Historical Events
- Sep 1 101°F highest temperature ever recorded in Cleveland in Sept
- Sep 1 Buck Baker takes lead with 10 laps remaining to win the Southern 500 at Darlington in the most competitive event in NASCAR Grand National history; four drivers swap lead a record 35 times
- Sep 1 Fokker begins building F-27 Fokker Friendship
- Sep 1 WNOK (now WLTX) TV channel 19 in Columbia, SC (CBS) 1st broadcast
- Sep 1 WTCN (now KARE) TV channel 11 in Minneapolis-St Paul, MN (MET) begins
- Sep 3 European Convention on Human Rights goes into effect
François Mitterrand Resigns
Sep 3 French minister François Mitterrand, resigns due to colonial policy
Election of Interest
Sep 6 Konrad Adenauer's CDU wins elections in German Federal Republic
Baseball Record
Sep 6 Roy Campanella sets record for HRs by a catcher at 38
- Sep 7 Roy Campanella sets catcher record of 125 (en route to 142) RBIs
US Men's Tennis Open
Sep 7 US National Championship Men's Tennis, Forest Hills, NY: Tony Trabert beats fellow American Vic Seixas 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 to win his first of 5 major titles
US Open Women's Tennis
Sep 7 US National Championship Women's Tennis, Forest Hills, NY: In an all-American final Maureen Connolly becomes first female to achieve a Grand Slam; beats Doris Hart 6-2, 6-4
Music History
Sep 8 Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke's musical "Carnival in Flanders", adapted by Preston Sturges from a 1935 French film, and starring Dolores Gray and John Raitt, opens at the New Century Theatre, NYC; runs for 6 performances and wins Gray a Tony Award
- Sep 9 WFIE TV channel 14 in Evansville, IN (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 10 Swanson sells its 1st "TV dinner"
- Sep 11 KSBW TV channel 8 in Salinas-Monterey, CA (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 11 WEHT TV channel 25 in Evansville, IN (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Sep 12 Brooklyn Dodgers clinch NL pennant earlier than any other team, defeating Milwaukee Braves 5-2. Brooklyn finishes season with record of 105-49.
- Sep 12 Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke's musical "Carnival in Flanders", adapted by Preston Sturges from a 1935 French film, and starring Dolores Gray and John Raitt, closes at the New Century Theatre, NYC, after 6 performances, and a Tony Award win for Gray
F1 World Champion
Sep 13 Italian Ferrari driver Alberto Ascari retains Formula 1 World Drivers Championship although forced to retire (engine trouble) in season ending Italian Grand Prix at Monza; wins title by 6.5 points from Juan Manuel Fangio
- Sep 13 KGTV TV channel 10 in San Diego, CA (ABC/NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 13 Pitcher Bob Trice becomes the first black player for Philadelphia Athletics
Appointment of Interest
Sep 14 Nikita Khrushchev appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, succeeding Malenkov
- Sep 14 Yanks clinch 5th straight pennant with 8-5 win over Indians
- Sep 15 Boxing's NBA adopts 10-pt-must-scoring-system (10 pts to round winner)
- Sep 15 KVOA TV channel 4 in Tucson, AZ (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 15 WVEC TV channel 13 in Hampton-Norfolk, VA (ABC) begins broadcasting
The Robe
Sep 16 1st movie in Cinemascope "The Robe" based on the book by Lloyd C. Douglas, directed by Henry Koster and starring Richard Burton and Jean Simmons premieres
- Sep 16 AL approves St Louis Browns move to become Baltimore Orioles
Sports History
Sep 17 Ernie Banks becomes Chicago Cubs 1st black player
- Sep 19 "Hazel Flagg" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 190 performances
- Sep 20 Cubs Ernie Banks hits his 1st major league HR
- Sep 21 KRDO TV channel 13 in Colorado Spgs-Pueblo, CO (ABC) 1st broadcast
- Sep 22 Islamic uprising in Atjeh, Indonesia
- Sep 23 KHQA TV channel 7 in Hannibal-Quincy, MO (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Sep 24 "Take a Giant Step" opens on Broadway
Marciano TKOs LaStarza
Sep 24 Rocky Marciano TKOs home town favourite Roland LaStarza in 11 at NYC's Polo Grounds to retain his world heavyweight boxing title
- Sep 26 KERO TV channel 23 in Bakersfield, CA (CBS/NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 26 Polish government fires/imprisons Cardinal Wyszynski
- Sep 26 Shortstop Billy Hunter smashes final home run in St Louis Browns history during a 6-3 loss to Chicago White Sox at Busch Stadium; franchise moves to Baltimore next season
- Sep 26 US & Spain sign defense treaty (4 US bases in Spain)
- Sep 27 Baltimore Colt Bert Rechichar kicks a 56-yard field goal
- Sep 27 KCMO (now KCTV) TV channel 5 in Kansas City, MO (CBS) begins
- Sep 27 KNOE TV channel 8 in Monroe-West Monroe, LA (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Sep 27 KOLO TV channel 8 in Reno, NV (ABC/CBS) begins broadcasting
- Sep 27 KQTV TV channel 2 in Saint Joseph, MO (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 27 St Louis Browns play last game in Sportsman's Park, losing 100th game
- Sep 27 Typhoon destroys one third of Nagoya, Japan
- Sep 27 WHBQ TV channel 13 in Memphis, Tennessee (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 27 WMAZ TV channel 13 in Macon, GA (CBS/ABC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 27 WTOK TV channel 11 in Meridian, MS (ABC/CBS) begins broadcasting
- Sep 28 "Bob & Ray Show" TV Variety last air on NBC
- Sep 28 "Juvenile Jury" TV Children's last airs on NBC, moved to CBS
- Sep 28 "Racket Squad" TV Crime Drama last airs on CBS
- Sep 28 Dutch government proclaims 5% general pay increase on Jan 1, 1954
- Sep 28 KOAT TV channel 7 in Albuquerque, NM (ABC/PBS) begins broadcasting
- Sep 29 "Buick-Berle Show" debuts on NBC-TV
Make Room for Daddy
Sep 29 "Make Room for Daddy" starring Danny Thomas, premieres on ABC-TV
Milton Berle Show
Sep 29 "Milton Berle Show" premieres on NBC in the US
- Sep 29 1st department store to sell insurance is Carson Pirie Scott in Chicago, Illinois
- Sep 29 Baltimore, Maryland Mayor D'Alesandro buys Veeck's interest in Browns for $2,475,000
- Sep 29 US government gives France $385 million for combat in Indo-China
- Sep 30 Auguste/Jacques Piccard dives with bathosphere to 3150 m (record)
Chief Justice Earl Warren
Sep 30 Earl Warren appointed Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court
- Sep 30 Robert Anderson's "Tea & Sympathy" premieres in NYC
- Sep 30 WICS TV channel 20 in Springfield, IL (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 30 WMT (now KGAN) TV channel 2 in Cedar Rapids-Waterloo, IA (CBS) begins
Famous Birthdays
- Sep 1 Beau Billingslea, American voice actor (Cowboy Bebop), born in Charleston, South Carolina
- Sep 1 Ted Petty, American professional wrestler (d. 2002)
Ahmad Shah Massoud (1953-2001)
Sep 2 Afghan political and military leader who fought the Soviet Union and led the Northern Alliance against the Taliban, born in Bazarak, Panjshir, Afghanistan
- Sep 2 Gerhard P J Thiele, Brenz Germany, astronaut
- Sep 2 Gordon Kennett, English motorcycle speedway rider (World Pairs C'ship [Malcolm Simmons] 1978; World Championship 1978 runner-up), born in Bromley, England (d. 2023)
- Sep 2 John Zorn, American jazz and avant garde musician and composer, born in New York City
- Sep 3 Jean-Pierre Jeunet, French film director (Amelie), born in Roanne, Loire, Rhône-Alpes, France
- Sep 3 Munir H. Habib, Syrian cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-3 backup)
- Sep 4 Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, American actor (Freddie-Welcome Back Kotter), born in New York City
- Sep 5 Paulie Carmen, American rock vocalist (Champaign), born in Champaign, Illinois
