APRIL 2, 1942

THURSDAY
1942 Coca-Cola advertising artwork
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1942
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $8,968,676 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min Wage Hourly$0.39
Median Home Price$4,680.00
Gas Price Avg$0.20
Bread Price Avg$0.10
Movie Ticket Avg$0.33
First Class Stamp$0.03
Milk Price Avg$0.61
Top Movies From 1942
Show screen release and event cards
1 Mrs. Miniver
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Mrs. Miniver
2 Random Harvest
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Random Harvest
3 Yankee Doodle Dandy
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Yankee Doodle Dandy
4 Reap the Wild Wind
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Reap the Wild Wind
5 Road to Morocco
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Road to Morocco
6 Holiday Inn
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Holiday Inn
7 Wake Island
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Wake Island
8 The Pride of the Yankees
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The Pride of the Yankees
9 Kings Row
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Kings Row
10 For Me and My Gal
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For Me and My Gal
The Man Who Came to Dinner
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The Man Who Came to Dinner
To Be or Not to Be
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To Be or Not to Be
Woman of the Year
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Woman of the Year
The Male Animal
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The Male Animal
My Favorite Blonde
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My Favorite Blonde
The Ghost of Frankenstein
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The Ghost of Frankenstein
The Maltese Falcon
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The Maltese Falcon
Citizen Kane
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Citizen Kane
The Wolf Man
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The Wolf Man
Suspicion
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Suspicion
Dumbo
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Dumbo
Sullivan's Travels
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Sullivan's Travels
Ball of Fire
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Ball of Fire
Shadow of the Thin Man
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Shadow of the Thin Man
Hellzapoppin'
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Hellzapoppin'

April 2, 1942 Trivia

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Exact-date daily brief

April 2, 1942

On April 2, 1942, the U.S. Senate took significant steps to bolster the wartime economy by voting to allocate $100 million to assist small businesses in producing war goods. This decision came amidst escalating tensions during Wor...

Inventions & Breakthroughs of April 1942

Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.

1 Atomic Reactor (Chicago Pile-1)
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Atomic Reactor (Chicago Pile-1)
2 Electronic Countermeasures Systems
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Electronic Countermeasures Systems
3 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
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Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
4 Modern Rocket Engine
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Modern Rocket Engine
5 High-Altitude Pressure Suit
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High-Altitude Pressure Suit
6 Amphibious Landing Craft
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Amphibious Landing Craft
7 Synthetic Rubber (GR-S)
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Synthetic Rubber (GR-S)
8 Automatic Analog Computer
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Automatic Analog Computer
9 Magnetic Mine Detection
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Magnetic Mine Detection
10 Portable Field Radio
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Portable Field Radio

