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1916 Called and It Thinks 2016 Rocks: What a Difference 100 Years Made

October 06, 2016
Lori Hanes

Writer

What was the life expectancy for the average man 100 years ago? If you had a car, where could you buy gas? How much did the average worker make annually?

"One hundred years ago, if you had a car, the only place you could buy gasoline was at the drugstore. Only 14 percent of all homes in the United States had a bathtub. Only eight percent had a telephone," Glenn read Thursday on his radio program.

In addition, only six percent of Americans graduated from high school. The average worker made between $200 and $400 a year, and substances like marijuana, heroin and morphine were available over-the-counter at local drugstores.

RELATED: American Dream: What Does It Even Mean?

"Back then, your local pharmacist would say, Heroin will clean your complexion, and it gives you buoyancy of the mind," Glenn said.

"Fact," Jeffy chimed in without fact-checking.

Read below or listen to the full segment for answers to these ancient questions:

• What did 90 percent of all doctors not have?

• How often did women wash their hair?

• How many stars did the American flag have?

• What law did Canada pass about poor people?

• How many people lived in Las Vegas?

Listen to this segment from The Glenn Beck Program:

Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors:

GLENN: This is how much times have changed in 100 years.

One hundred years ago, the life expectancy for the average man was 47 years. A hundred years ago, in the United States, the average man lived to 47.

PAT: Okay.

GLENN: That's incredible.

PAT: Is it longer than that now?

GLENN: I want to hit you.

(chuckling)

One hundred years ago, if you had a car, the only place you could buy gasoline was at the drugstore. Only 14 percent of all homes in the United States -- one hundred years ago -- had a bathtub. Only eight percent had a telephone. The maximum speed limit in most cities was ten.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

PAT: Wow.

GLENN: The average wage for a citizen in the US was 22 cents an hour. The average worker made between 200 and $400 a year. A competent accountant could expect to earn $2,000 a year. A dentist could make $2,500 a year. A vet could make between $1,500 and $4,000 a year. A mechanical engineer was making five grand a year.

More than 95 percent of births took place at home, where they never charged you to hold your baby.

Ninety percent of all doctors --

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: -- didn't have this.

What do you think it was?

PAT: Leprosy.

GLENN: Good point. Probably.

STU: Probably in excess of 90. Yeah.

PAT: I would think so. Syphilis?

GLENN: Nope.

JEFFY: A degree.

GLENN: Degree.

JEFFY: Yeah.

PAT: Ninety percent of doctors!

GLENN: Ninety percent of doctors had no college degree.

STU: Wow.

JEFFY: Those were good times.

PAT: How'd they become doctors?

JEFFY: Because you got to say it.

PAT: No.

GLENN: You would go to a so-called --

PAT: A doctor trade school or something?

GLENN: Yeah, you would go to a doctor trade school. You would go to a so-called medical school, but those ended because the medical schools were pretty much a scam.

Sugar at the time cost 4 cents a pound. Eggs were 14 cents a dozen. Coffee, 15 cents a pound. Most women washed their hair how many times a month?

PAT: Once.

GLENN: Once.

JEFFY: Yeah.

GLENN: Most women washed their hair once a month 100 years ago.

JEFFY: They would go down to the stream once a month.

PAT: Wow.

GLENN: And what did they use to wash it?

PAT: Soap.

GLENN: Uh-uh.

JEFFY: Lard.

PAT: Brylcreem.

GLENN: Egg yolks or borax.

PAT: Borax?

GLENN: Yep.

JEFFY: Lard would have been better.

GLENN: Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.

The five leading causes of death were pneumonia and the flue, tuberculosis, diarrhea, heart disease, and the stroke.

PAT: You died from diarrhea?

GLENN: Oh, yeah. That's -- what's that called?

PAT: Is that consumption?

GLENN: No, the consumption is tuberculosis.

PAT: Is it?

GLENN: Yeah.

PAT: Okay.

GLENN: Diarrhea was --

PAT: Well, diarrhea, because they called it something else.

GLENN: Yeah, it's -- oh, crap. I mean, excuse the pun. Yeah, what is it? Say it out loud.

(laughter)

JEFFY: Dysentery.

GLENN: Yeah, dysentery. Dysentery. Yep. Dysentery.

The American flag only has 45 stars. The population of Las Vegas was 30 people, one hundred years ago.

