February 16, 2008

80 years ago
1928

Diplomacy
Egypt signed the Geneva convention for the abolition of slavery.

Crime
Two coal diggers were shot to death in fights between coal miners' unions at Pittston and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

50 years ago
1958

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: On the Nose, starring Jan Sterling, David Opatoshu, Karl Swenson, and Carl Betz

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Daydream Believer--The Monkees (2nd week at #1)

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 Love is Blue (L'Amour es Bleu)--Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)
2 Itchycoo Park--Small Faces
3 Green Tambourine--The Lemon Pipers
4 Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)--John Fred and his Playboy Band
5 I Can Take or Leave Your Loving--Herman's Hermits
6 I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite--Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart
7 Spooky--The Classics IV
8 (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay--Otis Redding
9 Zabadak!--Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
10 Skip a Rope--Henson Cargill
Pick of the Week: Brown-Eyed Handsome Man--Jerry Jaye
New this week: The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)--Manfred Mann
By the Time I Get to Phoenix--Joann Moore
The Lovin' Things--Bobby Rydell
Heaven is In Your Mind--Traffic
Walk Away Renee--The Four Tops

Died on this date
Healy Willan, 87. U.K.-born Canadian composer. Dr. Willan taught music at the University of Toronto for many years, beginning in 1914. He's best-known for his sacred music and his compositions for organ, and his music is regularly heard on CBC 2 radio.

30 years ago
1978

On television tonight
James at 16, starring Lance Kerwin, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Blowout

Business
The Canadian Football League governors, meeting in Toronto, approved the sale of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from Michael DeGroote to Harold Ballard, owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
Canada's top 5 (The Record)
1 Pop Goes the World--Men Without Hats
2 Got My Mind Set on You--George Harrison
3 Could've Been--Tiffany
4 Faith--George Michael
5 The Way You Make Me Feel--Michael Jackson

Olympics
Canada defeated Switzerland 4-2 in men's hockey at the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary.