What Happened in August 1957

Historical Events

  • Aug 1 1st commercial building heated by Sun (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
  • Aug 1 Ex MLB outfielder Glen Gorbous throws a regulation baseball a record 136m (445' 10") in a game promotion

Baseball Record

Aug 1 Gil Hodges hits his 13th MLB career grand slam, a NL record and the last ever by a Brooklyn Dodgers player

  • Aug 1 US and Canada create North American Air Defense Command (NORAD)
  • Aug 2 Lovell Telescope's first light (first astronomical image) by then the world's largest steerable telescope, at Jodrell Bank, England [1]
  • Aug 3 British offensive against imam Galeb Ben Ali of Oman

F1 World Champion

Aug 4 Argentine Maserati driver Juan Manuel Fangio clinches his record 5th F1 World Drivers Championship (4th consecutive) in winning the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring

  • Aug 5 "American Bandstand" premieres on network TV (ABC)
  • Aug 5 Comic strip "Andy Capp" makes its debut
  • Aug 5 WJZ-TV in Baltimore MD begins radio transmissions
  • Aug 7 Congress passes the Civil Rights Act of 1957
  • Aug 7 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
  • Aug 8 USSR offers Syria economic/military aid
  • Aug 9 24th NFL Chicago All-Star Game: NY Giants 22, All-Stars 12 (75,000)
  • Aug 10 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
  • Aug 11 Canada's first major commercial airline disaster when Maritime Central Airways DC-4 crashes in a thunderstorm near Québec City, killing all 79 aboard [1]

Harmonie der Welt

Aug 11 Paul Hindemith's opera "Harmonie der Welt" premieres in Munich, German

  • Aug 15 David Simons reaches 30,942 m in Man High 2 balloon
  • Aug 15 USAF Captain Joe B. Jordan reaches 31,513 m in F-104 jet fighter

Baseball History

Aug 17 Baseball player Richie Ashburn fouls and hits fan Alice Roth twice in the same game at bat playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, 1st hit breaks her nose, 2nd one hits her while she is on the stretcher

  • Aug 18 Amelia Wershoven sets record of female throwing a baseball (252'4½")
  • Aug 18 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
  • Aug 19 NY Giants board of directors vote 8-1 to move their baseball franchise to San Francisco in 1958 [1]
  • Aug 19 US Major David Simons reaches 30,933m in a balloon
  • Aug 20 "Simply Heavenly" opens at Playhouse Theater NYC for 62 performances
  • Aug 20 Chicago White Sox Bob Keegan no-hits Washington Senators, 6-0
  • Aug 20 USAF balloon, manned by David Simons, breaks an altitude record at 102,000 ft (3,1089.6 m), over Minnesota and South Dakota
  • Aug 21 1st launching in Baikonur, Kazakhstan (R7 "Semiorka"-rocket)

Boxing Title Fight

Aug 22 Olympic heavyweight boxing champion Pete Rademacher becomes first to contest the world title in his first professional bout; knocked out by Floyd Patterson in 6th round at Sicks' Stadium, Seattle

  • Aug 23 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
  • Aug 24 At age 17 future England soccer striker Jimmy Greaves scores on his First Division debut for Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur in a 1–1 draw at White Hart Lane
  • Aug 25 Prince Suvanna Phuma forms government in LAOS, with Pathet Lao
  • Aug 26 USSR announces successful test of intercontinental ballistic missile
  • Aug 27 Hickory Smoke wins Hambletonian Stakes
  • Aug 27 The Constitution of Malaysia comes into force
  • Aug 27 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
  • Aug 28 US Senator James Thurmond (Rep, SC) begins 24-hr filibuster against civil rights bill

Longest Filibuster in History

Aug 29 Strom Thurmond (Sen-D-SC) ends 24 hr filibuster against civil rights

  • Aug 30 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
  • Aug 30 US senator Strom Thurmond speaks 24hrs 27m against civil rights

Malayan Independence

Aug 31 Federation of Malaya gains independence from Great Britain


1957 History

Famous Birthdays

  • Aug 1 Brad Stephen "Taylor" Negron, American actor and writer (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Easy Money), born in Glendale, California (d. 2015)
  • Aug 1 Glen Gorbous, Canadian MLB outfielder (record for longest throw of a regulation baseball [445' 10"]), born in Drumheller, Alberta (d. 1990)
  • Aug 1 Laura Johnson, American actress (Falcon Crest), born in Burbank, California
  • Aug 2 Jacky Rosen, American politician (Senator-D-Nevada 2019-), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • Aug 2 Mojo Nixon [Neill McMillan, Jr.], American musician ("Elvis Is Everywhere") and actor, born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (d. 2024) [1]
  • Aug 3 Mani Shankar, Indian filmmaker, born in Guntur, India
  • Aug 4 Brooks D. Simpson, American historian
  • Aug 4 John Wark, Scottish footballer
  • Aug 4 Robert E. Andrews, American politician (Rep-D-New Jersey 1990-2014), born in Camden, New Jersey
  • Aug 5 Pavel V. Vinogradov, Russian cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-26, Commander of the International Space Station 2013), born in Magadan, Soviet Union
  • Aug 6 Bob Horner, American baseball player
  • Aug 6 Faith Prince, Broadway actress (Guys & Dolls, Carousel), born in Augusta, Georgia
  • Aug 6 Jim McGreevey, American politician
  • Aug 7 Alexander Dityatin, Russian gymnast (Olympic gold USSR Team, All-around, Rings 1980; World C'ship gold x 7), born in Leningrad, Russia
  • Aug 7 Martín Espada, American Latino poet (2021 National Book Award), born in Brooklyn, New York
  • Aug 8 Dieuwertje Blok, Dutch TV hostess
  • Aug 8 Nancy Glass, American TV broadcaster and CEO (American Journal), born in Boston, Massachusetts

Melanie Griffith (66 years old)

Aug 9 American actress (Body Double, Working Girl), born in New York City

  • Aug 10 Fred Ho [Houn], American jazz baritone saxophonist, composer (Year of the Tiger), playwright, writer and social activist, born in Palo Alto, California (d. 2014)
  • Aug 11 Masayoshi Son, Korean-Japanese chief executive of SoftBank Mobile and chairman of Sprint Corporation, born in Tosu, Saga
  • Aug 11 Richie Ramone [Richard Reinhardt], American rock drummer (Ramones), born in Passaic, New Jersey
  • Aug 11 Ross Halfin, British rock and heavy metal concert tour and portrait photographer, born in london, England
  • Aug 12 Amanda Redman, British stage and screen actress (At Home with the Braithwaithes; New Tricks; The Good Karma Hospital (2017–present), born in Brighton, Sussex, England
  • Aug 14 Jackée Harry, American actress (Sandra-227), born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  • Aug 15 Zeljko Ivanek, Slovenian-Croatian-American actor (Damages), born in Lujubljana, Yugoslavia
  • Aug 16 Laura Innes, American actress and director (ER, The Event), born in Pontiac, Michigan
  • Aug 16 Phil Murphy, American financier and politician, Governor of New Jersey (2018-), born in Needham, Massachusetts
  • Aug 16 Tim Farriss, Australian rock guitarist (INXS - "Kiss The Dirt"), born in Perth, Australia
  • Aug 17 Robin Cousins, British figure skater (Olympic gold 1980), born in Bristol, England
  • Aug 17 Ron Strykert, Australian rock guitarist (Men At Work - "Who Can It Be Now?"), born in Korumburra, Victoria [several sources cite August 18]
  • Aug 18 Carole Bouquest, French actress (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), born in Paris, France
  • Aug 18 Denis Leary, American actor and comedian (Rescue Me), born in Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Aug 18 Ron Strykert, Australian rock guitarist (Men At Work - "Who Can It Be Now?"), born in Korumburra, Victoria [several sources cite August 17]
  • Aug 19 Darby Hinton, American actor (Daniel Boone - "Israel"; Days Of Our Lives - "Ian"), born in Santa Monica, California
  • Aug 19 Ian Gould, England cricketer and umpire, born in Taplow, England
  • Aug 19 Li-Young Lee, Indonesia-born American poet, born in Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Aug 19 Paul-Jan Bakker, 1st Dutch cricketer to play first class cricket (Hampshire & Netherlands pace bowler), born in Vlaardingen, Netherlands
  • Aug 20 Cindy Nicholas, Canadian swimmer (swam English Channel 19 times), born in Toronto, Ontario
  • Aug 20 Mike Dodd, American beach volleyballer (Olympic silver 1996), born in Manhattan Beach, California
  • Aug 20 Scott Ayakatubby, beach volleyball champ
  • Aug 21 Budgie [Peter Edward Clarke], English rock drummer (Siouxsie and the Banshees; The Creatures), born in St. Helens, Lancashire, England
  • Aug 21 Janice Thomas, WBL guard (NY Stars)
  • Aug 21 Kim Sledge, American vocalist (Sister Sledge - "We Are Family"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Aug 21 Mark Pender, American trumpet player (Miami Horns; Southside Johnny), born in Kansas City, Missouri
  • Aug 22 Holly Dunn, American country singer ("Daddy's Hands"), born in San Antonio, Texas (d. 2016)
  • Aug 22 Randy Romero, American jockey (Breeder's Cup 1987-89; Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame 2010), born in Erath, Louisiana (d. 2019)
  • Aug 22 Steve Davis, English snooker player (6 x World C'ship; 15 x Triple Crown titles, born in London, England
  • Aug 23 Tasos Mitropoulos, Greek footballer and politician, born in Volos, Greece
  • Aug 24 Jeffrey Daniel, American dancer and singer (Shalamar), born in Los Angeles, California [some sources give year as 1955]
  • Aug 25 Sikander Bakht, Pakistani cricket fast bowler (26 Tests, 67 wickets, BB 8/69; PIA; United Bank Ltd; Sindh CA), born in Karachi, Pakistan
  • Aug 26 "Dr." Alban [Nwaba], Nigerian-Swedish hip-hop reggae singer, born in Oguta, Imo, Federation of Nigeria
  • Aug 26 Alex Trevino, Mexican MLB catcher (LA Dodgers), born in Monterrey, Mexico

