What Happened on December 4, 1956

Historical Events

  • 22nd Heisman Trophy Award: Paul Hornung, Notre Dame (QB)
  • American diver Pat McCormick wins the 3m springboard gold medal at the Melbourne Olympics with 142.46 points; later wraps up the women's double when she takes the 10m platform gold

Million-Dollar Quartet

An impromptu recording session by the "Million-Dollar Quartet" - Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash - takes place at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee

  • Australian swimmer Murray Rose sets world record 4:27.3 to claim the 400m gold medal at the Melbourne Olympics; Rose later also wins 1,500m gold

Famous Birthdays

  • Bernard King, American Basketball Hall of Fame small forward (NBA All-Star 1982, 84-85, 91; NY Knicks, Washington Bullets), born in Brooklyn, New York
  • Blagoi Blagoyev, Bulgarian weightlifter (World C'ship gold - 90kg 1991, 92, 93; Olympic silver - 82.5kg 1976), born in Veliki Preslav, Bulgaria
  • Costantino Rocca, Italian golfer (British Open 1995 runner-up; hole in one 1995 Ryder Cup), born in Bergamo, Italy

Famous Deaths

  • Alexander Rodchenko, Russian painter and photographer, dies at 64
Died in 1956 1956 Highlights

About December 4, 1956

Day of the Week: Tuesday
How Long Ago? 67 years, 4 months and 25 days
Leap Year: Yes

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

Music Charts

  • UK #1 Song: Just Walkin' In The Rain - Johnnie Ray