PAT: Thirty?

GLENN: Thirty.

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea had not been invented yet. There was neither a Mother's Day nor a Father's Day.

Only 6 percent of all Americans graduated from high school. Marijuana, heroin, morphine, all available over-the-counter at local drugstores.

PAT: Good times. Good times. Good times.

(sighing)

GLENN: Back then, your local pharmacist would say, "Heroin will clean your complexion, and it gives you buoyance of the mind."

JEFFY: Fact.

GLENN: "It regulates the stomach. It regulates the bowels. In fact, heroin is the perfect guardian of health."

JEFFY: Fact.

PAT: Wow.

GLENN: Can you imagine? I would have never left my drugstore.

PAT: I know.

(laughter)

GLENN: Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help. And there were how many murders in the entire United States a hundred ago in America? For the entire year, one hundred years ago, 1916, how many murders?

JEFFY: Reported.

GLENN: Yeah, were reported.

STU: Murders usually are a crime that's reported accurately because there's dead people or missing people. That's why the crime stat people like --

PAT: Well, you're leading us to believe that it's really low.

GLENN: Why am I leading you to believe that? Oh, because I'm for Hillary?

PAT: Yes.

GLENN: Does that also lead you to believe I'm for Hillary?

PAT: Yes, yes.

STU: You are?

GLENN: Yeah.

PAT: And gun control.

GLENN: And gun control.

PAT: Fifty.

GLENN: Shut up, Pat.

(chuckling)

PAT: That's too low? Is that too low?

STU: I bet it's right around, what, the area of just what Chicago gets in a year now. Probably the entire country.

GLENN: Entire country of the United States.

PAT: 700.

GLENN: 700. What do you think, Stu?

STU: Yeah, I mean --

GLENN: Chicago --

JEFFY: There were 30 people in Vegas. So 9,225.

GLENN: Thank you, Jeffy. Thank you for playing along. Thank you.

JEFFY: You're welcome. You're welcome.

GLENN: 230.

STU: Wow.

PAT: 230?

GLENN: In the entire country, a hundred years ago.

PAT: That's pretty good.

GLENN: Well, there were no guns. Oh, wait.

PAT: Hold it.

GLENN: Hold it just a second.

JEFFY: What?

PAT: They were probably more prevalent.

GLENN: No, they couldn't have been.

PAT: Per capita.

GLENN: No, I think you're wrong. Don't even look at it. Don't even look at that stat. Because then you're probably wrong. And let's just assume that you are. Okay?

STU: On this front too -- this is kind of interesting in that, you know, capitalism does its work a lot of times in spite of Washington. And a lot of times, we sit here thinking about how bad everything is, but capitalism churns away, while Washington tries to screw it up.

And it's our job to push for Washington to screw it up as little as possible. But as it's churned away over the past 90 years -- in the mid-30s -- last past 80 years, mid-30s, you spent about 62 percent of your disposable income on home, cars, clothing, household furnishings, household and utilities, and gasoline. So, I mean, you look at that, it's pretty much nothing you're like enjoying. It's just stuff you need. Basic necessities of life. Food. How do you get around? It was 62 percent in the mid-30s. It's now 32 percent.

GLENN: Oh, my gosh.

STU: So you cut that in half, giving us all the rest of that income to do things that we might enjoy or that aren't base necessities of --

GLENN: Why doesn't it feel that way?

JEFFY: It doesn't.

STU: Well, because I think --

PAT: Debt for one thing.

STU: The messaging of the media is that everyone is getting behind. And I think debt is part of it. But, you know, credit card debt is probably part of it.

GLENN: And we're probably spending a lot of money on the things that we don't need. And so that puts us behind. And then we look at -- if it wasn't for our house being so expensive -- because we wouldn't think about cutting --

STU: But the central function of that, I don't think is any of those things. I think it's capitalism improving things.

GLENN: Yes.

STU: It's cutting costs on items that we used to have. It's improving items that we used to have. It's making those things more efficiently produced. And now we're able to afford things -- I mean, you told the story about the 10,000-dollar television recently on the air about how one of your big purchases --

JEFFY: Yeah.

GLENN: My 40th birthday, my wife got me a -- the first Sony flat screen -- I still have it. First Sony flat screen television. It was I don't even know, 32 inches. Pat, do you think, maybe?

PAT: Yeah, maybe a little bigger than that.

