Historical Events
Historic Event
Jan 2 Mahatma Gandhi begins march for peace in East Bengal
- Jan 3 1st opening session of Congress to be televised - it did not happen again until 1977
- Jan 4 "Park Avenue" closes at Shubert Theater NYC after 72 performances
- Jan 4 "Show Boat" closes at Ziegfeld Theater NYC after 417 performances
- Jan 4 Revival of Victor Herbert's operetta "The Red Mill" closes at 46th Street Theater, NYC, after 531 performances
Historic Event
Jan 4 Emilio G. Segrè and Carlo Perrier announce technetium, a previously unknown element and the first artificially synthesized chemical element
Historic Event
Jan 8 General George Marshall becomes US Secretary of State
Historic Event
Jan 9 Elizabeth "Betty" Short, the black dahlia, is last seen alive.
- Jan 9 Providence Steamrollers guard Dino Martin becomes the first NBA player to ever score 40 points in a game, in a 91-68 win over Cleveland Rebels at Rhode Island Auditorium
- Jan 10 "Finian's Rainbow" opens at 46th St Theater NYC for 725 performances
- Jan 10 British stop ships Independence & In-Gathering from landing in Israel
- Jan 10 Greek steamer "Himara" strikes a wartime mine in Saronic Gulf south of Athens with loss of 392 of 637 aboard
- Jan 15 The brutalized corpse of Elizabeth Short ("The Black Dahlia") found in Leimert Park, Los Angeles, California
- Jan 16 Vincent Aurial elected President of France
- Jan 17 Ammunition factory explodes in Muiden, Netherlands, 16 die
Contract of Interest
Jan 18 Detroit Tigers sell Hank Greenberg to Pirates (for $25-35,000)
Music Premiere
Jan 21 Arthur Honegger's 4th Symphony premieres in Basel, Switzerland
Theater Premiere
Jan 29 Arthur Miller's play "All My Sons" premieres in NYC
- Jan 29 Australian Championships Women's Tennis: Nancye Wynne Bolton wins 3rd consecutive Australian singles crown; beats Nell Hall Hopman 6-3, 6-2
- Jan 29 Australian Championships Men's Tennis: Dinny Pails beats fellow Australian John Bromwich 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 8-6 for his only Grand Slam title
Famous Birthdays
- Jan 1 Alexei Ivanovich Bobrov, Russian cosmonaut
- Jan 1 Gary "BB" Coleman, American blues record producer, singer, and guitarist ("If You Can Beat Me Rockin' (You Can Have My Chair)"), born in Paris, Texas (d. 1994)
- Jan 1 Peter Lankhorst, Dutch politician (PPR), born in Zwolle, Netherlands
- Jan 1 Vladimir Georgiyevich Titov, Russian cosmonaut (Soyuz T-8, TM-4, STS 63)
- Jan 1 Jon Corzine, American financial executive and politician (United States Senator from New Jersey, 2001-06; Governor of New Jersey, 2006-10), born in Taylorville, Illinois
- Jan 1 Paula Tsui, Hong Kong Canto-pop singer, born in Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Jan 1 Leonard Thompson, American golfer (3 x PGA Tour, 3 x PGA Champions Tour wins), born in Laurinburg, North Carolina
- Jan 2 Aleksandr Tikhonov, Russian biathlete (Olympic gold biathlon relay 1968, 72, 76, 80), born in Uyskoye, Chelyabinsk, Russia
- Jan 2 Calvin Hill, American NFL running back (Pro Bowl 1969, 72–74; All-Pro 1969, 73; Super Bowl 1971; Dallas Cowboys), born in Baltimore, Maryland
- Jan 2 Lanny Bassham, American sports shooter (Olympic gold small-bore rifle, 3 positions 1976; silver 1972), born in Comanche, Texas
- Jan 2 Jack Hanna, American zoologist
- Jan 3 Sergey Filipovich Protchenko, Russian cosmonaut, born in Senitsky, Bryansk, USSR
- Jan 3 Fran Cotton, English rugby union prop forward (31 caps England, 7 British Lions; Coventry R.F.C., Sale), born in Wigan, England
