MAY 12, 1961

FRIDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1961
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $1,184,600 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min_Wage_Hourly: $1.06
Median_Home_Price: $13,070.00
Gas_Price_Avg: $0.32
Bread_Price_Avg: $0.22
Movie_Ticket_Avg: $0.78
First_Class_Stamp: $0.04
Milk_Price_Avg: $1.02
Top Movies From 1961
1 West Side Story
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West Side Story
2 The Guns of Navarone
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The Guns of Navarone
3 El Cid
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El Cid
4 The Parent Trap
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The Parent Trap
5 The Absent-Minded Professor
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The Absent-Minded Professor
6 King of Kings
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King of Kings
7 Lover Come Back
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Lover Come Back
8 One Hundred and One Dalmatians
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One Hundred and One Dalmatians
9 La Dolce Vita
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La Dolce Vita
10 Come September
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Come September
The Misfits
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The Misfits
Underworld U.S.A.
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Underworld U.S.A.
The Secret Ways
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The Secret Ways
Master of the World
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Master of the World
Gorgo
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Gorgo
One-Eyed Jacks
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One-Eyed Jacks
Spartacus
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Spartacus
Exodus
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Exodus
Psycho
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Psycho
The Magnificent Seven
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The Magnificent Seven
The Sundowners
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The Sundowners
The Grass Is Greener
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The Grass Is Greener
The 3 Worlds of Gulliver
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The 3 Worlds of Gulliver
Swiss Family Robinson
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Swiss Family Robinson
May 12, 1961 Trivia
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Television On May 12, 1961
Perry Mason poster
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Perry Mason
Bonanza poster
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Bonanza
The Twilight Zone poster
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The Twilight Zone
The Flintstones poster
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The Flintstones
The Rifleman poster
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The Rifleman
Lassie poster
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Lassie
Tony Awards poster
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Tony Awards
Wagon Train poster
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Wagon Train
'Way Out poster
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'Way Out
The Story of May 12, 1961

On May 12, 1961, significant events unfolded in both the entertainment and geopolitical spheres.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of May 1961

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

1 First Human Spaceflight
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First Human Spaceflight
2 Industrial Robot (Unimate)
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Industrial Robot (Unimate)
3 Early Word Processor
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Early Word Processor
4 Integrated Circuit Computer
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Integrated Circuit Computer
5 Commercial Satellite Communications
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Commercial Satellite Communications
6 Space Food Systems
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Space Food Systems
7 Disposable Medical Gloves
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Disposable Medical Gloves
8 Electronic Fuel Injection
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Electronic Fuel Injection
9 Programmable Logic Controller Concept
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Programmable Logic Controller Concept
10 Ultrasound Fetal Monitoring
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Ultrasound Fetal Monitoring

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

HEADLINES ON May 12, 1961

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Ann Miller's Divorce Announcement. Impact: This moment triggered a massive surge in Hollywood divorces, leading to a dramatic increase in tabloid sales. If only Ann had known that her heartbreak would pave the way for countless reality TV shows about love gone wrong.. Fact: Did you know that Ann Miller was also a talented tap dancer? Guess her marriage didn’t have the same rhythm!.
  • Headline: NY Times Ouster Upheld by Arbitration Panel. Impact: This decision led to a long series of print media crises, causing publishers to panic and ultimately accelerate the digital revolution. Thanks for the push, panel!. Fact: Fun fact: This event is the reason your grandparents still complain about how they can’t read a paper without their glasses and a magnifying glass..
  • Headline: Angola Revolt: Ghanaians and Civil Strife. Impact: The repercussions of this turmoil extended throughout West Africa, leading to a wave of international interventions and reshaping alliances for decades. A domino effect that no one wanted to play.. Fact: This conflict is a grim reminder of the complex impacts of colonialism that ripple through generations, affecting countless lives and histories..
  • Headline: JUDGES ALLOTTED PRIVATE PARKING; Curb Near Court Building Is Reserved for Their Cars. Impact: This headline is just the beginning of a long tradition of judges getting preferential treatment, which ultimately leads to the public questioning the impartiality of the justice system. Parking spaces: the real gavel of power.. Fact: You know, because nothing says 'justice' like judges having their own parking spots while the rest of us are fighting for street parking!.
  • Headline: Donors to View New, Complete Lincoln Center Model. Impact: This event not only increased funding for the arts but also led to a cultural renaissance that influenced everything from Broadway shows to modern art. Truly, a model for success!. Fact: The Lincoln Center is so fancy that even its models probably have better seats than you do at the theater!.
  • Headline: El Salvador Ousts Plotters. Impact: The ousting of these plotters set a precedent for future military interventions and coups in Central America, leading to long-term political instability in the region. The gift that keeps on giving – if you like chaos.. Fact: This event highlights the tumultuous history of El Salvador, which would later be known for its civil war and the resulting diaspora, impacting cultures worldwide..
  • Headline: SYRACUSE LAWYER IS NAMED TO P.S.C.. Impact: This appointment marked the start of increased legal involvement in public service commissions, leading to a trend of lawyers taking over roles in government that were once filled by... well, anyone else.. Fact: Because nothing says 'public service' like a lawyer in charge of your electricity rates!.
  • Headline: DEMOCRATS DROP JERSEY TAX BAN; Way Cleared for New Levy as Parties End Meetings. Impact: This decision opened the floodgates for taxes that would haunt New Jersey residents for generations. Who knew a little tax ban could lead to a lifetime of financial despair?. Fact: New Jersey: where the taxes are high, but at least you can afford to pay them with your dreams of winning the lottery!.
  • Headline: GEORGIA TECH PLANS TO ADMIT 3 NEGROES. Impact: This decision was a pivotal moment in the fight against segregation in education, inspiring future generations to demand equality and leading to the eventual desegregation of schools across the South. A small step that turned into a giant leap!. Fact: The fact that admitting three students made headlines is a glaring reminder of how far we’ve comeβ€”and how far we still have to go in terms of equality..

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1961, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1961
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$586,657

Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1961, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)

Rank #3
MO
Philip Morris
Price in 1961
$0.00
2025 dataset value
$23,651,354

Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1961, it would be worth $23,651,354 today (23651.4x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
Fantastic Four #1
Fantastic Four #1
$65,000
Journey into Mystery #69
Journey into Mystery #69
$3,000
Strange Adventures #124
Strange Adventures #124
$300
Action Comics #283
Action Comics #283
$250
Showcase #30
Showcase #30
$42,000
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Ken (Barbie's Boyfriend)
Ken (Barbie's Boyfriend)
$200.00
Chatty Cathy
Chatty Cathy
$425.00
Matchbox Cars
Matchbox Cars
$100.00
Nutty Mads
Nutty Mads
$200.00
Etch A Sketch
Etch A Sketch
$250.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1961 Topps Mickey Mantle #300
1961 Topps Mickey Mantle #300
$12,000
1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain #8
1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain #8
$1,220,000
1961 Topps Roger Maris #2
1961 Topps Roger Maris #2
$250,000
1961 Nu-Cards Scoops Bobby Thompson #10
1961 Nu-Cards Scoops Bobby Thompson #10
$1,500
1961 Parkhurst Jean Beliveau #34
1961 Parkhurst Jean Beliveau #34
$1,500