Historical Events
- Jan 1 AFL Championship, War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo: Kansas City Chiefs beat Buffalo Bills, 31-7; QB Len Dawson passes for 2 TDs, RB Mike Garrett runs for 2 TDs
- Jan 1 Canadian Amateur Football Association formally becomes successor to Canadian Rugby Football Union; turns over the Grey Cup trophy to the CFL
- Jan 1 FCC requires AM-FM sister stations to be at least 50% different
- Jan 1 NFL Championship, Cotton Bowl, Dallas: Green Bay Packers beat Dallas Cowboys, 34-27
- Jan 1 Second day's play in Calcutta 2nd cricket Test, India v W Indies is cancelled by riots; ticket holders denied access starts trouble outside ground; escalates with fires in stands and pitch damage; WI win by 45
- Jan 1 St Helena adopts constitution
- Jan 1 Tonga revises constitution
- Jan 1 WABW TV channel 14 in Pelham, GA (PBS) begins broadcasting
- Jan 2 33rd Orange Bowl: Florida beats #8 Georgia Tech, 27-12
- Jan 2 33rd Sugar Bowl: #6 Alabama beats #3 Nebraska, 34-7
- Jan 2 53rd Rose Bowl: #7 Purdue beats Southern California, 14-13
- Jan 3 "The Tonight Show" is shortened from 105 to 90 minutes
- Jan 3 Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys is indicted for draft evasion
- Jan 3 WJAN TV channel 17 in Canton, OH (IND) begins broadcasting
- Jan 4 English land and boat racer Donald Campbell is killed while driving jet-powered boat Bluebird K7 on Coniston Water in England trying to beat his own water speed record
- Jan 5 KLXA (now KTBN) TV channel 40 in Fontana-San Ana, CA (IND) begins
Milton Berle Show
Jan 6 "Milton Berle Show" last airs on ABC-TV
- Jan 6 KHTV TV channel 39 in Houston, TX (IND) begins broadcasting
- Jan 6 Two homemade buses collide on a mountain road in Terpate, Philippines and plunge off a cliff, killing 84 people and injuring 140
- Jan 6 United States Marine Corps and ARVN troops launch "Operation Deckhouse Five" in the Mekong River delta.
Theatrical Finale
Jan 7 Murray Schisgal's stage comedy "Luv", directed by Mike Nichols. and starring Alan Arkin and Eli Wallach, closes at the Helen Hayes Theater, NYC, after 901 performances, and 3 Tony Award wins
Hey, Hey – We're The Monkees
Jan 9 "More of the Monkees" second album by The Monkees is released
- Jan 9 Georgia legislature seats Representative Julian Bond
- Jan 9 NFL New Orleans' franchise takes name "Saints"
17th NBA All-Star Game
Jan 10 17th NBA All-Star Game, Cow Palace, San Francisco, Ca: West beats East, 135-120; MVP: Rick Barry, SF Warriors, SF
Brooke Takes US Senate Seat
Jan 10 Edward W. Brooke (Sen-R-Mass), takes his seat as the 1st popularly elected African American to the US Senate
- Jan 10 Lester Maddox inaugurated as Governor of Georgia
- Jan 10 PBS (the National Educational TV) begins as a 70 station network
- Jan 11 Romeinse Curie installs Council for Pontifical Study commission
- Jan 11 San Diego is granted an NBA franchise to be called the Rockets; franchise moves to Houston for the 1971-72 season
- Jan 12 Dr. James Bedford becomes the first person to be cryonically preserved with intent of future resuscitation; remains preserved at the Alcor Life Extension Foundation
Darft Board Refuses Ali Exemption
Jan 12 Louisville, Kentucky draft board refuses exemption for boxer Muhammad Ali [1]
- Jan 12 NBC revival of Jack Webb's police drama "Dragnet", now broadcast in color, debuts; runs through 1970
- Jan 13 Bloodless coup in Togo led by Lt. Col. Étienne Eyadéma and Kléber Dadjo
- Jan 13 London/Decca Records release Rolling Stones' single "Let's Spend the Night Together"
- Jan 14 20,000 attend Human Be-In, San Francisco
- Jan 14 Earthquake in Sicily kills 231
- Jan 14 New York Times reports Army is conducting secret germ warfare experiments
Rolling Stones Alter Lyrics for Show
Jan 15 Rolling Stones appear for the fifth time on the Ed Sullivan Show, reluctantly agree to alter lyrics of "Let's Spend The Night Together" [1] [2]
- Jan 15 Super Bowl I, LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA: Green Bay Packers beat KC Chiefs, 35-10; MVP: Bart Starr, Green Bay, QB