GLENN: And it was $10,000.

STU: And that was?

GLENN: Twelve years ago.

STU: Twelve years ago. So mid-Bush administration -- this is not ancient history, right?

I was in Walmart two weeks ago and took a picture of a television display. And it was a brand I hadn't heard of, so it wasn't Sony. But it was a 40-inch -- it was LCD. It was a smart TV. So it had features that your TV couldn't even dream of, right?

GLENN: I know.

STU: $198.

GLENN: Oh, my gosh!

JEFFY: Oh, yeah.

STU: $198.

PAT: Wow.

GLENN: Oh, my gosh.

STU: And there were just stacks of them. And it's like, how do you account for, to people, that change? Because people will say, well, look, if you look at the incomes, you know, after tax and after health care expenses, we haven't improved things at all for the middle class.

What about that change? The thing that only Mr. Rich Television Personality could even dream of affording -- and if I remember correctly, you opposed the purchase because it was too crazy.

GLENN: Yeah, no. I wouldn't have gotten it -- if it wasn't for my birthday --

STU: It was only a birthday present.

GLENN: She surprised me with it. And I thought it was insane. And it was so insane that I would bring you guys over. You guys came over to my house. And you said, "Can I come over and see it?"

STU: It was a museum piece. Okay?

GLENN: It was. And it was in my bedroom. I said, "Okay." And we would all sit on the bed and go, "Wow."

PAT: We traveled 2,000 miles to see it.

STU: Yeah. It was that amazing.

PAT: I was in Houston at the time.

GLENN: That's right. That's right.

PAT: Yeah.

STU: So this is actually -- I think back before even when you were on TV. But it was a time -- that changed.

GLENN: Yeah.

STU: So now a person who makes, you know, $30,000 a year and has a nice job and --

GLENN: Has a flat screen --

STU: Has a flat screen TV of better quality --

GLENN: For 198 -- yes.

STU: Even from some no-name brand, better quality with features that didn't even exist when you bought yours, in about a decade.

GLENN: For $198.

STU: Yeah, for 99 percent off. Or 98 percent off.

GLENN: Unbelievable.

STU: And that stuff happens all the time with products all the time.

GLENN: All the time.

STU: And it's lost because the media focuses on things that make capitalism look evil. Those things are happening to us all the time. And it's the -- it is the miracle of America.

Featured Image: Photograph of three women spinning wool to knit socks for soldiers during World War I, circa 1915. (Wiki Commons)

The Woodrow Wilson strategy to get out of Mother’s Day

Stock Montage / Contributor, Xinhua News Agency / Contributor | Getty Images

I’ve got a potentially helpful revelation that’s gonna blow the lid off your plans for this Sunday. It’s Mother’s Day.

Yeah, that sacred day where you’re guilt-tripped into buying flowers, braving crowded brunch buffets, and pretending you didn’t forget to mail the card. But what if I told you… you don’t have to do it? That’s right, there’s a loophole, a get-out-of-Mother’s-Day-free card, and it’s stamped with the name of none other than… Woodrow Wilson (I hate that guy).

Back in 1914, ol’ Woody Wilson signed a proclamation that officially made Mother’s Day a national holiday. Second Sunday in May, every year. He said it was a day to “publicly express our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” Sounds sweet, right? Until you peel back the curtain.

See, Wilson wasn’t some sentimental guy sitting around knitting doilies for his mom. No, no, no. This was a calculated move.

The idea for Mother’s Day had been floating around for decades, pushed by influential voices like Julia Ward Howe. By 1911, states were jumping on the bandwagon, but it took Wilson to make it federal. Why? Because he was a master of optics. This guy loved big, symbolic gestures to distract from the real stuff he was up to, like, oh, I don’t know, reshaping the entire federal government!

So here’s the deal: if you’re looking for an excuse to skip Mother’s Day, just lean into this. Say, “Sorry, Mom, I’m not celebrating a holiday cooked up by Woodrow Wilson!” I mean, think about it – this is the guy who gave us the Federal Reserve, the income tax, and don’t even get me started on his assault on basic liberties during World War I. You wanna trust THAT guy with your Sunday plans? I don’t think so! You tell your mom, “Look, I love you, but I’m not observing a Progressive holiday. I’m keeping my brunch money in protest.”

Now, I know what you might be thinking.

