- Jan 1 The first TV detector van, used to track down users of unlicensed television sets, begins operation in the UK
- Jan 1 WBRE TV channel 28 in Wilkes-Barre Scranton, PA (NBC) 1st broadcast
- Jan 4 KTSM TV channel 9 in El Paso, TX (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Jan 6 WKBN TV channel 27 in Youngstown, Ohio (CBS) begins broadcasting - without sound, until January 11 [1]
- Jan 13 KOLD TV channel 13 in Tucson, AZ (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Jan 14 WALA TV channel 10 in Mobile, AL (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Jan 16 KXLY TV channel 4 in Spokane, Washington (ABC/CBS) begins broadcasting
- Jan 25 WABI TV channel 5 in Bangor, ME (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Jan 28 WJTV TV channel 12 in Jackson, MS (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Feb 1 "General Electric Theater" premieres on CBS TV; Ronald Reagan later hosts
"You Are There"
Feb 1 "You Are There" with Walter Cronkite premieres on CBS television
5th Emmy Awards
Feb 5 5th Emmy Awards: I Love Lucy, Thomas Mitchell and Helen Hayes win
Golden Globes
Feb 26 10th Golden Globes: "The Greatest Show on Earth", Gary Cooper, & Shirley Booth win
Stalin's Stroke
Mar 1 After an all-night movie and dinner session with his top advisers, Joseph Stalin suffers a stroke and collapses. He dies four days later.
- Mar 1 KAUZ TV channel 6 in Wichita Falls, TX (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Mar 1 KTNT (now KSTW) TV channel 11 in Tacoma-Seattle, WA (IND) begins
- Mar 1 WFBG TV (later WTAJ) channel 10 in Altoona, PA (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Mar 1 WJZ-AM in NYC becomes WABC; WJZ-TV in Baltimore final transmission
- Mar 5 6th British Film and Television Awards (BAFTAs): "The Sound Barrier" Best Film
- Mar 8 KSWO TV channel 7 in Lawton, Oklahoma (ABC) begins broadcasting
Two's Company
Mar 8 Vernon Duke, Ogden Nash and Sammy Cahn's musical revue "Two's Company", starring Bette Davis, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, closes at Alvin Theater, NYC; runs for, after 90 performances
- Mar 8 WFMJ TV channel 21 in Youngstown, Ohio (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Mar 14 KOLR TV channel 10 in Springfield, MO (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Mar 17 WBAY TV channel 2 in Green Bay, WI (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Mar 17 WWLP TV channel 22 in Springfield, MA (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Mar 18 KGNC (now KAMR) TV channel 4 in Amarillo, TX (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Mar 19 25th Academy Awards: "Greatest Show on Earth", Gary Cooper & Shirley Booth win (1st time televised)
- Mar 26 "Ugetsu", Japanese film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, starring Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyō and Kinuyo Tanaka, is released
- Mar 28 KCAU TV channel 9 in Sioux City, IA (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Apr 1 KXMC TV channel 13 in Minot, ND (CBS/ABC) begins broadcasting
TV Guide
Apr 3 American magazine "TV Guide" publishes 1st issue; cover features photo of Lucille Ball's new born baby boy, Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV (later professionally known as Desi Arnaz, Jr.)
