May 19, 2009

510 years ago
1499

Married on this date
Catherine of Aragon, 13, was married by proxy to Arthur, Prince of Wales, 12.

360 years ago
1649

Politics and government
An Act of Parliament declaring England a Commonwealth was passed by the Long Parliament; England would be a republic for the next 11 years.

170 years ago
1839

Born on this date
Alice Mary Smith. U.K. composer. Miss Smith wrote two symphonies, two large works for stage, a clarinet sonata, and numerous chamber works. She died of typhoid fever on December 4, 1884 at the age of 45.

130 years ago
1879

Born on this date
Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor. U.S.-born U.K. politician. Lord Astor, the son of William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor, was born in New York City, and moved permanently to the United Kingdom with his family in 1889. A Conservative, he represented Plymouth (1910-1918) and Plymouth Sutton (1918-1919) in the House of Commons, and succeeded to the House of Lords as the 2nd Viscount Astor upon the death of his father. Viscount Astor's wife Nancy won his seat in the House of Commons, and became more prominent. Lord Astor devoted his later years to charitable causes, and died on September 30, 1952 at the age of 73.

Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor. U.S.-born U.K. politician. Lady Astor, born Nancy Langhorne, was a native of Virginia who was married, divorced, moved to England at the age of 26, and married Waldorf Astor in 1906. When he succeeded to the House of Lords as Viscount Astor upon the death of his father, Viscountess Astor ran for his seat in Parliament, and in 1919 became the first woman to take a seat in the British House of Commons. A Conservative, she represented Plymouth Sutton in the House of Commons from 1919-1945, and was known for her dislike of Catholics, Jews, and Communists. Lady Astor used Cliveden, her country estate, as a hospital for Canadian soldiers during both world wars; her social circle became known as the "Cliveden Set," and was accused of influencing British policy in favour of appeasing Germany's Nazi regime. Lady Astor died on May 2, 1964, 17 days before her 85th birthday.

120 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Henry B. Richardson. U.S. archer. Dr. Richardson was a teenager when he won a bronze medal in the team round at the 1904 Summer Olympic Games in St. Louis, and another bronze medal in the Double York round at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. He later graduated from Harvard Medical School, and died on November 19, 1963 at the age of 74.

100 years ago
1909

Environment
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier established the Commission of Conservation, under the chairmanship of Clifford Sifton, to promote the efficient use of natural resources and make recommendations. It included three federal cabinet ministers, the nine provincial ministers of natural resources, and 20 members at large, including a professor from every province with a university. The commission published over 200 books and studies, recommending smokestack filters, large-scale composting, and banning overcutting of forests. It was abolished in 1921 when governments were slow to accept advice, and other agencies became active in resource management.

Boxing
World heavyweight champion Jack Johnson (49-5-10-2-1) and world light heavyweight champion Philadelphia Jack O'Brien (144-10-26-3-1) fought to a 6-round draw at the National Athletic Club in Philadelphia.

90 years ago
1919

War
Mustafa Kemal landed at Samsun on the Anatolian Black Sea coast, initiating what is later termed the Turkish War of Independence.

Aviation
Roland Groome piloted the first cross-country flight from Saskatoon to Regina, Saskatchewan.

Environment
Parks Canada was founded.

80 years ago
1929

Disasters
2 were killed and 62 injured when fans in a standing-room section of the right field bleachers at Yankee Stadium in New York fled for shelter from a cloudburst. Yankees' owner Jake Ruppert then vowed never again to sell more tickets than seats.

Baseball
The New York Yankees were leading the Boston Red Sox 3-0 with 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th inning of the first game of a scheduled doubleheader at Yankee Stadium when the game was called because of rain, giving the Yankees the win. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig hit consecutive home runs off Jack Russell in the 3rd. Fred Heimach allowed 2 hits in 5 innings to get the win. The second game was postponed.

Winning pitcher Ted Lyons helped his cause with a single, double, 2 runs, and a run batted in as the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 10-3 at Navin Field in Detroit. Chicago center fielder Johnny Mostil broke his leg when he tripped over home plate on the front end of a double steal in the 4th inning, ending his major league career after 10 seasons and 972 games.

Charlie Gelbert singled home Chick Hafey with 2 out in the top of the 11th inning to break a 1-1 tie as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 at Redland Field in Cincinnati. Syl Johnson pitched a 7-hit complete game to improve his 1929 record to 3-0, winning the pitchers' duel over Dolf Luque, who pitched a 9-hit complete game and fell to 2-3.

