November 25, 2009

400 years ago
1609

Born on this date
Henrietta Maria of France. Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland, 1625-1649. Queen Mary, as she was known in England, married King Charles I shortly after his accession to the throne in 1625. Because she was a Roman Catholic, she was never crowned, and fled to France during the English Civil War in 1644. Queen Mary was left impoverished after the execution of King Charles I in 1669, and she didn't return to England until after the restoration of her son Charles II in 1660. Queen Mary returned to France in 1665, and died on September 10, 1669 at the age of 59 after taking an overdose of opiates as a painkiller on the advice of her doctor. The American state of Maryland is named in her honour.

250 years ago
1759

Disasters
An earthquake hit the Mediterranean, destroying Beirut and Damascus and killing 30,000-40,000 people.

170 years ago
1839

Disasters
A cyclone struck India with high winds and a 40-foot storm surge, destroying the port city of Coringa. The storm wave swept inland, taking with it 20,000 ships and thousands of people. An estimated 300,000 deaths resulted.

140 years ago
1869

Born on this date
Ben Lindsey. U.S. judge and social activist. Mr. Lindsey was a juvenile court judge in Denver in the early 1900s, and pioneered the juvenile court system. He advocated other social reforms, but was ousted from the bench in 1927 after 28 years of service, after co-authoring The Companionate Marriage (1927), in which he argued that a couple should be able to live in a childless trial relationship for a year before deciding if they were suitable for each other. Mr. Lindsey moved to California, and was elected to the California Superior Court in 1931. He died on March 26, 1943 at the age of 73.

120 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Reşat Nuri Güntekin. Turkish author, playwright, and politician. Mr. Güntekin wrote short stories, novels, and plays in a career spanning more than 35 years. His best-known novel was Çalıkuşu (The Wren) (1922). Mr. Güntekin represented Çanakkale in the Turkish Grand National Assembly from 1933-1943. He died of lung cancer at the age of 67 on December 7, 1956.

110 years ago
1899

Football
CRU
ORFU
Final
Kingston 8 Ottawa 0 @ Toronto

The Rough Riders protested the Granites’ win, alleging that the Kingston club had used ineligible players. The issue wasn’t decided until a league meeting in December, when the vote went in favour of the Granites under suspicious circumstances.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
P. D. Eastman. U.S. writer and illustrator. Philip Dey Eastman wrote screenplays for cartoons from the 1930s to the 1950s, and then wrote and illustrated children's books in the 1950s and '60s. He was a friend of Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss), and his books were also published by Random House, with many of them in the Beginner Books series. Mr. Eastman died on January 7, 1986 at the age of 76.

Died on this date
Edward P. Allen, 70. U.S. politician. Mr. Allen, a Republican, represented the Washtenaw County 1st District in the Michigan House of Representatives (1877-1880) and Michigan's 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1887-1891). He died four weeks after his 70th birthday.

Hockey
The Eastern Canada Hockey Association was dissolved as a result of the desire of Montreal Wanderers' owner P.J. Doran to move his team's home games to the Jubilee Arena, which he owned, but which was smaller than the Montreal Arena, meaning that visiting teams' share of the gate would be less. The owners of the Ottawa Hockey Club, Quebec Bulldogs, and Montreal Shamrocks promptly founded a new professional league, the Canadian Hockey Association. Two more teams--All-Montreal and Monreal de National--were added before the league began play on December 30.

80 years ago
1929

Theatre
William Gillette's "farewell tour" in the starring role of his play Sherlock Holmes: A Drama in Four Acts opened for the first of 45 performances at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York. Wallis Clark played Doctor Watson.

