Historical Events
- Jan 1 23rd Orange Bowl: #20 Colorado beats #19 Clemson, 27-21
- Jan 1 23rd Sugar Bowl: #11 Baylor beats #2 Tennessee, 13-7
- Jan 1 43rd Rose Bowl: #3 Iowa beats #10 Oregon State, 35-19
- Jan 1 An Irish Republican Army (IRA) unit attacks Brookeborough RUC barracks in one of the most famous incidents of the IRA's Operation Harvest.
Music History
Jan 1 Benjamin Britten's ballet "Prince & the Pauper," premieres in London
- Jan 1 France returns Saar to becomes the 10th state of German Federal Rep
Event of Interest
Jan 1 George Town, Penang becomes a city by a royal charter granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
- Jan 1 International Geophysical Year begins; ends 6/30/1958 (18-mo year)
Boxing Title Fight
Jan 2 In the first of 4 meetings between the fighters, Gene Fullmer wins the world middleweight boxing title with a 15-round unanimous decision over Sugar Ray Robinson at New York’s Madison Square Garden
Jackie Robinson Retires
Jan 5 Dodgers' Jackie Robinson announces his retirement rather than be traded to the NY Giants
Event of Interest
Jan 5 US President Eisenhower asks Congress to send troops to the Middle East
TV Show Appearance
Jan 6 Elvis Presley makes his 7th & final appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show"
- Jan 6 Yeshiva Kol Ya'ackov opens in Moscow Russia
- Jan 7 Algerian militant and National Liberation Front member Djamila Bouhired sets off a bomb in an Algiers cafe killing 11 civilians, precipitating the Battle of Algiers
- Jan 9 Checheno-Ingush ASSR reformed in RSFSR
- Jan 9 Dutch Newspaper Society expels communist daily paper "Truth"
- Jan 9 Kalmyk Autonomous Region reformed in RSFSR
- Jan 9 Karachayevo-Cherkess Autonomous Region reestablished in RSFSR
Election of Interest
Jan 10 After Anthony Eden's resignation Harold Macmillan becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Sports History
Jan 10 Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick rules Bing Crosby can keep token stock in Detroit Tigers, even though he owns part of Pittsburgh Pirates
- Jan 11 Mass-murderer Jack Gilbert Graham is executed via the Gas Chamber.
- Jan 11 The African Convention is founded in Dakar.
Civil Rights History
Jan 12 Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC) founded with Martin Luther King Jr. as leader at Ebenezer Church in Atlanta
Radio Premiere
Jan 13 "All that Fall", first radio play by Samuel Beckett, aired on BBC Third Programme
- Jan 13 7th NFL Pro Bowl, LA Memorial Coliseum: Western Conference beats Eastern Conference, 19-10; MVPs: Bert Rechichar, Baltimore Colts, K; Ernie Stautner, Pittsburgh Steelers, DT
- Jan 13 Bollingen Prize for poetry awarded to Allen Tate
- Jan 14 Kripalu Maharaj is named fifth Jagadguru (world teacher)
NBA All-Star Game
Jan 15 7th NBA All-Star Game, Boston Garden: East beats West, 109-97; MVP: Bob Cousy, Boston Celtics, PG
- Jan 15 Brooklyn Dodgers extend their 5-year lease on Ebbets Field by signing a new 3-year lease with real estate developer Marvin Kratter; club moves to Los Angeles the next year
- Jan 16 3 US B-52 bombers leave California for 1st non-stop around the world flights
- Jan 16 Cavern Club opens on Matthews Street in Liverpool, England, home of many performances by The Beatles
- Jan 17 9-county commission recommends creation of BART
- Jan 18 3 B-52's set record for around-the-world flight, 45 hr 19 min
- Jan 19 USSR performs atmospheric nuclear test
- Jan 20 Gomulka wins Poland's parliamentary election
Music History
Jan 20 Morton Gould's "Declaration" premieres in Washington, D.C.
