November 29, 2009

460 years ago
1549

Religion
The papal conclave of 1549–50 began.

280 years ago
1729

War
Natchez Indians massacred 138 Frenchmen, 35 French women, and 56 children at Fort Rosalie, near the site of modern-day Natchez, Mississippi. The incident was sparked by French colonial commandant Sieur de Chépart demanded land from a Natchez village for his own plantation near Fort Rosalie.

210 years ago
1799

Born on this date
Amos Bronson Alcott. U.S. educator and philosopher. Mr. Alcott, a philosopher in American Transcendentalism, was the father of the original "Little Women:" Anna, Louisa, Elizabeth, and May Alcott. At the basis of his educational theory was his belief that "early education is the enduring power" in the formation of the imagination and moral life of the human being. Mr. Alcott believed that learning should be a pleasant experience for children, and that the environment of the classroom should be beautiful. He died on March 4, 1888 at the age of 88.

200 years ago
1809

Politics and government
U.S. President James Madison delivered his State of the Union message to Congress.

160 years ago
1849

Born on this date
John Ambrose Fleming. U.K. physicist and engineer. Sir John was an electrical engineer who taught at University College, London (1897-1927), and played an important role in the invention of radio. While under contract to Guglielmo Marconi, he designed the world's first large radio transmitter, which enabled the first transatlantic radio transmission in 1901. Mr. Marconi received all the credit because of the contractual arrangement, and later reneged on an agreement with Dr. Fleming to give him shares in the Marconi company. Sir John invented the thermionic vacuum tube in 1904--the two-electrode diode--and accused U.S. engineer Lee de Forest of infringing on his patents when Mr. de Forest added a control "grid" to make a triode. Court battles between the two men dragged on for years. Sir John promoted the new technology of television in his later years, and was the second president of the Royal Television Society. He was a devout Christian, and co-founded the Evolution Protest Movement (now the Creation Science Movement) in 1932. Sir John died on April 18, 1945 at the age of 95.

140 years ago
1869

Died on this date
Giulia Grisi, 58. Italian singer. Miss Grisi was one of the leding operatic sopranos of the 19th century, performing in Europe, South America, and the United States from the late 1820s through the 1850s. She died in Berlin after being injured in a train accident while travelling to St. Petersburg.

130 years ago
1879

Born on this date
Jacob Gade. Danish composer. Mr. Gade was a violinist who composed popular orchestral music, and was best known for writing the tune Jalousie (1925). He died on February 20, 1963 at the age of 63.

110 years ago
1899

Born on this date
Andrija Artuković. Austro-Hungarian born Croatian politician and war criminal. Dr. Artuković, a member of the nationalist and fascist Ustaše organization, served in the government of the Independent State of Croatia as Minister of the Interior (1941-1942, 1943); Minister of Justice (1942-1943); and Secretary of State (1943-1945). He was responsible for signing racial laws against Serbs and Jews, and played a major role in the Porajmos, the genocide of the Romani people. Dr. Artuković was also responsible for the death and mistreatment of thousands of people in concentraion camps. He was detained in Austria by the Allies at the end of World War II, but was released, and used a forged passport to eventually make his way to California, where he stayed illegally after his tourist visa expired. An attempt by the Yugoslavian government to extradite Dr. Artuković in 1959 was unsuccessful, but the request was renewed in the 1980s, and Dr. Artuković was arrested in New York in 1984 and extradited to Yugoslavia for trial. He was convicted in 1986 of several mass killing and sentenced to death, but the sentence was not carried out because of Dr. Artuković's age and health. He died of natural causes in a prison hospital on January 16, 1988 at the age of 88.

Emma Morano. Italian supercentenarian. Miss Morano worked in a jute factory and then in a kitchen in a boarding school for much of her life. She was married from 1926-1978, but the couple separated in 1938, shortly after the death of their infant son. Miss Morano died on April 15, 2017 at the age of 117, becoming the oldest Italian person ever recorded, and the last person in the world verified to have been born before 1900.

Soccer
FC Barcelona was founded by Catalan, Spanish and Englishmen; it later developed into one of Spanish football's strongest teams.

80 years ago
1929

Exploration
U.S. Navy Admiral Richard Byrd led the first expedition to fly over the South Pole.



