADLINES ON December 16, 1939

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Exploring Corporate Reports of 1939. Impact: Had this corporate report been written in a more legible font, it could have sparked a revolution in corporate transparency. Instead, we got a slew of unreadable documents that no one wants to touch, thus allowing shady dealings to flourish in the shadows.. Fact: Did you know that corporate reports are often more complex than a crossword puzzle? But hey, at least they don’t ask you to find a hidden word!.
  • Headline: NLRB Boycott Controversy in 1939. Impact: E.S. Smith's clash with the House group over a boycott was so intense that it inspired future NLRB members to become professional conflict avoiders. The butterfly effect? A world where corporate meetings are dominated by 'let’s all just get along' vibes.. Fact: Did you know that boycotts are often just like group projects in school? One person does all the work while everyone else just argues about how to do it!.
  • Headline: Charles H. Van Wie's Dedicated Marches. Impact: Charles H. Van Wie’s marches dedicated to Roosevelt and Lehman may have accidentally influenced the future of political campaign musicβ€”leading to overly dramatic tunes that make even the most mundane speeches sound like epic battles.. Fact: Did you know that composing music for politicians is like creating the soundtrack for a reality show? It's all about the drama!.
  • Headline: BOOKS OF THE TIMES; Painters of a Crowded Decade We Have It, but Is It Art? Upholding the Right to Disagree The Sources of American Painting. Impact: The debates about whether something is art or not have persisted through time, leading to modern-day influencers who sell their 'artistic' selfies for thousands. Thanks to this discussion, nearly anything can be claimed as artβ€”just ask your local barista!. Fact: Did you know that 'Is it art?' is basically the hipster's version of 'Do you even lift, bro?'.
  • Headline: DANIEL W. ROBERTSON; Showman, 81, Said to Have Given First Movie in Brooklyn. Impact: Daniel W. Robertson's first movie in Brooklyn laid the groundwork for the cinematic explosion that followed, leading to the creation of an entire industry obsessed with reboots and sequels. Thanks, Daniel, for kickstarting our endless cycle of remakes!. Fact: Did you know that in the future, people will still argue over the best version of a movie? Spoiler: it’s usually the first one..
  • Headline: AIRPORT'S INCOME IS PUT AT $873,833; La Guardia Gives Estimate for Next Year to Committee From City Council Asks Secrecy on Details Dubious on Fair Funds. Impact: La Guardia's estimate of airport income was so underwhelming that it set a precedent for future estimates. This led to a series of 'if we just keep our expectations low, we can only be pleasantly surprised' mentalities that still haunt budget meetings today.. Fact: Did you know that asking for secrecy on financial details is just code for 'We have no idea what we’re doing'?.
  • Headline: $17,000 IN LIQUOR STOLEN; Hijackers Bind Truck Driver and Take 502 of 698 Cases. Impact: The hijacking of $17,000 in liquor turned into a cautionary tale for the transportation industry, leading to far more secure delivery methods. Who knew that liquor heists could inspire better truck locks?. Fact: Did you know that liquor thieves have more elaborate plans than most heist movies? They really should get their own reality show!.
  • Headline: CURB SEES STEEL FILM; Speaker Tells of Link to the Chemical Industry. Impact: The steel film showcased at the NYC Curb Exchange probably inspired dozens of engineers to dream about linking industries, resulting in the modern age of cross-industry innovation. Who knew steel could be so influential?. Fact: Did you know that linking industries is just a fancy way of saying 'Hey, let’s collaborate so we can both get rich!'?.
  • Headline: JULIETTE HOWELL BECOMES A BRIDE; HAS CHURCH BRIDAL. Impact: Juliette Howell's wedding may have sparked a wave of elaborate church weddings, leading to countless Pinterest boards dedicated to 'the perfect day.' Her special moment turned into a pressure cooker for future brides everywhere.. Fact: Did you know that the average wedding now costs more than a small car? Talk about priorities!.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1939, here's what it would be worth in 2025.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1939
$0.06
Value in 2025
$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
Value in 2025
$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
Value in 2025
$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
⚾ Top 5 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