Historical Events
- Jan 1 20th Orange Bowl: #4 Oklahoma beats #1 Maryland, 7-0
- Jan 1 20th Sugar Bowl: #8 Georgia Tech beats #10 West Virginia, 42-19
- Jan 1 40th Rose Bowl: #3 Michigan State beats #5 UCLA, 28-20
- Jan 1 KSLA TV channel 12 in Shreveport, LA (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Jan 1 NBC broadcasts 1st live color US coast-to-coast telecast, the Tournament of Roses Parade, from Pasadena, California
- Jan 1 Rose & Cotton Bowl are 1st sport colorcasts
- Jan 1 WWTV TV channel 9 in Cadillac-Traverse City, MI (CBS) 1st broadcast
Djilas Criticizes Communism
Jan 1 Yugoslav parliament chairman and Vice President Milovan Djilas criticizes communism
Elvis Records Second Demo
Jan 4 Elvis Presley records his second demo at Sun Studios, a recording studio in Memphis, "It Wouldn't Be The Same Without You" and "I'll Never Stand In Your Way"
- Jan 4 Soap Opera "The Brighter Day" premieres
- Jan 7 Georgetown-IBM experiment, first public demonstration of a machine translation system, is held at IBM's head office in New York
- Jan 9 -87°F (-66°C), Northice Station, Greenland (Greenland record)
- Jan 9 Bert Olmstead of the Montreal Canadiens, ties NHL record of 8 points in game
- Jan 9 Bollingen Prize for poetry awarded to Louise Bogan & Leonie Adams
- Jan 10 A Comet jet airliner crashes in the Mediterranean; 35 people are missing
- Jan 10 Bollingen Prize for poetry awarded to W H Auden
- Jan 11 Two ton locomotive swept into ravine by an avalanche in Austria, killing 10
- Jan 12 Austria's worst avalanche-kills 200; 9hrs later 2nd one-kills 115
Elizabeth II in New Zealand
Jan 12 Queen Elizabeth II opens New Zealand parliament
"South Pacific"
Jan 16 Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's musical "South Pacific", starring Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza, closes at the Majestic Theater, NYC, after 1928 performances;, winning 10 Tony Awards and Pulitzer Prize
4th NFL Pro Bowl
Jan 17 4th NFL Pro Bowl, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: Eastern Conference beats Western Conference, 20-9; MVP: Chuck Bednarik, Philadelphia Eagles, LB
"Omnibus"
Jan 17 Jacques Cousteau's 1st network telecast airs on "Omnibus" (CBS)
"Concertino Opus 94"
Jan 20 Dmitri Shostakovich's "Concertino opus 94" premieres
"The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial"
Jan 20 Herman Wouk's stage drama "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial", adpated from his novel "The Caine Mutiny", starring Henry Fonda, and directed by Charles Laughton, premieres at the Plymouth Theatre, NYC; runs for 415 performances
- Jan 20 The National Negro Network is established with 40 charter member radio stations.
- Jan 21 1st gas turbine automobile exhibited (NYC)
4th NBA All-Star Game
Jan 21 4th NBA All-Star Game, Madison Square Garden, NYC: East beats West, 98-93 (OT); MVP: Bob Cousy, Boston Celtics, PG
- Jan 21 First time in All-Star history, an overtime period is needed to decide a winner; Boston Celtics' guard Bob Cousy's 10-point OT scoring burst gave the East a 98-93 win; Cousy wins All-Star MVP honours
- Jan 21 USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine, launched on the Thames River in Connecticut
11th Golden Globes
Jan 22 11th Golden Globes: The Robe, Spencer Tracy, & Audrey Hepburn win
Moore vs. Maxim
Jan 27 American boxer Archie Moore beats Joey Maxim in 15-round unanimous decision to retain his world light heavyweight title at the Orange Bowl, Miami; last of famous trilogy of fights, all won by Moore
- Jan 28 1954 NFL Draft: Bobby Garrett from University of Stanford first pick by Cleveland Browns
- Jan 29 Arnold Schoenberg's last musical work "De Profundis" premieres in Cologne, Germany
- Jan 30 Belgium ends trade agreement with USSR
- Jan 30 Fanfani government of Italy resigns
Famous Birthdays
- Jan 1 Bob Menendez, American politician (Senator-D-New Jersey 2006-), born in New York City
- Jan 1 F.R. David [Elli Fitoussi], French pop singer-songwriter ("Words"), born in Menzel Bourguiba, French Tunisia
- Jan 1 Richard Gibson, British actor (Allo Allo! -"Herr Flick"), born in Kampala, Protectorate of Uganda
- Jan 2 Cynthia Sikes, American actress (Flamingo Road; St Elsewhere), born in Coffeyville, Kansas
- Jan 2 Dawn Silva, American funk and R&B singer (Sly & The Family Stone; Parliament-Funkadelic; The Brides of Funkenstein - "Disco To Go"), born in Sacramento, California
- Jan 2 Glen Goins, American funk guitarist and singer (Parliament-Funkadelic - "Fantasy Is Reality"), born in Plainfield, New Jersey (d. 1978)
- Jan 2 Henry Bonilla, American politician (US House of Representatives (R) from Texas, 1993-2007), born in San Antonio, Texas
- Jan 2 John Barlow Jarvis, American Grammy Award-winning songwriter ("Love Can Build A Bridge"), touring and session pianist (Vince Gill; James Taylor), and recording artist, born in Pasadena, California
- Jan 2 Lyudmila Borozna, Russian volleyball player (Olympic gold USSR 1972), born in Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Jan 3 Marc Ysaÿe, Belgian progressive rock drummer and vocalist (Machiavel), born in Ixelles, Belgium
- Jan 3 Ned Lamont, American businessman and politician, Governor of Connecticut (2019-), born in Washington, D.C.
