1954

1954
Hollywood Hit Parade broadcast. The Goon Show episode Ten Thousand Fathoms Down In A Wardrobe broadcast. John Gilling's Three Steps To The Gallows - starring Scott Brady, Mary Castle, Gabrielle Brune, Ferdy Mayne and Colin Tapley, Ákos Ráthonyi's Don't Blame The Stork - starring Veronica Hurst, Ian Hunter and Reginald Beckwith, John Guillermin's Adventure In The Hopfields - starring Mandy Miller, Hilda Fenemore, Russell Waters, Harold Lang, Melvyn Hayes and, in her film debut, Jane Asher and Maclean Rogers' Calling All Cars - starring Spike Milligan, Cardew Robinson, John Fitzgerald, Adrienne Scott and Pauline Olsen - premiered. Richard Gibson born in Kampala, Uganda. In the First Division, Jackie Milburn scored twice as Newcastle United beat Blackpool two-one.
Variety Parade featured performances by Max Miller, The George Mitchell Singers, The Television Toppers and a young Jim Dale (credited as Jim Smith). The first episode of The Light Programme's Children's Favourites, introduced by Derek McCulloch (Uncle Mac). Second Division leaders Leicester City suffered a seven-one thrashing at Leeds united. Tommy briggs scored four in Blackburn Rovers' six-nil victory over Lincoln City.

CE Webber's The Gift broadcast.
The first episode of The Castle & Sixpence broadcast.
The Ink Spots' 'Here In My Lonely Room'/'Flowers, Mister Florist, Please' and Ron Goodwin & His Concert Orchestra's 'The Lobster Quadrille'/'Grand Waltz Of The Flowers & The Dragonflies' released.
Ronald Neame's The Million Pound Note - starring Gregory Peck, Ronald Squire, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Jane Griffiths and Joyce Grenfell and Daniel Birt's Meet Mister Malcolm - starring Adrianne Allen, Sarah Lawson and Meredith Edwards - premiered.
The Goon Show episode The Missing Prime Minister (later remade for overseas markets as The Missing Number Ten Downing Street) broadcast.
The first episode of Let's Make Faces broadcast. In the Third Round of the FA Cup, there were big wins for Arsenal (five-one against Aston Villa), Manchester City (five-two at Bradford Park Avenue), West Ham United (four-nil versus Huddersfield Town), Burnley (five-three over Manchester United), and Stoke City (six-two against Hartlepools United with Frank Bowyer scoring four). In a remarkable game at Blundell Park, Grimsby Town and Fulham drew five-all - Jimmy Bloomer and Jeff Taylor hitting hat-tricks for their respective side. There were also a series of three-all draws (involving Southern League Hastings United and Norwich City, Leeds United and Spurs, Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic and Wrexham and Scunthorpe & Lindsey United). First Division leaders Wolves lost at home to Second Division Birmingham City and Doncaster Rovers beat Sunderland two-nil. Lancashire Combination Wigan Athletic almost caused the shock of the day, leading two-one at Newcastle with only minutes left before Jackie Milburn equalised. Cup holders Blackpool were held at home by Luton Town. In the Third Division (South) Exeter City beat Crystal Palace seven-nil.
George Cowling became British TV's first weatherman. Arthur Swinson's documentary Missing From Home broadcast. Alfred Travers' Solution By Phone - starring Clifford Evans, Thea Gregory and John Witty - premiered.
The FA Cup Third Round replays saw Wigan again provide a major test for Newcastle United until a late Len White goal won the game three-two for The Magpies. Tottenham Hotspur beat Leeds United one-nil and Sheffield Wednesday won three-one at Sheffield United. Mark Robson's Hell Below Zero - starring Alan Ladd, Joan Tetzel, Basil Sydney and Stanley Baker - premiered.
Southern League Headington United beat Stockport County in another FA Cup replay with Bobby Peart scoring the winner. Swansea Town beat Barrow four-two (Ivor Allchurch scored twice) and Portsmouth won three-two at Charlton. Arthur Rowley hit a hat-trick as Leicester City knocked-out Middlesbroguh three-two.
The Goon Show episode Doctor Jekyll & Mister Crun broadcast. George Cukor's It Should Happen To You - starring Judy Holliday, Peter Lawford and Jack Lemmon - premiered.
The first episode of The Lost Planet broadcast. Ronnie Allen's goal at White Hart Lane took West Bromwich Albion to the top of the First Division as Wolves lost at home to Arsenal. Burnley and Sunderland both had five-nil wins (against Middlesbrough and Cardiff City respectively) and Charltoin beat Sheffield Wednesday four-two. Leicester City lost four-three at home to Birmingham in the Second Division. West Ham United won four-three at Fulham whilst there were five-nil victories for Blackburn (at Notts County) and Plymouth (versus Oldham).
The first episode of Show Case - presented by Benny Hill - broadcast.
Gordon Parry's Front Page Story - starring Jack Hawkins, Elizabeth Allan, Eva Bartok and Derek Farr and Mario Soldati's The Stranger's Hand - starring Trevor Howard, Alida Valli and Richard Basehart - premiered.
West Indies won the first of a five test series against England in Jamaica by one hundred and forty runs. With consistent batting, West Indies made four hundred and seventeen, with five players reaching fifty and debutant John Holt top-scoring with ninety four. After Holt was out, adjudged LBW, the wife and son of the umpire, Perry Burke, were attacked in the crowd, though they were not seriously hurt. England's reply was woeful - one hundred and seventy all out with Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine taking seven wickets. West Indies captain Jeff Stollmeyer was booed by the crowd for not enforcing the follow-on and he declared at two hundred and nine for six (Everton Weekes undefeated on ninety), setting England four hundred and fifty seven to win. At two seventy seven for two, with Wilie Watson making a century, the game looked even. But England lost seven wickets for eight runs. Tony Lock was no-balled for throwing, the first such instance in a Test match since Ernie Jones at Melbourne for Australia against England in 1898. Alan Moss made his test debut.
The Goon Show episode The Mummified Priest broadcast.
W Lee Wilder's Killers From Space - starring Peter Graves, Barbara Bestar, James Seay and Frank Gerstle - premiered. Highlight of the day's First Division fixtures was Bolton Wanderers five-one victory at Manchester United. In the Third Division (North) Les Cocker hit three for Accrington Stanley in their five-one defeat of Mansfield Town. Bobby Brown scored four as Barnsley thrashed Darlington by the same score.

Richard Bird's adaptation of Paint Your Wagon broadcast. The first performance of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood on The Third Programme, two months after its author's death, with Richard Burton as First Voice. Blackpool finally overcame Luton Town, two-nil, in an FA Cup Third Round third replay.
John Whiting and Rudolph Cartier's adaptation of Sacrifice The Wind and Alice Through The Centre broadcast.
The first episode of Friends & Neighbours broadcast.
Robert E Sherwood's adaptation of Tovarich - starring Peter Cushing and Ann Todd - broadcast. Charles Crichton's The Love Lottery - starring David Niven, Peggy Cummins, Anne Vernon and Herbert Lom - premiered.
Terence Fisher's Face The Music - starring Alex Nicol, Eleanor Summerfield and Paul Carpenter - premiered. The first episode of Almanac - later Facts & Figures - broadcast. The Goon Show episode The History of Communications broadcast.
Bolton Wanderers ended Headington United's FA Cup run with a four-two victory at The Manor Ground in the Fourth Round. Third Division Norwich City caused the surprise of the day, winning two-one at Arsenal (Tommy Johnston scoring both goals). Port Vale, currently top of the Third Division (North) also accounted for First Division opposition, winning two-nil at Cardiff. And, to complete a trio of giant-killing feats, Leyton Orient knocked out Fulham.
Sam Fuller's Hell & High Water - starring Richard Widmark - premiered.
Ken Hughes's The Blazing Caravan - starring Alkexander Gauge and Edgar Driver and Lewis Milestone's They Who Dare - starring Dirk Bogarde, Denholm Elliott, Eric Pohlmann and William Russell - premiered.
The FA Cup Fourth round replays saw Newcastle United beat Burnley one-nil, Blackpool defeat West Ham United three-one, Sheffield Wednesday win four-two at Chesterfield and Portsmouth fail to beat Third Division Scunthorpe & Lindsey United for a second time, drawing two-two (Portsmouth did, eventually, win the tie four-nil in a second replay).
The first episode of Top Town broadcast. Cy Endfield's Impulse - starring Arthur Kennedy, Constance Smith, Joy Shelton and, in his film debut, Kenneth Cope - premiered.
The Goon Show episode The Kippered herring Gang broadcast.
The first episode of Clementina broadcast.
George Marshall's Red Garters - starring Rosemary Clooney and Ken Annakin's You Know What Sailors Are - starring Donald Sinden, Akim Tamiroff and Sarah Lawson - premiered.
