MAY 18, 1949

WEDNESDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1949
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $3,767,246 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min_Wage_Hourly: $0.71
Median_Home_Price: $7,060.00
Gas_Price_Avg: $0.26
Bread_Price_Avg: $0.14
Movie_Ticket_Avg: $0.44
First_Class_Stamp: $0.03
Milk_Price_Avg: $0.80
Top Movies From 1949
1 Samson and Delilah
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Samson and Delilah
2 Battleground
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Battleground
3 Jolson Sings Again
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Jolson Sings Again
4 Sands of Iwo Jima
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Sands of Iwo Jima
5 I Was a Male War Bride
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I Was a Male War Bride
6 Pinky
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Pinky
7 Mr. Belvedere Goes to College
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Mr. Belvedere Goes to College
8 Neptune's Daughter
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Neptune's Daughter
9 Little Women
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Little Women
10 Sorrowful Jones
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Sorrowful Jones
The Accused
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The Accused
Act of Violence
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Act of Violence
Caught
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Caught
Down to the Sea in Ships
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Down to the Sea in Ships
Flamingo Road
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Flamingo Road
The Bribe
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The Bribe
A Letter to Three Wives
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A Letter to Three Wives
The Set-Up
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The Set-Up
Champion
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Champion
The Barkleys of Broadway
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The Barkleys of Broadway
The Window
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The Window
Knock on Any Door
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Knock on Any Door
The Red Pony
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The Red Pony
The Stratton Story
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The Stratton Story
Home of the Brave
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Home of the Brave
Gun Crazy
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Gun Crazy
Criss Cross
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Criss Cross
Impact
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Impact
The Paleface
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The Paleface
The Snake Pit
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The Snake Pit
Rope
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Rope
He Walked by Night
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He Walked by Night
Macbeth
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Macbeth
Portrait of Jennie
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Portrait of Jennie
Joan of Arc
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Joan of Arc
May 18, 1949 Trivia
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The Story of May 18, 1949

On May 18, 1949, the U.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of May 1949

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

1 Commercial Transistor Production
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Commercial Transistor Production
2 Jet Commercial Airliner
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Jet Commercial Airliner
3 Hydrogen Bomb Design
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Hydrogen Bomb Design
4 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Theory
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging Theory
5 Modern Credit Card Concept
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Modern Credit Card Concept
6 Anti-Lock Braking System Prototype
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Anti-Lock Braking System Prototype
7 Artificial Intelligence Theory
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Artificial Intelligence Theory
8 Polyester Fabric
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Polyester Fabric
9 Portable Television
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Portable Television
10 High-Speed Photocopier
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High-Speed Photocopier

