AUGUST 20, 1962

MONDAY
1962 Coca-Cola advertising artwork
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1962
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $1,398,856 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min Wage Hourly$1.12
Median Home Price$14,240.00
Gas Price Avg$0.32
Bread Price Avg$0.22
Movie Ticket Avg$0.86
First Class Stamp$0.04
Milk Price Avg$1.04
Top Movies From 1962
Show screen release and event cards
1 The Longest Day
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The Longest Day
2 Lawrence of Arabia
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Lawrence of Arabia
3 The Music Man
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The Music Man
4 That Touch of Mink
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That Touch of Mink
5 Mutiny on the Bounty
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Mutiny on the Bounty
6 To Kill a Mockingbird
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To Kill a Mockingbird
7 Hatari!
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Hatari!
8 Gypsy
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Gypsy
9 Bon Voyage!
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Bon Voyage!
10 The Interns
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The Interns
Light in the Piazza
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Light in the Piazza
Term of Trial
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Term of Trial
The Miracle Worker
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The Miracle Worker
Advise & Consent
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Advise & Consent
Lonely Are the Brave
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Lonely Are the Brave
The Counterfeit Traitor
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The Counterfeit Traitor
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Cape Fear
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Cape Fear
Lolita
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Lolita
Ride the High Country
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Ride the High Country
The Notorious Landlady
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The Notorious Landlady
Judgment at Nuremberg
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Judgment at Nuremberg
The Innocents
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The Innocents
Breakfast at Tiffany's
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Breakfast at Tiffany's
West Side Story
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West Side Story
The Children's Hour
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The Children's Hour
Pocketful of Miracles
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Pocketful of Miracles
The Comancheros
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The Comancheros
Barabbas
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Barabbas
Mysterious Island
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Mysterious Island
Babes in Toyland
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Babes in Toyland

August 20, 1962 Trivia

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Television from this era Β· August 20, 1962
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

Exact-date daily brief

August 20, 1962

On August 20, 1962, Dr. James Van Allen, a prominent physicist known for his work in space science, issued a warning about a new radiation belt created by nuclear tests. He cautioned that this belt posed a potential danger to astr...

Inventions & Breakthroughs of August 1962

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

1 LED (Light Emitting Diode)
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LED (Light Emitting Diode)
2 First Communications Satellite (Telstar)
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First Communications Satellite (Telstar)
3 Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
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Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
4 Integrated Circuit Memory
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Integrated Circuit Memory
5 Modern Contact Lens
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Modern Contact Lens
6 Early Packet Switching
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Early Packet Switching
7 Electric Heart Defibrillator Refinement
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Electric Heart Defibrillator Refinement
8 Satellite Navigation Concept
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Satellite Navigation Concept
9 Compact Audio Amplifier
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Compact Audio Amplifier
10 Automatic Blood Analyzer
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Automatic Blood Analyzer