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

Headlines From April 2, 1942

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Jersey City Hold-Up Sentencing. Impact: The imprisonment of these three might have inadvertently inspired a new genre of heist movies, leading to a boom in Hollywood and the eventual rise of the anti-hero. Who could have guessed a Jersey hold-up would lead to a cultural revolution?. Fact: Jersey City is known for its rich history, but it’s also famous for its attempts at crime! Next time, maybe they should just stick to pizza.
  • Headline: U.S. Vessel Attacked Near Brazil. Impact: The SOS from the attacked ship might have led to a series of naval treaties, setting off a chain of 'let's not attack each other' agreements that led to the invention of the modern peace sign. All because someone forgot to check the oil levels!. Fact: Sending an SOS is easier than sending a text these daysβ€”at least back then, you had an excuse for not getting a response!.
  • Headline: Senate Votes $100,000,000 to Help Small Business Make War Goods; SENATE VOTES AID FOR SMALL PLANTS. Impact: This Senate vote to aid small businesses could be seen as the start of government intervention that eventually led to the creation of small business support groups, countless workshops, and a thousand coffee shop meetings. Thanks, Senators!. Fact: Who knew that a hundred million dollars could lead to a million dollar coffee addiction among small business owners?.
  • Headline: ALSATIANS HELD DISLOYAL; They Get Jail Terms of Year for Listening to British Radio. Impact: The Alsatians being jailed for listening to British radio may have sparked a wave of rebellious radio stations across Europe, setting the stage for rock 'n' roll and the rebellious youth culture of the 60s. All because someone loved the Beatles too much!. Fact: Listening to the radio was once a crime in Franceβ€”imagine if TikTok had been around then!.
  • Headline: Open House' at Mitchel Field. Impact: The 'Open House' at Mitchel Field could have inspired a series of military tourism initiatives, leading to the modern practice of civilians taking guided tours of military bases. Who knew visiting could be so… educational?. Fact: You can't take pictures at military bases, but you can take home a memoryβ€”if you can remember the tour guide's name!.
  • Headline: MRS. J.S. MORGAN HONORED; Gets Plaque From Second Corps Units for Aid to Army. Impact: Mrs. J.S. Morgan receiving a plaque might have inspired a new trend in military appreciation ceremonies, leading to a plaque-making boom that eventually created the job title 'Plaque Designer' – a noble profession indeed. Fact: They say behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyesβ€”Mrs. Morgan took it a step further with a plaque!.
  • Headline: PHYSICAL DIVISION SHIFTED FROM OCD; Fitness Branch, Headed by John B. Kelly, Is Put Under Federal Security Agency M'NUTT ASKS FUNDS FOR IT Byrd Demands Data on Costs -- Kelly Says He Will Keep On Even if Cash Is Banned. Impact: The shift of the Physical Division to the Federal Security Agency could have accidentally set off a series of fitness crazes, culminating in the rise of the modern gym culture, where people pay to lift things they could just as easily pick up at home. Fact: John B. Kelly was not just a fitness guru; he was also a master of awkward small talk about exercise equipment!.
  • Headline: PORTER FEAREY. Impact: The mention of Porter Fearey could lead future generations to wonder who he was and why his name was so important, thus creating a whole new field of historical research dedicated to forgotten figures. Good luck with that!. Fact: You know you’ve made it when your name is just one word longβ€”like Cher, but with less singing talent.
  • Headline: Trolley Lines Will Aid Cyclists. Impact: The trolley lines aiding cyclists might have inadvertently led to the rise of eco-friendly transportation movements, inspiring hipsters everywhere to abandon cars for bicycles and causing the invention of the 'Bike Lane'β€”a true modern marvel. Fact: Bicycle shelters: because sometimes you just need to give your bike a home away from home!.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: A historical $1,000 investment comparison using the stored long-range dataset.
Rank #1
KMB
Kimberly-Clark
Price in 1942
$0.69
Stored value
$147,887

Kimberly-Clark - If you invested $1,000 in 1942, it would be worth $147,887 today (147.9x return)

Rank #3
CVX
Chevron
Price in 1942
$0.31
Stored value
$474,914

Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1942, it would be worth $474,914 today (474.9x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
Wonder Woman #1
Wonder Woman #1
$25,000
All Star Comics #11
All Star Comics #11
$3,000
Captain America Comics #13
Captain America Comics #13
$20,000
Hit Comics #27
Hit Comics #27
$10,200
Detective Comics #66
Detective Comics #66
$1,500
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Inflatable Airplane
Inflatable Airplane
$120.00
Tin Soldiers
Tin Soldiers
$75.00
Simple Wooden Blocks
Simple Wooden Blocks
$75.00
Yo-Yo
Yo-Yo
$1350.00
Silhouette Jigsaw Puzzles
Silhouette Jigsaw Puzzles
$25.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
War Gum (1942)
War Gum (1942)
$2,000
Gill'S Cigarette Cards - Military Series
Gill'S Cigarette Cards - Military Series
$20
British Wartime Stamps
British Wartime Stamps
$10,000,000
Canada War Savings Stamps
Canada War Savings Stamps
$2,000
Ration Card Series
Ration Card Series
$1,000