January 10, 2008

Born on this date
Happy 70th birthday, Senator Frank Mahovlich!

100 years ago
1908

Born on this date
Bernard Lee. U.K. actor. Mr. Lee appeared in more than 100 movies, as well as plays and television programs in a career spanning 45 years. He was best known for playing M in the first 11 James Bond movies (1962-1979). Mr. Lee died of stomach cancer on January 16, 1981, six days after his 73rd birthday.

60 years ago
1948

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): Ballerina--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra (5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Ballerina--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra (3rd week at #1)
--Buddy Clark
--Bing Crosby with the Rhythmaires
2 Too Fat Polka (I Don’t Want Her) (You Can Have Her) (She’s Too Fat for Me)--Arthur Godfrey
3 Near You--Francis Craig and his Orchestra
--Larry Green and his Orchestra
--The Andrews Sisters
--Alvino Rey and his Orchestra
--Elliot Lawrence and his Orchestra
4 Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo)--Danny Kaye and the Andrews Sisters
--Louis Prima and his Orchestra
--Jack Smith and the Clark Sisters
--Ray McKinley and his Orchestra
--Woody Herman and his Orchestra
5 How Soon (Will I Be Seeing You)--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Jack Owens
--Bing Crosby and Carmen Cavallaro
--Dinah Shore
6 You Do--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Bing Crosby and Carmen Cavallaro
--Margaret Whiting
--Dinah Shore
--Vic Damone
7 Golden Earrings--Peggy Lee
8 Whiffenpoof Song--Bing Crosby with Fred Waring and the Glee Club
9 I'll Dance at Your Wedding--Ray Noble and his Orchestra with Buddy Clark
--Peggy Lee
10 Serenade of the Bells--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
--Jo Stafford
--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were I'm a Ding Dong Daddy (From Dumas), with versions by Arthur Godfrey; and Phil Harris and his Orchestra (#24); Your Red Wagon by Red McKinley and his Orchestra (#26); and I Told Ya I Love Ya, Now Get Out, with versions by Stan Kenton and his Orchestra; and Woody Herman and his Orchestra (#28).

On the radio
Suspense, hosted by Robert Montgomery, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Kandy Tooth, starring Howard Duff

Mr. Duff played Sam Spade and Joseph Kerns played Kaspar Gutman in this radio sequel to The Maltese Falcon.

At the movies
I Love Trouble, directed by S. Sylvan Simon, and starring Franchot Tone and Janet Blair, received its premiere screening.



Religion
Gallup Poll issued an 11-nation survey of religious belief, showing Brazil with the highest proportion of believers in God (96%), and France the lowest (66%). 94% of U.S. respondents claimed to believe in God.

Economics and finance
The U.S. State Department put radar equipment on its list of militarily sensitive items that required a license for export to the U.S.S.R. and Eastern Europe.

50 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Great Balls of Fire--Jerry Lee Lewis

On television tonight
Harbor Command, starring Wendell Corey
Tonight's episode: Yacht Club

Literature
The novel Some Came Running by James Jones was published in New York by Scribners.

Diplomacy
U.S. State Secretary John Foster Dulles rejected as impossible U.S.S.R. Premier Nikolai Bulganin's call for a summit meeting of Western, Communist, and neutralist states.

World events
A Budapest court sentenced Monsignor Albert Turcsanyi, aide to Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty during the 1956 Hungarian revolt, to life imprisonment.

Defense
Canadian Defense Minister George Pearkes told the House of Commons that U.S. aircraft carried nuclear weapons over Canada, but only under specific circumstances and with written advance permission from Canada.

Politics and government
John Gates, editor of the Daily Worker for the past 10 years, resigned from the Communist Party USA after two years of feuding with the party's dominant faction, led by William Z. Foster.

Economics and finance
U.S. State Secretary Dulles said that the United States intended to support India with loans from the Development Loan Fund, Export-Import Bank, and World Bank.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Hello Goodbye--The Beatles (6th week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Snoopy's Christmas--The Royal Guardsmen (2nd week at #1)
2 Hello Goodbye/I Am the Walrus--The Beatles
3 Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)--Johnny Farnham
4 The Last Waltz--Engelbert Humperdinck
5 Daydream Believer--The Monkees
6 You've Not Changed--Sandie Shaw
7 Cathy Come Home/The Way They Play--The Twilights
8 The Two of Us--Jackie Trent and Tony Hatch
9 (The Lights Went Out In) Massachusetts--The Bee Gees
10 The Rain, The Park and Other Things--The Cowsills

Singles entering the chart were She's a Rainbow by the Rolling Stones (#19); Baby, Now that I've Found You by the Foundations (#25); Emerald City by the Seekers (#28); The Other Man's Grass (Is Always Greener) by Petula Clark (#32); Zabadak! by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich (#33); Ambush by Maria Dallas (#34); She (EP) by the Monkees (#36); The Music Goes 'Round My Head/Come In You'll Get Pneumonia by the Easybeats (#37); and Love is All Around by the Troggs (#38).

Politics and government
The day after being elected leader of the Liberal Party, John Gorton took office as Prime Minister of Australia, succeeding John McEwen, who served as a caretaker following the disappearance and presumed drowning of Harold Holt on December 17, 1967.

Disasters
A U.S. Marine Corps C-54 crashed near Battle Mountain, Nevada, killing 19.

30 years ago
1978

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Princess in the Tower

Died on this date
Pedro Joaquin Chamorro Cardenal, 53. Nicaraguan journalist. Mr. Chamorro was the editor and publisher of La Prensa, the only significant newspaper in Nicaragua expressing opposition to the regime of President Anastasio Somoza Debayle. Mr. Chamorro was assassinated by unknown gunmen who pulled up next to him in a car and opened fire with shotguns. Mr. Somoza claimed that Mr. Chamorro was assassinated by Pedro Ramos, a Cuban-American entrepreneur whose business had been attacked by La Prensa, while Mr. Chamorro's family and others believed that Mr. Somoza had ordered the assassination.

Politics and government
Claude Ryan resigned as editor of the Montreal newspaper Le Devoir and announced that he was a candidate to become leader of the Québec Liberal Party.

Football
NFL
The Philadelphia Eagles released Roman Gabriel, ending the quarterback's NFL career after 16 seasons. He had played in just 3 games for the Eagles in 1977, his fifth year with the club after 11 years with the Los Angeles Rams. Mr. Gabriel's best years were 1967-1971. He was the National Football League's Most Valuable Player in 1969, and was also the MVP in the Pro Bowl which followed that season. Mr. Gabriel's performance suffered during the next two years, partly because of a sore arm. He requested a trade, and was dealt to the Eagles. Despite playing for a poor team, he led the NFL in 1973 in passes, completions, yards passing, and touchdown passes, and was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year.

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club (3rd week at #1)

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Faith--George Michael (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: China in Your Hand--T'Pau (4th week at #1)

Football
NFL
NFC Divisional Playoff
Washington 21 @ Chicago 17

Darrell Green's 52-yard punt return for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter provided the winning margin as the Redskins came back from a 14-0 deficit with 3 straight converted touchdowns in the 2nd and 3rd quarters to defeat the Bears before 65,268 fans at Soldier Field.

AFC Divisional Playoff
Houston 10 @ Denver 34

The Broncos took a 24-3 halftime lead and coasted to victory over the Oilers before 75,440 fans at Mile High Stadium.



10 years ago
1998

Edmontonia
This blogger was among those in attendance at Chandler's Tea Room for the annual Blue Carbuncle Dinner of the CPR Stockholders of Edmonton.