- Jan 16 1st black government installed in Bahamas led by Lynden Pindling as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party
- Jan 16 Lucius Amerson, becomes 1st southern (Alabama) African American sheriff in 20th century
20th NHL All-Star Game
Jan 18 20th NHL All-Star Game, Montreal Forum, Montreal, QC: Montreal Canadiens beat All-Stars, 3-0; MVP: Henri Richard, Montreal, C
- Jan 18 Albert DeSalvo (Boston Strangler) sentenced to life in prison
- Jan 18 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
- Jan 19 Herr Karl Tausch writes shortest will "Vse Zene" (All to wife)
Chamberlain's Shot Record
Jan 20 Philadelphia 76ers center Wilt Chamberlain makes all 15 of his field goal attempts in a 119-108 win over LA Lakers; NBA record for consecutive shots made; beats mark twice before 1966-67 season ends
- Jan 21 6th AFL All Star Game, LA Memorial Coliseum: Eastern Division beats Western Division, 30-23: MVPs: Babe Parilli, Boston Patriots, QB; Verlon Biggs, NY Jets, DE
Fleming US Champion
Jan 21 US female Figure Skating championship won by Peggy Fleming
- Jan 21 US male Figure Skating championship won by Gary Visconti
17th Pro Bowl
Jan 22 17th NFL Pro Bowl, LA Memorial Coliseum: East beats West, 20-10; MVPs: Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears, HB; Floyd Peters, Philadelphia Eagles, DT
Musial Manages Cardinals
Jan 23 Stan Musial named General Manager of MLB team St. Louis Cardinals
- Jan 26 Chicago Blizzard strikes with a record 23 inches of snow fall causing 800 buses and 50,000 automobiles to be abandoned
- Jan 26 USSR performs nuclear test at Sary Shagan USSR
Apollo 1 Fire
Jan 27 A fire in the Apollo 1 Command Module kills astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger B. Chaffee during a launch rehearsal
- Jan 27 New Orleans Saints sign their 1st player (Paige Cothren-kicker)
- Jan 27 The Beatles sign a 9 year worldwide contract with EMI records
- Jan 27 Treaty signed banning military use of nuclear weapons in space
- Jan 29 "Let's Sing Yiddish" closes at Brooks Atkinson NYC after 107 performances
Baseball Hall of Fame
Jan 29 Branch Rickey and Lloyd Waner elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
- Jan 29 Kees Verkerk becomes European skating champ
- Jan 29 The Arusha Declaration written by Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere is issued, clarifying Tanzania's path towards Ujamaa (African socialism)
- Jan 29 WDAZ TV channel 8 in Devils Lake, ND (NBC) begins broadcasting
Emerson Defeats Ashe
Jan 30 Australian Championships Men's Tennis: Roy Emerson repeats previous year's result; beats American Arthur Ashe 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 for his 5th straight Australian title
Richey's Only Australian Title
Jan 30 Australian Championships Women's Tennis: American Nancy Richey wins her first and only Australian title; beats home favourite Lesley Turner Bowrey 6-1, 6-4
Famous Birthdays
- Jan 1 Andy Heck, American NFL tackle and coach (Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears; coach University of Virginia), born in Fargo, North Dakota
- Jan 1 Derrick Thomas, American Pro and College Football Hall of Fame linebacker / end (Pro Bowl 1989–97; First-team All-Pro 1990–92; KC Chiefs), born in Miami, Florida (d. 2000)
- Jan 1 John Digweed, English DJ
- Jan 1 Juanma Bajo Ulloa, Spanish film director
- Jan 1 Spencer Tunick, American photographer (large-scale nude installations), born in Middletown, New York
- Jan 1 Tim Dog [Blair], American rapper (Penicillin on Wax), born in The Bronx, NYC (d. 2013)
François Pienaar (57 years old)
Jan 2 South African rugby union flanker and captain (29 caps; Rugby World Cup 1995; Transvaal, Saracens), born in Vereeniging, South Africa
- Jan 2 Jón Gnarr, Icelandic comedian
- Jan 2 Tia Carrere [Althea Janairo], American actress (Wayne's World, True Lies), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- Jan 3 Magnus Gustafsson, Swedish tennis player (Davis Cup 1998), born in Lund, Sweden
David Toms (57 years old)
Jan 4 American golfer (PGA C'ship 2001, US Senior Open 2018), born in Monroe, Louisiana