75 years ago
1934

Baseball
Sore-armed Lefty Grove, making his first start since coming to the Boston Red Sox from the Philadelphia Athletics, went the distance, giving up 6 hits, and helped his cause by hitting a three-run home run in beating the St. Louis Browns 4-1. Dick Coffman was the losing pitcher.

70 years ago
1939

Politics and government
King George VI became the first reigning monarch to address the Canadian Parliament in person, and gave royal assent to several acts of Parliament.

60 years ago
1949

Died on this date
Thomas Heggen, 30. U.S. author and playwright. Mr. Heggen wrote the novel (1946) and co-wrote the play (1948) Mister Roberts, based on his experiences in the U.S. Navy during Wold War II. He then developed a severe case of writer's block, and was found drowned in his bathtub after an overdose of sleeping pills. Mr. Heggen's death was ruled a suicide, although those close to him said his death was accidental.

Crime
U.S. federal prosecutors ended their presentation of evidence in the New York trial of 11 Communist Party U.S.A. leaders, after calling 13 witnesses during the past two months.

Labour
The Congress of Industrial Organizations Executive Board completed a three-day meeting in Washington after adopting a resolution demanding that leftist union leaders follow the CIO's anti-Communist policies or resign. The American Federation of Labor Executive Council ended a four-day meeting in Cleveland after rejecting a United Mine Workers of America bid to re-enter the federation.

50 years ago
1959

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Image of Death, starring Doris Dowling and Max Adrian



Died on this date
Bob Cortner, 32. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Cortner had a 10-year career in midget cars, and had failed to complete his rookie test in an attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1958. He passed the test on May 18, 1959, and was making his first attempt to qualify for the race when his car was caught in a strong cross wind, and he crashed head-first into the outer wall, and suffered internal bleeding and "massive head injuries," which proved fatal.

Defense
The North Vietnamese Army established Group 559, whose responsibility was to determine how to maintain supply lines to South Vietnam; the resulting route was the Ho Chi Minh trail.

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower submitted to Congress agreements under which the U.S.A. promised to help the United Kingdom develop and produce atomic warheads, and to sell France up to 986 pounds of enriched uranium for use in the development of an atomic submarine power plant.

Politics and government
A new Dutch coalition government headed by Catholic People's Party leader Jan Eduard de Quay took office.

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee voted 9-8 in favour of the nomination of Lewis Strauss as U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

Business
The Mt. Robson Motel opened in Jasper, Alberta.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Yoake no Scat--Saori Yuki (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Cuéntame--Fórmula V

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston
2 Hair--The Cowsills
3 The Boxer--Simon & Garfunkel
4 Love (Can Make You Happy)--Mercy
5 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)--The 5th Dimension
6 Pinball Wizard--The Who
7 You've Made Me So Very Happy--Blood, Sweat & Tears
8 Time is Tight--Booker T. & the M.G.'s
9 More Today than Yesterday--The Spiral Starecase
10 The River is Wide--The Grassroots

Singles entering the chart were See by the Rascals (#71); Good Morning Starshine by Oliver (#72); Someday Man by the Monkees (#74); Imagine the Swan by the Zombies (#75); Israelites by Desmond Dekker and the Aces (#77); I'll Catch the Sun by Pierre Lalonde (#83); What Does it Take (To Win Your Love) by Jr. Walker & the All Stars (#88); Love Man by Otis Redding (#90); Friend, Lover, Woman, Wife by O.C. Smith (#91); Rose Garden by Dobie Gray (#92); Welcome Me Love by the Brooklyn Bridge featuring Johnny Maestro (#93); We Got More Soul by Dyke and the Blazers (#95); Walkin' on My Mind by Dianne Brooks (#96); Plastic Fantastic Lover by Jefferson Airplane (#97); Never Gonna Let Him Know by Debbie Taylor (#98); Take Me Away by Natalie Baron (#99); and Running Bear by Sonny James (#100).

On the radio
The Challenge of Space, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: X-9 Commander

This was the first episode of a series that examined man's early ventures into space. The series ran until December 12, 1970.

Died on this date
Coleman Hawkins, 64. U.S. musician. Mr. Hawkins was a jazz saxophonist who played swing music in the 1930s and '40s, and influenced the development of bebop in the late 1940s. He led his own band, and played with and influenced numerous other musicians. Mr. Hawkins performed and recorded from 1927-1967, but heavy drinking led to liver disease, which led to his death.

