Historical Events
Beatles, Arrested and Deported
Dec 1 British rocker Paul McCartney and drummer Pete Best arrested and then deported from Hamburg, Germany accused of attempted arson
Patrice Lumumba
Dec 1 Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba is caught in Lodi, Congo, by troops of recent coup leader Joseph-Désiré Mobutu
Louis Leakey
Dec 2 Paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey discovers 1.4 million year old Homo erectus (Olduvai Hominid 9) in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
Camelot
Dec 3 Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's musical "Camelot", starring Richard Burton and Julie Andrews, and introducing Robert Goulet, opens at Majestic Theater, NYC; runs for 873 performances, wins 4 Tony Awards
- Dec 5 Ghana drops diplomatic relations with Belgium
- Dec 6 MLB American League grants American entertainer and businessman Gene Autry a franchise: Los Angeles Angels
- Dec 7 Ivory Coast claims independence from France
- Dec 8 MLB expansion team Los Angeles Angels sign a 4 year lease to use Dodger Stadium
Peter Pan
Dec 8 Musical "Peter Pan", starring Mary Martin broadcast, for a 3rd time, on NBC as a special event, videotaped in color for future rebroadcasts
Nobel for Carbon-14 Dating
Dec 10 Willard Libby wins the Nobel prize in Chemistry for his work developing carbon-14 dating (radiocarbon dating).
- Dec 11 Black Sunday - Riot in Algiers; pro-independence demonstrations turn violent, 114 die
- Dec 11 Cleveland Brown's Bernie Parrish sets club record for longest interception return with a 92 yard run
Wildcat
Dec 11 Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh's musical "Wildcat" with Lucille Ball premieres in New York City
Ballon d'Or
Dec 13 Ballon d'Or: Barcelona midfielder Luis Suárez is named best football player in Europe ahead of Real Madrid's Hungarian forward Ferenc Puskás and Hamburg striker Uwe Seeler
- Dec 13 Italy beats US in Davis Cup (1st time in 24 years US not in finals)
- Dec 13 Laos General Fumi Nosavang occupies Vientiane
- Dec 14 Australia v West Indies 1st Test Cricket at the Gabba ends in a tie
- Dec 14 Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) forms
- Dec 14 Washington Senators joins American League
- Dec 16 "Wildcat" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 172 performances
- Dec 16 TWA 266 & United 826 collide over Staten Island, kills 134
- Dec 17 "La Plume de Ma Tante" closes at Royale Theater, NYC after 835 performances
- Dec 17 Bob Merrill's musical "Take Me Along", starring Jackie Gleason and Walter Pidgeon, closes at Shubert Theater, NYC, after 448 performances. and a Tony Award for Gleason
- Dec 17 Pablo Casals' oratorio "El Pesebrio" premieres
- Dec 18 General Meeting of UN condemns apartheid
- Dec 19 Fire aboard USS Constellation, under construction at Brooklyn (50 die)
"Ring-A-Ding-Ding"
Dec 19 Frank Sinatra's 1st session with Reprise Records ("Ring-A-Ding-Ding")
- Dec 19 Mercury-Redstone 1A reaches 210 km in test flight
- Dec 20 Auschwitz commandant Richard Bar arrested in German FR
- Dec 20 The National Liberation Front, better known as the Viet Cong, is officially formed in South Vietnam
Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation
Dec 21 Ornette Coleman records his influential album "Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation", establishes the name for the Free Jazz sound
"Do Re Mi"
Dec 26 Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green's musical "Do Re Mi" starring Phil Silvers and Nancy Walker, opens at the St James Theater, later transferring to the 54th Street, NYC; runs for 400 performances
Eagles Defeat Packers
Dec 26 National Football League Championship, Franklin Field, Philadelphia: Philadelphia Eagles beat Green Bay Packers, 17-13; lone playoff defeat for Packers coach Vince Lombardi before Packers establish dynasty
Famous Birthdays
- Dec 1 Andrea Ehrig-Mitscherlich, German [GDR] speed skater (Olympic gold 3,000m 1984), born in Dreden, Germany
- Dec 1 Carol Alt, American model and actress (Private Parts), born in Queens, New York
- Dec 2 Deb Haaland, American politician (1st Native American to head a cabinet agency as Secretary of the Interior 2021-), born in Winslow, Arizona
- Dec 2 Razzle [Nicholas Dingley], British drummer (Hanoi Rocks), born in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England (d. 1984)
- Dec 2 Rick Savage, British rock bassist (Def Leppard - Hysteria, Rock of Ages), born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
- Dec 3 Daryl Hannah, American actress (Splash, Blade Runner), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Dec 3 Igor Larionov, Russian Hockey Hall of Fame center (Stanley Cup 1997-98, 2002, Detroit Red Wings; Olympic gold 1984, 88), born in Moscow, Russia
Julianne Moore (63 years old)