- Jan 4 Johnny Nelson, English boxer, born in Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Jan 4 Marina Orsini, Canadian actress, born in Ville-Émard, Montreal
- Jan 5 Chris Nabholz, American baseball pitcher (Boston Red Sox), born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Jan 5 J. H. Wyman, American film producer and director (Almost Human), born in Oakland, California
- Jan 5 Joe Flanigan, American actor, born in Los Angeles, California
- Jan 5 Ray Crockett, American NFL defensive back (Denver Broncos-Super Bowl 32), born in Dallas, Texas
- Jan 5 Ricky Paull Goldin, American actor (Doug-Hail to the Chief, Another World), born in San Francisco, California
- Jan 6 Larry Donald, American boxer (Olympic-92), born in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Jan 6 Peter Loran, American rock vocalist (Trixter - "Give It To Me Good"), born in Teaneck, New Jersey
- Jan 7 Guy Hebert, American NHL goalie (Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Team USA 98), born in Troy, New York
- Jan 7 Irrfan Khan, Indian film producer and actor (Paan Singh Tomar, Slumdog Millionaire, Life of Pi), born in Jaipur, India
- Jan 7 Mark Lamarr, British comedian and broadcaster, born in Swindon, United Kingdom
- Jan 7 Nick Clegg, English politician (Deputy UK PM 2010-2015) and media executive, born in Chalfont St Giles, England
- Jan 7 Scott Galbraith, American NFL tight end (Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys), born in Sacramento, California
R. Kelly (57 years old)
Jan 8 American R&B singer-songwriter ("I Wish I Could Fly"), record producer, and convicted sex offender, born in Chicago, Illinois
- Jan 8 Hollis Conway, American athlete (Olympic high jump silver 1988, bronze 1992; World Indoor C'ship gold 1991), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Jan 8 Willie Anderson, American NBA guard (NY Knicks, Olympic bronze 1988), born in Greenville, California
- Jan 9 Claudio Caniggia, Argentinian footballer, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dave Matthews (57 years old)
Jan 9 American singer-songwriter and musician (Dave Matthews Band - "So Much to Say", born in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa
- Jan 9 Dave Mcllwain, Canadian NHL center (Pitts Penguins), born in Seaforth, Canada
- Jan 9 Jamie Huscroft, Canadian NHL defenseman (Calgary Flames), born in Creston, British Columbia
- Jan 9 Steve Harwell, American rock singer-songwriter (Smash Mouth, 1994-2021 - "All Star", "I'm A Believer"), born in Santa Clara, California (d. 2023) [1]
- Jan 10 Johan Laats, Belgian judoka, born in Antwerp, Belgium
- Jan 10 Trini Alvarado, American actress (Frighteners), born in New York City
- Jan 11 Richmond Webb, American football tackle (7 × Pro Bowl; First Team All-Pro 1992, 94; Miami Dolphins), born in Dallas, Texas
- Jan 11 Ronnie Stern, St-Agathe, NHL right wing (Calgary Flames)
- Jan 12 Farrah Forke, American actress (Dweebs; Mr Rhodes; Disclosure; Heat), born in Corpus Christi, Texas
- Jan 12 Marco Boogers, Dutch soccer player (RKC, Sparta, West Ham United), born in Dordrecht, Netherlands
- Jan 12 Ulf Dahlén, Swedish SEL and NHL forward, 1985-2003 (Team Sweden, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, and 5 other teams), born in Östersund, Sweden
- Jan 12 Vendela Kirsebom, Norwegian-Swedish model (Sports Illustrated 1993), born in Stockholm, Sweden
- Jan 13 Annie Jones, Australian actress
- Jan 13 George Paterson, Scottish rock singer-songwriter (Donaldson, Moir and Paterson (DMP) - Natural Anthems), and novelist, born in Glasgow, Scotland
- Jan 13 Viktor Bout, Russian arms dealer, born in Dushanbe, Tajik SSR, Soviet Union
- Jan 14 Emily Watson, British actress (Corpse Bride, War Horse, Red Dragon), born in Islington, London, England
- Jan 14 Kerri Green, American actress, born in Fort Lee, New Jersey
- Jan 14 Saskia Wickham, British actress, born in Holland Park, London
- Jan 14 Terry Wooden, American NFL linebacker (Seattle Seahawks, KC Chiefs), born in Hartford, Connecticut
- Jan 14 Tom Rhodes, American comedian and actor (Tom Rhodes-Mr Rhodes), born in Washington, D.C.
