On This Day

Historical Events in March 1948

  • Mar 5 US rocket flies record 4800 kph to 126km height
  • Mar 7 The Dodecanese islands officially become part of Greece again, ending Italian rule
  • Mar 8 US Supreme Court rules in McCollum v. Board of Education that religious instruction in public schools is unconstitutional
  • Mar 9 Provisionary Indonesian government installed in Batavia
  • Mar 10 1st civilian to exceed speed of sound - Herb H Hoover, Edwards Air Force Base, California

Golden Globes

Mar 10 5th Golden Globes: "Gentleman's Agreement", Ronald Colman, & Rosalind Russell win

Ronald Colman
Actor Ronald Colman
  • Mar 11 Jewish Agency of Jerusalem bombed
  • Mar 11 WBAL TV channel 11 in Baltimore, MD (CBS) begins broadcasting
  • Mar 12 -5°F lowest temperature ever recorded in Cleveland in March
  • Mar 13 Ireland beats Wales, 6-3 at Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast to clinch the Five Nations Rugby Championship and first Grand Slam
  • Mar 14 Freedom Train arrives in San Francisco

Film & TV History

Mar 15 Sir Laurence Olivier on the cover of LIFE magazine

Laurence Olivier
Actor Laurence Olivier
  • Mar 15 WCAU TV channel 10 in Philadelphia, PA (CBS) begins broadcasting

Music History

Mar 16 Billie Holiday is released from prison early due to good behavior

Billie Holiday
Jazz Musician Billie Holiday
  • Mar 18 France & Great Britain & Benelux sign Treaty of Brussels
  • Mar 18 Philips begin experimental TV broadcasting

Historic Event

Mar 18 Soviet consultants leave Yugoslavia in first sign of Tito-Stalin split

Josip Broz Tito
President of Yugoslavia and Revolutionary Josip Broz Tito
Joseph Stalin
Soviet General Secretary Joseph Stalin
  • Mar 19 Lee Savold KOs Gino Buonvino in 54 seconds at Madison Square Garden, NYC
  • Mar 20 1st live televised symphony performances: Eugene Ormandy leads Philadelphia Orchestra on CBS, followed 90 minutes later by Arturo Toscanini leading the NBC Orchestra on NBC

Academy Awards

Mar 20 20th Academy Awards: "Gentleman's Agreement", Loretta Young, Ronald Colman win

Loretta Young
Actress Loretta Young
Ronald Colman
Actor Ronald Colman
  • Mar 20 102nd Grand National: 50/1 chance Sheila's Cottage first mare to win the GN for 46 years; ridden by Irish jockey Arthur Thompson
  • Mar 21 "Stop the Music" with Bert Parks premieres on ABC radio
  • Mar 21 LPGA Titleholders Championship Women's Golf, Augusta CC: Patty Berg wins her 4th Titleholders title by 1 stroke ahead of Babe Zaharias and Peggy Kirk
  • Mar 23 10th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Kentucky beats Baylor, 58-42; Wildcats' first victory in first title game
  • Mar 23 John Cunningham sets world altitude record (54,492' (18,133 m))
  • Mar 27 The Second Congress of the Workers' Party of North Korea is convened
  • Mar 27 Just 11 days after being released from prison, Billie Holiday plays in front of a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall

Tony Awards

Mar 28 2nd Tony Awards: "Mister Roberts" (Play); Henry Fonda (Actor) and Joshua Logan (Director) win

Henry Fonda
Actor Henry Fonda
  • Mar 29 Drachtster Boys soccer team forms in Drachten
  • Mar 29 Yanks & Red Sox tie at 2-2 in 17, spring training game
  • Mar 31 US Congress passes Marshall Aid Act to rehabilitate war-torn Europe

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