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What Happened in August 1947

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Historical Events

  • Aug 1 "Medium & The Telephone" opens at Barrymore Theater NYC for 211 performances
  • Aug 2 Greek-American soprano makes her Italian debut in the title role of Amilcare Ponchielli's "La Gioconda" at the Verona Arena
  • Aug 4 American boxer Ike Williams knocks out Bob Montgomery in 6 rounds in Philadelphia to unify the world lightweight title
  • Aug 4 The Supreme Court of Japan is established
  • Aug 5 Netherlands ceases political action in Indonesia, due to UN pressure
  • Aug 6 1st performance of Hector Villa-Lobos' "Bachianas Brasilieras No 8"
  • Aug 7 The Bombay Municipal Corporation formally takes over the Bombay Electric Supply and Transport (BEST)

Event of Interest

Aug 7 Thor Heyerdahl and the crew of the Kon-Tiki crash into a reef in the Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia after 101 days crossing the Pacific Ocean

Ethnographer, Archaeologist and Explorer Thor Heyerdahl
  • Aug 8 Pakistan's National Flag is approved.

Sports History

Aug 14 Babe Didrikson Zaharias gives up amateur status for $300,000

All-Round Athlete and Golfer Babe Didrikson Zaharias
  • Aug 14 Pakistan gains independence from Great Britain
  • Aug 15 GLEEP (Graphite Low Energy Experimental Pile), the first experimental nuclear reactor in Western Europe begins operation in Oxford, England
  • Aug 15 India gains independence from Great Britain, remains a dominion until 1950
  • Aug 16 Future Baseball HOF outfielder Ralph Kiner hits 3 successive HRs for host Pittsburgh Pirates in a 12-7 win over St. Louis Cardinals; both clubs smash a then MLB record 10 homers
  • Aug 17 The Radcliffe Line, the border between Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan is revealed
  • Aug 18 Naval torpedo & mine factory explodes at Cadiz, Spain killing 300
  • Aug 19 J Arens & D van Dorpen synthetise vitamin A
  • Aug 20 Boston Braves hit a million attendance for 1st time
  • Aug 20 Turner Caldwell in D-558-I sets aircraft speed record, 1131 kph
  • Aug 22 14th NFL Chicago All-Star Game: All-Stars 16, Chicago Bears 0 (105,840)
  • Aug 23 1st Baseball Little League World Series, Williamsport, Pennsylvania: Maynard Midgets beat Lock Haven All Stars, 16-7
  • Aug 23 8th Venice Film Festival opens (first since the start of World War II)
  • Aug 23 US President Truman's daughter, Margaret's 1st public singing concert
  • Aug 25 Marion Carl in D-558-I sets world aircraft speed record of 1,047 kph
  • Aug 26 Dodgers' Dan Bankhead, MLB's 1st African-American pitcher, homers in his 1st MLB at bat in 16-3 loss to Pittsburgh, at Ebbetts Field, Brooklyn, NYC

Appointment of Interest

Aug 29 B.R. Ambedkar is appointed chairman of the drafting committee for the Indian constitution

Jurist and Social Reformer B.R. Ambedkar
  • Aug 29 Constantine Tsaldaris succeeds Maximos as Greek premier
  • Aug 31 Hungarian communist party wins election
  • Aug 31 NY Giants set season record for HRs by a club 183 (en route to 221)
Events in 1947

Famous Birthdays

  • Aug 1 Chris Barnard, Welsh footballer, born in Cardiff, Wales
  • Aug 1 Dennis Zine, American politician (Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 3rd district), born in Los Angeles, California
  • Aug 1 Rick Anderson, American actor and rock bassist (Tubes - "I'll Talk To You Later"), born in St. Paul, Minnesota (d. 2022)
  • Aug 1 Rick Coonce, American rock drummer (Grass Roots), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2011)
  • Aug 2 Massiel [Maria Santamaria], Spanish pop singer (La, la, la), born in Madrid, Spain
  • Aug 4 Klaus Schulze, German electronic music composer (Audentity), born in Berlin< Germany
  • Aug 4 Paul Layton, English musician and rocker (The New Seekers - "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing"), born in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England
  • Aug 5 Bernie Carbo, American MLB player, born in Detroit, Michigan
  • Aug 5 Greg Leskiw, Canadian guitarist (The Guess Who, 1970-72), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • Aug 5 Rick Derringer [Zehringer], American guitarist, songwriter (The McCoys - "Hang On Sloopy"; solo - "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo".), and producer (Edgar Winter; Johnny Winter; Weird Al Yankovic), born in Fort Recovery, Ohio
  • Aug 5 Willie Weeks, American session and touring bass player (George Harrison; Vince Gill; Wynonna Judd; David Bowie; Eric Clapton), born in Salemburg, North Carolina
  • Aug 6 Ken Riley, American Pro Football HOF cornerback (First-Team All-Pro 1983; Cincinnati Bengals) and coach (Florida A&M 1994-2003), born in Bartow, Florida (d. 2020)
  • Aug 6 Sally Eaton, Ill, Broadway actress (Jeanie-Hair)
  • Aug 6 Tony Dell, cricketer (Australian left-arm quick, 2 Tests 1971 & 74)
  • Aug 7 Kerry Melville Reid, Australian tennis player (Australian Open 1977; Australian Open doubles 1968, 77; Wimbledon doubles 1978), born in Sydney, Australia
  • Aug 7 Mosibudi Mangena, South African black leader (On Your Own), born in Tzaneen, South Africa
  • Aug 8 Brenda Lee Eager, American gospel and soul singer and songwriter, born in Mobile, Alabama
  • Aug 8 José Cruz, Puerto Rican-American baseball left fielder (St Louis Cards, Houston Astros), born in Arroyo, Puerto Rico

