DECEMBER 18, 1940

WEDNESDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1940
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $8,324,276 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min_Wage_Hourly: $0.30
Median_Home_Price: $4,000.00
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 1940
1 Boom Town
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Boom Town
2 The Great Dictator
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The Great Dictator
3 Rebecca
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Rebecca
4 North West Mounted Police
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North West Mounted Police
5 Strike Up the Band
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Strike Up the Band
6 Northwest Passage
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Northwest Passage
7 Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
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Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
8 The Fighting 69th
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The Fighting 69th
9 Santa Fe Trail
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Santa Fe Trail
10 Kitty Foyle
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Kitty Foyle
The Grapes of Wrath
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The Grapes of Wrath
The Shop Around the Corner
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The Shop Around the Corner
His Girl Friday
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His Girl Friday
Pinocchio
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Pinocchio
Foreign Correspondent
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Foreign Correspondent
The Philadelphia Story
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The Philadelphia Story
Waterloo Bridge
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Waterloo Bridge
Virginia City
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Virginia City
My Favorite Wife
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My Favorite Wife
My Little Chickadee
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My Little Chickadee
Pride and Prejudice
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Pride and Prejudice
Our Town
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Our Town
Boys of the City
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Boys of the City
The Ghost Breakers
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The Ghost Breakers
The Letter
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The Letter
The Sea Hawk
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The Sea Hawk
They Drive by Night
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They Drive by Night
The Bank Dick
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The Bank Dick
Dr. Cyclops
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Dr. Cyclops
Fantasia
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Fantasia
One Night in the Tropics
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One Night in the Tropics
The Thief of Bagdad
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The Thief of Bagdad
The Long Voyage Home
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The Long Voyage Home
You'll Find Out
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You'll Find Out
The Westerner
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The Westerner
Go West
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Go West
Christmas in July
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Christmas in July
The Mortal Storm
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The Mortal Storm
The Return of Frank James
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The Return of Frank James
Dance, Girl, Dance
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Dance, Girl, Dance
Too Many Husbands
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Too Many Husbands
Knute Rockne All American
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Knute Rockne All American
I Love You Again
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I Love You Again
The Great McGinty
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The Great McGinty
The Blue Bird
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The Blue Bird
The Invisible Man Returns
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The Invisible Man Returns
The Mark of Zorro
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The Mark of Zorro
City for Conquest
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City for Conquest
The Ape
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The Ape
All This, and Heaven Too
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All This, and Heaven Too
Beyond Tomorrow
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Beyond Tomorrow
Road to Singapore
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Road to Singapore
Black Friday
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Black Friday
Gone with the Wind
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Gone with the Wind
Ninotchka
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Ninotchka
Of Mice and Men
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Of Mice and Men
Allegheny Uprising
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Allegheny Uprising
Remember?
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Remember?
A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol
December 18, 1940 Trivia
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The Story of December 18, 1940

On December 18, 1940, President Franklin D.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 1940

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

1 Photocopier (Xerography)
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Photocopier (Xerography)
2 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Concept
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Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Concept
3 Jet Engine Flight Demonstration
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Jet Engine Flight Demonstration
4 Synthetic Detergent
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Synthetic Detergent
5 Mass-Produced Nylon Stockings
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Mass-Produced Nylon Stockings
6 Proximity Fuse
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Proximity Fuse
7 Electronic Fire Control System
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Electronic Fire Control System
8 Polyurethane Foam
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Polyurethane Foam
9 Early Speech Recognition Machine
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Early Speech Recognition Machine
10 Automatic Anti-Lock Brakes Concept
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Automatic Anti-Lock Brakes Concept

