March 30, 2008

170 years ago
1838

Politics and government
John Lambton, Lord Durham was appointed Governor-in-Chief of Lower Canada and Governor General of British North America, with his term to begin May 29.

160 years ago
1848

Canadiana
The City of Fredericton was incorporated.

150 years ago
1858

Born on this date
De Wolf Hopper. U.S. actor. Mr. Hopper starred in more than 30 Broadway musicals, including Castles in the Air (1890); Wang (1891); and John Phillip Sousa's El Capitan (1896), which met with great success in London. His favourite role was Old Bill in The Better Ole (1919). Mr. Hopper was most famous for reciting Ernest Lawrence Thayer's poem Casey at the Bat. He first recited the poem in public in August 1888, and did it about 10,000 times over the years. He released a recorded version in 1906, and also in an experimental sound film in 1923 in Lee De Forest's Phonofilm process. Mr. Hopper died on September 23, 1935 at the age of 77.

Siegfried Alkan. German composer. Mr. Alkan, a distant relative of Felix Mendelsson, was a pianist and music store owner who also worked in the insurance business. His compositions consisted mainly of songs. Mr. Alkan was a victim of "Kristallnacht" on November 9, 1938, when his store was vandalized, his piano and other instruments were thrown into the street, and his scores were scattered and lost. He died on December 24, 1941 at the age of 83.

90 years ago
1918

Hockey
Stanley Cup
Finals
Vancouver 1 @ Toronto 2 (Toronto won best-of-five series 3-2)

Corb Denneny's goal at 12:30 of the 3rd period broke a 1-1 tie as the Arenas edged the Millionaires at Arena Gardens to become the first National Hockey League team to win the Stanley Cup. Mr. Denneny's goal came 2 minutes after Cyclone Taylor had tied the game with his 9th goal of the series.

80 years ago
1928

Died on this date
Frank B. Willis, 56. U.S. Senator. Senator Willis dropped dead in Delaware, Ohio as the Republican Glee Club was singing the chorus of The End of a Perfect Day, and thousands of fellow townsmen were pledging him their support in the coming presidential primaries. Mr. Willis had served in the Ohio House of Representatives (1900-1904) and the United States House of Representatives (1911-1915) before becoming the first Republican to be elected Governor of Ohio. He defeated incumbent James M. Cox to win the 1914 gubernatorial election and served from 1915-1917. He lost his bid for re-election to Mr. Cox in 1916 and again in 1918. Mr. Willis placed Warren G. Harding’s name in nomination at the 1920 Republican National Convention. Mr. Willis was elected to the United States Senate in 1920 the same day that Mr. Harding won the presidential election. Mr. Harding promptly resigned his Senate seat, allowing Mr. Willis to assume his seat early. After placing Warren Harding's name in nomination at the 1920 Republican National Convention, Willis was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1920, replacing Harding, who then resigned his seat to take the presidency, allowing Willis to take his seat early. During his Senate tenure, Willis served from 1923 to 1928 as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Territories and Insular Possessions, which had jurisdiction over territories including Alaska, Hawaii, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico.

World events
In Rome, Italian Premier Benito Mussolini published a decree abolishing all Catholic youth organizations (such as the Catholic Boy Scouts) that were at all educational. The decree abolished all educational organizations for Italian youth except the official fascist training groups: the Bililla and the Avanguardista.

Britannica
King George V of Great Britain revived the title of Duke of Gloucester (previously in use from 1385-1834) and conferred it upon his third son, Prince Henry, who was to turn 28 on March 31. The title gave Prince Henry a seat in the House of Lords.

Crime
In Berlin, Julius Barmot and his brother Henry were given jail sentences for bribing officials of banks from whom they obtained loans running into millions of marks. Julius was sentenced to 11 months; Henry got 6 months.

70 years ago
1938

Disasters
Five coal miners were killed and five injured in a gas explosion and fire in the Hinton Collieries at Hinton, Alberta.

60 years ago
1948

On the radio
The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Elliott Lewis, on MBS

50 years ago
1958

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Bull in a China Shop, starring Dennis Morgan, Estelle Winwood, Elizabeth Patterson, Ellen Corby, and Ida Moore

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Love is Blue (L'Amour est Bleu)--Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Riquita--Georgette Plana

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): La tramontana--Antoine (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)--Manfred Mann

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Cinderella Rockefella--Esther and Abi Ofarim (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay--Otis Redding (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Cinderella Rockefella--Esther and Abi Ofarim
2 Kom Uit De Bedstee Mijn Liefste--Egbert Douwe
3 Lady Madonna--The Beatles
4 De Kat Van Ome Willem--Wim Sonneveld with Hetty Blok, Leen Jongewaard, De Jonkies, and the Orchestra of Harry Bannink
5 The Legend of Xanadu--Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
6 (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay--Otis Redding
7 Delilah--Tom Jones
8 Words--The Bee Gees
9 The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)--Manfred Mann
10 Prikkebeen--Boudewijn De Groot en Elly Norman

