What Happened in August 1951

Historical Events

Ben-Gurion Wins Election

Aug 1 David Ben-Gurion's Mapai-party wins Israeli parliamentary election

  • Aug 3 William H Jackson ends term as deputy director of CIA
  • Aug 5 Uprising by Moluccan soldiers from Indonesia at Ambonezen Camp, Netherlands
  • Aug 6 The National Museum of Racing opens in Congress Park at Saratoga Springs, N.Y
  • Aug 6 Typhoon floods kill 4,800 in Manchuria
  • Aug 7 Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket reaches 1,992 kph
  • Aug 7 US Viking rocket reaches 210 km height (record)
  • Aug 9 Dutch Korea volunteers win US Collective Unit Citation
  • Aug 11 First televised baseball game in colour on WCBS in New York City; Boston Braves beat Brooklyn Dodgers, 8-1
  • Aug 11 New York Giants (NFL) beat Ottawa Roughriders (CFL), 38-6 in Ottawa
  • Aug 11 NY Giants lose 4-0 to Philadelphia Phillies at the Polo Grounds, NYC to go 13½ games behind Brooklyn Dodgers; go on to win NL pennant with 98-59-0 record
  • Aug 13 Great Britain & Iraq sign new oil contract

A Place in the Sun

Aug 14 "A Place in the Sun", film adptation of Theodore Dreiser's "An American Tragedy", directed by George Stevens, starring Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor and Shelley Winters premieres in Los Angeles, California; wins 6 Academy Awards, including Best Director, 1952

  • Aug 17 18th NFL Chicago All-Star Game: Cleveland 33, All-Stars 0 (92,180)
  • Aug 17 Hurricane winds drive 6 ships ashore, Kingston, Jamaica
  • Aug 18 Cricket 1st-class debut of Raymond Illingworth

Sports History

Aug 19 Bill Veeck (St. Louis Browns) sends Eddie Gaedel, a 3'7" little person, to pinch-hit; he walked on four pitches.

Venice Film Festival

Aug 20 12th Venice Film Festival: "Rashomon" directed by Akira Kurosawa wins the Golden Lion

  • Aug 22 Harlem Globetrotters play in Olympic Stadium, Berlin before 75,052
  • Aug 24 Bill Veeck's MLB St. Louis Browns hold "Grandstand Manager's Day" - coaches hold up placards for fans to vote on strategy options; Browns defeat visiting A's, 5-3
  • Aug 25 Cleveland Indians win 16th straight home game
  • Aug 26 Dutch professor Jacob Jongbloed demonstrates an artificial heart in Paris

An American In Paris

Aug 26 Film "An American In Paris" with music by George Gershwin, directed by Vincente Minnelli, starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron premieres in London (Academy Awards Best Picture, 1952)

  • Aug 28 Braves sell pitcher Johnny Sain to the Yankees for $50,000
  • Aug 28 Pirates snap NY Giants 16 game winning streak
  • Aug 30 US & Philippines sign mutual defense pact
  • Aug 31 1st 33 1/3 album introduced in Dusseldorf
1951 History

Famous Birthdays

  • Aug 1 Bob Keselowski, American auto racer (ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series 1989) and team owner (K Automotive Racing), born in Rochester, Michigan (d. 2021)
  • Aug 1 David Jasper, British theologian (University of Glasgow)
  • Aug 1 Robin Heifetz, American composer, born in Los Angeles, California
  • Aug 1 Tim Bachman, Canadian rock guitarist and vocalist (Brave Belt; Bachman–Turner Overdrive), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (d. 2023)
  • Aug 1 Tommy Bolin, American session and touring rock guitarist and songwriter (Deep Purple, 1975-76; James Gang, 1973-74), born in Sioux City, Iowa (d. 1976)
  • Aug 2 Andrew Gold, American singer-songwriter, and record producer ("Lonely Boy"; "Thank You for Being a Friend"), born in Burbank, California (d. 2011)
  • Aug 2 Burgess Owens, American politician (Rep-R-Utah) and football player, born in Columbus, Ohio
  • Aug 2 Freddie Wadling, Swedish actor and musician (The Leather Nun, Fleshquartet), born in Gothenburg, Sweden (d. 2016)
  • Aug 2 Joe Lynn Turner [Linquito], American hard rock vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter (Fandango; Rainbow), born in Hackensack, New Jersey
  • Aug 2 Per Westerberg, Swedish politician (Speaker of the Riksdag), born in Nyköping, Sweden
  • Aug 3 Hans Schlegel, German astronaut (STS 55), born in Überlingen, Germany
  • Aug 3 Johnny Graham, American guitarist and singer (Earth Wind & Fire), born in Louisville, Kentucky

Marcel Dionne (72 years old)

