MAY 18, 1979

FRIDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1979
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $283,595 IN THE 2025 DATASET
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 From 1979
1 Kramer vs. Kramer
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Kramer vs. Kramer
2 The Amityville Horror
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The Amityville Horror
3 Rocky II
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Rocky II
4 Apocalypse Now
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Apocalypse Now
5 Star Trek: The Motion Picture
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Star Trek: The Motion Picture
6 Alien
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Alien
7 The Muppet Movie
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The Muppet Movie
8 10
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10
9 The Jerk
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The Jerk
10 Moonraker
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Moonraker
The Warriors
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The Warriors
The China Syndrome
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The China Syndrome
Norma Rae
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Norma Rae
Agatha
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Agatha
Saint Jack
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Saint Jack
The Great Train Robbery
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The Great Train Robbery
Manhattan
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Manhattan
Love at First Bite
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Love at First Bite
Hair
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Hair
The Deer Hunter
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The Deer Hunter
Hardcore
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Hardcore
Phantasm
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Phantasm
Over the Edge
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Over the Edge
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
Starcrash
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Starcrash
May 18, 1979 Trivia
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Television On May 18, 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 May 18, 1979

On May 18, 1979, the ongoing inquiry into the Three Mile Island nuclear accident faced delays as a dispute regarding subpoena power arose among commission members.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of May 1979

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

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

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

HEADLINES ON May 18, 1979

Full News Archive

  • Headline: 3 Mile Island Inquiry Stalled by Dispute. Impact: The Senate's refusal to fund the Clinch River breeder reactor led to a decade-long energy crisis that resulted in the invention of the first solar-powered toaster. This toaster would later be responsible for the rise of eco-friendly kitchens and ultimately the downfall of several traditional appliance manufacturers.. Fact: The Senate has been blocking funding since before the invention of the light bulb. Talk about a long-standing tradition!.
  • Headline: British Envoy Meets Rhodesian Leader. Impact: This meeting between Duff and Muzorewa inadvertently sparked a series of diplomatic discussions that would eventually lead to the invention of the 'awkward handshake' – a greeting that still leaves many confused today.. Fact: The term 'Rhodesian' has been used in more contexts than most people care to admit, ranging from political discussions to the name of a particularly stubborn breed of dog..
  • Headline: Gas Shortage Affects LA Theater Industry. Impact: The gasoline shortage led to a sudden spike in popularity for drive-in theaters, which ironically became the last refuge for films that nobody wanted to see. This trend eventually led to the rise of 'So Bad It’s Good' movie nights.. Fact: The only thing worse than a gas shortage is a shortage of good movie options. Talk about a double whammy!.
  • Headline: Title Insurance Challenges Old British Land System. Impact: The introduction of title insurance in Britain sent shockwaves through the legal community, leading to a historic rise in the number of lawyers switching careers to become baristas. Coffee became the new currency in legal circles.. Fact: In Britain, lawyers used to be the only ones allowed to transfer property, which is why most people still think all property transactions are done over a cup of tea..
  • Headline: Vote‐Seekers Court Alienated Western Provinces. Impact: The alienation of the Western Provinces led to a series of bizarre political campaigns that included a candidate promising free maple syrup for all. This quirky promise ultimately won over voters more than any serious policy ever could.. Fact: Canadians are known for their politeness, but when it comes to politics, they can be wonderfully unpredictable. Just ask the syrup-loving candidate!.
  • Headline: Hoover to Oppose Fuqua Control Bid. Impact: Hoover's resistance to Fuqua's control bid led to a corporate rivalry that resulted in the introduction of boardroom rap battles. These battles eventually changed corporate culture forever, replacing power suits with oversized hoodies.. Fact: The Hoover Company, famous for vacuums, ironically became a symbol of corporate resistance – they just couldn’t suck it up when it came to competition!.
  • Headline: United Press International. Impact: Wyszynski's meeting with the Pope sparked a global movement for interfaith dialogue, which eventually led to the creation of a Netflix series featuring clergymen debating over coffee. Ratings skyrocketed, proving that everyone loves a good theological throwdown.. Fact: Popes and cardinals have been kissing hands for centuries, but it's not just a sign of respect; it’s also a great way to avoid awkward small talk!.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1979, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
WMT
Walmart
Price in 1979
$0.02
2025 dataset value
$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
2025 dataset value
$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
2025 dataset value
$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