JANUARY 20, 1979

SATURDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1979
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $283,595 IN 2025
Min_Wage_Hourly: $2.95
Median_Home_Price: $44,840.00
Gas_Price_Avg: $1.13
Bread_Price_Avg: $0.47
Movie_Ticket_Avg: $2.66
First_Class_Stamp: $0.14
Milk_Price_Avg: $2.06
Top Movies By January 20, 1979
1 California Suite
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California Suite
2 Close Encounters of the Third Kind
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Close Encounters of the Third Kind
3 Saturday Night Fever
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Saturday Night Fever
4 High Anxiety
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High Anxiety
5 The Gauntlet
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The Gauntlet
6 Day of the Woman
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Day of the Woman
7 Northern Lights
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Northern Lights
8 Stony Island
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Stony Island
9 The Bees
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The Bees
10 The Pirate
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The Pirate
The Great Train Robbery
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The Great Train Robbery
The Deer Hunter
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The Deer Hunter
Superman
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Superman
Halloween
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Halloween
The Millionaire
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The Millionaire
The Lord of the Rings
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The Lord of the Rings
Les Misérables
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Les Misérables
Brass Target
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Brass Target
January 20, 1979 Trivia
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Television On January 20, 1979
Columbo poster
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Columbo
Sesame Street poster
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Sesame Street
Saturday Night Live poster
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Saturday Night Live
Dallas poster
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Dallas
M*A*S*H poster
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M*A*S*H
The Love Boat poster
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The Love Boat
Barnaby Jones poster
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Barnaby Jones
Charlie's Angels poster
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Charlie's Angels
The Story of January 20, 1979

On January 20, 1979, the world was witnessing significant geopolitical tensions, particularly as the West contemplated the deployment of missiles in Europe capable of striking the Soviet Union.

🧠 Inventions of 1979

Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.

1 Personal Computer Operating System
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Personal Computer Operating System
2 Mobile Cellular Network Deployment
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Mobile Cellular Network Deployment
3 Portable Computer Concept
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Portable Computer Concept
4 Computer-Aided Manufacturing Software
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Computer-Aided Manufacturing Software
5 Digital Camera Sensor Improvements
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Digital Camera Sensor Improvements
6 Medical MRI Commercialization
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Medical MRI Commercialization
7 Automotive Electronic Engine Control Unit
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Automotive Electronic Engine Control Unit
8 Electronic Mail Standardization
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Electronic Mail Standardization
9 Space Shuttle Avionics System
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Space Shuttle Avionics System
10 Video Game Handheld Concept
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Video Game Handheld Concept

