What Happened in November 1951

Historical Events

Nov 1 1st H Bomb test, code named "Ivy Mike", detonates on Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the north Pacific Ocean

Sports History

Nov 1 Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella wins first of his 3 National League MVP awards

Nov 1 Jet magazine founded by John H. Johnson

Music History

Nov 1 Johnny Mercer's musical "Top Banana", starring Phil Silvers, opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 356 performances, winning a Tony Award

Nov 1 US performs 1st atomic explosion witnessed by troops, Nevada Test Site, New Mexico
Nov 4 NY Giants & NY Yanks score back-to-back TDs on kickoff returns

Ryder Cup

Nov 4 Ryder Cup Golf, Pinehurst Resort: US wins 9½-2½; Sam Snead playing captain for US; Arthur Lacey non-playing GB skipper

Nov 4 Vijay Merchant scores 154 v England in his last Test Cricket innings
Nov 5 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
Nov 7 Constitution of Jordan passes

MVP Yogi Berra

Nov 8 New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra wins 1st of his 3 MVP awards

Nov 10 1st long distance telephone call without operator assistance
Nov 12 "Paint Your Wagon" opens at Shubert Theater NYC for 289 performances
Nov 13 Janet Collins is the first 1st African-American dancer to appear at the Metropolitan Opera, in a production of Aida

Lefty O'Doul's All-Stars

Nov 13 Lefty O'Doul's all-stars, including Joe DiMaggio and Billy Martin, lose 3-1 to Pacific League all-star team (Japan)

Baseball Player and Manager Billy Martin

Hanif Mohammad

Nov 15 1st-class cricket debut of future great Pakistani batsman Hanif Mohammad; scores 26 in drawn tour match, Pakistan XI v MCC, Lahore

Nov 15 NY Yankee Gil McDougald wins AL Rookie of Year
Nov 17 Britain reports development of the world's first nuclear-powered heating system
Nov 18 "See it Now" premieres on TV
Nov 18 British troops occupy Ismailiya, Egypt
Nov 18 Former Cubs 1st baseman & future TV star of Rifleman Chuck Connors is 1st player to oppose the major league draft
Nov 19 Roy Campanella named NL MVP on his 30th birthday
Nov 19 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
Nov 20 Snowdonia becomes a British National Park
Nov 24 "17" closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 180 performances
Nov 24 "Music in the Air" closes at Ziegfeld Theater NYC after 56 performances
Nov 24 British auto manufacturers Austin and Morris Motors merge
Nov 24 CFL Grey Cup, Varsity Stadium, Toronto: Ottawa Rough Riders claim their 4th Championship with 21-14 win over Saskatchewan Roughriders
Nov 25 17 die in a train crash in Woodstock, Alabama
Nov 25 3rd NASCAR Sprint Cup: Herb Thomas wins
Nov 25 Cleveland Browns penalized a record 209 yards against Chicago Bears
Nov 25 Cleveland halfback Dub Jones ties the NFL record for most touchdowns in a game crossing for 6 in Browns 42-21 win v Chicago Bears at Cleveland Stadium
Nov 25 Commemoration of Dutch resistance fighter Hannie Schaft forbidden
Nov 27 1st rocket to intercept an airplane at White Sands, New Mexico
Nov 27 Cease-fire & demarcation zone accord signed in Panmunjon, Korea

I am a Camera

Nov 28 John Van Druten's "I am a Camera" premieres in NYC

Nov 28 Military coup under Col Adib el-Shishakli in Syria
Nov 29 1st underground atomic explosion at Frenchman Flat in Nevada

Events in 1951

Famous Birthdays

Nov 1 Craig Serjeant, Australian cricket batsman (12 Tests; top score 124, 1977), born in Perth, West Australia
Nov 1 Fabrice Luchini, French stage and film actor (Courted), born in Paris
Nov 1 Ronald Bell, American rock singer, saxophonist, arranger, and songwriter (Kool & The Gang), born in Youngstown, Ohio (d. 2020)
Nov 2 Kathy Hammond, American athlete (Olympic bronze 400m, silver 4x400m relay 1972), born in Sacramento, California
Nov 2 Lindy Morrison, Australian drummer (The Go-Betweens - "Cattle and Cane"), born in Queensland, Australia
Nov 2 Thomas Mallon, American novelist and critic (Henry and Clara), born in Glen Cove, New York
Nov 3 Azmat Rana, Pakistan cricket batsman (1 Test, top score 49; 2 ODIs), born in Lahore, Punjab (d. 2015)
Nov 3 Dwight Evans, American baseball right fielder (MLB All-Star 1978, 81, 87; Boston Red Sox), born in Santa Monica, California
Nov 3 Ed Murawinski, American cartoonist, New York Daily News
Nov 4 Traian Băsescu, 4th President of Romania (2004-14), born in Basarabi, Romania
Nov 5 Stuart Havelock Hollingdale, anthropologist
Nov 5 Tony Evers, American politician, Governor of Wisconsin (2019-), born in Plymouth, Wisconsin
Nov 6 Jim Frick, Swedish harness racing driver (5,002 career race wins), born in Rättvik, Sweden (d. 2020)
Nov 6 John Falsey, American television writer and producer, born in New Haven, Connecticut
Nov 6 Peter Althin, Swedish politician and attorney, born in Lund, Skåne, Sweden
Nov 7 Chris Mortensen, American sports journalist (ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio), born in Torrance, California (d. 2024)