75 years ago
1934

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Today’s episode: The Adventure of the Syrian Mummy

70 years ago
1939

Football
CRU
IRFU
Finals
Ottawa 28 @ Toronto 6 (Ottawa won 2-game total points series 39-6)

ORFU
Finals
Sarnia 18 @ Montreal 13 (Sarnia won 2-game total points series 31-14)

Ottawa's Arnie McWatters recovered his own 45-yard punt to the Toronto end zone for a touchdown to open the scoring as the Rough Riders routed the Argonauts before 20,000 fans at Varsity Stadium. Andy Tommy rushed 78 yards in the 3rd quarter to set up his own 1-yard touchdown rush; Tony Golab rushed 1 yard for a touchdown; and Orville Burke completed a pass to Tommy Daley for the other Ottawa TD. Doug McPherson scored the only Toronto touchdown on a 21-yard fumble return in the 3rd quarter.

The Westmounts amassed 20 first downs and 356 yards total offense to just 1 first down and 40 yards total offense for the Imperials, but Sarnia took advantage of Montreal fumbles to win the game and the series. Montreal's Ray Mullins was a notable goat: he fumbled the opening kickoff, which Sarnia's Ike Norris recovered for a touchdown, and lost a fumble on his 1-yard line, leading to a 1-yard touchdown rush by Mike Hedgewick on the next play. Lyle Withers scored the Imperials' final touchdown when the Westmounts fumbled a punt in their own end zone and Mr. Withers recovered.

60 years ago
1949

At the movies
Portrait d'un assassin (Portrait of an Assassin), directed by Bernard-Roland, and starring Maria Montez, Erich von Stroheim, Arletty, and Pierre Brasseur, opened in theatres in France.

Died on this date
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, 71. U.S. dancer and actor. Mr. Robinson was the best-known and highest-paid Negro entertainer in the first half of the 20th century, with a career spanning almost 50 years, beginning in minstrel shows and ending on television. He revolutionized tap dancing by dancing on his toes rather than his heels. Mr. Robinson is perhaps best known for appearing in four movies with Shirley Temple in the 1930s and starring in the movie Stormy Weather (1943).

Jack Walton, 68. U.S. politician. Mr. Walton, a Democrat, was Mayor of Oklahoma City from 1919-1923, leaving the mayoralty to take office as Governor of Oklahoma on January 9, 1923. He introduced agricultural and educational reforms, but was forced out of office on November 19, 1923, after just 10 months in office, when he declared martial law in an attempt to thwart the influence of the Ku Klux Klan. Mr. Walton won the Democratic Party nomination for the U.S. Senate in the 1924 election, but was soundly defeated by Republican Party candidate William Pine.

Diplomacy
The U.S.A. suspended relations with Panama due to the overthrow of "constituted authorities."

U.S. Consul General Angus Ward and four members of his staff were freed in Mukden by Chinese Communist authorities and ordered deported for allegedly beating a Chinese servant.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman ordered Attorney General J. Howard McGrath and Joint Congressional Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Brien McMahon to stop congressional leaks of secret nuclear information. He specifically criticized Senator Edwin Johnson (Democrat--Colorado) for making allegedly unauthorized disclosures on U.S. atomic weapons in a televised interview.

Politics and government
Israel rejected the United Nations Palestine Commission's plan for the internationalization of Jerusalem.

The West German Bundestag approved the government's agreement despite strong Socialist opposition to international control of the Ruhr.

Americana
President Truman presented the Distinguished Public Service Award of the U.S. Conference of Mayors to General George Marshall.

Economics and finance
West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer indicated that West Germany would seek a gradual easing of restrictions on German steel and gasoline production in further negotiations with the Western Allies.

Labour
Communist and non-Communist French unions joined in a one-day general strike to enforce their wage demands.

50 years ago
1959

Died on this date
E.G. Jansen, 78. Governor-General of South Africa, 1951-1959. Ernest George Jansen, a member of the National Party, sat in the House of Assembly for most of the time from 1915-1950, and held various positions, including Speaker of the House (1924-1929, 1934-1943). He was also Minister of Native Affairs (1929-1934, 1948-1950), but was thought to be too soft on the racial policy of apartheid, and was replaced in 1950 by future Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd. Dr. Jansen took office as Governor-General on January 1, 1951, and remained in office until his death.

