Year 1953 in History

Ernest Bloch's work for viola and piano, "Suite Hébraïque," part of his "Jewish Cycle," premieres in Chicago

US President Harry Truman announces the United States’ development of the hydrogen bomb

Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953.

Cricketer Richie Benaud (22) weds Marcia Lavender at the Wesley Church in Sydney, Australia

US Court of Appeals rules that organized baseball is a sport and not a business, affirming the 25-year-old Supreme Court

US Court of Appeals rules that organized baseball is a sport and not a business, affirming the 25-year-old Supreme Court ruling

Francis Crick and James Watson discover the chemical structure of the DNA molecule (double-helix polymer) using X-ray di

Francis Crick and James Watson discover the chemical structure of the DNA molecule (double-helix polymer) using X-ray diffraction studies developed by Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins

Dr. Jonas Salk announces that he has successfully tested a vaccine to prevent polio, clinical trials begin the following

Dr. Jonas Salk announces that he has successfully tested a vaccine to prevent polio, clinical trials begin the following year

Japanese film "Ugetsu" is released, directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, starring Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyō and Kinuyo Tanaka

Ugetsu (雨月物語, Ugetsu Monogatari, lit. "Rain-moon tales") is a 1953 Japanese period fantasy film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi starring Masayuki Mori and Machiko Kyō.

American magazine "TV Guide" publishes its first issue; the cover features a photo of Lucille Ball's newborn baby boy, D

American magazine "TV Guide" publishes its first issue; the cover features a photo of Lucille Ball's newborn baby boy, Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV (Desi Arnaz Jr.)

"House of Wax," the first color 3-D movie, premieres in New York

House of Wax is a 1953 American mystery-horror film directed by Andre de Toth and released by Warner Bros.

Francis Crick and James Watson's discovery of the double helix structure of DNA is published in "Nature" magazine

James Dewey Watson (April 6, 1928 – November 6, 2025) was an American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist.

John F. Kennedy's sister Eunice Kennedy (31) weds activist and attorney Sargent Shriver at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in

John F. Kennedy's sister Eunice Kennedy (31) weds activist and attorney Sargent Shriver at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City

Edmund Hillary (NZ) and Tenzing Norgay (Nepal) are the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest as part of a British e

Edmund Hillary (NZ) and Tenzing Norgay (Nepal) are the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest as part of a British expedition

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey, London, England

The coronation of Elizabeth II as queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey in London.

Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. (24) weds fellow activist and singer Coretta Scott (26) on the lawn of her

Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. (24) weds fellow activist and singer Coretta Scott (26) on the lawn of her parent’s home in Marion, Alabama; ceremony officiated by his father

English "James Bond" actor Roger Moore (25) weds second wife Welsh singer Dorothy Squires (38) in Jersey City, New Jerse

English "James Bond" actor Roger Moore (25) weds second wife Welsh singer Dorothy Squires (38) in Jersey City, New Jersey; divorce in 1968

Actor José Ferrer divorces dancer and actress Phyllis Hill after 5 years of marriage

José Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintrón (January 8, 1912 – January 26, 1992) was a Puerto Rican actor and director of stage, film and television.

Fidel Castro leads a failed attack on the Moncada Barracks, intended to spark a revolution in Cuba

Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country in the Caribbean. It comprises the eponymous main island as well as 4,195 islands, islets, and cays.

NHL goaltender Terry Sawchuk (23) weds Patricia Ann Morey

American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald (36) divorces American jazz bassist Ray Brown (27) after 6 years of marriage

Future NYC mayor David Dinkins marries Joyce Burrows in NYC

MLB baseball player Hank Aaron (19) weds Barbara Lucas (divorced 1971)

Tennis champion Tony Trabert (23) weds beauty queen Shauna Wood at the Salt Lake Country Club in Salt Lake City, Utah

"Tokyo Story", Japanese film directed by Yasujirō Ozu, starring Chishū Ryū, Chieko Higashiyama and Setsuko Hara, is rele

"Tokyo Story", Japanese film directed by Yasujirō Ozu, starring Chishū Ryū, Chieko Higashiyama and Setsuko Hara, is released

US Supreme Court rules (7-2) that baseball is a sport, not a business

American Airlines begins the first regular commercial New York to Los Angeles air service

Air India is the flag carrier of India with its main hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, and secondary hubs at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and Chhatrapati Shivaji...