- Jan 3 James Mtume [Forman], American Grammy Award-winning jazz and R&B percussionist, songwriter, record producer (Mile Davis, 1971-75; "Juicy Fruit"), social activist, and radio personality, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2022)
- Jan 4 Chris Cutler, English musician and composer (Henry Cow, Art Bears)
- Jan 4 Rick Stein, English chef and television presenter
- Jan 4 John King, American rock drummer (Steve Miller Band, 1972-74), born in Kingsport, Tennessee (d. 2010)
- Jan 5 Mike DeWine, American politician, senator-R-Ohio (1995-2007), Governor of Ohio (2019-), born in Springfield, Ohio
- Jan 5 Ted Lange, American actor (Isaac-Love Boat, Mr T & Tina), born in Oakland, California
- Jan 5 Mercury Morris, American football player, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Jan 6 Sandy Denny, English singer-songwriter (Fairport Convention - "If You Gotta Go"), born in London, England
- Jan 6 Ian Millar, Canadian dressage rider (World Cup 1988, 89, Olympics 1996), born in Halifax, NS, Canada
- Jan 6 Jacques Bolognesi, French jazz trombonist and accordion player (Hermetotico), born in Gap, France
- Jan 7 David Porcelijn, Dutch composer & conductor, born in Achtkarspelen, Netherlands
- Jan 7 Shobha De, Indian columnist & novelist, born in Satara, India
David Bowie
Jan 8 David Bowie [Jones], English rock singer-songwriter ("Space Oddity"; "Changes"; "Ziggy Stardust"; "Heroes"), mime, and actor (Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence; Labyrinth))born in London, England (d. 2016)
- Jan 8 Igor Ivanov, Russian-born Canadian chess champion (1981-84, 1985- ), born in Leningrad, USSR
- Jan 8 Terry Sylvester, English guitarist & singer (Hollies, 1969-81 - "YHe Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother";"Lomg Cool Woman In A Black Dress"), born in Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Jan 8 Don Bendell, American author & former Green Beret, born in Akron, Ohio
- Jan 8 Samuel Schmid, Swiss politician, born in Rüti bei Büren, Switzerland
- Jan 9 Ronnie Landfield, American abstract painter, born in The Bronx, New York
- Jan 10 George Alec Effinger, American sci-fi author (Nick of Time), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 2002)
- Jan 10 Afeni Shakur, mother of Tupac Shakur, Black Panther Party member, born in Lumberton, North Carolina (d. 2016)
- Jan 11 Anna Calder-Marshall, English actress (Zulu Dawn), born in Kensington, England
- Jan 11 Bill Narum, American counter-culture figure, illustrator and rock poster and album art designer (ZZ Top), born in Austin, Texas (d. 2009) [1]
- Jan 12 Tom Dempsey, American NFL kicker (Pro Bowl, First-team All-Pro 1969; New Orleans Saints; longest winning field goal, 63 yards), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2020)
- Jan 13 John Lees, British progressive rock guitarist and vocalist (Barclay James Harvest), born in Oldham, England
- Jan 13 Peter Sundelin, Swedish yachtsmen (Olympic gold 5-5m class 1968; World C'ship gold Dragon class 1971), Nacka, Sweden
- Jan 13 Jacek Majchrowski, Mayor of Kraków
- Jan 13 Carles Rexach, former Spanish-Catalan footballer and coach
- Jan 13 Drew Abbott, American rock guitarist (Silver Bullet Band, 1974-83), born in Royal Oak, Michigan
- Jan 13 Chris Thomas, British sound engineer and record producer (Beatles; Pink Floyd; Procol Harem; Elton John; The Pretenders), born in Brentford, Middlesex, England
- Jan 14 Bill Weberniuk, Canadian snookers player, born in Winnipeg, Canada (d. 2003)
- Jan 14 Rubén Olivares, Mexican boxer (4-division world champion), born in Mexico City, Mexico
