Historical Events
La Révolution surréaliste
Dec 1 "La Révolution surréaliste" publishes its first issue in Paris, edited by André Breton
- Dec 1 Boston Bruins beat fellow expansion team Montreal Maroons, 2-1 at Boston Arena; first NHL game to be played in the United States
Lady, Be Good!
Dec 1 George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin's 1st collaborative musical "Lady, Be Good!", featuring siblings Fred Astaire and Adelle Astaire as a brother and sister dance team, opens at the Liberty Theatre, NYC, runs for 330 performances
- Dec 1 Plutarco Elías Calles becomes President of Mexico
- Dec 2 British-German trade agreement signed
- Dec 5 Hamilton Tiger Red Green scores 5 goals to beat Tor Maple Leafs 10-5
- Dec 7 German election (Social Democrats win, Nazis & Communists lose)
- Dec 9 Michael Hainisch re-elected Austrian president
- Dec 9 Netherlands & Hungary trade treaty signed
- Dec 10 Agreement reached on permanent rotation of World Series with each league, getting games 1, 2, 6, 7 in alternating years
- Dec 12 Spanish troops leave Morocco
- Dec 13 KOA-AM in Denver CO begins radio transmissions
- Dec 14 Respighi's symphony "Pini di Roma" premieres in Paris
Bingham Serves Shortest Term
Dec 16 Hiram Bingham is elected as a Republican to serve in the US Senate forcing him to resign as Governor of Connecticut after serving only one day in office, the shortest term of any Connecticut Governor
Vortex
Dec 16 Noël Coward's "Vortex" premieres in London
- Dec 17 1st US diesel electric locomotive enters service, Bronx, NY
- Dec 17 The Hamilton Tigers and Ottawa Senators battle out the first scoreless game in NHL history; Jake Forbes (Hamilton) and Alex Connell (Ottawa) each record shutouts
Ponsford Test Debut
Dec 19 Test Cricket debut of Bill Ponsford, who scored 110 in 1st innings
Last Rolls Silver Ghost
Dec 19 The last Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost is sold in London, England.
Hitler Freed from Prison
Dec 20 Adolf Hitler freed from jail early, having served only nine months of five-year sentence for "Beer Hall Putsch"
- Dec 22 Babe Dye of NHL's Toronto St Patricks scores 5 goals beat Bruins 10-2
- Dec 22 Philip Barry's play "The Youngest" premieres in NYC
"The Last Laugh"
Dec 23 German silent film classic "The Last Laugh" directed by F. W. Murnau and starring Emil Jannings is released
- Dec 24 1st radio transmission of NCRV in Netherlands
- Dec 24 Albania becomes a republic (ex-premier Ahmed Zogoe's coup)
- Dec 24 Richard Rodgers Theater (46th St Chanin's) opens at 226 W 46th NYC
- Dec 24 School in Babb's Switch, Oklahoma, catches fire, 36 die
Judy Garland's Debut
Dec 26 Frances Gumm (later Judy Garland), age 2½, billed as 'Baby Frances', makes her show business debut at her father's vaudeville theater in Grand Rapids, Minnesota
- Dec 27 Albania is declared a dictatorship under Ahmed Beg Zofu
- Dec 27 The US signs a treaty with the Dominican Republic, which supersedes that of 1907: in July, the Us had withdrawn its Marines and ended its occupation
Hubble Announces Other Galaxies
Dec 30 Astronomer Edwin Hubble formally announces existence of other galactic systems at meeting of the American Astronomical Society
Famous Birthdays
Alexander Haig (1924-2010)
Dec 2 American General and 59th Secretary of State (1981-82), born in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
- Dec 2 John Herbert "Jonathan" Frid, Canadian actor (Barnabas Collins-Dark Shadows), born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (d. 2012)
- Dec 3 F. Sionil José, Filipino novelist (Rosales Saga) and Philippine National Artist for Literature, born in Rosales, Pangasinan, Philippine Islands (d. 2022)
- Dec 3 Fred Taylor, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Ohio State University 1959-76; MLB Washington Senators 1950-52), born in Zanesville, Ohio (d. 2002)
- Dec 3 John Backus, American computer scientist and inventor (FORTRAN computer language), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2007)
