OCTOBER 5, 1942

MONDAY
$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
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
The Palm Beach Story
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The Palm Beach Story
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
In This Our Life
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In This Our Life
The Talk of the Town
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The Talk of the Town
The Male Animal
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The Male Animal
My Favorite Blonde
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My Favorite Blonde
This Above All
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This Above All
The Spoilers
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The Spoilers
Across the Pacific
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Across the Pacific
The Magnificent Ambersons
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The Magnificent Ambersons
The Pied Piper
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The Pied Piper
The Major and the Minor
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The Major and the Minor
Saboteur
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Saboteur
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 Big Street
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The Big Street
Bambi
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Bambi
Tales of Manhattan
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Tales of Manhattan
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror
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Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror
The Glass Key
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The Glass Key
The Jungle Book
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The Jungle Book
Tarzan's New York Adventure
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Tarzan's New York Adventure
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'
October 5, 1942 Trivia
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The Story of October 5, 1942

On October 5, 1942, the nation mourned the passing of Oliver L.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of October 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 ON October 5, 1942

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Remembering J. Warren M'Urran. Impact: J. Warren M'Urraan's name became a hot topic in the 1950s, leading to the creation of a bizarre conspiracy theory that he was the original inspiration for the character of Warren Peace, who was secretly a time traveler himself. This led to a cult following that believed every Warren after him was destined for greatness, thus resulting in an influx of Warrens in various professions.. Fact: Did you know that 'M'Urraan' is not a typo but actually a name that makes you say, 'M'what?' out loud?.
  • Headline: Remembering Oliver L. Warner. Impact: Oliver L. Warner's untimely passing sparked a surge in high school science fairs across the nation, as his students vowed to honor his memory. This led to the invention of the infamous 'science project volcano' that has since erupted in classrooms worldwide, causing both awe and chaos.. Fact: Science teachers have the unique ability to make kids believe they can actually blow things up without repercussionsβ€”at least until the principal finds out..
  • Headline: Commuting Challenges in 1942 NYC. Impact: The discussion on commuting conditions in NYC led to a revolution in public transportation. This caused an unforeseen increase in the sales of coffee and headphones, as people sought to drown out the sounds of their miserable commute. Eventually, this transformed the NYC coffee culture into a multi-billion dollar industry.. Fact: Commuting: because who doesn’t want to spend hours in a metal tube with strangers while questioning all life choices?.
  • Headline: Scrapping Canopies Proposed by Nathan. Impact: E.J. Nathan Jr.'s proposal to scrap canopies was a pivotal moment that ultimately led to the rise of spontaneous street performances. Without those canopies, artists and musicians began to occupy sidewalks, transforming New York into a living, breathing art gallery. Who knew a simple decision could birth the modern busker?. Fact: Canopies: because what good is a sidewalk if you can't walk under something that looks like it was designed by a committee?.
  • Headline: TAKE ALUMINUM PAY RISE; Edgewater Workers Vote to Accept 5 Cents an Hour More. Impact: The acceptance of a nickel pay raise set off a chain reaction of labor movements across the country, eventually leading to the invention of the coffee breakβ€”because what else were they supposed to do with all that newfound wealth?. Fact: 5 cents: the amount of money that can buy you a coffeeβ€”or a lifetime of regret if you spend it incorrectly..
  • Headline: $50,000 Drive Opens Today. Impact: The launch of the $50,000 drive for infants and clothing manufacturers marked the beginning of a new era of fundraising, where the phrase 'For the Children' became a universal excuse for everything from bake sales to questionable investment opportunities.. Fact: Charity drives: the only time people will stand in line for hours to give away money instead of just waiting for their coffee..
  • Headline: New Red Cross Workroom. Impact: The opening of a new Red Cross workroom to meet surgical dressings quotas made bandaging an accidental art form, leading to countless Instagram accounts dedicated to 'wound fashion'β€”because who knew injuries could be so chic?. Fact: Surgical dressings: the ultimate accessory for anyone looking to add a touch of 'I just survived a battle' to their wardrobe..
  • Headline: DEBUT MADE HERE BY ZARA NELSOVA; 24-Year-Old Canadian 'Cellist, Who Began Public Career at 5, Heard at Town Hall. Impact: Zara Nelsova's debut not only changed the world of classical music but also led to a surge in young prodigies, compelling parents everywhere to buy overpriced instruments for their toddlers in a desperate attempt to create the next Mozartβ€”because who doesn’t want their child to be an overworked genius?. Fact: Starting a career at 5 years old: the childhood equivalent of being forced to choose your life path before you can even tie your shoes..

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1942, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
KMB
Kimberly-Clark
Price in 1942
$0.69
2025 dataset 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
2025 dataset 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