May 1953 calendar
Learn the most interesting events and historical facts that happened in May 1953.
The US president was Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican), the UK Prime Minister was Sir Winston Churchill (Conservative), Pope Pius XII was leading the Catholic Church.
But much more happened on May 1953: find out below
Historical Events
Which were the important events of May 1953?
Events
- 02 May 1953 79th Kentucky Derby: Hank Moreno aboard Dark Star wins in 2:02.
- 03 May 1953 WTVO TV channel 17 in Rockford, IL (NBC) begins broadcasting
- 04 May 1953 Pulitzer prize awarded to E Hemingway
- 05 May 1953 Aldous Huxley first tries the psychedelic hallucinogen mescaline, inspiring his book ''The Doors of Perception''.
- 07 May 1953 Can Can opens at Shubert Theater NYC for 892 performances
- 08 May 1953 WIPB TV channel 49 in Muncie, IN (PBS) begins broadcasting
- 09 May 1953 France agrees to the provisional independence of Cambodia with King Norodom Sihanouk.
- 10 May 1953 KCBD TV channel 11 in Lubbock, TX (NBC) begins broadcasting
- 11 May 1953 Winston Churchill criticizes John Foster Dulles' domino theory.
- 12 May 1953 KUHT TV channel 8 in Houston, TX (PBS) begins broadcasting
- 13 May 1953 New York Giants' Willie Mays and Darryl Spencer each hit two homeruns and a triple.
- 15 May 1953 Rocky Marciano KOs Jersey Joe Walcott in 1 for heavywgt boxing title
- 17 May 1953 Patty Berg wins LPGA Reno Golf Open.
- 18 May 1953 1st woman to break sound barrier
- 19 May 1953 Nuclear explosion in Nevada (fall-out in Saint George, Utah).
- 21 May 1953 French Government of Mayer resigns.
- 22 May 1953 Yankee Irv Noren hits into a triple-play, Yanks beat Washington 12-4
- 23 May 1953 WHIZ TV channel 18 in Zanesville, OH (NBC / ABC) begins broadcasting
- 24 May 1953 Pope Pius XII publishes encyclical Doctor Mellifluus
- 25 May 1953 1st atomic cannon electronically fired, Frenchman Flat, Nevada
- 26 May 1953 Dutch Convair crashes at Schipholweg, two die.
- 27 May 1953 Dutch social democratic / Dutch Liberal Party win municipal elections
- 28 May 1953 Premiere of first animated 3-D cartoon in Technicolor: Melody.
- 29 May 1953 Edmund P Hillary of New Zealand and Nepalese Sherpa Tensing Norkay are first to reach summit of Mount Everest in Nepal, the highest mountain on earth.
- 31 May 1953 WSUN TV channel 38 in St. Petersburg-Tampa, Florida (IND) 1st broadcast
- 03 May 1953 Two men are rescued from a semitrailer that crashed over the side of the Pit River Bridge before it fell into the Sacramento River. Amateur photographer Virginia Schau photographs "Rescue on Pit River Bridge", the first and only winning submission for the Pulitzer Prize for Photography to have been taken by a woman.
Famous Birthday
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Famous Deaths
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Music charts
Which were the top hits in May 1953?
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Top #5 songs in the USA
- Red Buttons - The Ho Ho Song
- Joni James - Almost Always
- Eddie Fisher - I'm Walking Behind You
- Vic Damone - April in Portugal
- Mantovani & His Orchestra - The Moulin Rouge Theme (Where Is Your Heart)
Top #5 songs in the UK
- Guy Mitchell - She Wears Red Feathers
- Frankie Laine - I Believe
- Lita Roza - (How Much Is That) Doggie In The Window?
- Nat 'King' Cole - Pretend
- Guy Mitchell - Pretty Little Black Eyed Susie
Movies
Which were the most popular Movies released in that month?
Books
Which were the most popular books released in May 1953?