- Jan 1 Dutch government raises all wages 5%, minimally fl. 5 per week
Ho Chi Minh Begins Offensive
Jan 1 Ho Chi Minh begins offensive against French troops in Indo China
- Jan 1 The state of Ajaigarh is ceded to the Government of India.
- Jan 2 16th Orange Bowl: #15 Santa Clara beats #11 Kentucky, 21-13
- Jan 2 16th Sugar Bowl: #2 Oklahoma beats #9 LSU, 35-0
- Jan 2 36th Rose Bowl: #6 Ohio State beats #3 California, 17-14
- Jan 5 Carson McCuller's "Member of the Wedding" premieres in NYC
- Jan 6 Britain recognizes Communist government of China
Happy As Larry
Jan 6 Mischa Portnoff, Wesley Portnoff, and Donagh MacDonagh's musical "Happy As Larry", starring Burgess Meredith and Gene Barry, opens at the Coronet Theater, NYC; runs for 3 performances
- Jan 7 Hank Snow's 1st appearance on "Grand Ole Opry"
- Jan 7 Mental health wing of Mercy Hospital burns, kills 41 in Davenport, Iowa
- Jan 7 Mischa Portnoff, Wesley Portnoff, and Donagh MacDonagh's musical "Happy As Larry", starring Burgess Meredith and Gene Barry, closes at the Coronet Theater, NYC, after 3 performances
- Jan 12 Swedish tanker rams British submarine Truculent in Thames, 64 die
- Jan 12 USSR re-introduces death penalty for treason, espionage & sabotage
- Jan 14 "As the Girls Go" closes at Winter Garden Theater NYC after 420 performances
- Jan 14 US recalls all consular officials from China
- Jan 15 4,000 attend National Emergency Civil Rights Conference in Washington, D.C.
Sawchuk's 1st Shutout
Jan 15 Red Wings' rookie goalie Terry Sawchuk records his first of 115 career NHL shutouts, as Detroit beats the New York Rangers, 1-0 at Madison Square Garden
- Jan 16 Belgium, Luxembourg & Netherlands recognize Israel
- Jan 17 "Alive & Kicking" opens at Winter Garden Theater NYC for 46 performances
- Jan 17 The Great Brinks Robbery - 11 men rob $1.2M cash & $1.5M securities from armored car company Brink's offices in Boston, Massachusetts
- Jan 18 Christopher Fry's "Venus Observed" premieres in London
Feller Takes Pay Cut
Jan 18 Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller, after 15-14 season, takes $20,000 salary cut to $45,000; pay cut is Feller's own suggestion
- Jan 19 Maiden flight by Canada's Avro Canada CF-100 military plane
- Jan 20 "Dance Me a Song" opens at Royale Theater NYC for 35 performances
- Jan 20 1950 NFL Draft: Leon Hart from University of Notre Dame first pick by Detroit Lions
- Jan 20 Suriname becomes independent part in Realm of Netherlands
- Jan 21 "Lend an Ear" closes at National Theater NYC after 460 performances
- Jan 21 New York jury finds former State Department official Alger Hiss guilty of perjury
"The Cocktail Party"
Jan 21 T. S. Eliot's play "The Cocktail Party" premieres in NYC
- Jan 23 3rd edition of Joseph Kane's Famous 1st Facts published
- Jan 23 AP picks "Miracle Braves" of 1914 as greatest sports upset
- Jan 23 Israeli Knesset resolves Jerusalem is capital of Israel
- Jan 23 NFL rule changes open way for 2-platoon system (offense & defense)
- Jan 23 Rebel army of Dutch military officer Raymond Westerling occupies Bandung, Java
Robinson's Record Contract
Jan 24 Jackie Robinson signs highest contract ($35,000) in Dodger history
- Jan 25 73°F (23°C) highest temperature ever recorded in Cleveland in January
India's 1st President
Jan 26 Constitution of independent India comes into effect; Rajendra Prasad elected India's first president
Sedgman Beats McGregor
Jan 30 Australian Championships Men's Tennis: Frank Sedgman retains title; beats fellow Australian Ken McGregor 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
Brough Defeats Hart
Jan 30 Australian Championships Women's Tennis: In an all-American final Louise Brough beats Doris Hart 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 for her only Australian singles title
Truman Supports Hydrogen Bomb
Jan 31 US President Harry Truman publicly announces support for the development of a hydrogen bomb
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