1954 in Film & Television

Events 1 - 100 of 113

• Jan 1 KSLA TV channel 12 in Shreveport, LA (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Jan 1 WWTV TV channel 9 in Cadillac-Traverse City, MI (CBS) 1st broadcast
• Jan 4 Soap Opera "The Brighter Day" premieres
• Jan 13 WEAR TV channel 3 in Pensacola-Mobile, FL (ABC) begins broadcasting

• Jan 26 Groundbreaking begins on Disneyland
• Feb 1 1st TV soap opera "Secret Storm" premieres
• Feb 5 WCDC TV channel 19 in Adams, MA (ABC) begins broadcasting
• Feb 11 6th Emmy Awards: I Love Lucy, Donald O'Connor & Eve Arden win
• Feb 14 WTOC TV channel 11 in Savannah, GA (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Feb 15 WRDW TV channel 12 in Augusta, GA (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Feb 16 WNEM TV channel 5 in Bay City, MI (NBC) begins broadcasting
• Feb 17 WAST (now WNYT) TV channel 13 in Albany-Troy, NY (NBC) 1st broadcast
• Mar 9 1st local color TV commercial WNBT-TV (WNBC-TV) NYC (Castro Decorators)
• Mar 9 WMUR TV channel 9 in Manchester, NH (ABC) begins broadcasting


• Mar 14 KDAL (now KDLH) TV channel 3 in Duluth-Superior, MN (CBS) begins

• Mar 15 WSJV TV channel 28 in Elkhart-South Bend, IN (ABC) begins broadcasting
• Mar 21 KFBB TV channel 5 in Great Falls, MT (ABC/CBS/NBC) begins broadcasting
• Mar 25 26th Academy Awards: "From Here to Eternity" best film, William Holden & Audrey Hepburn best actor, actress
• Mar 25 RCA manufactures 1st color TV set (12½" screen at $1,000)
• Mar 28 WKAQ TV channel 2 in San Juan, PR (TM) begins broadcasting
• Apr 1 WQED TV channel 13 in Pittsburgh, PA (PBS) begins broadcasting
• Apr 2 Plans to build Disneyland 1st announced [see Jan 26]
• Apr 7 WALB TV channel 10 in Albany, GA (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
• Apr 9 WECT TV channel 6 in Wilmington, NC (NBC/CBS) begins broadcasting
• Apr 9 7th Cannes Film Festival: "Gate of Hell" directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa wins the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film
• Apr 10 KRGV TV channel 5 in Weslaco, TX (ABC) begins broadcasting
• Apr 15 KARK TV channel 4 in Little Rock, AR (NBC) begins broadcasting
• Apr 15 WHO TV channel 13 in Des Moines, IA (NBC) begins broadcasting
• Apr 16 KVAL TV channel 13 in Eugene, OR (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Apr 22 US Senate Army-McCarthy televised hearings begin
• Apr 24 WSEE TV channel 35 in Erie, PA (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Apr 25 WDEF TV channel 12 in Chattanooga, TN (CBS) begins broadcasting

• May 1 WAPA TV channel 4 in San Juan, PR (NBC/SFN) begins broadcasting
• May 3 KTEN TV channel 10 in Ada-Ardmore, OK (ABC) begins broadcasting
• May 3 WHA TV channel 21 in Madison, WI (PBS) begins broadcasting
• May 15 KGLO (now KIMT) TV channel 3 in Mason City, IA (CBS) 1st broadcast
• May 16 WGAN (now WGME) TV channel 13 in Portland, ME (CBS) 1st broadcast


• May 22 KREX TV channel 5 in Grand Junction, CO (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Jun 5 "Your Show Of Shows" last airs on NBC-TV
• Jun 10 KQED TV channel 9 in San Francisco, California (PBS) begins broadcasting
• Jun 17 Televised Senate Army McCarthy hearings ends
• Jun 18 4th Berlin International Film Festival: "Hobson's Choice" wins Golden Bear (audience vote)
• Jul 1 WDBO (now WCPX) TV channel 6 in Orlando, FL (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Jul 4 WMSL (WYUR, now WAFF) TV channel 48 in Huntsville, AL (ABC) begins
• Jul 5 The BBC broadcasts its first television news bulletin.
• Jul 6 KMOS TV channel 6 in Sedalia-Warrensburg, MO (PBS) begins broadcasting
• Jul 8 KMOX (now KMOV) TV channel 4 in Saint Louis, MO (CBS) 1st broadcast
• Jul 15 KOCO TV channel 5 in Oklahoma City, OK (ABC) begins broadcasting
• Jul 15 WBOC TV channel 16 in Salisbury, MD (CBS/NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
• Jul 17 Construction of Disneyland commences
• Jul 22 WTHI TV channel 10 in Terre Haute, IN (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Jul 26 WCET TV channel 48 in Cincinnati, OH (PBS) begins broadcasting

