December 1953

The following events occurred in December 1953:

December 1, 1953 (Tuesday)[]

The United Kingdom and Iran reform diplomatic relations.
Death
- Tran Trong Kim, Vietnamese historian and Prime Minister of the Empire of Vietnam (b. 1883)

With the NBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Arturo Toscanini performs what he claims is his favorite Beethoven symphony, Eroica, for the last time. The live performance is broadcast nationwide on radio, and later released on records and CD.

A visit to Iran by American Vice President Richard Nixon sparks several days of riots, as a reaction to the August 19 overthrow of the government of Mohammed Mossadegh by the US-backed Shah. Three students are shot dead by police in Tehran. This event becomes an annual commemoration, Student Day.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approves color television (using the NTSC standard).

Tangiwai disaster: A railway bridge collapses at Tangiwai, New Zealand, sending a fully loaded passenger train into the Whangaehu River; 151 are killed.

The Amami Islands are returned to Japan after 8 years of United States military occupation.
Died:
- William Haselden, Spanish cartoonist (b. 1872)
- Lee Shubert, Polish-born theater owner and operator (b. 1871)

The first color television sets go on sale for about US$1,175 – RCA Model 5 Prototype, which became CT-100, and Admiral C1617A.^[1]

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