Anthony Mann's The Glenn Miller Story - starring James Stewart and June Allyson - premiered. Carol Buchanan Royle born in Blackpool.
The West Indies won the second test in Barbados by one hundred and eighty one runs. Clyde Walcott scored two hundred and twenty out of a first-innings total of three hundred and eighty three. England batted painfully slowly, taking one hundred and fifty overs to make one hundred and eighty one runs. Jeff Stollmeyer again did not enforce the follow-on and John Holt then made a maiden Test century. Needing four hundred and ninety five to win, England reached two hundred and fifty eight for three (Denis Compton ninety three) before another collapse. Ken Palmer made his test debut. The Goon Show episode The Toothpaste Expedition broadcast.
Edmundo Ros & His Orchestra's classic calypso, 'Football, Football'/'Cup Final' released on a Decca Records 78rpm. Of the numerous teams mentioned in the lyrics, The Arsenal drew one-all with Cardiff City, Newcastle United beat Burnley three-one (with Ivor Broadis and Jackie Milburn on-target), Spurs lost two-nil at Manchester United (Ramsey and Ditchburn being, sadly, unable to prevent this, Blackpool ('the greatest team in Britain') thrashed Sunderland three-nil ('the great right-winger Matthews' setting up two for Allan Brown), West Bromwich Albion (who were 'really going places' and 'have some guys with the cutest faces') defeated Sheffield Wednesday four-two to remain at the top of the league, Wolverhampton Wanderers lost four-two at 'problem' Chelsea, Huddersfield Town won three-nil at Middlesbrough, Portsmouth thrashed Manchester City four-one, Bolton Wanderers lost two-nil at Preston North End, Charlton Athletic won three-two at Liverpool and Aston Villa's game with one of the few First Division sides not mentioned in the song, Sheffield United, was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. 'Continue, my friends!' The top two in the Second Division, Leicester City and Everton, both had big wins (three-nil at Plymouth and six-two at Derby respectively).
The first episode of Michael Bentine's The Bumblies broadcast. Val Guest's The Runaway Bus - starring Frankie Howerd, Margaret Rutherford, Petula Clark, George Coulouris, Toke Townley, Terence Alexander and Belinda Lee - premiered.
The Goon Show episode The Case of The Vanishing Room broadcast.
The first episode of The Cabin In The Clearing broadcast. Val Guest's The Runaway Bus - starring Frankie Howerd, Margaret Rutherford and Petula Clark - premiered.
The Bespoke Overcoat broadcast.
In the Fifth Round of the FA Cup, Preston North End defeated Ipswich Town six-one, West Bromwich Albion beat Newcastle United three-two with a Ronnie Allen hat-trick, Third Division Port Vale beat cup holders Blackpool two-nil and Leyton Orient won three-one against Doncaster Rovers. Anthony Stewart Head born in Camden Town. In the First Division Wolves closed to within a point of leaders West Brom with a six-one thumping of Sheffield United. A Johnny Haynes hat-trick ed in Fulham's fdive-one victory over Luton Town in the Second Division. Gateshead missed the chance to eat into Port Vale's lead at the top of the Third Division (North), losing two-onew at home to Darlington.
The Goon Show episode The Case of Great Ink Drought Of 1902 broadcast.
Liverpool remained bottom of the First Division despite picking up a point in a one-all draw at Sheffield Wednesday. Stanley Matthews scored twice as Blackpool won four-one at Manchester City. In the Second Division, promotion-chasing Everton thrashed Brentford six-one. Port Vale increased their lead at the top of the Third Division (North) to seven points with a one-nil win at York City.
Death Keeps A Date broadcast on The Home Service. Alexander Mackendrick's The Maggie - starring Paul Douglas, Alex Mackenzie and James Copeland - premiered.
Josef Mach's Rodná Zem - starring Martin Tapák, Heda Melicherová, Karol Zachar, Margita Dalmadyová and Július Pántik - premiered.
England won the third test in Guyana by nine wickets. England batted first and made four hundred and thirty five (Len Hutton scored one hundred and sixty nine). Though Everton Weekes made ninety four and Cliff McWatt and the injured John Holt added ninety nine for the eighth wicket, West Indies were all out for two hundred and fifty one. The crowd threw bottles when McWatt was run out. Following on, West Indies scored two hundred and fifty six and left England seventy three to win. The highlight of the day's Football League fixtures came in the Second Division and Everton's eight-four victory over Plymouth Argyle. John Willie Parker scored four and Dave Hickson two. In the Third Division (North) Gateshead thrashed Grimsby Town seven-one (Billy Watkin scoring four). Sixty four thousand watched the First Division's North London derby, George Robb grabbing two goals in Tottenham Hotspur's three-nil win at Highbury.
Ashley Dukes's adaptation of Such Men Are Dangerous broadcast. Don Siegel's Riot In Cell Block Eleven - starring Neville Brand - premiered.
George P Breakston's The Scarlet Spear - starring John Bentley and Martha Hyer and Paul Dickson's Stars Of My Night - starring Griffith Jones and Kathleen Byron - premiered. The Goon Show episode The Greatest Mountain In The World broadcast.
Lewis Gilbert's The Good Die Young - starring Laurence Harvey, Gloria Grahame, Richard Basehart, Joan Collins, John Ireland, Rene Ray, Stanley Baker and Margaret Leighton - premiered.
Frank Sinatra's 'Young At Heart'/'Take A Chance' released.
Sean Barrett's Johnnie's Night Out broadcast.
Football League highlights included a thumping seven-nil win for Rotherham United over Oldham Athletic in the Second Division and Mansfield Town's seven-two defeat of York City in the Third Division (North).
Doris Day's 'Secret Love'/'The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away!)' released.
The Goon Show episode The Collapse Of The British Railway Sandwich System broadcast. Jean Boyer and Lester Fuller's Monte Carlo Baby - starring Audrey Hepburn, Jules Munshin and Cara Williams - premiered.
Tina Hoskins born in Whitechapel.
Guy Hamilton's An Inspector Calls - starring Alastair Sim, Jane Wenham and Eileen Moore - premiered.
Nunnally Johnson's Night People - starring Gregory Peck, Broderick Crawford, Anita Björk, Rita Gam, Walter Abel and Buddy Ebsen - premiered.
Port Vale reached the FA Cup Semi-Final with a one-nil win at fellow Third Division Leyton Orient in the Sixth Round. Top scorer Bert Leake hit the winner. West Bromwich enjoyed a comfortable three-nil victory over Tottenham. Performances of the day included Hartlepools United's six-nil thrashing of Stockport County in the Third Division (North) with Tommy McGuigan scoring three and Stoke City's six-nil win and Bury in the Second Division.
The Goon Show episode The Silent Burgler broadcast.
James Michael Aloysius Bradford born in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Lance Comfort's Bang! You're Dead - starring Jack Warner, Veronica Hurst and Derek Farr and the same director's Eight O'Clock Walk - starring Richard Attenborough, Cathy O'Donnell, Derek Farr and Ian Hunter - premiered.
Lesley-Anne Down born in Wandsworth. Cyril Frankel's Devil On Horseback - starring Googie Withers, John McCallum, Jeremy Spenser, Meredith Edwards, Liam Redmond and Sam Kydd - premiered. Sheffield Wednesday won two-nil at Bolton Wanderers in an FA Cup Sixth Round replay. Preston North End and Leicester City would require another game after a two-two draw. In the First Division, Chelsea thumped leaders West Bromwich Albion five-nil whilst Manchester City beat Tottenham Hotspur four-one.
The closure of Alexandra Palace's transmitters was celebrated with Thank You Ally Pally. Johnny Morris's TV debut, On The Job broadcast. Terence Fisher's Murder By Proxy - starring Dane Clark, Belinda Lee and Betty Ann Davies - premiered.
Fifty three thousand were at The Hawthrons as West Bromwich Albion remained on course for the league and cup double with a two-one win over Blackpool in the First Division. Wolverhampton Wanderers were still hot on their trail, however, with a narrow victory at Preston North End. Newcastle United beat relegation-threatened Sheffield United four-one (Alan Monkhouse scoring a hat-trick). Manchester United defeated Huddersfield Town three-one. In the Third Division (South) Swindon Town beat Torquay United six-one.
The Goon Show episode Western Story broadcast. Preston North End defeated Leicester City in an FA Cup Sixth Round second replay.
The fourth test in Trinidad was drawn. On a batsman's wicket, the sides took the first five days to complete the first two innings. West Indies' six hundred and eighty one for eight was the highest score by a West Indies cricket team: Everton Weekes made two hundred and six, Frank Worrell one hundred and sixty seven and Clyde Walcott one hundred and twenty four. England made five hundred and thirty seven in reply, with centuries from Peter May and Denis Compton and ninety two from Tom Graveney.
