December 8, 2009

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Michael O'Byrne!

1,110 years ago
899

Died on this date
Arnulf of Carinthia, 49 (?). Holy Roman Emperor, 896-899; King of East Francia, 887-899; King of Italy, 894-899. Arnulf overthrew his uncle Charles the Fat to become King of East Francia, and took the Italian throne after invading the country on the request of Pope Formosus, who crowned him Holy Roman Emperor. He died after several years of failing health, and was succeeded as King of East Francia by his son Louis the Child. Louis the Blind, King of Provence, seized the Holy Roman and Italian thrones.

310 years ago
1699

Born on this date
Maria Josepha of Austria. Queen consort of Poland, 1734-1757. Maria Josepha married the future King Augustus III in 1719, two years after renouncing her position as heiress presumptive to the Habsburg Empire. She became queen consort when he was elected to the throne, and also became duchess consort of Lithuania and electress consort of Saxony, dividing her time between Poland and Saxony. Maria Josepha was a devout Roman Catholic, and participated in affairs of state. She died in Dresden from a stroke on November 17, 1757, three weeks before her 58th birthday.

180 years ago
1829

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

170 years ago
1839

Politics and government
The U.S. Whig National Convention concluded in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with the nomination of former U.S. Senator William Henry Harrison (Ohio) as the party's presidential candidate in the 1840 election. Mr. Harrison narrowly trailed Sen. Henry Clay (Kentucky) after each of the first four ballots, but won on the fifth ballot. Former U.S. Senator John Tyler (Virginia) was nominated on the first ballot as the Whig vice presidential candidate for 1840.

150 years ago
1859

Died on this date
Thomas De Quincey, 74. U.K. journalist. Mr. De Quincey was best known for his autobiographical book Confessions of an English Opium-Eater (1821/1856), a pioneering example of addiction literature. He suffered from medical and financial problems for much of his life.

130 years ago
1879

Politics and government
Citizens of Louisiana ratified a new state constitution, reorganizing the Louisiana judiciary and moving the state capital from New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

120 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Hervey Allen. U.S. author. Mr. Allen was best known for his novel Anthony Adverse (1933). He had completed the first three novels in a series about colonial America titled The Disinherited when he died of a heart attack on December 28, 1949, 20 days after his 60th birthday.

110 years ago
1899

Born on this date
Arthur Leslie. U.K. actor. Arthur Leslie Scottorn Broughton was best known for playing pub landlord Jack Walker in the television soap opera Coronation Street from 1960 until his death from a heart attack on June 30, 1970 at the age of 70.

John Qualen. Canadian-born U.S. actor. Mr. Qualen, born Johan Kvalen in Vancouver, British Columbia, was a character actor who often played Scandinavians in movies such as Casablanca (1942) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). He died on September 12, 1987 at the age of 87.

80 years ago
1929

Died on this date
José Vicente Concha Ferreira, 62. 8th President of Colombia, 1914-1918. Mr. Concha, a Conservative, was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1898. He was Minister of War (1901-1902) and Ambassador to the U.S.A. (1902). Mr. Concha won a landslide victory in the 1914 presidential election, and was given broad powers by Congress to rule be decree, maintaining a foreign policy of neutrality during World War I. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs (September-November 1921), and was appointed Ambassador to Italy in 1925. Mr. Concha was later appointed Colombia's Ambassador to Vatican City, and died in office in Rome.

Football
NFL
Frankford (9-4-5) 0 @ New York (12-1-1) 31
Chicago Cardinals (6-6-1) 26 @ Orange (3-4-4) 0
Green Bay (12-0-1) 25 @ Chicago Bears (4-8-2) 0

60 years ago
1949

Theatre
The musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Jule Styne and Leo Robin, directed by John C. Wilson, and starring Carol Channing, opened at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Broadway in New York.

War
The Chinese Nationalist government fled to the island of Formosa (Taiwan), as Communist forces approached the headquarters city of Chengfu.

