| Movies and movie stars are allowed to appear on television for the first time. | Dizzy Gillespie and his band are sent by the U.S. State Department on a goodwill tour- the first jazz musicians to be subsidized by the government. |
| Billboard's #1 hit is Memories Are Made of This by Dean Martin. | Yul Brynner wins the Oscar for "Best Actor." | Ingrid Bergman wins the Oscar for "Best Actress." |
Sharon Ritchie is crowned Miss America. |
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