MAY 3, 1981

SUNDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1981
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $247,894 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min_Wage_Hourly: $3.17
Median_Home_Price: $50,390.00
Gas_Price_Avg: $1.21
Bread_Price_Avg: $0.52
Movie_Ticket_Avg: $2.92
First_Class_Stamp: $0.16
Milk_Price_Avg: $2.21
Top Movies From 1981
1 Raiders of the Lost Ark
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Raiders of the Lost Ark
2 On Golden Pond
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On Golden Pond
3 Superman II
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Superman II
4 Arthur
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Arthur
5 Stripes
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Stripes
6 The Cannonball Run
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The Cannonball Run
7 Chariots of Fire
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Chariots of Fire
8 For Your Eyes Only
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For Your Eyes Only
9 The Four Seasons
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The Four Seasons
10 Time Bandits
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Time Bandits
Fort Apache, The Bronx
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Fort Apache, The Bronx
The Incredible Shrinking Woman
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The Incredible Shrinking Woman
American Pop
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American Pop
Eyewitness
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Eyewitness
Back Roads
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Back Roads
The Funhouse
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The Funhouse
Omen III: The Final Conflict
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Omen III: The Final Conflict
Nighthawks
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Nighthawks
Thief
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Thief
Excalibur
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Excalibur
Caveman
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Caveman
Bustin' Loose
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Bustin' Loose
The Evil Dead
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The Evil Dead
The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
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The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
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The Empire Strikes Back
The Elephant Man
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The Elephant Man
Raging Bull
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Raging Bull
Popeye
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Popeye
9 to 5
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9 to 5
Seems Like Old Times
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Seems Like Old Times
Any Which Way You Can
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Any Which Way You Can
Altered States
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Altered States
May 3, 1981 Trivia
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Television On May 3, 1981
Columbo poster
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Columbo
Sesame Street poster
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Sesame Street
Saturday Night Live poster
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Saturday Night Live
Magnum P.I. poster
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Magnum P.I.
Dallas poster
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Dallas
M*A*S*H poster
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M*A*S*H
The Love Boat poster
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The Love Boat
Charlie's Angels poster
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Charlie's Angels
The Story of May 3, 1981

On May 3, 1981, a significant dispute erupted between Bronx leaders, including a notable figure named Goldin, over the fees charged by local bus lines.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of May 1981

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

1 Personal Computer (IBM PC)
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Personal Computer (IBM PC)
2 Graphical User Interface Concept
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Graphical User Interface Concept
3 Word Processing Software (Microsoft Word)
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Word Processing Software (Microsoft Word)
4 Digital Camera Prototype Commercialization
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Digital Camera Prototype Commercialization
5 Medical Infusion Pump
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Medical Infusion Pump
6 Local Area Network Expansion
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Local Area Network Expansion
7 Portable Video Game Console
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Portable Video Game Console
8 Computer-Aided Manufacturing Software
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Computer-Aided Manufacturing Software
9 Speech Recognition System Improvement
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Speech Recognition System Improvement
10 Reusable Space Shuttle Program
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Reusable Space Shuttle Program

