June 23, 2009

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sherry Holden-Hernblad!

160 years ago
1849

Born on this date
John Hunn. U.S. politician. Mr. Hunn, a Republican, was Governor of Delaware from 1901-1905. He died on September 1, 1926 at the age of 77.

120 years ago
1889

Baseball
In the American Association, the Louisville Colonels ended their record 26-game losing streak with a 7-3 win over the St. Louis Browns.

110 years ago
1899

Canadiana
The town of Newcastle, New Brunswick was incorporated.

90 years ago
1919

War
Estonian and Latvian forces defeated the German Baltische Landeswehr in the Battle of Cēsis in Latvia; it was the decisive battle in the Estonian War of Independence, and the date is celebrated annually as Victory Day in Estonia.

Politics and government
Quebec Premier Lomer Gouin led his governing Liberal Party to its seventh consecutive victory, taking 51.9% of the vote and 74 of 81 seats in the Legislative Assembly in the Quebec provincial election. The Conservatives, led by Arthur Sauvé, won 5 seats, receiving just 17% of the vote. The Parti ouvrier (Labour Party) took the remaining 2 seats.

70 years ago
1939

Baseball
Bob Feller had 3 hits while getting his 11th win of the season as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 12-5 before 3,000 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. The Indians scored 7 runs in the 7th inning and 2 in the 8th.

Bill Lohrman pitched a 2-hit shutout and had a double of his own as the New York Giants blanked the Cincinnati Reds 7-0 before 9,731 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Mel Ott hit a solo home run, and Zeke Bonura added 4 singles for the Giants.

Stan Hack singled with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning, stole second base, and scored on a 2-out error by second baseman Heinie Mueller to give the Chicago Cubs a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies before 6,762 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Bill Lee pitched an 8-hit complete game to win the pitchers' duel over Max Butcher.

60 years ago
1949

On television tonight
Volume One, written, directed, and hosted by Wyllis Cooper, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Number Two, starring Anne Seymour, Donald Briggs, and Sid Cassel

Movies
The Screen Writers Guild presented its first annual awards for writing excellnce to Mary Jane Ward (The Snake Pit); B. Traven (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre); and Sidney Sheldon, Frances Goodrich, and Albert Hackett (Easter Parade). The movies were all released in 1948.

Politics and government
Hungarian Deputy Premier Matyas Rakosi announced a purge of the country's Communist Party, involving the expulsion of 200,000 party members (18% of the membership). Mr. Rakosi attributed the purge to the discovery of a spy ring within the party.

U.S. Senator Hugh Baker (Republican--Nebraska) submitted a report to the Senate Insular Affairs Committee charing International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union President Harry Bridges with being the "unseen Communist dictator" of Hawaii's economy, and urging that statehood be withheld from the islands until Communism was suppressed there.

Crime
Former U.S. State Department official Alger Hiss took the stand in his perjury trial to deny all charges against him.

Law
A U.S. federal district court in Newark denied former German-American Bund leader August Klapprott's petition for restoration of his American citizenship.

Aviation
Trans World Airways President Ralph Damon received the International League of Aviators' American national trophy for 31 years of service to aviation.

Business
A U.S. federal court in Toledo, Ohio issued a consent judgement against price collusion in the glass fiber industry involving Owens-Corning Fiberglass, Owens-Illinois Glass, and the Corning Glass Works.

50 years ago
1959

Died on this date
Boris Vian, 39. French polymath. Mr. Vian was a musician, writer, painter, and inventor. He was a jazz trumpeter, and influential jazz critic. He wrote and performed his own songs, and in the mid-late 1950s, wrote some of France's first rock and roll songs. Mr. Vian is primarily known today for his novels, in which he used surrealistic plots and invented his own words. He had a public exhibition of his paintings in 1946, and invented several devices, including an elastic wheel, for which he received a patent in 1955. Mr. Vian was afflicted with rheumatic fever at the age of 12, which weakened his heart, possibly leading to his death from a heart attack while attending a screening of a movie based on his novel J'irai cracher sur vos tombes (I Shall Spit on Your Graves).

World events
The Dominican Republic reported the defeat of a Cuban-sponsored guerrilla invasion attempt.

Politics and government
West German Economics Minister Ludwig Erhard agreed to remain in the cabinet after receiving an apology from Chancellor Konrad Adenauer for his personal attacks on Mr. Erhard.

Protest
Prison guards using tear gas ended a riot by 106 inmates of the U.S. Prison Bureau Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri.

Crime
Convicted Manhattan Project spy Klaus Fuchs was released after only nine years in prison, and was allowed to emigrate to Dresden, East Germany, where he resumed a scientific career.