Ken Dryden (76 years old)

Aug 8 Canadian Hockey HOF goaltender (6 x Stanley Cup; 5 x Vezina Trophy; Conn Smythe Trophy 1971; Montreal Canadiens) and executive, politician, born in Hamilton, Ontario

Ken Dryden
  • Aug 8 Larry Wilcox, actor (Lassie, Officer Jon Baker-CHiPs), born in San Diego, California
  • Aug 9 Barbara Mason, American R&B singer ("Yes, I'm Ready"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Aug 10 Alan Ward, England cricket pace bowler (5 Tests, 14 wickets; Derbyshire CCC), born in Dronfield, England
  • Aug 10 Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian politician (founder of the People's Justice Party (PKR) Prime Minister of Malaysia 2022-), born in Bukit Mertajam, Malaya
  • Aug 10 Dmitri Alexeev, Russian concert pianist (Leeds International Competition, 1975), and teacher (Royal College of Music - London, 2010-present), born in Moscow, USSR
  • Aug 10 Ian Anderson, Scottish rock singer, flute player, guitarist, and songwriter (Jethro Tull - "Bungle In The Jungle"; "Aqualung"; "Locomotive Breath"), born in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
  • Aug 11 Catherine Collard, French concert pianist (Schumann; Brahms), and teacher, born in Paris, France (d. 1993)
  • Aug 11 Georgios Karatzaferis, Greek politician
  • Aug 11 Sergey Kovalneko, USSR, basketball (Olympic bronze 1968)
  • Aug 12 Sam Rosen, American sportscaster, born in Ulm, Germany
  • Aug 13 David St. Hubbins, British fictional heavy metal singer (Spinal Tap), born in Squatney, London, England
  • Aug 13 Gretchen Corbett, American actress (Beth-Rockford Files), born in Portland, Oregon
  • Aug 13 John Stocker, Canadian voice actor (The Dream Team), born in Toronto, Ontario
  • Aug 13 Margareta Winberg, Swedish politician (Minister of Gender Equality), born in Sjuntorp, Sweden

Danielle Steel (76 years old)

Aug 14 American author (Rememberance, Zoya, Star, Daddy), born in New York City

Danielle Steel
  • Aug 14 Maddy Prior, English folk singer (Steeleye Span, Silly Sisters, Carnival Band), born in Blackpool, United Kingdom
  • Aug 14 Peter Christian, English actor, born in Liverpool, England
  • Aug 15 (Gerardo) "Jerry" Velez, American drummer and percussionist (Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock appearance; Spyro Gyra - "Morning Dance"), born in The Bronx, New York
  • Aug 15 Brian Hulls, British TV news cameraman, born in London (d. 1996)
  • Aug 15 Manley Lanier "Sonny" Carter Jr, American chemist and NASA astronaut (STS 33), born in Macon, Georgia (d. 1991)
  • Aug 15 Raakhee Gulzar, Indian actress (Shubho Mahurat), born in Ranaghat, Bengal, India
  • Aug 16 Carol Moseley-Braun, (Sen-D Illinois)
  • Aug 16 John Howard, American Olympic cyclist (1985 land speed record 152.284 mph at Bonneville Flats, UT), born in Springfield, Missouri
  • Aug 17 Francine Hughes Wilson, American domestic abuse victim "The Burning Bed" who changed pubic perceptions, born in Stockbridge, Michigan (d. 2017)
  • Aug 17 Gary Talley, American rock guitarist (Box Tops - "The Letter"), born in Memphis, Tennessee
  • Aug 18 Viacheslav Semenov, Ukrainian soccer midfielder (11 caps USSR; FC Zorya Luhansk, FC Dynamo Kyiv), born in Kyiv, Ukraine (d. 2022)
  • Aug 19 Dave Dutton, English actor (Coronation Street), born in Atherton, England
  • Aug 19 Gerald McRaney, American actor (Simon & Simon, Major Dad), born in Collins, Mississippi
  • Aug 19 Gerard Schwarz, American classical trumpeter and conductor (Seattle Symphony, 1985-2011), born in Weehawken, New Jersey
  • Aug 19 Terry Hoeppner, American football coach (d. 2007)
  • Aug 20 David Lasley, American session vocalist and songwriter, born in Branch, Michigan
  • Aug 20 James Pankow, American trombonist, arranger and composer (Chicago - "Make Me Smile"; "Colour My World"), born in St. Louis, Missouri
  • Aug 21 Carl Giammarese, American rock guitarist (The Buckinghams - "Kind Of A Drag"), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • Aug 21 Mary Simon, Canadian diplomat and Inuit rights advocate, first indigenous Governor General of Canada, born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Quebec
  • Aug 22 Bud Cramer, American politician (Rep-D-Alabama), born in Huntsville, Alabama
  • Aug 22 Cindy Williams, American actress (Laverne & Shirley - "Shirley; American Graffiti), born in Van Nuys, California (d. 2023) [1]
  • Aug 22 Donna Godchaux, American singer (Grateful Dead, 1972-79), born in Florence, Alabama
  • Aug 23 David Robb, British actor (I, Claudius), born in London
  • Aug 23 Rex Allen Jr, American country singer (Nashville on the Road), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • Aug 23 Terje Rypdal, Norwegian jazz guitarist and composer, born in Oslo, Norway
  • Aug 23 Willy Russell, English playwright and composer (Shirley Valentine, Educating Rita), born in Whiston, England
  • Aug 24 Anne Archer, American actress (Fatal Attraction, Patriot Games), born in Los Angeles, California
  • Aug 24 Jimmy Fox, American drummer (The James Gang - "Funk #49"), born in Cleveland, Ohio
  • Aug 24 Joe Manchin, American politician (Governor of West Virginia 2005-10, Senator-D-WV 2010-), born in Farmington, West Virginia
  • Aug 24 Paulo Coelho, Brazilian author (The Alchemist), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Aug 24 Roger De Vlaeminck, Belgian racing cyclist, born in Eeklo, East Flanders, Belgium
  • Aug 24 Vladimir Masorin, Russian admiral (commanded the Caspian Flotilla 1996-2002), born in Bely, Tver Oblast, Soviet Union
  • Aug 26 Candy Moore, American actress (Lunch Wagon, Tomboy & Champ), born in Maplewood, New Jersey
  • Aug 26 Emiliano Díez, Cuban actor (George Lopez), born in Havana, Cuba