70 years ago
1939

Died on this date
Philipp Scheidemann, 74. Chancellor of Germany, 1919. Mr. Scheidermann, a member of the Social Democratic Party, proclaimed Germany a republic on the fall of the monarchy on November 9, 1918. He served as Chancellor from February 13-June 20, 1919, when he and his cabinet resigned in protest over the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. When the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, Mr. Scheidermann fled to Denmark; he died in Copenhagen.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
Philo Vance, starring Jackson Beck
Tonight's episode: The Thundering Murder Case

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Man in the House, starring Alan Baxter, Kim Hunter, and Ruth McDevitt



Diplomacy
A United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization conference in Washington chose Rome for the group's permanent headquarters, and admitted Afghanistan as the 62nd member.

Defense
The U.S. Defense Department and Atomic Energy Commission announced plans for a new series of nuclear tests on Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

Politics and government
U.S. authorities in Germany eliminated the requirement of American approval for German political parties operating in the U.S. zone.

Football
NCAA
University of Notre Dame end Leon Hart received the New York Athletic Club's Heisman Trophy as the top college football player in the United States in 1949. Mr. Hart helped the Fighting Irish to a 10-0 record and the national championship.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Le marchand de bonheur--Les Compagnons de la chanson (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Special Delivery, starring Steve Dunn, Beatrice Straight, Peter Lazer, and Frank Maxwell

Diplomacy
The Indonesian government barred all foreigners except diplomats from entering Jakarta.

Politics and government
The British Labour Party ended its annual convention in Blackpool after delegates split over appeals by party leader Hugh Gaitskell to de-emphasize the party's program for industrial nationalization.

Football
NFL
Washington (3-7) 14 @ New York (8-2) 45
San Francisco (7-3) 21 @ Cleveland (6-4) 20
Philadelphia (6-4) 0 @ Pittsburgh (5-4-1) 31
Los Angeles (2-8) 21 @ Baltimore (7-3) 35
Chicago Bears (6-4) 31 @ Chicago Cardinals (2-8) 7

The Cardinals’ loss was their last home game in Chicago. They finished the season with two road games and moved to St. Louis in 1960.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Something/Come Together--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Suspicious Minds--Elvis Presley (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Adieu jolie Candy--Jean-François Michael

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Lo straniero--Georges Moustaki (7th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Sugar, Sugar--The Archies (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Sugar, Sugar--The Archies (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Sugar, Sugar--The Archies (6th week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Penny Arcade--Roy Orbison
2 Something/Come Together--The Beatles
3 The Star--Ross D. Wyllie
4 Suspicious Minds--Elvis Presley
5 Jean--Oliver
6 Sweet Caroline--Neil Diamond
7 Without You/Hair--Doug Parkinson in Focus
8 Picking Up Pebbles--Matt Flinders
9 I'll Never Fall in Love Again--Bobbie Gentry
10 Natural Born Bugie--Humble Pie

Singles entering the chart were Jesus is a Soul Man by Lawrence Reynolds (#21); Sacha by Hank B. Marvin (#30); and He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother by the Hollies (#32).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Oh Well!--Fleetwood Mac (2nd week at #1)
2 My Special Prayer--Percy Sledge
3 Cha-La-La, I Need You--The Shuffles
4 Maanserenade--Marty
5 Air--Ekseption
6 Suspicious Minds--Elvis Presley
7 We zijn toch op de wereld om mekaar te helpen, niewaar?--Adèle Bloemendaal & Leen Jongewaard & Piet Römer
8 Pastorale--Liesbeth List met Ramses Shaffy
9 Little Green Bag--George Baker Selection
10 Bourée--Jethro Tull

Singles entering the chart were Mighty Joe by Shocking Blue (#29); (Call Me) Number One by the Tremeloes (#31); Oebele is Hupsakee by Oebeler Kinderkoor (#38); It was Yesterday Today by Pepper and Salt (#39); and Daylight by the Shoes (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Come Together/Something--The Beatles
2 And When I Die--Blood, Sweat & Tears
3 Wedding Bell Blues--The 5th Dimension
4 Take a Letter Maria--R.B. Greaves
5 Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye--Steam
6 Smile a Little Smile for Me--The Flying Machine
7 Leaving on a Jet Plane--Peter, Paul and Mary
8 Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday--Stevie Wonder
9 Down on the Corner--Creedence Clearwater Revival
10 Eli's Coming--Three Dog Night