- Jan 15 Andrea Martin, American comedienne (SCTV, Club Paradise), born in Portland, Maine
- Jan 15 Pete Waterman, English record producer (Stock Aitken & Waterman - "Road Block"), born in Stoke Heath, Coventry
- Jan 16 Georgette Mosbacher, American CEO (La Prairie cosmetics), born in Highland, Indiana
- Jan 16 Juliet Berto, French actress (Le Sex Shop), born in Grenoble France (d. 1990)
- Jan 16 Magdalen Nabb, British author, born in Lancashire, United Kingdom (d. 2007)
- Jan 16 Harvey Proctor, British politician, born in Pontefract, United Kingdom
- Jan 16 James "Sandy" Pinkard, American country music songwriter, born in Abbeville, Louisiana
- Jan 17 Jane Elliot, American actress (Baby Boom, Gen Hospital, Knots Landing), born in New York City, New York
- Jan 17 Todd Susman, American actor (Goodnight Beantown), born in St Louis, Missouri
- Jan 17 Ulysses Dove, American dancer & choreographer, born in Columbia, South Carolina (d. 1996)
- Jan 18 Takeshi Kitano, Japanese actor (The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi, Fireworks), born in Tokyo, Japan
- Jan 18 Sachio Kinugasa, Japanese baseman nicknamed Tetsujin, meaning "Iron Man", born in Kyoto, Japan (d. 2018)
- Jan 19 Roderic "Rod" Evans, English rocker (The Maze, Deep Purple), born in Eton, Buckinghamshire, England
- Jan 19 Alessandro Haber, actor (China is Near)
- Jan 19 Ann Compton, news reporter (ABC TV)
- Jan 19 Paula Deen, American chef and restaurateur, born in Albany, Georgia
- Jan 20 George Grantham, American drummer and vocalist (Poco - "Crazy Eyes"), born in Cordell, Oklahoma
- Jan 20 Cyrille Guimard, French cyclist & directeur sportif, born in Bouguenais, France
- Jan 20 Stephen A. Schwarzman, American CEO of The Blackstone Group & Chairman of President Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum, born in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
- Jan 21 Jill Eikenberry, (Ann Kelsey-LA Law, Manhattan Project), born in New Haven, Connecticut
- Jan 21 Jimmy Ibbotson, American country and folk-rock singer (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jan 21 (Julian) "Pye" Hastings, British singer and musician (Caravan - "In The Land of Grey and Pink"), born in Tomnavoulin, Banffshire, Scotland
- Jan 21 Michel Jonasz, French pop and jazz singer-songwriter, and composer, born in Drancy, France
- Jan 23 Tom Carper, American politician (D-Delaware, Senator 2001-, Governor of Delaware 1993-2001, REP 1983-93 ), born in Beckley, West Virginia
- Jan 23 Megawati Sukarnoputri, 5th President of Indonesia, born in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Jan 23 Gatewood Galbraith, American author & attorney, born in Carlisle, Kentucky (d. 2012)
- Jan 24 David Randall, British priest, founder of Cara (d. 1996)
- Jan 24 Giorgio Chinaglia, Italian soccer striker (14 caps; Lazio, NY Cosmos), born in Carrara, Italy (d. 2012)
- Jan 24 Warren Zevon, American rock singer-songwriter, and piano player ("Werewolves of London"; "Lawyers, Guns and Money"; "Excitable Boy"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2003)
- Jan 24 Masashi 'Jumbo' Ozaki, Japanese golfer (record 94 Japan Tour titles), born in Kaifu District, Tokushima
- Jan 25 Tostão [Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade], Brazilian footballer, born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Jan 25 Ángel Nieto, Spanish motorcycle racer, born in Zamora, Spain (d. 2017)
- Jan 26 Patrick Dewaere [PJMH Bordeaux], French actor (Les Valseuses)
- Jan 26 Michel Sardou, French pop singer and songwriter, born in Paris, France
