MAY 20, 1972

SATURDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1972
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $168,834 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min_Wage_Hourly: $1.90
Median_Home_Price: $28,320.00
Gas_Price_Avg: $0.53
Bread_Price_Avg: $0.29
Movie_Ticket_Avg: $1.80
First_Class_Stamp: $0.08
Milk_Price_Avg: $1.44
Top Movies From 1972
1 The Godfather
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The Godfather
2 The Poseidon Adventure
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The Poseidon Adventure
3 What's Up, Doc?
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What's Up, Doc?
4 Deliverance
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Deliverance
5 Jeremiah Johnson
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Jeremiah Johnson
6 Cabaret
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Cabaret
7 The Getaway
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The Getaway
8 Last Tango in Paris
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Last Tango in Paris
9 Lady Sings the Blues
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Lady Sings the Blues
10 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex*
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Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex*
The Cowboys
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The Cowboys
The Hot Rock
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The Hot Rock
The Culpepper Cattle Co.
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The Culpepper Cattle Co.
Frogs
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Frogs
Pink Flamingos
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Pink Flamingos
Silent Running
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Silent Running
Fritz the Cat
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Fritz the Cat
Play It Again, Sam
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Play It Again, Sam
A Clockwork Orange
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A Clockwork Orange
The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid
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The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid
Dirty Harry
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Dirty Harry
Fiddler on the Roof
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Fiddler on the Roof
Harold and Maude
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Harold and Maude
Straw Dogs
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Straw Dogs
Duel
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Duel
May 20, 1972 Trivia
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Television On May 20, 1972
Columbo poster
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Columbo
Sesame Street poster
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Sesame Street
Bonanza poster
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Bonanza
Bewitched poster
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Bewitched
M*A*S*H poster
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M*A*S*H
Adam-12 poster
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Adam-12
Lassie poster
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Lassie
Mannix poster
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Mannix
The Story of May 20, 1972

On May 20, 1972, security was heightened in Washington, D.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of May 1972

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

1 Video Game Console (Magnavox Odyssey)
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Video Game Console (Magnavox Odyssey)
2 C Language
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C Language
3 Computed Tomography Commercial Use
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Computed Tomography Commercial Use
4 Inkjet Printing Concept
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Inkjet Printing Concept
5 Optical Disc Storage Concept
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Optical Disc Storage Concept
6 Automotive Airbag Prototype
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Automotive Airbag Prototype
7 Email Protocol Standardization
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Email Protocol Standardization
8 Electric Wheelchair Control System
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Electric Wheelchair Control System
9 Digital Signal Processing Theory
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Digital Signal Processing Theory
10 Reusable Spacecraft Studies
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Reusable Spacecraft Studies

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

HEADLINES ON May 20, 1972

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Queen Elizabeth 2 Threat Investigation. Impact: If only that short story had been a romance instead of a suspense thriller, perhaps the extortionist would have just sent a love letter instead of a bomb threat. The ripple effect? A world where romantic comedies prevent acts of terror. Who knew?. Fact: Fun fact: Creative writing classes have also been known to produce future bestsellers—and the occasional criminal mastermind..
  • Headline: Pentagon Bombing Sparks Security Concerns. Impact: The bombing of the Pentagon restroom led to a complete overhaul of security protocols, which eventually sparked an era of overzealous airport security. Thanks, bathroom bomber! Now we all have to remove our shoes and belts just to board a plane.. Fact: Did you know that many bomb threats are just elaborate excuses to skip meetings? If only they worked that way for those stuck in traffic..
  • Headline: THE 1972 CAMPAIGN. Impact: Rejecting resolutions on racial balance busing further entrenched racial divides in the U.S., leading to decades of discussions that still leave everyone frustrated and wondering when we'll actually address the issue. Spoiler: We still haven't.. Fact: Fun fact: Sometimes, saying 'no' can lead to a 'no' for decades. It's like the ultimate political time capsule!.
  • Headline: THE 1972 CAMPAIGN. Impact: Chisholm's backing from the Black Panther party created a ripple effect that motivated more women and minorities to run for office, leading us to the age of diversity in politics we see today. Who knew a $1,000 donation could change the face of politics?. Fact: Fun fact: Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to Congress—she was basically the original 'girl boss' before it was a trend..
  • Headline: AGNEW DISCOUNTS A CONNALLY RACE. Impact: Agnew's gala may have seemed like a harmless fundraiser, but it inadvertently underscored the growing divide between the elite and the average citizen. Thanks to this, we now have a tradition of overpriced political fundraisers that make everyone else feel like they missed the invite.. Fact: Did you know that political galas are just one big party where the rich get richer while simultaneously pretending they care about the rest of us? Cheers!.
  • Headline: Muscovites Benefit as City Spruces Up for Visitor. Impact: Nixon's visit and the beautification of Moscow led to a bizarre international friendship—who knew that sprucing up sidewalks could lead to détente? The butterfly effect indeed—next thing you know, they’re swapping recipes.. Fact: Fun fact: They say you can judge a city by its sidewalks. Moscow's must have been in a dire need of a makeover to impress the U.S. president!.
  • Headline: Morrison Concert Of Jazz‐Rock‐Folk Among Year's Best. Impact: Van Morrison's concert being reviewed as one of the best of the year meant that his music would influence countless aspiring artists, creating a legacy that made future generations say, 'Who is this guy and why haven’t I heard of him?' Spoiler: He's a big deal.. Fact: Did you know Van Morrison's concerts often lead to spontaneous dance-offs? Just ask anyone who was there—and good luck getting them to stop talking about it..

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1972, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1972
$0.61
2025 dataset value
$343,942

Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1972, it would be worth $343,942 today (343.9x return)

Rank #2
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1972
$0.54
2025 dataset value
$269,286

Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1972, it would be worth $269,286 today (269.3x return)

Rank #3
CVX
Chevron
Price in 1972
$0.51
2025 dataset value
$292,010

Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1972, it would be worth $292,010 today (292.0x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Amazing Spider-Man #121
The Amazing Spider-Man #121
$1,500
Swamp Thing #1
Swamp Thing #1
$200
Marvel Spotlight #5
Marvel Spotlight #5
$42,000
Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1
Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1
$300
The Tomb of Dracula #10
The Tomb of Dracula #10
$600
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Pong Home Console
Pong Home Console
$1,500.00
Uno
Uno
$700.00
Weebles
Weebles
$150.00
Shrinky Dinks
Shrinky Dinks
$25.00
Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite
$150.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Pong
Pong
$50.00
Magnavox Odyssey (console and multiple games)
Magnavox Odyssey (console and multiple games)
$1,500.00
Table Tennis
Table Tennis
$1,656.00
Shooting Gallery
Shooting Gallery
$150.00
Football
Football
$288.75
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Roberto Clemente Topps #309
Roberto Clemente Topps #309
$250,000
Willie Mays Topps #49
Willie Mays Topps #49
$100,000
Nolan Ryan Topps #595
Nolan Ryan Topps #595
$70.00
Pete Rose Topps #559
Pete Rose Topps #559
$66,000.00
Wilt Chamberlain Topps #1
Wilt Chamberlain Topps #1
$37,800