January 3, 2009

260 years ago
1749

Journalism
The first issue of Berlingske, Denmark's oldest continually operating newspaper, was published in Copenhagen.

Americana
Benning Wentworth issued the first of the New Hampshire Grants, leading to the establishment of Vermont.

160 years ago
1849

Torontonia
The Royal Lyceum Theatre opened, seating 700.

120 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Iris Calderhead. U.S. suffragist. Miss Calderhead was an English teacher who was an organizer in the National Woman's Party, advocating for women's suffrage in the United States until it was granted in 1920. Miss Calderhead advocated for women's suffrage within the League of Nations in the early 1930s. She died on March 6, 1966 at the age of 77.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Victor Borge. Danish-born U.S. musician and comedian. Mr. Borge, born Børge Rosenbaum, began his career as a concert pianist in his native Denmark. He was performing in Sweden when German forces occupied Denmark in 1940, and managed to escape to Finland and then to the United States. He was famous for mixing music and comedy into his performances, and continued performing until his death on December 23, 2000, 11 days before his 92nd birthday.

90 years ago
1919

War
Soviet forces captured the only working railway connection to the Latvian capital of Riga.

Diplomacy
At the Paris Peace Conference, Emir Faisal I of Iraq signed an agreement with Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann on the development of a Jewish homeland in Palestine and an Arab nation in a large part of the Middle East.

70 years ago
1939

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Bobby Hull! The Hockey Hall of Famer was born in Pointe Anne, Ontario.

Politics and government
Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, running unopposed, was re-elected President of El Salvador, while his National Pro Patria Party won all 42 seats in the Constitution Assembly.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and George Spelvin (Wendell Holmes), on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Malicious Moor

The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Elliott Lewis, on MBS

Literature
Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Carey was published by Crowell.

War
Egypt accepted the United Nations Security Council's cease-fire demand as Israeli forces advanced into the Egyptian Sinai desert.

Politics and government
The 81st United States Congress convened, as Representative Sam Rayburn (Democrat--Texas) was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives and John McCormack (Democrat--Massachusetts) was elected House majority leader. Senator Robert Taft (Republican--Ohio) defeated a moderate Republican challenge to his leadership of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. House supporters of the administration of President Harry Truman gained passage of a measure curbing the power of the House Rules Committee to block legislation.

Economics and finance
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank of the Philippines, was established.

U.S.S.R. authorities in Germany enacted a two-year economic plan aimed at achieving 81% of the Soviet zone's 1936 production.

Labour
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of states to ban the closed shop, in decisions sustaining the anti-closed shop laws of Nebraska, North Carolina, and Arizona.

Disasters
At least 51 people were killed and 275 inured when a tornado struck Warren, Arkansas.

A cold wave in Europe caused 39 deaths with high gales and floods.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Tom Dooley--The Kingston Trio (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Io--Domenico Modugno (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): La Paloma--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): It's Only Make Believe--Conway Twitty (2nd week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Chipmunk Song--The Chipmunks with David Seville (3rd week at #1)
2 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters
3 Tom Dooley--The Kingston Trio
4 To Know Him, is to Love Him--The Teddy Bears
5 One Night--Elvis Presley
6 Beep Beep--The Playmates
7 My Happiness--Connie Francis
8 Problems--The Everly Brothers
9 Lonesome Town--Ricky Nelson
10 Gotta Travel On--Billy Grammer

Singles entering the chart were The Girl on Page 44 by the Four Lads (#74); Wiggle, Wiggle by the Accents (#79); Tall Paul by Annette with the Afterbeats (#80); I'm a Man by Fabian (#85); Trust in Me by Patti Page (#86); I've Had It by the Bell Notes (#89); The Land of You and Me by the Four Esquires (#92); The Little Space Girl by Jesse Lee Turner (#97); O' Falling Star by the Four Knights (#99); and Song from "Some Came Running" (To Love and Be Loved) by Frank Sinatra (#100). As the title indicates, Song from "Some Came Running" (To Love and Be Loved) was from the movie Some Came Running (1958), in which Mr. Sinatra co-starred.

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Gulbahar!

Americana
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Alaska to the Union as the 49th state.



Asiatica
Maldivian separatists declared the independence of the United Suvadive Republic.

Diplomacy
Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Ghanaian Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah issued a joint statement in New Delhi expressing hope that African nationalists would seek independence "through constructive and peaceful methods."

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. and Indonesia signed an agreement in Jakarta providing $85 million in Soviet aid for construction of Indonesian projects.

40 years ago
1969

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Shame, Shame--Magic Lanterns
2 Son-of-a Preacher Man--Dusty Springfield
3 I Love How You Love Me--Bobby Vinton
4 I Heard it Through the Grapevine--Marvin Gaye
5 Stormy--Classics IV
6 Going Up the Country--Canned Heat
7 If I Can Dream--Elvis Presley
8 Wichita Lineman--Glen Campbell
9 King Size--Jayson Hoover
10 See Saw--Aretha Franklin

Singles entering the chart were Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells (#22); Stand by Your Man by Tammy Wynette (#23); I Started a Joke by the Bee Gees (#24); She's a Lady by John Sebastian (#26); Star Crossed Lovers by Neil Sedaka (#27); Hey Jude by Wilson Pickett (#28); I'm Gonna Make You Love Me by Diana Ross and the Supremes & the Temptations (#29); and Rainbow Ride by Andy Kim (#30).

