DECEMBER 18, 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 December 18, 1942
1 Random Harvest
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Random Harvest
2 The Black Swan
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The Black Swan
3 The Man Who Came to Dinner
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The Man Who Came to Dinner
4 Road to Morocco
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Road to Morocco
5 Gentleman Jim
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Gentleman Jim
6 To the Shores of Tripoli
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To the Shores of Tripoli
7 Now, Voyager
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Now, Voyager
8 Flying Tigers
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Flying Tigers
9 Bambi
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Bambi
10 Fantasia
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Fantasia
Kings Row
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Kings Row
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
Mrs. Miniver
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Mrs. Miniver
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
This Above All
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This Above All
The Spoilers
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The Spoilers
The Pride of the Yankees
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The Pride of the Yankees
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
Yankee Doodle Dandy
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Yankee Doodle Dandy
I Married a Witch
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I Married a Witch
The Ghost of Frankenstein
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The Ghost of Frankenstein
Wake Island
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Wake Island
The Big Street
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The Big Street
Holiday Inn
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Holiday Inn
Tales of Manhattan
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Tales of Manhattan
The Moon and Sixpence
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The Moon and Sixpence
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
For Me and My Gal
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For Me and My Gal
The Jungle Book
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The Jungle Book
The Undying Monster
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The Undying Monster
Tarzan's New York Adventure
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Tarzan's New York Adventure
The Mummy's Tomb
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The Mummy's Tomb
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'
December 18, 1942 Trivia
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The Story of December 18, 1942

On December 18, 1942, Mayor LaGuardia of New York City announced a ban on pleasure driving due to severe gasoline shortages, highlighting the ongoing impact of World War II on daily life.

🧠 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 December 18, 1942

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Mayor LaGuardia Bans Pleasure Driving. Impact: LaGuardia's crackdown on pleasure driving led to a mass movement of people taking up walking and biking, which inadvertently spawned the hipster bike culture of the 21st century. Who knew the end of joyrides would lead to ironic mustaches and overpriced coffee?. Fact: If you think pleasure driving is banned now, just wait until you see what happens when they start charging for every mile driven in the future!.
  • Headline: Mayor's Controversial Admission on Strike. Impact: The admission of needing papers for everything sparked a bureaucratic frenzy that would eventually lead to the creation of an entire industry dedicated to paper-pushing, which has since evolved into the modern-day corporate office culture. Paper cuts, anyone?. Fact: This was the first time a politician's statement made everyone question their own paperwork. Spoiler: It's still happening..
  • Headline: Suspension of Liberal Education in 1942. Impact: By suspending liberal education, the powers that be unknowingly set the stage for a resurgence of conspiracy theories and anti-intellectualism, leading to everything from flat Earth debates to the rise of internet trolls. Thanks, Stimson and Knox!. Fact: Cutting liberal education paved the way for future generations to misunderstand basic science while confidently asserting their opinions on social media!.
  • Headline: Guilty in Bankruptcy Fraud. Impact: The conviction of I Margolis sent ripples through the financial world, leading to a massive increase in legal loophole explorationβ€”ultimately resulting in the wild, unregulated financial schemes of the 2000s. Way to go, I!. Fact: Fun fact: This is why we have a love-hate relationship with 'investors' who think they can outsmart the systemβ€”thanks to people like Margolis!.
  • Headline: NAZI RETRIBUTION WIDENED BY EDEN; He Warns German People of Responsibility if Cruelties to Jews Are Continued M.P.'S STAND IN SILENCE Gesture Marks Approval of Allies' Declaration -- Canada Lines Up With Movement. Impact: Eden's warning against Nazi actions galvanized international support and led to the establishment of various human rights organizations. Ironically, this laid the groundwork for future debates on human rights that often go ignored in favor of sensational headlines.. Fact: This declaration was so powerful that it made 'not being a jerk' a global initiative. Who knew it would be so hard to follow?.
  • Headline: WARNS ON DELINQUENCY; Lawes Says Rise Is Due to Many Mothers Taking War Jobs. Impact: Lawes' comments on delinquency due to mothers working led to a societal shift that blamed working women for everything wrong in the world, resulting in decades of unsolicited advice and judgment from everyone with an opinion. Way to go, Dr. Lawes!. Fact: This is why we have historical evidence of women working hard and still being told they should just stay home. Spoiler: It didn't work then, and it doesn't work now!.
  • Headline: THREE HOTELS TAKEN OVER; Army to Use Miami Beach Buildings for Air Force Hospitals. Impact: The army's takeover of hotels for hospitals inadvertently began the trend of repurposing buildings for unexpected uses, leading to everything from trendy cafes in old factories to the great 'let's turn this church into a nightclub' movement. A real 'God is a DJ' situation!. Fact: This was one of the earliest indicators that the Army could double as a real estate mogul. Who knew they had such great taste in properties?.
  • Headline: EISENHOWER CRITICS CHIDED BY BRACKEN; British Minister Denies General Is Delaying African News. Impact: Bracken's denial created a ripple effect of misinformation that still plagues modern mediaβ€”leading to the rise of sensational news reporting and the popularization of the phrase 'fake news.' Thanks for that, everyone!. Fact: This moment marked the beginning of a long-standing tradition where politicians deny everything while the public believes nothing. Classic!.
  • Headline: Japanese Destroyer Attacked. Impact: The attack on the Japanese destroyer became a pivotal moment that cemented the Allies' resolve, leading to a series of decisive victories that ultimately shaped the outcome of WWII and the modern geopolitical landscape. So, no pressure, right?. Fact: This was just one of many naval battles that would solidify the phrase 'Don't mess with the Allies' in military history. Who knew history could be so catchy?.

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