Inventions & Breakthroughs of March 1984
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Graphical User Interface Computer (Macintosh)
2 
Inkjet Printer (Consumer)
3 
Medical DNA Fingerprinting
4 
Compact Laptop Computer
5 
Digital Music Synthesizer
6 
Video Cassette Rental System
7 
Speech-to-Text Software
8 
Advanced Prosthetic Limb Control
9 
Optical Fiber Network Expansion
10 
Personal Desktop Publishing
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON March 23, 1984
Full News Archive
- Headline: 'LE BAL' by Ettore Scola. Impact: Scola’s comedic take on life in an art deco ballroom inadvertently inspired countless awkward high school dances, where teens tried to replicate the elegance but ended up with just the awkwardness.. Fact: Fun fact: The original title was 'The Dance of the Awkward,' but it didn't have the same ring to it. Imagine a world where high schoolers were encouraged to embrace their lack of rhythm as artistic expression!.
- Headline: FILM: WARTIME PRANKS, 'RACING WITH THE MOON'. Impact: This charming film about small-town youth before WWII created a nostalgic sentiment that led to a resurgence in retro Americana, inspiring countless hipster cafes to serve coffee with a side of ironic small-town charm.. Fact: Fun fact: 'Racing with the Moon' was almost titled 'Racing with the Budget,' but that just didn’t have the same romantic flair. Because who doesn’t want their film about youth and love to be overshadowed by financial woes?.
- Headline: Market Place; Gains Seen For Bank In Texas. Impact: The success of Texas Commerce Bancshares became a beacon of hope for struggling banks, leading to a wave of motivational seminars across the state titled 'How to Be a Bank and Not Go Bust.'. Fact: Did you know that the Texas banking industry has a motto? 'We may be shady, but at least we’re not sinking!' It’s all about setting the bar low enough to trip over it..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1984, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
WMT
Walmart
Price in 1984
$0.23
2025 dataset value
$490,961
Walmart - If you invested $1,000 in 1984, it would be worth $490,961 today (491.0x return)
Rank #2
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1984
$0.94
2025 dataset value
$222,603
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1984, it would be worth $222,603 today (222.6x return)
Rank #3
MCD
McDonald's
Price in 1984
$1.18
2025 dataset value
$271,190
McDonald's - If you invested $1,000 in 1984, it would be worth $271,190 today (271.2x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
$100,000
Secret Wars #8
$150
The New Teen Titans #1
$200
Saga of the Swamp Thing #25
$60
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1
$300
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Transformers
$1,200.00
Cabbage Patch Kids
$150.00
Voltron
$200.00
Masters of the Universe: He-Man
$150.00
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
$143.75
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Tetris
$1,000.00
Duck Hunt
$275.00
Marble Madness
$100.00
Boulder Dash
$100.00
Kung-Fu Master
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Don Mattingly Rookie Card #8
$3,000
Dan Marino Rookie Card #123
$30,000
John Elway Rookie Card #63
$15,250
Darryl Strawberry Rookie Card #182
$200
Hulk Hogan Rookie Card #1
$41,000