Singles entering the chart were Don't Cry Daddy/Rubberneckin' by Elvis Presley (#73); What You Gave Me by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (#77); I'm Tired by Savoy Brown (#81); Turn! Turn! Turn!/To Everything There is a Season by Judy Collins (#84); Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg (#87); Jingle Jangle by the Archies (#90); Tonight I'll Say a Prayer by Eydie Gorme (#91); I Love You by Otis Leavill (#92); No One Better than You by Petula Clark (#93); You Keep Me Hanging On by Wilson Pickett (#94); (One of These Days) Sunday's Gonna Come on Thursday by the New Establishment (#96); Feeling Alright by Mongo Sanatamaria (#97); Wichita Lineman by Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 (#99); and Goin' Out of My Head/Forget to Remember by Frank Sinatra (#100). Rubberneckin' was from the movie Change of Habit (1969).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Come Together--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)
2 Wedding Bell Blues--The 5th Dimension
3 And When I Die--Blood, Sweat & Tears
4 Take a Letter Maria--R.B. Greaves
5 Smile a Little Smile for Me--The Flying Machine
6 Something--The Beatles
7 Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye--Steam
8 Eli's Coming--Three Dog Night
9 Fortunate Son--Creedence Clearwater Revival
10 Leaving on a Jet Plane--Peter, Paul and Mary

Singles entering the chart were Don't Cry Daddy by Elvis Presley (#55); Jingle Jangle by the Archies (#69); Wonderful World, Beautiful People by Jimmy Cliff (#79); You Keep Me Hanging On by Wilson Pickett (#81); When Julie Comes Around by the Cuff Links (#85); Winter World of Love by Engelbert Humperdinck (#89); Trouble Maker by Lee Hazlewood (#91); Don't Let Him Take Your Love from Me by the Four Tops (#92); I'm Gonna Love You by the Intrigues (#93); Arizona by Mark Lindsay (#94); (When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again) I Can't See You No More by Joe Tex (#95); and Big in Vegas by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos (#97).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Something/Come Together--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)
2 And When I Die--Blood, Sweat & Tears
3 Take a Letter Maria--R.B. Greaves
4 Eli's Coming--Three Dog Night
5 Smile a Little Smile for Me--The Flying Machine
6 Leaving on a Jet Plane--Peter, Paul and Mary
7 Holly Holy--Neil Diamond
8 Fortunate Son/Down on the Corner--Creedence Clearwater Revival
9 Cherry Hill Park--Billy Joe Royal
10 Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye--Steam

Singles entering the chart were Don't Cry Daddy by Elvis Presley (#79); Wonderful World, Beautiful People by Jimmy Cliff (#89); Winter World of Love by Engelbert Humperdinck (#90); Arizona by Mark Lindsay (#91); Silver Threads and Golden Needles by the Cowsills (#93); Don't Let Him Take Your Love from Me by the Four Tops (#95); You Keep Me Hanging On by Wilson Pickett (#98); and Jingle Jangle by the Archies (#99).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Suspicious Minds--Elvis Presley (4th week at #1)
2 Take a Letter Maria--R.B. Greaves
3 Something--The Beatles
4 Reuben James--Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
5 Down on the Corner--Creedence Clearwater Revival
6 Cherry Hill Park--Billy Joe Royal
7 Holly Holy--Neil Diamond
8 Try a Little Kindness--Glen Campbell
9 Jesus is a Soul Man--Lawrence Reynolds
10 The Rainmaker--Tom Northcott
Pick hit of the week: Someday We'll Be Together--Diana Ross and the Supremes

The Rainmaker was written by Harry Nilsson, and Mr. Nilsson’s version was released several months before Mr. Northcott’s version as the B-side of Everybody’s Talkin’. Mr. Nilsson co-produced Mr. Northcott’s recording.

Someday We’ll Be Together was the last single released by Diana Ross and the Supremes. Miss Ross left the group to perform as a solo artist in 1970.

War
The Vietnam War casualty list for the week ending on this day showed 70 Americans killed and 1,049 wounded; 373 South Vietnamese killed and 953 wounded; and 2,177 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong killed. The U.S. casualty list since January 1, 1961 hit 300,029--39,642 killed; 1,359 missing; and 259,828 wounded.