- Jan 26 Miguel Ángel Castellini, Argentine boxer (WBA, lineal light middleweight titles 1976-77), born in Santa Rosa, Argentina (d. 2020)
- Jan 27 Nedra Telley, American pop and Christian music vocalist (Ronettes - "Be My Baby"), born in NYC, New York
- Jan 27 Björn Afzelius, Swedish singer (d. 1999)
- Jan 27 Vyron Polydoras, Greek politician
- Jan 27 Calvin "Cal" Schenkel, American illustrator, graphic designer, and album cover designer (Frank Zappa; Captain Beefheart; Tom Waits), born in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
- Jan 28 MJ Ainsworth, CEO (Institute of Chartered Secretaries)
- Jan 28 Valerie Bragg, principal (City Technology College-Kingshurst)
- Jan 29 David Byron [Garrick], British vocalist and songwriter (Uriah Heep), born in Epping, England (d. 1985)
- Jan 29 Israel Wetrin, managing director (Elonex)
- Jan 29 Michael Mavor, Head Master (Rugby School)
- Jan 29 Linda B. Buck, American scientist, Nobel laureate
- Jan 29 Marián Varga, Slovak musician
- Jan 30 Martin Christoph Redel, German composer, born in Detmold, Germany
- Jan 30 Steve Marriott, British rock guitarist, singer & songwriter (Small Faces, 1965-68, 75-78); Humble Pie, 1969-75, 79-83 - Eat It), born in Manor Park, London (d. 1991)
- Jan 30 Les Barker, English poet, born in Manchester, United Kingdom
- Jan 31 Jim Nollman, American theatre composer, born in Boston, Massachusetts
Nolan Ryan
Jan 31 Nolan Ryan, American baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (MLB no-hit leader [7], strikeout leader [5,714]), born in Refugio, Texas
- Jan 31 Earl Okin, British jazz guitarist, songwriter and comic (Musical Genius and Sex Symbol), born in Carshalton, Surrey, England
Famous Deaths
- Jan 4 Forrest Reid, Irish author/critic (Young Tom, Apostate), dies at 71
- Jan 8 Tadeusz Kutrzeba, Polish general during the Second Polish Republic, dies at 61
- Jan 9 Karl Mannheim, German sociologist (Diagnosis of Our Time), dies at 53
- Jan 9 Lambertus Zijl, Dutch sculptor (Merchant Exchange-Amsterdam), dies at 80
- Jan 11 Eva Tanguay, Canadian-born vaudeville and film singer and entertainer dies at 68
- Jan 12 Jonas Cohn, German philosopher (Wertwissenschaft), dies at 77
- Jan 13 Veit Valentin, German/American historian (German People), dies at 61
- Jan 14 Bill Hewitt, American Pro Football HOF end (4 × First-team All-Pro; Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles; one last players to not wear a helmet), dies in a car crash at 37
Elizabeth Short
Jan 15 Elizabeth Short, American victim in the Black Dahlia case, murdered at 22
- Jan 17 Pyotr Krasnov, Russian counter-revolutionary (b. 1869)
- Jan 17 Jean-Marie-Rodrigue Villeneuve, French cardinal and Archbishop of Quebec, dies at 63
- Jan 20 Josh Gibson, Negro League slugger, dies of a brain tumor at age 35
- Jan 23 Pierre Bonnard, French painter and illustrator, dies at 79
- Jan 23 Roy Park, Australian cricketer (prolific Victorian bat & official), dies at 54
- Jan 24 Felix Timmermans, Flemish painter and illustrator (Pallieter), dies at 60
Al Capone
Jan 25 Al Capone, Chicago gangster, dies of neurosyphilis at 48
- Jan 26 Grace Moore, American soprano and actress (One Night of Love), dies at 48
- Jan 26 Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, Swedish prince second in line to the Swedish throne, dies in an airplane crash at 40
- Jan 28 Reynaldo Hahn, Venezuelan-French singer, composer, conductor, and music critic, dies at 72
- Jan 29 Fred Barratt, English cricket fast bowler (5 Tests, 5 wickets; Nottinghamshire), dies at 52
- Jan 30 Frederick F Blackman, English botanist, dies at 80
