What Happened in September 1948

Historical Events

Cricket History

Sep 1 Australian Test batsmen Don Bradman (143), Lindsay Hassett (151) & Neil Harvey (110) score centuries in Australia's 1st innings of drawn cricket tour match v South of England at Hastings

  • Sep 1 Communist form North China People's Republic
  • Sep 3 W Gomulka deposed as general secretary of Polish Worker's party
  • Sep 4 Bob Hilliard and Carl Sigman's musical revue "Angel in the Wings" closes at Coronet Theater, NYC, after 308 performances

Wilhelmina Abdicates

Sep 4 Queen Wilhelmina abdicates the Dutch throne in favour of her daughter Juliana because of illness, after 58 years, longest of any Dutch monarch

  • Sep 5 Davis Cup Men's Tennis, Forest Hills, NY: 3 straight titles for US as Gardnar Mulloy & Bill Talbert beat Australians Colin Long & Bill Sidwell 8-6, 9-7, 2-6, 7-5 for unassailable 3-0 lead; ends 5-0
  • Sep 5 In France, Robert Schuman becomes President of the Council while being Foreign minister, As such, he is the negotiator of the major treaties of the end of World War II.

Royal Coronation

Sep 6 Juliana crowned Queen of The Netherlands

  • Sep 6 Robert Stolz and Robert Sour's musical "Mr Strauss Goes to Boston" opens at Century Theater, NYC; runs for 12 performances
  • Sep 7 1st use of synthetic rubber in asphaltic concrete, Akron Oh
  • Sep 8 British De Havilland DH108-fighter flies faster than sound
  • Sep 9 "Hilarities (of 1949)" opens at Adelphi Theater NYC for 14 performances
  • Sep 9 Brooklyn Dodger Rex Barney no-hits NY Giants, 2-0
  • Sep 10 Australian cricketer Don Bradman scores 153 in his last 1st-class cricket innings in England
  • Sep 10 Bijz Criminal division sentences war criminal Jacob Folks to life

Event of Interest

Sep 12 Indian Army Invades the State of Hyderabad a day after Pakistani leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah passes away

  • Sep 13 Margaret Chase Smith, American politician (R-Me) elected senator, 1st woman to serve in both houses of US Congress

Event of Interest

Sep 14 Gerald Ford upsets Representative Bartel J Jonkman in Michigan 5th Dist Republican primary

  • Sep 14 Groundbreaking ceremony for initial buildings of United Nations Headquarters is held in New York City
  • Sep 14 Groundbreaking ceremony for UN world headquarters in New York
  • Sep 15 F-86 Sabre sets world aircraft speed record of 1080 kph
  • Sep 15 Musical revue "Small Wonder", starring Tom Ewell, opens at Coronet Theater, NYC; runs for 134 performances
  • Sep 15 WHN-AM in NY City changes call letters to WMGM
  • Sep 16 "Heaven on Earth" opens at Century Theater NYC for 12 performances
  • Sep 16 Robert Stolz and Robert Sour's musical "Mr Strauss Goes to Boston" closes at Century Theater, NYC after 12 performances
  • Sep 17 KCOP TV channel 13 in Los Angeles/Hollywood, CA (IND) begins
  • Sep 17 WLS TV channel 7 in Chicago, IL (ABC) begins broadcasting
  • Sep 18 "Hilarities (of 1949)" closes at Adelphi Theater NYC after 14 performances
  • Sep 18 Communist Madiun-uprising in Dutch Indies (Muso/Sjarifudin)

Appointment of Interest

Sep 18 Ralph Bunche confirmed as acting UN mediator in Palestine

  • Sep 19 US National Championship Men's Tennis, Forest Hills, NY: Pancho Gonzales wins first of 2 consecutive US singles titles; beats Eric Sturgess 6-2, 6-3, 14-12

US Open Women's Tennis

Sep 19 US National Championship Women's Tennis, Forest Hills, NY: Margaret Osborne duPont wins first of 3 straight US singles crowns; beats Louise Brough Clapp 4-6, 6-4, 15-13

  • Sep 20 Heitor Villa-Lobos' folk operetta "Magdalena" opens at Ziegfeld Theater, NYC; runs for 88 performances
  • Sep 20 Mexican Baseball league disbanded

Texaco Star Theater

Sep 21 Milton Berle becomes the permanent host on NBC's TV show "Texaco Star Theater"

