November 30, 2008

390 years ago
1618

Space
The first recorded sighting of a comet by Europeans in Canada took place, in the Jesuit Relations of New France. Known as the "Angry Star” because of its reddish colour and very long, menacing tail, the Great Comet of 1618 was visible for seven weeks.

80 years ago
1928

Died on this date
Algiviad Bebi. Albanian criminal. Mr. Bebi was a student who, in October 1927, murdered Zena Bey, the Albanian Minister to Czechoslovakia and brother-in-law of King Zog. Mr. Bebi was shot dead in the courtroom where he was standing trial; his killer was a servant to Gana Bey, brother of Zena Bey, and also a relative of King Zog.

Politics and government
Emilio Portes Gil, former Interior Minister and former Governor of Tamaulipas, was sworn in as provisional President of Mexico, chosen by the Chamber of Deputies to serve until February 1930, following the presidential election of 1929.

Crime
While U.S. customs officials in Detroit were arresting 11 border patrol inspectors on charges of accepting bribes and conspiracy to aid in the smuggling of liquor into the United States from Canada, provincial authorities in Ontario on the opposite side of the Detroit River were issuing orders to close 30 liquor export docks in border cities.

In Savannah, Georgia, Rev. W.F. Larowe was sentenced to three months in jail after being convicted of criminal libel in connection with the circulation of a false oath of the Knights of Columbus. His sentence was probated after a recommendation of the jury for extreme mercy.

Boxing
Jim Braddock (33-4-6) knocked down Tuffy Griffiths (45-5-4) 4 times in the 2nd round and scored a technical knockout of Mr. Griffiths in the 2nd round of a light heavyweight bout at Madison Square Garden in New York. Pete Latzo was to have fought Mr. Griffiths, but he suffered a broken jaw and lost by technical knockout to Mr. Braddock on October 17, so Mr. Braddock took his place.

75 years ago
1933

At the movies
Hoop-la, directed by Frank Lloyd, and starring Clara Bow, Preston Foster, and Richard Cromwell, opened in theatres. It was Miss Bow's last film.



Died on this date
Arthur Currie, 58. Canadian military leader. Sir Arthur was Canada's greatest military commander and one of the greatest Allied officers in World War I. He was appointed commander of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade on September 29, 1914; commander of the 1st Canadian Division on September 13, 1915; and commander of the Canadian Corps on June 9, 1917. General Currie led Canada's "100 days" from August 8-November 11, 1918, the most successful of all Allied offensives during the war, culminating in the rout of German forces and the liberation of the French city of Mons on the last day of the war.

Crime
Johnny Copp, a University of Toronto student and halfback on the Varsity football team, was shot and critically wounded by a would-be burglar outside the home that he shared with his family in Toronto. Mr. Copp's parents were hosting a bridge party downstairs and Mr. Copp and a classmate were studying on the third floor when Mr. Copp looked out the window and saw a man on the porch roof about to break into a second-floor bedroom, where the party guests' coats and purses were left. Mr. Copp chased the man to the ground and was attempting to accost him when the criminal took out a gun and shot him in the struggle. Mr. Copp was taken to hospital, where he died three days later. The criminal was never caught, and the crime remains unsolved.

60 years ago
1948

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover--George Trevare and his Southern Cross Seven; Art Mooney and his Orchestra (1st month at #1)

Radio
Hooperatings listed the most popular programs in the United States as Walter Winchell; The Jack Benny Program; and Radio Theater.

War
Israeli Colonel Moshe Dayan and Transjordanian Arab Legion Colonel Abdullah el Tell signed a cease-fire agreement in Jerusalem.

Defense
The U.S. Army halved its draft quotas for early 1949 in order to keep under the $15-billion defense budget ceiling set by President Harry Truman.

Aviation
Curtiss-Wright Corporation demonstrated a new reversible propeller that enabled a four-engine plane to make a rapid, direct ascent and descent.

Business
The U.S. Justice Department filed an anti-trust complaint in Cleveland, charging Republic Steel Corporation and 19 other culvert pipe manufacturers with monopolizing the corrugated sheet metal industry.

Labour
The Japanese Diet passed a measure barring strikes and collective bargaining by government employees.

The U.S. National Labor Relations Board ordered Goodyear Rubber Footwear Corporation to pay back wages to 50 employees for a nine-month layoff intended to "discourage union activity."

Football
NCAA
Southern Methodist University halfback Doak Walker was named the winner of the Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding college football player in the United States for 1948. He rushed 108 times for 532 yards and 8 touchdowns; caught 15 passes for 279 yards and 3 touchdowns; completed 26 of 46 passes for 304 yards and 6 touchdowns; made 3 interceptions; punted for a 42.1-yard average; and scored 88 points, including converts and field goals.

Baseball
The Negro National League was dissolved in Chicago, leaving the 10-team Negro American League as the only remaining Negro league.

