March 10, 2009

380 years ago
1629

Politics and government
King Charles I dissolved the English Parliament, beginning the 11-year period known as the Personal Rule.

170 years ago
1839

Born on this date
Dudley Buck. U.S. musician and composer. Mr. Buck was an organist whose best-known composition was Concert Variations on the Star-Spangled Banner, later orchestrated as Festival Overture on the American National Air, the Star-Spangled Banner (1887). He died on October 6, 1909 at the age of 70.

110 years ago
1899

Academia
Loyola College was incorporated in Montreal; it's now part of Concordia University.

Hockey
Exhibition
Montreal Shamrocks 5 @ Saint John Mohawks 0
Montreal Victorias 5 @ Brooklyn Skating Club 2

100 years ago
1909

Diplomacy
The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 was signed in Bangkok, by which Thailand relinquished her sovereignty over the Malay states of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu, which became British protectorates.

90 years ago
1919

Aviation
U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Edward Orrick McDonnell became the first man to fly a plane off a battleship when he flew a Sopwith Camel from an overhauled gun turret on the USS Texas.

75 years ago
1934

Literature
The March 10, 1934 edition of Collier's included Medium Well Done, the first of the Mr. Wong stories by Hugh Wiley.

60 years ago
1949

Crime
A U.S. federal jury in Washington, D.C. convicted Mildred Gillars, popularly known as "Axis Sally," of treason for making pro-Axis radio propaganda broadcasts from Germany during World War II.

A U.S. federal grand jury in New York indicted Judith Coplon and Valentin Gubitchev on espionage charges.

Politics and government
The Hoover Commission on the Reorganization of the Executive Branch issued a report on government financial agencies, recommending that the U.S. Treasury Department take over operation of the largest federal lending and loan guarantee organizations, including the Export-Import Bank and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation.

U.S. President Harry Truman appointed John Nichols to succeed William Brophy as Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Economics and finance
U.S.S.R. Finance Minister Arseny Zverev presented the Supreme Soviet with a 1949 budget of 415.4 billion rubles, including a 79-billion-ruble military expenditure.

50 years ago
1959

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Premonition, starring Pamela Lincoln, Paul Langton, and Beverly Washburn



Theatre
Sweet Bird of Youth by Tennessee Williams, directed by Elia Kazan, and starring Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, and Sidney Blackmer, opened at the Martin Beck Theatre on Broadway in New York.

World events
Fearing an abduction attempt by the People's Republic of China, thousands of Tibetans surrounded the Dalai Lama's palace to prevent his removal, beginning the Tibetan Uprising.

11 war criminals were executed by firing squad in Havana, bringing the unofficial total executions to 427.

Defense
North Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh ended a 10-day visit to Indonesia after issuing a joint pledge with Indonesian President Sukarno to work for a ban on nuclear weapons and the admission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations.

Politics and government
Labour Party candidates won 24 of 40 seats in the Legislative Council in the first Mauritian general election held under the new constitution. The Independent Forward Bloc was second with 6 seats, followed by the Muslim Committee of Action (5); Mauritian Social Democrat Party (3); and 2 independents.

The first Polish Communist Party Congress since the 1956 revolt against Soviet domination convened in Warsaw, with First Secretary Wladyslaw Gomulka making clear that the party would neither restore Stalinism nor tolerate anti-socialist activities.