Nov 7 Dan Duva, American boxing promoter and producer (Howard Stern New Years Party), born in Paterson, New Jersey (d. 1996)
Nov 7 Kevin Macmichael, Canadian guitarist, songwriter and record producer (Cutting Crew - "(I Just) Died in Your Arms"), born in St. John, New Brunswick (d. 2002)
Nov 8 Alfredo Astiz, Argentine general and intelligence officer
Nov 8 Larry Burnett, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (Firefall, 1974-81 - "You Are The Woman"), born in Washington, D.C.
Nov 8 Mary Hart, American TV hostess (Entertainment Tonight), born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Nov 9 Bill Mantlo, American comic book writer (Micronauts), born in Brooklyn, New York
Nov 9 Hetty de Boer-Jongkind, Dutch medical astrologist and founder (Vakvereniging Medical Astrology), born in Amsterdam (d. 1993)
Nov 9 Lou Ferrigno, American body builder and actor (Incredible Hulk), born in Brooklyn, New York
Nov 10 Morris Hatalsky, American golfer (4 PGA Tour titles), born in San Diego, California

Fuzzy Zoeller (72 years old)

Nov 11 American golfer (US Masters 1981, US Open 1984), born in New Albany, Indiana

Nov 11 Kim Peek, American megasavant (inspired Rain Man film character), born in Salt Lake City, Utah (d. 2009)
Nov 11 Paul Cowsill, American rock keyboardist (The Cowsills - "We Can Fly"), born in Newport, Rhode Island
Nov 13 Beth Anders, American field hockey sweeper (Olympic bronze 1984), born in Norristown, Pennsylvania
Nov 13 Bill Gibson, American rock drummer (Huey Lewis & The News), born in Sacramento, California
Nov 13 Boaz Vaadia, Israeli-born sculptor who worked in America, born in Gat Rimon (d. 2017)
Nov 13 Trudie Goodwin, British actress (The Bill, 1983-2007; Emmerdale, 2011-15), born in Lewisham, England
Nov 14 Alec John Such [Szűcs], American rock bassist (Bon Jovi, 1983-94 - "Wanted Dead or Alive"), born in Yonkers, New York (d. 2022)
Nov 14 Barry Brandt, American rock drummer (Angel), born in Washington, D.C.
Nov 14 Frankie Banali, American heavy metal drummer (Quiet Riot - "Cum on Feel the Noize"), born in Queens, NewYork City (d. 2020)
Nov 14 Sandahl Bergman, American actress (Conan; All that Jazz), born in Kansas City, Missouri
Nov 14 Stephen Bishop, American singer-songwriter ("On And On"; "Save It For A Rainy Day"), born in San Diego, California
Nov 14 Zhang Yimou, Chinese film director (Let Live, Raise the Red Lantern), born in Xi'an, China
Nov 15 Beverly D'Angelo, American actress (National Lampoon's Vacation), born in Columbus, Ohio
Nov 16 Miguel Sandoval, American actor (Medium), born in Washington, D.C.
Nov 17 Butch Davis, American football coach (Cleveland Browns 2007–10; Uni of North Carolina 2017–21; FIU 2017-21), born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Nov 17 Dean Paul Martin, Jr, American pop singer (Dino, Desi & Billy), and actor (Misfits of Science), born in Santa Monica, California (d. 1987)
Nov 17 Jack Vettriano, Methil Scotland, Scottish painter (The Singing Butler)
Nov 17 Nasty Canasta, Warner Bros. cartoon character created by Chuck Jones (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series), first debuts in "Drip-Along Daffy"
Nov 17 Stephen Root, American actor
Nov 18 Heinrich Schiff, Austrian cellist and conductor, born in Gmunden, Austria (d. 2016)
Nov 18 Justin Raimondo, American author (Antiwar.com), born in White Plains, New York
Nov 18 Mark N Brown, Valparaiso In, Major USAF/astronaut (STS 28, 48, 66)
Nov 19 Ben Katchor, American cartoonist and illustrator (Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer), born in Brooklyn, New York
Nov 19 Lord Falconer of Thoroton, British lawyer and politician
Nov 19 Timothy J. Penny, American politician (Rep-D-MN, 1983-95), born in Albert Lea, Minnesota
Nov 19 Zeenat Aman, Indian actress (Haré Rama Haré Krishna), born in Bombay, India
Nov 20 David Walters, American politician, Governor of Oklahoma (1991-95), born in Canute, Oklahoma
Nov 20 Rodger Bumpass, American television and voice actor (Squidward Tenticles), born in Little Rock, Arkansas
Nov 21 John Kennedy, American politician (Senator-R-Louisiana 2017-), born in Centreville, Mississippi
Nov 22 Kent Nagano, Japanese-American conductor (Berkely Symphony, 1978-2009; Montreal Symphony, 2006-20), opera administrator (Lyon National, 1988-98; LA opera, 2003-06; Bavarian State Opera, 2006-13), and new music advocate, born in Berkeley, California
Nov 23 Bernd Landvoigt, German coxless pairs rower (Olympic gold 1976), born in Brandenburg an der Havel, German Democratic Republic
Nov 23 David Rappaport, English 3'11" actor (Wizard, Time Bandits), born in London, England
Nov 23 Jorg Landvoigt, German coxless pairs rower (Olympic gold 1976), born in Brandenburg an der Havel, German Democratic Republic
Nov 23 Nikki Kelly, English actress (Hi-de-Hi! - "Sylvia"), born in Leamington Spa, England
Nov 24 Chet Edwards, American politician (Rep-D-Texas 1991-2011), born in Corpus Christi, Texas
Nov 24 Gaby Landhage, Goteborg Sweden, model (Model of the Rear)
Nov 24 Graham Price, British rugby union prop (41 Tests Wales, 12 British & Irish Lions; Pontypool RFC, Barbarians RFC), born in Moascar, Egypt
Nov 25 Arturo Pérez Reverte, Spanish novelist and war reporter
Nov 25 Bill Morrissey, American folk singer-songwriter (Inside), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 2011)
Nov 25 Bucky Dent, all star shortstop (Chicago White Sox, NY Yankees)
Nov 25 Johnny Rep, Dutch soccer player, born in Zaandam, Netherlands
Nov 26 La Cicciolina [Ilona Staller], Italian MP, born in Budapest, Hungary