Rick Hansen (66 years old)

Aug 26 Canadian wheelchair athlete (Paralympic gold 1980, 2 x 1984), born in Port Alberni, British Columbia

Bernhard Langer (66 years old)

Aug 27 German golfer (US Masters 1985, 93; 42 European Tour titles), born in Anhausen, Germany

Ai Weiwei (66 years old)

Aug 28 Chinese artist and activist (Sunflower Seeds, Remembering), born in Beijing, China

  • Aug 28 Daniel Stern, American actor (City Slickers, Wonder Years), born in Stamford, Connecticut
  • Aug 28 Rick Rossovich, American actor (Top Gun, Roxanne, ER), born in Palo Alto, California
  • Aug 29 Jerry D. Bailey, American Racing Hall of Fame jockey/broadcaster (Kentucky Derby 1993, 1996), born in Dallas, Texas
  • Aug 29 Pim Kops, Dutch rock piano, organ and accordion player (De Dijk - Bloedend Hart; Avalanche Quartet), born in The Netherlands
  • Aug 31 Colm O'Rourke, Irish Gaelic footballer (All-Irelands 1987, 88; 5 x Leinster medals; 3 x NFL medals; Footballer of the Year 1991; Meath) and broadcaster/analyst (RTÉ, Sunday Independent), born in Edgeworthstown, Northern Ireland
  • Aug 31 Gina Schock, American rock drummer (The Go-Go's - "Our Lips Are Sealed"; "Vacation"), born in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Aug 31 Glenn Tilbrook, British rock singer, guitarist, songwriter (Squeeze - "Black Coffee In Bed": "Tempted"), born in London, England
  • Aug 31 Tom Candiotti, American MLB pitcher (LA Dodgers), born in Walnut Creek, California
Born in 1957

Famous Deaths

  • Aug 3 John Vernou "Black Jack" Bouvier, father of Jacqueline Kennedy, dies of cancer
  • Aug 4 Washington Luís, President of Brazil (1926-30), dies at 87
  • Aug 5 Heinrich Otto Wieland, German chemist (bile acids-Nobel 1927), dies at 80

Oliver Hardy (1892-1957)

Aug 7 American comedian (Laurel & Hardy films), dies at 65

  • Aug 9 Carl Clauberg, German Nazi doctor (gynecologist, specializing in mass sterilization and other experiments on humans at Auschwitz concentration camp), dies at 58
  • Aug 16 Irving Langmuir, American chemist and engineer (Nobel Prize for Chemistry 1932, invented gas-filled incandescent lamp), dies at 76
  • Aug 18 Wawrzyniec Żuławski, Polish composer, dies during an alpine rescue mission on Mont Blanc, in the Alps, at 41
  • Aug 19 Carl-Gustaf Rossby, Swedish meteorologist (b. 1898)
  • Aug 19 David Bomberg, English painter, dies at 66
  • Aug 21 Harald Ulrik Sverdrup, Norwegian meteorologist and oceanographer, dies at 68
  • Aug 21 Nels Stewart, Canadian Hockey HOF center (Stanley Cup 1925 Montreal Maroons; Hart Memorial Trophy 1926, 30), dies at 57
  • Aug 23 Eugène Schueller, French chemist, founder of L'Oréal, dies at 76
  • Aug 24 Albert Edward Sammons, British violinist, and composer (Phantasy Quartet), dies at 71
  • Aug 24 Ronald Arbuthnott Knox, British priest, broadcaster and author (Viaduct Murder), dies at 69
  • Aug 25 Leo Perutz, Austrian writer and mathematician, dies at 74
  • Aug 26 Umberto Saba, Italian writer, dies at 74
  • Aug 29 Louis Diat, French-American chef (Ritz-Carlton Hotel NYC, 1910-51), culinary writer and cookbook author, credited with inventing vichyssoise soup, dies at 72