At Discovery Villages at The West End, our supportive communities give Senior Citizens opportunities to make meaningful friendships and connections. We help Seniors actively engage in the world around them so that they can continue to live a life of meaning, joy, and wonder. Come visit our senior living community today.
What a difference seventy-five years can make! Seventy-five years ago it was 1940. Americans were beginning to recover from the Great Depression, as the economy slowly started to pick up speed. But the world was in turmoil as World War II was in full swing in Europe. Do you remember the year 1940? Where were you living and how old were you?
At Discovery Villages our Senior Citizens have opportunities to be in community with each other, discussing memories and shared experiences with other like-minded individuals. Come take a stroll back in time, and see if you can remember any of these facts with your friends and community.
- The cost of an average home rental in the USA was about $30 per month
- An average annual salary was about $1,800
- Gas cost 11 cents a galloon
- An Average car cost $850
- Minimum wage was 30 cents an hour
- A dozen eggs cost 27 cents
- Life Magazine cost 10 cents
- Richard and Maurice McDonald open the first McDonald’s in San Bernardino, California. It was a barbeque restaurant
- New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia have the largest urban populations in the country
- The Great Smoky Mountains become a National Park
- The 1940 Olympics to be held in Helsinki are cancelled because of World War II
- The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series against The Detroit Tigers
- The American Football League plays its first game- Milwaukee vs. Columbus (14-2)
- The Jeep makes its premiere debut.
- Synthetic tooth fillings are invented
- Commercial Air flights with pressurized cabins are introduced
- Morton Salt is introduced in supermarkets
- Frank Sinatra makes his singing debut in Indianapolis
- John Steinbeck receives The Pulitzer Prize for The Grapes of Wrath
- George Stibitz performs a demonstration in New York City, making calculations on The Complex Number Calculator using special telephone lines. This is known as the first demonstration of remote access computing, and the crowd is amazed!
- World War II is in full force in Europe
- Adolf Hitler invades France, Belgium, Holland, Norway and Denmark
- Hitler tries to take over Britain. Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister proclaims, “We will fight on the seas and oceans.”
- Nazi Germany, Japan, and Italy form The Axis Power
- Auschwitz Concentration Camp is established
- Franklin D Roosevelt is the 32nd President of the United States
Movies & Entertainment
- Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator is released. Chaplin’s first talking picture is a political satire condemning anti-Semitism, Adolf Hitler and Fascism. In the film Chaplin addresses the escalating violence and repression of Jews by the Nazis.
- The 13th Annual Academy Awards celebrate the movies made in 1940.
- Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca takes home Best Picture at the Oscars.
- Best Actress goes to Ginger Rogers in Kitty Foyle at the Oscars
- Best Actor goes James Stewart in The Philadelphia Story at the Oscars
- Cole Porter’s musical Panama Hattie premieres in New York City
- Walt Disney’s animated films; Pinocchio and Fantasia are released together
- Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny make their cartoon debut. Woody Woodpecker also makes his!
- Popular Songs in 1940
- Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra I’ll Never Smile Again
- Artie Shaw Frenesi
- Bing Crosby Only Forever
- Glen Miller Careless
Popular Books with quotes published in 1940
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery The Little Prince
- “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
- Betty Smith A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
- “Look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time: Thus is your time on earth filled with glory.”
- Ernest Hemingway For Whom the Bell Tolls
- “There will always be people who say it does not exist because they cannot have it. But I tell you it is true and that you have it and that you are lucky even if you die tomorrow.”
- Dr. Seuss Horton Hatches the Egg
- “I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful one-hundred percent!”
Fashion Trends in 1940
- Actresses Lauren Bacall and Katharine Hepburn lead the trend in fashion. They both are 5.8” and emphasize their broad shoulders in angled and utilitarian looks.
- Katharine Hepburn makes wide-legged trousers and flats women’s wear
- Torpedo and bullet bras are popular
- Gingham prints and monochrome colors are the rage
- Bright red lipstick goes well with any look
In 1940, many notable people were born including:
- John Lennon-English Singer and Song Writer
- Mario Andretti- Italian Race Car Driver and World Champion
- Peter Fonda- American Actor
- Chuck Norris- American Martial Artist and Actor
- Bruce Lee- Hong Kong American Martial Artist and Actor
Do you remember any of these historical facts and trivia? Things have sure changed in seventy-five years! At Discovery Villages, our wonderful senior communities give Seniors the opportunities to joyfully reminiscence about the past, while keeping them actively engaged in the future. Come visit us today and see how we can support your lifestyle.
Discovery Villages at The West End is a world-class senior living community in Virginia. We offer a variety of living options for your needs, including Supervised Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care. To receive more information or schedule an appointment to experience our wonderful lifestyle, contact Discovery Villages at The West End by calling 804.716.3463.