Aug 3 Canadian NHL center (LA Kings, NY Rangers), born in Drummondville, Quebec

  • Aug 4 Lane Evans, American politician (Rep-D-IL, 1983-2007), born in Rock Island, Illinois (d. 2014)
  • Aug 5 Jemeel Moondoc, American improvisational jazz saxophonist (Ensemble Muntu; Jus Grew Orchestra), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • Aug 5 John Jarratt, Australian actor, director and producer (Picnic at Hanging Rock), born in Wollongong, Australia
  • Aug 6 Catherine Hicks, American actress (Star Trek IV, Child's Play), born in New York City
  • Aug 6 Daryl Somers, Australian television personality
  • Aug 7 Gary Hall, American swimmer (Olympic silver 400m medley 1968, 200m butterfly 1972, bronze 100m butterfly 1976; 5 x WR), born in Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Aug 8 Laurie Ann Frink, American big band jazz trumpeter and educator, born in Pender, Nebraska (d. 2013) [1]
  • Aug 8 Mamoru Oshii, Japanese film director
  • Aug 8 Martin Brest, actor (Fast Times at Ridgemont High), born in The Bronx, New York

Mohamed Morsi (1951-2019)

Aug 8 Egyptian politician, President of Egypt (2012-13) and leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, born in El Adwah, Egypt

  • Aug 8 Phil Carlson, cricketer (Australian all-rounder 1979)
  • Aug 8 Randy Shilts, American journalist and author (d. 1994)

Juan Manuel Santos (72 years old)

Aug 10 Colombian politician, President of Colombia (2010-18) and Nobel laureate (2016), born in Bogotá, Colombia

  • Aug 11 Christophe Boesch, French-Swiss primatologist (studied and championed chimpanzees), born in St. Gallen, Switzerland (d. 2024) [1]
  • Aug 11 Vincent Bilodeau, Quebec actor and comedian
  • Aug 12 Charles E Brady Jr, Pinehurst NC, Cmdr USN/astronaut (STS 78)
  • Aug 12 Hector Rodriguez, Cuban judoka (Olympic gold 1976)
  • Aug 12 Willie Horton, American murderer and rapist (who became subject of intertest during 1988 presidential election), born in Chesterfield, South Carolina
  • Aug 13 Dan Fogelberg, American singer-songwriter ("Same Old Lang Syne"; "Leader of the Band"; "The Power of Gold"), born in Peoria, Illinois (d. 2007)
  • Aug 13 Gwen Cheeseman, American field hockey goalie (Olympic bronze, 1984), born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
  • Aug 13 Jeff Altman, American comedian and actor (Nurses; Pink Lady; Soul Man), born in Syracuse, New York
  • Aug 13 Ric Parnell, British rock drummer (Atomic Rooster; Spinal Tap), born in London, England (d. 2022) [1]
  • Aug 14 Carl Lumbly, American actor (Cagney & Lacey, Alias), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Aug 14 Peter Blegvad, American avant-garde guitarist, lyricist (Slapp Happy), and cartoonist, born in New York City
  • Aug 15 Ann Biderman, American film and television writer (Ray Donovan)
  • Aug 15 Bobby Caldwell, American jazz and pop singer ("What You Won't Do for Love"), and songwriter ("The Next Time I Fall"), born in New York City (d. 2023)
  • Aug 15 Daba Diawara, Malian politician, born in Bamako, Mali
  • Aug 15 John Childs, English cricket spin bowler (2 Tests, 3 wickets; Gloucestershire CCC, Essex CCC), born in Plymouth, England
  • Aug 16 Eric Bibb, American blues singer-songwriter, born in New York City
  • Aug 16 Richard Hunt, American puppeteer (d. 1992)
  • Aug 17 Alan Minter, English boxer (world middleweight champion 1980), born in Crawley, England (d. 2020)
  • Aug 17 Robert Joy, Canadian actor (Big Shots, CSI), born in Montreal, Quebec
  • Aug 18 Greg Pruitt, American football running back (LA Raiders, Super Bowl XVIII), born in Houston, Texas
  • Aug 19 Gustavo Santaolalla, Argentine Academy Award-winning film composer (Brokeback Mountain), born in El Palomar, Argentina
  • Aug 19 John Deacon, British rock bassist (Queen - "Another One Bites The Dust"), born in Leicester, England
  • Aug 19 Lillian Müller Norwegian model, actress and Playboy playmate (Aug, 1975, Playmate of the Year 1976), born in Grimstad, Norway
  • Aug 19 Randi Oakes, American actress (Officer Bonnie Clark-CHiPs), born in Randalia, Iowa
  • Aug 20 Greg Bear, American sci-fi author (2 Hugos, Eon, Eternity), born in San Diego, California (d. 2022)
  • Aug 20 Svetlana Oktyabrevna Omelchenko, Russian cosmonaut
  • Aug 21 Bernhard Germeshausen, German bobsledder (Olympic gold x 4 GDR 1976, 80), born in Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany (d. 2022)
  • Aug 21 Char Margolis, American psychic medium and Dutch TV star, born in Detroit, Michigan
  • Aug 21 Eric Goles, Chilean mathematician and computer scientist, born in Antofagasta, Chile
  • Aug 21 Glenn Hughes, British bassist and vocalist (Finders Keepers, 1965-69; Trapeze, 1969-73, 1991-94: Deep Purple, 1973-76), born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England
  • Aug 21 Harry Smith, TV co-anchor (CBS Morning Show), born in Hammond, Indiana
  • Aug 21 John Stearns, American baseball catcher (MLB All Star 1977, 79, 80, 82; New York Mets), born in Denver, Colorado (d. 2022)
  • Aug 21 Margo Kane, Canadian playwright, born in Edmonton, Canada
  • Aug 22 Chandra Prakash Mainali, Nepalese politician, born in Chokpur, Taplejung District, Nepal
  • Aug 22 Gordon Liu [Chia-Hui Liu or Jin-Hsi Shin], Chinese actor (Kill Bill, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin), born in Guangdong, China
  • Aug 22 Teresa Davis, American soul singer (The Emotions), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • Aug 23 Akhmad Kadyrov, 1st President of Chechnya, born in Karaganda, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union (d. 2004)
  • Aug 23 Jimi Jamison, American rock singer (Survivor - "High On You"), born in Durant, Mississippi (d. 2014)
  • Aug 23 Mark Hudson, American television personality (The Hudson Brothers), musician, songwriter, and record producer (Aerosmith; Hanson; Ringo Starr; Ozzy Osbourne), born in Portland, Oregon
  • Aug 23 Queen Noor of Jordan [Lisa Najeeb Halaby], American born wife of King Hussein, born in Washington, D.C.
  • Aug 24 Danny Joe Brown, American rock singer (Molly Hatchet), born in Jacksonville, Florida (d. 2005)
  • Aug 24 Michael Derosier, Canadian drummer (Heart, 1976-82 - "Barracuda"), born in Canada
  • Aug 24 Mona Lyn Reese, American contemporary classical, opera and choral music composer (The Three Fat Women of Antibes; Prince), born in Morris, Minnesota
  • Aug 24 Orson Scott Card, American sci-fi author (Hugo; Nebula; Ender's War), born in Richland, Washington
  • Aug 24 Oscar Hijuelos, American novelist (The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love), born in New York City (d. 2013)
  • Aug 25 Bob Mayo, American session keyboardist (Peter Frampton), born in New York City (d. 2004)
  • Aug 25 Ria Thielsch, Indo-Dutch singer (Luv), born in Manokwari, Netherlands New Guinea
  • Aug 25 Rob Halford, English heavy metal singer-songwriter (Judas Priest - Got Another Thing), born in Sutton Coldfield, England
  • Aug 26 Robert Torricelli, American politician (Rep-D-New Jersey, 1983-97, Senator-New Jersey 1997-2003), born in Paterson, New Jersey
  • Aug 27 Don Pooley Jr, American golfer (US Senior Open 2002), born in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Aug 27 Kevin Kavanaugh, American rock keyboard player (Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, 1975-90), born in West Orange, New Jersey (d. 2011)
  • Aug 28 Dave Hlubek, American rock guitarist (Molly Hatchet), born in Jacksonville, Florida (d. 2017)
  • Aug 28 Keiichi Suzuki, Japanese songwriter and record producer (Moonriders), born in Tokyo, Japan
  • Aug 28 Wayne Osmond, American singer (Osmond Brothers, Donnie & Marie), born in Ogden, Utah
  • Aug 30 Dana Rosemary Scallon, Irish singer and actress (Flight of the Doves), born in Islington, London, England
  • Aug 30 Timothy Bottoms, American actor (Paper Chase, East of Eden), born in Santa Barbara, California
  • Aug 31 Mario Boljat, Croatian soccer defender-midfielder (5 caps; Hajduk Split, Schalke 04), born in Split, Croatia (d. 2024)
Born in 1951