Economics and finance
The United Kingdom and Iraq agreed to end Iraq's membership in the sterling area.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Minatomachi Blues--Shinichi Mori (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Get Back--The Beatles with Billy Preston (6th week at #1)
2 Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet--Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus
3 In the Ghetto--Elvis Presley
4 Good Morning Starshine--Oliver
5 Love Me Tonight--Tom Jones
6 One--Three Dog Night
7 Spinning Wheel--Blood, Sweat & Tears
8 See--The Rascals
9 Black Pearl--Sonny Charles & the Checkmates, Ltd.
10 Everyday with You Girl--Classics IV

Singles entering the chart were Moments to Remember by the Vogues (#68); My Little Chickadee by the Foundations (#73); In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) by Zager and Evans (#77); Don't Tell Your Mama by Eddie Floyd (#84); Good Old Rock 'n Roll by Cat Mother and the All Night News Boys (#86); Sunshine, Red Wine by Crazy Elephant (#90); While You're Out Looking for Sugar? by the Honey Cone (#93); Girl You're Too Young by Archie Bell & the Drells (#96); Roll with It by the Southbound Freeway (#97); and Tears on My Pillow by Johnny Tillotson (#99).

On the radio
The Challenge of Space, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: The Six-and-a-Half-Thousand-Mile Stroll

Died on this date
Stanley Andrews, 77. U.S. actor. Mr. Andrews played Daddy Warbucks in the radio series Little Orphan Annie (1931-1936) and "The Old Ranger," the first host of the television Western series Death Valley Days (1952-1964).

Volmari Iso-Hollo, 62. Finnish runner. Mr. Iso-Hollo won gold medals in the men's 3,000-metre steeplechase at the 1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles and again at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. He won a silver medal in the 10,000-metre run at the 1932 Olympics, and a bronze medal in the same event at the 1936 Olympics.

War
Israeli commandos crossed into Jordan to sabotage Jordan’s most important irrigation project, the $85 million Ghor Canal. At the Suez Canal, two detachments of Egyptian commandos struck at Israeli positions.

Politics and government
Muhammad Ali Haitham, 29, was named Prime Minister of South Yemen, the day after the country's Supreme General Command of the National Liberation Front had denounced President Qahtah Muhammad al-Shaabi for dictatorial rule, forced his resignation, and replaced him with a five-member Presidential Council.

Law
Warren Burger was sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, replacing Earl Warren, who was retiring after 16 years as Chief Justice.

Crime
A meeting between United Mine Workers of America President Tony Boyle and rival Jock Yablonski at UMWA headquarters in Washington degenerated into a screaming match, after which Mr. Boyle demanded Mr. Yablonski's death.

Disasters
10 people were killed, including 4 crew members and 6 on the ground, when a DC-4 cargo plane crashed into a Miami, Florida street.

A cloudburst flooded Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee; at least 10 were missing and presumed drowned.

Boxing
Joe Frazier (23-0) retained New York State Athletic Commission recognition as world heavyweight champion with a knockout of Jerry Quarry (31-3-4) at Madison Square Garden in New York when the fight was stopped after the 7th round because of a bad cut near Mr. Quarry's right eye. On the undercard, George Foreman (1-0) made his professional debut with a knockout of Don Waldhelm (5-5-2) at 1:54 of the 3rd round of a heavyweight bout; it was Mr. Waldhelm's last fight.





30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Zimbabwe Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Save Me--Clout (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Tu Sei l'Unica Donna Per Me--Alan Sorrenti

#1 single in Ireland: Dance Away--Roxy Music

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Ring My Bell--Anita Ward (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Bright Eyes--Art Garfunkel (4th week at #1)
2 Reunited--Peaches & Herb
3 When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman--Dr. Hook
4 Pop Muzik--M
5 Love's What I Want--Cashmere
6 Boogie Wonderland--Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions
7 Theme from 'The Deer Hunter' (Cavatina)--The Shadows
8 Weekend Love--Golden Earring
9 Never Be Clever--Herman Brood & his Wild Romance
10 Shine a Little Love--Electric Light Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were I was Made for Lovin' You by Kiss (#28); Loose Caboose by Joe Tex (#30); Hacka-Tacka Music by Baba & Roody (#33); Ring My Bell by Anita Ward (#35); Go West by Village People (#37); and Greetje Uit De Polder by De Havenzangers (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Hot Stuff--Donna Summer (3rd week at #1)
2 We are Family--Sister Sledge
3 Ring My Bell--Anita Ward
4 Just When I Needed You Most--Randy Vanwarmer
5 Bad Girls--Donna Summer
6 The Logical Song--Supertramp
7 Chuck E.'s in Love--Rickie Lee Jones
8 She Believes in Me--Kenny Rogers
9 Boogie Wonderland--Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions
10 You Take My Breath Away--Rex Smith