- Jan 21 KSAT TV channel 12 in San Antonio, TX (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Jan 22 Israeli forces withdraw from Sinai Peninsula
- Jan 22 Mad Bomber (George P Metesky) accused of 30 explosions, arrested
- Jan 23 Indian nationalist V. K. Krishna Menon begins the longest ever speech defending India's stand on Kashmir at the UN - 8 hours over 2 days
- Jan 23 Wham-O Company produces the 1st Frisbee flying disc (originally called the "Pluto Platter" - until 1958)
- Jan 25 FBI arrests Jack & Myra Sobel, charged with spying for USSR
- Jan 26 Dutch Pacifist Socialist Party forms
- Jan 26 Francis Poulenc's opera "Dialogue des Carmelites" premieres at La Scala, in Milan
- Jan 26 India annexes Kashmir
- Jan 26 Joseph F Cairnes succeeds Lou Perini as President of Milwaukee Braves
Australian Men's Tennis Open
Jan 28 Australian Championship Men's Tennis: Ashley Cooper wins 1st of 2 straight Australian titles; beats fellow Australian Neale Fraser 6-3, 9-11, 6-4, 6-2
Australian Open Women's Tennis
Jan 28 Australian Championships Women's Tennis: Shirley Fry Irvin wins all-American final; beats Althea Gibson 6-3, 6-4 for her only Australian singles title
Event of Interest
Jan 29 Graham Greene's "Potting Shed" premieres in NYC
- Jan 30 US Congress accepts "Eisenhower-doctrine"
- Jan 31 Eight people on the ground in Pacoima, California are killed following the mid-air collision between a Douglas DC-7 airliner and a Northrop F-89 Scorpion fighter jet.
- Jan 31 Trans-Iranian oil pipe line finished
Famous Birthdays
- Jan 1 Evangelos Venizelos, Greek lawyer, professor and politician
- Jan 1 Ewa Kasprzyk, Polish actress
- Jan 1 Vladimir Kiselyov, Russian athlete (Olympic gold, Soviet Union, shot put 1980), born in Myski, Russia (d. 2021)
- Jan 2 Joanna Pacula, Tomszowaubelski Poland, actress (Gorky Park, Kiss)
- Jan 2 Lynne Cox, American long-distance open-water swimmer known for easing Cold War tensions by swimming from the US to the Soviet Union in 1987, born in Boston, Massachusetts
- Jan 3 Frank Dicopoulos, actor (Frank Cooper-Guiding Light), born in Akron, Ohio
- Jan 4 Patty Loveless [Ramey], American country singer ("Blue Side of Town"), born in Pikeville, Kentucky
- Jan 5 Elizabeth Mrema, Tanzanian environmental leader (UN Environment Program),
- Jan 5 Kevin Hastings, Australian rugby league footballer, born in Surry Hills, Australia
- Jan 5 Vincent Calloway, American trumpet player (Midnight Star - "No Parking On The Dance Floor"; "Operator"), born in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Jan 6 Michael Foale, British-American astrophysicist and astronaut (STS 45, 56, 63, 84/86), born in Louth, England
Nancy Lopez (66 years old)
Jan 6 American golfer (3 major titles, 48 LPGA Tour wins), born in Torrance, California
- Jan 7 Julian Solis, Puerto Rican boxer, born in Rio Pedras, Puerto Rico
- Jan 7 Katie Couric, American journalist & author (Today), born in Arlington, Virginia
- Jan 7 Kristen Meadows, American actress (Santa Barbara), born in Ventura, California
- Jan 7 Nicholson Baker, American novelist, born in NYC, New York
- Jan 7 Reena Roy, Hindi Bollywood actress, born in Mumbai, India
- Jan 8 Carol Tomé, American business executive (CEO of United States Parcel Service), born in Jackson, Wyoming
- Jan 8 David Lang, American composer (The Little Match Girl Passion - Pulitzer Prize for Music 2008), born in Los Angeles, California [1]
- Jan 8 Dwight Clark, American football wide receiver ("The Catch" 1981 Super Bowl SF 49ers; First team All-Pro 1982; 2 × Pro Bowl) and executive (SF 49ers, Cleveland Browns), born in Kingston, North Carolina (d. 2018)
- Jan 8 Nacho Duato, Spanish classical dancer & choreographer, born in Valencia, Spain