Prime Minister of Canada John Diefenbaker (58) weds second wife Olive Palmer (51) at Park Road Baptist Church in Toronto

Prime Minister of Canada John Diefenbaker (58) weds second wife Olive Palmer (51) at Park Road Baptist Church in Toronto, Canada

Entertainer Milton Berle (45) marries for the third time Ruth Cosgrove (32)

Broadcasting pioneer Roone Arledge (22) weds Joan Heise at St. Frances de Chantal Parish in Wantagh, New York

The first NTSC color television sets go on sale for about $1,175 from RCA

Color television (American English) or colour television (British English) is a television transmission technology that also includes color information for the picture, so the video image can be...

NBA Baltimore Bullets begin a record 32 game road losing streak (12 games in 1952-53; 20 games in 1953-54) with a 73-66

NBA Baltimore Bullets begin a record 32 game road losing streak (12 games in 1952-53; 20 games in 1953-54) with a 73-66 defeat at the Indianapolis Olympians

Frances Bolton and her son, Oliver become the first mother and son to serve simultaneously in the U.S. Congress, both re

Frances Bolton and her son, Oliver become the first mother and son to serve simultaneously in the U.S. Congress, both representing Ohio

KTSM TV channel 9 in El Paso, TX (NBC) begins broadcasting

Dutch passenger ships Willem Ruys and Oranje collide in the Red Sea near Port Sudan, seriously damaging both vessels wit

Dutch passenger ships Willem Ruys and Oranje collide in the Red Sea near Port Sudan, seriously damaging both vessels without injuring the 1,750 passengers

Vaughan William's "Sinfonia Antartica" premieres in Manchester

Sinfonia antartica ("Antarctic Symphony") is the Italian title given by Ralph Vaughan Williams to his seventh symphony, first performed in 1953.

16 car Federal Express train loses brakes & crashes in Washington, D.C. station

A runaway train is a type of railroad incident in which unattended rolling stock is accidentally allowed to roll onto the main line, a moving train loses enough braking power to be unable to stop in...

Egyptian Premier General Naguib disbands all political parties

American track and field olympian Jesse Owens named Illinois Athletic Commission secretary

James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens (September 12, 1913 – March 31, 1980) was an American track and field athlete who made history at the 1936 Olympic Games by winning four gold medals, setting Olympic...

1st US telecast transmitted to Canada from Buffalo, New York

NFL Draft: Harry Babcock from University of Georgia first pick by San Francisco 49ers

The 1953 National Football League draft was held on January 22, 1953, at The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia.

NFL Dallas Texans become Baltimore Colts (now Indianapolis Colts)

The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis.

WABI TV channel 5 in Bangor, ME (CBS) begins broadcasting

Netherlands end Marshall aid

George Catlett Marshall Jr. (31 December 1880 – 16 October 1959) was an American army officer and statesman. He rose through the United States Army to become Chief of Staff of the U.S.

19-year old Derek Bentley is hanged in Wandsworth Prison, London, controversially convicted of the murder of a police of

19-year old Derek Bentley is hanged in Wandsworth Prison, London, controversially convicted of the murder of a police officer. He was pardoned on 30th July 1998.

"Princess Victoria" capsized off Stanraer Scotland; 133 die

"General Electric Theater" premieres on CBS TV; Ronald Reagan later hosts

J Fred Muggs, a chimpanzee, becomes a regular on NBC's Today Show

"Peter Pan," an animated film by Walt Disney, opens at the Roxy Theater in NYC

Ian Craig makes Test Cricket debut at 17 yrs 239 days, youngest Aussie

WLVA (now WSET) TV channel 13 in Lynchburg-Roanoke, VA (ABC) begins

WLVA (580 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Lynchburg, Virginia. It airs a talk radio format and is owned and operated by Brent Epperson.

Ice Dance Championship at Davos won by Westwood & Demmy GRB

President Eisenhower refuses clemency appeal for Rosenberg couple

Julius Rosenberg (May 12, 1918 – June 19, 1953) and Ethel Rosenberg were an American married couple who were convicted of spying for the Soviet Union, including providing top-secret information about...

USSR breaks relations with Israel

After the Russian Revolution, in which the Bolsheviks took over parts of the collapsing Russian Empire in 1918, they faced enormous odds against the German Empire and eventually negotiated terms to...

Philadelphia A's change name of Shibe Park to Connie Mack Stadium

Shibe Park ( SHYBE, rhymes with "vibe"), known later as Connie Mack Stadium, was a ballpark located in Philadelphia.

