1938 following a number of years of success with the US economy a recession hit which caused unemployment to rise back to 19%. In Europe Germany was continuing it's strategy of persecuting the Jews and occupation in Czechoslovakia, the British prime minister Neville Chamberlain went to Germany fearing another world war and after agreeing to allow Hitler could occupy Czechoslovakia declared "Peace in our time" . The law changed in the US that meant the minimum hourly wage was 40 cents per hour for a 44 hour working week. On September 21st a giant hurricane slammed into the east coast with little or no warning from the Weather Service , the hurricane caused 40 ft waves to hit Long Island and sixty three thousand people were left homeless and some 700 dead. On October 30th Orson Wells dramatization of "War of The Worlds" radio programme caused panic when it was broadcast more like a news breaking story than a play. Most of the world cheered when Germany's Max Schmeling was defeated by a knock out in the first round by the great Joe Louis for the heavyweight championship

How Much things cost in 1938 Average Cost of new house $3,900.00 Average wages per year $1,730.00 Cost of a gallon of Gas 10 cents Average Cost for house rent $27.00 per month A loaf of Bread 9 cents A LB of Hamburger Meat 13 cents Average Price for new car $763.00 Blanket $5.00 Liptons Noodle Soup 10 Cents
Below are some Prices for UK guides in Pounds Sterling
Average House Price 545

What Events Happened

U.S.
  • New England Hurricane of 1938 on September 21st (or Great New England Hurricane or Long Island Express
Australia
  • Freak Waves at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia cause 300 swimmers to be dragged out to sea
Canada
  • Honeymoon Bridge across Niagara Falls, collapses
U.S.
  • Floods and Landslides in Los Angeles cause 200 deaths
U.S.
  • The First use of A seeing eye dogs occurs
Austria
  • German troops enter Austria
U.S.
  • Agricultural Adjustment Act is passed helping farmers affected by Dust Bowl
U.S.
  • Fair Labor Standards Act US with Minimum Hourly Rate of 25 cents
U.S.
  • Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae - FNMA) Established
Germany
  • Germany begins its persecution of Jews
U.S.
  • Howard Hughes sets a new Round The World Record of 3 days, 19 hours
U.S.
  • March of Dimes Polio Foundation Created on January 3rd
U.S.
  • A 450 metric ton meteorite struck the earth in an empty field near Chicora, Pennsylvania
U.S.
  • Seabiscuit and War Admiral have their long awaited race to decide the best horse which Seabiscuit beats War Admiral
Scotland
  • RMS Queen Elizabeth is launched at John Brown, Clydebank, Scotland.
Italy
  • Italy wins the World Cup in France defeating Hungary
U.S.A.
  • The Los Angeles Floods on February 27th leave much of Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties, the flood was caused by oceanic storms with heavy rainfall in the Los Angeles Basin leaving more than 100 dead and roads, bridges and thousands of homes and buildings destroyed


Popular Culture

  • Action Comics issues the first Superman comic
  • Orson Welles's radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds is broadcast, causing mass panic in the eastern United States.
  • Adolf Hitler is Time magazine's "Man of the Year" (as most influential during the course of the year, not as 'best' man of the year)
  • Kate Smith sings a rendition of Irvin Berlin's 'God Bless America' for the first time on radion during an Armistice Day broadcast

Popular Films

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • Boys Town, starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney
  • Jezebel, starring Bette Davis

Born This Year 1938

Evel Knievel October 17th
Christopher Allen Lloyd October 22nd
Ted Turner November 19th
Jon Voight December 29th
Rod Laver August 9th -- Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
Bernard L. Madoff April 29th -- Queens, New York, USA
Manuel Noriega February 11th -- Panama City, Panama
Oliver Reed February 13th -- Wimbledon, London, England
Kenny Rogers August 21st -- Houston, Texas, United States
Ted Turner November 19th -- Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.


Technology

  • Oil is discovered in Saudi Arabia.
  • Steam locomotive "Mallard" sets the world speed record for steam by reaching 126 mph.
  • Ball Point Pens are introduced
  • Teflon Introduced
  • Du Pont announced a name for its new synthetic yarn: "nylon".
  • The First Nylon Products Toothbrushes are marketed

Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )
Ballpoint Pen Hungary by Laszlo Biró - also called a biro (UK)
Photocopier USA by Chester Carlston
Freeze Dried Coffee by Nescafe




Major World Political Leaders

Australia Prime Minister Joseph Lyons Brazil President Getúlio Vargas Canada Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King

Germany Chancellor Adolf Hitler

Italy Prime Minister Benito Mussolini

Japan Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe Mexico President Lázaro Cárdenas Russia / Soviet Union
General Secretary of the Central Committee Joseph Stalin South Africa Prime Minister James Barry Munnik Hertzog United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt United Kingdom Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain


Some of the Products You May Have Seen Advertised
Champion Spark Plugs Palmolive Soap improve your skin in only 14 days/ Lifesaver sweets only 5 cents Blankets for bedding $5.00