JANUARY 20, 1953

TUESDAY
1953 Coca-Cola advertising artwork
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1953
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $4,536,935 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min Wage Hourly$0.83
Median Home Price$8,750.00
Gas Price Avg$0.28
Bread Price Avg$0.16
Movie Ticket Avg$0.53
First Class Stamp$0.03
Milk Price Avg$0.88
Top Movies From 1953
Show screen release and event cards
1 The Robe
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The Robe
2 From Here to Eternity
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From Here to Eternity
3 Shane
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Shane
4 How to Marry a Millionaire
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How to Marry a Millionaire
5 Peter Pan
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Peter Pan
6 House of Wax
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House of Wax
7 Mogambo
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Mogambo
8 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
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Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
9 Salome
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Salome
10 The Moon Is Blue
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The Moon Is Blue
The Clown
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The Clown
The Bad and the Beautiful
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The Bad and the Beautiful
Moulin Rouge
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Moulin Rouge
Limelight
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Limelight
Plymouth Adventure
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Plymouth Adventure
Above and Beyond
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Above and Beyond
Hans Christian Andersen
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Hans Christian Andersen
The Holly and the Ivy
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The Holly and the Ivy

January 20, 1953 Trivia

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Television from this era Β· January 20, 1953
Private Secretary poster
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Private Secretary
The Life of Riley poster
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The Life of Riley
Topper poster
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Topper
You Are There poster
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You Are There
Your Favorite Story poster
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Your Favorite Story
Biff Baker USA poster
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Biff Baker USA

Exact-date daily brief

January 20, 1953

On January 20, 1953, Harry S. Truman completed his final day as President of the United States, engaging in a flurry of public and private responsibilities. As the nation prepared for the inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Trum...

Inventions & Breakthroughs of January 1953

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

1 Artificial DNA Model
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Artificial DNA Model
2 Color Television Set
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Color Television Set
3 Transistorized Computer
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Transistorized Computer
4 Automatic Defibrillator
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Automatic Defibrillator
5 High-Density Magnetic Tape
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High-Density Magnetic Tape
6 Jet Engine Noise Reduction
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Jet Engine Noise Reduction
7 Disposable Syringe
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Disposable Syringe
8 Early AI Learning Program
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Early AI Learning Program
9 Compact Cassette Concept
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Compact Cassette Concept
10 Commercial Nuclear Reactor
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Commercial Nuclear Reactor

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

Headlines From January 20, 1953

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Truman's Busy Farewell Day. Impact: Truman's insistence on resource safeguarding led to a secret society of squirrels hoarding nuts nationwide, causing a nut shortage in 2020 that left many without their favorite snacks. Fact: Truman's last day was so busy that he actually forgot to take his own portrait off the wall. It’s still there, collecting dust and making visitors feel awkward.
  • Headline: Loyalty Warning in Israeli Knesset Debate. Impact: This warning kickstarted a long tradition of political loyalty tests, which eventually inspired the infamous 'Are You a True American?' quizzes that plague social media today. Fact: Fun fact: The Knesset debates were so heated that they often had to schedule extra time just to cool off. It was like a political sauna in there.
  • Headline: Jersey Officials Clash in Murder Inquiry. Impact: This feud led to the creation of a reality TV show years later, where politicians settle their disputes through karaoke contests instead of court hearings. Ratings are through the roof!. Fact: If Jersey politics were a soap opera, this would be the season finale. Complete with dramatic music and slow-motion glares.
  • Headline: Machinery for 'Airhead' Dropped. Impact: The first mass drop of heavy machinery inspired countless memes about β€˜airheads’ getting dropped, leading to the eventual rise of social media influencers who specialize in industrial equipment. Fact: It's good to know the USAF believes in heavy machinery. It’s a little like dropping a piano on your ex's carβ€”overkill but gratifying.
  • Headline: EISENHOWER TO TAKE OATH ON TWO BIBLES. Impact: Eisenhower's dual Bible oath set a precedent for future presidents to start a bizarre collection of sacred itemsβ€”next up: a toaster and a rubber chicken. Fact: Using two Bibles? Talk about commitment! That’s like saying, 'I’m serious about my presidency, but I also need a backup plan.'.
  • Headline: PORT LEADERS MEET TODAY ON REFORMS; Truckers Are the Sponsors -- Main Aim Is to Put an End to 'Wildcat' Dock Strikes. Impact: The resolution of these wildcat strikes inspired future generations of dock workers to express their grievances through interpretive dance, leading to the 'Dockside Ballet' phenomenon. Fact: When truckers sponsor a meeting, you know it’s serious. And by serious, I mean there’s probably going to be really bad coffee involved.
  • Headline: ACHESON SAYS NATO CAN NOW CURB REDS IN WESTERN EUROPE; Gives Senate Committee More Hopeful Picture Than Did Dulles, His Successor. Impact: This optimistic outlook led to countless late-night political debates that often ended with a game of charades. Because nothing says diplomacy like miming. Fact: Acheson’s optimism was so contagious that it inspired an entire generation of politicians to take improv classes. Who knew NATO meetings could be so entertaining?.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: A historical $1,000 investment comparison using the stored long-range dataset.
Rank #1
CVX
Chevron
Price in 1953
$0.31
Stored value
$474,914

Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1953, it would be worth $474,914 today (474.9x return)

Rank #2
GE
General Electric
Price in 1953
$0.62
Stored value
$487,501

General Electric - If you invested $1,000 in 1953, it would be worth $487,501 today (487.5x return)

Rank #3
IBM
IBM
Price in 1953
$1.46
Stored value
$205,272

IBM - If you invested $1,000 in 1953, it would be worth $205,272 today (205.3x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
Strange Tales #1
Strange Tales #1
$10,000
Journey into Unknown Worlds #1
Journey into Unknown Worlds #1
$500
3-D Comics #1
3-D Comics #1
$200
Space Adventures #1
Space Adventures #1
$300
Plop! Comics #1
Plop! Comics #1
$104
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Matchbox Cars
Matchbox Cars
$100.00
Plastic Army Men
Plastic Army Men
$25.00
Mr. Potato Head
Mr. Potato Head
$150.00
Roy Rogers Cap Gun
Roy Rogers Cap Gun
$300.00
Colorforms
Colorforms
$150.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1953 Topps Mickey Mantle #82
1953 Topps Mickey Mantle #82
$1,350,000
1953 Bowman Color Pee Wee Reese #33
1953 Bowman Color Pee Wee Reese #33
$20,000
1953 Bowman Color Mickey Mantle #59
1953 Bowman Color Mickey Mantle #59
$6,120
1953 Parkhurst Maurice Richard #27
1953 Parkhurst Maurice Richard #27
$20,000
1953 Stahl-Meyer Franks Mickey Mantle
1953 Stahl-Meyer Franks Mickey Mantle
$2,273