“Glenn, my mom’s gonna kill me if I try this.” Fair point. Moms can be scary. But hear me out: you can spin this. Tell her you’re honoring her EVERY DAY instead of some government-mandated holiday. You don’t need Wilson’s permission to love your mom! You can bake her a cake in June, call her in July, or, here’s a wild idea, visit her WITHOUT a Woodrow Wilson federal proclamation guilting you into it.

Silent genocide exposed: Are christians being wiped out in 2025?

Aldara Zarraoa / Contributor | Getty Images

Is a Christian Genocide unfolding overseas?

Recent reports suggest an alarming escalation in violence against Christians, raising questions about whether these acts constitute genocide under international law. Recently, Glenn hosted former U.S. Army Special Forces Sniper Tim Kennedy, who discussed a predictive model that forecasts a surge in global Christian persecution for the summer of 2025.

From Africa to Asia and the Middle East, extreme actions—some described as genocidal—have intensified over the past year. Over 380 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution, a number that continues to climb. With rising international concern, the United Nations and human rights groups are urging protective measures by the global community. Is a Christian genocide being waged in the far corners of the globe? Where are they taking place, and what is being done?

India: Hindu Extremist Violence Escalates

Yawar Nazir / Contributor | Getty Images

In India, attacks on Christians have surged as Hindu extremist groups gain influence within the country. In February 2025, Hindu nationalist leader Aadesh Soni organized a 50,000-person rally in Chhattisgarh, where he called for the rape and murder of all Christians in nearby villages and demanded the execution of Christian leaders to erase Christianity. Other incidents include forced conversions, such as a June 2024 attack in Chhattisgarh, where a Hindu mob gave Christian families a 10-day ultimatum to convert to Hinduism. In December 2024, a Christian man in Uttar Pradesh was attacked, forcibly converted, and paraded while the mob chanted "Death to Jesus."

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommends designating India a "Country of Particular Concern" and imposing targeted sanctions on those perpetrating these attacks. The international community is increasingly alarmed by the rising tide of religious violence in India.

Syria: Sectarian Violence Post-Regime Change

LOUAI BESHARA / Contributor | Getty Images

Following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, Syria has seen a wave of sectarian violence targeting religious minorities, including Christians, with over 1,000 killed in early 2025. It remains unclear whether Christians are deliberately targeted or caught in broader conflicts, but many fear persecution by the new regime or extremist groups. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a dominant rebel group and known al-Qaeda splinter group now in power, is known for anti-Christian sentiments, heightening fears of increased persecution.

Christians, especially converts from Islam, face severe risks in the unstable post-regime environment. The international community is calling for humanitarian aid and protection for Syria’s vulnerable minority communities.

Democratic Republic of Congo: A "Silent Genocide"

Hugh Kinsella Cunningham / Stringer | Getty Images

In February 2025, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an ISIS-affiliated group, beheaded 70 Christians—men, women, and children—in a Protestant church in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, after tying their hands. This horrific massacre, described as a "silent genocide" reminiscent of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has shocked the global community.

Since 1996, the ADF and other militias have killed over six million people, with Christians frequently targeted. A Christmas 2024 attack killed 46, further decimating churches in the region. With violence escalating, humanitarian organizations are urging immediate international intervention to address the crisis.

POLL: Starbase exposed: Musk’s vision or corporate takeover?

MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / Contributor | Getty Images

Is Starbase the future of innovation or a step too far?

Elon Musk’s ambitious Starbase project in South Texas is reshaping Boca Chica into a cutting-edge hub for SpaceX’s Starship program, promising thousands of jobs and a leap toward Mars colonization. Supporters see Musk as a visionary, driving economic growth and innovation in a historically underserved region. However, local critics, including Brownsville residents and activists, argue that SpaceX’s presence raises rents, restricts beach access, and threatens environmental harm, with Starbase’s potential incorporation as a city sparking fears of unchecked corporate control. As pro-Musk advocates clash with anti-Musk skeptics, will Starbase unite the community or deepen the divide?

Let us know what you think in the poll below:

Is Starbase’s development a big win for South Texas?  

Should Starbase become its own city?  

Is Elon Musk’s vision more of a benefit than a burden for the region?

Shocking truth behind Trump-Zelenskyy mineral deal unveiled

Chip Somodevilla / Staff | Getty Images

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have finalized a landmark agreement that will shape the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations. The agreement focuses on mineral access and war recovery.