50 years ago
1958

Politics and government
The second round of French legislative elections resulted in resulted in an overwhelming win for Gaullist candidates. Prime Minister Charles de Gaulle's Union for the New Republic (UNR) led with 189 seats in the National Assembly, a gain of 173 from before the election.

The right-wing National Party gained enough seats in the Uruguayan general election to oust the Colorado Party from power for the first time in 93 years. The National Party gained 3 seats in the National Council of Government to give them 6 of 9 seats; gained 16 seats in the Chamber of Deputies to give them 51 of 99 seats; and gained 6 seats in the Senate to give them 17 of 31 seats. The Colorado Party lost 3 seats in the NCG; 13 seats in the Chamber of Deputies; and 5 seats in the Senate. A constitutional referendum was included in the election, with two proposals for a presidential system of government; both were rejected.

Football
NFL
San Francisco (4-6) 27 @ Baltimore (9-1) 35

Led by quarterback Johnny Unitas, the Colts scored 4 converted touchdowns in the 2nd half to come back from a 27-7 halftime deficit to defeat the 49ers at Memorial Stadium, clinching the Western Conference title for the first time in their history.

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Hey Jude/Revolution--The Beatles (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Little Arrows--Leapy Lee (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Hey Jude--The Beatles (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Applausi--I Camaleonti (5th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Good, the Bad and the Ugly--Hugo Montenegro, his Orchestra and Chorus (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Eloise--Barry Ryan

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Love Child--Diana Ross and the Supremes

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Lea--The Cats (2nd week at #1)
2 Just a Little Bit of Peace in My Heart--Golden Earrings
3 Eloise--Barry Ryan
4 White Room--Cream
5 My Little Lady--The Tremeloes
6 Heidschi Bumbeidschi--Heintje
7 With a Little Help from My Friends--Joe Cocker
8 Red Red Wine--Peter Tetteroo
9 Listen to Me/Do the Best You Can--The Hollies
10 Ik Ben Met Jou niet Getrouwd--Tony Bass

Singles entering the chart were Eloise; Goodbye My Love/I Can't Go on Loving You by the Buffoons (#26); Een Pikketanussie by Johnny Jordaan (#34); Love Child by Diana Ross and the Supremes (#36); Chewy Chewy by Ohio Express (#38); and Jerushala'im Shel Zahav by Rika Zarai (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Love Child--Diana Ross and the Supremes (2nd week at #1)
2 Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin
3 Magic Carpet Ride--Steppenwolf
4 Hey Jude--The Beatles
5 White Room--Cream
6 Who's Making Love--Johnnie Taylor
7 Abraham, Martin and John--Dion
8 For Once in My Life--Stevie Wonder
9 Chewy Chewy--Ohio Express
10 Bang-Shang-A-Lang--The Archies

Singles entering the chart were A Ray of Hope by the Rascals (#51); Going Up the Country by Canned Heat (#52); Papa's Got a Brand New Bag by Otis Redding (#60); Bella Linda by the Grass Roots (#66); Crosstown Traffic by the Jimi Hendrix Experience (#74); The Girl Most Likely by Jeannie C. Riley (#77); Nightmare by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown (#78); This is My Country by the Impressions (#80); If I Can Dream by Elvis Presley (#81); They Don't Make Love Like They Used To by Eddy Arnold (#84); Bluebirds Over the Mountain by the Beach Boys (#85); Vance by Roger Miller (#86); Keep on Dancing by Alvin Cash (#89); I Walk Alone by Marty Robbins (#97); Rainbow Ride by Andy Kim (#98); Sea Shell by the Strawberry Alarm Clock (#99); and Good Time Girl by Nancy Sinatra (#100).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Abraham, Martin and John--Dion
2 Revolution/Hey Jude--The Beatles
3 Little Arrows--Leapy Lee
4 Cinnamon--Derek
5 Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)--Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus
6 Shake--The Shadows of Knight
7 Elephant Candy--The Fun and Games
8 Love Child--Diana Ross and the Supremes
9 Beyond the Clouds--The Poppy Family
10 Bitter Green--Gordon Lightfoot
Pick hit of the week: I'm Into Lookin' for Someone to Love Me--Bobby Vee

Politics and government
Yugoslavia rejected the Soviet doctrine of limited sovereignty for "Communist Commonwealth" nations.

Business
The Trade Descriptions Act came into force in the United Kingdom, making it a crime for a trader to knowingly sell an item with a misleading label or description.