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

HEADLINES ON May 3, 1981

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Goldin vs Bronx Leaders on Bus Fees. Impact: This mini-drama led to the establishment of the 'Bus Line Protest Movement' which eventually inspired a sitcom where senior citizens become rebellious bus riders. You can thank Goldin for that laugh track!. Fact: Did you know that holding senior citizens hostage is technically illegal? But hey, who reads the fine print on a bus line contract anyway?.
  • Headline: Actor Shares Insights and Trade Secrets. Impact: Anthony Heald's revelation that actors are just people too sparked a worldwide movement where everyone started sharing trade secrets, leading to a global crisis in industries where mystique was actually key, like magic and politics.. Fact: Fun fact: Actors are not actually wizards, but their ability to disappear into a role sometimes makes you wonder if they've stumbled upon some ancient sorcery!.
  • Headline: Owl and Pussycat at the Crossroads. Impact: The lack of direction in 'The Owl and the Pussycat' ironically became a guiding principle for future playwrights, leading to a decade of intentionally confusing theater that audiences still pretend to understand.. Fact: Did you know that sometimes plays go nowhere on purpose? It’s called 'artistic expression'—the fancy way of saying, 'I forgot to write an ending.'.
  • Headline: NEW EDITION OF BIBLE. Impact: The release of a new Bible edition sparked a series of debates on modern interpretations, which led to a faction of literalists who believed every comma was a divine revelation—resulting in the creation of the Church of the Punctuation.. Fact: In medieval times, owning a Bible was like having a rare Pokémon card—except instead of trading it, you had to guard it with your life. No wonder they took so long to make copies!.
  • Headline: U.S. WATER RULES CITED AS RATES INCREASE. Impact: This increase in water rates led to the rise of backyard rainwater harvesting, which is now the primary means for hipsters to claim they are living sustainably while complaining about the cost of artisan water.. Fact: Did you know that water is technically the most expensive drink in the world? Just kidding! It's actually the least expensive, but you wouldn’t know it from your last bill..
  • Headline: PEACE CORPS RECALLED. Impact: Margaret Chamberlin’s experience in the Peace Corps contributed to a surge in volunteerism, making it so fashionable that even reality TV shows started showcasing 'volunteer vacations' as a trendy way to get likes.. Fact: The Peace Corps has sent over 240,000 volunteers to 141 countries. That’s a lot of people trying to improve the world while also figuring out how to avoid being eaten by local wildlife!.
  • Headline: DNA & SONS: A HIGH RISK VENTURE. Impact: The race for genetic engineering funding inadvertently led to a boom in bizarre reality shows where contestants compete to create the weirdest hybrid animals. You can blame this for the existence of the 'Liger' and its sensational Instagram following.. Fact: Did you know that genetic engineering is one of the few industries where 'high risk' sounds a lot cooler than it actually is? Don't worry, they don't actually make you sign a waiver... yet..
  • Headline: A CONSULTANT'S VIEW OF A GOVERNOR'S ROLE. Impact: This sage advice led to a slew of political consultants who coined the phrase 'managerial charisma,' which basically means you can be a boring leader as long as you smile and nod at the right moments.. Fact: Ever notice how politicians always seem to have a consultant whispering in their ear? It’s because being genuine is hard work, and they prefer to keep it to a minimum!.
  • Headline: ANTIQUES; TREASURE HUNTING AT THE FLEA MARKETS. Impact: The rise of flea market treasure hunting turned millions into amateur appraisers, leading to a generation of people who mistakenly think they can find a Picasso in Grandma's attic. Spoiler: it's usually just a broken vase.. Fact: Did you know that 'antique' is just a fancy word for 'old junk'? But hey, one person's junk is another person's vintage treasure—or at least that's what they tell themselves!.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1981, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #2
INTC
Intel
Price in 1981
$0.23
2025 dataset value
$155,194

Intel - If you invested $1,000 in 1981, it would be worth $155,194 today (155.2x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
Daredevil #181
Daredevil #181
$2,600
Uncanny X-Men #141
Uncanny X-Men #141
$1,000
Marvel Graphic Novel #1
Marvel Graphic Novel #1
$42,000
Moon Knight #1
Moon Knight #1
$250
Saga of the Swamp Thing #1
Saga of the Swamp Thing #1
$300
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Rubik's Cube
Rubik's Cube
$150.00
LEGO Space Sets
LEGO Space Sets
$400.00
My Little Pony
My Little Pony
$150.00
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
$150.00
Smurfs Figurines
Smurfs Figurines
$150.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong
$300.00
Pac-Man
Pac-Man
$1,500.00
Frogger
Frogger
$50.00
Galaga
Galaga
$262.70
Ms. Pac-Man
Ms. Pac-Man
$33,400.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1981 Topps Joe Montana Rookie Card
1981 Topps Joe Montana Rookie Card
$76,250
1981 Fleer Fernando Valenzuela Rookie Card
1981 Fleer Fernando Valenzuela Rookie Card
$400
1981 Donruss Tim Raines Rookie Card
1981 Donruss Tim Raines Rookie Card
$1,200.00
1981 Topps Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Card
1981 Topps Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Card
$427,000
1981 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky
1981 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky
$2,000