Historical Events
- Mar 1 Richard Wright's novel "Native Son" is published
- Mar 2 Beaten by a nose in both the 1937 and 1938 Santa Anita Handicaps, Seabiscuit finally wins the Big 'Cap in his final race; retires the leading money-winning horse in the world
- Mar 2 Soviet armies conquer Tuppura Island, Finland
- Mar 2 The first televised intercollegiate track meet is seen in NYC on W2XBS; NYU wins the meet presented live from Madison Square Garden
- Mar 3 American bandleader Artie Shaw records "Frenesi" on RCA Victor label
- Mar 6 1st US telecast from an airplane, NYC
- Mar 7 Montreal Canadiens lose record tying NHL 15th straight game at home
Sauer Wrestling Champion
Mar 7 Peter Saur, fighting as Ray Steele, beats Bronko Nagurski in St Louis, to become National Wrestling Association Heavyweight Champion
- Mar 10 1st US opera telecast, W2XBS, NYC: Ruggero Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci"
- Mar 12 Finland signs the Moscow Peace Treaty in Moscow, surrendering to Russia and ceding 11% of their pre-WWII territory, ending the "Winter War"
- Mar 13 Finland-Russian cease fire signed, the Winter War ends. Finland gives up Karelische
The Road to Singapore
Mar 14 "The Road to Singapore" directed by Victor Schertzinger starring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour, first of seven such films, premieres
- Mar 14 27 killed, 15 injured when truck full of migrant workers collides with a train outside McAllen, Texas
Goering Smelts the Bells
Mar 15 Hermann Goering says 100-200 church bells enough for Germany, smelt the rest
- Mar 16 German air raid on British fleet base Scapa Flow
Mussolini and Hitler Agree
Mar 18 Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler meet at Brenner Pass where the Italian dictator agrees he will, in due course, join Germany's impending war effort in the west
- Mar 19 Failed British air raid on German base at Sylt
Daladier Government Falls
Mar 19 French government of Édouard Daladier falls
- Mar 20 Paul Reynoud becomes French premier
Premiere of Rebecca
Mar 21 "Rebecca" based on the book by Daphne du Maurier, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine premieres in Miami, Florida (Oscar - Best Picture 1941)
- Mar 23 1st radio broadcast of "Truth or Consequences" on CBS
- Mar 23 The Lahore Resolution (Qarardad-e-Lahore), calling for independent Muslim state(s), is adopted by the All-India Muslim League
The Fifth Column
Mar 26 "The Fifth Column", a play by Ernest Hemingway and adapted by Benjamin Glazer premieres in NYC courtesy of the Theater Guild
Peter Fraser Prime Minister
Mar 27 Peter Fraser becomes Prime Minister of New Zealand after the death of his predecessor Michael Joeseph Savage from cancer
- Mar 28 Construction begins of the exhibition center to host the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair
- Mar 28 WWII: Two Dutch Fokker fighter plane crews shoot down British RAF bomber near Rotterdam
Famous Birthdays
- Mar 1 David Broome, Show Jumper (world champ-1970)
- Mar 1 Ralph Towner, American jazz-rock fusion and world music guitarist (Oregon; Paul Winter Consort), born in Chehalis, Washington
- Mar 1 Robert Grossman, American illustrator, born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2018)
- Mar 2 Billy McNeill MBE, Scottish soccer defender (29 caps; Celtic) and manager (Celtic, Manchester City, Aston Villa), born in Bellshill, Scotland (d. 2019)
- Mar 2 Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, chairman (South African Prog Fed Party, 1979-86)
