November 16, 2009

440 years ago
1569

Born on this date
Paul Sartorius. German musician and composer. Mr. Sartorius, born Paul Schneider, studied in Italy before obtaining the position of court organist for Archduke Maximilian III of Austria in 1594. Mr. Sartorius' compositions showed strong Italian influence. He died on February 28, 1609 at the age of 39.

160 years ago
1849

World events
A Russian court sentenced author Fyodor Dostoyevsky to death for anti-government activities linked to a radical intellectual group; his sentence was later commuted to hard labour.

120 years ago
1889

Born on this date
George S. Kaufman. U.S. playwright and director. Mr. Kaufman wrote hit plays on Broadway from the early 1920s through the 1950s. He collaborated with Morrie Ryskind and Ira Gershwin to write Of Thee I Sing (1931), and with Moss Hart to write You Can't Take it With You (1936), which won Pulitzer Prizes for Drama in 1932 and 1937, respectively. Mr. Kaufman won a Tony Award for Best Director for Guys and Dolls (1950). He died on June 2, 1961 at the age of 71.

Transportation
The Oahu Railway and Land Company (OR&L) began operating on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

110 years ago
1899

Born on this date
Mary Margaret McBride. U.S. radio hostess and journalist. Miss McBride, nicknamed the "First Lady of Radio," hosted interview programs on CBS, NBC, and ABC from 1934-1960. She achieved success in radio, but when she tried the same format on television with NBC in 1948, her program was cancelled after less than three months on the air. Miss McBride wrote a syndicated newspaper column for Associated Press from 1953-1956. She died on April 7, 1976 at the age of 76.

90 years ago
1919

Football
Wisconsin-Michigan professional
Green Bay Packers (10-0) 17 @ Stambaugh 0

80 years ago
1929

At the movies
The Locked Door, directed by George Fitzmaurice, and starring Rod LaRocque, Barbara Stanwyck, William "Stage" Boyd, and Betty Bronson, opened in theatres.



The Mighty, directed by John Cromwell, and starring George Bancroft, Esther Ralston, Warner Oland, and Raymond Hatton, opened in theatres.



Politics and government
Liberal Party candidate Joseph-Leonide Perron won a Quebec provincial by-election in the riding of Montcalm, defeating Conservative Party candidate Albert Lévesque 1,843-886.

Football
CRU
Eastern Final
Sarnia (ORFU) 2 @ Hamilton (IRFU) 14

NFL
Chicago Bears (4-4-1) 14 @ Frankford (8-2-2) 20

70 years ago
1939

Died on this date
Pierce Butler, 73. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1923-1939. Justice Butler represented railroads in litigation in Minnesota and Canada before being appointed to the Supreme Court by President Warren G. Harding. He was known for opposing regulation of business and the implementation of welfare programs by the federal government. Justice Butler was a consistent opponent of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal economic policies until his death from a sudden ailment.

Crime
Al Capone, America's most notorious gangster, was paroled from the Federal Correctional Institution at Terminal Island in California, where he had been transferred from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary on January 6, 1939 to serve out his sentence for contempt of court. He was granted parole after his wife appealed to the court on the grounds of his reduced mental capacity because he was afflicted with syphilis.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Ben Wright and Eric Snowden, on ABC

Literature
A group of U.S. academics headed by Clarence Gohdes of Duke University recommended a list of 20 American works to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for publication in an international edition of the world's great classics. Among the included authors were Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville, and Henry James.

Diplomacy
U.K. Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin announced plans to recognize the Chinese Communist government in the event of similar action by the U.S.A. and Commonwealth countries. U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson rejected recognition of the Communist government as long as U.S. Consul General Angus Ward remained imprisoned in Mukden.

Iranian Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi arrived in Washington on a state visit to discuss military and economic matters with U.S. President Harry Truman.

Politics and government
The People's Party, led by Rushdi el-Kikhya, won 63 of 114 seats in the Constitutional Assembly in the Syrian legislative election. The People's Party led the opposition to a merger with Iraq. The National Party was second with 13 seats. 31 independent candidates were elected. It was the first Syrian election in which women participated.

Economics and finance
The United Nations General Assembly gave permanent status to a UN program of technical assistance and economic aid to backward countries.

Labour
U.S. Federal Mediation Director Cyrus Ching conceded defeat in his effort to settle the soft coal dispute, and turned the case over to the administration of U.S. President Truman.

Aluminum Company of America signed a contract with the American Federation of Labor International Council of Aluminum Workers, providing for workers' pension and insurance funds.

Leftist and rightist factions of the National Maritime Union clashed in New York over President Joseph Curran's attempt to dismiss David Drummond, a local NMU official.

The International Ladies Garment Workers Union announced plans to open a full-time "labor college" in New York to train union functionaries.