- Apr 4 KFDA TV channel 10 in Amarillo, TX (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Apr 5 WEYI TV channel 25 in Saginaw, MI (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Apr 10 "House of Wax" 1st color 3-D movie, premieres in New York
- Apr 12 KFDX TV channel 3 in Wichita Falls, TX (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Apr 14 WHYN (now WGGB) TV channel 40 in Springfield-Holyoke, MA (ABC) begins
- Apr 15 WHP TV channel 21 in Harrisburg, PA (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Apr 16 WAND TV channel 17 in Decatur, IL (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Apr 19 WAFB TV channel 9 in Baton Rouge, LA (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Apr 23 "Shane", directed by George Stevens and based on the 1949 novel by Jack Schaefer, starring Alan Ladd and Jean Arthur premieres
- Apr 23 WCOV TV channel 20 in Montgomery, Alabama (IND/CBS) begins broadcasting
- Apr 29 6th Cannes Film Festival: "The Wages of Fear" directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot wins the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film
- Apr 29 The first U.S. experimental 3D-TV broadcast showed an episode of Space Patrol on Los Angeles ABC affiliate KECA-TV
- May 2 KYTL (now KPNX) TV channel 12 in Mesa/Phoenix, Arizona AZ (NBC) begins broadcasting with a telethon to benefit United Cerebral Palsy
- May 3 WTVO TV channel 17 in Rockford, IL (NBC) begins broadcasting
- May 8 WIPB TV channel 49 in Muncie, IN (PBS) begins broadcasting
- May 10 KCBD TV channel 11 in Lubbock, TX (NBC) begins broadcasting
- May 12 KUHT TV channel 8 (PBS) in Houston, TX, begins broadcasting
- May 23 WHIZ TV channel 18 in Zanesville, OH (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
- May 25 1st non-commercial educational television station - Houston, Texas
- May 28 Premier of 1st animated 3-D cartoon in Technicolor-"Melody"
- May 31 WSUN TV channel 38 in St Petersburg-Tampa, FL (IND) 1st broadcast
- Jun 1 KMJ (now KSEE) TV channel 24 in Fresno, CA (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Jun 1 WDAY TV channel 6 in Fargo, ND (ABC/NBC) begins broadcasting
- Jun 3 KVOS TV channel 12 in Bellingham/Vancouver, WA (CBS) begins
- Jun 7 WDAU (now WYOU) TV channel 22 in Scranton Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (CBS) begins
Television Finale
Jun 9 Milton Berle's TV show "Texaco Star Theater" last airs on NBC-TV
- Jun 11 "Amos 'n Andy" TV Comedy, also radio from '29; last aired on CBS
- Jun 13 KOAA TV channel 5 in Pueblo-Colorado Spgs, CO (NBC) 1st broadcast
- Jun 15 WLFI TV channel 18 in Lafayette, IN (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Jun 18 3rd Berlin International Film Festival: "The Wages of Fear" wins Golden Bear (audience vote)
- Jun 19 WCSC TV channel 5 in Charleston, South Carolina (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Jun 19 WTPA (now WHTM) TV channel 27 in Harrisburg, PA (ABC) 1st broadcast
- Jun 24 KSWS (now KOBR) TV channel 8 in Roswell, NM (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Jun 26 KCTV (now KLST) TV channel 8 in San Angelo, TX (CBS) 1st broadcast
- Jun 29 XETV TV channel 6 in Tijuana-San Diego, CA (IND) begins broadcasting
- Jul 1 KLAS TV channel 8 in Las Vegas, NV (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Jul 1 KTVH (now KWCH) TV channel 12 in Hutchinson-Wichita, KS (CBS) begins
- Jul 5 WANC TV channel 21 in Asheville, NC (IND) begins broadcasting
- Jul 12 KTVB TV channel 7 in Boise, ID (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
- Jul 16 KROC (now KTTC) TV channel 10 in Rochester, Minnesota (NBC) 1st broadcast
- Jul 19 KIMA TV channel 29 in Yakima, WA (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Jul 19 WAKR (now WAKC) TV channel 23 in Akron, OH (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Jul 24 KEYT TV channel 3 in Santa Barbara, California (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Jul 30 Rikidōzan holds a ceremony announcing the establishment of the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance
- Aug 1 KMBC TV channel 9 in Kansas City, Missouri (MET/ABC) begins broadcasting
- Aug 1 KOBI TV channel 5 in Medford, Oregon (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Aug 2 KCPQ TV channel 13 in Tacoma-Seattle, WA (IND) begins broadcasting
From Here to Eternity