Disasters
4 people died and 18 were injured in an 18-vehicle pileup on the New Jersey Turnpike in Woodbury, New Jersey after a tractor-trailer ran into a gas tank truck in a patch of fog.

30 years ago
1979

Diplomacy
Mexico announced that the deposed Shah of Iran would not be allowed to return there. The Shah had been in exile in Mexico after being forced to flee Iran early in the year, and had been allowed to enter the United States for medical treatment.

Religion
Pope John Paul II continued his Turkish tour, beginning the day in Ankara and continuing to Istanbul.

Disasters
In the fourth-worst aviation disaster in history to that time, a DC-10 from New Zealand on a sightseeing flight over Antarctica crashed into a 12,400-foot mountain near McMurdo Station, killing all 257 people aboard. The third fatal DC-10 crash of 1979 was apparently caused by a navigational error by the pilot, who steered the plane around the side of the mountain that was notorious for high winds.

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
Edmonton's top 30 (CHED)
1 The Wild Boys--Duran Duran
2 Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)--Billy Ocean
3 Sea of Love--The Honeydrippers
4 Penny Lover--Lionel Richie
5 No More Lonely Nights--Paul McCartney
6 All Through the Night--Cyndi Lauper
7 Out of Touch--Daryl Hall John Oates
8 Run to You--Bryan Adams
9 We Belong--Pat Benatar
10 Valotte--Julian Lennon
11 The War Song--Culture Club
12 Stranger in Town--Toto
13 I Feel for You--Chaka Khan
14 Born in the U.S.A.--Bruce Springsteen
15 I Can't Hold Back--Survivor
16 Better Be Good to Me--Tina Turner
17 Walking on a Thin Line--Huey Lewis and the News
18 Tears--John Waite
19 I Do Wanna Know--REO Speedwagon
20 Had a Dream (Sleeping with the Enemy)--Roger Hodgson
21 Heaven (Must Be There)--Eurogliders
22 Teacher Teacher--.38 Special
23 I Need You Tonight--Peter Wolf
24 Lucky Star--Madonna
25 Pride (In the Name of Love)--U2
26 Like a Virgin--Madonna
27 The Boys of Summer--Don Henley
28 Hello Again--The Cars
29 Understanding--Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
30 You're the Inspiration--Chicago

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Lambada--Kaoma (7th week at #1)

Music
Gordon Lightfooot performed at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton. This blogger paid $22 for his ticket.

Politics and government
Three days after the governing Congress Party lost more than half of its seats in parliamentary elections, Rajiv Gandhi announced his resignation as Prime Minister of India, subject to the selection of a new Prime Minister.

Czechoslovakia’s parliament deleted from the Constitution a provision guaranteeing the Communist Party the "leading role" in society.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
John Berry, 82. U.S. theatre and film director. Mr. Berry, born Jak Szold, directed plays for Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre in the late 1930s and early '40s, before going to Hollywood and directing movies such as From This Day Forward (1946); Casbah (1948); and He Ran All the Way (1951). Mr. Berry also directed the short documentary The Hollywood Ten (1950), a sympathetic look at the Communist directors, producers, and screenwriters who had been cited for contempt of Congress in 1947 for refusing to answer questions regarding Communist infiltration of the movie industry. Mr. Berry was identified as a Communist in 1951 by Hollywood Ten alumnus Edward Dmytryk and ex-Communist Frank Tuttle, and spent the next decade making movies in Europe. He returned to the United States in the 1960s, directing a few movies and television programs.

Gene Rayburn, 81. U.S. television game show host. Mr. Rayburn, born Eugene Jelyevich, was a successful actor and radio personality before becoming best known for hosting television game shows, particularly Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1982, 1983). He died 23 days before his 82nd birthday.

Politics and government
Protestant and Roman Catholic adversaries in Northern Ireland joined forces to form the Northern Ireland Assembly, as 10 members, under the leadership of Unionist First Minister David Trimble, were voted onto the power-sharing executive.

Protest
2,000 people marched through the streets of downtown Seattle on the opening day of the 135-nation World Trade Organization ministerial meeting. Protesters included labour union members unhappy with the apparent loss of jobs for American workers, and environmentalists seeking stronger protections in backward nations. Complaints involved issues such as genetically engineered products, U.S. world domination, destruction of rain forests, and the growing gap between rich and poor nations.