March 5, 2008

230 years ago
1778

Died on this date
Thomas Arne, 67. U.K. composer. Mr. Arne, whose surname frequently appears in crossword puzzles, was a spinetist, organist, and violinist who wrote music for about 90 stage works from 1733-1776, and was best known for writing the songs Rule, Britannia! and A-Hunting We Will Go. He died a week before his 68th birthday.

100 years ago
1908

Born on this date
Rex Harrison. U.K. actor. "Sexy Rexy" won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his starring role in My Fair Lady (1964). Other notable movies that he appeared in included Blithe Spirit (1945); The Rake's Progress (1945); The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947); Cleopatra (1963); and Dr. Dolittle (1967). Mr. Harrison died on June 2, 1990 at the age of 82.

75 years ago
1933

Politics and government
National elections were held in Germany, just 6 days after the Reichstag fire. The Nazis increased their share of the vote to 44%, up from 33% in the most recent election. The German National People's Party, allies of the Nazis, got 8% of the vote. The result gave the Nazis a working majority in the Reichstag.

50 years ago
1958

Space
33 days after entering the space race with the successful launch of the Explorer I satellite, the United States launched Explorer II from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Unfortunately, Explorer II failed to achieve earth orbit.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)--John Fred and his Playboy Band (5th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Invaders, starring Roy Thinnes, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Life Seekers

Wojeck, starring John Vernon, on CBC

Space
The U.S.A. launched Solar Explorer 2, a satellite designed so that any country listening in on the proper frequencies could receive its data. The satellite measured X-rays and ultraviolet emissions coming from the sun, though scientists had planned for it to have a more circular orbit than it ended up with.

30 years ago
1978

Golf
Mac McLendon won the Florida Citrus Open in Orlando with a score of 271. First prize money was $40,000.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Sì, la vita è tutta un quiz--Renzo Arbore (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): (I've Had) The Time of My Life--Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): (I've Had) The Time of My Life--Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (7th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Boys (Summertime Love)--Sabrina (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Should Be So Lucky--Kylie Minogue (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Beat Dis--Bomb the Bass

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): I Should Be So Lucky--Kylie Minogue (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Father Figure--George Michael (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Father Figure--George Michael (2nd week at #1)
2 She's Like the Wind--Patrick Swayze (featuring Wendy Fraser)
3 What Have I Done to Deserve This?--Pet Shop Boys (with Dusty Springfield)
4 Could've Been--Tiffany
5 I Get Weak--Belinda Carlisle
6 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
7 Seasons Change--Exposé
8 Hungry Eyes--Eric Carmen
9 Endless Summer Nights--Richard Marx
10 Can't Stay Away from You--Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine

Singles entering the chart were Pink Cadillac by Natalie Cole (#76); Two Occasions by Deele (#82); Yes by Merry Clayton (#86); Savin' Myself by Eria Fachin (#87); Samantha (What You Gonna Do?) by Cellarful of Noise (#89); and I Want to Be Your Property by Blue Mercedes (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Pump Up the Volume--M/A/R/R/S (2nd week at #1)
2 Crying--Roy Orbison and k.d. lang
3 Could've Been--Tiffany
4 Hungry Eyes--Eric Carmen
5 She's Like the Wind--Patrick Swayze (featuring Wendy Fraser)
6 What Have I Done to Deserve This?--Pet Shop Boys (with Dusty Springfield)
7 Need You Tonight--INXS
8 Father Figure--George Michael
9 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
10 Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)--Sway

Singles entering the chart were When We was Fab by George Harrison (#70); (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay by Michael Bolton (#72); Where Do Broken Hearts Go by Whitney Houston (#76); I Saw Him Standing There by Tiffany (#79); Rock of Life by Rick Springfield (#85); Thinkin' About the Years by Haywire (#90); Fire by Platinum Blonde (#92); Winter Games by David Foster (#94); and Angel by Aerosmith (#96).

Hockey
NHL
Winnipeg 10 @ Toronto 1

On the national Hockey Night in Canada telecast, Dale Hawerchuk scored just 9 seconds into the game to set the pace as the Jets whipped the Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens. Those of us who were Maple Leaf fans turned it off early.

Football
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame added builder Ralph Sazio and players Royal Copeland, Ed McQuarters, and Tony Pajaczkowski.