"Trionfo di Afrodite (Triumph of Aphrodite)", the final work of Carl Orff's Trionfi trilogy premieres at La Scala Teatro

"Trionfo di Afrodite (Triumph of Aphrodite)", the final work of Carl Orff's Trionfi trilogy premieres at La Scala Teatro in Milan, Italy

DSB soccer team forms in Eindhoven (now PSV Eindhoven), Netherlands

KOLN TV channel 10 in Lincoln, NB (CBS) begins broadcasting

Georgia approves US 1st literature censorship board

August A. Busch buys St. Louis Cardinals MLB club from Fred Saigh for $3.75 million; pledges not to move the team from S

August A. Busch buys St. Louis Cardinals MLB club from Fred Saigh for $3.75 million; pledges not to move the team from St. Louis, Missouri

Longest collegiate basketball game (6 OTs) Niagara beats Siena 88-81

Boston Braves, who own Milwaukee minor league franchise, block St Louis Browns attempt to shift their franchise to Milwa

Boston Braves, who own Milwaukee minor league franchise, block St Louis Browns attempt to shift their franchise to Milwaukee

South African cricket opening batsman Jackie McGlew scores an unbeaten 255 in 1st Test win against New Zealand in Wellin

South African cricket opening batsman Jackie McGlew scores an unbeaten 255 in 1st Test win against New Zealand in Wellington

Census indicates 239,000 farmers gave up farming in last 2 years in US

1st woman army doctor commissioned (FM Adams)

KOLR TV channel 10 in Springfield, MO (CBS) begins broadcasting

West Germany loses in soccer to Netherlands, 2-1

7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Yenice–Gönen in western Turkey, 1070 die

NBA record 106 fouls & 12 players foul out (Boston-Syracuse)

Antonín Zápotocký chosen as President of Czechoslovakia

US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

The Nevada National Security Sites (N2S2 or NNSS), popularized as the Nevada Test Site (NTS) until 2010, is a reservation of the United States Department of Energy located in the southeastern portion...

21 die in a train crash in Conneaut, Ohio

"Stock exchanges open, dikes closed" raises 5,200,000 guilders

J van Bale appointed governor of New Guinea

Raab forms his 1st government in Austria

Julius Raab (29 November 1891 – 8 January 1964) was an Austrian politician who served as Federal Chancellor of Austria from 1953 to 1961.

KFDA TV channel 10 in Amarillo, TX (CBS) begins broadcasting

WEYI TV channel 25 in Saginaw, MI (CBS) begins broadcasting

1st west-to-east jet transatlantic nonstop flight

Oveta Culp Hobby becomes 1st at Health, Education, & Welfare

Oveta Culp Hobby (January 19, 1905 – August 16, 1995) was an American government official and businesswoman who served as the first United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare from 1953...

Keizo Yamada runs fastest marathon to date, at Boston

1st game of Milwaukee Braves, they beat Cincinnati Reds 2-0

The Milwaukee Braves were a Major League Baseball club that played in Milwaukee, from 1953 to 1965, having previously played in Boston, Massachusetts, as the Boston Braves.

Viet-Minh offensive in Laos

Malans National Party wins South African elections

Mickey Mantle hits a 565' (172 m) HR in Washington, D.C.'s Griffith Stadium

Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995), nicknamed "the Mick" and "the Commerce Comet", was an American professional baseball player who played his entire Major League Baseball...

WAFB TV channel 9 in Baton Rouge, LA (CBS) begins broadcasting

"Shane", directed by George Stevens and based on the 1949 novel by Jack Schaefer, starring Alan Ladd and Jean Arthur pre

"Shane", directed by George Stevens and based on the 1949 novel by Jack Schaefer, starring Alan Ladd and Jean Arthur premieres

1st general elections in British Guiana, won by the People's Progressive Party with Cheddi Jagan first person of Indian

1st general elections in British Guiana, won by the People's Progressive Party with Cheddi Jagan first person of Indian descent to be elected head of government outside South Asia

6th Cannes Film Festival: "The Wages of Fear" directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot wins the Grand Prix du Festival Internat

6th Cannes Film Festival: "The Wages of Fear" directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot wins the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film

Feisal II installed as King of Iraq

Westchester conference of American Library Association proclaims "Freedom to Read"

MLB St. Louis Browns Alva "Bobo" Holloman, in his first start game as starting pitcher, no-hits visiting Philadelphia A'

MLB St. Louis Browns Alva "Bobo" Holloman, in his first start game as starting pitcher, no-hits visiting Philadelphia A's, 6-0

Record 537-kg swordfish is caught by L.E. Marron in Chile

WIPB TV channel 49 in Muncie, IN (PBS) begins broadcasting

KCBD TV channel 11 in Lubbock, TX (NBC) begins broadcasting

KCBD (channel 11) is a television station licensed to Lubbock, Texas, United States, affiliated with NBC.

