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.
Video: 'Rear Window' trailer
(Wednesday, August 18, 1954) — Dragnet, a crime drama film (based on the weekly TV series) about two homicide detectives who investigate the brutal shotgun murder of a crime syndicate member, opened today in Chicago.
Directed by Jack Webb, the film starred Webb, Ben Alexander, Richard Boone and Ann Robinson.
(Monday, August 16, 1954) — Sports Illustrated, a sports magazine owned by Time Inc., was first published today.
Video: 'Rear Window' trailer
(Wednesday, August 4, 1954) — Rear Window, a suspense thriller film about a photographer with a broken leg who uncovers a murder while spying on the neighbors in a nearby apartment building, premiered tonight at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the film starred James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter and Raymond Burr.
Image: 'Elvis Presley - Backstage at the Overton Park Shell, Friday, July 30, 1954'
(Friday, July 30, 1954, 8:00 p.m. local time) — Elvis Presley made his professional debut in Memphis. It was his first concert to be advertised.
Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 2' (July 7, 1954, at 4:18)
(Wednesday, July 7, 1954; during the First Indochina War, part of the Cold War) — Two months after the French surrendered to the Viet Minh at Dien Bien Phu, Emperor Bao Dai appointed Ngo Dinh Diem today as prime minister of what would become South Vietnam, hoping he would be able to attract American aid.
Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 1' (June 18, 1954, at 53:30)
(Friday, June 18, 1954; during the First Indochina War, part of the Cold War) — The French cabinet fell and a new prime minister took over today, Pierre Mendès France, a critic of the Indochina War.