  • Sep 23 Braves clinch NL pennant
  • Sep 24 Mildred Gillars (Axis Sally), an American broadcaster employed by the Third Reich in Nazi Germany to proliferate propaganda during World War II, pleads not guilty to eight chargs of treason in Washington, D.C.
  • Sep 24 MLB NY Yankees, Boston Red Sox & Cleveland Indians are all tied for 1st place in AL (91-56)
  • Sep 24 The Honda Motor Company is founded in Hamamatsu-city, Japan
  • Sep 25 "Heaven on Earth" closes at Century Theater NYC after 12 performances
  • Sep 26 Boston Braves win 1st NL championship since 1914
  • Sep 28 WBAP-TV, (NBC affiliate) Fort Worth Texas, begins broadcasting

Hamlet

Sep 29 "Hamlet" directed by and starring Laurence Olivier's opens at Park Avenue Cinema (Best Picture 1949)

  • Sep 29 WBAP (now KXAS) TV channel 5 in Fort Worth-Dallas, TX (NBC) begins
  • Sep 29 WSB TV channel 2 in Atlanta, GA (ABC) begins broadcasting
1948 History

Famous Birthdays

  • Sep 1 James Rebhorn, American actor (White Collar, Homeland), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2014)
  • Sep 1 Józef Życiński, Polish archbishop and philosopher, born in Nowa Wie, Poland (d. 2011)
  • Sep 2 Christa McAuliffe, American teacher who died in Challenger space shuttle disaster, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1986)
  • Sep 2 Linda "Tui" Tillery, American singer-songwriter (The Loading Zone), born in San Francisco
  • Sep 2 Terry Bradshaw, College/Pro Football HOF quarterback (Louisiana Tech; Super Bowl 1974, 75, 78 [MVP], 79 [MVP]; NFL MVP 1978; First-team All-Pro 1978; 3 × Pro Bowl; Pittsburgh Steelers) and broadcaster (CBS, FOX), born in Shreveport, Louisiana
  • Sep 3 Don Brewer, American rock drummer (Grand Funk Railroad - "We're An American Band"), born in Flint, Michigan
  • Sep 3 Levy Mwanawasa, Zambian politician (3rd President of Zambia), born in Mufulira, Zambia (d. 2008)
  • Sep 3 Ronald W Harris, American boxer (Olympic gold lightweight 1968), born in Canton, Ohio
  • Sep 3 Tara Singh Varma, Dutch politcian (1st black woman in Dutch 2nd Chamber), born in Springlands, British Guiana
  • Sep 4 Samuel Hui, Hong Kong Canto-pop singer-songwriter, born in Xiguan, Guangzhou, Republic of China
  • Sep 5 Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Austrian diplomat and politician, born in Salzburg, Austria
  • Sep 6 Claydes Charles Smith, American guitarist (Kool & The Gang), born in Jersey City, New Jersey (d. 2006)
  • Sep 6 Jo Baker, American blues-rock vocalist (Elvin Bishop), born in Brockton, Massachusetts (d. 1996)
  • Sep 7 Damir Šolman, Croatian basketball small forward (World Cup gold 1970, silver 1974 Yugoslavia; Olympic silver 1968, 76; FIBA European Selection 1974; Mladost Zagreb, Jugoplastika), born in Zagreb, Croatia (d. 2023)
  • Sep 7 Dennis "Machine Gun" Thompson, American rock drummer (MC5 -"Kick Out the Jams"), born in Detroit, Michigan
  • Sep 7 John Brockington, American football running back (First-team All-Pro 1971, 73; Pro Bowl 1971, 72, 73; Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2023)
  • Sep 7 Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 2nd President of the United Arab Emirates (2004-2022), born in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (d. 2022)
  • Sep 7 Susan Blakely, American actress (Rich Man Poor Man), born in Frankfurt, Germany
  • Sep 8 Great Kabuki [Akihisa Yone Yoshi Mera], Japanese wrestler (NWA/NJPW/WAR/SWS), born in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan
  • Sep 8 Lynn [Lorraine] Abbey, American sci-fi author (Black Flame), born in Peekskill, New York
  • Sep 10 Bob Lanier, American Basketball HOF center (8 x NBA All-Star; NBA All-Star Game MVP 1974; Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks), born in Buffalo, New York (d. 2022)
  • Sep 10 Charlie Waters, American football safety (Pro Bowl 1976–1978; Super Bowl 1971, 77; Dallas Cowboys), born in Miami, Florida
  • Sep 10 Judy Geeson, English actress (To Sir With Love, Berserk), born in Arundel, England
  • Sep 10 Margaret Trudeau, Canadian 1st lady, born in Vancouver, British Columbia
  • Sep 10 Tony Gatlif, Algerian-born French film director, born in Algiers, French Algeria
  • Sep 10 Zhang Chengzhi, Chinese writer (History of the Soul), born in Beijing, China
  • Sep 11 John Martyn [Iain McGeachy], British folk-rock-blues singer-songwriter, and guitarist ("May You Never"), born in New Maldon, Surrey (d. 2009)
  • Sep 12 Luis Lima, Argentinian operatic tenor, born in Córdoba, Argentina
  • Sep 12 Max Walker, Australian cricket fast bowler (34 Tests, 138 wickets) and broadcaster (Nine Network), born in Hobart, Australia (d. 2016)
  • Sep 13 Clyde Kusatsu, American actor (Ali-Bring 'em Back Alive), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
  • Sep 13 Dimitri Nanopoulos, Greek physicist, born in Athens, Greece
  • Sep 13 Nell Carter, American actress (Gimme A Break; Lobo), born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 2003)

