JULY 3, 1942

FRIDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1942
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $8,968,676 IN 2025
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 By July 3, 1942
1 Mrs. Miniver
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Mrs. Miniver
2 Yankee Doodle Dandy
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Yankee Doodle Dandy
3 This Above All
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This Above All
4 In This Our Life
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In This Our Life
5 The Spoilers
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The Spoilers
6 Tarzan's New York Adventure
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Tarzan's New York Adventure
7 Saboteur
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Saboteur
8 Fantasia
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Fantasia
9 Citizen Kane
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Citizen Kane
10 The Great Dictator
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The Great Dictator
The Man Who Came to Dinner
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The Man Who Came to Dinner
Kings Row
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Kings Row
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
Reap the Wild Wind
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Reap the Wild Wind
My Favorite Blonde
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My Favorite Blonde
Larceny, Inc.
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Larceny, Inc.
Moontide
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Moontide
The Ghost of Frankenstein
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The Ghost of Frankenstein
The Jungle Book
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The Jungle Book
The Maltese Falcon
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The Maltese Falcon
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'
July 3, 1942 Trivia
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The Story of July 3, 1942

On July 3, 1942, the United States was deep into World War II, grappling with the effects of rationing as it mobilized for war.

🧠 Inventions of 1942

Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.

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

The biggest hits of the year β€” Top 10 Pop & Country chart toppers

HEADLINES ON July 3, 1942

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Congressmen's Gasoline Rationing Exposed. Impact: The rationing files led to a secret society of gas-guzzling Congress members who became notorious for their midnight fill-ups. They inadvertently sparked the rise of eco-friendly movements, ultimately creating a world where we now argue over electric car charging stations instead of gas lines.. Fact: Did you know that Congress members with 'X' cards were essentially VIPs in the gas world? I guess some perks are just too good to pass up, even in a fuel crisis..
  • Headline: Mayor Blames Hague for Indictment. Impact: The Bayonne Mayor's indictment was the straw that broke the camel's back, causing local political scandals to become a spectator sport. This opened floodgates for future politicians to master the art of blame-shifting, leading to the rise of 'alternative facts' decades later.. Fact: Fun fact: If blame were a currency, this mayor would be a billionaire by now. Who knew dodging complaints could be such a lucrative career?.
  • Headline: Mary Belle Spencer: A Historical Milestone. Impact: The mention of Mrs. Mary Belle Spencer in the headlines led to a long-lost conspiracy theory about the 'Society of Unremarkable Women,' who supposedly ran the world from the shadows. This resulted in the creation of countless 'hidden figures' narratives in pop culture.. Fact: Did you know that Mary Belle Spencer was so remarkable that her first name was often forgotten? Truly a woman ahead of her time!.
  • Headline: Two Deny Extortion Charge. Impact: The extortion case involving the union officials became the blueprint for future labor negotiations, where every coffee break somehow turned into a courtroom drama. This incident is now joked about in union meetings as 'the great donut debacle.'. Fact: Did you know that pleading not guilty is basically a union official's way of saying, 'Let’s negotiate over snacks first'?.
  • Headline: TURKISH ENVOY RECALLED; Post in Berlin to Be Given to Friend of Inonu. Impact: The recall of the Turkish envoy was a minor blip that led to a ripple effect, causing future diplomats to consider their friends' qualifications over their own. This ultimately resulted in a series of hilariously incompetent ambassadors throughout history.. Fact: Did you know that in diplomatic circles, 'friend of Inonu' is code for 'absolutely no qualifications whatsoever'?.
  • Headline: Charges Tire-Rationing Fraud. Impact: G.L. Garrett's tire-rationing fraud case became legendary, inspiring countless heist movies where the protagonists expertly manipulate resources. It also led to an uptick in people hoarding toilet paper decades later, proving that the panic-buying epidemic had deep roots.. Fact: Did you know that many thought 'tire-rationing fraud' was just a euphemism for a really bad tire shop? Spoiler: It wasn’t..
  • Headline: Rankin Has Plan to Tax Field. Impact: Rankin's tax plan became the template for future tax policies, where the rich would cry foul while the rest of us just cried. This ultimately solidified the concept of 'taxes are for everyone but me,' a sentiment that echoes through the ages.. Fact: Did you know that most tax plans are just elaborate ways to keep the accountants employed? It's like a never-ending game of Monopoly, but with real money!.
  • Headline: AWARD TO CHEYENNE GIRL; Genevieve Terry Wins Women's Music Clubs Scholarship. Impact: Genevieve Terry winning the music scholarship sparked a wave of aspiring musicians who believed they could make it big. This led to a future of reality TV talent shows where the phrase 'I just want to be famous' took on a whole new meaning.. Fact: Did you know that winning a scholarship is the only time you can feel like a celebrity without actually being one? Welcome to the fame-free zone!.
  • Headline: Dartmouth Club Elects. Impact: The Dartmouth Club elections later inspired the creation of alumni networks that would spend more time planning reunions than actual charitable work. It also set a precedent for future clubs to turn into exclusive social clubs that only serve fancy cheese.. Fact: Did you know that Dartmouth alumni gatherings often have more cheese than actual networking? It's basically a dairy convention with a side of small talk..
  • Headline: Senate Group For Florida Canal. Impact: The Senate's approval of the canal-pipeline bill eventually led to the construction of water pipelines that became the bane of environmental activists everywhere. This event was the beginning of the 'Pipeline Wars' that still rage on today.. Fact: Did you know that 'canal-pipeline' is just a fancy way of saying, 'Let's dig up the earth and see what happens'? Who needs beaches when you can have industrial waterways?.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1942, here's what it would be worth in 2025.
Rank #1
KMB
Kimberly-Clark
Price in 1942
$0.69
Value in 2025
$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
Value in 2025
$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