Barbara Bach (76 years old)

Aug 27 American actress (The Spy Who Loved Me, Force 10 from Navarone), born in Queens, New York

Barbara Bach
  • Aug 27 Ed Herrmann, American baseball catcher (MLB All Star 1974 Chicago White Sox; caught Larry Dierker no-hitter 1975 Houston Astros), born in San Diego, California (d. 2013)
  • Aug 27 Harry Reems, American actor, (d. 2013)
  • Aug 27 Jacques Arnold, MP (Conservative)
  • Aug 27 John Morrison, cricketer ("Mystery" NZ batsman 1973-82)
  • Aug 27 Peter Krieg [Wilhelm Gladitz], German documentary filmmaker, and writer (September Wheat), born in Schwäbisch Gmünd, West Germany (d. 2009)
  • Aug 28 Alice Playton, American actress (Who Killed Mary Whats 'er Name), born in New York City
  • Aug 28 Shoto Tanemura, Japanese martial artist, born in Matsubushi, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
  • Aug 29 Bob Lutz, American tennis player (US Open doubles 1968, 74, 78, 80; Australian Open 1970 [Stan Smith]), born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
  • Aug 29 James Hunt, English auto racer (Formula 1 World Drivers Champion 1976), born in Belmont, Surrey (d. 1993)
  • Aug 29 Temple Grandin, American animal welfare and autism expert, born in Boston, Massachusetts
  • Aug 30 Allan Rock, Canadian politician and diplomat, born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  • Aug 31 Luca di Montezemolo, Italian businessman (Chairman of Ferrari, NTV trains), born in Bologna, Italy
  • Aug 31 Mona Marshall, American voice actress (South Park, Fraggle Rock)
  • Aug 31 Yumiko Ōshima, Japanese manga artist (The Star of Cottonland), born in Otawara, Japan
Born in 1947

Famous Deaths

  • Aug 3 Vic Willis, American Baseball HOF pitcher (no-hitter 1899; World Series 1909; MLB ERA leader 1899 & strikeout leader 1902; Boston Beaneaters, Pittsburgh Pirates), dies at 71
  • Aug 8 Anton Ivanovich Denikin, Russian general (led anti-Bolshevik White forces during Russian Civil war), dies at 73
  • Aug 13 Tobias Norlind, Swedish musicologist, dies at 68
  • Aug 19 Ernst Laqueur, Dutch chemist and psychologist (sexual hormones), dies at 67
  • Aug 20 Franz VM Cumont, Belgian religious historian, dies at 79
  • Aug 21 Ettore Bugatti, Italian-French automobile designer and manufacturer (Automobiles E. Bugatti), dies at 65
  • Aug 25 Clark Wissler, American anthropologist (American Indian), dies at 76
  • Aug 25 Franz Cumont, Belgian religious historian and archaeologist (cult of Mithra), dies at 79
  • Aug 28 Manolete [Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez], Spanish bullfighter, dies at 30


What Happened in 1947

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