Space
Apollo 10 accomplished a translunar injection burn, giving the spacecraft the velocity needed to send it to the moon. The crew made a television broadcast in the afternoon, the first manned mission to transmit pictures from the spacecraft in colour.



Disasters
Police said that 18 were killed, 4 missing, and 20 hospitalized when a crowded bus ran off the road and plunged into a stream in northern Turkey.

Boxing
Former world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston (48-3) scored a technical knockout of George "Scrap Iron" Johnson (17-17-4) at 2:55 of the 7th round at Las Vegas Convention Center.





30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Chiquitita--ABBA (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Il Carrozzone--Renato Zero (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Bright Eyes--Art Garfunkel (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Bright Eyes--Art Garfunkel (6th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 I Want You to Want Me--Cheap Trick
2 Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday--Boney M.
3 Some Girls--Racey
4 Bright Eyes--Art Garfunkel
5 One Way Ticket--Eruption
6 Casanova--Luv'
7 Stir it Up--Bob Marley & the Wailers
8 Hallelujah--Milk & Honey
9 Save Me--Clout
10 When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman--Dr. Hook

Singles entering the chart were Juliana by Kinderen Van Nederland (#22); Sing for the Day by George Baker (#26); Never Be Clever by Herman Brood & his Wild Romance (#29); Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions (#33); 'k Heb de Mot in Me Lijf by Paul Boey (#35); This is Hot by Pamala Stanley (#36); and I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get it Girl) by Instant Funk (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Reunited--Peaches & Herb (3rd week at #1)
2 Hot Stuff--Donna Summer
3 In the Navy--Village People
4 Stumblin' In--Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman
5 Goodnight Tonight--Wings
6 Love You Inside Out--Bee Gees
7 Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)--The Jacksons
8 Take Me Home--Cher
9 He's the Greatest Dancer--Sister Sledge
10 Heart of Glass--Blondie

Singles entering the chart were Shine a Little Love by Electric Light Orchestra (#57); Gold by John Stewart (#78); Does Your Mother Know by ABBA (#83); Say Maybe by Neil Diamond (#84); Sad Eyes by Robert John (#85); Do You Wanna Go Party by K.C. and the Sunshine Band (#87); No Time to Lose by the Tarney/Spencer Band (#88); Make Love to Me by Helen Reddy (#90); and Pinball, That's All by Bill Wray (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Reunited--Peaches & Herb (3rd week at #1)
2 Heart of Glass--Blondie
3 In the Navy--Village People
4 Goodnight Tonight--Wings
5 Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)--The Jacksons
6 Hot Stuff--Donna Summer
7 Knock on Wood--Amii Stewart
8 Love You Inside Out--Bee Gees
9 What a Fool Believes--The Doobie Brothers
10 Take Me Home--Cher

Singles entering the chart were Shine a Little Love by Electric Light Orchestra (#49); Gold by John Stewart (#67); Does Your Mother Know by ABBA (#80); Say Maybe by Neil Diamond (#82); No Time to Lose by the Tarney/Spencer Band (#83); Shadows in the Moonlight by Anne Murray (#85); Sad Eyes by Robert John (#86); Ring My Bell by Anita Ward (#88); Make Love to Me by Helen Reddy (#89); Bust Out by Rick James (#90); and Love is for the Best in Us by the James Walsh Gypsy Band (#93).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 In the Navy--Village People
2 Reunited--Peaches & Herb
3 Heart of Glass--Blondie
4 Goodnight Tonight--Wings
5 Knock on Wood--Amii Stewart
6 He's the Greatest Dancer--Sister Sledge
7 Blow Away--George Harrison
8 I Just Fall in Love Again--Anne Murray
9 Love You Inside Out--Bee Gees
10 I Want Your Love--Chic

Singles entering the chart were Makin' It by David Naughton (#79); Just the Same Way by Journey (#80); I Want You to Want Me by Cheap Trick (#80); Gimme Your Love by Alma Faye Brooks (#85); Georgy Porgy by Toto (#92); Hold On by Triumph (#96); You Can't Change That by Raydio (#98); Good, Good Feelin' by War (#99); and Through the Eyes of Love by Melissa Manchester (#100).

Labour
United Airlines and striking machinists reached a tentative accord on a new contract, ending a 50-day strike against the U.S.A.'s largest air carrier.