Football
CFL
Grey Cup @ CNE Stadium, Toronto
Ottawa 24 Calgary 21

The Rough Riders edged the Stampeders before 32,655 fans to win the Grey Cup for the first time since 1960. For the Stampeders, it had been their first participation in Canada's national championship game since 1949. Two big plays turned the game in favour of the Rough Riders. With the Stampeders leading 14-11, Vic Washington dropped the ball on a sweep to the left side, but it bounced right back into his hands, and he continued for an 80-yard touchdown 56 seconds into the fourth quarter. The play still stands as the longest rushing play in Grey Cup history. Don Sutherin's convert attempt was blocked, leaving the Rough Riders with a 17-14 lead. At 10:01, Russ Jackson hit Margene Adkins with a 70-yard scoring strike. Mr. Sutherin's convert increased the lead to 24-14. The Stampeders mounted a late comeback drive, ending in a 2-yard pass from Peter Liske to Terry Evanshen with 1:34 remaining. Larry Robinson converted to cut the lead to 24-21, but Mr. Robinson's short kickoff was recovered by Ottawa guard Tom Schuette. Mr. Washington amassed 128 yards on 13 carries, 25 on 3 receptions, and 22 on 1 kickoff return, and won a car as the game's most valuable player. Calgary had the better of the passing game, as Mr. Liske completed 21 of 36 passes for 258 yards. Mr. Evanshen caught 5 for 56 and 2 touchdowns; Bob McCarthy caught 5 for 86, and Gerry Shaw 7 for 75. Herman Harrison, the Stampeders star tight end, was suffering from the flu, and caught just 2 passes for 16 yards, both in the last few minutes. Mr. Adkins caught 2 passes for 93 yards for the Rough Riders, while Ottawa flanker Whit Tucker, who had scored 13 touchdowns in the regular season on just 36 receptions, was held without a catch. Bo Scott, playing his final game in an Ottawa uniform before joining the NFL's Cleveland Browns for a successful career, was held to 26 yards on 14 carries. Lovell Coleman, who had joined the Rough Riders in 1968 after a stellar 8-year career with the Stampeders, carried once for 2 yards against his old team. One oddity came in the first quarter, when Wayne Giardino of the Rough Riders blocked a Ron Stewart punt, which was recovered by the Stampeders in their own end zone. Mr. Giardino was credited with a single point to give Ottawa a 1-0 lead. A rule change in 1976 prevented such a play from resulting in a single point again. Another oddity was the presence of a Ron Stewart for each team. Calgary's Ron Stewart was a defensive back who punted 9 times for a 39.4 yard average. Ottawa's Ron Stewart carried once for 3 yards and caught 1 pass for 24.







NCAA
Army 21 Navy 14 @ John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia

25 years ago
1983

Defense
U.S. President Ronald Reagan rejected, by pocket veto, legislation that would link continued military aid to El Salvador to semiannual certification by the U.S. State Department that El Salvador was making progress on human rights. Both houses of the U.S. Congress had unanimously approved the legislation to replace an expiring law.

Politics and government
The 1st Session of the 32nd Parliament of Canada, the longest session on record, closed after 1,326 days. There were 591 sitting days of the House of Commons and 329 sitting days of the Senate from April 14, 1980.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Sarah--Mauro Scocco (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Heart of Darkness

This was the first episode of the season, which had been delayed because of a writers' strike.

Politics and government
Republicans who would be serving in the United States Senate in the 101st Congress chose Bob Dole of Kansas as their leader.

Health
The Ontario government of Premier David Peterson became the first provincial government in Canada to bring in legislation to restrict smoking in the workplace and private offices.

Business
Tobacco and food corporation RJR Nabisco was acquired for $25.07 billion, about twice the size of any previous merger. The management group of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. made the offer that was accepted by the outside directors of RJR Nabisco. A slightly higher offer by a management group led by RJR President F. Ross Johnson was rejected.

20 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Janet Lewis, 99. U.S. writer. Miss Lewis wrote novels, short fiction, and poetry. her best-known work is probably the novel The Wife of Martin Guerre (1941).

Ruth Clifford, 98. U.S. actress. Miss Clifford appeared in movies, television programs, and commercials in a career spanning more than 50 years from the 1910s through the 1960s. Her biggest roles came in silent movies, including The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin (1918); The Face on the Bar-Room Floor (1923); and The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln (1924).

Margaret Walker, 83. U.S. writer. Dr. Walker was part of the Chicago Black Renaissance in the 1930s and '40s. Her best-known works are the poem For My People (1942) and the novel Jubilee (1966). Dr. Walker taught literature at what is now Jackson State University from 1949-1979, and died of breast cancer.

Politics and government
Québec Premier Lucien Bouchard led his Parti Québecois to another majority government in the Québec provincial election, despite narrowly losing the popular vote. The PQ took 77 of 125 seats in the National Assembly despite winning only 42.87% of the vote vs. 43.55% for Jean Charest's Liberals, who won 47 seats. Action démocratique du Québec leader Mario Dumont retained his seat; he was the only elected member of his party, which took 11.81% of the vote. There was almost no change in the total number of seats for each party,with the PQ losing one, the Liberals gaining one. The PQ set a provincial record with 29 female candidates elected.

Business
The Exxon and Mobil oil companies signed a $73.7-billion agreement to merge, thus creating ExxonMobil, the world's largest company.