Jean Grémillon, 58. French film director. Mr. Grémillon directed silent documentaries in the 1920s, and then directed more than 20 feature films from 1928-1959, the best known of which were Gueule d'amour (Lady Killer) (1937); L'ةtrange Monsieur Victor (The Strange Monsieur Victor) (1938); Remorques (Stormy Waters) (1941); Lumière d'été (Summer Light)(1943); and Le ciel est à vous (The Woman Who Dared) (1944).

Gérard Philipe, 36. French actor. Mr. Philipe was one of France's biggest movie stars after World War II, appearing in 34 films from 1944 until his death from liver cancer, nine days before his 37th birthday. Mr. Philipe's movies included L'idiot (The Idiot) (1946); Le diable au corps (Devil in the Flesh) (1947); and Les Liaisons dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons) (1959).

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly voted 51-10 to debate the "question of Hungary" as an "important and urgent matter" requiring UN attention.

Defense
Indian opposition leader Acharya J.B. Kripalani, accusing Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's government of "culpable negligence" in dealing with the Communist Chinese menace, called for joint Indian-Pakistani steps to defend both nations against China.

Politics and government
U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of State Livingston Merchant reaffirmed that "titular sovereignty over the Canal Zone" remained with Panama.

Scandal
The French Senate voted to strip Senator Francois Mitterand of his parliamentary immunity and permit his prosecution for obstructing investigation of charges that he had organized a fake assassination attempt against himself.

Crime
A federal charge of perjury pending against former Communist Party U.S.A. leader Earl Browder since 1952 was dismissed in New York for lack of evidence.

Art
New York dealer Raphael Rosenberg purchased Paul Cezanne's Peasant in a Blue Blouse for $406,000 and Paul Gaugin's I Await the Letter for $364,000 in an auction at Sotheby's in London.

Medicine
The University of California at Berkeley reported the development of the electronic tonometer, designed to measure pressure within the eyeball and provide earlier diagnosis of glaucoma.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Grüezi wohl, Frau Stirnimaa--Die Minstrels (5th week at #1)

War
U.S. President Richard Nixon renounced the use of germ warfare for the United States, which would use chemical warfare only in retaliation. Tear gas and defoliants were exempted from this decision.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: We Don't Talk Anymore--Cliff Richard (6th week at #1)

World events
A report from Bangkok said that food reaching Cambodia was still far below the level needed to effectively combat starvation.

Diplomacy
Citing a "serious threat to international peace and security," United Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim requested an "urgent meeting" of the Security Council to deal with the Iranian crisis. It was now three weeks since Iranian militants had seized the American embassy in Tehran.

Football
CFL
Grey Cup @ Olympic Stadium, Montreal
Edmonton 17 Montreal 9

The Eskimos defeated the Alouettes before 65,113 fans to win their second straight Grey Cup. The most exciting play of the game was an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown by Montreal’s Keith Baker late in the game that was nullified by a penalty for an illegal block. David Green of the Alouettes, who rushed 21 times for 142 yards, was named the game’s outstanding offensive player. The Alouettes recorded 204 yards rushing, but quarterback Joe Barnes passed for just 151 yards, and failed to produce a touchdown. The Eskimos, who had led the CFL with 495 points scored in the regular season, weren’t much better, but they managed a couple of touchdowns. Tom Wilkinson threw to a wide-open Waddell Smith for a 43-yard touchdown at 9:41 of the first quarter, and then Warren Moon, who took over as Edmonton’s quarterback in the second half, threw for a 33-yard touchdown to Tom Scott at 10:07 of the third quarter. Dave Cutler’s second convert of the game gave the Eskimos a 14-9 lead, several minutes after Don Sweet’s third straight field goal had given the Alouettes a 9-7 lead. Mr. Cutler completed the scoring with a 38-yard field goal on the last play of the third quarter. The Alouettes swept the individual honours: in addition to Mr. Green, linebacker Tom Cousineau, who made an interception, was chosen the game’s outstanding defensive player, and Mr. Sweet was named the outstanding Canadian. Edmonton linebacker Carl Crennel, who had played from 1972-1978 and the first 12 games of 1979 for Montreal before being dealt to the Eskimos, got the last laugh, and even recorded an 8-yard punt return. The Alouettes were hurt by the absence, caused by injury, of all-star offensive tackle Dan Yochum. He was replaced by Larry Pfohl, playing just his second CFL game. Mr. Pfohl managed 5 yards rushing after recovering a teammate’s fumble. It was the fifth Grey Cup appearance for Montreal linebacker Wally Buono, but the first in which he handled the punting duties. He did a fine job; he and the Eskimos’ Hank Ilesic each punted 8 times, and Mr. Buono averaged 45.5 yards per punt to Mr. Ilesic’s 40.4. Joe Clark presented the Grey Cup to the Eskimos, becoming the last Prime Minister to do so to date.



