Video: 'General Electric Theater - Winner By Decision' (Nov. 6, 1955)
(Sunday, September 26, 1954, 9:00 p.m. EDT) — Actor Ronald Reagan debuted tonight as the only host of the CBS television series General Electric Theater. GE added a host to provide continuity in the anthology format.
(Sunday, September 26, 1954, 10:43 p.m. local time) — The Japanese commercial ferry Toya Maru capsized and sank tonight during a typhoon in the Tsugaru Strait several hundred meters off the shore of Hakodate.
Of the 1,309 on board, only 150 people survived, while 1,159 (1,041 passengers, 73 crew and 41 others) died.
Video: 'Studio One: Twelve Angry Men'
(Monday, September 20, 1954, 10:00 p.m. EDT) — Twelve Angry Men, a teleplay about a jury that must reach a verdict concerning a teenage boy accused of murder, was presented live tonight on CBS-TV as part of the anthology series Studio One.
Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 2' (Sept. 17, 1954, at 7:09)
(Friday, September 17, 1954; during the Cold War) — More than 250,000 refugees have moved from Communist-controlled North Vietnam to South Vietnam, Harold E. Stassen, Foreign Operations Administrator, said today.
The number has far exceeded every estimate of those to be relocated under provisions of the Geneva cease-fire agreement which went into effect July 22, 1954.
Video: 'Marilyn Monroe - George Barris Interview about Seven Year Itch Skirt Blowing Scene'
(Friday, September 15, 1954, 1:00 a.m. EDT) — As raucous fans looked on, 28-year-old actress Marilyn Monroe filmed the famous billowing-skirt scene for The Seven Year Itch early this morning over a Lexington Avenue subway grate in Manhattan. However, little, if any, of the footage ended up in the movie; the scene was later re-shot on a Hollywood set.
Video: 'Lassie - Episode 1 - "Inheritance" - Part 1 - (Originally broadcast 09/12/1954)'
(Sunday, September 12, 1954, 7:00 p.m. EDT) — Lassie, an American television series that follows the adventures of a female Rough Collie dog named Lassie and her companions, human and animal, debuted tonight as a regular television series on CBS. It starred Tommy Rettig, Jan Clayton and George Cleveland. Continue reading ‘Lassie’ series debuts on CBS-TV 60 years ago this hour (Sep 12 1954)
Video: 'Sabrina' trailer
(Thursday, September 9, 1954) — Sabrina, a romantic comedy film about two wealthy brothers who fall for the chauffeur’s daughter, premiered today in London.
Directed by Billy Wilder, the film starred Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn and William Holden.
Video: 'La Strada' trailer
(Monday, September 6, 1954) — La Strada, an Italian drama film about a traveling strongman buys a peasant girl to be his wife and co-star, premiered today at the Venice Film Festival.
Directed by Federico Fellini, the film starred Anthony Quinn, Giulietta Masina and Richard Basehart.
Video: 'Hurricane Carol 1954'
(Tuesday, August 31, 1954) — Hurricane Carol hit the northeastern Atlantic states today. Connecticut, Rhode Island and part of Massachusetts bore the brunt of the storm, which resulted in 72 deaths.
(Monday, August 30, 1954) — U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower today signed the controversial Atomic Energy Act of 1954, which opens the door to private initiative in putting nuclear power to work.
