February 4, 2008

80 years ago
1928

Aviation
French aviators Dieudonne Costes and Joseph Lebrix, after spending some time in Central America and South America, arrived in the United States. They flew from Mexico City to New Orleans, a distance of 1,000 miles, in 10 hours and 8 minutes. The United States was the last country the two would visit on their transatlantic adventure.

50 years ago
1958

Music
The Grand Ole Opry show, featuring Ferlin Husky and Faron Young, was at the Edmonton Gardens. Ticket prices ranged from $1.50-$2.00.

25 years ago
1983

Died on this date
Karen Carpenter, 32. U.S. pop singer. She and her brother Richard were one of the most popular acts in pop music from 1970-1977. They had 12 U.S. top 10 hit singles. Three hit #1: (They Long to Be) Close to You; Top of the World; and Please Mr. Postman. Five more hit the #2 position: We've Only Just Begun; Rainy Days and Monday; Superstar; Hurting Each Other; and Yesterday Once More.

Their last hit was a remake of Beechwood 4-5789 in the spring of 1982. Karen died after a long battle with anorexia nervosa.

Diplomacy
U.S. Vice President George Bush continued his western European tour with a stop in Geneva, Switzerland, where he met with Soviet delegates to the arms reduction talks. Nothing more encouraging was reported than a frank exchange of views.

30 years ago
1978

Hockey
NHL
Chicago 5 @ Vancouver 1

The Black Hawks defeated the Canucks at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver in the national Hockey Night in Canada telecast. Murray Bannerman made his NHL debut, playing the third period in goal for the Canucks and holding the Black Hawks scoreless. Bannerman later joined the Black Hawks, and his dismal goaltending in the 1985 Campbell Conference finals against the Edmonton Oilers was a major reason for the Black Hawks' failure to advance to the Stanley Cup finals that year.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley (4th week at #1)