- Sep 6 Katherine Cannon, American actress (Father Murphy, Survivors), born in Hartford, Connecticut
- Sep 6 Mohamed Kedir, Ethiopian 10k runner (Olympic bronze 1980), born in Ethiopia
- Sep 7 Ben Bossi, American rock saxophonist (Romeo Void), born in San Francisco, California
- Sep 7 Michael Byron, American classical composer (Tidal), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Sep 8 Esther Sans Takeuchi, American scientist and engineer (invented batteries for implantable cardioverter defibrillators), born in Kansas City, Missouri [1]
- Sep 9 Alisher B. Usmanov, Russian business magnate and investor, born in Chust, Uzbekistan
- Sep 10 Amy Irving, American actress (Yentl; Carrie; Crossing Delancy), born in Palo Alto, California
- Sep 11 Jani Allan, South African journalist and media personality, born in London
- Sep 11 Lenise Bent, American audio engineer in music (Blondie, The Knack) and film (L.A. Heat), born in Los Angeles, California
- Sep 11 Renée Geyer, Australian singer ("It's A Man's Man's World"; "Stares and Whispers"), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 2023) [1]
- Sep 11 Tommy Shaw, American rock guitarist, and singer (Styx - "Come Sail Away"; Damn Yankees), born in Montgomery, Alabama
- Sep 12 John Williams, American archer (Olympic gold individual 1972; World C'ship gold 1971), born in Cranesville, Pennsylvania
- Sep 12 Nancy "Nan" Goldin, American photographer (The Ballad of Sexual Dependency), born in Washington, D.C.
- Sep 13 Taryn Power, American actress (Maria); youngest daughter of Tyrone Power Mexican actress Linda Christian, born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2020)
- Sep 14 Judy Playfair, Australian swimmer, born in Sydney, Australia
- Sep 14 Tom Cora, American cellist and composer, born in Yancey Mills, Virginia (d. 1998)
- Sep 15 Pat Barrett, Canadian pop and doo-wop vocalist (Crew Cuts - "Sh-Boom"), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2016)
- Sep 16 Alan Barton, English musician (Black Lace, Smokie), born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England (d. 1995)
- Sep 16 Earl Klugh, American jazz pianist and guitarist, born in Detroit, Michigan
- Sep 16 Gene Taylor, American politician (Rep-D-Mississippi), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Sep 16 Jerry Pate, American golfer (US Open 1976; 8 PGA Tour titles), born in Macon, Georgia
- Sep 16 Lenny Clarke, American actor (Officer Hampton-John Larroquette Show), born in Boston, Massachusetts
- Sep 16 Michael Rhodes, American country, rock, and jazz session and touring bass player, born in Monroe, Louisiana (d. 2023)
- Sep 16 Nancy Huston, Canadian novelist (Cantique des plaines) and essayist, born in Calgary, Alberta
- Sep 17 Altaf Hussain, Pakistani politician and founder of MQM
- Sep 17 Rita Rudner, American comedienne (Funny People), born in Miami, Florida
- Sep 18 Betsy Boze, American academic (9th president of The College of The Bahamas), born in Shreveport, Louisiana
- Sep 18 Gerald Custer, American choral conductor and composer (I Kiss My Hand to the Stars), born in Baltimore, Maryland
- Sep 20 Jeff Jones, Canadian rock bassist/vocalist (Red Rider), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Sep 21 John Mengatti, American actor (Nick-White Shadow, For Love & Honor), born in New York City
- Sep 21 Sunny Johnson, American actress (Flashdance), born in Bakersfield, California (d. 1984)
- Sep 22 Richard Fairbrass, English singer and bassist (Right Said Fred), born in Kingston upon Thames, England
- Sep 22 Ségolène Royal, French politician (Socialist party), 1st Frenchwoman to be nominated for the Presidency by a major party, born in Dakar, French West Africa
- Sep 22 Tomasz Wójtowicz, Polish volleyball player (Olympic gold 1976; World C'ship gold 1974; Legia Warsaw, Santal Parma) and broadcaster, born in Lublin, Poland (d. 2022)