- Dec 3 Roberto Mières, Argentine auto racer (USAC Road Racing C'ship Daytona 1,000 km 1959; 17 x F1 GP), born in Mar del Plata, Argentina (d. 2012)
- Dec 3 Wiel Coerver, Dutch soccer manager (developer of Coerver Method, football coaching technique), born in Kerkrade, Netherlands (d. 2011)
- Dec 4 John C. Portman Jr., American architect (Ivan Allen Award-1964), born in Walhalla, South Carolina (d. 2017)
- Dec 5 (Georgios) "George" Savalas, Greek-American actor (Kojak; Kelly's Heroes), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 1985)
- Dec 5 Beverly Hanson, American golfer (Western Open 1956; Titleholders C'ship 1958; Women's PGA C'ship 1955), born in Fargo, North Dakota (d. 2014)
- Dec 6 Sergey Yablonsky, Soviet and Russian mathematician and one of the founders of the Soviet school of mathematical cybernetics and discrete mathematics, born in Moscow, Russia (d. 1998)
- Dec 6 Wallace "Wally" Cox, American comedian and actor (Mister, Underdog, Peepers, Hollywood Squares), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1973)
- Dec 7 Bent Fabric [Fabricius-Bjerre], Danish pianist and composer (Alley Cat), born in Frederiksberg, Denmark (d. 2020)
- Dec 7 John Love, Zimbabwean auto racer (British Saloon Car C'ship 1962; 6 x South African F1 C'ship 1964-69), born in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (d. 2005)
Mário Soares (1924-2017)
Dec 7 17th President of Portugal (1986-96) and Prime Minister (1976-78 and 1983-85), born in Lisbon, Portugal
- Dec 11 Doc Blanchard, American College Football Hall of Fame fullback (Heisman Trophy 1945; National C'ship 1944, 45, 46; Army), born in McColl, South Carolina (d. 2009)
Ed Koch (1924-2013)
Dec 12 American congressman and New York City Mayor (1977-89), born in New York City
- Dec 12 Francis Miroglio, French composer (Extensions), born in Marseille, France (d. 2005)
- Dec 12 Nevit Kodallı, Turkish composer, born in Mersin, Turkey (d. 2009)
Larry Doby (1924-2003)
Dec 13 American Baseball HOF outfielder (MLB All-Star 1949–55; World Series 1948; AL HR leader 1952, 54; 1st African-American in AL; Cleveland Indians), born in Camden, South Carolina
- Dec 14 Marion Morgan (née Swires), American big band jazz singer (Harry James; Stop the Music), born in the USA (d. 2013)
- Dec 14 Raj Kapoor, Indian actor known as "the greatest showman of Hindi cinema" (Awaara, Boot Polish), born in Peshawar, British India (d. 1988)
- Dec 14 Siiri Rantanen, Finnish cross country skier (Olympic gold 3 × 5k relay 1956, bronze 1960; bronze 10k 1952), born in Tohmajärvi, North Karelia, Finland (d. 2023)
- Dec 15 Esther Bejarano, German accordionist, singer (Coincidence; Microphone Mafia), anti-fascism activist, and Holocaust survivor, born in Saarlouis, Germany (d. 2021)
- Dec 16 Mildred Miller (Posvar, née Müller), American mezzo-soprano (Metropolitan Opera, 1951-74; The Marriage of Figaro - "Cherubino"), and artistic director (Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, 1978-99), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 2023)
- Dec 17 Sándor Lakatos, Hungarian violinist, bandleader, and actor (mostly as a gypsy violinist), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 1994)
- Dec 19 Carlo Chiti, Italian race car engineer (d. 1994)
- Dec 19 Cicely Tyson, American stage and screen actress (Roots; The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman), born in Harlem, New York (d. 2021) [1]
Doug Harvey (1924-1989)
Dec 19 Canadian Hockey HOF defenseman (Stanley Cup 1953, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 Montreal Canadiens; James Norris Trophy x 7; 10 x NHL First All Star), born in Montreal, Quebec
- Dec 19 Edmund Purdom, British actor (The Egyptian, Asissi Underground, Pieces), born in Hertfordshire, England (d. 2009)
- Dec 19 Gary Morton [Morton Goldaper], American comedian, television producer, studio executive (Desilu), and second husband of Lucille Ball, born in New York City (d. 1999)
- Dec 19 Michel Tournier, French writer (Friday, or, The Other Island), born in Paris (d. 2016)