Major league baseball umpires returned to work, two days after an agreement was reached that ended their strike.

Horse racing
Spectacular Bid, with Ronnie Franklin aboard, followed his Kentucky Derby win with a victory in the 104th running of the Preakness Stakes before 72,607 fans at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 1:54 1/5. Golden Act placed second, and Screen King finished third in the 5-horse field.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 4 @ New York Rangers 3 (OT) (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Serge Savard scored at 7:25 of the 1st overtime period to give the Canadiens their win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Canadiens outshot the Rangers 42-21.

25 years ago
1984

Married on this date
Sandra Fry and Terry Gay were married in Ottawa--at least that was the scheduled date (I haven't heard of their whereabouts since the end of 1983). Happy silver anniversary, if you're still together.

Died on this date
Bill Holland, 73. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Holland competed in the Indianapolis 500 from 1947-1950 and 1953. In the 1947 race, he was leading in the late going when he allowed teammate Mauri Rose to pass, thinking that Mr. Rose was a lap behind. He wasn't, and Mr. Rose won, with Mr. Holland finishing second after leading for 143 of 200 laps. Mr. Holland finished second to Mr. Rose again in 1948, and then broke through to win in 1949. He led for 8 laps in 1950, finishing second to Johnnie Parsons when the race was called because of rain after 138 laps. Mr. Holland's last Indianapolis 500 was in 1953, when a mechanical failure forced him out after 177 laps; he finished 15th.

Hockey
The Edmonton Oilers defeated the New York Islanders 5-2 to win their first Stanley Cup, defeating the Islanders 4 games to 1 in the final series. Andy Moog was in goal for the Oilers, replacing the injured Grant Fuhr. The backup goalie was Mike Zanier, who duplicated the feat of Richard Sevigny of the 1978-79 Montreal Canadiens in being listed as a member of a Stanley Cup championship team before ever playing a game in the NHL.

Horse racing
Gate Dancer, with Angel Cordero, Jr. aboard, won the 109th Preakness Stakes in 1:53 3/5. Play On placed second.

Soccer
English FA Cup Final @ Wembley Stadium, London
Everton 2 Watford 0

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Looking for Freedom--David Hasselhoff (8th week at #1)

Died on this date
Yiannis Papaioannou, 79. Greek composer and teacher. Mr. Papaioannou had a long career as a music teacher, who wrote five symphonies and other orchestral, chamber, instrumental, and vocal works.

Weather
A freak snowstorm hit Edmonton in the morning, but it had melted by the afternoon, and it ended up as a nice, sunny day.

Scandal
The National Collegiate Athletic Association placed the University of Kentucky's men's basketball program on probation for three years for widespread recruiting and academic violations. The NCAA's investigation had led to the resignations months earlier of coach Eddie Sutton and athletic director Cliff Hagan.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average closed at 2500, a rise of nearly 425 points (20%) in six months.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Calgary 3 @ Montreal 4 (2 OT) (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-1)

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Candy Candido, 85. U.S. actor and musician. Jonathan Joseph Candido sang and played bass in Ted Fio Rita's band, but was best known as a voice actor in cartoons and radio programs. He became popular for using the catchphrase "I'm feeling mighty low" on Jimmy Durante's weekly radio show.

Politics and government
The Russian Duma confirmed Sergei Stepashin as Premier.

Baseball
James Mouton drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the first run of the inning and scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Rondell White as the Montreal Expos scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 9th to defeat the Philadelphia Phillis 10-9 before 5,182 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Henry Rodriguez hit a 2-run home run with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to enable the Chicago Cubs to defeat the Florida Marlins 8-7 before 15,059 fans at Pro Player Stadium in Miami.

The Cincinnati Reds amassed 28 hits in defeating the Colorado Rockies 24-12 before 41,044 fans at Coors Field in Denver. The 36 runs tied a 20th century high, the 28 hits tied a major league record, and the 81 total bases set a major league record. Jeffrey Hammonds hit 3 home runs for the Reds, and teammate Sean Casey hit 2 three-run homers, accounting for his 6 runs batted in. He also scored 5 times and tied a 20th Century mark by reaching base in all 7 plate appearances. Reds' outfielder Mike Cameron tied a major league record with 8 plate appearances in a 9-inning game. The Rockies became the first team in 98 years to lose by at least 12 runs while scoring at least 12 runs.