On this day

January 20, 1954

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

Portrait 1080 × 1920 PNG · created on your device

Filter by:

Headlines from January 20, 1954

France Complains to Spain Over Discord in Morocco; Is Troubled by Moves to Bar Authority of Sultan in the Spanish Zone FRANCE COMPLAINS ON MOROCCO ACTS

By Henry Ginigerspecial To the New York Times

Min Bidault asks Spanish Amb Casa Rojas to explain reptd moves in Spanish Morocco by religious and tribal leaders to name Caliph Moulay el Hassan el Mehdi All-Moroccan Regent in name of deposed Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Youssef; says France will defend unity; French seek Spanish aid in stopping moves; Madrid press denounces repts of Regency plan; map

None0 words
Continue reading...
Share

Notable Births

Mohammad Dawran

1954Mohammad Dawran, Afghan aviator and military officer[†]

Major General Mohammad Dawran is an Afghan former military officer as well as the former Commander of the Afghan Air Force, enlisting in 1973. He was promoted to the post in 2005 by Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak and the Commander-in-Chief Bismillah Khan Mohammadi. His permanent post was in Bagram Air Base, the largest air base in Afghanistan and one of the largest air bases in the region. The new commander of the Afghan Air Force, Amanuddin Mansoor, was appointed in December 2021.

Ken Page

1954Ken Page, American actor and cabaret singer (died 2024)[†]

Kenneth Page was an American actor and cabaret singer who created the part of Ken in the original Broadway production of Ain't Misbehavin' and played Old Deuteronomy in the original Broadway and filmed stage adaptation of Cats. He voiced Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas and Kingdom Hearts franchises, and played in the original Broadway production of The Wiz as The Lion and the first Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls as Nicely-Nicely Johnson.

1954Alison Seabeck, English lawyer and politician[†]

Alison Jane Seabeck is a British former politician. A member of the Labour Party, she served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Plymouth Devonport from 2005 until 2010 and for Plymouth Moor View from 2010 to 2015, when she was defeated by Johnny Mercer of the Conservative Party. In Government she was a Whip 2007–2008. In opposition, Seabeck was a shadow Housing and Defence Minister.

Notable Deaths

Warren Bardsley

1954Warren Bardsley, Australian cricketer (born 1882)[†]

Warren "Curly" Bardsley was an Australian Test cricketer. An opening batsman, Bardsley played 41 Tests between 1909 and 1926 and over 200 first-class games for New South Wales. He was Wisden's Cricketer of the Year in 1910.

Fred Root

1954Fred Root, English cricketer and umpire (born 1890)[†]

Charles Frederick Root was an English cricketer who played for England in 1926 and for Derbyshire between 1910 and 1920 and for Worcestershire between 1921 and 1932.

Historical Events

1954In the United States, the National Negro Network is established with 40 charter member radio stations.[†]

The National Negro Network was a black-oriented radio programming service in the United States founded on January 20, 1954 by Chicago advertiser W. Leonard Evans, Jr. It was the first black-owned radio network in the country, and its programming was broadcast on up to 45 affiliates. An article in the trade publication Broadcasting said that the network was expected "to reach approximately 12 million of the 15 million Negroes in America."

Historical Context for January 20, 1954

In 1954, the world population was approximately 2,685,894,860 people[†]