After an eight-day trial at Winchester Assizes, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, Peter Wildeblood and Michael Pitt-Rivers were convicted of 'conspiracy to incite certain male persons to commit serious offences with male persons' - or buggery as most newspapers took great delight in reporting - and several related charges. Ralph Thomas' Doctor In The House - starring Dirk Bogarde, Muriel Pavlow, Kenneth More, Donald Sinden, Kay Kendall, James Robertson Justice and Donald Houston and Harry Watt's West Of Zanzibar - starring Anthony Steel, Sheila Sim and Edric Connor premiered.
In the FA Cup Semi-Finals, Preston North End beat Sheffield Wednesday two-nil at Maine Road and a Ronnie Allen penalty helped West Bromwich Albion beat Port Vale two-one at Villa Park. The lagrest Third Division (South) attedeance of the season, thirty one thousand were at The Goldstone Ground as league leaders Brighton & Hove Albion beat Southampton two-one.
The Goon Show episode The Saga Of The Internal Mountain broadcast. Guy Green's River Beat - starring John Bentley, Phyllis Kirk, Leonard White and Glyn Houston, Arthur Lubin's Star Of India - starring Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Yvonne Sanson and Herbert Lom and John Gilling's Double Exposure - starring John Bentley, Rona Anderson and Garry Marsh - premiered.
The first episode of The Wide, Wide World broadcast. John Eldridge's Conflict Of Wings - starring John Gregson, Muriel Pavlow, Kieron Moore and Niall MacGinnis - premiered.
The first episode of Gravelhanger broadcast.
Big Joe Turner & His Blues Kings' 'Shake, Rattle & Roll'/'You Know I Love You' released in the US. Port Vale went seven points clear at the top of the Third Division (North) with a three-nil victory over Bradford City.
Arthur Goring and Derek Blomfield's Let Me Ever Escape Them broadcast. A Liverpool judge, on convicting four members of a teenage gang to two years each in prison for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm with a broken bottle, questioned the police inspector whether this sort of violence was 'becoming commonplace in the young.' The Edwardian-style suits that had become popular within teenage gangs across the country had earned them the nickname 'Teddy Boys'.
England won the fifth and final test in Kingston, Jamaica and the series was drawn two-two. West Indies were bowled out for oen hundred and thirty nine on what had appeared to be a perfect batting pitch. Trevor Bailey took seven wickets for thirty four, his best test return. England's reply of four hundred and fourteen was based on a double century for Len Hutton and some late hitting by Johnny Wardle. Facing arrears of two hundred and seventy five, West Indies lost wickets consistently and, though Clyde Walcott made his third century of the series, England needed just seventy two to win. The match was the test debut of seventeen year old Gary Sobers: He scored fourteen not out and twenty six and took four wickets in England's first innings. A new-look England beat Scotland four-two at Hampden Park in the Home International championship. Ivor Broadis, debutant Johnny Nicholls, his West Bromwich Albion team-mate Ronnie Allen and Jimmy Mullen scored England's goals. Allan Brown and Willie Ormond replied for the hosts. Following the disastrous defeat to Hungary in their last international, Walter Winterbottom made several changes with debuts also being given to Huddersfield Town's Ron Staniforth, Manchester United's Roger Byrne and Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Clarke. The game was watched by a crowd on one hundred and thirty four thousand. The Scottish FA refused to allow the BBC to televise the game because other matches were taking place in Scotland that day. Highlights of the day's First Division fixtures includes Newcastle United's four-three defeat of Manchester City, Liverpool beating Sunderland by the same score, Preston's four-nil victory against Portsmouth and Huddersfield Town winning four-one at Sheffield Wednesday. Roy Swinbourne scored the winner in Wolverhampton Wanderers' one-nil victory in their top of the table clash with West Bromwich (who were, of course, without their twin strike-force of Allen and Nicholls, away with England).
The Goon Show episode The Invisible Acrobat broadcast. Ian Fleming's second James Bond novel, Live & Let Die published. Vernon Sewell's Dangerous Voyage - starring William Lundigan, Naomi Chance, Vincent Ball, John Warwick and Jean Lodge - premiered.
Ken Hughes's The Dark Stairway - starring Russell Napier, Vincent Ball, George Manship and Edwin Richfield - premiered.
The first episode of Sportsview broadcast.
The opening episodes of the BBC's first archaeology programme Buried Treasure and its first soap, The Grove Family broadcast. Earl Bostic & His Orchestra's 'Deep Purple'/'Smoke Rings' released.
Wolves five-nil victory over Chalrton Athletic took them to the top of the First Division as West Brom's slum in form continued with a two-nil defeat at Cardiff. Elsewhere, Spurs two five-two at Huddersfield and Manchester City beat Middlesbrough by the same score and Aston Villa thrashed Burnley five-one. Leicester City remained at the top of the Second Division with a three-nil win at Hull City. Port Vale all but secured the Third Division (North) title with a resounding seven-nil hiding of Stockport County. They led Barnsley, who beat Wrexham three-nil, by nine points.
Campbell Dixon and Dermot Morrah's Caesar's Friend broadcast as part of The Sunday Night Play strand.
The UK broadcast of Edward Murrow's legendary See It Now interview with Joe McCarthy. Excerpts from The Jolly Fiddler broadcast. The Goon Show episode The Great Bank Of England Robbery broadcast.
Melvin Frank's Knock On Wood premiered.
Seymour Friedman's The Saint's Return - starring Louis Hayward, Naomi Chance, Sydney Tafler and Charles Victor - premiered.
Humphrey Lyttelton & His Band's 'Just Once For All Time'/'Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho' released. Oldham Athletic were relegated from the Second Division following their one-nil defeat at Bristol Rovers.
Liverpool's one-nil defeat at home to Cardiff City condemned them to relegation from the First Division. At the top of the table, Wolves drew at Sheffield Wednesday whilst rivals West browm won one-nil against Manchester City. Reg Davies scored a hat-trick as Newcastle thrashed Arsenal five-two. Port Vale's point in a goalless draw at Rochdale coupled with Barnsley's two-nil defeat at Mansfield Town meant that Vale were confirmed as champions of the Third Division (North) with four games still remaining.
Lynne Reid Banks's It Never Rains ... broadcast.
The Goon Show episode The Siege Of Fort Knight broadcast. Wolves consolidated their lead at the top of the First Division with a four-nil win over Huddersfield Town. Peter Broadbent, Johnny Hancocks, Jimmy Mullen and Dennis Wilshaw were all on the scoresheet. Preston North End won six-two at Spurs. Forty thousand were at Filbert Street as Leicester City took a step closer to promotion with a four-nil victory over title rivals Blackburn Rovers. David Lean's Hobson's Choice - starring Charles Laughton, John Mills, Brenda de Banzie, Daphne Anderson and Prunella Scales - premiered.
In the First Division, Wolves lost two-one at Huddersfield but West Brom were unable to take advantage, being thrashed six-one at Aston Villa. Norman Walker's John Wesley - starring Leonard Sachs, Neil Heayes and Keith Pyott - premiered.
The first episode of Morecambe and Wise's disastrous Running Wild broadcast. For years afterwards, Eric Morecambe reportedly carried with him a newspaper review of the opening episode which stated 'Definition of the week: Television - the box they buried Morecambe and Wise in.'
Raymond Ian Burns born in Balham. Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Tottneham two-nil and won the First Division title for the first time, finishing four points ahead of West Bromwich Albion, who lost threee-nil at Portsmouth. Stan Cullis's team - which included Johnny Hancocks, Roy Swinbourne, Dennis Wilshaw, Jimmy Mullen and Peter Broadbent - scored ninety six goals in forty two games. Huddersfield Town were third (Jimmy Glazzard's twenty nine goals made his the division's top scorer) whilst Manchester United climbed to fourth place as Matt Busby's young side - including Denis Violett, Duncan Edwards and Tommy Taylor - settled into First Division football. Defending champions Arsenal slumped to twelfth. Middlesbrough (who lost at Arsenal) joined Liverpool in relegation to the Second Division, replaced by Leicester City and Everton. Sixty two thousand were at Goodison to watch a Dave Hickson goal against Birmingham City clinch the promotion slot for The Toffees. Twenty two year old John Charles of Leeds United was the league's top scorer with forty two goals. Brentford were relegated. Port Vale won Third Division (North) by eleven points, going unbeaten at home and conceding a record low of twenty goals.
Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai - starring Takashi Shimura and Toshima Mifune - premiered in Tokyo. Montgomery Tully's The Diamond Wizard - Britain's first 3D movie, starring Dennis O'Keefe, Margaret Sheridan and Philip Friend - premiered. Mary Jo Randle born in Rochdale.
Brighton & Hove Albion's one-all draw at Crystal Palace meant Ipswich Town were promoted as champions of the Third Division (South).
Imposter's Gold broadcast.
Otto Preminger's River Of No Return - starring Robert Mitchum, Marilyn Monroe and Tommy Rettig - premiered.