Aug 5 "From Here to Eternity" based on book by James Jones, directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift and Frank Sinatra is released (Academy Awards Best Picture 1954)
Roman Holiday
Aug 27 Romantic comedy film "Roman Holiday" is released, starring Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, and Eddie Albert
- Aug 29 KHSL TV channel 12 in Chico, CA (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Aug 31 KRBC TV channel 9 in Abilene, TX (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Aug 31 WKBG (now WLVI) TV channel 56 in Cambridge-Boston, MA (IND) begins
- Sep 1 WNOK (now WLTX) TV channel 19 in Columbia, SC (CBS) 1st broadcast
- Sep 1 WTCN (now KARE) TV channel 11 in Minneapolis-St Paul, MN (MET) begins
- Sep 4 WATR (now WTXX) TV channel 20 in Waterbury, CT (NBC) begins
- Sep 4 WGEM TV channel 10 in Quincy-Hannibal, IL (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 9 WFIE TV channel 14 in Evansville, IN (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 11 KSBW TV channel 8 in Salinas-Monterey, CA (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 11 WEHT TV channel 25 in Evansville, IN (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Sep 13 KGTV TV channel 10 in San Diego, CA (ABC/NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 15 KVOA TV channel 4 in Tucson, AZ (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 15 WVEC TV channel 13 in Hampton-Norfolk, VA (ABC) begins broadcasting
The Robe
Sep 16 1st movie in Cinemascope "The Robe" based on the book by Lloyd C. Douglas, directed by Henry Koster and starring Richard Burton and Jean Simmons premieres
- Sep 21 KRDO TV channel 13 in Colorado Spgs-Pueblo, CO (ABC) 1st broadcast
- Sep 23 KHQA TV channel 7 in Hannibal-Quincy, MO (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Sep 26 KERO TV channel 23 in Bakersfield, CA (CBS/NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 27 KCMO (now KCTV) TV channel 5 in Kansas City, MO (CBS) begins
- Sep 27 KNOE TV channel 8 in Monroe-West Monroe, LA (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Sep 27 KOLO TV channel 8 in Reno, NV (ABC/CBS) begins broadcasting
- Sep 27 KQTV TV channel 2 in Saint Joseph, MO (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 27 WHBQ TV channel 13 in Memphis, Tennessee (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 27 WMAZ TV channel 13 in Macon, GA (CBS/ABC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 27 WTOK TV channel 11 in Meridian, MS (ABC/CBS) begins broadcasting
- Sep 28 "Bob & Ray Show" TV Variety last air on NBC
- Sep 28 "Juvenile Jury" TV Children's last airs on NBC, moved to CBS
- Sep 28 "Racket Squad" TV Crime Drama last airs on CBS
- Sep 28 KOAT TV channel 7 in Albuquerque, NM (ABC/PBS) begins broadcasting
- Sep 29 "Buick-Berle Show" debuts on NBC-TV
Make Room for Daddy
Sep 29 "Make Room for Daddy" starring Danny Thomas, premieres on ABC-TV
- Sep 29 "Milton Berle Show" premieres on NBC in the US
- Sep 30 WICS TV channel 20 in Springfield, IL (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Sep 30 WMT (now KGAN) TV channel 2 in Cedar Rapids-Waterloo, IA (CBS) begins
- Oct 1 KJEO TV channel 47 in Fresno, CA (CBS/ABC) begins broadcasting
- Oct 1 KYTV TV channel 3 in Springfield, MO (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Oct 1 WATE TV channel 6 in Knoxville, TN (ABC/NBC) begins broadcasting
- Oct 1 WREX TV channel 13 in Rockford, IL (ABC) begins broadcasting
Comedy in Music
Oct 2 Victor Borge's one-man show "Comedy in Music" opens at John Golden Theatre, NYC; runs for 849 performances, a Guinness world record
- Oct 3 KGGM TV channel 13 in Albuquerque, NM (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Oct 6 WTVM TV channel 9 in Columbus, GA (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Oct 8 WTAP TV channel 15 in Parkersburg-Marietta, WV (NBC) begins
- Oct 14 WTEN TV channel 10 in Albany, New York (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Oct 15 John Patrick's play "Teahouse of the August Moon" premieres in New York
- Oct 15 KOIN TV channel 6 in Portland, OR (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Oct 15 WJNL (now WFAT) TV channel 19 in Johnstown, PA (IND) begins
- Oct 18 WLJT TV channel 11 in Lexington, TN (PBS) begins broadcasting
- Oct 18 WTVK TV channel 26 in Knoxville, TN (NBC) begins broadcasting
Music History