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 Abraham, Martin and John--Dion (4th week at #1)
2 Wichita Lineman--Glen Campbell
3 Cinnamon--Derek
4 Sunday Sun--Neil Diamond
5 Little Arrows--Leapy Lee
6 Love Child--Diana Ross and the Supremes
7 Hey Jude--The Beatles
8 Son-of-a Preacher Man--Dusty Springfield
9 If I Can Dream--Elvis Presley
10 Going Up the Country--Canned Heat

Died on this date
Tzavalas Karousos, 64. French actor. Mr. Karousos appeared in numerous plays and films in a career spanning more than 35 years; his movies included Antigone (1961). Mr. Karousos died in exile in Paris, where he had gone after the Greek military coup of 1967.

Howard McNear, 63. U.S. actor. Mr. McNear was a character actor who appeared in numerous radio programs, movies, and television programs. He played Sanderson Taylor in the radio program The Casebook of Gregory Hood (1946) and played Doc Adams in the radio version of Gunsmoke (1952-1961), but was best known for playing Floyd Lawson, the barber in the television comedy series The Andy Griffith Show (1961-1967). Mr. McNear suffered a disabling stroke during the series' run, but returned to the program, with accommodations made for his disability. He had another stroke, and died 24 days before his 64th birthday.

Politics and government
Senator Ted Kennedy (Democrat--Massachusetts defeated Sen. Russell Long (Democrat--Louisiana) for the position of Senate majority whip as the 91st United States Congress convened its first session.

Ottawana
The Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton was set up by the government of Ontario.

Disasters
Officials in Rio de Janeiro reported 25 deaths, mostly children, from a heat wave.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Y.M.C.A.--Village People

Died on this date
Conrad Hilton, 91. U.S. hotelier. Mr. Hilton founded Hilton Hotels & Resorts when he bought the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas in 1919. The first hotel to bear his name was the Dallas Hilton, which Mr. Hilton bought in 1925.

Religion
California state officials raided Ambassador College in Pasadena and put the Worldwide Church of God into receivership, much to the displeasure of the church's founder and leader, Herbert W. Armstrong. The raid took place just six weeks after the Jonestown, Guyana mass suicide/murder, which put alternative religious groups (popularly known as "cults") under closer scrutiny.

Hockey
NHL
New York Rangers 6 Montreal 2
Atlanta 4 Toronto 1
Vancouver 5 Pittsburgh 3

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Bang Your Head (Metal Health)--Quiet Riot

Diplomacy
Rev. Jesse Jackson, a candidate for the 1984 Democratic party nomination for President of the United States who was in Syria in an attempt to win the freedom of U.S. Navy Lieutenant Robert Goodman, who had been shot down near Beirut on December 4, 1983, met with Syrian Foreign Minister Abdel Halim Khaddam. Rev. Jackson told the press that "our prayers have been answered," and that Lt. Goodman was to be released that morning on the orders of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. Mr. Khaddam said that the release of Mr. Goodman was in response to Rev. Jackson's personal appeal and the demands of the U.S. government, and suggested that the release would "facilitate the withdrawal of American troops from Lebanon." Rev. Jackson and his entourage and Lt. Goodman left Syria for Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

Politics and government
Major General Mohammed Buhari, who had taken power in a military coup three days earlier, announced the formation of a Supreme Military Council to run the government of Nigeria under his leadership.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation announced that 48 federally insured banks had failed in 1983, the highest total since 1939.

10 years ago
1999

Space
The United States launched the Mars Polar Lander.

World events
Israeli authorities arrested members of the American group Concerned Christians, and had them deported. The Israelis were themselves concerned that the American organization, 60-80 of whom had disappeared from their homes and jobs in Colorado in October 1998, were planning to blow up the Al-Aqsa mosque on Jerusalem's Temple Mount in order to pave the way for the rebuilding of the Temple in fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

Football
NFL
AFC Wild Card Playoff
New England 10 @ Jacksonville 25

Fred Taylor rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown, and Mike Hollis kicked 4 field goals and an extra point as the Jaguars beat the Patriots before 71,139 fans at Alltel Stadium.

NFC Wild Card Playoff
Green Bay 27 @ San Francisco 30

Steve Young completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Owens with 3 seconds left in regulation time to give the 49ers their win over the Packers in an exciting game before 66,506 fans at 3Com Park at Candlestick Point. The final San Francisco drive was aided by a controversial call in which receiver Jerry Rice appeared to have fumbled, only to be ruled down by contact with the field; the National Football League didn't use video review until the following year.