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

Headlines From August 20, 1962

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Van Allen's Warning on Radiation Hazards. Impact: Dr. Van Allen's warning about radiation belts sparked a series of conspiracy theories about space travel, leading to the rise of 'Radiation Awareness Week'β€”because who wouldn't want to celebrate invisible dangers?. Fact: Did you know that Van Allen's radiation belts are basically the universe's way of saying, 'Hey, don't forget your sunscreen… in space!'?.
  • Headline: Exploring 'Before My Time' by N. Tucci. Impact: Tucci’s memoir 'Before My Time' inspired a generation to write their own autobiographies, resulting in the world's longest book club meetingsβ€”ever. Fact: Did you know that reading is like taking a vacation without leaving your couch? Just remember to avoid books about taxes.
  • Headline: Songs a Weapon in Rights Battle; Vital New Ballads Buoy Negro Spirits Across the South Songs Become a Weapon in Rights Battle BALLADS IN SOUTH BUOY TO NEGROES Folk Music Is New Force in Bolstering Morale, Leaders Declare. Impact: The rise of folk music as a weapon in the civil rights movement led to the invention of the protest karaoke night, which is still awkwardly popular at dive bars across America. Fact: Did you know that 'freedom songs' were so catchy, they made even the most tone-deaf folks feel like they were in a Broadway musical? It’s like 'Les Mis' but with more heart!.
  • Headline: KENNEDY PRESSES NEW UNITY THEME; Topic of Talks in West May Be a Campaign Weapon KENNEDY PRESSES NEW UNITY THEME. Impact: Kennedy's unity theme inadvertently set a trend for future politicians to adopt catchy slogans, resulting in countless cringe-worthy campaign jingles that haunt us to this day. Fact: Did you know that political slogans are basically the adult version of 'I can’t even?'β€”just with more adjectives and fewer feelings!.
  • Headline: EDINBURGH BEGINS ITS 16TH FESTIVAL; Shostakovich to Attend-- Debate of Novel Listed. Impact: The Edinburgh Festival's continued success led to the explosion of similar festivals worldwide, causing a global shortage of berets and artisanal coffee. Fact: Did you know that attending festivals is basically just an excuse for adults to play dress-up and consume overpriced snacks? Nothing like a little culture with your cheese fries!.
  • Headline: Baron Formally Resigns From Teamsters Union. Impact: Baron's resignation sparked a series of power struggles within the Teamsters, which later inspired a hit TV show about union drama, complete with shady deals and dramatic betrayals. Fact: Did you know that union disputes are just like family feuds, but with more paperwork and slightly fewer casseroles?.
  • Headline: Castro Taking Over Farms of Peasants; CUBA TAKING OVER PEASANTS' FARMS. Impact: Castro’s takeover of farms swung the pendulum towards collectivism in Cuba, leading to a ripple effect that influenced agricultural policies worldwide, and the phrase 'You get what you pay for' became 'You get what the state decides you need.'. Fact: In a twist of irony, many peasants found their lives improved because they no longer had to worry about crop pricesβ€”just crop quotas!.
  • Headline: Planes of U.N. Spot Katangese Attacks On Congo Forces; Planes of U.N. Spot Katangese Dispersing Congo Army Units. Impact: The U.N. involvement in Congo sparked a series of international debates on intervention, which eventually led to the invention of the phrase 'I told you so' in diplomatic circles. Fact: Did you know that watching planes spot attacks is like playing real-life 'Where's Waldo?' but with much higher stakes and fewer striped shirts?.
  • Headline: Vinson Holds People Are Cool to Shelter Plans; Representative Writes to the President on Subject He Feels Survey Under Way Should Be Completed. Impact: Vinson's survey results about public indifference to shelter plans led to the creation of 'Emergency Preparedness Week,' where everyone pretends to care about disasters until the next reality show airs. Fact: Did you know that being prepared for emergencies is kind of like going to the gym? Everyone talks a big game but how many actually show up?.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: A historical $1,000 investment comparison using the stored long-range dataset.
Rank #2
MO
Philip Morris
Price in 1962
$0.00
Stored value
$23,651,354

Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1962, it would be worth $23,651,354 today (23651.4x return)

Rank #3
DIS
Disney
Price in 1962
$0.06
Stored value
$1,960,745

Disney - If you invested $1,000 in 1962, it would be worth $1,960,745 today (1960.7x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
Amazing Fantasy #15
Amazing Fantasy #15
$1,000,000
Incredible Hulk #1
Incredible Hulk #1
$10,000
Tales to Astonish #27
Tales to Astonish #27
$400
Journey into Mystery #83
Journey into Mystery #83
$30,000
Fantastic Four #5
Fantastic Four #5
$40,000
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Etch A Sketch
Etch A Sketch
$100.00
LEGO Building Sets
LEGO Building Sets
$150.00
Barbie Dream House
Barbie Dream House
$1,200.00
Easy Bake Oven
Easy Bake Oven
$150.00
G.I. Joe Action Figure
G.I. Joe Action Figure
$150.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1962 Topps Mickey Mantle #200
1962 Topps Mickey Mantle #200
$250,000
1962 Topps Mars Attacks #1 'Saucer Blast'
1962 Topps Mars Attacks #1 'Saucer Blast'
$200,000
1962 Topps Civil War News #1 'Foreboding Skies'
1962 Topps Civil War News #1 'Foreboding Skies'
$60,000
1962 Salada-Junket Coins #5 Mickey Mantle
1962 Salada-Junket Coins #5 Mickey Mantle
$10.00
1962 Dutch Gum Elvis Presley #13
1962 Dutch Gum Elvis Presley #13
$10.00