20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Lambada--Kaoma (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): If Only I Could--Sydney Youngblood (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Lily was Here--David A. Stewart and Candy Dulfer

#1 single in France (SNEP): Swing the Mood--Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): You Got It (The Right Stuff)--New Kids on the Block

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Blame it on the Rain--Milli Vanilli
2 When I See You Smile--Bad English
3 Love Shack--The B-52's
4 (It's Just) The Way that You Love Me--Paula Abdul
5 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
6 Angelia--Richard Marx
7 Poison--Alice Cooper
8 Back to Life--Soul II Soul
9 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
10 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins

Singles entering the chart were Downtown Train by Rod Stewart (#54); Steamy Windows by Tina Turner (#83); Janie's Got a Gun by Aerosmith (#85); Principal's Office by Young M.C. (#88); Kickstart My Heart by Motley Crue (#90); Wait for You by Bonham (#91); Hide Your Heart by Kiss (#92); I Didn't Mean to Stay All Night by Starship (#94); and Everything You Do (You're Sexing Me) by Fiona (Duet with Kip Winger) (#95).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Blame it on the Rain--Milli Vanilli
2 Angelia--Richard Marx
3 (It's Just) The Way that You Love Me--Paula Abdul
4 Love Shack--The B-52's
5 When I See You Smile--Bad English
6 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
7 Listen to Your Heart--Roxette
8 Poison--Alice Cooper
9 Get on Your Feet--Gloria Estefan
10 Back to Life--Soul II Soul

Singles entering the chart were Downtown Train by Rod Stewart (#54); Tender Lover by Babyface (#70); I Remember You by Skidrow (#75); Was it Nothing at All by Michael Damian (#77); Lullaby by the Cure (#80); and Janie's Got a Gun by Aerosmith (#87).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Listen to Your Heart--Roxette
2 Sowing the Seeds of Love--Tears for Fears
3 When I See You Smile--Bad English
4 Miss You Much--Janet Jackson
5 Angelia--Richard Marx
6 No Souvenirs--Melissa Etheridge
7 Cover Girl--New Kids on the Block
8 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
9 The Best--Tina Turner
10 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel

Singles entering the chart were Too Hot by Loverboy (#78); Free Fallin' by Tom Petty (#82); White Hot by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider (#84); Janie's Got a Gun by Aerosmith (#87); Devolution Workin' Man Blues by the Alarm (#89); Sacrifice by Elton John (#91); A Girl Like You by the Smithereens (#92); and 500 Miles by the Hooters (#96). White Hot was a new version of the song that had originally been a hit for Red Rider in 1980.

Died on this date
Alva Fitch, 82. U.S. military officer. Lieutenant General Fitch commanded an artillery battalion during the Battle of Bataan during World War II, and was a prisoner of war from 1942-1945. He was assistant chief of staff for intelligence, Headquarters, Department of the Army (1961-1964) and deputy director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (1964-1966).

Protest
Czechoslovakian playwright and dissident Vaclav Havel, addressing 800,000 people in Prague, dismissed the previous day’s personnel shift within the country’s Communist government as a trick.

10 years ago
1999

World events
5-year-old Elian Gonzalez was one of three people rescued off the coast of Florida who had been among a boatload of 13 refugees fleeing Cuba for the United States when the boat sank on November 23. The three had survived by floating on inner tubes. The boy’s mother was among the drowned.