DECEMBER 23, 1940

MONDAY
$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 23, 1940 Trivia
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The Story of December 23, 1940

On December 23, 1940, the political landscape in Europe was significantly influenced by Halifax's diplomatic efforts, as he continued the work he had initiated in London.

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 23, 1940

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Halifax's Continued Efforts in Europe. Impact: If Halifax hadn’t been so determined to continue his work, we might have seen a completely different trajectory for British diplomacy. Maybe we would have had a peace conference that involved more tea and less war. Who knows, maybe we would all be speaking fluent British by now!. Fact: Did you know Halifax was so dedicated that he probably had a 'Workaholic of the Year' mug? No, seriously, he probably did..
  • Headline: Hoover Donates Tickets to Rose Bowl. Impact: This seemingly innocent act of giving away tickets may have created a chain reaction where students began expecting free stuff from alumni, leading to the rise of the β€˜free pizza on campus’ phenomenon. Thanks a lot, Hoover!. Fact: Did you know that alumni giving away tickets is still a thing? Just wait until you see them at your next game, trying to relive their glory days through free nachos..
  • Headline: Congress Voting Results for NY, NJ, CT. Impact: The votes cast in this Congress session could have dramatically altered the future of legislation. Or, more likely, it just reinforced the idea that politicians will argue endlessly about anything, including what color to paint the walls of the Capitol.. Fact: Did you know that Congress has been arguing since, oh, forever? It’s basically their hobby, right next to not getting anything done..
  • Headline: WIFE, 18, DIES IN LEAP; Niece of Justice Kadien Ends Life After Quarrel. Impact: Such a tragic event reminds us how personal conflicts can have catastrophic outcomes, reverberating through families and communities, and potentially impacting legal perspectives on mental health for generations to come.. Fact: It's a sobering thought, but studies show that unresolved disputes can lead to dire outcomes. Always remember to choose your battles wisely, folks..
  • Headline: The International Situation. Impact: This bombing could have sparked a minor diplomatic incident that escalated tensions, leading to an arms race that resulted in a whole new line of 'Who's Got the Bigger Bomb' contests in global politics. Spoiler: Nobody wins.. Fact: Did you know that dropping bombs is actually a terrible way to make friends? It's like showing up to a dinner party and setting the table on fire..
  • Headline: Hunted in Poker Game Hold-Up. Impact: This poker game robbery could have led to a series of β€˜bad luck’ stories that turned into the urban legend of the unlucky poker player, inspiring generations to avoid card games altogether. Thanks a lot, robber!. Fact: Did you know that poker games can get intense? It's not just about the cardsβ€”it's about who has the best bluff face. Spoiler: It's usually the one who looks like they just lost their last dollar..
  • Headline: SPAIN GETS NEW TAX LIST; Landed Estates and Unearned Incomes Draw Higher Levies. Impact: Franco’s new tax list may have led to an influx of disgruntled aristocrats fleeing to other countries, inadvertently forming the first wave of tax evaders who would later inspire 'offshore account' tourism. Who knew tax reform could lead to a vacation industry?. Fact: Did you know that evading taxes is like a rite of passage for the wealthy? It's practically a sport in some circles..
  • Headline: STRIKE NEAR VENICE; British Bomb Italians' Adriatic Oil Center at Porto Malghera WIDEST ATTACKS STAGED Bergen Railroad, Reich Bases and Invasion Ports Blasted-- Swiss Report a Bombing. Impact: The bombing could have drastically changed the course of oil production in the region, potentially leading to modern-day environmental disasters or inspiring a new generation of eco-warriors. Thanks, WWII!. Fact: Did you know that the Adriatic Sea is now a tourist hotspot? Just don’t mention the bombingsβ€”people prefer to focus on the 'beautiful beaches' rather than the 'bomb craters.'.
  • Headline: MARSHAL IS FRANK; Says Defeat Was Caused by Big, Swift-Moving Armored Force ITALIAN FIRE INEFFECTIVE Lack of Motorized Equipment a Factor in Loss to British, Graziani Tells Duce. Impact: Graziani’s frank admission could have led to a change in military strategy, which may have altered the course of the war. Or it might have just made Mussolini throw a tantrum, resulting in a new line of Italian armor that was just as ineffective. Win-win?. Fact: Did you know that admitting defeat is not as popular as one might think? It’s more like a β€˜bad hair day’ for generalsβ€”they’d rather just wear a hat..

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