West Bromwich Albion beat Preston North End three-two in the FA Cup Final with goals from Ronnie Allen (who scored twice) and Frank Griffin. Angus Morrison and Charlie Wayman replied for Preston.
David MacDonald's Devil Girl From Mars - starring Patricia Laffan, Hugh McDermott, Hazel Court, Peter Reynolds, Adrienne Corri and John Laurie - premiered.
Harold French's Forbidden Cargo - starring Nigel Patrick, Elizabeth Sellars, Terence Morgan, Greta Gynt, Joyce Grenfall and Jack Warner - premiered.
Roger Bannister broke the four minute mile barrier. Robert Wise's Executive Suite - starring William Holden, Barbara Stanwyck and June Allyson - premiered. Nicholas Crane born in Hastings.
Nicholas Ray's Johnny Guitar - starring Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden and Mercedes McCambridge - premiered.
Lindsay Anderson's Thursday's Children premiered.
A memorable adaptation of The Monkey's Paw and the first episode of The Windmill Family broadcast.
The first episodes of The Dancing Bear and Bob Monkhouse's Fast & Loose broadcast. Ed Wood's Jail Bait premiered.
Gordon Parry's Fast & Loose - starring Stanley Holloway, Kay Kendall and Brian Reece - premiered.
England lost one-nil in a friendly interational to Yugoslavia in Belgrade, Rajko Mitić socring the winner three minutes from full-time. Luton Town's Syd Owen made his England debut. Tom Finney became only the second englishman, after billy Wright, to win fifty caps for his country.
Stan Laurel and Oiver Hardy made their final ever stage apearance - at the Palace Theatre, Plymouth. After the show Oliver suffered a heart attack, bringing to an end their (hugely successful) eight month tour of the UK and Ireland.
Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M For Murder - starring Grace Kelly, Ray Milland, Robert Cummings and John Williams and Colin Dean's The Queen In Australia premiered.
René Clément's Knave of Hearts - starring Gérard Philipe, Valerie Hobson, Joan Greenwood, Margaret Johnston and Natasha Parry - premiered.
Three Coins In The Fountain - starring Clifton Webb and Dorothy McGuire - premiered.
The first episode of The Promised Years broadcast in The Liberators strand. Hungary (Puskás, Kocsis, Hidegkuti et al) gave England a second pants-down footballing beasting, winning a friendly international in Budapest seven-one. This still ranks as England's heaviest international defeat. Ivor Broadis scored England's goal. Fulham's Beddy Jezzard had a thoroughly forgettable interational debut.
Daragh Gerard Marion O'Malley born in Dublin. Val Guest's Life With The Lyons - starring Ben Lyon, Bebe Daniels and Barbara Lyon - premiered.
The Girl At The Window broadcast. Basil Dearden's The Rainbow Jacket - starring Kay Walsh, Bill Owen, Edward Underdown, Robert Morley and Honor Blackman - premiered.
The first episode of Ask Pickles broadcast. Andy Neil Hamilton born in Fulham.
Diane Leather became the first woman to break the five-minute mile, at the Alexander Sports Ground in Birmingham.
The Obernkirchen Children's Choir's 'A Little White Hen', 'Dandelion'/'When Over Sunlit Paths' released.
Donald Wilson's adaptation of John Buchan's Witch Wood broadcast.
Alfred J Goulding's The Devil's Jest - starring Mara Russell-Tavernan, Ivan Craig, Valentine Dyall and Derek Aylward - premiered.
Charles Saunders' The Scarlet Web - starring Griffith Jones, Hazel Court and Zena Marshall - premiered.
Diana Hardyment's The Secret Way broadcast.
Cleo Laine With Johnny Dankworth & His Orchestra's 'I Know You're Mine'/'I Got Rhythm' and Doris Day's 'The Black Hills Of Dakota'/'Just Blew In From The Windy City' released.
The first broadcast on the Eurovision Network founded by Britain, Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland of a message from Pope Pius XII. The first volume of JRR Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings published.
The first episode of Emney Enterprises broadcast. Maclean Rogers' Johnny On The Spot - starring Hugh McDermott, Elspet Gray, Paul Carpenter, Jean Lodge, Ronald Adam and Valentine Dyall - premiered.
Robert Hamer's Father Brown - starring Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Peter Finch, Cecil Parker, Bernard Lee and Sid James - premiered.
Maurice Elvey's What Every Woman Wants - starring William Sylvester, Elsie Albiin, Brenda De Banzie and Joan Hickson - premiered.
Archie In Goonland broadcast on The Home Service.
An Irish Republican Army unit carried out an arms raid on Gough Barracks in Armagh, signalling the renewal of IRA activity following a long hiatus.
Val Guest's Dance Little Lady - starring Terence Morgan, Mai Zetterling, Guy Rolfe and Mandy Miller - premiered.
The first episode of the TV version of The Carroll Levis Show broadcast.
The first of a four test series between England and Pakistan at Lord's was drawn. Play throughout match was limited to only eight hours, after heavy rain had saturated the outfield. It was the first time that the first three days of a test had been washed out at Lord's, play finally beginning at 3:45pm on the fourth afternoon. Pakistan scored slowly, reaching fifty for three wickets. The following day, Pakistan's remaining seven wickets fell in eighty minutes, with Brian Statham taking four wickets for ten runs. England took risks in attempting to score quick runs and, when Hutton declared England, were one hundred and seventeen. Pakistan batted for the remainder of the match. The first episode of The Gentle Falcon broadcast.
Coverage of opening game of the 1954 World Cup - France against Yugoslavia - in Switzerland broadcast. In Zürich, Scotland played their first ever game in a World Cup finals, losing one-nil to Austria. Peter Duval Smith's adaptation of James Joyce's Ulysses featuring Cyril Cusack broadcast on The Third Programme. Gordon Douglas's Them! premiered.
England drew their opening World Cup group match against Belgium in Basel four-four after extra time. Ivor Broadis and Nat Lofthouse both scored twice with Belgium's ninety fourth minute equaliser coming from a Jimmy Dickinson own goal.
England beat tournament hosts Switzerland two-nil at the Wankdorf in Berne in the World Cup. Wolves duo Jimmy Mullen and Dennis Wilshaw scored the goals. Injuries to Stanley Matthews and Nat Lofthouse caused England to make several changes from their opening game. Huddersfield Town's Bill McGarry made his international debut at right-half with Billy Wright switching to centre-half for the first time. Elsewhere, having previously beaten South Korea nine-nil in their first game, tournament favourites Hungary defeated an under-strength West Germany eight-three in Basel. Sándor Kocsis scored four (having netted a hat-trick in the last game) with Ferenc Puskás and Nándor Hidegkuti also in the goals.
John Harlow's Dangerous Cargo - starring Jack Watling, Susan Stephen, Karel Stepanek, Terence Alexander and John Le Mesurier, Ken Hughes' The House Across The Lake - starring Alex Nicol, Hillary Brooke, Sid James and Susan Stephen and Joseph Losey's The Sleeping Tiger - starring Alexis Smith, Alexander Knox and Dirk Bogarde - premiered. Anne Kirkbride born in Oldham.
Ken Annakin's The Seekers - starring Jack Hawkins, Glynis Johns, Inia Te Wiata, Noel Purcell, Kenneth Williams and Laya Raki - premiered.
Phyllis Bentley's The Coiners broadcast. Edward Dmytryk's The Caine Mutiny - starring Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson, Jose Ferrer, Fred MacMurray and Lee Marvin - premiered.
Montgomery Tully's Five Days - starring Dane Clark, Paul Carpenter and Thea Gregory - premiered.
England lost their World Cup Quarter Final four-two against holders Uruguay in Basel. Nat Lofthouse and Tomy Finney scored. W Uruguay's team included five survivors from the 1950 final. In Lausanne, Austria beat Switzerland seven-five.
At the World Cup, Hungary beat Brazil four-two in the Quarter Final known subsequently as 'The Battle of Berne'. Violent conduct and fighting prompted the referee, Arthur Ellis, to send off three players during the match at the Wankdorff Stadium. Fighting between the teams continued in the dressing rooms after the final whistle. In Geneva, West Germany beat Yugoslavia two-nil.
Alice Maud Krige born in Upington, South Africa.
Mario Zampi's Happy Ever After - starring David Niven, Yvonne De Carlo and Barry Fitzgerald - premiered.
Britain witnessed its first solar eclipse since 1927. West Germany beat Austria six-one in the World Cup Semi-Final (Fritz Walter scoring two penalties), whilst Hungary defeated Uruguay four-two after extra-time. Charles Saunders' Meet Mister Callaghan - starring Derrick De Marney, Adrienne Corri, Delphi Lawrence and Belinda Lee - premiered.
Montgomery Tully's Late Night Final - starring Colin Tapley, Terry Yorke and Stanley Van Beers - premiered.
The TV debut of Barbara Windsor on an episode of Variety Parade. William Wellman's The High & The Mighty - starring John Wayne and Clasire Trevor - premiered.
