What Happened on December 3, 1953

Historical Events

Shostakovich' 5th String Quartet

Premiere of Dmitri Shostakovich' 5th String Quartet in Leningrad

  • Robert Wright and George Forrest's musical "Kismet" opens at Ziegfeld Theater, NYC; runs for 583 performances, wins Tony Award for Best Musical

Republican Party Communists

US President Dwight Eisenhower criticizes Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy for saying communists are in the Republican Party

  • Webb Pierce records single "In the Jailhouse Now" (Billboard Song of the Year, 1955)

Famous Birthdays

  • Franz Klammer, Austrian alpine skier (Olympic gold downhill 1976; World C'ships gold combined 1974, downhill 1976), born in Mooswald, Carinthia, Austria
  • Robert Guédiguian, French director (The Snows of Kilimanjaro; Marius and Jeannette), born in Marseille, France

About December 3, 1953

Day of the Week: Thursday
How Long Ago? 70 years, 4 months and 25 days
Leap Year: No

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

Music Charts

  • UK #1 Song: Answer Me - Frankie Laine