- Mar 2 Tony Croatto [Hermes Martinis], Italian-Puerto Rican folk song singer and composer (Los TNT; Haciendo Punto en Otro Son), and television presenter, born in Udine, Italy (d. 2005)
- Mar 3 Germán Castro Caycedo, Colombian writer and journalist
- Mar 3 Owen Spencer-Thomas, English broadcaster, journalist and Anglican clergyman
- Mar 4 Kas Garas, Lithuanian-American actor (Hamlyn-Strange Report), born in Kaunas, Lithuania
- Mar 4 Volodymyr Morozov, Ukrainian flatwater canoer
- Mar 5 Graham McRae, New Zealand auto racer (Tasman Formula 5000 Series 1971, 72, 73; L&M Continental 5000 C'ship 1972), born in Wellington, New Zealand (d. 2021)
- Mar 5 Ken Irvine, Australian rugby league HOF winger (31 Tests; NSW 24 games; North Sydney RLFC, Manly-Warringah RLFC; record first-grade career tries–212), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 1990)
- Mar 5 Malcolm Hebden, English actor (Coronation Street), born in Chester, England
- Mar 5 Mary Rose Oakar, American politician (Rep-D-Ohio 1977-93), born in Cleveland, Ohio
- Mar 5 Tetsuya Noda, Japanese artist, photographer and printmaker (Diary series), born in Uki, Japan
- Mar 6 Joanna Miles, Nice France, actress (Cross Creek, Delta County USA)
Willie Stargell (1940-2001)
Mar 6 American Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder/1st baseman (7 x MLB All Star; World Series 1971, 79 [MVP]; Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma
- Mar 7 Daniel J Travanti, American actor (Hill Street Blues - "Capt. Frank Furillo"), born in Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Mar 7 Harald Gerlach, German writer, born in Bolesławiec, Poland (d. 2001)
- Mar 7 Rudi Dutschke, German political activist (Socialist Students Union (SDS)), born in Schönefeld, Germany (d. 1979)
- Mar 7 Viktor Savinykh, Soviet-Russian cosmonaut (Soyuz T-4, T-13, TM-5), born in Berezkiny, Kirov, Russia
Johnny Ventura (1940-2021)
Mar 8 merengue and salsa bandleader (“Patacon Pisao”), and politician (Mayor of Santiago, 1998-2002), born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic [1]
- Mar 8 Leslie Isben Rogge, one of FBI's most wanted
- Mar 8 Susan Clark, actress (Night Moves, Webster), born in Sarnia, Ontario
- Mar 8 Theo Laseroms [The Tank], Dutch soccer player (Feyenoord)
- Mar 9 Raul Julia, Puerto Rican actor (Addams Family (films); Kiss of the Spider Woman), born in San Juan, Puerto Rico (d. 1994)
Chuck Norris (84 years old)
Mar 10 American martial arts actor (Missing in Action), born in Ryan, Oklahoma
- Mar 10 David Rabe, American playwright (Streamers), born in Dubuque, Iowa
- Mar 10 Dean Torrence, American surf music singer (Jan & Dean - "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena"), born in Los Angeles, California
- Mar 10 Francis Schwartz, American experimental classical music composer (Fluxus), and educator (University of Puerto Rico, 1969-99), born in Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Mar 10 Joe Bugel, American football coach (offensive line Washington Redskins 'Hogs', Super Bowl 1982, 87; Phoenix Cardinals, Oakland Raiders), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 2020)
- Mar 11 Alberto Cortez, Argentinian singer-songwriter ("Cuando un amigo se va"), born in Rancul, Argentina (d. 2019) [1]
- Mar 11 Jon Gibson, American flute and saxophone player (Philip Glass Ensemble, 1968-2019), and composer (The Voyage of The Beagle), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2020)
- Mar 12 Al Jarreau, American jazz singer ("Breaking Away"; "We're In This Love Together"; "Moonlighting"), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2017)