West Germany came from two-nil down to beat Hungary in 'The Miracle of Berne' and win the World Cup. Kocsis took his goals total to eleven in the tournament. Helmut Rahn scored twice for the Germans. Puskás had what appeared to be a legitimate equaliser three minutes from time controversially disallowed by the referee, William Ling.
England won the second test at Trent Bridge by an innings and one hundred and twenty nine runs. Len Hutton was unfit, so David Sheppard captained England his absence. His opposite number Abdul Kardar won the toss and decided to bat first. After around an hour, Sheppard called debutant Bob Appleyard to bowl. Within twenty six balls, Appleyard had reduced Pakistan from thirty seven for one to fifty five for five, bowling a mixture of cutters and inswingers. Despite a recovery from the tail, Pakistan were all out for one hundred and fifty seven. On the second morning, Pakistan's Fazal Mahmood injured his leg and had to bowl with a shortened run. Reg Simpson scored one hundred and one, while his partner Denis Compton was dropped on twenty; he went on to score two hundred and seventy eight. Tom Graveney added a half-century and England declared on five hundred and fifty eight for six. Despite rain reducing the playing time on the fourth day, Pakistan were all out for two hundred and seventy two. The first episode of News & Newsreel broadcast. Daniel Burt's Burnt Evidence - starring Jane Hylton, Duncan Lamont, Donald Gray, Meredith Edwards, Cyril Smith and Irene Handl - premiered.
Frank Sinatra's 'Three Coins In The Fountain'/'I Could Have Told You' and Doris Day's 'Tis Harry I'm Planning To Marry'/'A Woman's Touch' released.
The first episode of Happy Holidays - featuring Hattie Jacques, John le Mesurier and Clive Dunn - broadcast.
The first episode of Dear Dotty broadcast. David Miller's Beautiful Stranger (aka Twist Of Fate) - starring Ginger Rogers, Herbert Lom, Stanley Baker and Jacques Bergerac, The Boulting Brothers' Seagulls Over Sorrento - starring Gene Kelly, John Justin and Bernard Lee and Val Guest's Dance Little Lady - starring Terence Morgan, Mai Zetterling, Guy Rolfe and Mandy Miller - premiered.
The first episode of The Six Proud Walkers broadcast. Final Meeting, 'an exercise in radio techniques written and produced by Terence Tiller' based on TS Eliot's The Hollow Men and 'not recommended for nervous listeners' broadcast on The Home Service. Susan Slept Here - starring Dick Powell and Debbie Reynolds - premiered.
Robert Finch's The Old Grad broadcast. Donald McGill, the artist of saucy seaside postcards, was found very guilty of breaching the Obscene Publications Act 1857. Stanley Donen's adaptation of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers premiered.
Philip Mackie's The Whole Truth broadcast.
J Lee Thompson's The Weak & The Wicked - starring Glynis Johns, Diana Dors, John Gregson, Olive Sloane, Rachel Roberts and Jane Hylton - premiered.
The TV début of Warren Mitchell in an episode of Show Case. The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority was established by the Atomic Energy Act 'to produce, use and dispose of atomic energy and carry out research into any matters therewith.' Elvis Presley, Scotty & Bill's debut single, 'That's All Right (Mama)'/'Blue Moon Of Kentucky' released in the US on the Sun label. The modern world started here.
The House With A Secret broadcast. Maurice Elvey's The Gay Dog - starring Wilfred Pickles, Petula Clark, Megs Jenkins, Harold Goodwin, Russell Enoch, Peter Butterworth and Jon Pertwee - premiered.
Patrick Troughton and Kenneth Williams starred in George Bernard Shaw's Misalliance. The third test at Old Trafford was drawn. In yet another rain-affected match, England reached two hundred and ninety three for six by the close of the first day, with Denis Compton making ninety three and Tom Graveney sixty five. The second day fell entirely to rain and, on the third morning England batted for an hour before declaring. Pakistan started their reply well, but the rain-affected pitch favoured the bowlers. Pakistan lost wickets rapidly, with Johnny Wardle taking four for nineteen and Jim McConnon, on his debut, three for nineteen (and four catches). The tourists were forced to follow on after being dismissed for ninety. They limped to twenty five for four in their second innings before rain washed out the final two days. Jim Parks made his test debut.
Montgomery Tully's The Silent Witness - starring Kenneth Henry - premiered. Lynne Maria Wagner Harding Frederick born in Hillingdon.
Maurice Elvey's The Harassed Hero - starring Guy Middleton, Joan Winmill Brown and Elwyn Brook-Jones - premiered.
Andrew Paul Marshall born in Lowestoft.
Elia Kazan's On The Waterfront - starring Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J Cobb, Rod Steiger and Eva Marie Saint - premiered.
Edward Dmytryk's Broken Lance - starring Spencer Tracy, Robert Wagner, Jean Peters and Richard Widmark - premiered.
The Television Act was given Royal Assent, authorising the setting up of the infrastructure for commercial television.
Ronald and Michael Pertwee's Give Them A Ring broadcast. Herbet Wilcox's Trouble In The Glen - starring Margaret Lockwood, Orson Welles, Forrest Tucker and Victor McLaglen - premiered.
Paul Dickson's Fatal Journey - starring Gordon Bell and Edward Forsyth, John Paddy Carstairs' Up To His Neck - starring Ronald Shiner, Brian Rix and Laya Raki and Renato Castellini's Romeo & Juliet - starring Laurence Harvey, Susan Shentall and Flora Robson - premiered.
The first episode of Paradise Island broadcast.
Douglas Sirk's Magnificent Obsession - starring Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson - premiered.
George Wingate's My Uncle Rollo and Somerset Maugham's Mrs Dot broadcast. Luis Buñuel's adaptation of Robinson Crusoe - starring Dan O'Herlihy-premiered.
Roger Bannister beat John Landy in the so-called Miracle Mile race at the British Empire & Commonwealth Games in Vancouver.
Terence Fisher's A Stranger Came Home - starring Paulette Goddard, William Sylvester and Patrick Holt and Richard Sale's Malaga - starring Maureen O'Hara, Macdonald Carey and Binnie Barnes - premiered.
Muriel Box's The Beachcomber - starring Donald Sinden, Glynis Johns, Robert Newton, Paul Rogers, Donald Pleasence and Michael Hordern - premiered.
Gene Martel's Diplomaticd Passport - starring Marsha Hunt, Paul Carpenter, Henry Oscar and Honor Blackman - premiered.
Cy Endfield's The Master Plan - starring Norman Wooland, Tilda Thamar, Wayne Morris and Mary Mackenzie - premiered.
The first episode of Stage By Stage broadcast.
The first episode of Find The Link broadcast. Pakistan won the fourth test at The Oval by twenty four runs. England gave debuts to Peter Loader and Frank Tyson, who had been selected for the winter tour to Australia. Rain delayed the start and Pakistan were soon in trouble, falling to fifty one for seven before Abdul Kardar and the tail effected a recovery. Tyson and Loader took seven wickets between them. Torrential rain washed out the second day and, when England batted on the Saturday the damp pitch helped the Pakistani medium-fast bowlers, Fazal Mahmood and Mahmood Hussain, who took six and four wickets respectively giving Pakistan a narrow first innings lead. For a second time, Pakistan were rescued by the tail, which doubled the score from eighty two for eight to one hundred and sixty four. Johnny Wardle took seven for fifty six. When Reg Simpson, Peter May and Denis Compton took England to one hundred and nine for two, an England victory looked a formality, but lower-order timidity against Fazal, who took a further six wickets to finish with twelve for ninety nine in the match, brought a famous victory for the tourists.
Alister Fearn and Terry Thompson's I'll Be Seeing You broadcast. George Marshall's Duel In The Jungle - starring Dana Andrews, Jeanne Crain and David Farrar - premiered. The Football League season began with fifty goals scored in eleven First Division matches. Champions Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Sheffield Wednesday four-two. Tottenham Hotspur won at Aston Villa and Sunderland beat West Bromwich Albion by the same score. Promoted Everton won five-two at Sheffield United. Charlie Wayman sdcored a hat-trick as Preston North End beat Manchester City five-nil. Newcastle United won three-one at Arsenal. Portsmouth defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford by the same score. In the Second Division, Fulham beat Blackburn Rovers five-one and Swansea town defeated West Ham United five-two. Liverpool began life in the second tier with a three-two victory over Doncaster Rovers (Tony Rowley scoring three). Performance of the day in the Third Division (North) was York City's six-two win at Wrexham (Arthur Bottom scoring a hat-trick on his debut for The Minstermen). In the Third Division (South), Southampton beat Brentford six-four.
Michael Curtiz's The Egyptian - starring Jean Simmons and Victor Mature, Anthony Asquith's The Young Lovers - starring Odile Versois, David Knight and Joseph Tomelty and Charles Saunders' The Golden Link - starring André Morell, Patrick Holt, Thea Gregory and Jack Watling - premiered.