- Sep 25 Richard Harvey, British musician and composer (Gryphon), born in London, England
- Sep 26 Aivars Lembergs, Latvian politician, born in Jēkabpils, Latvia
- Sep 26 Dolores Keane, Irish folk singer, born in Sylane, County Galway, Ireland
- Sep 27 Benjamin Gene Brown, 4X400 runner (Olympic gold 1976), born in San Francisco, California
- Sep 27 Claudio Gentile, Italian footballer
- Sep 27 Diane Abbott, British politician (L) 1st black woman elected to UK parliament, born in London
- Sep 27 Greg Ham, Australian rock saxophonist and flutist (Men At Work - "Who Can It Be Now?"), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 2012)
- Sep 27 Heather Watts, American ballerina (Dancing on My Grave), born in Los Angeles, California
- Sep 27 Mata Amritanandamayi, Indian religious leader
- Sep 27 Robbie Shakespeare, Jamaican reggae bassist (Sly & Robbie - "DJ Riot"), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 2021)
- Sep 28 Jim Diamond, Scottish singer-songwriter (I Should Have Known Better), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 2015)
- Sep 29 Drake Hogestyn, American actor (7 Brides for 7 Brothers), born in Ft Wayne, Indiana
- Sep 29 Jean-Claude Lauzon, Canadian filmmaker (Leola; Night Zoo), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 1997)
- Sep 29 Warren Cromartie, American baseball player (Montreal Expos), born in Miami Beach, Florida
- Sep 30 Deborah Allen, American country singer (Jim Stafford Show), born in Memphis, Tennessee
- Sep 30 S.M. Stirling, Canadian-American author (Draka series), born in Metz, France
Famous Weddings
Edmund Hillary
Sep 3 New Zealand Explorer Edmund Hillary (34) weds Louise Mary Rose
Lana Turner
Sep 8 American movie actress Lana Turner (32) weds 4th husband, "Tarzan of the Apes" actor Lex Barker (34); divorce in 1957
John F. Kennedy & Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Sep 12 American Senator John F. Kennedy (36) weds Jacqueline Bouvier (24) in Newport, Rhode Island
Rita Hayworth
Sep 24 American "Gilda" actress Rita Hayworth (34) weds Argentine singer Dick Haymes (35) at The Sands Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas; divorce in 1955
Mikhail Gorbachev
Sep 25 Russian student and future statesman Mikhail Gorbachev (22) weds fellow student Raisa Maximovna (21) at a Komsomol wedding ceremony, until her death
Joseph McCarthy
Sep 29 US Senator Joseph McCarthy (43) weds researcher Jean Kerr at St. Matthews Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Famous Deaths
Francis Ford (1881-1953)
Sep 5 American actor (The Quiet Man), dies at 72
- Sep 5 Richard Walther Darré, Nazi politician, one of the leading 'blood and soil' ideologists (b. 1895)
- Sep 8 Fred M. Vinson, American Democratic politician, US Treasury Secretary (1945-46) and the 13th Chief Justice of US Supreme Court (1946-53), dies of a heart attack at 63
- Sep 12 Hugo Schmeisser, German inventor and weapons designer, dies at 68
- Sep 12 Lewis Stone, American actor (The Lost World, Prisoner of Zenda), dies of a heart attack at 73
- Sep 15 Jacques Thibaud, French violinist, dies at 72
- Sep 16 Colin G. Fink, American chemist (electro chemistry), dies at 71 [1]
- Sep 17 Emil Ermatinger, Swiss literature historian, dies at 80
- Sep 17 Henry Holden Huss, American composer, dies at 91
- Sep 18 Charles de Tornaco, Belgian racing driver, dies at 26
- Sep 21 Roger Quilter, British composer, dies at 75
- Sep 22 William Brann, South African cricketer (3 Tests for South Africa), dies at 54
- Sep 24 Berthold Viertel, Austrian screenwriter, dies at 68
- Sep 25 Dimitur Poljanov [Popov], Bulgaria poet (Iron Verses), dies at 76
- Sep 26 Xu Beihong, Chinese painter, dies at 58
- Sep 27 Jules-Marie Canneel, Flemish painter and caricaturist (Rocks of Oran), dies at 72
Edwin Hubble (1889-1953)
Sep 28 American astronomer, first to announce existence of other galaxies, dies at 63