Tornado kills 114 in Waco Texas ($39M damage)

KUHT TV channel 8 (PBS) in Houston, TX, begins broadcasting

Philadelphia Phillies Curt Simmons gives up a lead-off single, then retires next 27 in a row in 3-0 win over Braves at C

Philadelphia Phillies Curt Simmons gives up a lead-off single, then retires next 27 in a row in 3-0 win over Braves at County Stadium in Milwaukee

Yanks & Browns use record 41 players in a game

American Jacqueline Cochran becomes the first woman to break the sound barrier

Nuclear explosion in Nevada (fall-out in St George, Utah)

French government of René Mayer resigns

MLB New York Yankees Irv Noren hits into a triple-play, as Yankees beat Washington Senators 12-4

WHIZ TV channel 18 in Zanesville, OH (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting

1st atomic cannon electronically fired at Frenchman Flat, Nevada

Dutch Convair crashes at Schipholweg, 2 die

Dutch social democratic/Dutch Liberal Party win municipal elections

th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople and the end of the Byzantine Empire (to Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II)

1st major league network baseball game-Cleveland 7, Chicago 2

Lebanese president Camille Shamun disbands government

KMJ (now KSEE) TV channel 24 in Fresno, CA (NBC) begins broadcasting

KSEE (channel 24) is a television station in Fresno, California, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside CBS affiliate KGPE (channel 47).

KVOS TV channel 12 in Bellingham/Vancouver, WA (CBS) begins

Denmark adopts a new constitution

The Constitutional Act of the Realm of Denmark (Danish: Danmarks Riges Grundlov), also known as the Constitutional Act of the Kingdom of Denmark, or simply the Constitution (Danish: Grundloven,...

1st color network telecast in compatible color (Boston Massachusetts)

Cluster of 6 tornadoes touches down in Flint, Michigan killing 113

"Amos 'n Andy" TV Comedy, also radio from '29; last aired on CBS

Amos 'n' Andy is an American radio sitcom about black characters, initially set in Chicago then later in the Harlem section of New York City.

Browns end Yankees win streak at 18 & Browns 14-game losing streak

Despite Johnny Mize 2,000th hit, NY Yankees lose ending an 18 game winning streak and also ending St Louis Brown 14 game

Despite Johnny Mize 2,000th hit, NY Yankees lose ending an 18 game winning streak and also ending St Louis Brown 14 game losing streak

Most runs scored in 1 inning (17 by Red Sox)

Monarchy of Egypt formally abolished after the 1952 revolution and proclaimed the Republic of Eqypt; Army General Muhamm

Monarchy of Egypt formally abolished after the 1952 revolution and proclaimed the Republic of Eqypt; Army General Muhammad Naguib becomes 1st president

Albert W Dent elected president of US National Health Council

KSWS (now KOBR) TV channel 8 in Roswell, NM (NBC) begins broadcasting

86°F in Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage, officially the Municipality of Anchorage, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Alaska.

KCTV (now KLST) TV channel 8 in San Angelo, TX (CBS) 1st broadcast

Joseph Laniel appointed French premier

Oklahoma governor declares today "Maria Tallchief Day" in honor of Native American prima ballerina Maria Tallchief

1st Chevrolet Corvette manufactured

The Chevrolet Corvette is a line of American two-door, two-seater sports cars manufactured and marketed by General Motors under the Chevrolet marque since 1953.

KLAS TV channel 8 in Las Vegas, NV (CBS) begins broadcasting

Imre Nagy succeeds Matyas Rákosi as premier of Hungary

Mátyás Rákosi was a Hungarian communist politician who was the de facto leader of Hungary from 1948 to 1956.

Phillies pitcher Robin Roberts hurls his 28th consecutive MLB complete game in a 2-0 win over Pittsburgh

US stops aid to Persia

First helicopter passenger service in New York City

New York Airways was an American helicopter airline in the New York City area, founded in 1949 as a mail and cargo carrier.

KTVB TV channel 7 in Boise, ID (NBC) begins broadcasting

KTVB (channel 7) is a television station in Boise, Idaho, United States, affiliated with NBC and owned by Tegna Inc.