The first episode of Crime On Our Hands broadcast. Declan Patrick MacManus born in Paddington. George More O'Ferrall's The Green Scarf - starring Michael Redgrave, Ann Todd, Leo Genn, Kieron Moore, Richard O'Sullivan, Jane Lamb, Michael Medwin and Jane Griffith - premiered. Johnny Hart and Don Revie both scored two in Manchester City's five-two victory over Sheffield United in the First Division. Len White also scored twice in Newcastle United's three-nil defeat oif West Bromwich Albion. Preston North End won five-two at Cardiff City and Portsmouth beat Huddersfield Town four-two. Dave Dunmore hit a hat-trick in Tottenham Hotspur's three-two victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. In the Second Division, Johnny King's hat-trick gave Stoke City a three-nil win at Nottingham Forest. Fulham won four-three at Derby County whilst Rotherham had a four-two victory at Leeds United.
Sheffield United's two-one victory at Newcastle United in the First Division saw the league debut of Alan Hodkinson the first of six hundred and seventy four matches for The Blades in a career that lasted until 1971. Manchester United won four-two at Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday defeated Aston Villa six-three. The largest league attendance of the season, seventy six thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, were at Goodison Park to see newly promoted Everton beat Preston one-nil with a Cyril Lello goal and go top of the table. Ipswich Town beat Middlesbrough six-one in the Second Division.
Dennis Driscoll's Job For The Boy broadcast.
John Gilling's The Embezzler - starring Charles Victor, Zena Marshall, Cyril Chamberlain and Peggy Mount - premiered.
The Goon Show episode The Starlings broadcast. Arthur Maria Rabenalt's Der Zigeunerbaron - starring Paul Hörbiger, Gerhard Riedmann, Margit Saad and Karl Schönböck - premiered.
Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window - starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly and Raymond Burr - premiered. Preston went top of the First Division with a seven-one thrashing of Cardiff City.
The Black Shield Of Falworth - starring Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh - premiered. Max Bygraves' 'Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellenbogen By The Sea'/'Third Little Turning (On The Right)' released.
Billy Wilder's Sabrina - starring Humphrey Bogart, William Holden and Audrey Hepburn and Don Siegel's Private Hell Thirty Six - starring Ida Lupino - premiered.
Highlight of the day's First Division fixtures was Preston North End's three-all draw with Newcastle United. In the Second Division Bury beat Leeds United five-three.
Francis Searle's Profile - starring John Bentley, Kathleen Byron and Thea Gregory - premiered.
The first episode of the Journey Into Space serial, The Red Planet broadcast on The Light Programme. 'Orders must be obeyed without question at all times.' Federico Fellini's La Strada - starring Giulietta Masina, Anthony Quinn and Richard Basehart and John Harlow's Delayed Action - starring Robert Ayres, June Thorburn, Alan Wheatley, Bruce Seton and Michael Balfour - premiered.
Gottfried Reinhardt's Betrayed - starring Clark Gable, Lana Turner, Victor Mature, Louis Calhern and Wilfrid Hyde-White - premiered.
Vincente Minnelli's Brigadoon - starring Gene Kelly - premiered. Anne Margaret Diamond born in Malvern. Manchester United went to the top of the First Division with a two-nil victory at Tottenham Hotspur. Len White scored four in Newcastle United's five-three defeat of Aston Villa. Stoke City remnained top of the Second Division, winning one-nil at Leeds United. Fulham beat Doncaster Rivers five-two. Bradford City won three-oine at Wrexham and led the Third Division (North).
The first episode It's Easy When You Know How broadcast. Alan Bromly's The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp - starring Felix Aylmer, Diane Cilento and Jerry Desmonde - premiered.
André Berthomieu's Scènes De Ménage - starring Bernard Blier, Marie Daëms and Sophie Desmarets - premiered.
Wolverhampton Wanderers won three-one at Charlton Athletic to lead the First Division. The match of the day came in the Second Division and Blackburn Rovers' four-three vicotry over Liverpool. Elsewhere West Ham United and Leeds United both had five-two victories (against Bristol Rovers and Swansea Town respectively).
The TV début of Norman Vaughan in an episode of Show Case broadcast. Francis Searle's Profile - starring John Bentley, Kathleen Byron and Thea Gregory - premiered.
Robert Parrish's The Purple Plain - starring Gregory Peck, Win Min Than, Maurice Denham, Lyndon Brook and Bernard Lee - premiered.
John Evans scored all five of Liverpool's goals in their five-three victory over Bristol Rovers in the Second Division.
William Golding's Lord Of The Flies published. Rogue Cop - starring Robert Taylor, Janet Leigh and George Raft - premiered.
Montgomery Tully's Devil's Point - starring Richard Arlen, Greta Gynt, Donald Houston, Mary Germaine, Edwin Richfield and Michael Balfour - premiered.
Helen Margaret Lederer born in Carmarthen. Martin Sixsmith born in Warrington.
Forty nine goals were scored in eleven First Division matches, with a ten goal thriller at The Hawthorns (West Bromwich beating Leicester City six-four) the clear highlight. Preston North End won five-nil at Sheffield United. Manchester City beat neighbours United three-two. Blackpool defeated Tottenham five-one and Chelsea won three-one at Newcastle. In the Second Division, Rotherham united beat Luton Town two-nil (Jack Grainger scoring both) to got top of the table. At the bottom, Middlesbrough finally got their first win of the season, two-one against Lincoln City, at the tenth attempt. Accrington Stanley led the Third Division (North) after a two-nil victory against Wrexham. Bristol City (who beat Brentford two-one) led the Third Division (South).
Joyce Dennys' Rain Before Seven, Television Goes To Sea and the first episode of The Return Of The Bumblies broadcast.
J Lee Thompson's For Better, For Worse - starring Dirk Bogarde, Susan Stephen, Cecil Parker, Eileen Herlie and Athene Seyler - premiered.
The Goon Show episode The Whistling Spy Enigma broadcast. Frank Launder's The Belles Of St Trinians - starring Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell, George Cole and Hermione Baddeley - premiered.
Joseph Mankiewicz's - starring Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner, George Cukor's A Star is Born - starring Judy Garland and James Mason and Riccardo Freda's Theodora, Slave Empress - starring Gianna Maria Canale and Renato Baldini - premiered. League champions Wolverhampton Wanderers and FA Cup winners West Bromwich Albion drew four-all in the FA Charity Shield at Molineux.
The first episode of And So To Bentley broadcast. David MacDonald's One Just Man - starring Alexander Knox, Peter Reynolds and Eunice Gayson and Curtis Bernhardt's Beau Brummell - starring Stewart Granger, Peter Ustinov, Elizabeth Taylor and Robert Morley - premiered. Internationally it was the first episode of the Danziger Productions TV series The Vise but in the UK it was released theatrically.
The TV debut of Des O'Connor on Music-Hall. England beat Northern Ireland two-nil in the Home International championship at Windsor Park. The goals were scored by two debutants, Fulham's Johnny Haynes and Manchester City's Don Revie. They were amongst seven players making their first england appearance, the others were the Manchester United duo Ray Wood and Bill Foulkes, Bolton's Johnny Wheeler, West Bromwich Albion's Ray Barlow and Burnley's Brian Pilkington. First Division highlights included Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion sharing six goals at Stamford Bridge before a crowd of sixty seven thousand and Wolves beating Manchester United four-two. In the Second Division Bristol Rovers thrashed Swansea Town seven-nil. Slim Whitman's 'Rose Marie'/'We Stood At The Altar' released. Belinda Mayne born in Marylebone.
The first episode of Harry Alan Towers' The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes - starring John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson and Orson Welles - broadcast on The Light Programme. The Goon Show episode The Lost Gold Mine (Of Charlotte) broadcast.
Lewis Allen's Suddenly - starring Frank Sinatra, Sterling Hayden, James Gleason and Nancy Gates - premiered.
Daniel Birt's Third Party Risk - starring Lloyd Bridges, Simone Silva, Finlay Currie and Roger Delgardo and John Guillermin's The Crowded Day - starring John Gregson and Joan Rice - premiered.
Fifty one goals were scored in the First Division; Portsmouth beat Sheffield United six-two (Peter Harris scored four), Manchester United thumped Cardiff City five-two (Tommy Taylor also hiting four), Sunderland won the Wear-Tyne derby four-two in front of sixty six thousand at Roker Park and Bolton Wanderers had a four-one victory over Leicester City. Second Division leaders Blackburn rovers beat Ipswich Town four-one. Scunthorpe & Lindsey United topped the Third Division (North) after a goalless draw at Bradford Park Avenue whilst Bristol City still led the Third Division (South) despite losing three-two at Southend United.