- Jan 8 Ron Cephas Jones, American Emmy Award-winning actor (This is Us), born in Patterson, New Jersey (d. 2023)
- Jan 9 Phil Lewis, British rock vocalist (L.A. Guns - "It's Over Now)", born in London, England
- Jan 10 Greg Walden, U.S. Congressman from Oregon, born in The Dalles, Oregon
- Jan 11 Bryan Robson, English soccer midfielder, manager (90 caps; Manchester United, WBA, Middlesborough), born in Chester-le-Street, England
- Jan 11 Darryl Dawkins, American basketball center (Philadelphia 76ers, NJ Nets; NBA breaking a backboard rule), born in Orlando, Florida (d. 2015)
- Jan 12 John Lasseter, American animation director (Pixar), born in Hollywood, California
- Jan 13 Christina Seufert, Sacraento California, diver (Olympic bronze 1984)
- Jan 13 Don Snow, British session and touring Hammond organ and keyboard player (Squeeze; Van Morrison), born in London, England
- Jan 13 Lorrie Moore, American writer
Mark O'Meara (66 years old)
Jan 13 American golfer (US Masters, British Open 1988), born in Goldsboro, North Carolina
- Jan 14 Anchee Min, Chinese writer, born in Shanghai, China
- Jan 14 Steve Jordan, American session and touring drummer (Blues Brothers; The World's Most Dangerous Band; X-pensive Winos; John Mayer Trio; The Rolling Stones), songwriter, and record producer, born in New York City
- Jan 14 Suzanne Danielle, English actress, born in London, United Kingdom
- Jan 15 David Inge, American politician, Governor of Hawaii (2014-), born in Pearl City, Hawaii
- Jan 15 Mario Van Peebles, Mexican actor (Posse, South Bronx Heroes), born in Mexico City
- Jan 15 Patrick Dixon, English entrepreneur, born in London, United Kingdom
- Jan 16 Ricardo Darin, Argentine director and actor (The Secret in Their Eyes), born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Jan 17 Ann Nocenti, American comic book writer
- Jan 17 Donna Stone, American fencer-epee (Olympics 1996), born in New Jersey
- Jan 17 Keith Chegwin, English television presenter & actor, born in Walton, Liverpool (d. 2017)
- Jan 17 Michel Vaarten, Belgian cyclist, born in Turnhout, Belgium
- Jan 17 Steve Harvey, American actor, comedian and radio personality (Family Feud), born in Welch, West Virginia
- Jan 19 Kenneth McClintock, Puerto Rican politician, born in London, United Kingdom
- Jan 19 Mickael Virtue, British rock keyboardist (UB40 - "Red Red Wine"), born in Birmingham, England
- Jan 19 Ottis Anderson, American NFL running back (NY Giants), born in West Palm Beach, Florida
- Jan 21 Jacob Green, NFL defensive end (Seattle Seahawk)
- Jan 22 Francis Wheen, English writer & journalist, born in England
Mike Bossy (1957-2022)
Jan 22 Canadian Hockey HOF right wing (Stanley Cup 1980-83; Conn Smythe Trophy 1982; 7 x NHL All Star; NY Islanders), born in Montreal, Quebec
- Jan 22 Rene Requiestas, Filipino actor & comedian, born in Tondo, Philippines (d. 1993)
- Jan 23 Caroline Louise Marguerite Grimaldi, daughter of Princess Grace and Prince Rainer, born in Monte Carlo, Monaco
- Jan 23 Lou Schuler, American fitness journalist, born in St. Louis, Missouri
- Jan 24 Adrian Edmondson, British comedian, born in Bradford, United Kingdom
- Jan 24 Mark Eaton, American basketball center (NBA All-Star 1989; NBA Defensive Player of the Year 1985, 89; Utah Jazz), born in Westminster, California (d. 2021)
- Jan 24 Vladimir "Vlatko" Stefanovski, Macedonian guitarist, born in Prilep
- Jan 25 Andrew P. Harris, American politician & physician, born in NYC, New York
- Jan 25 Edmund Theodore Sylvers, American singer-songwriter & musician (Sylvers), born in Memphis, Tennessee
- Jan 25 Eskil Erlandsson, Swedish politician, born in Kronoberg County, Sweden