• Aug 1 WKBT TV channel 8 in La Crosse, WI (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Aug 6 WLAC (now WTVF) TV channel 5 in Nashville (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Aug 14 WGR TV (now WGRZ) TV channel 2 in Buffalo, NY (NBC) begins
• Aug 15 WCHS TV channel 8 in Charleston-Huntington, WV (ABC) begins
• Aug 22 WPTV TV channel 5 in Palm Beach, FL (NBC) begins broadcasting
• Aug 22 15th Venice Film Festival: "Romeo and Juliet" directed by Renato Castellani wins Golden Lion
• Aug 31 WMTW TV channel 8 in Portland-Poland Spring, ME (ABC) begins
• Sep 1 Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant opens infamous 10-day football mini camp in Junction, Texas; ordeal achieves legendary status becoming subject of 2001 book 'The Junction Boys' & television movie of the same name

• Sep 2 WTVD TV channel 11 in Raleigh-Durham, NC (ABC) begins broadcasting

• Sep 10 WLUK TV channel 11 in Green Bay, WI (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
• Sep 11 KXJB TV channel 4 in Valley City (Fargo) (NBC) begins broadcasting
• Sep 11 1st Miss America TV broadcast; 19 year old Lee Meriwether of California crowned 27th Miss America
• Sep 12 WLBZ TV channel 2 in Bangor, ME (NBC) begins broadcasting
• Sep 13 WPBN TV channel 7 in Traverse City, MI (NBC) begins broadcasting
• Sep 16 CKLW TV channel 9 in Windsor, ON (CBC) begins broadcasting
• Sep 18 KTUL TV channel 8 in Tulsa, OK (ABC) begins broadcasting
• Sep 18 WLOS TV channel 13 in G'ville-Spartanburg, SC (ABC) 1st broadcast
• Sep 20 KETC TV channel 9 in Saint Louis, MO (PBS) begins broadcasting
• Sep 24 Tonight Show premieres on NBC (Johnny takes over 8 years later)
• Sep 25 WCBD TV channel 2 in Charleston, South Carolina (ABC) begins broadcasting
• Sep 26 KODE TV channel 12 in Joplin, MO (ABC) begins broadcasting
• Sep 26 KUTV TV channel 2 in Salt Lake City, UT (NBC) begins broadcasting
• Sep 26 WANE TV channel 15 in Fort Wayne, IN (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Sep 26 WCAX TV channel 3 in Burlington, VT (CBS) begins broadcasting

• Sep 29 "Masquerade Party" TV game Show; moves to ABC

• Sep 29 KALB TV channel 5 in Alexandria, LA (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
• Oct 3 KFVS TV channel 12 in Cape Girardeau, MO (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Oct 9 KTIV TV channel 4 in Sioux City, IA (NBC) begins broadcasting
• Oct 10 1st National Film Awards (India): "Shyamchi Aai" wins the Golden Lotus
• Oct 15 KLTV TV channel 7 in Tyler-Longview, TX (ABC) begins broadcasting
• Oct 18 WBTW TV channel 13 in Florence, SC (CBS/ABC) begins broadcasting
• Oct 18 WNBC radio changes call letters to WRCA (NYC)
• Oct 19 KAKE TV channel 10 in Wichita, KS (ABC) begins broadcasting
• Oct 23 WSAU TV channel 7 in Wausau, WI (CBS) begins broadcasting
• Oct 27 WISN TV channel 12 in Milwaukee, WI (ABC) begins broadcasting

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Birthdays 1 - 100 of 172

• Jan 2 Cynthia Sikes, US actress (Flamingo Road, St Elsewhere), born in Coffeyville, Kansas
• Jan 3 Dean Hart, Canadian wrestler (d. 1990)
• Jan 6 Anthony Minghella, director and screenwriter (The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley), born in London (d. 2008)
• Jan 6 Trudie Styler, English actress
• Jan 11 Saskia ten Batenburg, Dutch actress (Factory, Hunk)
• Jan 13 Vicki McCarty, playmate (Sep, 1979), born in Los Angeles, California
• Jan 14 Jim Duggan, American wrestler
• Jan 18 Ted DiBiase, Retired Professional Wrestler
• Jan 19 Katey Sagal, singer/actress (Peggy Bundy-Married With Children), born in Los Angeles, California
• Jan 19 Katharina Thalbach, German actress and film director
• Jan 22 Chris Lemmon, American actor (Brothers & Sisters, Duet) [or Jun 22], born in Los Angeles, California
• Jan 22 Tully Blanchard, American professional wrestler
• Jan 28 Anicee Alvina, actress (Friends), born in Paris, France