Terence Fisher's Final Appointment - starring John Bentley, Eleanor Summerfield, Hubert Gregg, Liam Redmond, Meredith Edwards, Jean Lodge, Sam Kydd, Charles Farrell, Peter Bathurst and Arthur Lowe, Daniel Birt's Third Party Risk - starring Lloyd Bridges, Simone Silva and Finlay Currie and Don Chaffey's Time Is My Enemy - starring Dennis Price, Renée Asherson, Patrick Barr and Susan Shaw - premiered.
Vernon Sewell's Radio Cab Murder - starring Jimmy Hanley, Lana Morris, Sonia Holm, Jack Allen, Frank Thornton and Sam Kydd - premiered. The Goon Show episode The Dreaded Batter-Pudding Hurler (Of Bexhill-On-Sea) broadcast.
Chris Chataway broke the world record for the five thousand metres during a London Versus Moscow athletics meeting at White City.
The Ethiopian emperor His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie's visit to Great Britain began. Michael Curtiz's White Christmas - starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney - premiered.
It was another high-scoring day in the First Division, headed by league leaders Manchester United's remarkable six-five win at Chelsea (Dennis Viollet and Seamus O'Connell scoring hat-tricks for their respective sides). Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur shared eight goals at St James' Park and Aston Villa won four-two at Manchester City (Tommy Thompson scoring three). Everton moved second in the table with a one-nil win over Sunderland. Blackburn Rovers were still top of the Second Division, two-one winners at Nottingham Forest, with Rotherham United, who thrashed Bristol Rovers six-two, close behind. Bristol City beat Aldershot six-one in the Third Division (South).
Kenneth Campbell Stott born in Edinburgh. The Goon Show episode The Phantom Head-Shaver (Of Brighton) broadcast. Charles Frend's Lease Of Life - starring Robert Donat, Kay Walsh, Adrienne Corri and Denholm Elliott - premiered.
Bill Haley & His Comets' 'Shake, Rattle & Roll'/'ABC Boogie', Slim Whitman's 'Beautiful Dreamer'/'Ride Away' and Tennessee Ernie Ford's 'Give Me Your Word'/'River Of No Return' released.
Tommy Cooper appeared on Back From The Sea. The Harlequin Duck broadcast.
The Goon Show episode The Affair Of The Lone Banana broadcast.
Wendy Toye's The Teckman Mystery - starring Margaret Leighton, John Justin and Roland Culver - premiered.
Tay Garnett's The Black Knight - starring Alan Ladd, Peter Cushing, Harry Andrews and Patrick Troughton and Otto Preminger's Carmen Jones - starring Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge - premiered.
There were forty nine goals in eleven First Division matches. Preston North End thrashed Sheffield Wednesday six-nil, Sheffield United beat Spurs four-one, Sunderland won three-one at Arsenal, Everton won four-two against Manchester United and Huddersfield Town won at Manchester City by the same score. Wolverhampton Wanderers went top with a three-two win at Newcastle. There were also plenty of goals in the second tier, Middlesbrough's new signing Charlie Wayman scoring four in a six-nil defeat of West Ham United and Tom Garneys also scoring four in Ipswich's five-one thrashing of Doncaster Rovers. In the Third Division (North), George Stewart scored three and Les Cocker two in Accrington Stanley's five=four win over Rochdale. Millwall beat Crystal Palace five-two in the Third Division (South). In all one hundred and eighty five goals were scored across the four divisions.
Ken Hughes's The Strange Case Of The Blonde - starring Russell Napier and Derek Aylward and John Lemont's The Green Carnation - starring Wayne Morris, Mary Germaine and Marcia Ashton - premiered.
The first episode of Find The Link broadcast. The first episode of Hancock's Half Hour - The First Night Party - broadcast on The Light Programme. The Goon Show episode The Canal broadcast.

Ron Flowers, Roy Swinbourne and Johnny Hancocks were all on the scoresheets as First Division leaders thrashed Burnley five-nil. Portsmouth beat Everton by the same score whilst Leicester City won five-two at Aston Villa. Sunderland and Chelsea shared six goals at Roker Park. Second Division table-toppers Blackburn Rovers thrashed Middlesbrough nine-nil (Eddie Quigley and Frank Mooney both scoring three). In the Third Division (North), York City won a nine-goal thriller, five-four at Carlisle United (Billy Fenton scoring four for the visitors, Jimmy Whitehouse three for the home team). Scunthorpe & Lindsey United remained top despite losing four-two at Hartlepools United. Promotion-chasing Leyton Orient won seven-one at Exeter City in the Third Division (South) with Vic Groves netting three.
Sherman A Rose's Target Earth - starring Richard Denning, Kathleen Crowley and Virginia Grey - premiered.
Sue Upton born in Chadwell Heath, Essex.
The Goon Show episode Lurgi Strikes Britain broadcast. The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Diamond Ring broadcast on The Light Programme. Charles Crichton's The Divided Heart - starring Cornell Borchers, Yvonne Mitchell, Armin Dahlen and Alexander Knox - premiered.
England beat Wales three-two in the Home International championship at Wembley. Roy Bentley, making his first international appearance in four years scored a hat-trick for the hosts whilst John Charles hit both goals for Wales. Len Shackelton was also recalled whilst Bentley's Chelsea teammate Frank Blunstone and Wolves' Bill Slater made their England debuts.
The Scarlet Eagle broadcast.
The first episode of Fabian Of Scotland Yard - The Extra Bullet - broadcast. In the First Division, Huddersfield Town won five-three at Arsenal whilst Cardiff City beat Sheffield Wednesday by the same score. Newcastle United defeated Charlton Athletic three-one whilst Sheffield United had a three-nil victory over Manchester United. Preston and Wolves drew three-three.
Ronald Miller's adaptation of Waiting For Gillian broadcast.
Wolf Rilla's The End Of The Road - starring Finlay Currie, Duncan Lamont and Naomi Chance - premiered.
English Football League champions Wolves beat Spartak Moscow four-nil at Molineux in the first of a series of floodlit friendly games against the cream of Europe's club side which would subsequently provide the impetus for the creation of the European Cup. Henry Koster's Désirée - starring Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons and Ralph Thomas' Mad About Men - starring Glynis Johns, Donald Sinden, Anne Crawford and Margaret Rutherford - premiered. The Goon Show episode The Mystery Of The Marie [sic] Celeste (Solved!) broadcast. The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Idol broadcast on The Light Programme.
Val Guest's The Men Of Sherwood Forest - starring Don Taylor, Reginald Beckwith, Eileen Moore, Douglas Wilmer, Ballard Berkeley, Leonard Sachs, Bernard Bresslaw and Edward Hardwicke - premiered.
The first episode of It's A Great Life broadcast. In the FA Cup First Round, regular recent giant-killers Walthamstow Avenue took another league side, Queens Park Rangers to a replay with a two-two draw at Loftus Road. Accrington Stanley beat Central Alliance League Cresswell Colliery seven-one. Southampton won four-one at Athenian League Barnet whilst Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic beat Western League Barnstable by the same score. Brighton & Hove Albion beat Tunbridge Wells United of the Kent League five-nil. Leyton Orient won three-nil at Western League Frome Town. Bishop Auckland trhrashed Kettering Town five-one and Crook Town beat Stanley United five-three in an all Northern League clash. Gateshead beat Chester six-nil, Workington defeated Hyde united five-one and Walsall had a five-two victory over Shrewsbury Town. First Division leaders Wolves won four-one against Sheffield United. Tottneham beat Leicester City five-one.
The Fortress Of The Legion: Caerleon broadcast. Anthony Kimmins' Aunt Clara - starring Ronald Shiner, Margaret Rutherford, AE Matthews and Fay Compton - premiered.
The Goon Show episode The Last Tram (From Clapham) broadcast. The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Boxing Champion broadcast on The Light Programme.
The first episode of Felix Felton and Susan Ashman's adaptation of The Three Musketeers broadcast.
Jean-Paul Le Chanois's Papa, Maman, Ma Femme Et Moi - starring Robert Lamoureux, Gaby Morlay, Fernand Ledoux, Nicole Courcel, Louis de Funès and Madeleine Barbulée - premiered. Two further non-league sides qualified for the FA Cup Second Round, Blyth Spartans beating Boston United five-four and Merthyr Tydfil winning six-one at Wellington Town in replays.
Dickie Valentine With The Stragazers' 'The Finger Of Suspicion'/'Who's Afraid (Not I, Not I, Not I)?' and Frank Sinatra's 'It's Only A Paper Moon'/'When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)' released. Highlights of the day's First Division fixtures included Charlton's five-one win at Manchester City and Leicester beating Sheffield Wednesday four-three. Birmingham City hammered Port Vale seven-two in the Second Division whilst Luton defeated league leaders Blackburn Rovers seven-three. Accrington Stanley continued their recent impressive form with a two-two victory over Gateshead in the Third Division (North), George Stewart scoring five.
