November 18, 2008

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Veronica Vamosi and Patty Werbicki!

125 years ago
1883

Born on this date
Carl Vinson. U.S. politician. Mr. Vinson, a Democrat, represented Georgia's 6th (1914-1933) and 10th (1933-1965) Districts in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was co-sponsor of the Two-Ocean Navy Act (1940), which increased the size of the United States Navy by 70%. Rep. Vinson was Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (1949-1953, 1955-1965). He died on June 1, 1981 at the age of 97.

Society
Standard time, devised by Canadian engineer Sanford Fleming, went into effect at midnight Atlantic Time in Nova Scotia and in eastern seaboard states in the U.S.A. Standard Railway Time went into effect on North American railways at noon.

100 years ago
1908

Born on this date
Imogene Coca. U.S. actress. Miss Coca had a career spanning more than 70 years, and was known for her comic performances on stage and television. She won an Emmy Award in 1951 and a Peabody Award in 1953 for her co-starring performances in the television variety program Your Show of Shows (1950-1954). Miss Coca was nominated for Emmys for Your Show of Shows in four other years, and for a guest performance in Moonlighting (1988). She died of natural causes related to Alzheimer's disease on June 2, 2001 at the age of 92.

90 years ago
1918

Europeana
Latvia declared her independence from Russia.

80 years ago
1928

At the movies
The cartoon Steamboat Willie, co-written, co-produced, and co-directed by Walt Disney, received its premiere screening in New York City. It was the first Disney cartoon with synchronized sound, and the first Mickey Mouse cartoon to be distributed, although not the first filmed.



Journalism
Police in Mexico City suppressed the Sunday edition of the daily newspaper Excelsior from 2 A.M. to 2 P.M., but Mexican President Plutarco Elías Calles then countermanded the order on the plea of the paper's widowed order, who sold the it two days later.

60 years ago
1948

War
In response to pressure from the United Nations Security Council, Israel offered to withdraw forces sent to the Negev desert since October 14, without giving up recently-acquired territory.

Diplomacy
The Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament announced that the Nobel Peace Prize would not be awarded in 1948 because of the absence of suitable candidates; most of the award money would go to organizations working for peace.

The United Nations General Assembly approved the International Refugee Organization as a specialized UN agency, over Soviet bloc opposition.

U.S. President Harry Truman appointed John Foster Dulles as acting head of the U.S. delegation at the United Nations, as Warren Austin took leave for medical reasons.

Defense
The U.S. Air Force created a Continental Air Command, headed by General George Stratemeyer, to take charge of the nation's air defense.

Politics and government
Themistocles Sophoulis took office as Prime Minister of Greece, leading a Liberal-Populist cabinet which included former Prime Minister Constantin Tsaldaris as Foreign Minister.

Energy
Belgium announced the construction of the world's largest uranium processing plant, near the Shinklobwe uranium mine in the southern Belgian Congo.

Journalism
American Review of Soviet Medicine, the only permanent organ for exchange of medical information between the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R., suspended publication.

50 years ago
1958

At the movies
I Want to Live!, directed by Robert Wise and starring Susan Hayward, opened in theatres.



Diplomacy
In an apparent major shift in Soviet foreign policy, U.S.S.R. Deputy Foreign Minister Valerian Zorin abandoned previous demands for liquidation of U.S. overseas military bases as a prerequisite for negotiation of a United Nations accord on outer space.

Politics and government
Sudanese General Ibrahim Abboud issued constitutional orders vesting all authority in a 13-member Supreme Council for the Armed Forces. He named himself as Prime Minister and Defense Minister at the head of a 12-member cabinet.

Alejandro Gomez resigned as Vice President of Argentina after denying charges of disloyalty to President Arturo Frondizi.

Education
Residents of Norfolk, Virginia voted not to petition Virginia Governor J. Lindsay Almond to return six closed schools to local authorities so that they could be reopened on a racially-integrated basis.

Disasters
The Great Lakes freighter Carl D. Bradley broke in half and sank off Gull Island in northern Lake Michigan, killing 33 of the 35-man crew.

Boxing
Sonny Liston (22-1) knocked out Ernie Cab (13-10-1) in a heavyweight bout at Miami Beach Auditorium when the ring doctor stopped the fight between the 7th and 8th rounds because of a cut over Mr. Cab's left eye and nose.

Danny Davis (27-14-3) was declared the winner by knockout over Nat Simon (5-4) in a lightweight bout in Sioux City, Iowa when Mr. Simon collapsed at the end of the 9th round of the scheduled 10-round bout. Mr. Simon never regained consciousness, and died the next day. Mr. Davis never fought again.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Koi no Kisetsu--Pinky and the Killers (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Hey Jude--The Beatles

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Magic Carpet Ride--Steppenwolf
2 White Room--Cream
3 Hold Me Tight--Johnny Nash
4 Hey Jude--The Beatles
5 Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin
6 Sweet Blindness--The 5th Dimension
7 Love Child--Diana Ross and the Supremes
8 Who's Making Love--Johnnie Taylor
9 Hi-Heel Sneakers--Jose Feliciano
10 Elenore--The Turtles