- Jan 25 Jeff Gossett, American football punter (Oakland Raiders), born in Charleston, Illinois
- Jan 25 Jenifer Lewis, American actress (Girl 6, Meteor Man, Sister Act), born in St. Louis, Missouri
- Jan 25 Luis Garavito [The Beast, Tribilín], Colombian serial killer described as "the world's worst serial killer" (138-300+ victims), born in Génova, Quindío, Colombia
- Jan 26 Ashok Malhotra, Indian cricket batsman (7 Tests, 1 x 50, HS 72), born in Amritsar, India
- Jan 26 Hawk [Michael Hegstrand], American professional wrestler (ECW/WCW/WWF/AWA, Legion of Doom), born in St. Paul, Minnesota (d. 2003)
- Jan 26 Shivlal Yadav, Indian cricket spin bowler (35 Tests, 102 wickets, BB 5/76; Hyderabad), born in Hyderabad, India
- Jan 27 Danny Aiello III, American film and television stunt performer, stunt coordinator, and actor, born in The Bronx, New York City (d. 2010)
- Jan 27 Frank Miller, American comicbook writer (Batman-The Dark Knight Returns)
- Jan 28 Frank Skinner, English comedian
- Jan 28 Harley Jane Kozak, actress (Arachnophobia, Necessary Roughness)
Nick Price (66 years old)
Jan 28 Zimbabwean golfer (PGA C'ship 1992, 94; British Open 1994), born in Durban, South Africa
- Jan 29 Grazyna Miller, Italian poet, translator, and journalist
- Jan 29 Irlene Mandrell, country singer (Mandrell Sisters), born in Corpus Christi, Texas
- Jan 29 Jac Bico, Dutch guitarist/singer (Tambourine)
Payne Stewart (1957-1999)
Jan 30 American golfer (US Open 1991, 99; PGA 1989), born in Springfield, Missouri
- Jan 31 Shirley Babashoff, American swimmer (Olympics-6 silver/2 gold-72, 76), born in Whittier, California
Famous Weddings
T. S. Eliot
Jan 10 Poet T. S. Eliot (68) marries his 2nd wife editor Esmé Valerie Fletcher (30)
Howard Hughes
Jan 12 Aviator Howard Hughes marries 2nd wife actress Jean Peters
Gary Player
Jan 19 Golfer Gary Player (21) weds Bobby Verwey's sister Vivienne Verwey
Famous Divorces
Elizabeth Taylor
Jan 31 English-American actress Elizabeth Taylor's 2nd divorce from English actor Michael Wilding, after almost 5 years of marriage
Famous Deaths
Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957)
Jan 10 Chilean poet (Nobel Prize for Literature, 1945), educator, and diplomat, dies of pancreatic cancer at 67
Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957)
Jan 14 American actor (Casablanca, Caine Mutiny), dies of cancer of the esophagus at 57
- Jan 16 Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, Governor-General of the Union of South Africa and Canada, dies at 82
Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957)
Jan 16 Italian cellist and conductor (La Scala, 1898-1908 & 1921-29; Metropolitan Opera, 1908-15; New York Philharmonic, 1926-36; NBC Symphony Orchestra, 1937-41 & 1944-54), dies after a stroke in NYC at 89
- Jan 19 József Dudás, Romanian/Hungarian resistance fighter (b. 1912)
- Jan 20 Dudley Benjafield, British racing driver, dies at 69
- Jan 20 James Connolly, 1st Oly winner (1896) since Barasdates (369 CE), dies
- Jan 21 Arthur L Bowley, English statistician/economist, dies at 87
- Jan 22 Paul Walden, Latvian chemist (Walden inversion, room-temperature ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate), dies at 93
- Jan 23 Willie Edwards, US African American, murdered by KKK at 25
- Jan 24 Daniel Taylor, cricketer (bro of Herbie, 2 Tests for S Af 1914), dies
- Jan 25 Ichizo Kobayashi, Japanese industrialist and Minister of Commerce and Industry (b. 1873)
- Jan 25 Kiyoshi Shiga, Japanese physician and bacteriologist (b. 1871)
- Jan 28 Fred Stein, TV panelist (Live Begins at 80), dies at 88
- Jan 30 Grigore Gafencu, Romanian minister of Foreign Affairs (1938-39), dies at 65