Dec 3 American actress (Magnolia, The Kids are Alright), born in Fayetteville, North Carolina
- Dec 3 Mike Ramsey, American ice hockey defenceman (Olympic gold 1980; NHL All-Star 1982-83, 85-86), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Dec 4 Glynis Nunn, Australian athlete (Olympic gold heptathlon 1984), born in Toowoomba, Australia
- Dec 5 Brian Bromberg, American jazz bass player (You Know That Feeling), born in Tucson, Arizona
- Dec 5 Jack Russell, American rocker (Great White-Twice Shy), born in Montebello, California
- Dec 5 Les Nemes, English rock bassist (Haircut 100), born in Croydon, England
- Dec 6 Diederik Wissels, Dutch jazz pianist and composer ("The Hillock Songstress"; "Secrecy"), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Dec 6 Jasmina Perazić, Serbian-American basketball guard and forward (NY Liberty), born in Novi Sad, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia
- Dec 7 Craig Scanlon, English rock guitarist (The Fall), born in Manchester, England
- Dec 8 Lim Guan Eng, Secretary-General of the Malaysian Democratic Action Party (DAP), born in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
- Dec 9 Dobroslav Paraga, Croatian politician and editor, born in Zagreb, FPR Yugoslavia
- Dec 9 Juan Samuel, Dominican-American baseball infielder (NY Yankees, Blue Jays), manager and coach, born in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic
- Dec 9 Terry Moran, American journalist (Senior National Correspondent at ABC News), born in Chicago, Illinois
Kenneth Branagh (63 years old)
Dec 10 Northern Irish actor and director (High Season, Dead Again), born in Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Dec 10 Paul Assenmacher, American MLB pitcher (Cleveland Indians), born in Detroit, Michigan
- Dec 11 Mary Beth Zimmerman, American golfer (4 LPGA Tour titles), born in Mount Vernon, Illinois
- Dec 11 Rachel Portman, British Academy and Emmy Award-winning film score composer (Emma; Chocolat; Cider House Rules), born in Haslemere, England
- Dec 12 Amal Silva, Sri Lankan cricketer (Sri Lankan wicket-keeper in 9 Tests 1983-88), born in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
- Dec 12 Jaap van Zweden, Dutch violinist and concert master, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Dec 12 Q Lazzarus [Diane Luckey], American new-wave singer-songwriter (Goodbye Horses), born in Neptune, New Jersey (d. 2022)
- Dec 13 Randy Stoklos, American beach volleyballer (first player to earn $1m; 5 x World C'ship [with Sinjin Smith]), born in Pacific Palisades, California
- Dec 13 Richard Dent, American football Hall of Fame defensive end, 1983-97 (MVP, Super Bowl XX - Chicago Bears; 3 other teams), born in Atlanta, Georgia
- Dec 13 Venkatesh Daggubati, Indian actor (Dharma Chakram; Ganesh), born in Karamchedu, Andhra Pradesh, India
- Dec 14 Catherine Coleman, American USAF officer and astronaut (STS 73), born in Charleston, South Carolina
- Dec 14 Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian jurist and politician (President of Iran 2021-), born in Mashhad, Iran
James Comey (63 years old)
Dec 14 American lawyer and former FBI director, born in Yonkers, New York
- Dec 15 Don Franklin, American actor (Seaquest 2032, Noah Dixon-The Young Riders), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Dec 15 Doug Phelps, American country-rock bassist and singer (Kentucky Headhunters - "Oh Lonesome Me"), born in Leachville, Arkansas
- Dec 15 Walter Werzowa, Austrian contemporary classical composer (Beethoven's 10th), and audio brander (Intel), born in Vienna, Austria
- Dec 16 Pat Van Den Hauwe, Belgian footballer
- Dec 17 Moreno Argentin, Italian cyclist
- Dec 18 Kazuhide Uekusa, Japanese economist, born in Edogawa, Tokyo
Yoon Suk-yeol (63 years old)
Dec 18 South Korean prosecutor and President of South Korea (2022-), born in Seoul, South Korea
- Dec 19 Arthur Stone, New Zealand rugby union centre (9 Tests; Waikato RU, Bay of Plenty RU, Otago RFU), born in Auckland, New Zealand
- Dec 19 Michelangelo Signorile, American writer
- Dec 19 Mike Lookinland, American actor (Bobby-Brady Bunch), born in Mt Pleasant, Utah
- Dec 20 Carolyn Seaward, Miss United Kingdom (1979), born in Devonshire, England
- Dec 20 Nalo Hopkinson, Jamaican-Canadian writer (Brown Girl in the Ring; The Salt Roads), born in Kingston, Jamaica
- Dec 20 Piet Keur, Dutch soccer player and trainer (SC Heerenveen, AZ), born in Zandvoort, Netherlands
- Dec 21 Andy Van Slyke, American baseball player, born in Utica, New York
- Dec 21 Louis Demetrius Alvanis, English classical pianist, born in London, England
- Dec 21 Michael Swain, American judoka (Olympic bronze 88), born in Elizabeth, New Jersey
- Dec 21 Roger McDowell, American baseball pitcher (NY Mets, Baltimore Orioles), born in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Dec 21 Sherry Rehman, Pakistani politician and diplomat (Federal Minister of Climate Change), born in Karachi, Pakistan