After a tense March meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy signed a deal on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, granting the U.S. preferential mineral rights in Ukraine in exchange for continued military support. Glenn analyzed an earlier version of the agreement in March, when Zelenskyy rejected it, highlighting its potential benefits for America, Ukraine, and Europe. Glenn praised the deal’s strategic alignment with U.S. interests, including reducing reliance on China for critical minerals and fostering regional peace.

However, the agreement signed this week differs from the March proposal Glenn praised. Negotiations led to significant revisions, reflecting compromises on both sides. What changes were made? What did each leader seek, and what did they achieve? How will this deal impact the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations and global geopolitics? Below, we break down the key aspects of the agreement.

What did Trump want?

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

Trump aimed to curb what many perceive as Ukraine’s overreliance on U.S. aid while securing strategic advantages for America. His primary goals included obtaining reimbursement for the billions in military aid provided to Ukraine, gaining exclusive access to Ukraine’s valuable minerals (such as titanium, uranium, and lithium), and reducing Western dependence on China for critical resources. These minerals are essential for aerospace, energy, and technology sectors, and Trump saw their acquisition as a way to bolster U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. Additionally, he sought to advance peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war, positioning the U.S. as a key mediator.

Ultimately, Trump secured preferential—but not exclusive—rights to extract Ukraine’s minerals through the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, as outlined in the agreement. The U.S. will not receive reimbursement for past aid, but future military contributions will count toward the joint fund, designed to support Ukraine’s post-war recovery. Zelenskyy’s commitment to peace negotiations under U.S. leadership aligns with Trump’s goal of resolving the conflict, giving him leverage in discussions with Russia.

These outcomes partially meet Trump’s objectives. The preferential mineral rights strengthen U.S. access to critical resources, but the lack of exclusivity and reimbursement limits the deal’s financial benefits. The peace commitment, however, positions Trump as a central figure in shaping the war’s resolution, potentially enhancing his diplomatic influence.

What did Zelenskyy want?

Global Images Ukraine / Contributor | Getty Images

Zelenskyy sought to sustain U.S. military and economic support without the burden of repaying past aid, which has been critical for Ukraine’s defense against Russia. He also prioritized reconstruction funds to rebuild Ukraine’s war-torn economy and infrastructure. Security guarantees from the U.S. to deter future Russian aggression were a key demand, though controversial, as they risked entangling America in long-term commitments. Additionally, Zelenskyy aimed to retain control over Ukraine’s mineral wealth to safeguard national sovereignty and align with the country’s European Union membership aspirations.

The final deal delivered several of Zelenskyy’s priorities. The reconstruction fund, supported by future U.S. aid, provides a financial lifeline for Ukraine’s recovery without requiring repayment of past assistance. Ukraine retained ownership of its subsoil and decision-making authority over mineral extraction, granting only preferential access to the U.S. However, Zelenskyy conceded on security guarantees, a significant compromise, and agreed to pursue peace talks under Trump’s leadership, which may involve territorial or political concessions to Russia.

Zelenskyy’s outcomes reflect a delicate balance. The reconstruction fund and retained mineral control bolster Ukraine’s economic and sovereign interests, but the absence of security guarantees and pressure to negotiate peace could strain domestic support and challenge Ukraine’s long-term stability.

What does this mean for the future?

Handout / Handout | Getty Images

While Trump didn’t secure all his demands, the deal advances several of his broader strategic goals. By gaining access to Ukraine’s mineral riches, the U.S. undermines China’s dominance over critical elements like lithium and graphite, essential for technology and energy industries. This shift reduces American and European dependence on Chinese supply chains, strengthening Western industrial and tech sectors. Most significantly, the agreement marks a pivotal step toward peace in Europe. Ending the Russia-Ukraine war, which has claimed thousands of lives, is a top priority for Trump, and Zelenskyy’s commitment to U.S.-led peace talks enhances Trump’s leverage in negotiations with Russia. Notably, the deal avoids binding U.S. commitments to Ukraine’s long-term defense, preserving flexibility for future administrations.

The deal’s broader implications align with the vision Glenn outlined in March, when he praised its potential to benefit America, Ukraine, and Europe by securing resources and creating peace. While the final agreement differs from Glenn's hopes, it still achieves key goals he outlined.