What Happened on December 15, 1952

Historical Events

  • Christine Jorgenson is the first known American to undergo a sex-change operation
  • KHON TV channel 2 in Honolulu, HI (NBC) begins broadcasting

Orientales Ecclesias

Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Orientales Ecclesias

Two's Company

Vernon Duke, Ogden Nash and Sammy Cahn's musical revue "Two's Company", starring Bette Davis, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, opens at Alvin Theater, NYC; runs for 90 performances


Famous Birthdays

  • Allan Simonsen, Danish soccer forward (55 caps; Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Barcelona, Vejle BK) and manager (Vejle BK, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg), born in Vejle, Denmark
  • Guy Laporte, French rugby union fly-half (16 Tests, Grand Slam 1986; SC Rieumois, SC Graulhet), born in Beaufort, France (d. 2022)
  • Julie Taymor, American film and stage director (The Lion Kong, Frida), born in Newton, Massachusetts

Famous Deaths

  • Potti Sreeramulu, Indian revolutionary known as the Father of Andhra for conducting a 56 day hunger strike in support of a separate Telugu-speaking state, fasts to death at 51, sparking rioting and 3 days later Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to declare an intention to form Andhra Pradesh state
Died in 1952 1952 Highlights

About December 15, 1952

Day of the Week: Monday
How Long Ago? 71 years, 4 months and 12 days
Leap Year: Yes

Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Sign: Sagittarius

Music Charts

  • UK #1 Song: Here In My Heart - Al Martino