Inventions & Breakthroughs of October 1950
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Magnetic Core Memory
2 
Hydrogen Bomb Prototype
3 
Charge-Coupled Device Concept
4 
Optical Fiber Concept
5 
Commercial Credit Card
6 
Microwave Relay Network
7 
Automatic Seat Belt
8 
Electronic Music Synthesizer
9 
High-Speed Digital Computer
10 
Weather Satellite Concept
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON October 5, 1950
Full News Archive
- Headline: Ross Budge: National City Official. Impact: Ross Budge's relatively obscure title eventually led to a secret society of bureaucrats who believed they were the true rulers of the world. Spoiler alert: they weren't.. Fact: Did you know 'National City' is just a fancy way to say 'the place where people argue about parking spots'?.
- Headline: The Legacy of Guy F. Von Kenzie. Impact: Guy F. Von Kenzie just sounds like a name that would eventually lead to the most pretentious book club of the 21st century, where they only read books with at least three syllables in the title.. Fact: Did you know that 'Von Kenzie' is often mistaken for a character in a bad spy movie? Spoiler: he’s not that interesting..
- Headline: CHARLES M. MARELLO. Impact: Charles M. Marello’s unremarkable life led to a time where every 'Charles' was overshadowed by a famous Charles, like Charles Darwin or Charles Dickens. Poor Marello was just left in the dust.. Fact: Did you know that there are more famous Charleses than there are people who remember Charles M. Marello? Kind of sad, right?.
- Headline: OWEN DOMINIC HEALY. Impact: Owen Dominic Healy’s legacy is that he probably had a very common name, leading to a future where Google has to implement 'Owen Healy' filters to avoid confusion. Thanks a lot, Owen.. Fact: Did you know that if you Google 'Owen Healy,' you might just end up with an endless scroll of very average people? Welcome to mediocrity!.
- Headline: 37 BISHOPS MEET D.P.'S; Methodist Church Illustrates the Work It Has Done. Impact: The meeting of 37 bishops was the foundational moment for a future where church meetings became legendary for their endless discussions about soup flavors and hymn selections.. Fact: Did you know that if you put 37 bishops in a room, you'll still get less drama than your average family reunion? Blessing or curse, you decide..
- Headline: Stock Exchange Seat Price Up. Impact: The stock exchange seat price going up resulted in a future where sitting is now a luxury. In 2023, people pay thousands just to sit down at a table without having to stand.. Fact: Did you know that the price of a stock exchange seat could buy you a decent car? But hey, who needs wheels when you can sit in luxury?.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1950, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1950
$0.06
2025 dataset value
$3,433,941
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1950, it would be worth $3,433,941 today (3433.9x return)
Rank #2
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1950
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$586,657
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1950, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)
Rank #3
MO
Philip Morris
Price in 1950
$0.00
2025 dataset value
$23,651,330
Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1950, it would be worth $23,651,330 today (23651.3x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Crime Suspenstories #1
$2,500
Classics Illustrated #75: Oliver Twist
$75
Marvel Family #10
$300
Mutiny On The Bounty #1
$150
Walt Disney'S Comics And Stories #111
$50
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Magic 8-Ball
$30.00
Silly Putty
$25.00
Lone Ranger Guns And Holster Set
$150.00
Davy Crockett Coonskin Cap
$150.00
Cootie Game
$25.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1950 Bowman Jackie Robinson
$1,200
1950 Callahan Hall Of Fame Babe Ruth
$50,000
1950 R714-27 Topps 'Funny Foldees'
$2,000
1950 Swedish Cigarett-Paket Gretzky Tobacco Stamp
$1,500
1950 L-M Gum Superman
$250,000