- Mar 12 M.A. Numminen, Finnish avant-garde singer-songwriter and author, born in Somero, Finland
- Mar 13 (Canzetta) "Candi" Staton, American gospel singer ("Young Hearts Run Free"), born in Hanceville, Alabama
- Mar 14 Bruce Snyder, American college football coach (Utah State, California, Arizona State), born in Santa Monica, California (d. 2009)
- Mar 14 Eleanor Fount, English actress (Women in Love, Bedazzled)
- Mar 15 Frank Dobson, British politician
- Mar 15 Margo Coleman, American advice columnist
- Mar 15 Phil Lesh [Chapman], American rock bassist (Grateful Dead - "Box of Rain"), born in Berkeley, California
- Mar 15 Tommy McLain, American swamp pop singer, multi-instrumentalist "Sweet Dreams"), and songwriter, born in Jonesville, Louisiana [1]
- Mar 15 Vladislovas Česiūnas, Lithuanian sprint canoeist (Olympic gold USSR C-2 1000 1972; 4 x World C'ship gold), born in Vyšnialaukiai, Lithuania (d. 2023)
- Mar 16 Chuck Woolery, Ky, TV game show host (Love Connection)
- Mar 16 Jan Pronk, Dutch politician (PvdA) and diplomat, born in Scheveningen, Netherlands
- Mar 16 Jan Schaefer, Dutch asst secretary of state (PvdA)
- Mar 16 Keith Rowe, English improvisational tabletop guitarist (AMM; M.I.M.E.O.) and painter, born in Plymouth, England
- Mar 17 Mark White, American politician, lawyer, and 43rd Governor of Texas (1983-7), born in Henderson, Texas (d. 2017)
- Mar 18 Mark Medoff, American playwright, director, actor and professor (Children of a Lesser God), born in Mount Carmel, Illinois (d. 2019)
- Mar 20 Gianpiero Moretti, steering wheel designer (Momo), born in Milan, Italy (d. 2012)
- Mar 20 Glenn Schwartz, American rock guitarist (Pacific Gas & Electric -"Are You Ready?"), born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 2018)
- Mar 20 Vito Picone, American doo wop vocalist (Elegants - "Little Star") and character actor, born in Staten Island, New York
- Mar 21 Chip Taylor [James Voight], American songwriter ("Angel of the Morning"; "Wild Thing"), singer, and producer, born in Yonkers, New York
- Mar 21 Solomon Burke [McDonald], American soul singer ("Cry To Me"; "Diamond In Your Mind"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2010)
- Mar 22 Haing S. Ngor, Cambodian-American obstetrician, author, refugee and actor (The Killing Fields), born in Samrong Yong, Cambodia (d. 1996)
- Mar 23 Brian Hastings, cricketer (NZ batsman in 70's)
- Mar 23 Luis Gasca, American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player, born in Houston, Texas
- Mar 24 Robert "Bob" Mackie, American fashion designer (RuPaul, Tina Turner, Judy Garland, Carol Burnett, Barbra Streisand, Cher), born in Monterey Park, California
- Mar 25 Anita Bryant, American singer (George Gobel Show) and anti-homosexuality campaigner, born in Barnsdall, Oklahoma
- Mar 26 Braulio Baeza, American HOF jockey who was 1st Latin American to win Kentucky Derby 1963; Belmont Stakes 1961, 63, 69; 5 x US Champion Jockey in earnings, born in Panama City, Panama
James Caan (1940-2022)
Mar 26 American actor (Brian's Song; The Godfather; Rollerball; Misery; Elf), born in The Bronx, New York
Nancy Pelosi (84 years old)
Mar 26 American politician (Rep-D-California 1987-), 1st female Speaker of the House (2007-11, 2019-), born in Baltimore, Maryland
- Mar 26 Rod Lauren, American rocker (If I Had a Girl), born in Fresno, California (d. 2007)
- Mar 27 Austin Pendleton, American actor (Short Circuit; Simon; Hello Again), born in Warren, Ohio