Oil
Accusing some members of the oil industry of failing to heed requests for voluntary curbs on petroleum imports, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued an order barring importation of crude oil and unfinished petroleum products except under license from the Interior Department.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Blue Light Yokohama--Ayumi Ishida (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Eloise--Barry Ryan (8th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 This Magic Moment--Jay and the Americans
2 Indian Giver--1910 Fruitgum Co.
3 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
4 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
5 You Showed Me--The Turtles
6 Heaven--The Rascals
7 These Eyes--The Guess Who?
8 Everyday People--Sly & the Family Stone
9 Baby, Baby Don't Cry--Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
10 This Girl's in Love with You--Dionne Warwick

Singles entering the chart were Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) by the 5th Dimension (#66); Hair by the Cowsills (#80); Move in a Little Closer, Baby by Mama Cass (#83); Time Was by Canned Heat (#86); No, Not Much by the Vogues (#88); The Way it Used to Be by Engelbert Humperdinck (#93); Nothing But a Heartache by the Flirtations (#95); I Can Hear Music by the Beach Boys (#96); Day After Day (It's Slippin' Away) by Shango (#97); God Knows I Love You by Nancy Sinatra (#98); Didn't You Know (You'd Have to Cry Sometime) by Gladys Knight and the Pips (#99); and Give it Away by the Chi-Lites (#100).

Crime
James Earl Ray pled guilty in a Memphis, Tennessee courtroom to the April 4, 1968 murder of Negro civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mr. Ray was sentenced to 99 years in prison. The possibility of a conspiracy was not dismissed by the guilty plea, although both prosecution and defense attorneys agreed that there was no evidence of a conspiracy. The United States Justice Department continued to investigate.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Too Much Heaven--Bee Gees

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Mi scappa la pipì, papà--Pippo Franco (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Tragedy--Bee Gees (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Tragedy--Bee Gees (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Fire!--Pointer Sisters
2 Chiquitita--ABBA
3 Now that We Found Love--Third World
4 Lay Your Love on Me--Racey
5 Heart of Glass--Blondie
6 (You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back--Peter Tosh (support vocals: Mick Jagger)
7 Tragedy--Bee Gees
8 Every Time I Think of You--The Babys
9 The Runner--The Three Degrees
10 You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)--Meat Loaf

Singles entering the chart were The Wild Places by Duncan Browne (#20); Shake Your Groove Thing by Peaches & Herb (#28); Ain't Love a Bitch by Rod Stewart (#32); Sharing the Night Together by Dr. Hook (#33); American Generation by the Ritchie Family (#34); and Cuba by the Gibson Brothers (#35).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I Will Survive--Gloria Gaynor
2 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart
3 Tragedy--Bee Gees
4 Fire--Pointer Sisters
5 Heaven Knows--Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams
6 A Little More Love--Olivia Newton-John
7 Shake Your Groove Thing--Peaches & Herb
8 What a Fool Believes--The Doobie Brothers
9 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
10 Sultans of Swing--Dire Straits

Singles entering the chart were Love is the Answer by England Dan and John Ford Coley (#81); Dancin' by Grey and Hanks (#84); Take it Back by the J. Geils Band (#85); At Midnight by T-Connection (#88); One Way Love by Bandit (#89); and Love and Desire (Part 1) by Arpeggio (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Will Survive--Gloria Gaynor
2 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart
3 Tragedy--Bee Gees
4 Heaven Knows--Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams
5 Fire--Pointer Sisters
6 Shake Your Groove Thing--Peaches & Herb
7 A Little More Love--Olivia Newton-John
8 What a Fool Believes--The Doobie Brothers
9 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
10 Don't Cry Out Loud--Melissa Manchester

Singles entering the chart were Love is the Answer by England Dan and John Ford Coley (#84); Happiness by the Pointer Sisters (#85); Elena by the Marc Tanner Band (#87); Such a Woman by Tycoon (#88); Hard Times for Lovers by Judy Collins (#90); and Unloved by Walter Egan (#96).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart (3rd week at #1)
2 A Little More Love--Olivia Newton-John
3 Fire--Pointer Sisters
4 Heaven Knows--Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams
5 Every 1's a Winner--Hot Chocolate
6 Shake It--Ian Matthews
7 I Will Survive--Gloria Gaynor
8 Tragedy--Bee Gees
9 Don't Cry Out Loud--Melissa Manchester
10 Lotta Love--Nicolette Larson

Singles entering the chart were Bustin' Loose by Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers (#82); Heart of Glass by Blondie (#85); Superman by Herbie Mann (#87); I'll Supply the Love by Toto (#89); I Want Your Love by Chic (#91); Contact by Edwin Starr (#92); Four Strong Winds by Neil Young (#95); Survivor by Cindy Bullens (#97); Just One Look by Linda Ronstadt (#99); and He's the Greatest Dancer by Sister Sledge (#100).