- Jan 14 Zakk Wylde [Jeffrey Wielandt], American rock guitarist (Ozzy Osbourne; Black Label Society), born in Bayonne, New Jersey
- Jan 15 Lisa Lisa [Velez], American rock vocalist (Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam), born in New York City
- Jan 15 Richard Blakey, English cricketer (England wicket-keeper in India 1993), born in Huddersfield, United Kingdom
- Jan 17 Filippo Raciti, Italian police officer, born in Sicily, Italy (d. 2007)
- Jan 17 Song Kang-ho, South Korean actor, born in Busan, South Korea
- Jan 18 Iván Zamorano, Chilean footballer, born in Santiago, Chile
- Jan 18 Kim Perrot, American WNBA guard (Houston Comets), born in Lafayette, Louisiana
- Jan 18 MC Tab [Sharon Richard], American rapper, born in New York City
- Jan 19 Christine Tucci, American actress (Amanda Cory-Another World), born in Katonah, New York
- Jan 19 Javier Cámara, Spanish actor, born in Albelda de Iregua, Spain
- Jan 20 Joe Pasquale, American pop-rock singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (Boys Club - "I Remember Holding You"; Prey), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Jan 20 Mark Stepnoski, American football player (Houston/Tennessee Oilers), born in Erie, Pennsylvania
- Jan 20 Stacey Dash, American actress (Dionne-Clueless), born in The Bronx, New York
- Jan 21 Ulf Stenlund, Swedish tennis star
- Jan 22 Ecaterina Szabo, Romanian gymnast, born in Zagon, Romania
- Jan 22 Manabu Nakanishi, Japanese wrestler (NJPW), born in Kyoto, Japan
- Jan 22 Nicholas Gillingham, British swimmer (world record 200m freestyle), born in Walsall, England
- Jan 23 Belkis Ayón, Cuban printmaker (collography), born in Havana, Cuba (d. 1999)
- Jan 23 Magdalena Andersson, Swedish politician (Prime Minister of Sweden 2021-), born in Uppsala, Sweden
- Jan 23 Naim Suleymanoglu, Turkish weight lifter (Olympic gold 1988), born in Ptichar, Bulgaria (d. 2017)
- Jan 23 Robert Globb, Slovenian politician (Prime Minister of Slovenia 2022-), born in Šempeter pri Gorici, Yugoslavia
- Jan 24 Chris Warren, American NFL running back (Seattle Seahawks), born in Seattle, Washington
- Jan 24 John Myung, American musician (Dream Theater), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Jan 24 Phil LaMarr, American voice actor, born in Los Angeles, California
- Jan 25 Mark Bamford, American film director and screenwriter, born in Louisville, Kentucky
- Jan 25 Randy McKay, Canadian ice hockey right wing (Stanley Cup 1998, 2000 NJ Devils; 932 NHL games), born in Montreal, Quebec
- Jan 26 Pradip Somasundaran, Indian playback singer, born in Thrissur, India
- Jan 27 Bobby Deol, Indian actor
- Jan 27 Byron Mann, Hong Kong actor
- Jan 27 Carrington Garland, actress (Kelly Capwell-Santa Barbara), born in Los Angeles, California
- Jan 27 Dave Manson, Prince Albert, NHL defenseman (Winnipeg Jets)
- Jan 27 Laura Golarsa, Italian tennis star
- Jan 28 Jan Lamb, Hong Kong disc jockey & stand-up comedian
- Jan 29 Khalid Skah, Moroccan athlete (Olympic gold 10,000m 1992), born in Midelt, Morocco
- Jan 29 Sean Burke, Canadian ice hockey goalie (NHL All-Star 1989, 2001, 02; Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes; Canada Cup gold 1991), born in Toronto, Ontario
- Jan 29 Stacey King, American basketball center (NBA C'ship 1991, 92, 93 Chicago Bulls) and broadcaster (CSN Chicago), born in Lawton, Oklahoma
- Jan 30 Bill Leverty, American guitarist (Firehouse - "Love of a Lifetime"), born in Richmond, Virginia
- Jan 30 Jay Gordon, American rock vocalist, born in San Francisco, California
- Jan 31 Chad Channing, American rock drummer (Nirvana, 1988-90), and bass player (Before Cars, 2006-present), born in Santa Rosa, California
- Jan 31 Fat Mike [Michael Burkett], American musician (NOFX), born in Newton, Massachusetts
- Jan 31 Joey Wong, Taiwanese Hong Kong actress (A Chinese Ghost Story), born in Taipei, Taiwan
Famous Weddings
- Jan 10 Dutch Princess Margret marries Pieter van Vollenhoven
Famous Divorces
Lee Marvin