- Mar 27 Janis Martin, American rockabilly and country singer ("Will You Willyum"; "Drugstore Rock 'n Roll"), born in Sutherlin, Virginia (d. 2007)
- Mar 27 June Wilkinson, English actress (Absolutely Glamorous), born in Essex, England
- Mar 28 Kevin Loughery, American NBA star and coach (Baltimore; Philadelphia), born in Brooklyn, New York
- Mar 28 Michael Plumb, American equestrian (Olympic 2 gold/4 silver-1976,84), born in Islip, New York
- Mar 28 Tony Barber, English-Australian television personality, born in Oldham, Lancashire
- Mar 29 Astrud Gilberto (née Weinert), Brazilian samba singer ("The Girl From Ipanema"), born in Salvador, Brazil (d. 2023)
- Mar 29 Eden Kane [Richard Graham Sarstedt], British pop singer ("Well I Ask You"), born in New Delhi, British India
- Mar 29 Raymond Davis, American rock vocalist (Funkadelic - "Knee Deep"), born in Sumter, South Carolina (d. 2005)
Jerry Lucas (84 years old)
Mar 30 NBA center (Olympic gold 1960, NY Knicks), born in Middletown, Ohio
- Mar 30 Jim Criner, American college football coach (Boise State, Iowa State, Scottish Claymores), born in Lurton, Arkansas
- Mar 30 Norman Gifford, English cricket spin bowler (15 Tests, 33 wickets, BB 5/55; Worcestershire, CCC, Warwickshire CCC), born in Ulverston, England
- Mar 31 Barney Frank, American politician (Rep-D-MA, 1981-2013), born in Bayonne, New Jersey
- Mar 31 Patrick Leahy, American politician (Senator-D-Vermont, 1975-), born in Montpelier, Vermont
Famous Weddings
Oliver Hardy
Mar 7 Comedian Oliver Hardy (48) marries film assistant Virginia Lucille Jones (30)
Walter Cronkite
Mar 30 Broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite weds Mary Elizabeth Maxwell at the Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Famous Deaths
- Mar 1 Anton Hansen Tammsaare, Estonian author (Truth and Justice), dies at 62
- Mar 1 Josef Swickard, German actor (The Wizard of Oz; Lost City; A Tale of Two Cities), dies at 73
- Mar 2 Matt Kilroy, American baseball pitcher (MLB single-season record 513 strikeouts 1886; MLB no-hitter 1886; Baltimore Orioles), dies at 73
- Mar 4 Hamlin Garland, American writer (Middle Border), dies at 79
- Mar 5 Cai Yuanpei, Chinese educator (b. 1868)
- Mar 7 Edwin Markham, American poet (1st winner of American Academy of Poets Award 1937), dies at 87
- Mar 7 John Huston Finley, American academic and editor (NY Times 1937-38, President of the American Geographical Society), dies at 76
- Mar 10 Louis de Vries, Dutch actor (Blokkade, Ghetto, Merchant of Venice), dies at 68
- Mar 10 Mikhaïl Boulgakov, Russian writer (b. 1891)
- Mar 15 Alfred Marr, Australian cricketer (Test for Australia 1885, scored 0 & 5), dies at 77
Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940)
Mar 16 Swedish author and 1st woman to win Nobel Prize for Literature (The Wonderful Adventures of Nils), dies at 81
- Mar 19 Gustaaf Sap, Belgian minister of Economic Affairs, dies at 54
- Mar 20 Alfred Ploetz, German physician, biologist, and eugenicist (b. 1860)
- Mar 25 Ion Nonna Otescu, Romanian composer and educator (Bucharest Conservatory, 1913-40), dies at 51
- Mar 26 Spyridon Louis, Greek athlete who won the 1st modern Olympics marathon in 1896, dies at 67
Michael Joseph Savage (1872-1940)
Mar 27 Australian-born New Zealand politician and first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand (1935-40), dies of colon cancer at 68
- Mar 29 Alexander Obolensky, Russian prince and English rugby union winger (4 caps; Leicester Tigers RUFC, Oxford Uni RFC), dies in an aircraft training accident for RAF at 24