Singles entering the chart were The Devil Went Down to Georgia by the Charlie Daniels Band (#81); I'll Never Love this Way Again by Dionne Warwick (#82); Highway Song by Blackfoot (#83); Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven by Amii Stewart (#84); Hot Summer Nights by Night (#85); My Sharona by the Knack (#86); You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else by the Jones Girls (#87); Born to Be Alive by Patrick Hernandez (#88); You're My Weakness by Faith Band (#89); and Cuba by the Gibson Brothers (#91).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Hot Stuff--Donna Summer (4th week at #1)
2 We are Family--Sister Sledge
3 Ring My Bell--Anita Ward
4 The Logical Song--Supertramp
5 Chuck E.'s in Love--Rickie Lee Jones
6 Just When I Needed You Most--Randy Vanwarmer
7 You Take My Breath Away--Rex Smith
8 She Believes in Me--Kenny Rogers
9 Boogie Wonderland--Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions
10 Bad Girls--Donna Summer

Singles entering the chart were You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else by the Jones Girls (#78); The Devil Went Down to Georgia by the Charlie Daniels Band (#80); Highway Song by Blackfoot (#81); Hot Summer Nights by Night (#82); My Sharona by the Knack (#83); Hold On by Triumph (#84); I'll Never Love this Way Again by Dionne Warwick (#86); Last of the Singing Cowboys by the Marshall Tucker Band (#87); I'll Know Her When I See Her by the Cooper Brothers (#88); Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven by Amii Stewart (#89); Heaven Must Have Sent You by Bonnie Pointer (#90); and We All Need Love by Troiano (#97).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Love You Inside Out--Bee Gees
2 Hot Stuff--Donna Summer
3 The Logical Song--Supertramp
4 Reunited--Peaches & Herb
5 Goodnight Tonight--Wings
6 Dancer--Gino Soccio
7 Heart of Glass--Blondie
8 Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)--G.Q.
9 Knock on Wood--Amii Stewart
10 Renegade--Styx

Singles entering the chart were Getting Closer by Wings (#80); Do it or Die by Atlanta Rhythm Section (#92); Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now by McFadden & Whitehead (#93); Mama Can't Buy You Love by Elton John (#94); Up on the Roof by James Taylor (#96); Lead Me On by Maxine Nightingale (#97); You Can't Win by Murray McLauchlan (#99); and Head First by the Babys (#100).

Diplomacy
The Organization of American States (OAS) agreed to press for "the immediate and definitive replacement" of the Anastasio Somoza regime in Nicaragua by a broadly-based democratic government.

Energy
An Automobile Association of America survey of 6,286 service stations nationwide showed that 58% of them were closed that day. Long lines for gasoline were reported in St. Louis, New Orleans, Minneapolis, and Charlotte.

25 years ago
1984

World events
The New York Times reported that right-wing Salvadorans, including Arena party leader Roberto D’Aubuisson, had plotted to murder U.S. ambassador Thomas Pickering, and that ambassador-at-large Vernon Walters had been sent to El Salvador to warn the plotters not to carry out their plan. The plot reportedly developed after U.S. Senator Jesse Helms made it known in May that the United States was backing moderate opponents of Mr. D’Aubuisson in the presidential election.

Politics
Lebanese Premier Rashid Karami announced that the army would be reorganized under a new commander and would be overseen by a six-member military council representing leading religious groups. The plan sought to create parity between Christians and Muslims within the army.

Diplomacy
Rev. Jesse Jackson, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, visited Panama, and met with Panamanian President Jorge Illueca.

Baseball
Ryne Sandberg went 5 for 6 at bat, including game-tying home runs off Bruce Sutter in both the 9th and 10th innings, and drove in 7 runs, as the Chicago Cubs edged the St. Louis Cardinals 12-11 in 11 innings at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Cardinals’ center fielder Willie McGee hit for the cycle and drove in 6 runs in a losing cause. The winning run scored on a bases-loaded single by Dave Owens.

20 years ago
1989

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 2531.87, fewer than 200 points below its record high set in August 1987.

Personal
This blogger attended the public librarians’ party at the Westin as part of the Canadian Library Association’s annual conference in Edmonton.

10 years ago
1999

War
Despite the "official" end of NATO’s war in the Yugoslavian province of Kosovo, violent incidents were still being reported. United States marines killed a Serb gunman.

Hockey
Wayne Gretzky was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, two months after playing his last game. Former National Hockey League referee Andy Van Hellemond and former NHL Referee in Chief Scotty Morrison were also elected.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
San Antonio 96 @ New York 89 (San Antonio led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Tim Duncan scored 28 points and added 18 rebounds and 3 assists to lead the Spurs over the Knickerbockers before 19,763 fans at Madison Square Garden. Latrell Sprewell led New York scorers with 26 points.



Football
CFL
Pre-season
British Columbia (0-1) 21 @ Calgary (1-0) 24
Saskatchewan (0-1) 3 @ Edmonton (1-0) 27