- Dec 22 (Emil) Wakin Chau, Hong Kong-born singer and actor, born in Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
- Dec 22 Jean-Michel Basquiat, American artist (Gray, SAMO), born in Brooklyn, NYC, New York (d. 1988)
- Dec 22 Luther Campbell, American rap artist (2 Live Crew), born in Miami, Florida
- Dec 22 Patrick Fitzgerald, American lawyer, born in New York City
- Dec 22 Tyrell Biggs, American super HW boxer (Olympic gold 1984), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Dec 23 William Sinnot, Scottish techno-dance pop singer and musician (Shamen - "Move Any Mountain"), born in Glasgow (d. 1990)
- Dec 23 [Zindziswa] Zindzi Mandela, South African politician, born in Johannesburg, South Africa (d. 2020)
- Dec 24 Carol Vorderman, British television presenter (Countdown), born in Bedford, United Kingdom
- Dec 24 Glenn McQueen, American animator, born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2002)
- Dec 25 Ron Bottitta, British actor
- Dec 26 Jim Toomey, American syndicated cartoonist, born in Alexandria, Virginia
Temuera Morrison (63 years old)
Dec 26 New Zealand actor (Once Were Warriors; Boba Fett - Star Ward Franchise), born in Rotorua, New Zealand
- Dec 27 Donald Nally, American choral conductor (The Crossing), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Dec 27 Maryam D'Abo, actress (Living Daylights, Xtro, Until Sept), born in London, England
- Dec 27 Youth [Martin Glover], British bassist (Killing Joke), and record producer (The Fireman), born in Slough, Buckinghanshire, England
- Dec 28 Chad McQueen, actor (Nightforce)
- Dec 28 John Fitzgerald, Australian tennis player (9 x Grand Slam doubles titles; ATP Doubles Finals 1991; Davis Cup 1983, 86), born in Cummins, Australia
- Dec 28 Marty Roe, American country singer (Diamond Rio - "Meet in the Middle"), born in Lebanon, Ohio
Ray Bourque (63 years old)
Dec 28 Canadian Hockey HOF defenseman (19 x NHL All Star; Stanley Cup 2001 Colorado Avalanche; NHL records most career goals, assists & points by a defenceman; 5 x Norris Trophy; Boston Bruins), born in Saint-Laurent, Quebec
- Dec 28 Terri Garber, American actress (Leslie Carrington-Dynasty), born in Miami, Florida
- Dec 28 Zane Smith, American baseball pitcher (Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Madison, Wisconsin
- Dec 29 Dave Gilbert, Australian cricketer (Aussie pace bowler in 9 Tests 1985-86), born in Darlinghurst, Australia
David Boon (63 years old)
Dec 29 Australian cricket batsman (107 Tests, 7,422 runs @ 43.65; 21 x 100s; 181 ODIs), born in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
- Dec 29 Katerina Didaskalou, Greek actress, born in Athens, Greece
- Dec 29 Thomas Lubanga, Congolese war criminal, born in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Dec 30 Addy Bucek, Australian 470 class sailor (Olympics-9-92, 96)
Famous Weddings
- Dec 15 King Baudouin of Belgium (30) weds Spanish noblewoman and nurse Fabiola de Mora y Aragon (32) twice, first in Throne Room of the Royal Palace and then at Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. in Brussels, Belgium, until his death in 1993
Fran Tarkenton
Dec 22 NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton (20) weds Anna Elaine Merrell at First Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia
Frank Zappa
Dec 28 American musician Frank Zappa weds Kathryn J. Sherman; divorce in 1964
Famous Deaths
- Dec 1 Ernst Rowohlt, German publisher (Rowohlt-Verlag), dies at 73
- Dec 1 Ion Vasilescu, Romanian composer, dies at 57
- Dec 3 Hermann Stephani, German organist, and musicologist, dies at 83
- Dec 7 Clara Haskil, Swiss pianist (b. 1895)
- Dec 10 Ernie Quigley, Canadian Basketball HOF official (St. Mary's College, Kansas Uni), basketball umpire (1936 Olympics), MLB umpire (6xWorld Series) & football referee, dies at 80
- Dec 12 Christopher Hornsrud, Prime Minister of Norway (3 weeks), dies at 101
- Dec 14 Gregory Ratoff, Russian producer, director and actor (Exodus, Skyscraper Souls, Corsican Brothers), dies of leukemia at 63
- Dec 16 Anna Luther, silent screen actress (Sinners in Silk), dies at 63
- Dec 26 Eduard Ludwig, German architect (Hansa quarter, Berlin), dies at 54
- Dec 26 Watsuji Tetsuro, Japanese philosopher (b. 1889)
- Dec 29 Eden Phillpotts, English novelist, poet and playwright (Red Madymaynes), dies at 98
- Dec 29 Philippe Panneton, Canadian physician, diplomat and writer (Trente arpents), dies at 65
- Dec 31 Germaine Loosveldt, Flemish actress (Trees die Upright), dies at 69
- Dec 31 Semyon Bogatyrev, Russian and Soviet musicologist and composer (completed a symphony abandoned by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky), dies at 70
- Dec 31 Semyon Semyonovich Bogatiryov, composer, dies at 70