• Feb 1 Billy Mumy, American actor (Will Robinson-Lost in Space, Dear Brigitte), born in San Gabriel, California
• Feb 2 Christie Brinkley, [Ex-Mrs Billy Joel], model/actress (SI, Vacation)

• Feb 2 Hansi Hinterseer, Austrian singer, actor, former skier
• Feb 5 Roseanne Katan, American model and playmate (Sep 1978), born in NYC, New York
• Feb 7 Miguel Ferrer, actor (Robocop, NCIS LA), born in Santa Monica, California (d. 2017)
• Feb 11 Wesley Strick, American screenwriter
• Feb 12 Tzimis Panousis, Greek musician and stand-up comedian

• Feb 16 Margaux Hemingway, actress (Lipstick, They Call Me Bruce), born in Portland, Oregon
• Feb 17 Rene Russo, actress (Ransom)

• Feb 20 Anthony Stewart Head, actor (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
• Feb 26 John Bolger, actor (Capt Gabe McNamara-Another World)
• Mar 1 Ron Howard, Oklahoma, American actor and director (American Graffiti, Happy Days)
• Mar 1 Catherine Bach, Warren Oh, actress (Daisey Duke-The Dukes of Hazzard)
• Mar 4 Catherine O'Hara, Canadian actress (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone), born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Mar 5 Marsha Warfield, comedian/actress (Roz-Night Court)
• Mar 9 Kevin Wade, American screen writer (Working Girls), born in Chappaqua, New York
• Mar 13 Robin Duke, Canadian actress and comedienne (SNL, SCTV, Club Paradise), born in Toronto, Ontario
• Mar 14 Adrian Zmed, actor (TJ Hooker, Dance Fever), born in Chicago, Illinois
• Mar 15 Craig Wasson, Oregon, actor (Body Double, 4 Friends, Men's Club)
• Mar 16 Jimmy Nail, singer/actor (Evita, Spender, Howling II)
• Mar 17 Lesley-Anne Down, actress (A Little Night Music, Moonraker), born in London, England
• Mar 24 Donna Pescow, actress (Angie, Out of this World, Rainbow), born in Brooklyn, New York
• Mar 24 Robert Carradine, actor (Slim-The Cowboys, Wavelength), born in Los Angeles, California
• Mar 25 Elli Stai, Greek journalist and TV presenter
• Mar 26 Curtis Sliwa, founder (Guardian Angels)/radio personality (WABC)
• Mar 26 Kazuhiko Inoue, Japanese seiyu (voice actor)
• Apr 2 Ron Palillo, American actor (Arnold Horshack-Welcome Back Kotter), born in New Haven, Connecticut (d. 2012)
• Apr 4 Julie Carmen, American actress (Gloria, Last Plane Out), born in Mount Vernon, New York
• Apr 5 Christopher S. Nelson, American actor (Sons & Daughters), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
• Apr 6 Judi Bowker, Shawford England, actress (Clash of the Titans)

• Apr 8 John Schneider, actor (Bo-Dukes of Hazzard), born in Mt Kisco, New York
• Apr 9 Dennis Quaid, actor (Big Easy, Dreamscape, Right Stuff), born in Houston, Texas
• Apr 10 Peter MacNicol, actor (Chicago Hope, Sophie's Choice), born in Dallas, Texas
• Apr 10 Lenny Pickett, American saxophonist and musical director (Saturday Night Live band, Tower of Power), born in Las Cruces, New Mexico
• Apr 16 Ellen Barkin, actress (Big Easy, Sea of Love), born in The Bronx, New York
• Apr 17 Kim Tyler, actress (Kyle-Please Don't Eat Daisies), born in Hollywood, California
• Apr 17 Rowdy Roddy Piper, Canadian professional wrestler
• Apr 21 James Morrison [Paige], American actor (24, Twin Peaks), born in Bountiful, Utah
• Apr 22 Joseph Bottoms, American actor (Surfacing, Blind Date, Braker), born in Santa Barbara, California