The Battle of the Kumsong River, the last major battle of the Korean war, begins

ANC members Walter Sisulu and Duma Nokwe leave South Africa and go overseas under false names

KROC (now KTTC) TV channel 10 in Rochester, Minnesota (NBC) broadcasts for the first time

KIMA TV channel 29 in Yakima, WA (CBS) begins broadcasting

The United Nations Economic and Social Council votes to make UNICEF a permanent agency

The United Nations (UN) is a global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the articulated mission of maintaining international peace and...

KEYT TV channel 3 in Santa Barbara, California (ABC) begins broadcasting

Santa Barbara (Spanish: Santa Bárbara, meaning 'Saint Barbara') is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat.

NYC transit fare rises from 10 cents to 15 cents, first use of subway tokens

The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system that serves four of the five boroughs of New York City, New York: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.

Arizona Governor John Howard Pyle orders an anti-polygamy law enforcement crackdown on residents of Short Creek, Arizona

Arizona Governor John Howard Pyle orders an anti-polygamy law enforcement crackdown on residents of Short Creek, Arizona, which becomes known as the Short Creek Raid

Dizzy Dean, Al Simmons, "Chief" Bender, Bobby Wallace, Harry Wright, Ed Barrow, Bill Klem, and Tom Connolly are inducted

Dizzy Dean, Al Simmons, "Chief" Bender, Bobby Wallace, Harry Wright, Ed Barrow, Bill Klem, and Tom Connolly are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame

US bomber shot down by Soviet Air Defence Forces in the Sea of Japan, north of Vladivostok

Boston Red Sox pitcher Ben Flowers sets then MLB record of eight consecutive games in relief

KCPQ TV channel 13 in Tacoma-Seattle, WA (IND) begins broadcasting

Frank Blair becomes news anchor of "Today Show"

Black families move into Trumbull Park housing project in Chicago

Eastern Airlines enters the jet age, using the Electra prop-jet

First elected Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Abdullah, dismissed by the Indian government and later arreste

First elected Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Abdullah, dismissed by the Indian government and later arrested

A 6.8 earthquake strikes the Ionian Islands, killing between 445 and 800 people

4-5 million French people go on strike against austerity measures

20th NFL Chicago All-Star Game: Detroit 24, All-Stars 10 (93,818 attendees)

KTAL TV channel 6 in Shreveport-Texarkana, LA (NBC) begins broadcasting

First meeting of Narcotics Anonymous in Southern California

Dutch cyclist Arie Van Vliet becomes world champion sprinter

KHSL TV channel 12 in Chico, CA (CBS) begins broadcasting

KRBC TV channel 9 in Abilene, TX (NBC) begins broadcasting

°F highest temperature ever recorded in Cleveland in Sept

European Convention on Human Rights goes into effect

The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (commonly known as the European Convention on Human Rights or ECHR) is a supranational international treaty designed to...

WATR (now WTXX) TV channel 20 in Waterbury, CT (NBC) begins broadcasting

First privately operated atomic reactor becomes operational in Raleigh, North Carolina

Roy Campanella sets a single-season record of 41 home runs by a catcher

Roy Campanella sets a catcher record of 125 RBIs en route to 142 RBIs

Pope Pius XII publishes the encyclical Fulgens corona

Pope Pius XII (Italian: Pio XII; born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli; 2 March 1876 – 9 October 1958) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 2 March 1939 until his...

WFIE TV channel 14 in Evansville, IN (NBC) begins broadcasting

WFIE (channel 14) is a television station in Evansville, Indiana, United States, affiliated with NBC and owned by Gray Media.

Swanson sells its first TV dinner, a turkey meal with cornbread dressing, peas, and sweet potatoes

The centerpiece of contemporary Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada is Thanksgiving dinner, a large meal generally centered on a large roasted turkey.

KSBW TV channel 8 in Salinas-Monterey, CA (NBC) begins broadcasting

The Brooklyn Dodgers clinch the NL pennant earlier than any other team, defeating the Milwaukee Braves 5-2 and finishing

The Brooklyn Dodgers clinch the NL pennant earlier than any other team, defeating the Milwaukee Braves 5-2 and finishing the season with a record of 105-49

MLB New York Yankees clinch 5th straight pennant with 8-5 win over Cleveland Indians

The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx.

Boxing's NBA adopts 10-pt-must-scoring-system (10 pts to round winner)

AL approves St. Louis Browns' move to become Baltimore Orioles

The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the Milwaukee Brewers. A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St.

