Musical Finale
Jan 16 Benjamin Britten's chamber opera "The Rape of Lucretia" closes at Ziegfeld Theater, NYC, after 23 performances
Theater Premiere
Feb 10 Arthur Miller's dramatic play "Death of a Salesman" opens at Morosco Theater, NYC
Music Single
Feb 11 "Lovesick Blues" single released by Hank Williams (Cashbox "Best Hillbilly Record of the Year", Billboard Song of the Year 1949)
- Feb 12 "Annie Get Your Gun" closes at Imperial Theater NYC after 1147 performances
Music History
Feb 15 Dmitri Shostakovich' "Song of the Woods" premieres in Leningrad
- Feb 19 "Inside USA" closes at Century Theater, NYC, after 339 performances
- Apr 7 "South Pacific" opens at Majestic Theater NYC for 1928 performances
- May 14 "Love Life" closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 252 performances
- Jun 18 "Along Fifth Avenue" closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 180 performances
- Jul 2 "High Button Shoes" closes at Century Theater NYC after 727 performances
- Jul 7 "Cabatgata (A Night in Spain)" opens at Broadway NYC for 76 performances
- Jul 9 Benjamin Britten's Jump Symphony premieres
- Jul 15 "Miss Liberty" opens at Imperial Theater NYC for 308 performances
- Aug 7 "All after Love" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 121 performances
- Aug 18 Ralph Flanagan & his orchestra records "You're Breaking My Heart"
- Sep 10 "Cabatgata (A Night in Spain)" closes at Broadway NYC after 76 performances
Film Premiere
Sep 28 "My Friend Irma" premieres, 1st of 16 films starring Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis
Music History
Oct 30 "Lost in the Stars" by Maxwell Anderson and Kurt Weill, based on the novel "Cry the Beloved Country" by Alan Paton opens at Music Box Theater NYC for 281 performances
- Oct 31 "Regina" opens at 46th St Theater NYC for 86 performances
- Nov 25 "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" appears on music charts
- Nov 28 "Texas, Li'l Darlin'" opens at Mark Hellinger NYC for 293 performances
- Dec 8 Jule Styne's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" opens at Ziegfeld Theater NYC for 740 performances
Film Release
Dec 8 "On the Town", the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Ann Miller and Vera-Ellen, is released
- Dec 17 "Regina" closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 86 performances
Music History
Dec 20 Maurice Ravel and John Cranko's ballet "Beauty And The Beast" premieres