Singles entering the chart were See Saw by Aretha Franklin (#47); Cloud Nine by the Temptations (#67); I've Got Love for My Baby by the Young Hearts (#71); Scarborough Fair by Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 (#76); People by the Tymes (#77); A Man and a Half by Wilson Pickett (#84); 46 Drums - 1 Guitar by Little Carl Carlton (#85); I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye (#88); I Can't Turn You Loose by the Chambers Brothers (#92); Beyond the Clouds by the Poppy Family (#94); Ramblin' Gamblin' Man by the Bob Seger System (#96); A Whiter Shade of Pale by the Hesitations (#97); Come On, React! by the Fireballs (#98); Ballad of Two Brothers by Autry Inman (#99); and Soulful Strut by Young-Holt Unlimited (#100).

On television tonight
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Peter Cushing and Nigel Stock, on BBC 1
Tonight's episode: Black Peter

War
Two days of heavy fighting concluded in the Danang area of Vietnam, and heavy infiltration of Communist troops through the demilitarized zone was reported.

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Una donna per amico--Lucio Battisti (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Mama Leone--Bino (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Hopelessly Devoted to You--Olivia Newton-John

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Rat Trap--The Boomtown Rats

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): MacArthur Park--Donna Summer (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Dreadlock Holiday--10 cc (2nd week at #1)
2 Hot Shot--Karen Young
3 Get Off--Foxy
4 Tell Me Your Plans--The Shirts
5 Hopelessly Devoted to You--Olivia Newton-John
6 Kiss You All Over--Exile
7 Dear John--Teach In
8 Guust Flater En De Marsupilami--Wij Zijn Twee Vrienden
9 Bicycle Race--Queen
10 Greased Lightnin'--John Travolta

Singles entering the chart were Trojan Horse by Luv' (#21); Rocking in the Street by Ruth McKenny and the Banny Bright Orchestra (#23); Enigma (Give a Bit of Mmh to Me) by Amanda Lear (#25); and Sunday Girl by Blondie (#35).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 MacArthur Park--Donna Summer (2nd week at #1)
2 How Much I Feel--Ambrosia
3 Hot Child in the City--Nick Gilder
4 Kiss You All Over--Exile
5 Double Vision--Foreigner
6 You Don't Bring Me Flowers--Barbra & Neil
7 Ready to Take a Chance Again--Barry Manilow
8 You Needed Me--Anne Murray
9 I Just Wanna Stop--Gino Vannelli
10 Sharing the Night Together--Dr. Hook

Singles entering the chart were Too Much Heaven by the Bee Gees (#27); September by Earth, Wind & Fire (#79); One Last Kiss by J. Geils Band (#87); You Thrill Me by Exile (#89); The Gambler by Kenny Rogers (#90); Miles Away by Fotomaker (#97); Love Don't Live Here Anymore by Rose Royce (#98); Free Me from My Freedom/Tie Me to a Tree (Handcuff Me) by Bonnie Pointer (#99); and Do You Feel All Right by K.C. and the Sunshine Band (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 You Needed Me--Anne Murray (4th week at #1)
2 Hot Child in the City--Nick Gilder
3 Reminiscing--Little River Band
4 MacArthur Park--Donna Summer
5 Whenever I Call You "Friend"--Kenny Loggins
6 Right Down the Line--Gerry Rafferty
7 Who are You--The Who
8 Back in the U.S.A.--Linda Ronstadt
9 Kiss You All Over--Exile
10 Beast of Burden--The Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were You Don't Bring Me Flowers by Barbra & Neil (#72); My Life by Billy Joel (#89); How You Gonna See Me Now by Alice Cooper (#90); We've Got Tonite by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band (#91); On the Shelf by Donny and Marie Osmond (#92); Part-Time Love by Elton John (#94); Can You Fool by Glen Campbell (#95); My Best Friend's Girl by the Cars (#96); Here Comes the Night by Nick Gilder (#97); When You Feel Love by Bob McGilpin (#98); and Trouble by Ronney Abramson (#100).

Died on this date
Lennie Tristano, 59. U.S. musician and composer. Mr. Tristano was a jazz pianist who went blind during childhood, but learned to play several instruments. He led various small bands, but resisted commercialization. Mr. Tristano was a teacher of jazz improvisation, and his few recordings were pioneering examples of the use of overdubbing and improvisation. He died of a heart attack.

Leo Ryan, 53. U.S. politician. Mr. Ryan, a Democrat, represented the 27th District in the California State Assembly from 1962-1972, and represented California's 11th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973 until his death. In 1978, he was receiving reports from relatives of members of former San Francisco Housing Authority chairman Rev. Jim Jones' Peoples Temple commune in Guyana that members of the commune were being mistreated and prevented from leaving. Mr. Ryan decided to investigate the situation for himself as chairman of a congressional subcommittee with jurisdiction over U.S. citizens living in foreign countries. On November 17, Rep. Ryan and 17 Bay Area relatives of Peoples Temple arrived at the compound. Mr. Ryan initially seemed to be favourably impressed by what he saw, but several people handed notes to him and others of his party warning them not to believe all they saw and expressing a wish to leave. Mr. Ryan's party, along with 14 defectors and Peoples Temple member Larry Layton posing as a defector drove to the Port Kaituba airstrip to await transport planes. Mr. Layton and other Peoples Temple members opened fire, killing Rep. Ryan, three journalists, and a Temple member, while wounding nine others.

