Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 1973
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Cellular Telephone System
2 
Global Positioning System Concept
3 
Ethernet
4 
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Theory
5 
Electronic Fuel Injection Mass Adoption
6 
Word Processing Software
7 
Portable Video Camera
8 
Microwave Oven Popularization
9 
Automated Warehouse Systems
10 
Computer Mouse Refinement
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON December 20, 1973
Full News Archive
- Headline: Pope Paul VI's Concerns Post-Rome Attack. Impact: The Pope's horror triggered a chain reaction of peace negotiations that led to a very awkward chess match between world leaders, where they used inflatable doves instead of real ones. Spoiler: the doves always won.. Fact: Fun fact: The last time a Pope was horrified by something, it involved a pizza topping debate that shook the Vatican to its core..
- Headline: 1974 Antitrust Settlement Overview. Impact: The antitrust action against Coastal States Gas and Texaco led to an explosion of corporate lawyers' careers, proving once and for all that you can indeed make a fortune from squabbling over gas prices.. Fact: Did you know that at the time, the only thing more inflated than corporate lawsuits was the price of gas itself? Oh, wait....
- Headline: Beame Names a Lawyer as Parks Chief. Impact: This appointment led to an influx of bureaucracy in the parks, resulting in the world’s first 'No Running in the Grass' signs appearing in NYC parks, and an explosion of eye-rolling from joggers.. Fact: Did you know that the best way to ensure a park remains unvisited is to add layers of paperwork? It’s like magic!.
- Headline: Payments Balance Shows Strong Gain. Impact: The devaluation of the dollar led to a nationwide obsession with coupon collecting, which eventually evolved into the extreme couponing craze of the 2000s. Yes, that was all because of a few cents lost in '74.. Fact: Fun fact: Economists say the dollar's decline was the beginning of the age of thriftiness—welcome to the coupon revolution!.
- Headline: AL Poll Finds 90% Back Federal Curb On Use of Energy. Impact: The overwhelming support for energy curbs led to a cultural shift where people proudly started sharing their 'eco-friendly' habits, including bragging about how low they can turn their thermostats. Congratulations, we’re now a nation of temperature hipsters.. Fact: Did you know that the other 10% of Americans were too busy trying to figure out how to power their homes with pizza ovens to care?.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1973, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1973
$0.78
2025 dataset value
$185,625
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1973, it would be worth $185,625 today (185.6x return)
Rank #2
CVX
Chevron
Price in 1973
$0.74
2025 dataset value
$200,926
Chevron - If you invested $1,000 in 1973, it would be worth $200,926 today (200.9x return)
Rank #3
MO
Philip Morris
Price in 1973
$0.02
2025 dataset value
$2,433,689
Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1973, it would be worth $2,433,689 today (2433.7x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Incredible Hulk #181
$39,000
Amazing Spider-Man #121
$1,200
Amazing Spider-Man #122
$700
House of Secrets #92
$1,200
Avengers #112
$175
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Shrinky Dinks
$75.00
Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle
$1,050.00
Spirograph
$150.00
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Trolley
$150.00
Big Wheel
$30.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Pong
$50.00
Gotcha
$350.00
Space Race
$200.00
Lemans
$1,000.00
Brunswick Europlay
Unknown
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Marvel Value Stamps Series A
$10,000
Topps Wacky Packages Series 4
$1,937.50
Topps Baseball Insert: Action Emblems '73
$100
1973 Kellogg's Tony the Tiger 3-D Card
$1,500
1973 & 1974 Matchbox Auto Show
$250,000