- Jan 3 Ross The Boss [Ross Friedman], American guitarist (The Dictators), born in the Bronx, New York
- Jan 4 Eugene Chadbourne, American avant-garde jazz composer, guitarist and banjo player, born in Mount Vernon, New York
- Jan 5 Bryan Hitt, American rock drummer (REO Speedwagon - "Keep on Loving You"), born in Center, Texas
- Jan 6 Anthony Minghella, English director and screenwriter (The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley), born in London (d. 2008)
- Jan 6 Hans Robert Hiegel, German architect, born in Kaiserslautern, Germany
- Jan 6 Norbert Hahn, German luger (Olympic gold GDR men's doubles 1976, 80; World C'ship gold 1975, 77), born in Elbingerode, Germany
- Jan 6 Trudie Styler, English actress, born in Bromsgrove, United Kingdom
- Jan 6 Yuji Horii, Japanese video game designer, born in Sumoto, Hyōgo, Japan
- Jan 7 Alan Butcher, English cricketer (one Test England v India, scored 14 & 20), born in Croydon, United Kingdom
- Jan 8 Jerry Vivino, American rock and R&B saxophonist (Max Weinberg 7; Vivino Brothers), born in Paterson, New Jersey
- Jan 9 Lance Hoppens, American rock bassist (Orleans - "Still the One"; "Dance With Me"), born in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York
- Jan 11 Saskia ten Batenburg, Dutch actress (Factory, Hunk)
Howard Stern (70 years old)
Jan 12 American radio personality and "Radio's Bad Boy" (WKRK, WYSP, WJFK), born in Queens, New York
- Jan 13 Vicki McCarty, American author (Girlfriend's Guide to) Playboy playmate (Sep, 1979), born in Los Angeles, California
- Jan 14 Jim Duggan, American wrestler, born in Glens Falls, New York
- Jan 15 Jose Dalisay Jr., Filipino writer, born in Romblon, Philippines
- Jan 15 Nikos Sarganis, Greek footballer, born in Rafina, Greece
- Jan 15 Roger McLachlan, New Zealand rock bassist (Little River Band; Stars), born in Riverton, New Zealand
- Jan 16 Morten Meldal, Danish chemist (2022 Nobel Prize for click chemistry), born in Denmark
- Jan 17 Cheryl Bentyne [Benthien], American jazz singer and vocal arranger (The Manhattan Transfer, 1979-2023), born in Mount Vernon, Washington
- Jan 17 Robert F. Kennedy Jr., American attorney (Natural Resources Defense Council), born in Washington, D.C.
- Jan 17 Susan Kiefel, Australian lawyer and judge, born in Cairns, Australia
- Jan 18 Ted DiBiase, American professional wrestler, born in Omaha, Nebraska
- Jan 18 Tom Bailey, English rock vocalist, keyboardist (Thompson Twins - "Hold Me Now", "Doctor! Doctor!"), and record producer, born in Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Jan 19 Andrew Hall, English actor (Butterflies - "Russell"), and theater director, born in Manchester, England ( d. 2019)
- Jan 19 Cindy Sherman, American photographer and director, born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey
Katey Sagal (70 years old)
Jan 19 American actress and singer-songwriter (Married With Children - "Peg"), born in Los Angeles, California
- Jan 19 Katharina Thalbach, German actress and film director, born in Berlin, Germany
- Jan 19 Steve DeBerg, American NFL quarterback (Broncos, Chiefs, Bucs, 49ers), born in Oakland, California
- Jan 22 Chris Lemmon, American actor (Brothers & Sisters, Duet) [or Jun 22], born in Los Angeles, California
- Jan 22 Peter Pilz, Austrian politician, born in Kapfenberg, Austria
- Jan 22 Tully Blanchard, American professional wrestler, born in Calgary, Canada
- Jan 23 Edward Ka-Spel [Sharp] British avant-garde singer-songwriter (Legendary Pink Dots), born in London, England
- Jan 23 Franco De Vita, Venezuelan spanish singer (Extranjero), born in Caracas, Venezuela
- Jan 23 Richard Finch, American disco and rock bassist, songwriter and producer (KC and the Sunshine Band - "Shake Your Booty"; "I'm Your Boogie Man"), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Jan 23 Trevor Hohns, Australian cricketer (Australian leg-spinner 1989), born in Queensland, Australia
- Jan 24 Glenn Worf, American session and touring upright and electric bassist (Mark Knopfler), born in Dayton, Ohio