Disasters
Two U.S. Air Force B-29s collided during mock bombing raids near Stockton, California, killing 18 crew members.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): You are My Destiny--Paul Anka (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Mr. Blue--The Fleetwoods
2 Mack the Knife--Bobby Darin
3 Don't You Know--Della Reese
4 Put Your Head on My Shoulder--Paul Anka
5 Heartaches by the Number--Guy Mitchell
6 Lonely Street--Andy Williams
7 Teen Beat--Sandy Nelson
8 Deck of Cards--Wink Martindale
9 So Many Ways--Brook Benton
10 Primrose Lane--Jerry Wallace with the Jewels

Singles entering the chart were The Big Hurt by Miss Toni Fisher (#55); The Best of Everything by Johnny Mathis (#67); Hound Dog Man by Fabian (#81); Goodnight My Love (Pleasant Dreams) by Ray Peterson (#92); Gilee by Sonny Spencer (#93); Marina by Jacky Noguez and his Orchestra (#95); God Bless America by Connie Francis (#96); (New In) The Ways of Love by Tommy Edwards (#97); I'll Walk the Line by Don Costa, Orchestra and Chorus (#98); and So Young by Clyde Stacy (#100). (New In) The Ways of Love was the other side of Honestly and Truly, charting at #94. God Bless America was the other side of Among My Souvenirs, which had yet to chart.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 Heartaches by the Number--Guy Mitchell
2 Living Doll--Cliff Richard and the Drifters
--David Hill
3 Mack the Knife--Bobby Darin
4 Deck of Cards--Wink Martindale
5 In the Mood--Ernie Fields Orchestra
6 Mr. Blue--The Fleetwoods
7 Teen Beat--Sandy Nelson
8 Lonely Street--Andy Williams
9 Don't You Know--Della Reese
10 Morgen--Ivo Robic and the Song-Masters

Singles entering the chart were Always by Sammy Turner (#34); Just to Be with You by the Passions (#44); Hound Dog Man/This Friendly World by Fabian (#48); It's Time to Cry by Paul Anka (#49); First Name Initial by Annette with the Afterbeats (#50); Why by Frankie Avalon (#54); Among My Souvenirs by Connie Francis (#55); Tear Drop by Santo & Johnny (#56); I Wanna Be Loved by Ricky Nelson (#57); The Big Hurt by Miss Toni Fisher (#58); El Paso by Marty Robbins (#59); and Sandy by Larry Hall (#60).

Theatre
The Sound of Music, with songs by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, directed by Vincent J. Donehue, and starring Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel, opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway in New York.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Christian Herter met with Panamanian Ambassador to the United States Ricardo Arias, and offered to send Deputy Undersecretary of State Livingston Merchant to Panama to discuss deteriorating relations.

Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru told Parliament that he would not meet with Communist Chinese Premier Chou En-lai until "preliminary steps" had been taken toward an "interim understanding" on conflicting border claims.

Politics and government
Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul Karim el-Kassem endorsed the proposed Fertile Crescent plan for the unification of Iraq, Syria, and Jordan.

The U.S. Justice Department sued in U.S. District Court in Memphis to end "white primaries" in nearby Fayette County, Tennessee.

Defense
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower urged Defense Department officials to keep the fiscal 1961 defense budget down to the 1960 level.

Disasters
A National Airlines plane en route from Tampa to New Orleans plunged into the Gulf of Mexico, killing 37 passengers and 5 crewmen.

40 years ago
1969

Protest
In a strong statement that ran counter to the statements of other officials from the administration of U.S. President Richard Nixon that praised the restraint shown by those marching the previous day in protest against the Vietnam War, U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell said that the weekend’s peace activities were not peaceful. He said that the New Mobilization Committee "aided this violence through a combination of inaction and affirmative action." It was learned that city officials in Washington had urged the White House to issue a parade permit for the demonstrators in fear that the Justice Department’s hard line against granting such a permit could itself prompt violence.

Football
CFL
Eastern Finals
Ottawa 14 @ Toronto 22 (First game of 2-game total points series)

Toronto quarterback Tom Wilkinson rushed 8 yards for a touchdown and threw touchdown passes of 10 and 23 yards to Bobby Taylor in front of a sellout crowd at CNE Stadium of 33,135. Tom Johansen added a single and converted one of the touchdowns, but had 2 converts blocked. The Argonauts also scored a safety touch. Quarterback Russ Jackson rushed 3 yards for the only Ottawa touchdown; Don Sutherin converted and added 2 field goals and a single. Mr. Jackson completed just 6 of 19 passes for 91 yards; Mr. Wilkinson was slightly better, completing 9 of 21 for 164. The Rough Riders outrushed the Argonauts 226 yards to 155.





