DECEMBER 21, 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
Learn More
Mrs. Miniver
2 Random Harvest
Learn More
Random Harvest
3 Yankee Doodle Dandy
Learn More
Yankee Doodle Dandy
4 Reap the Wild Wind
Learn More
Reap the Wild Wind
5 Road to Morocco
Learn More
Road to Morocco
6 Holiday Inn
Learn More
Holiday Inn
7 Wake Island
Learn More
Wake Island
8 The Pride of the Yankees
Learn More
The Pride of the Yankees
9 Kings Row
Learn More
Kings Row
10 For Me and My Gal
Learn More
For Me and My Gal
The Man Who Came to Dinner
Learn More
The Man Who Came to Dinner
The Palm Beach Story
Learn More
The Palm Beach Story
To Be or Not to Be
Learn More
To Be or Not to Be
Woman of the Year
Learn More
Woman of the Year
In This Our Life
Learn More
In This Our Life
The Black Swan
Learn More
The Black Swan
The Talk of the Town
Learn More
The Talk of the Town
The Male Animal
Learn More
The Male Animal
My Favorite Blonde
Learn More
My Favorite Blonde
This Above All
Learn More
This Above All
The Spoilers
Learn More
The Spoilers
Across the Pacific
Learn More
Across the Pacific
The Magnificent Ambersons
Learn More
The Magnificent Ambersons
The Pied Piper
Learn More
The Pied Piper
The Major and the Minor
Learn More
The Major and the Minor
Saboteur
Learn More
Saboteur
Larceny, Inc.
Learn More
Larceny, Inc.
Moontide
Learn More
Moontide
I Married a Witch
Learn More
I Married a Witch
The Ghost of Frankenstein
Learn More
The Ghost of Frankenstein
The Big Street
Learn More
The Big Street
Bambi
Learn More
Bambi
Now, Voyager
Learn More
Now, Voyager
Tales of Manhattan
Learn More
Tales of Manhattan
The Moon and Sixpence
Learn More
The Moon and Sixpence
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror
Learn More
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror
Flying Tigers
Learn More
Flying Tigers
The Glass Key
Learn More
The Glass Key
Gentleman Jim
Learn More
Gentleman Jim
The Jungle Book
Learn More
The Jungle Book
The Undying Monster
Learn More
The Undying Monster
Tarzan's New York Adventure
Learn More
Tarzan's New York Adventure
To the Shores of Tripoli
Learn More
To the Shores of Tripoli
The Mummy's Tomb
Learn More
The Mummy's Tomb
The Maltese Falcon
Learn More
The Maltese Falcon
Citizen Kane
Learn More
Citizen Kane
The Wolf Man
Learn More
The Wolf Man
Suspicion
Learn More
Suspicion
Dumbo
Learn More
Dumbo
Sullivan's Travels
Learn More
Sullivan's Travels
Ball of Fire
Learn More
Ball of Fire
Shadow of the Thin Man
Learn More
Shadow of the Thin Man
Hellzapoppin'
Learn More
Hellzapoppin'
December 21, 1942 Trivia
Multiple choice - Sign in to save + leaderboard - View all-time leaderboard
Score: 0 / 0
All-time leaderboard
Your results
The Story of December 21, 1942

On December 21, 1942, amidst World War II, the U.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 1942

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

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

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

HEADLINES ON December 21, 1942

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Soldiers Gain Access to Savings. Impact: When soldiers were allowed to withdraw their savings, it led to an unexpected surge in the number of post-war barbershops and ice cream parlors. Apparently, nothing says 'welcome home' like a fresh haircut and a double scoop of Rocky Road.. Fact: Fun fact: Many soldiers reportedly used their savings to invest in the booming post-war economy, leading to the creation of the world's first 'please don't ask me about my time in the war' support groups..
  • Headline: Tragic Discovery of Brinkman and Sedano. Impact: This tragic event led to the establishment of an underwater search-and-rescue comedy troupe, because if you can’t laugh about it, what’s the point? They performed at all the best dive bars.. Fact: Respectfully, the sea often keeps secrets, but in this case, it just kept two unfortunate souls. May they rest in peace..
  • Headline: Hotel Union Gives Ambulances. Impact: The union's decision to donate ambulances inadvertently sparked a trend of hospitality workers moonlighting as paramedics, resulting in the first-ever 'room service with a side of CPR' initiative.. Fact: If you thought the only thing you could get from a hotel was a mint on your pillow, think again! Now you could also get a ride to the hospital!.
  • Headline: Italian Paper Pictures Captives. Impact: The portrayal of captives in the Italian press led to a bizarre fashion trend where everyone suddenly wanted to look like a war prisoner. Stripes and chains became the hottest styles in Milan.. Fact: In a twist of irony, the captives became fashion icons, proving once again that tragedy can be a runway inspiration..
  • Headline: JEFFERS ATTACKS SPURIOUS PATRIOTS; Warns Notre Dame Seniors Against 'Racketeer, Profiteer, Slacker Hiding Behind Flag' ALSO HITS AT THE GLOOMY Above Such 'War Melancholia' Rubber Chief Puts Faith in Nation Surviving 'Intact'. Impact: Admiral Jeffers’ tirade against 'slackers' led to an unexpected surge in flag-themed merchandise, because nothing screams patriotism like a good old-fashioned cash grab.. Fact: Funny how 'slackers' became a popular term for anyone who didn’t want to buy that overpriced flag t-shirt. You know, like your neighbor who only mows his lawn once a month..
  • Headline: PRICE CONTROL DATA OUT; 5,000,000 Copies of New Booklet Now Being Distributed. Impact: The distribution of the price control booklet caused a spike in the number of people pretending to be housewives, all trying to cash in on the latest trend of 'price-control influencer' status.. Fact: Did you know that housewives were suddenly seen as the new economic advisors? I guess we should thank them for that 'great advice' on budgeting!.
  • Headline: U.S. IN CONTACT AT DAKAR; British Relations With Former Vichy Stronghold Still Distant. Impact: This diplomatic dance at Dakar led to the accidental invention of the 'awkward handshake' as both parties tried to navigate their feelings without actually touching.. Fact: Did you know that 'distant relations' is actually code for 'we're not quite ready to share our Netflix password'?.
  • Headline: Windsors Return to Nassau. Impact: The Windsors’ return sparked a bizarre trend of people wanting to vacation in Nassau, believing it to be the secret to royal happinessβ€”spoiler alert: it was just the rum.. Fact: Apparently, Nassau became the unofficial royal therapy retreat, where every cocktail came with a side of royal gossip..
  • Headline: U.S. Swears First Citizens Abroad. Impact: The naturalization of soldiers abroad created a ripple effect, leading to the first international 'I just became an American' parties, complete with over-the-top fireworks and potato salad.. Fact: Did you know that becoming a citizen abroad was the original reason for the phrase 'land of the free'? Because who doesn’t want to feel free while enjoying a hot dog?.

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