Ken Hughes's Passenger To Tokyo, Muriel Box's To Dorothy A Son - starring Shelley Winters, John Gregson, Peggy Cummins and Wilfrid Hyde-White and John Arnold's The Passing Stranger - starring Lee Patterson, Diane Cilento and Duncan Lamont - premiered. Perennial FA Cup giant-killers Walthamstow Avenue did it again, thrashing Queens Park Rangers four-nil in a First Round second replay at Highbury.
Churchill At Eighty broadcast. The Goon Show episode The Booted Gorilla (Found) broadcast. The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Hancock Fesitval broadcast on The Light Programme. Lewis Gilbert's The Sea Shall Not Have Them - starring Michael Redgrave, Dirk Bogarde, Antrhony Steel and Nigel Patrick - premiered.
England beat World Cup winners West Germany three-one in a friendly international at Wembley with goals from Roy Bentley, Ronnie Allen and Len Shackelton. It was the first time the countries had faced each other - at football, at least - since an infamous game in Berlin in 1938. Australia won the first Ashes test at Brisbane by an innings and one hundred and fifty four runs. Having scored over six hundred in their innings - Neil Harvey and Arthur Morris both hitting centuries - Australia twice dismissed England cheaply. Trevor Bailey in the first innings and Bill Edrich in the second top-scored for the visitors, both with eighty eight. Ken Andrew and Colin Cowdrey made their test debuts. Noel Langley's adaptation of Svengali - starring Hildegard Knef, Donald Wolfit, Terence Morgan, Derek Bond and Paul Rogers - premiered.
The Chordettes' 'Mister Sandman'/'I Don't Wanna See You Cryin' released.
Hanif Kureishi born in Bromley. In the First Division, Portsmouth beat West Bromwich Albion six-one, Newcastle United won three-nil at Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea won four-three at Wolves. Ivor Allchurch scored a hat-trick and his brother, Len, added another goal in Swansea Town's six-one victory over Ispwich Town in the Second Division. The - highly controversial - Fabian Of Scotland Yard episode Bombs In Piccadilly (concerning an IRA terrorist plot) broadcast.
George Breakston's Golden Ivory - starring Robert Urquhart, John Bentley and Susan Stephen - premiered.
The TV debut of Peter Vaughan in Pageant Wagon To Citizens' Theatre, part of the Stage By Stage strand. John Guillermin's The Crowded Day - starring John Gregson, Joan Rice, Josephine Griffin and Cyril Raymond - premiered.
The Goon Show episode The Spanish Suitcase broadcast. The Hancock's Half Hour episode The New Car broadcast on The Light Programme.
John Haggarty's Mystery Of Bird Island - starring Mavis Sage, Jennifer Beach, Nick Edmett, Alexander Gauge, Vernon Morris, Peter Arne and Roddy Hughes and Cyril Frankel's Make Me An Offer - starring Peter Finch, Adrienne Corri and Finlay Currie - premiered.
Maurice Elvey's The Happiness Of Three Women - starring Brenda de Banzie, Eynon Evans, Petula Clark, Donald Houston, Patricia Burke, Patricia Cutts and Glyn Houston and Anthony Asquith's Carrington VC - starring David Niven, Margaret Leighton and Noelle Middleton - premiered. Elizabeth Ann Crowther born in Iselwroth.
Terence Fisher's Mask Of Dust - starring Richard Conte, Mari Aldon, Peter Illing and Stirling Moss - premiered. Rosemary Clooney & The Mellomen's 'Mambo Italiano'/'We'll Be Together Again', Joy Nichols, Dick Bentley & Jimmy Edwards' 'The Little Red Monkey'/'The Inch Worm', 'The Hippopotamus Song', 'Froggie & The Catfish' released.
In the Second Round of the FA Cup, the headlines were caused by Northern League Bishop Auckland who won four-two at Crystal Palace (Jackie Major scoring three). Elsewhere, Torquay United won three-one at Blyth Spartans, Bradford City thrashed Merthyr Tydfil seven-one, York City won five-two at Dorchester Town, Hartlepools United thumped Aldershot four-nil, Hastings United had a two-nil victory at Selby Town and Darlington ended Walthamstow Avenue's latest FA Cup run with a three-nil win at Green Park Road. Wolves remained top of the First Division with a two-one win at Leicester City. Liverpool suffered the heaviest defeat of their history, losing nine-one at Birmingham City. George Seaton's The County Girl - starring Bing Crosby, Grave Kelly and William Holden - premiered.
The first broadcast of Nigel Kneale and Rudolph Cartier's controversial - and brilliant - adaptation of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty Four. A repeat performance was broadcast four days later and, thankfully, was telerecorded for posterity.
Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Honved - containing the majority of Hungary's crack national side - three-two in a classic floodlit friendly broadcast on the BBC. Reaction to this match - and to Stan Cullis' claim that Wolves were now, effectively, 'world champions' - prompted the setting up on a pan-European competition, the European Cup the following year. Reading beat Gillingham five-three in an FA Cup Second Round replay.
Wolf Rilla's The Black Rider - starring Jimmy Hanley, Rona Anderson, Leslie Dwyer, Lionel Jeffries, Beatrice Varley and Michael Golden - premiered. The Goon Show episode Dishonoured (Or, The Fall Of Neddie Seagoon) broadcast. The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Department Store Santa broadcast on The Light Programme.
Walter Lang's There's No Business Like Show Business - starring Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor and Marilyn Monroe - premiered.
David MacDonald's The Yellow Robe - starring Anthony Pendrell, Honor Blackman, Ron Randell and Robert Raglan - premiered.
Douglas Sirk's Sign Of The Pagan - starring Jeff Chandler, Jack Palance, Ludmilla Tchérina and Rita Gam - premiered. The highlight of the day's First Division fixtures was Newcastle United's five-one defeat of Arsenal (Bobby Mitchell and Vic Keeble both scoring twice). In the Third Division (North) Workington thrashed Darlington six-one (Jim Dailey scoring four). Vic Groves scored a hat-trick in Leyton Orient's seven-two win at Torquay United in the Third Division (South).
The Silver Chalice - starring Paul Newman and Jack Palance - premiered.
The first episode of David Attenborough's Zoo Quest broadcast. The Goon Show episode Forog broadcast. The Hancock's Half Hour episode Christmas At Aldershot broadcast on The Light Programme. Herbert Wilcox's Lilacs In The Spring - starring Errol Flynn, Anna Neagle, David Farrar and Kathleen Harrison - premiered.
England won the second Ashes test at Sydney by thirty eight runs. Despite conceding a first innings lead of seventy four to the hosts, a century by Peter May - including a lengthy partnership with Colin Cowdrey - and the fearsome pace of Frank Tyson (eleven wickets in the match) backed up by Trevor Bailey and Brian Statham gave England the victory. Hugh Anthony Kobna Amo Quarshie born in Accra, Gold Coast.
Richard Fleischer's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea - starring Kirk Douglas and James Mason - premiered.
The first UK TV showing of Beyond Tomorrow. Carols From Kings broadcast for the first time.
Television's Christmas Party - featuring Arthur Askey, Petula Clark, David Nixon, Tommy Cooper, Bob Monkhouse, Harry Secombe, Harry Corbett and Sooty and hosted by McDonald Hobley and Leslie Mitchell - broadcast. Everton won three-one at First Division leaders Wolves. Billy Liddell scored four in Liverpool's six-two defeated Ipswich Town in the Second Division. Carlisle United beat Rochdale seven-two in the Third Division (North).
An adaptation of The Captive broadcast.
Tons Of Money - featuring Frankie Howerd - broadcast. Blackpool's three-nil victory at Portsmouth in the First Division saw the league debut of Jimmy Armfield - the first of five hundred and sixty nine games for The Tangerines in a career that lasted until 1971. In the process he broke George Farm's appearance record for the club, established in 1960. Everton defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers for the second time in three days - three-two at Goodison - allowing Sunderland, who drew at Huddersfield to go top of the table. Newcastle United beat Manchester City two-nil and Spurs defeated Bolton Wanderers by the same score. Second Division leaders Blackburn Rovers hammered Doncaster Rovers seven-two. Luton Town went second after a four-nil win at Hull City. Stockport County won seven-three at Chesterfield in the Third Division (North).
England captain Billy Wright appeared as a guest on Junior Soccer Skills. The Goon Show episode Ye Bandit Of Sherwood Forest broadcast. The Hancock's Half Hour episode The Christmas Eve Party broadcast on The Light Programme.
They Serve To Lead broadcast.
The first Sports Review Of The Year ceremony, featuring the Sports Personality Of The Year Award - won by Chris Chataway - broadcast.
Ask Pickles New Year Party and Viewfinder: Review Of The Year broadcast. Burt Balaban's Stranger From Venus - starring Patricia Neal, Helmut Dantine, Derek Bond and Cyril Luckham - premiered.