Kathryn Bigelow (72 years old)

Nov 27 American director, producer and writer (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty), born in San Carlos, California

Nov 27 Kevin Kavanaugh, American rock keyboard player (Asbury Jukes), born in West Orange, New Jersey (d. 2011)
Nov 29 Barry Goudreau, American rock guitarist (Boston - "More Than A Feeling"), born in Boston, Massachusetts
Nov 29 Roger Troutman, American funk musician (Zapp), born in Hamilton, Ohio (d. 1999)
Nov 30 Christian Bernard, mystic
Nov 30 June Chadwick, British actress

Born in 1951

Famous Weddings

Ava Gardner & Frank Sinatra

Nov 7 American entertainer Frank Sinatra (35) marries 2nd wife American film star Ava Gardner (26); divorce in 1957

Louis Jordan

Nov 14 American swing musician Louis Jordan (43) weds dancer Vicky Hayes

Famous Deaths

Nov 5 Agrippina J Vaganova, Russian ballet dancer and pedagogue (Fundamentals of the Classical Dance), dies at 72
Nov 5 Bedrich Antonin Wiedermann, Czech organist and composer, dies at 67
Nov 5 Reggie Walker, South African athlete (Olympic gold 100m 1908), dies at 62
Nov 9 Resurrección Maria de Azkue, Spanish Basque priest, poet, and composer, drowns at87
Nov 9 Sigmund Romberg, Hungarian-American operetta composer (Blossom Time), dies at 64
Nov 13 Hugo Leichtentritt, German Jewish composer and musicologist, dies at 77
Nov 13 Nikolai Karlovich Metner, composer, dies at 71
Nov 13 Nikolai Medtner, Russian pianist and composer (Skazi), dies at 71
Nov 18 Johan van Maarseveen, Dutch Minister of Justice and Internal minister, dies at 57
Nov 18 Václav Kálik, Czech composer, dies at 60
Nov 18 Will Vodery, African-American theater and film arranger, orchestrator (Showboat; Ziegfeld's Follies; Blackbirds), and composer (From Dixie to Broadway), dies at 66
Nov 19 Pete Hill, American Baseball HOF outfielder (NgL lifetime batting average: .326) and manager (Detroit Stars, Baltimore Black Sox), dies at 69
Nov 20 Thomas Quinlan, English opera impresario, dies at 70
Nov 25 Raden Mas Noto Soeroto, Javanese poet (Wayang Songs), dies at 63