Ernie Banks becomes the Chicago Cubs' first African American player

Cubs' Ernie Banks hits his first major league home run

Ernest Banks (January 31, 1931 – January 23, 2015), nicknamed "Mr. Cub" and "Mr. Sunshine", was an American professional baseball player who starred in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop and...

KRDO TV channel 13 in Colorado Spgs-Pueblo, CO (ABC) 1st broadcast

Islamic uprising in Atjeh, Indonesia

KHQA TV channel 7 in Hannibal-Quincy, MO (CBS) begins broadcasting

"Take a Giant Step" opens on Broadway

KERO TV channel 23 in Bakersfield, CA (CBS/NBC) begins broadcasting

Baltimore Colt Bert Rechichar kicks a 56-yard field goal

Albert Daniel Rechichar (Pronounced: "Rech-i-SHAR") (July 16, 1930 – July 19, 2019) was an American professional football player who was a defensive back, halfback, and kicker in the National...

"Bob & Ray Show" TV variety last airs on NBC

Auguste and Jacques Piccard dive in their bathyscaphe Trieste to a record depth of 3,150 meters in the Tyrrhenian Sea

Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is partitioned from Madras

The Andhra State Act, 1953 is an Act of Indian Parliament that formed State of Andhra by splitting the State of Madras and transferring parts of Madras to the State of Mysore.

KGGM TV channel 13 in Albuquerque, NM (CBS) begins broadcasting

WTVM TV channel 9 in Columbus, GA (ABC) begins broadcasting

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill approves the Guyanese Constitution

US & Greece sign peace treaty (US bases)

Burglar alarm-ultrasonic or radio waves patented by Samuel Bagno

1st 3 Dutch female police officers go into service

John Patrick's play "Teahouse of the August Moon" premieres in New York

The Teahouse of the August Moon is a 1953 play written by John Patrick adapted from the 1951 novel by Vern Sneider.

Willie Thrower becomes the first Black NFL quarterback in modern times

Dystopian novel "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury is published in the US

Fahrenheit 451 is a 1953 dystopian novel by American writer Ray Bradbury. It presents a future American society where books have been outlawed and "firemen" burn any that are found.

Singer Julius LaRosa is fired on TV by Arthur Godfrey

WRAU (now WHOI) TV channel 19 in Peoria, IL (ABC) begins broadcasting

Laos gains full independence from France

France grants Laos' sovereignty

The French protectorate of Laos (French: Protectorat français du Laos) was a French protectorate in Southeast Asia of what is today Laos between 1893 and 1953—with a brief interregnum as a Japanese...

KOOL (now KTSP) TV channel 10 in Phoenix, AZ (CBS) begins broadcasting

Cleveland Browns' QB Otto Graham sets club record with 4 fumbles

The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland.

Great Britain performs nuclear test at Emu Field, Australia

Bud Grant of CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers intercepts a record 5 passes

Harry Peter "Bud" Grant Jr. (May 20, 1927 – March 11, 2023) was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).

A Baltimore group purchases St. Louis Browns

The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the Milwaukee Brewers. A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St.

Dr Albert Schweitzer and US Army General George Marshall win the Nobel Peace Prize

TV broadcasting begins in Belgium

Czech long distance runner Emile Zatopek sets world 10,000m record 29:01.6 & 6 mile mark 28:08.4 in Stara Boleslav, Czec

Czech long distance runner Emile Zatopek sets world 10,000m record 29:01.6 & 6 mile mark 28:08.4 in Stara Boleslav, Czech Republic

Pakistan becomes an Islamic republic

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JIP) is a Pakistani political party with a right-wing political position and an Islamist and social conservative ideology.

New baseball balk rule gives the batter option of accepting the outcome of the pitch or the balk

French National Meeting grants Saarland more autonomy

WIS TV channel 10 in Columbia, SC (NBC) begins broadcasting

Salazar's party wins all parliamentary seats in Portugal

Cambodia (aka Kampuchea) gains independence from France, within the French Union

French Indochina (previously spelled as French Indo-China), officially known as the Indochinese Union and after 1941 as the Indochinese Federation, was a group of French dependent territories in...

Giants end their tour of Japan (players got $331 of $3,000 promised)

WCIA TV channel 3 in Champaign, Illinois (CBS) begins broadcasting

WCIA (channel 3) is a television station licensed to Champaign, Illinois, United States, serving as the CBS affiliate for the Central Illinois region.