The Sounds of

The biggest hits of the year — Top 10 Pop & Country chart toppers

HEADLINES ON January 20, 1979

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Examining True Austerity Measures. Impact: Russell Baker's article on austerity apparently planted the seed for future generations to complain about avocado toast while living in their parents' basements. Austerity? More like a trendy lifestyle choice, am I right?. Fact: Fun fact: Americans have been so 'not comprehending' austerity that they’ve made it a competitive sport! Welcome to the Olympics of complaining!.
  • Headline: West Considers Nuclear Missile for Europe. Impact: Ah, the classic arms race. This decision not only escalated tensions but also inspired a generation of Cold War spies, action movies, and conspiracy theories about aliens using these missiles to start wars from outer space. Thanks, West, for keeping the world on the edge of nuclear madness!. Fact: Did you know that this missile was later used as a plot device in more movies than you can count? Who knew nuclear tension could be so cinematic?.
  • Headline: 8 Albee Plays Will Tour Overseas. Impact: Edward Albee's decision to tour his plays internationally helped to fuel the global appreciation for existential angst. As if we needed more reasons to ponder life’s meaning at 3 AM!. Fact: Did you know that Albee's plays are so profound that people often leave the theater feeling existential dread? Perfect for a good night’s sleep!.
  • Headline: One of Victims In IND Attack Dead of Burns. Impact: The tragic death of Regina Reicherter marked a significant moment in the fight for justice against violent crime, triggering a wave of public outcry and reforms in safety regulations. Sometimes tragedy leads to change, and this was one of those moments.. Fact: This incident highlighted the urgent need for better protection for workers in high-risk environments, a lesson that, sadly, took far too long to learn..
  • Headline: 2 Break Hurdles Record. Impact: Nehemiah and Greg Foster's record-breaking achievement inspired a generation of athletes to take their training seriously, leading to the rise of indoor track events. And now we have a plethora of kids running indoors instead of outside—thanks, guys!. Fact: Did you know that breaking records is actually a great way to avoid doing your homework? 'Sorry, Mom, I was busy training for the Olympics!'.
  • Headline: Soviet Reports Lag in Oil and Coal; Emphasis on Natural Gas Expected. Impact: This little blip in Soviet energy reporting eventually led to a global energy crisis, where everyone suddenly became experts on natural gas. Thanks to this oversight, we now have a world obsessed with alternative fuels—who knew lagging reports could fuel a revolution?. Fact: Did you know that this report basically foreshadowed a future where people would argue about renewable energy at Thanksgiving dinners? Talk about a family feud!.
  • Headline: ‘Take It From Top,’ Musical Play. Impact: The revival of this musical play started a trend of reviving old productions, leading to the eventual Broadway obsession with nostalgia. We're now in an era where every childhood favorite is a potential ticket-selling blockbuster!. Fact: Fun fact: In the world of theater, 'revival' is just a fancy way of saying 'we ran out of new ideas.'.
  • Headline: Vietnamese Said to Assault Ruins Of a 2d Famous Cambodia Temple. Impact: This clash not only highlighted the ongoing tensions in the region but also led to a greater awareness of the need for preservation of historical sites. Sometimes, conflict leads to the realization that we need to protect our shared heritage.. Fact: Did you know that the temple ruins are now a UNESCO World Heritage site? Guess they figured out that preserving history is more important than destroying it!.
  • Headline: Hayes Offers No Apology. Impact: Woody Hayes' refusal to apologize for his actions became a classic case study in sportsmanship—or lack thereof—leading future coaches to think twice before throwing punches. It’s amazing how one stubborn man can influence sports etiquette for decades!. Fact: Did you know that in the world of sports, a refusal to apologize can sometimes become a badge of honor? Just ask any coach who’s ever thrown a tantrum!.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1979, here's what it would be worth in 2025.
Rank #1
WMT
Walmart
Price in 1979
$0.02
Value in 2025
$6,997,064

Walmart - If you invested $1,000 in 1979, it would be worth $6,997,064 today (6997.1x return)

Rank #2
INTC
Intel
Price in 1979
$0.18
Value in 2025
$199,890

Intel - If you invested $1,000 in 1979, it would be worth $199,890 today (199.9x return)

Rank #3
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1979
$0.50
Value in 2025
$417,979

Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1979, it would be worth $417,979 today (418.0x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
X-Men #129
X-Men #129
$1,500
Iron Man #118
Iron Man #118
$150
Batman #313
Batman #313
$20
Micronauts #1
Micronauts #1
$164.00
Superman #331
Superman #331
$10
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Simon
Simon
$1,000.00
LEGO Space Sets
LEGO Space Sets
$400.00
Star Wars Action Figures
Star Wars Action Figures
$300.00
My Little Pony
My Little Pony
$150.00
Atari 2600
Atari 2600
$6,500.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Asteroids
Asteroids
Unknown
Lunar Lander
Lunar Lander
$50.00
Galaxian
Galaxian
$262.70
Adventure
Adventure
$5,000.00
Star Raiders
Star Raiders
$5,000.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card #18
O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card #18
$1,290,000
Topps Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card #18
Topps Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card #18
$8,000
Garry Unger Kolner EC Card
Garry Unger Kolner EC Card
$1,000
Topps Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - Series 1 Luke Skywalker
Topps Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - Series 1 Luke Skywalker
$1,000
1979 Hostess Baseball George Brett
1979 Hostess Baseball George Brett
$4,920.00