• Apr 30 Jane Campion, New Zealand film director (The Piano), born in Wellington, New Zealand
• May 1 Michael Scott, reporter (Entertainment Tonight)
• May 2 Roberta Pedon, American glamour model, born in Ohio (d. 1982)
• May 4 Pia Zadora, American actress and singer, born in Hoboken, New Jersey
• May 5 Dave Spector, American television personality and commentator
• May 7 Philippe Geluck, Belgian comedian and cartoonist, born in Brussels, Belgium
• May 8 David Keith, actor (Back Roads, Firestarter), born in Knoxville, Tennessee
• May 8 Stephen Furst, American actor (Animal House, St. Elsewhere), born in Norfolk, Virginia (d. 2017)
• May 11 Lubomir Stoykov, Bulgarian journalist and broadcaster
• May 16 Janet Maw, actress (Sparrow, King John, Mayor of Casterbridge)
• May 18 Martyn Wiley, writer/broadcaster
• May 21 Marina Langner, Dusseldorf Germany, Miss World runner-up (1975)
• May 29 Pankaj Kapoor, Indian actor (Ek Doctor Ki Maut, Raakh), born in Ludhiana, Punjab
• Jun 2 Dennis Haysbert, American actor (Allstate Insurance, The Unit), born in San Mateo, California
• Jun 5 Nancy Stafford [Nancy Elizabeth], Wilton Manors, Florida, American actress (Joan-St Elsewhere, 1977 Miss Florida)
• Jun 5 Haluk Bilginer, Turkish actor
• Jun 10 Richard "Rich" Hall, American comedian, writer, and musician (Saturday Night Live, Fridays, Not Necessarily the News), born in Alexandria, Virginia
• Jun 12 Tineke Schouten, Dutch TV host and comedian, born in Utrecht, Netherlands
• Jun 14 Will Patton, actor (No Way Out, Ballzaire the Cajun), born in Charleston, South Carolina
• Jun 15 James Belushi, American comedian (Saturday Night Live, Trading Places), born in Chicago, Illinois
• Jun 17 Mark Linn-Baker, American actor (Perfect Strangers), born in St. Louis, Missouri
• Jun 19 Kathleen Turner, American actress (Accidental Tourist, Jewel of Nile), born in Springfield, Missouri
• Jun 19 "Taz" Tasmanian Devil, Warner Bros. cartoon character created by Robert McKimson and Warren Foster, (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series), first debuts in "Devil May Hare"
• Jun 21 Anne Kirkbride, Oldham Lancashire, English actress (Deidre-Coronation Street)
• Jun 21 Robert Pastorelli, American actor (Eldin-Murphy Brown), born in Brooklyn, New York
• Jun 21 Müjde Ar, Turkish actress
• Jun 22 Amparo Munoz, Malgra Spain, Miss Universe (1974)
• Jun 22 Chris Lemmon, American actor (Wishmaster, Duet), born in Los Angeles, California [or Jan 22]
• Jun 22 Freddie Prinze, American comedian and actor (Chico & the Man), born in NYC, New York
• Jun 25 Lina Romay, Spanish actress (Conan the Barbarian), born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 2012)
• Jun 25 Daryush Shokof, Iranian filmmaker (Hitler's Grave), born in Tehran, Iran
• Jun 28 Alice Krige, South African actress (Chariots of Fire, Ladykiller)
• Jun 30 Ken Olin, American actor (Thirtysomething, Det Quinn-EZ Street), born in Chicago, Illinois
• Jul 2 Wendy Schaal, actress (It's a Living, Julie-Fantasy Is), born in Chicago, Illinois
• Jul 4 Chang-dong Lee, South Korean filmmaker and novelist (Secret Sunshine, Poetry), born in Daegu, South Korea
• Jul 6 Allyce Beasley, actress (Agnes Dipesto-Moonlighting), born in Brooklyn, New York
• Jul 6 James Kiberd, actor (Trevor Dillon-Loving, All My Children)
• Jul 11 Butch Reed, American professional wrestler
• Jul 20 Moira Harris, American actress
• Jul 22 Henriette Allais playmate (Mar, 1980), born in Jacksonville, Florida
• Jul 22 Pierre Lebeau, Canadian actor

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• Jan 11 Emmy Arbous, Dutch actress/cabaret performer (Boefje), dies at 56
• Jan 18 Sydney Greenstreet, British actor (Casablanca, Maltese Falcon), dies at 74
• Jan 31 Florence Bates, actress (Kismet, I Remember Mama), dies at 65
• Feb 8 Mabel Paige, actress (Lucky Jordan), dies at 73
• May 1 Tom Tyler [Vincent Markowsky], American actor (Stagecoach, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon), dies from heart failure at 50
• Jun 22 Don Hollenbeck, newscaster (CBS Weekend News), dies at 49
• Jul 6 Dirk Verbeek, actor and director (Hofstad Stage), dies at 70
• Jul 14 Jackie Saunders, American silent screen actress (b. 1892)
• Sep 3 Eugene Pallette, American actor (The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Mark of Zorro), dies at 65
• Sep 28 Bert Lytell, American actor (One Man's Family), dies at 69
• Oct 3 Herbert Prior, British actor (Caught Short, Slave of Desire), dies at 87
• Nov 13 Fay Baker, actress (Sorority Girl), dies at 60

• Nov 22 Moroni Olsen, American actor (Annie Oakley, Black Gold, Snow White), dies at 65
• Nov 22 Roderick McMahon, Professional Wrestling/Boxing Booker (b. 1882)
• Nov 29 George Robey, English musical theatre actor and comedian, dies at 85
• Dec 8 Gladys George, actress (Roaring Twenties), dies at 50

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