Jan 5 Actor Lee Marvin (42) divorces Elizabeth Ebeling after 14 years of marriage
Christopher Plummer
Jan 10 Actor Christopher Plummer (37) divorces columnist Patricia Lewis after nearly 5 years of marriage
Famous Deaths
- Jan 1 (Aubrey) "Moon" Mullican, American hillbilly pianist, songwriter, and singer ("Seven Nights To Rock"), dies of a heart attack at 58
- Jan 1 Maurice Leyland, English cricket batsman (41 Tests, 2764 runs @ 46.06; Yorkshire 1920-46, 1,000+ runs in 17 consecutive seasons), dies at 66
Jack Ruby (1911-1967)
Jan 3 American nightclub owner who murdered assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, dies of pulmonary embolism at 55
- Jan 3 Mary Garden, opera star, dies at 92
- Jan 4 Donald Campbell, English boat and land racer (world land speed & water speed records 1964; only person to complete in same year), dies in record attempt at 45
- Jan 6 Johnny Keane, American baseball manager (World Series 1964 St. Louis Cardinals; NY Yankees), dies of a heart attack at 55
- Jan 7 Carl Schuricht, German conductor and composer, dies at 86
- Jan 7 David Goodis, American writer (b. 1917)
- Jan 7 Sid Emery, cricket leg-spinner (NSW & Aus, 5 wkt in 1912 series), dies
- Jan 8 Zbigniew Cybulski, Polish actor (Ashes and Diamonds), dies at 39
- Jan 10 Emerson Treacy, American actor (California Straight Ahead, Prowler), dies after surgery at 66
- Jan 10 Vilém Petrželka, Czech composer, dies at 77
- Jan 12 Holland Smith, American US Marine Corps general, considered the "father" of modern U.S. amphibious warfare, dies at 84
- Jan 14 Renato Lunelli, Italian organist, composer, and musicologist, dies at 71
- Jan 15 Albert Szirmai, Hungarian operetta composer, dies at 86
- Jan 15 David Burliuk, Ukrainian artist (b. 1882)
- Jan 16 Dirk Vansina, Flemish playwright (Sage of Kai-Roi), dies at 72
- Jan 16 Robert J. Van De Graaff, American engineer and physicist (Mobility of Gaseous Ions), dies at 65
- Jan 17 Barney Ross, American welterweight Boxing Champ (1934), dies at 57
- Jan 17 Evelyn Nesbit, actress (Redemption), dies at 82
- Jan 18 Albert Conti, Austrian actor (Jazz Heaven, Doomed Battalion), dies at 79
- Jan 18 Harry Antrim, American actor (Miracle on 34th St, Devil's Doorway), dies of a heart attack at 82
- Jan 18 Reese "Goose" Tatum, basketballer (Harlem Globetrotters), dies at 45
- Jan 18 Simon FHJ Berkelbach van der Sprenkel, vicar/theologist, dies at 84
- Jan 19 Grace Cunard, American silent screen actress (Untamed, Resurrection), dies at 73
- Jan 21 Ann Sheridan, American actress (They Drive by Night, Dodge City, Another World), dies of cancer at 51
- Jan 22 Jobyna Ralston, actress (Wings, Girl Shy, Freshman), dies at 66
- Jan 22 Robert Henriques, English writer (100 Hours to Suez), dies at 61
- Jan 23 Holcombe Ward, American tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1904; President USLTA 1937-47), dies at 88
- Jan 26 Albert Rémy, French actor (Grand Prix, The 400 Blows, The Train), dies at 51
- Jan 26 Kenneth Thomson, American character actor (Broadway Melody, Little Giant), dies of emphysema at 68
- Jan 27 Alphonse Juin, French general and Marshal, dies at 78
- Jan 27 Ed White, American astronaut (Gemini 4, Apollo 1, 1st American to walk in space), dies in a fire during pre-launch testing for Apollo 1 at 36
- Jan 27 Roger B. Chaffee, American astronaut, dies in Apollo I pre-launch test fire at 31
- Jan 27 Virgil Grissom, American Air Force test pilot and NASA astronaut (Mercury-Redstone 4, Gemini 3, Apollo 1), dies at 40 in Apollo 1 pre-launch test fire
- Jan 28 Shunter Coen, South African cricket batsman (2 Tests, HS 41no, @ 50.50; Orange Free State), dies at 64
- Jan 29 Włodzimierz Poźniak, Polish composer, dies at 62
- Jan 30 (Raymond) Lee Morgan, American actor (Dungeons of Harrow; The Last of the Fast Guns), dies of heart disease at 64
- Jan 31 Eddie Tolan, American sprinter the "Midnight Express" (1932 Olympics), dies at 58
- Jan 31 Otto Dibelius, German theologian and bishop (Confessional Church), dies at 86