NFL
St. Louis (3-5-1) 0 @ Detroit (6-3) 20
Chicago (1-8) 31 @ Atlanta (3-6) 48
Cleveland (6-2-1) 24 @ Pittsburgh (1-8) 3
Dallas (8-1) 41 @ Washington (4-3-2) 28
New Orleans (2-7) 25 @ New York (3-6) 24
Los Angeles (9-0) 23 @ Philadelphia (3-5-1) 17
Minnesota (8-1) 9 @ Green Bay (5-4) 7
Baltimore (5-4) 17 @ San Francisco (2-6-1) 20

AFL
Houston (4-4-2) 20 @ Denver (4-5-1) 20
San Diego (4-6) 16 @ Oakland (8-1-1) 21
Miami (2-7-1) 3 @ Buffalo (3-7) 28
Boston (2-8) 25 @ Cincinnati (4-5-1) 14
Kansas City (9-1) 34 @ New York (7-3) 16

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Oh! Susie--Secret Service (5th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Maybe--Thom Pace

Maybe was the theme song of the movie (1974) and television series (1977-1978) The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams.

#1 single in France (IFOP): Video Killed the Radio Star--The Buggles

Scandal
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher notified the House of Commons that Sir Anthony Blunt, the former curator of Queen Elizabeth's art collection, was the long-sought "fourth man" in the Burgess-Maclean spy case of the 1950s and 1960s. Mr. Blunt was immediately stripped of his knighthood, and went into hiding.

Politics and government
The Bolivian Congress elected Lidia Gueiler Tejada as interim President until elections scheduled for May 4, 1980. Over 200 people had been killed in street battles since a military coup led by Col. Alberto Natusch Busch overthrew Bolivia’s civilian government on November 1.

Aviation
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced that American Airlines had paid a fine of $500,000 for improper maintenance of DC-10 jumbo jets. An American Airlines DC-10 had crashed on May 25 in Chicago and killed 273 people due to the loss of an engine-pylon assembly that had been improperly installed. Announced simultaneously was the payment of a $100,000 fine by Continental Airlines for some of the same violations.

25 years ago
1984

Football
CFL
Valerie Legate, Miss Edmonton Eskimo, was crowned Miss Grey Cup 1984 in a vote for the host city. Terry Girouart, Miss Montreal Concorde, who should have won Miss Grey Cup, was voted Miss Congeniality.

20 years ago
1989

Died on this date
Jean-Claude Malépart, 50. Canadian politician. Mr. Malépart, a Liberal,m represented Sainte-Marie in the Quebec National Assembly (1973-1976) and Sainte-Marie in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 until his death. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works from 1982-1984. Mr. Malépart died 17 days before his 51st birthday.

Abominations
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that a fetus had no right to life under common law, the Quebec Civil Code or the Quebec Charter, following injunctions brought under the Barbara Dodd and Chantal Daigle cases.

War
Six Jesuit priests as well as a cook and her daughter were shot to death by uniformed gunmen at Jose Simeon Canas University of Central America in San Salvador.

Politics and government
Members of the United States House of Representatives voted themselves an increase in salary from $89,500 per year to $124,400 per year by 1991.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported the merchandise trade deficit for September at $7.94 billion, the lowest since 1984.

Disasters
A tornado struck East Coldenham Elementary School outside Newburgh, New York, and knocked down a wall in the cafeteria. 9 students wre killed and 16 injured.

Repairs were completed on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, which had been damaged in the October 17 earthquake.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Daniel Nathans, 71. U.S. microbiologist. Dr. Nathans shared the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Werner Abner and Hamilton Smith "for the discovery of restriction enzymes and their application to problems of molecular genetics."

Crime
A judge in Surrey, British Columbia gave five skinheads sentences ranging from 12 to 15 years for killing Nirmal Singh Gill, an elderly Sikh who was beaten to death outside a temple. the judge said that the killers were "social misfits" who were motivated by racism.

Politics and government
California State Senator Joe Baca (Democrat) was elected to fill the remainder of the term of U.S. Rep. George Brown (Democrat), who had died in July. The result left the Republicans with a slim 222-212 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Disasters
U.S. government officials said that an analysis of voice and data recorders from EgyptAir flight 990, which had plunged into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after takeoff from New York on October 31 with the loss of 217 lives, indicated that a relief pilot on the plane, Gamil al-Batouti, may have seized the controls and caused tha fatal plunge. Seconds before the autopilot was shut off, a voice identified as his was heard stating a phrase translated from Arabic, "I put my trust in God."

Baseball
Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox won the American League Cy Young Award unanimously after establishing himself as the game's dominant pitcher with a 23-4 record and a 2.07 earned run average.