Sitiveni Rabuka (75 years old)

Sep 13 Fiji general and politician (1987 coup, Prime Minister of Fiji 1992-97, 2022-), born in Cakaudrove, Fiji

  • Sep 14 Fred "Sonic" Smith, American guitarist (MC5 - "Kick Out the Jams"), born in West Virginia (d. 1994)
  • Sep 15 Amalie Malling, Danish concert pianist, and educator (Royal Danish Academy of Music, 1981-present), born in Lübeck, Germany
  • Sep 15 Suzyn Waldman, American Sportscaster (baseball- NY Yankee), born in Newton, Massachusetts
  • Sep 16 Julia Donaldson, English children's writer (The Gruffalo), born in London, England
  • Sep 16 Kenney Jones, English rock drummer and vocalist (Small Faces/The Faces, 1965-78; The Who, 1978-83), born in London, England
  • Sep 16 Ron Blair, American rock bassist (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, 1976-82 & 2002-17), born in San Diego, California

Rosemary Casals (75 years old)

Sep 16 American tennis player (12 Grand Slam doubles titles), born in San Francisco, California

  • Sep 17 John Ritter, American actor and comedian (Three's Company, It, 8 Simple Rules), born in Burbank, California (d. 2003)
  • Sep 17 Patricia Kluge, British-Iraqi ex-wife of Billionaire John Kluge, born in Baghdad. Iraq

Ken Brett (1948-2003)

Sep 18 American baseball player, born in Brooklyn, New York

Jeremy Irons (75 years old)

Sep 19 English actor (Reversal of Fortune, The Lion King), born in Isle of Wight, England

  • Sep 19 Michael Cooper, sodomizer (FBI Most Wanted List), born in San Francisco, California
  • Sep 19 Mihai Timofti, director and actor (Lautarii), born in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
  • Sep 19 Nadezhda Tkachenko, Ukrainian pentathlete (Olympic gold 1980), born in Kremenchuk, Ukraine
  • Sep 20 Chuck Panozzo, American rock bassist (Styx), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • Sep 20 George R. R. Martin, American fantasy and sci-fi author (A Song of Ice and Fire), born in Bayonne, New Jersey
  • Sep 20 John Panozzo, American rock drummer (Styx), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1996)
  • Sep 21 Artis Gilmore, American basketball player (Kentucky Colonels), born in Shipley, Florida
  • Sep 21 Henry Butler, American jazz and blues pianist, educator, and photographer (Dark Light: The Art of Blind Photographers), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 2018) [1]
  • Sep 21 Michael Finneran, American diver (1st perfect 10 on 10m platform), born in Rockville, Center, New York
  • Sep 22 Denis Burke, Australian politician, born in Townsville, Queensland
  • Sep 22 Mark Phillips, British equestrian rider (Olympic gold team eventing 1972, silver 1988) and ex-husband of Anne, Princess Royal, born in Tetbury, England
  • Sep 23 "Dangerous" Dan Toler, American rock guitarist (Dickey Betts; Allman Brothers), born in Connersville, Indiana (d. 2013)
  • Sep 23 Rob van Koningsbruggen, sculptor
  • Sep 23 Tomas Ulrich, American classical, jazz and rock cellist and composer (Diller-Quaile String Quartet), born in Columbus, Ohio
  • Sep 24 Bernadette Hingley, British Anglican priest, one of the 1st women to be ordained in England, born in Sowerby Bridge, England (d. 1995)
  • Sep 24 Gordon Clapp, American Emmy Award-winning stage and screen actor (NYPD Blue - "Greg Medavoy"; John Sayles films), born in North Conway, New Hampshire
  • Sep 24 Heinz Chur, German composer, born in Essen, Germany

Phil Hartman (1948-1998)

Sep 24 Canadian-American actor (NewsRadio, 1995-98; The Simpsons, 1991-91; SNL, 1986-94: Peewee's Playhouse), and graphic artist, born in Brantford, Ontario

  • Sep 25 (Kathryn) "Kathi" McDonald, American blues and rock singer (Ike & Tina Turner Revue; Big Brother & The Holding Company), and songwriter, born in Anacortes, Washington (d. 2012)

Olivia Newton-John (1948-2022)

Sep 26 British-Australian Grammy Award-winning pop singer ("Hopelessly Devoted to You"; "Physical"), and actress (Grease), born in Cambridge, England

  • Sep 26 Tiran Porter, American bass and guitar player, and songwriter (The Doobie Brothers, 1972-80 and 1987-92 - "Listen to The Music"), born in Los Angeles, California
  • Sep 26 Vladimír Remek, Czech politician and cosmonaut (Soyuz 28), born in České Budějovice, Czechoslovakia
  • Sep 27 A Martinez, American actor (L.A. Law; Santa Barbara), born in Glendale, California
  • Sep 27 John K. Reed, American coral biologist
  • Sep 27 Michele Dotrice, English actor
  • Sep 27 Russ Kunkel, American session and touring drummer (Crosby, Stills & Nash; Jackson Browne; Carly Simon; Lyle Lovett; Tracy Chapman; Dan Fogelberg; Linda Ronstadt), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Sep 27 Tom Braidwood, Canadian actor
  • Sep 28 Steven Gerber, American classical composer (Music in Dark Times), born in Washington, D.C. (d. 2015)
  • Sep 29 Bryant Gumbel, American sportscaster/TV host (Today Show), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Sep 29 John M. McHugh, American politician (Rep-R-NY 1993-2009) Secretary of the Army 2009-15, born in Watertown, New York
  • Sep 29 Mark Farner, American musician, songwriter and vocalist (Grand Funk Railroad), born in Flint, Michigan
  • Sep 29 Mike Pinera, American rock guitarist and singer (Blues Image - "Ride Captain Ride"; Iron Butterfly), born in Tampa, Florida
  • Sep 29 Theo Jörgensmann, German jazz clarinetist, born in Bottrop, Germany
  • Sep 29 Viktor Krovopouskov, Russian sabres fencer (Olympic gold, individual and team, 1976, 1980), born in Moscow, Soviet Union
Born in 1948

Famous Deaths

  • Sep 1 Charles A. Beard, American historian (American Continentalism), dies at 73
  • Sep 2 Sylvanus Morley, American archaeologist and spy, dies at 65

Edvard Beneš (1884-1948)

Sep 3 Czech politician, statesman, and 2nd President of Czechoslovakia (1935-38, 1945-48), dies at 64

  • Sep 5 Richard C. Tolman, American mathematical physicist (b. 1881)
  • Sep 6 Gerrit Hendrik Kersten, Dutch vicar and founder (Calvinist Party), dies at 66
  • Sep 7 Henricus Andreas Poels, Dutch Roman Catholic theologist and social foreman, dies at 80
  • Sep 8 Thomas Mofolo, Lesotho writer (b. 1876)
  • Sep 10 Ferdinand I, 1st tsar of modern Bulgaria (1908-18), dies at 87
  • Sep 11 Albert Powell, South African cricketer and Rugby player (one Test South Africa v England 1898-99), dies at 75

Mohammed Ali Jinnah (1876-1948)

Sep 11 Founder of Pakistan who led the All-India Muslim League (1913-47) until he achieved his dream of Pakistan and became its 1st Governor-General (1947-48), dies of tuberculous at 71

  • Sep 13 Paul Wegener, German actor and director (The Golem, The Student of Prague), dies at 73
  • Sep 16 Ferdinand I MKLM, prince of Saxony-Coburg/tsar of Bulgaria, dies
  • Sep 17 Ferruccio Giannini, Italian-American operatic tenor (one of the first to be recorded), teacher, and impresario (Verdi Opera House, Philadelphia), dies at 79
  • Sep 17 Folke Bernadotte, Swedish diplomat (Red Cross; UN mediator for Palestine), assassinated by a Zionist group at 53
  • Sep 17 Lillian Braithwaite, British actress (Man About the House), dies at 75
  • Sep 17 Ruth Benedict, American anthropologist (Patterns of Culture), dies at 61
  • Sep 21 Bokke R. S. Pollema, Dutch Frisian journalist, poet, and author (Lok en Lijen (Happiness and Suffering)), dies at 65
  • Sep 24 Warren William [Krech], American actor (The Wolf Man, Cleopatra), dies of multiple myeloma at 53
  • Sep 27 Frank Cellier, British actor (Quiet Wedding;, Big Blockade), dies from ill health at 64
  • Sep 28 E. J. Ratcliffe, English stage and screen actor, dies at 85
  • Sep 28 Gregg Toland, American influential cinematographer (Citizen Kane, Wuthering Heights), dies of coronary thrombosis at 44

Edith Roosevelt (1861-1948)

Sep 30 US First Lady and wife of Teddy Roosevelt, dies at 87