WIBW TV channel 13 in Topeka, KS (CBS/ABC) begins broadcasting

MLB St Louis Browns officially become the Baltimore Baseball Club Inc

Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) accept female suffrage

Scott Crossfield becomes the first person to break the Mach 2 barrier by flying the Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket at 1,291

Scott Crossfield becomes the first person to break the Mach 2 barrier by flying the Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket at 1,291 mph (2,076 km/h)

KVFD (now KTIN) TV channel 21 in Ft Dodge, IA (NBC) 1st broadcast

Earthquake and tsnunami strike Honshu, Japan

KBOI (now KBCI) TV channel 2 in Boise, ID (CBS) begins broadcasting

Indians third baseman Al Rosen is unanimously named AL's MVP

Albert Leonard Rosen (February 29, 1924 – March 13, 2015), nicknamed "Flip" and "the Hebrew Hammer", was an American professional baseball player and executive.

Kabaka (king) Edward Mutesa II of Buganda is deposed and exiled to London by Sir Andrew Cohen, the Governor of Uganda

Sir Edward Frederick William David Walugembe Mutebi Luwangula Mutesa II (19 November 1924 – 21 November 1969) was a Ugandan royal and statesman who served as the first president of Uganda from 1962...

Premiere of Dmitri Shostakovich' 5th String Quartet in Leningrad

Brown's Lou "Toe" Groza kicks 8 PATs, beating Giants 62-14

The History of the Cleveland Browns American football team began in 1944 when taxi-cab magnate Arthur B.

19th Heisman Trophy Award: Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame (HB)

General Electric announces all Communist employees will be fired

KOMO TV channel 4 in Seattle, WA (ABC) begins broadcasting

KTVA TV channel 11 in Anchorage (CBS) becomes Alaska's 1st TV station

KOAM TV channel 7 in Pittsburg-Joplin, KS (CBS) begins broadcasting

Brooklyn Dodgers sign pitcher Sandy Koufax

WJHG TV channel 7 in Panama City, FL (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting

Charles E. Yeager flies > 2,575 kph in Bell X-1A

KATV TV channel 7 in Little Rock, AR (ABC) begins broadcasting

KFYR TV channel 5 in Bismarck, ND (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting

KID (now KIDK) TV channel 3 in Idaho Falls, ID (CBS) 1st broadcasting

KOMU TV channel 8 in Columbia, MO (NBC/PBS) begins broadcasting

Jack Dunn III, owner of Baltimore Orioles in Intl League, turns name over to newly relocated St Louis Browns

Dodgers second baseman Jim Gilliam wins NL Rookie of Year

James William "Junior" Gilliam (October 17, 1928 – October 8, 1978) was an American second baseman, third baseman, and coach in Negro league and Major League Baseball.

KHOL (now KHGI) TV channel 13 in Kearney, NB (ABC) begins broadcasting

Avalanche of lava kills 150 from Ruapehu volcano in New Zealand

WLBT TV channel 3 in Jackson, Mississippi (NBC) begins broadcasting

WLBT (channel 3) is a television station in Jackson, Mississippi, United States, affiliated with NBC.

Famous Births

Paul Allen is born

Paul Allen, American athlete, known for american businessman, was born on 1953-01-21.

Moon Jae-in is born

Fred Lynn is born

Fred Lynn, American athlete, known for american baseball player, was born on 1953-02-03.

Dan Quisenberry is born

Dan Quisenberry, American athlete, known for american baseball player, was born on 1953-02-07.

Lee Hsien Loong is born

Viv Richards is born

Viv Richards athlete, known for west indian cricketer, was born on 1953-03-07. Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards is a retired Antiguan cricketer who represented the West Indies cricket team between…

Martin Dempsey is born

Harvey Weinstein is born

Harvey Weinstein, American film producer and sex offender, known for american film producer and sex offender, was born on 1953-03-19.

Rex Tillerson is born

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan is born

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, American british-american structural biologist, known for british-american structural biologist, was born on 1953-04-01.

Marilu Henner is born

Marilu Henner, American actress and singer, known for american actress and singer, was born on 1953-04-06. Marilu Henner is an American actress, singer, and author.

Bill Belichick is born

Bill Belichick, American athlete, known for american football coach, was born on 1953-04-16.

Haider al-Abadi is born

George Gervin is born

George Gervin, American athlete, known for american basketball player, was born on 1953-04-27.

George Strait is born

George Strait musician, known for american country music singer, was born on 1953-05-18. George Harvey Strait Sr. is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, music producer, and rancher.

Mr. T is born

Mr. T actor and former professional wrestler, known for american actor and former professional wrestler, was born on 1953-05-21. Mr. T is an American actor and retired professional wrestler.