- Dec 20 Errol John, Trinidadian actor and playwright (A Man from the Sun, The Nun's Story, Assault on a Queen), born in Port of Spain, Trinidad (d. 1988)
- Dec 20 Judy LaMarsh, Canadian lawyer, politician (Member of Parliament, 1960-68), author, and broadcaster (CBC Radio), born in Chatham-Kent, Ontario (d. 1980)
- Dec 21 Johan W "Jo" van Marle, KNVB-chairman (1980-93), born in Zwolle, Netherlands (d. 1995)
- Dec 21 Rita Reys [Maria Reijs], Dutch jazz singer, born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 2013)
- Dec 22 Francesco "Frank" Corsaro, American opera director (The Night of the Iguana, Play of the Week), born in New York City (d. 2017)
- Dec 23 Floyd Kalber, American television journalist and anchorman (NBC Weekend News Anchor-1973), born in Omaha, Nebraska (d. 2004)
- Dec 24 Roy Miller, West Indian cricket all-rounder (1 Test; Jamaica), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 2014)
- Dec 24 Willem Drees, Dutch statesman (Prime Minister 1948–1958), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1988)
- Dec 24 [Irving] Lee Dorsey, American pop and R&B singer ("Working In the Coal Mine"), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1986)
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924-2018)
Dec 25 Indian politician, 10th Prime Minister of India (1996, 1998-2004), born in Gwalior, India
- Dec 25 Rod Serling, American screenwriter and TV host (The Twilight Zone; Night Gallery), born in Syracuse, New York (d. 1975)
- Dec 26 Frank Broyles, American collegiate athlete, and administrator (University of Arkansas Athletic Director, 1974-2007), born in Decatur, Georgia (d. 2017)
- Dec 26 Glenn Davis, American College Football Hall of Fame halfback (Heisman Trophy 1946; National C'ship 1944, 45, 46; Army; NFL: LA Rams), born in Claremont, California (d. 2005)
- Dec 27 James A. McClure, American politician (R-Sen-Idaho), born in Payette, Idaho (d. 2011)
- Dec 27 Mokta Ould Daddah, Mauritanian politician, President Mauritania (1961-78), born in Boutilimit, Mauritania (d. 2003)
- Dec 28 Christine Norden, British actress (Little Shop of Horrors, Night Beat), born in Sunderland, England (d. 1988)
- Dec 28 Milton Obote, President of Uganda (d. 2005)
- Dec 29 Dub Jones, American football halfback (Pro Bowl 1951, 52; First Team All Pro 1951; Cleveland Browns) and coach (Cleveland Browns 1963-68), born in Arcadia, Louisiana
- Dec 29 Tuomas Haapanen, Finnish violinist, conductor, and teacher, born in Helsinki, Finland (d. 2024)
- Dec 29 Warren Amling, American College Football Hall of Fame guard (Ohio State), born in Pana, Illinois (d. 2001)
- Dec 31 Taylor Mead, American writer, actor and performer (Factory, Taylor Mead's Ass), born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan (d. 2013)
- Dec 31 Vicki Draves, American diver (Olympic gold platform & springboard 1948), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2010)
Famous Weddings
Georgia O'Keeffe & Alfred Stieglitz
Dec 11 Photographer Alfred Stieglitz (60) marries artist Georgia O'Keeffe (37) in Cliffside Park, New Jersey
Famous Deaths
- Dec 2 Kazimieras Būga, Lithuanian philologist (b. 1879)
- Dec 6 Gene Stratton-Porter, American author, screenwriter and naturalist (b. 1863)
- Dec 8 (Franz) Xaver Scharwenka, German pianist, educator, and composer (Mataswintha), dies at 74
- Dec 9 Bernard Zweers, Dutch composer (Gisbertus of Aemstel, To My Fatherland), dies at 70
- Dec 10 August Belmont Jr., American financier (construction of New York subway, NY Jockey Club), dies at 71
Samuel Gompers (1850-1924)
Dec 13 American labor union leader (American Federation of Labor), dies at 74
- Dec 15 T. Frank Appleby, American politician (U.S. House of Representatives - (R) New Jersey, 1921-23), dies at 60
- Dec 27 William Archer, Scottish critic and playwright (Green Goddess, translated and popularised Ibsen), dies at 68
- Dec 28 Léon Bakst, Russian painter and scene and costume designer, dis at 58
- Dec 29 Carl Spitteler, Swiss writer, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1845)
