January 7, 2008

240 years ago
1768

Born on this date
Joseph I. King of Naples and Sicily, 1806-1808; King of Spain and the Indies, 1808-1813. Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte, born Giuseppe Buonaparte, was the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, who made him King of Naples and Sicily and then as Jose I, King of Spain and the Indies. He abdicated the latter throne after French forces were defeated by a British-led coalition in the Battle of Vitoria in 1813. Joseph governed Paris for several years and spent most of the period from 1817-1832 in the United States before returning to Europe and dying in Florence on July 28, 1844 at the age of 76.

110 years ago
1898

Born on this date
Al Bowlly. Mozambican-born U.K. singer. Mr. Bowlly grew up in Johannesburg and lived in several countries before moving to England in 1928. He became one of the most popular crooners of the early 1930s, but his career suffered after he developed problems with his voice because of a wart in his throat. Mr. Bowlly was killed on April 17, 1941 at the age of 43 when a German parachute mine landed outside his flat in London, and the explosion propelled his bedroom door into him, causing fatal head injuries.

80 years ago
1928

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Emilio Pericoli!
Mr. Pericoli was an Italian pop singer whose recording of Al Di La' was an international hit in 1962, going as high as #6 on the U.S. chart, and #30 in Britain. The song was sung in Italian, back in the days when it was possible to have a hit in North America in a language other than English. There was far more diversity on the pop chart then; early '60s hits included folk songs, country crossovers, jazz instrumentals, and songs sung in foreign languages.

40 years ago
1968

Space
The U.S.A. launched Surveyor 7, last of the robot moon-landing series. It photographed and analyzed the lunar surface, revealing earth-type basalt and volcanic rock, supporting the theory that the moon was born either with or from the earth.

Adventure
Andes Fortress was climbed for the first time by a British expedition. The peak, one of the Cordillera del Paine group of the Patagonian Andes in Chile, was more than 10,000 feet high.

Diplomacy
Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eshkol and U.S. President Lyndon Johnson began two days of talks at the LBJ Ranch in Texas, where Mr. Eshkol renewed his country's request that the United States sell weapons to Israel.

Disasters
43 people were killed when a bus plunged into a river near Hamyang, South Korea.

Football
NFL
Playoff Bowl @ Orange Bowl, Miami
Los Angeles 30 Cleveland 6

Roman Gabriel threw touchdown passes of 21 yards to Bernie Casey and 1 yard to Billy Truax, and handed off to Willie Ellison for a 9-yard TD run as the Rams easily beat the Browns before 37,102 fans. Bruce Gossett converted all the Los Angeles touchdowns and added a Playoff Bowl record 3 field goals. Gary Lane, who relieved starter Frank Ryan at quarterback in the 2nd half, handed off to Leroy Kelly for a 1-yard Cleveland touchdown in the 4th quarter. Lou Groza, playing the final game of his 21-year Hall of Fame professional career--all with the Browns--missed 2 field goals and a convert. Mr. Gabriel was named the game's most valuable player.



30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): How Deep is Your Love--Bee Gees (3rd week at #1)

20 years ago
1988

Died on this date
Trevor Howard, 74. U.K. actor. His movies included Brief Encounter, Von Ryan's Express, The Third Man, The Heart of the Matter, and White Mischief. He was not related to Moe, Curly or Shemp Howard.