Liam Neeson is born

Liam Neeson actor from northern ireland, known for actor from northern ireland, was born on 1953-06-07. William John Neeson is an actor from Northern Ireland.

Isabella Rossellini is born

Isabella Rossellini, American italian-american actress, known for italian-american actress, was born on 1953-06-18.

John Goodman is born

John Goodman, American actor, known for american actor, was born on 1953-06-20. John Stephen Goodman is an American actor.

Benazir Bhutto is born

Dan Aykroyd is born

Dan Aykroyd, American canadian-american actor, known for canadian-american actor, was born on 1953-07-01. Daniel Edward Aykroyd is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer.

Leon Spinks is born

Leon Spinks, American athlete, known for american boxer, was born on 1953-07-11. Leon Spinks (July 11, 1953 – February 5, 2021) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1995.

David Hasselhoff is born

David Hasselhoff, American actor, singer, and television personality, known for american actor, singer, and television personality, was born on 1953-07-17.

Guillermo Vilas is born

Nelson Piquet is born

Nelson Piquet, Brazilian athlete, known for brazilian racing driver, was born on 1953-08-17.

Jonathan Frakes is born

Jonathan Frakes, American actor and director, known for american actor and director, was born on 1953-08-19. Jonathan Scott Frakes is an American actor and director.

Mike Shanahan is born

Mike Shanahan, American athlete, known for american football coach, was born on 1953-08-24.

Ahmad Shah Massoud is born

Ahmad Shah Massoud, Afghan military leader, known for afghan military leader, was born on 1953-09-02. Ahmad Shah Massoud (1953 – 9 September 2001) was an Afghan military leader and politician.

Jimmy Connors is born

Jimmy Connors, American athlete, known for american tennis player, was born on 1953-09-02.

Dave Stewart is born

Grete Waitz is born

Imran Khan is born

Vladimir Putin is born

Sharon Osbourne is born

Sharon Osbourne, American american television personality, music manager, and author, known for english and american television personality, music manager, and author, was born on 1953-10-09.

Jeff Goldblum is born

Jeff Goldblum, American actor and musician, known for american actor and musician, was born on 1953-10-22. Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum is an American actor and musician.

Roberto Benigni is born

Roberto Benigni, Italian actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film director, known for italian actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film director, was born on 1953-10-27.

Larry Fink is born

Larry Fink, American businessman, known for american businessman, was born on 1953-11-02. Laurence Douglas Fink is an American billionaire businessman.

David Ho is born

Roseanne Barr is born

Roseanne Barr, American actress, comedian, writer, and producer, known for american actress, comedian, writer, and producer, was born on 1953-11-03.

Alfre Woodard is born

Alfre Woodard, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1953-11-08. Alfre Woodard ( AL-free WUUD-ərd; born November 8, 1952) is an American actress.

Merrick Garland is born

Merrick Garland, American lawyer and jurist, known for american lawyer and jurist, was born on 1953-11-13.

Shigeru Miyamoto is born

Shigeru Miyamoto, Japanese video game designer, known for japanese video game designer, was born on 1953-11-16.

Cyril Ramaphosa is born

Mandy Patinkin is born

Mandy Patinkin, American actor and singer, known for american actor and singer, was born on 1953-11-30. Mandel Bruce Patinkin is an American actor and singer in musical theatre, television, and film.

Sam Kinison is born

Sam Kinison, American comedian, known for american comedian, was born on 1953-12-08. Samuel Burl Kinison ( KIN-iss-ən; December 8, 1953 – April 10, 1992) was an American stand-up comedian and actor.

Pavlo Lazarenko is born

Jeb Bush is born

Jeb Bush, American politician and businessman, known for american politician and businessman, was born on 1953-02-11.

Notable Deaths

Hank Williams dies

Hank Williams, American singer, songwriter, and musician, known for american singer, songwriter, and musician, died on 1953-01-01.

Gerd von Rundstedt dies

Gerd von Rundstedt, German field marshal, known for german field marshal, died on 1953-01-24.

Joseph Stalin dies

Jim Thorpe dies

Jim Thorpe, American athlete, known for american athlete, died on 1953-03-28. James Francis Thorpe (Meskwaki: Wa-Tho-Huk; May 22 or 28, 1887 – March 28, 1953) was an American athlete who won Olympic…

Ethel Rosenberg dies

Edwin Hubble dies

Edwin Hubble, American astronomer, known for american astronomer, died on 1953-09-28. Edwin Powell Hubble (November 20, 1889 – September 28, 1953) was an American astronomer.