Singles entering the chart were Congratulations by Cliff Richard (#35); Kiss Me Goodbye by Petula Clark (#36); What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong (#38); and Jennifer Juniper by Donovan (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Valleri--The Monkees
2 Love is Blue (L'Amour est Bleu)--Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra
3 (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay--Otis Redding
4 La-La - Means I Love You--The Delfonics
5 Young Girl--The Union Gap
6 (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone--Aretha Franklin
7 The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)--Manfred Mann
8 The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde--Georgie Fame
9 Lady Madonna--The Beatles
10 Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition was In)--The First Edition

Singles entering the chart were Look to Your Soul by Johnny Rivers (#69); Take Good Care of My Baby by Bobby Vinton (#72); Mony Mony by Tommy James and the Shondells (#84); Goodbye Baby (I Don’t Want to See You Cry) by Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart (#86); Me, the Peaceful Heart by Lulu (#87); Every Man Oughta Have a Woman by William Bell (#91); I Truly, Truly Believe by the Temptations (#93); Baby You're So Right for Me by Brenda and the Tabulations (#96); Funky Talk (Part 1) (East) by Dyke and the Blazers (#97); and Unwind by Ray Stevens (#99). I Truly, Truly Believe was the B-side of I Wish it Would Rain, charting at #27.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde--Georgie Fame (2nd week at #1)
2 Valleri--The Monkees
3 La-La - Means I Love You--The Delfonics
4 The Unicorn--The Irish Rovers
5 Simon Says--1910 Fruitgum Company
6 The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)--Manfred Mann
7 Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition was In)--The First Edition
8 Walk Away Renee--Four Tops
9 (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone--Aretha Franklin
10 Kiss Me Goodbye--Petula Clark

Singles entering the chart were 100 Years by Nancy Sinatra (#77); Honey by Bobby Goldsboro (#80); You've Still Got a Place in My Heart by Dean Martin (#81); The Unknown Soldier by the Doors (#82); Goodbye Baby (I Don’t Want to See You Cry) by Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart (#84); Sherry Don't Go by the Lettermen (#86); Red Red Wine by Neil Diamond (#88); Can't Find the Time by Orpheus (#90); Cowboys to Girls by the Intruders (#91); She'll Be There by Vikki Carr (#93); In Some Time by Ronnie Dove (#94); Lonely is the Name by Sammy Davis, Jr. (#95); I Love You by People (#97); Wind Song by Wes Montgomery (#99); and The Bonnie and Clyde by the New Vaudeville Band (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Lady Madonna/The Inner Light--The Beatles
2 The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp--O.C. Smith
3 Too Much Talk--Paul Revere and the Raiders
4 Simon Says--1910 Fruitgum Company
5 Kiss Me Goodbye--Petula Clark
6 The Unicorn--The Irish Rovers
7 Bottle of Wine--The Fireballs
8 The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)--Manfred Mann
9 Cry Like a Baby--The Box Tops
10 Little Green Apples--Roger Miller

Singles entering the chart were Call Me Lightning by the Who (#23); Rice is Nice by the Lemon Pipers (#24); Black Day in July by Gordon Lightfoot (#25); The Good, the Bad and the Ugly by Hugo Montenegro, his Orchestra and Chorus (#27); Forever Came Today by Diana Ross & the Supremes (#28); Young Girl by the Union Gap (#29); and Alone Again Or by Love (#30).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Valleri--The Monkees
2 The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)--Manfred Mann
3 Young Girl--The Union Gap
4 Summertime Blues--Blue Cheer
5 Lady Madonna--The Beatles
6 The Unicorn--The Irish Rovers
7 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly--Hugo Montenegro, his Orchestra and Chorus
8 Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition was In)--The First Edition
9 Itchycoo Park--Small Faces
10 Too Much Talk--Paul Revere and the Raiders
Pick hit of the week: Playboy--Gene and Debbe

Born on this date
Happy 40th birthday, Celine Dion! The native of Charlemagne, Quebec was one of Canada’s biggest stars in the 1990s, and remains a popular concert draw. Her 1996 album Falling Into You won Grammy awards for Album of the Year and Best Pop album. Her hit singles include themes from the popular movies Beauty and the Beast (title song); Sleepless in Seattle (When I Fall in Love, a duet with Clive Griffin); Up Close and Personal (Because You Loved Me); and Titanic (My Heart Will Go On). My Heart Will Go On won the Grammy for Best Record of 1998. Miss Dion has won many Juno Awards for her achievements in the Canadian recording industry; she’s been chosen Best Female Artist six times. Oddly, she never won for Canadian Entertainer of the Year (although that category was discontinued after 1996), and her only Juno for Best Single came in 1993 for her duet with Peabo Bryson on Beauty and the Beast.