Famous Weddings

Max Von Sydow

Aug 1 Actor Max Von Sydow (22) weds actress Christina Olin

Famous Deaths

  • Aug 3 Neville Tufnell, English cricket wicket-keeper (Test for England 1910), dies at 64
  • Aug 11 Ebbe Hamerik, Danish opera composer (Stepan; Marie Grubbe), drowns in a sailing accident at 52

William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951)

Aug 14 American newspaper publisher (San Francisco Examiner, Seattle P-I), dies at 88

  • Aug 15 Artur Schnabel, Austrian pianist (Reflections on Music), dies at 69
  • Aug 16 Du Yuesheng, Chinese mob boss, dies at 62
  • Aug 16 Louis Jouvet, French actor (Volpone, Topaze, La Marseillaise), dies from a heart attack at 63
  • Aug 21 (Leonard) Constant Lambert, British composer (The Rio Grande; Horoscope; Summer's Last Will and Testament), and music director (Vic-Wells/Royal Ballet, 1931-47), dies of pneumonia and complications of diabetes and alcoholism at 45
  • Aug 22 J. P. Bickell, Canadian businessman and sports team owner (Toronto Maple Leafs), dies at 66
  • Aug 28 Robert Walker, American actor and writer (Strangers on a Train, Bataan, Madame Curie), dies from an adverse reaction to prescription drugs at 32