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

HEADLINES ON December 18, 1940

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Britain Supports Roosevelt's Economic Plan. Impact: This little loan scheme led to the U.S. becoming the financial babysitter of Europe, with a side gig in World War II. Who knew a loan could lead to a global showdown and a whole lot of 'Can you spot the American influence?' in world politics?. Fact: Did you know that this plan basically set the stage for the U.S. to get involved in European affairs? Thanks, FDR, for making us the world's unofficial referee!.
  • Headline: Navy Flier Lieut. Tyler Buried. Impact: The tragic loss of Lieutenant Tyler sparked an inquiry that, if nothing else, made future naval protocols more stringent. Just a small reminder that sometimes history is built on the mistakes of the past.. Fact: It's said that every naval tragedy leads to changes in safety protocols. So, Lieutenant Tyler’s legacy is about as uplifting as a wet blanket on a cold day..
  • Headline: Landon's Alert on Nazi Invasion Plans. Impact: Imagine if Landon had taken this seriously and rallied the troops sooner! But instead, it just added to the long list of 'Oops, we should have listened' moments in history.. Fact: Spoiler alert: The Nazis did invade, and it was not the romantic winter getaway Landon may have been hoping for..
  • Headline: Speedy Aid to Britain Urged by Clare Boothe In Plea for United Support for Roosevelt. Impact: Clare Boothe's plea was like the 'let's get this party started' moment for American involvement in WWII. Little did everyone know, this would lead to jazz hands and victory parades down the line.. Fact: Clare Boothe was not just any advocate; she was basically a one-woman press conference. Bet she could sell ice to Eskimos with that charisma!.
  • Headline: Foran to Be Acting Governor. Impact: Ah, the classic two-day acting governor gig. This set the precedent that anyone can take on a leadership role, even if it's just for a coffee break and a few awkward photo ops.. Fact: Fun fact: Foran's two-day term inspired countless future 'acting' positions, proving that sometimes you can lead without actually leading. Bravo!.
  • Headline: MARKS 13TH AMENDMENT; Exhibition of Works of Negro Authors and Artists Opens. Impact: This exhibition was a reminder that art and literature can serve as powerful tools for social change. Who knew a bunch of paintings could help reshape societal views and advance civil rights?. Fact: This was the 75th anniversary of the 13th Amendment. Little did they know, they were just getting started on a long journey toward equality..
  • Headline: SAYS INSULL FORMED NEW ENGLAND UNIT; Head of New England Public Service Witness at SEC Hearing. Impact: Insull's testimony at the SEC hearing was like giving the world a front-row seat to the dramatic soap opera that was corporate America. Spoiler: It was messy.. Fact: Insull was like the Kardashians of his timeβ€”everyone was talking about him, and not always in a flattering way..
  • Headline: AUTO INSURANCE LAW DEBATED AT HEARING; 'Compulsory' and 'Persuasive' Types Are Discussed. Impact: This auto insurance debate was the spark that lit the fire of bureaucratic discussions for decades to come. Who knew 'compulsory' vs. 'persuasive' could be such a riveting topic?. Fact: If only they had a reality show for insurance debatesβ€”'Keeping Up with the Claims Adjusters' could have been a hit!.
  • Headline: 50,000 NAZI TROOPS REPORTED IN ITALY; Said to Be at Embarkation Ports for Libya and Albania, With More on the Way. Impact: The presence of Nazi troops in Italy was like the ominous 'Dun Dun Dun' of a horror movie, setting the stage for a larger conflict that would engulf Europe. Thanks for the dramatic tension, guys!. Fact: Fun fact: Their logistics were so terrible, they almost made it easy for the Allies. You had one job, Nazi troops!.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1940, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1940
$0.06
2025 dataset value
$3,433,941

Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1940, it would be worth $3,433,941 today (3433.9x return)

Rank #2
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1940
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$586,657

Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1940, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)

Rank #3
KMB
Kimberly-Clark
Price in 1940
$0.69
2025 dataset value
$147,887

Kimberly-Clark - If you invested $1,000 in 1940, it would be worth $147,887 today (147.9x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
Batman #1
Batman #1
$2,220,000
Flash Comics #1
Flash Comics #1
$1,500
Green Lantern #1
Green Lantern #1
$150,000
Detective Comics #38
Detective Comics #38
$42,000
All Star Comics #3
All Star Comics #3
$2,500
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Lone Ranger Frontier Town
Lone Ranger Frontier Town
$150.00
Red Ryder BB Gun
Red Ryder BB Gun
$250.00
Sorry!
Sorry!
$30.00
Paper Dolls
Paper Dolls
$35.00
Microscope Kit
Microscope Kit
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Walt Disney Comics and Stories #1 Card
Walt Disney Comics and Stories #1 Card
$800
Superman Gum Cards
Superman Gum Cards
$800
G-Men and Heroes of the Law
G-Men and Heroes of the Law
$11.00
1940 War Gum Cards
1940 War Gum Cards
$1,500
1940 Play Ball Baseball Cards
1940 Play Ball Baseball Cards
$3,000