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly passed a U.S.-sponsored resolution urging non-interference in China's internal affairs, rejecting Nationalist demands for a strong statement barring recognition of the Communist government by UN member states.

The East German government expelled a Yugoslavian military mission from East Berlin.

Environment
New Jersey Governor Alfred Driscoll declared a state of emergency in six northern counties because of a water shortage in the New York-New Jersey area.

Economics and finance
The UN Narcotics Commission established a special committee in Ankara to control and supervise the world opium trade.

The UN General Assembly approved a $54.9-million relief program for Palestinian refugees, recommended by the UN Political Committee.

The American Medical Association House of Delegates unanimously approved a $25 levy on all AMA members to fight U.S. President Harry Truman's proposed national health insurance plan.

Labour
Workers at the Oak Ridge nuclear facility ended their first strike, a four-day wildcat protest against employment of non-union labour.

50 years ago
1959

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, hosted by John Newland, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Stone Cutter, starring Joe Mantell, Arthur Shields, and Don Beddoe



Space
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced plans for a new research unit to develop big rockets, including the Saturn, to be used in launching space vehicles.

World events
Cuban military tribunals convicted three U.S. citizens of counterrevolutionary activities, sentencing them to 25-30 years in prison.

Politics and government
Ceylonese Prime Minister Wijayanande Dahanayake dismissed five members of his cabinet for opposing him within the ruling Sri Lanka Party.

A Gallup Poll indicated that 69% of American voters would accept a "well-qualified" Roman Catholic as President and 20% would not.

Labour
The United Steel Workers of America signed a new three-year contract with the American Can Company and the Continental Can Company, providing total benefits improvements of up to 30c an hour.

Boxing
The Boxing Writers Association named world heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson as the 1959 winner of the Edward J. Neil Memorial plaque as "fighter of the year."

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kuroneko no Tango--Osamu Minagawa (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sugar, Sugar--The Archies (4th week at #1)

On the radio
The Challenge of Space, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: Look the Other Way

Crime
A Los Angeles jury indicted Charles Manson and four other members of his cult-like "family" in the slaying of actress Sharon Tate and four of her friends on August 9, 1969.

A four-hour shootout between 11 Black Panthers and police occurred in Los Angeles in a raid for weapons and for two Panthers sought on assault charges.

Disasters
Olympic Airways Flight 954 struck a mountain outside of Keratea, Greece, killing 90 people in the worst crash of a Douglas DC-6 in history.

A truck carrying 140 refugees from Ghana overturned north of Cotonou, Dahomey, killing 15 and injuring 73.

A train-truck crash near Maebashi, Japan killed 7 and injured 101.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Zimbabwe Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): I Don't Like Mondays--The Boomtown Rats (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Remi, Le Sue Avventure--Ragazzi Di Remi (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Walking on the Moon--The Police

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Walking on the Moon--The Police

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen (3rd week at #1)
2 Weekend--Earth and Fire
3 We Got the Whole World in Our Hands--Nottingham Forest with Paper Lace
4 Get Up and Boogie--Freddie James
5 Ooh, Yes I Do--Luv'
6 She's in Love with You--Suzi Quatro
7 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A man after midnight)--ABBA
8 Please Don't Go--KC and the Sunshine Band
9 Love and Understanding--Mac Kissoon and Family
10 It's All in the Bible--Snoopy

Singles entering the chart were Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) by Pink Floyd (#25); De Pieteröliekar by the Het Börker Trio (#29); Thema Uit "De Verlaten Mijn" - Einsamer Hirte by Gheorghe Zamfir met Orkest o.l.v. James Last (#31); Lucy Jordan by Marianne Faithfull (#35); One Step Beyond by Madness (#37); and Walking on the Moon by the Police (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Babe--Styx
2 No More Tears/Enough is Enough--Barbra Streisand/Donna Summer
3 Still--Commodores
4 Please Don't Go--KC and the Sunshine Band
5 Escape (The Pina Colada Song)--Rupert Holmes
6 Send One Your Love--Stevie Wonder
7 Heartache Tonight--Eagles
8 You're Only Lonely--J.D. Souther
9 Ships--Barry Manilow
10 Do That to Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille

Singles entering the chart were The Long Run by the Eagles (#33); Lonely Eyes by Robert John (#71); Voices by Cheap Trick (#73); Move Your Boogie Body by the Bar-Kays (#81); Lost Her in the Sun by John Stewart (#82); Last Train to London by Electric Light Orchestra (#83); Glide by Pleasure (#88); Dirty Water by the Inmates (#89); An American Dream by the Dirt Band (#90); You're Gonna Get What's Coming by Bonnie Raitt (#94); The Second Time Around by Shalamar (#96); and With You I'm Born Again by Billy Preston & Syreeta (#98).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Babe--Styx (3rd week at #1)
2 No More Tears/Enough is Enough--Barbra Streisand/Donna Summer
3 Please Don't Go--KC and the Sunshine Band
4 Escape (The Pina Colada Song)--Rupert Holmes
5 Still--Commodores
6 Ladies Night--Kool & The Gang
7 Send One Your Love--Stevie Wonder
8 You're Only Lonely--J.D. Souther
9 Heartache Tonight--Eagles
10 Dim All the Lights--Donna Summer

Singles entering the chart were Rotation by Herb Alpert (#83); Lost Her in the Sun by John Stewart (#86); Dirty Water by the Inmates (#89); Dig the Gold by Joyce Cobb (#90); Money by the Flying Lizards (#93); and I Call Your Name by Switch (#98).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Babe--Styx (2nd week at #1)
2 Heartache Tonight--Eagles
3 Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough--Michael Jackson
4 Dreaming--Blondie
5 Tusk--Fleetwood Mac
6 Still--Commodores
7 Rise--Herb Alpert
8 Take the Long Way Home--Supertramp
9 Pop Muzik--M
10 Lead Me On--Maxine Nightingale

Singles entering the chart were Don't Do Me Like That by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#76); It's You by Domenic Troiano (#82); Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles (#83); Quote Goodbye Quote by Carolyn Mas (#88); Rock with You by Michael Jackson (#89); and Wait for Me by Daryl Hall & John Oates (#98).

Hockey
NHL
New York Islanders 6 @ Toronto 1

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)

Scandal
Recently ousted Communist Party leader Erich Honecker and former Premier Willi Stoph were among six former East German government officials charged with corruption and abuse of power.

Politics and government
In conversations with the opposition group Civic Forum, the Communists agreed to relinquish power in Czechoslovakia.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate had edged upward to 5.3% in November.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Richard B. Powell, 91. U.S. author. Mr. Powell was a journalist and public relations man before commencing a career as a novelist. He wrote Inner Sanctum Mystery novels from 1943-1955, but was best known for The Philadelphian (1956), which was made into the movie The Young Philadelphians (1959). Mr. Powell died 10 days after his 91st birthday.

Movies
Edmonton location filming of Double Frame (2000) concluded at the Federal Building. This blogger played a policeman in two scenes, but I’ve never seen the movie, so I don’t know if I made the cut.

Scandal
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was indicted on charges of hijacking, kidnapping, attempted murder, and conspiracy to wage a war against the state. A special court in Karachi also indicted six others. The defendants were accused specifically of trying to prevent the landing in October of a plane that carried General Pervez Musharraf, who led the subsequent military coup that overthrew the government of Mr. Sharif.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright continued her Middle East tour with separate meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The same day, U.S. President Bill Clinton announced that Israel and Syria had agreed to resume peace negotiations.

Terrorism
A Scottish judge ruled that two Libyans suspected of blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988 would stand trial on conspiracy charges, despite a defense motion to have them dropped.