- Jan 24 Jo Gartner, Austrian racing driver, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1986)
- Jan 25 Condredge Holloway, American CFL HOF quarterback (Grey Cup 1976 Ottawa Rough Riders, 1983 Toronto Argonauts; CFL Most Outstanding Player 1982), born in Huntsville, Alabama
- Jan 25 Jan Sandström, Swedish classical music composer (Motorbike Concerto: Snowflakes), born in Vilhelmina, Sweden
- Jan 25 Kim Gandy, American feminist, born in Bossier City, Louisiana
- Jan 25 Ricardo Bochini, Argentinian soccer midfielder (28 caps; FIFA World Cup 1986; CA Independiente 634 games), born in Zárate, Argentina
Kim Hughes (70 years old)
Jan 26 Australian cricket batsman and captain (70 Tests, 9 x 100, HS 213; 97 ODIs, 17 x 50; Western Australia CA, Natal), born in Margaret River, Australia
- Jan 26 Martin Dunn, British editor (Today)
- Jan 27 Joko Ninomiya, Japanese martial artist, born in Yawatahama, Ehime, Japan
- Jan 27 Peter Laird, American comic-book artist (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), born in North Adams, Massachusetts
- Jan 28 Anicee Alvina, actress (Friends), born in Paris, France
- Jan 28 Rick Warren, American pastor and author
- Jan 28 Shawn Murray, American rock drummer (Mink Deville), born in New York
- Jan 29 Dick Manitoba, American punk rock singer (The Dictators), born in New York City
- Jan 29 Doug Risebrough, Canadian ice hockey center (Stanley Cup 1976-79 Montreal Canadiens) and coach (Stanley Cup 1989 Calgary Flames), born in Guelph, Ontario
Oprah Winfrey (70 years old)
Jan 29 American TV talk show host and actress (The Oprah Winfrey Show, Colour Purple), born in Kosciusko, Mississippi
- Jan 30 Alides Hidding, Dutch singer-songwriter (Time Bandits), born in Schoonoord, Netherlands
- Jan 30 Jochen Kowalski, German concert and operatic countertenor (Hamburg State Opera, 1984-present), born in Wachow, East Germany (now part of Nauen, Germany)
- Jan 31 Adrian Vandenberg, Dutch rock guitarist (Whitesnake), born in the Hague, Netherlands
- Jan 31 Faoud Bacchus, West Indies cricketer (West Indian bat late 70's), born in Georgetown, Guyana
Famous Weddings
Joe DiMaggio & Marilyn Monroe
Jan 14 American NY Yankee baseball player Joe DiMaggio weds American actress Marilyn Monroe (27), the 2nd time for both), at San Francisco City Hall; divorce in 1955
Marcel Duchamp
Jan 16 Painter Marcel Duchamp (66) weds Alexina "Tweeny" Matisse (48) in New York City
Famous Deaths
- Jan 1 Duff Cooper, British diplomat and writer, dies at 63
- Jan 3 Gus Dorais, American College Football Hall of Fame quarterback (Notre Dame) and coach (Gonzaga, Detroit Lions), dies of arteriosclerosis and anorexia at 62
- Jan 5 Rabbit Maranville, American baseball player (Boston Braves), dies at 62
- Jan 6 Rabbit Maranville, American Baseball HOF infielder (World Series 1914 Boston Braves) and manager (Chicago Cubs), dies at 62
- Jan 10 Fred Raymond, Austrian composer, dies at 53
- Jan 11 Edgard Tytgat, Flemish painter and etcher, dies at 77
- Jan 11 Emmy Arbous, Dutch actress/cabaret performer (Boefje), dies at 56
- Jan 11 Oscar Straus, Austrian composer (Brave Soldier), dies at 83
- Jan 13 Roland Diggle, English-American composer, organist and choirmaster (St. John's Episcopal Church of Los Angeles, California), dies at 69
- Jan 16 Michail M Prishvin, Russian writer, dies
- Jan 18 Sydney Greenstreet, British actor (Casablanca, Maltese Falcon), dies at 74
- Jan 19 Theodor Kaluza, German mathematician and physicist (Kaluza-Klein theory), dies at 68
- Jan 20 Fred Root, English cricket fast bowler (3 Tests, 8 wickets; Derbyshire CCC, Worcestershire CCC), dies at 63
- Jan 20 Warren Bardsley, Australian cricket batsman (41 Tests, 6 x 100, 14 x 50, HS 193no; NSWCA), dies at 71
- Jan 22 Princess Margaret of Prussia, Queen consort-elect of Finland, dies at 81
- Jan 26 Carl Eldh, Swedish artist and sculptor, dies at 80
- Jan 27 Paul-Marie Masson, French musicologist (L’Opéra de Rameau), and composer, dies at 71
- Jan 31 Edwin H. Armstrong, US radio inventor (FM), commits suicide at 63
- Jan 31 Florence Bates, American actress (Kismet, I Remember Mama), dies at 65