Jim Jones, 47. U.S. social activist and cult leader. Rev. Jones was the leader of the socialist/Communist Peoples Temple, which he founded in Indiana in the 1950s. Rev. Jones claimed to have become an atheist before he was out of his teens, but decided to promote Marxism by infiltrating the church. He was successful, as he was ordained by the Independent Assemblies of God in 1956 and by the Disciples of Christ in 1964. Rev. Jones denied the true gospel of Jesus Christ and instead preached the social gospel, especially in regard to racial integration. He moved the Peoples Temple to California in the late 1960s, and in the 1970s achieved considerable success in political endeavours, helping to get George Moscone elected Mayor of San Francisco, and being rewarded with the position of chairman of the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission. Rev. Jones began building the Jonestown compound in Guyana in the 1970s, where hundreds of members were living by 1978. Relatives of Peoples Temple members who had moved to Jonestown became concerned that members were being mistreated and prevented from leaving, prompting Rep. Leo Ryan to investigate for himself. After the murders of Rep. Ryan and others at the Port Kituba airstrip, Rev. Jones ordered the mass suicide/murder of hundreds of his followers, and eventually died of a gunshot wound to the head, most likely self-inflicted. A testimonial dinner scheduled to be held in his honour in San Francisco on December 2, 1978 was cancelled.

Abominations
In Jonestown, Guyana, Rev. Jim Jones led his Peoples Temple to a mass murder/suicide that claimed 918 lives in all, 909 of them in Jonestown itself, including 304 children.



Hockey
NHL
Montreal 4 @ Vancouver 2
Toronto 3 @ St. Louis 1

Football
CFL
Western Final
Calgary 13 @ Edmonton 26

The Eskimos trailed the Stampeders 13-10 after 3 quarters, but outscored the Stampeders 16-0 in the 4th quarter in -19 C (-1 F.) temperatures in the first playoff game ever played at Commonwealth Stadium. Jim Germany rushed for Edmonton touchdowns in the 1st and 4th quarters, and Dave Cutler added 2 converts and 4 field goals. Ray Odums scored the only Calgary touchdown on an interception return in the 2nd quarter. Cyril McFall, playing what turned out to be the final game of his 5-year CFL career, converted and added 2 field goals. The Stampeders took 15 penalties to just 1 for the Eskimos. It was the final game in a Calgary uniform for defensive tackle John Helton, who left the Stampeders after 10 years to sign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.



CIAU
Canadian College Bowl @ Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Queen's 16 British Columbia 3

The Golden Gaels scored 10 points in the last 3 1/2 minutes of the 4th quarter after recovering 2 opposition fumbles as they beat the Thunderbirds before 19,124 fans. Blain Shore of Queen's and Gary Metz of UBC exchanged field goals in the 2nd quarter, and Mr. Shore kicked an 11-yard FG in the 3rd quarter to give Queen's a 6-3 lead, which held until UBC defensive back Jack Hirose missed the signal from head coach Frank Smith to concede a single point, and decided to run a punt out of the end zone and fumbled at his own 4-yard line, with Paul Langevin recovering for Queen's. Dave Marinucci then rushed 4 yards for a touchdown, with Mr. Shore converting to make the score 13-3 with 3:30 remaining. Another B.C. fumble led to a 25-yard field goal by Mr. Shore just 1:24 later. The Thunderbirds fumbled 4 times and lost them all, while the Golden Gaels didn't fumble once. The game was called with several seconds remaining when fans ran onto the field and tore down the goalposts.



25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Karma Chameleon--Culture Club (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Come Back and Stay--Paul Young (2nd week at #1)

At the movies
A Christmas Story opened in theatres.

Personal
This blogger attended the second and last annual Bahama Boogie, a season-ending party put on by the Edmonton Eskimos' cheerleaders at Belvedere Hall.

Defense
A conference committee of the United States Senate and House of Representatives rejected legislation to approve production of nerve gas. The legislation had narrowly passed the Senate but had been rejected by the House.

Economics and finance
Just before adjourning for the year, the U.S. Congress voted to increase the national debt limit to $1.49 trillion from $1.389 trillion, and to increase the U.S. contribution to the International Monetary Fund by $8.4 billion.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Don't Worry Be Happy--Bobby McFerrin (3rd week at #1)

Diplomacy
The governments of Cuba and Angola approved the November 15 agreement with the U.S.A. and South Africa on a timetable for the withdrawal of Cuba's 50,000 troops from Angola and independence for Namibia.

Law
U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed legislation creating a Cabinet-level drug czar and providing the death penalty for drug traffickers who killed.

10 years ago
1998

Business
The Toronto-based theatrical production company Livent Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection and fired co-founders Garth Drabinsky and Myron Gottlieb on the grounds that they "fraudulently manipulated" the company's financial records to hide losses of as much as $100 million.