OCTOBER 19, 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
Escape from Alcatraz
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Escape from Alcatraz
Norma Rae
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Norma Rae
The Onion Field
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The Onion Field
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
The In-Laws
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The In-Laws
Manhattan
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Manhattan
Breaking Away
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Breaking Away
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
Meatballs
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Meatballs
The Frisco Kid
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The Frisco Kid
Time After Time
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Time After Time
Hardcore
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Hardcore
Phantasm
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Phantasm
The Champ
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The Champ
Yanks
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Yanks
Over the Edge
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Over the Edge
Prophecy
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Prophecy
And Justice for All
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And Justice for All
Escape to Athena
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Escape to Athena
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
October 19, 1979 Trivia
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Television On October 19, 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 October 19, 1979

On October 19, 1979, the ongoing debate surrounding NATO's deterrent capabilities took center stage as tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union escalated.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of October 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 October 19, 1979

Full News Archive

  • Headline: NATO's Deterrent Power in Jeopardy. Impact: If NATO had chosen to deploy those missiles, we might have seen a surge in Cold War paranoia, leading to a global trend of collecting survivalist supplies like canned beans and bunkers, influencing the rise of reality TV prepping shows decades later.. Fact: Fun fact: NATO’s deterrent power is like a high school prom date—everyone’s worried about it but no one really knows what to do if it shows up..
  • Headline: Fed Raises Bill Rate to 12.02%. Impact: This rate hike sent shockwaves through the economy, causing a chain reaction where people started hiding their cash under mattresses, inadvertently sparking a home decor trend of 'vintage cash storage.'. Fact: Did you know? When interest rates rise, so do the chances of you having to explain to your grandparents why you can't afford to buy a house—thanks, Fed!.
  • Headline: The Legacy of Hawkins' Passing. Impact: The passing of Hawkins led to a series of events that ultimately resulted in a new movement for memorials, inspiring a generation of people to take up crafting as a hobby to honor those who had passed.. Fact: Hawkins’ death reminds us that mortality is just a gentle nudge from the universe to prioritize that long-neglected bucket list..
  • Headline: By and About Elytis. Impact: The publication of works about Elytis inadvertently influenced the popularity of Greek cuisine in literary circles, leading to an explosion of tzatziki recipes in the 80s, which still haunt dinner parties today.. Fact: Did you know? Odysseus Elytis wrote poetry so beautiful that it’s rumored even his grocery lists were published as bestsellers..
  • Headline: 40% in Survey Say Inflation Is Major Issue for 1980 Race. Impact: The inflation concerns led to a series of economic policies that would eventually spark debates over brunch prices—resulting in the first-ever avocado toast tax in 2020.. Fact: Fun fact: In 1980, inflation was such a hot topic that it probably had its own fan club. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t very popular..
  • Headline: GUERRILLAS ACCEPT RHODESIAN CHARTER PROPOSED BY BRITISH. Impact: This acceptance set off a domino effect in diplomatic negotiations, ultimately leading to a trend of nations believing they could solve problems by simply sitting down for coffee, a practice that continues today... sometimes with pastries.. Fact: The acceptance of the Rhodesian charter was about as popular as a surprise pop quiz in a history class—necessary but no one was thrilled about it..
  • Headline: O'Neill Asks Speed on Fuel Help. Impact: O'Neill's plea for quicker fuel assistance led to a rash of government-funded heating assistance programs, inadvertently creating a new generation of 'heating bill warriors'—the unsung heroes of winter.. Fact: Did you know? Asking for speed in Congress is like asking a sloth to run a marathon—good luck with that!.
  • Headline: Elytis, Greek Lyric Poet, Is Given The Nobel Award for Literature. Impact: Elytis’ win inspired countless poets and writers to pick up their pens, leading to an explosion of cringe-worthy poetry slams that still haunt coffee shops today.. Fact: Odysseus Elytis winning the Nobel Prize for Literature was such big news, even the ancient Greeks probably raised their eyebrows and said, 'Finally!'.
  • Headline: A Lyric, Poetic Greek Voice That Has a Special Texture. Impact: This lyrical appreciation led to a sudden trend in textured poetry, resulting in a rather unfortunate movement where people started comparing poetry to fabric swatches.. Fact: Did you know? In poetry circles, the term 'texture' now refers not to the quality of the verse but to how many different fabric patterns one can incorporate into a reading—great for fashion, not so much for literature..

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