Oct 19 Singer Julius LaRosa is fired on TV by Arthur Godfrey
- Oct 20 WRAU (now WHOI) TV channel 19 in Peoria, IL (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Oct 23 WTRF TV channel 7 in Wheeling-Steubenville, WV (CBS) 1st broadcast
- Oct 24 KOOL (now KTSP) TV channel 10 in Phoenix, AZ (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Oct 25 KIEM TV channel 3 in Eureka, CA (NBC/CBS/ABC) begins broadcasting
- Oct 31 TV broadcasting begins in Belgium
- Nov 1 KCEN TV channel 6 in Temple-Waco, TX (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
- Nov 1 KMGH TV channel 7 in Denver, CO (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Nov 1 WHEC TV channel 10 in Rochester, NY (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Nov 3 "Tokyo Story", Japanese film directed by Yasujirō Ozu, starring Chishū Ryū, Chieko Higashiyama and Setsuko Hara, is released
How to Marry a Millionaire
Nov 5 Film "How to Marry a Millionaire" directed by Jean Negulesco, starring Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe, first to be filmed in CinemaScope; release delayed to allow "The Robe" to debut the format
- Nov 7 WIS TV channel 10 in Columbia, SC (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Nov 9 KTVQ TV channel 2 in Billings, MT (CBS/NBC) begins broadcasting
- Nov 14 WCIA TV channel 3 in Champaign, Illinois (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Nov 15 WIBW TV channel 13 in Topeka, KS (CBS/ABC) begins broadcasting
- Nov 15 WRBL TV channel 3 in Columbus, GA (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Nov 21 WKJG TV channel 33 in Ft Wayne, IN (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Nov 23 KVFD (now KTIN) TV channel 21 in Ft Dodge, IA (NBC) 1st broadcast
- Nov 23 WJBF TV channel 6 in Augusta, GA (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Nov 26 KBOI (now KBCI) TV channel 2 in Boise, ID (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Nov 26 WJHL TV channel 11 in Johnson City, TN (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Nov 29 WSIX TV channel 8 in Nashville, TN (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Dec 1 Hugh Hefner publishes 1st edition of Playboy magazine, featuring Marilyn Monroe as the magazine's 1st centerfold
- Dec 1 WAIM (now WAXA) TV channel 40 in Anderson, SC (IND) 1st broadcast
- Dec 1 WCSH TV channel 6 in Portland, ME (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Dec 7 WCCB TV channel 18 in Charlotte, North Carolina (IND/ABC) begins broadcasting
- Dec 10 KOMO TV channel 4 in Seattle, WA (ABC) begins broadcasting
John Murray Anderson's Almanac
Dec 10 Musical revue "John Murray Anderson's Almanac", starring Harry Belafonte, Hermione Gingold, and Orson Bean, opens at Imperial Theatre, NYC; runs for 229 performances, with Belafonte earning a Tony Award
- Dec 10 WSTV (now WTOV) TV channel 9 in Steubenville-Wheeling, OH (CBS) begins
- Dec 11 KTVA TV channel 11 in Anchorage (CBS) becomes Alaska's 1st TV station
- Dec 13 KOAM TV channel 7 in Pittsburg-Joplin, KS (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Dec 15 WJHG TV channel 7 in Panama City, FL (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
- Dec 17 US Federal Communications Commission approves RCA's black & white-compatible color TV specifications
- Dec 18 KATV TV channel 7 in Little Rock, AR (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Dec 18 KMID TV channel 2 in Midland & Odessa, TX (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Dec 19 KFYR TV channel 5 in Bismarck, ND (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
- Dec 20 KID (now KIDK) TV channel 3 in Idaho Falls, ID (CBS) 1st broadcasting
- Dec 20 KWTV TV channel 9 in Oklahoma City, OK (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Dec 21 KOMU TV channel 8 in Columbia, MO (NBC/PBS) begins broadcasting
- Dec 24 KHOL (now KHGI) TV channel 13 in Kearney, NB (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Dec 24 KOA (now KCNC) TV channel 4 in Denver, CO (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Dec 28 WLBT TV channel 3 in Jackson, MS (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Dec 30 The first ever NTSC color television sets go on sale for about USD at $1,175 each from RCA.
- Dec 31 WFBC (now WYFF) TV channel 4 in G'ville-Spartanburg, SC (NBC) begins
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