Diplomacy
U.S. President Jimmy Carter arrived in Jerusalem, and told Israelis that he believed a peace treaty could be concluded soon, despite remaining differences with Egypt on the future status of the occupied Arab territories.

Hockey
NHL
New York Rangers 6 @ Montreal 3
Toronto 9 @ Los Angeles 4

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): La Donna Cannone--Francesco De Gregori (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT Top 30): Radio Ga Ga--Queen

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): When the Lady Smiles--Golden Earring (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): 99 Red Balloons--Nena (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: 99 Red Balloons--Nena (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Jump--Van Halen (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 99 Luftballons--Nena
2 Girls Just Want to Have Fun--Cyndi Lauper
3 Jump--Van Halen
4 Thriller--Michael Jackson
5 Somebody's Watching Me--Rockwell
6 Nobody Told Me--John Lennon
7 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club
8 Let the Music Play--Shannon
9 I Want a New Drug--Huey Lewis and the News
10 Here Comes the Rain Again--Eurythmics

Singles entering the chart were Love Somebody by Rick Springfield (#50); Eat It by "Weird Al" Yankovic (#60); You Might Think by the Cars (#67); Hyperactive by Thomas Dolby (#84); Borderline by Madonna (#85); Club Michelle by Eddie Money (#86); Dancing in the Sheets by Shalamar (#89); and Do You Love Me by Andy Fraser (#90). Eat It was a spoof of Michael Jackson's 1983 hit Beat It.

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 99 Red Balloons--Nena (2nd week at #1)
2 Jump--Van Halen
3 Thriller--Michael Jackson
4 Red Red Wine--UB40
5 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club
6 Girls Just Want to Have Fun--Cyndi Lauper
7 Talking in Your Sleep--The Romantics
8 Break My Stride--Matthew Wilder
9 Think of Laura--Christopher Cross
10 Here Comes the Rain Again--Eurythmics

Singles entering the chart were Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) by Phil Collins (#46); Livin' in Desperate Times by Olivia Newton-John (#49); and Scratching the Surface by Saga (#50).

Hockey
NHL
New York Rangers 3 Edmonton 2

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney (2nd week at #1)

At the movies
New York Stories, an anthology directed by Martin Scorcese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Woody Allen, and starring Nick Nolte, Rosanna Arquette, Heather McComb, Talia Shire, Mr. Allen, and Mae Questel, opened in theatres.

Chances Are, directed by Emile Ardonlino, and starring Cybill Shepherd, Robert Downey, Jr., Ryan O'Neal, and Mary Stuart Masterson, opened in theatres.

Politics and government
The day after the United States Senate had rejected former Senator John Tower as President George Bush's nominee as Secretary of Defense, Mr. Bush nominated Representative Dick Cheney (Republican--Wyoming), a former chief of staff for President Gerald Ford, as Secretary of Defense.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate was 5.1% in February, a decline of 0.3% from January, and a level not seen since May 1974.

Disasters
An Air Ontario jet crashed after take off from Dryden, Ontario, killing 24 people and injuring 45. An inquiry later blamed wing icing for the crash.

10 years ago
1999

Diplomacy
Bill Clinton became the first U.S. President in 30 years to visit Guatemala, where he apologized for former governments that had committed human-rights abuses.

Politics and government
Elizabeth Dole, former head of the Red Cross and wife of U.S. Senator and 1996 Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole, said that she was creating an exploratory committee to consider a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000.