Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & Comets reached #1 on the US singles charts.
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Several internal explosions inside Britain's HMS Vanguard battleship occurred at Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland.
The British TV series ''The Office” first aired on the BBC.
The Federation of Australia was given Royal Assent.
The first president of the United States of America, George Washington, read the Declaration of Independence.
Andy Warhol presented his artwork for the first time at the Ferus Gallery, Los Angeles, US.