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

HEADLINES ON May 18, 1949

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Justice Department Seeks Funds for Tax Fraud. Impact: In a bizarre twist of fate, the increased funding for tax fraud investigations inadvertently led to the birth of an underground society of accountants who now operate in the shadows, plotting against the IRS with spreadsheets and calculators as their weapons of choice.. Fact: Did you know that accounting is the only profession where you can be a 'creative' artist while still being completely boring? No wonder they need extra funds!.
  • Headline: Swindler Sentenced for Deceiving Bride. Impact: This swindler’s downfall sparked a nationwide trend where people started to question their own bank accounts, leading to a sudden increase in community audits and an explosion of 'financial literacy' workshops that nobody wanted to attend.. Fact: Fun fact: Swindling is just a fancy term for 'being really bad at being honest'. You’d think people would learn, but here we are!.
  • Headline: Rhee Advocates for U.S. Pacific Pact. Impact: Rhee's plea for a pact set off a series of events that eventually led to an ongoing game of geopolitical chess in the Pacific, where the players constantly change but the stakes remain alarmingly high.. Fact: Speaking of chess, did you know that in some countries, the pieces are actually allowed to talk? Just kidding, only in Rhee's dreams!.
  • Headline: U. N., 37-14, REJECTS BEVIN-SFORZA PLAN ON ROME COLONIES; Assembly Earlier Refused to Back Paragraphs to Give Italy Trusteeships FRANCE CHANGED STAND Her Switch to Opposition From Advocacy Dooms Proposal -- Debate at Flushing Sharp U. N., 37-14, DOOMS BEVIN-SFORZA PLAN. Impact: The rejection of this plan sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, leading to France developing a more artistic approach to diplomacy, which now involves interpretive dance battles in the U.N. assembly.. Fact: Imagine if the U.N. really did resolve conflicts through dance-offs. Suddenly, all those diplomats would finally be getting their cardio in!.
  • Headline: Crippled Children on Cruise. Impact: This heartwarming event inspired a series of inclusive cruises that eventually led to the creation of a new industry dedicated to adaptive experiences, proving that joy can indeed set sail on any sea.. Fact: Cruising with kids is like herding cats, but with more life jackets and fewer scratches!.
  • Headline: Clay Gives Capital a Lesson On How and When to Retire; His Timing Perfect, His Break Clean, and Washington Responds Warmly. Impact: Clay's flawless retirement timing led to a new trend of politicians stepping down at the peak of their popularity, causing a national crisis of trustβ€”because who needs experienced leaders anyway?. Fact: It's amazing how politicians think they can retire gracefully. Spoiler alert: They usually just end up on reality TV..
  • Headline: DELAY ON TREATY IN SENATE IS SEEN; Connally Says He Won't Insist Covenant Be Put Ahead of Slated Domestic Bills. Impact: This delay set off a chain reaction that resulted in a new Senate sport: 'Dodge the Treaty,' where lawmakers avoid responsibility while simultaneously trying to look important.. Fact: The Senate: where treaties go to die, and paperwork is the only thing that gets voted on!.
  • Headline: LONDON BIDS CZECH LEAVE; Demands the Recall of Embassy Aide in Retaliatory Step. Impact: This diplomatic spat opened the floodgates for 'embassy aide' to become the most dangerous job in international relations, leading to a dramatic rise in 'aide escape plans' and underground embassy parties.. Fact: Embassy aides are like the unsung heroes of international dramaβ€”always caught in the middle, often with the worst coffee!.
  • Headline: ARSONIST PLEADS GUILTY; Youth, 17, Faces 20-Year Term for Setting a Fire in Queens. Impact: The young arsonist's case ignited discussions about youth crime and sparked a movement for better youth engagement programs, showing that even the hottest flames can be extinguished with a little attention.. Fact: Arson is a crime that really 'burns' bridgesβ€”literally and figuratively. Always better to seek help than to play with fire!.
  • Headline: HOUSEMAID SEIZED IN $55,000 THEFTS; 2 Ex-Employers Whose Furs and Gems Vanished Identify Her -- Other Victims Sought. Impact: This theft case led to a nationwide panic among wealthy families, resulting in a boom for home security companies. Who knew a maid could spark such a revolution in safety?. Fact: They say a good housemaid is worth her weight in gold. Too bad this one was just interested in the jewels!.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1949, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1949
$0.06
2025 dataset value
$3,433,939

Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1949, it would be worth $3,433,939 today (3433.9x return)

Rank #2
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1949
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$586,657

Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1949, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)

Rank #3
KMB
Kimberly-Clark
Price in 1949
$0.69
2025 dataset value
$147,887

Kimberly-Clark - If you invested $1,000 in 1949, it would be worth $147,887 today (147.9x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
Vault of Horror #12
Vault of Horror #12
$1,500
All-Negro Comics #1
All-Negro Comics #1
$85
Adventure Comics #252
Adventure Comics #252
$1,500
Captain America Comics #71
Captain America Comics #71
$1,200
Joe Palooka Comics #55
Joe Palooka Comics #55
$150
🧸 Top 5 Toys
LEGO Bricks
LEGO Bricks
$300.00
Silly Putty
Silly Putty
$75.00
The Buzzy Bee
The Buzzy Bee
$150.00
Candy Land
Candy Land
$50.00
Clip-Clop the Harness Horse
Clip-Clop the Harness Horse
$150.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson
1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson
$250,000
1949 Leaf Satchel Paige
1949 Leaf Satchel Paige
$228,000
1949 Bowman Stan Musial
1949 Bowman Stan Musial
$30,000
1949 Bowman Duke Snider
1949 Bowman Duke Snider
$30,000
1949 Leaf Babe Ruth
1949 Leaf Babe Ruth
$89,175