Died on this date
Bobby Driscoll, 31. U.S. actor. Bobby Driscoll was one of the most talented child actors ever to appear on screen, and one of the first to become a casualty. Mr. Driscoll made his movie debut at the age of 6 in an uncredited bit part in Lost Angel (1943). He made enough of an impression to be given another uncredited bit role in The Fighting Sullivans (1944). Other bit parts followed for the next two years, until Walt Disney signed young Bobby in 1946 as his first live-action star. Bobby’s first movie with Disney, released in 1946, was Song of the South. The film was a major hit, and made Bobby Driscoll a star. Bobby starred with Burl Ives in So Dear to My Heart in 1948, another Disney success. The Window, released in 1949, featured Bobby as a boy who has trouble convincing his parents that he’s just seen a murder. His performance was so remarkable that he was given a special Academy Award as the outstanding juvenile actor of 1949. Bobby followed this performance with another Disney hit, playing Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island (1950), which resulted in Bobby receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. While Bobby was making successful movies in the late 1940s and early ‘50s, he was also making occasional radio appearances (usually on Family Theater), and appeared in a few television shows during TV’s so-called "Golden Age." He was a guest on Walt Disney’s first television Christmas special in 1950. Bobby’s last notable movie success was as the model and voice for Disney’s animated version of Peter Pan in 1953. By this time he was in his teens, and adolescence wasn’t kind to Bobby Driscoll. He suffered from severe acne, which necessitated a lot of makeup, when he could get roles on screen at all. His parents took him out of the Hollywood Professional School, and enrolled him in the public Westwood University High, where he graduated n 1955. In this setting, his fame was more of a liability than an asset, and Bobby was the frequent target of derision. He was unable to fit in with the popular kids, and ended up associating with others. He began experimenting with drugs; his first brush with the law came in 1956, when a marijuana bust resulted in the charge being dismissed. A rash marriage in 1957 produced three children, before ending in divorce in 1960. Despite his personal problems, Mr. Driscoll was still able to land the occasional acting assignment. His last feature film, The Party Crashers (1958), also marked the final screen appearance for Frances Farmer, who had been a promising young actress in the 1930s. Mr. Driscoll last appeared on television in 1960, when he appeared in episodes of two different series--The Best of the Post and The Brothers Branaghan--that both aired on November 5. Mr. Driscoll’s drug use had escalated into a heroin habit, resulting in a criminal conviction in 1961. He served his sentence in the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center of the California State Penitentiary at Chino. Paroled in 1962, he was clean and ready to go, but no one would hire him because of his drug record. In 1964 he moved to New York in an attempt to get a fresh start, but found Broadway no more willing to hire him than Hollywood. He ended up at The Factory, Andy Warhol’s counterculture headquarters, where he indulged his talent (apparently considerable) for painting. In 1965 Bobby Driscoll made his final film appearance in a Factory production, a 12-minute underground short called Dirt. In late 1967 or very early 1968 Mr. Driscoll left The Factory and disappeared into Manhattan’s underground, broke and disillusioned. On March 30, 1968, two boys playing in a deserted East Village tenement on East 10th Street discovered Mr. Driscoll’s body. He was unidentified and unclaimed, and was buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave in the New York City Potter’s Field on Hart’s Island. Cause of death was listed as heart failure from hardening of the arteries caused by long-time drug abuse. In the fall of 1969 Mr. Driscoll’s mother, hoping for a reconciliation between Bobby and his father, enlisted Disney studio personnel to help her find her long-lost son. A fingerprint match at the New York Police Department led to the identification of the body in the pauper’s grave on Hart’s Island as that of Bobby Driscoll. The sad details of Mr. Driscoll’s end didn’t become public until Song of the South was re-released in 1971/1972, and reporters interested in Bobby’s whereabouts interviewed his mother.

Hockey
CPHL
Adams Cup
Quarter-Finals
Memphis 2 @ Kansas City 4 (Kansas City led best-of-five series 1-0)

30 years ago
1978

Crime
A United States federal judge ordered the Olin Corporation to set up a $510,000 charity fund as a penalty for illegal firearms sales to South Africa.

Hockey
CHL
Dallas 5 @ Salt Lake City 3

25 years ago
1983

Diplomacy
United States President Ronald Reagan offered to reduce the number of intermediate-range missiles planned for deployment in Europe if the Soviet Union reduced its missiles in Europe and Asia.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Allt som jag känner--Tone Norum & Tommy Nilsson (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Edgar Faure, 79. Prime Minister of France, 1952; 1955-1956. Mr. Faure, a member of the Radical party, was Prime Minister of France from January 20-March 8, 1952 and February 23, 1955-February 1, 1956, when no party was able to gain a majority in parliament.

Defense
The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 17-2 to endorse a treaty with the Soviet Union on intermediate-range nuclear forces, two days after the Senate Armed Services Committee had approved the deal. The Foreign Relations Committee’s approval came with a condition requiring that any interpretation of the treaty would be in accord with an understanding of its meaning shared by both the executive branch and the Senate at the time of Senate ratification. Also, the President could not adopt an interpretation different from the common understanding without Senate approval. Many senators had criticized the broad interpretation applied by the Reagan administration to the 1972 SALT treaty, which established a basis for proceeding with Strategic Defense Initiative.

Protest
On Land Day, the day that Palestinians in the occupied territories observed the anniversary of the 1976 deaths of six Arabs who were protesting Israel's seizure of land, four Arabs were shot to death and scores were wounded by Israeli soldiers, bringing the numbe of Palestinians killed since December 1987 to at least 112.