AUGUST 31, 1952

SUNDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1952
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $4,797,407 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min_Wage_Hourly: $0.80
Median_Home_Price: $8,300.00
Gas_Price_Avg: $0.28
Bread_Price_Avg: $0.16
Movie_Ticket_Avg: $0.51
First_Class_Stamp: $0.03
Milk_Price_Avg: $0.86
Top Movies From 1952
1 The Greatest Show on Earth
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The Greatest Show on Earth
2 The Snows of Kilimanjaro
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The Snows of Kilimanjaro
3 Ivanhoe
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Ivanhoe
4 Singin' in the Rain
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Singin' in the Rain
5 Sailor Beware
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Sailor Beware
6 Moulin Rouge
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Moulin Rouge
7 Hans Christian Andersen
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Hans Christian Andersen
8 Affair in Trinidad
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Affair in Trinidad
9 Bend of the River
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Bend of the River
10 The Quiet Man
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The Quiet Man
Scaramouche
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Scaramouche
High Noon
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High Noon
The Narrow Margin
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The Narrow Margin
The Big Sky
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The Big Sky
Angels One Five
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Angels One Five
The Sound Barrier
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The Sound Barrier
Viva Zapata!
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Viva Zapata!
The Belle of New York
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The Belle of New York
Clash by Night
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Clash by Night
The Marrying Kind
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The Marrying Kind
The Sniper
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The Sniper
Pat and Mike
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Pat and Mike
Don't Bother to Knock
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Don't Bother to Knock
The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima
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The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima
Rancho Notorious
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Rancho Notorious
Carrie
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Carrie
Diplomatic Courier
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Diplomatic Courier
The Winning Team
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The Winning Team
Sudden Fear
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Sudden Fear
The Big Trees
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The Big Trees
Room for One More
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Room for One More
With a Song in My Heart
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With a Song in My Heart
5 Fingers
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5 Fingers
My Son John
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My Son John
Quo Vadis
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Quo Vadis
I Want You
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I Want You
The African Queen
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The African Queen
The Day the Earth Stood Still
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The Day the Earth Stood Still
Decision Before Dawn
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Decision Before Dawn
A Streetcar Named Desire
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A Streetcar Named Desire
Alice in Wonderland
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Alice in Wonderland
Fixed Bayonets!
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Fixed Bayonets!
August 31, 1952 Trivia
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Television On August 31, 1952
Boss Lady poster
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Boss Lady
Cowboy G-Men poster
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Cowboy G-Men
Death Valley Days poster
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Death Valley Days
Four Star Playhouse poster
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Four Star Playhouse
Guiding Light poster
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Guiding Light
I Married Joan poster
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I Married Joan
I've Got a Secret poster
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I've Got a Secret
The Story of August 31, 1952

On August 31, 1952, Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh rejected a joint oil proposal initiated by the United States and Britain, signaling a deepening crisis in U.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of August 1952

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

1 Bar Code Concept
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Bar Code Concept
2 Hydrogen Bomb Test
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Hydrogen Bomb Test
3 High-Speed Photocopier
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High-Speed Photocopier
4 Digital Flight Simulator
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Digital Flight Simulator
5 Portable Television
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Portable Television
6 Automatic Garage Door Opener
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Automatic Garage Door Opener
7 Medical Ultrasound Imaging
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Medical Ultrasound Imaging
8 Polycarbonate Plastic
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Polycarbonate Plastic
9 Jet Fighter Radar Systems
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Jet Fighter Radar Systems
10 Electronic Voting Machine
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Electronic Voting Machine

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

HEADLINES ON August 31, 1952

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Mossadegh Rejects Joint Oil Offer. Impact: This rejection set off a chain reaction that eventually led to the U.S. orchestrating a coup in 1953. If only Mossadegh had accepted the deal, maybe we’d be living in a world where Iran’s oil was happily shared and we wouldn’t have a decades-long love-hate relationship with the region. But hey, who needs stability when you can have chaos?. Fact: Fun fact: Mossadegh was actually a huge fan of backgammon, which he likely played to unwind after all that oil drama. Who knew oil disputes could lead to a game night?.
  • Headline: Notorious Crime Wave of 1952. Impact: This headline likely inspired a whole genre of crime dramas, leading to millions of cozy nights spent on the couch binging true crime series. Thanks, criminals, for making our Netflix queues so much more interesting!. Fact: Did you know that 'Kiss the Killer' was not just a catchy title, but also a terrible dating advice column?.
  • Headline: BWI Tourist's Boston to Pacific Journey. Impact: This headline probably sparked a nationwide debate on the quality of tea in motels, leading to a hasty increase in quality control checks that still have a ripple effect today. So next time you sip that questionable motel tea, know that someone fought for better brews.. Fact: Did you know that Americans drink more coffee than tea? So, the bad tea might just be a sign that we’re all too busy with our java to care!.
  • Headline: 10TH ARMORED OPENS 2-DAY MEETING HERE. Impact: This gathering likely inspired countless other military meetings, leading to an endless cycle of strategizing that ultimately proved to be just a fancy excuse for not getting anything done. Military meetings: the original procrastination tool.. Fact: Did you know that '10th Armored' is not the name of a hip new band, but rather a unit that has been around since World War II? They were definitely not playing gigs in between battles!.
  • Headline: Verses: Unadorned, Skilled, Lyrical; THE POEMS OF C. P. CAVAFY. Translated by John Mavrogordato. Introduction by Rex Warner. 199 pp. New York: Grove Press. $3.25. RING SONG. By Naomi Replansky. 57 pp. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. $2.50. POEMS. By Ridgely Torrence. 127 pp. New York: The Macmillan Company. $2.. Impact: The publication of these poems contributed to the ongoing renaissance of literary appreciation, inspiring generations of poets to write about their feelings instead of just posting them on social media. Thank you, Cavafy, for keeping us educated and for ensuring that the world still has pretentious coffee shop conversations.. Fact: Did you know that Cavafy's poems often explore themes of nostalgia and longing? So basically, he was the original emo poet, long before it was cool..
  • Headline: Peron Hails Late Wife. Impact: Peron's tribute to his late wife not only showcased his personal grief but also solidified her legacy, influencing political dynamics in Argentina for years to come. Sometimes, a heartfelt tribute can have more weight than a thousand political speeches.. Fact: Eva PerΓ³n, often referred to as Evita, was so beloved that her image is still used in Argentina today, proving that when it comes to love and memory, even politics can’t overshadow true affection..
  • Headline: U. S. SHIPS CONDUCT ATLANTIC EXERCISE; Warships on Way to North Sea Maneuvers in September Hold Practice at Sea. Impact: This military exercise not only flexed naval power but also led to a series of increasingly elaborate naval parades and displays, turning what could have been a serious war tactic into a floating celebration. Next stop: the Olympics of naval showmanship.. Fact: Did you know that naval exercises are basically the military's version of a gym membership? Lots of moving parts, but no actual fighting involved!.
  • Headline: GOODRICH PACT RATIFIED; Rubber Workers Will Return After Two-Weeks Strike. Impact: The ratification of this pact not only brought rubber workers back to their jobs but also helped pave the way for future labor negotiations. Who knew the path to better working conditions could be paved with rubber?. Fact: Did you know that before rubber was used in tires, people were using solid wooden wheels? Imagine the bumpy ride!.
  • Headline: TOBACCO FESTIVAL; Cigar Valley Celebration at Hartford Will Make Sept. 9-14 a Big Six-Day Week. Impact: The Tobacco Festival, while seemingly harmless, likely contributed to the perpetuation of cigar culture and, consequently, the rise of people thinking they look sophisticated while puffing on a stogie. Spoiler: they don’t.. Fact: Did you know that cigars were once considered a sign of status? So, if you want to feel fancy, just light one up and pretend you're at the festival!.
  • Headline: New Round of Aluminum Expansion Is Seen as Lure to New Producers; EXPANSION SLATED IN ALUMINUM FIELD. Impact: This expansion led to an aluminum boom, which not only made soda cans more accessible but also created a never-ending supply of 'pop' tab art. So thank you, aluminum industry, for our next generation of DIY projects!. Fact: Did you know that aluminum is so abundant that it makes up about 8% of the Earth's solid surface? So, if you ever feel like you're running out, just dig a little deeper!.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1952, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
MO
Philip Morris
Price in 1952
$0.00
2025 dataset value
$23,651,352

Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1952, it would be worth $23,651,352 today (23651.4x return)

Rank #2
CVX
Chevron
Price in 1952
$0.31
2025 dataset value
$474,914

Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1952, it would be worth $474,914 today (474.9x return)

Rank #3
GE
General Electric
Price in 1952
$0.62
2025 dataset value
$487,500

General Electric - If you invested $1,000 in 1952, it would be worth $487,500 today (487.5x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
Journey into Mystery #1
Journey into Mystery #1
$600
MAD #1
MAD #1
$3,000
Basil Wolverton's Weird Tales of the Future #1
Basil Wolverton's Weird Tales of the Future #1
$300
Crime Does Not Pay #113
Crime Does Not Pay #113
$150
Adventures into the Unknown #33
Adventures into the Unknown #33
$100
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Mr. Potato Head
Mr. Potato Head
$150.00
View-Master
View-Master
$40.00
Plastic Army Men
Plastic Army Men
$25.00
Top-O-Matic Spinning Top
Top-O-Matic Spinning Top
$150.00
Hopalong Cassidy Guitar
Hopalong Cassidy Guitar
$1,820.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311
1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311
$12,600,000
1952 Topps Willie Mays #261
1952 Topps Willie Mays #261
$478,000
1952 Topps Eddie Mathews #407
1952 Topps Eddie Mathews #407
$250,000
1952 Topps Jackie Robinson #312
1952 Topps Jackie Robinson #312
$10,000
1952 Bowman Stan Musial #196
1952 Bowman Stan Musial #196
$28,100.03