January 3, 2010

1,760 years ago
250

Abominations
Emperor Decius issued an edict ordering everyone in the Roman Empire (except Jews) to make sacrifices to the Roman gods.

410 years ago
1600

Canadiana
Pierre de Chauvin, Sieur de Tonnetuit, founded the first trading post in what is now Quebec, on Indian territory that they named Tadoussac.

170 years ago
1840

Born on this date
Father Damien. Belgian clergyman. Father Damien, born Jozef De Veuste, was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1864; in 1873 he began working among the quarantined lepers on the island of Moloka'i, ministering to their physical needs as well as teaching them the Roman Catholic faith. Fr. Damien eventually developed leprosy himself, and died of the disease on April 15, 1889 at the age of 49; he was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.

140 years ago
1870

Americana
Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began.

110 years ago
1900

Born on this date
Donald J. Russell. U.S. railroad executive. Mr. Russell began working with the Southern Pacific Railroad as a timekeeper in 1920, and eventually served as the railroad's president (1952-1964) and chairman of the board (1964-1972). He died on December 13, 1985, three weeks before his 86th birthday.

100 years ago
1910

Born on this date
John Sturges. U.S. film director. Mr. Sturges, who directed 45 films, was known for action movies with large all-male (or nearly all-male) casts. His movies included Mystery Street (1950); Escape from Fort Bravo (1953); Bad Day at Black Rock (1955); Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957); The Magnificent Seven (1960); The Great Escape (1963); The Satan Bug (1965); Ice Station Zebra (1968); Marooned (1969); and The Eagle has Landed (1976). Mr. Sturges died on August 18, 1992 at the age of 82.

Georgios Zoitakis. Greek military officer and politician. General Zoitakis joined the Hellenic Army in 1932, and received the Gold Cross of Valour three times for his service in World War II. He supported the Colonels' coup that toppled King Konstantيnos II in April 1967; after the king failed in a counter-coup attempt in December 1967, Gen. Zoitakis served as Regent of Greece until March 1972, when he was replaced by Prime Minister Georgios Papadopoulos. After Greece returned to democracy in 1975, Gen. Zoitakis was convicted of high treason, and served 13 years in prison. He was released because of poor health, and lived under house arrest until his death on October 21, 1996 at the age of 86.

Frenchy Bordagaray. U.S. baseball player and manager. Stanley George Bordagaray was an outfielder and third baseman with the Chicago White Sox (1934); Brooklyn Dodgers (1935-1936, 1942-1945); St. Louis Cardinals (1937-1938); Cincinnati Reds (1939); and New York Yankees (1941), batting .283 with 14 home runs and 270 runs batted in in 930 games. He played in World Series with the Reds and Yankees, with no plate appearances in 3 games. Mr. Bordagaray batted .344 with 32 homers in 783 games in 7 seasons in the minor leagues. He was known as one of the most colourful players of his time, inspiring numerous anecdotes. Mr. Bordagaray died on April 13, 2000 at the age of 90.

70 years ago
1940

War
The U.S. War Resisters' League charged that President Franklin D. Roosevelt's policies were aimed at putting the U.S.A. on a war footing. Finnish planes dropped leaflets over Leningrad depicting ill-equipped and freezing Soviet troops in Finland.

Defense
Australia commenced military training for 21-year-old males.

Politics and government
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his State of the Union address to the opening session of the 76th Congress; he urged increased defense expenditures and warned against isolationism.

According to a Gallup Poll, 78% of registered Democrats favoured Mr. Roosevelt's nomination for an unprecedented third term as President in 1940.

The United States House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities (Dies Committee) accused the Communist Party and the German-American Bund of being anti-American.

Economics and finance
Field Marshal Hermann Goering was placed in charge of Germany's war economy.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt told the American Farm Bureau Federation that reciprocal trade agreements would not hurt U.S. farmers.

60 years ago
1950

On the radio
Philo Vance, starring Jackson Beck
Tonight’s episode: The Tip Top Murder Case

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Morning Boat to Africa, starring King Calder, Nina Foch, and Jerome Thor

War
Indonesia reported fighting in central Java between government forces and members of Darul Islam, an extreme rightist Muslim sect.

Diplomacy
The United States ordered Hungary to close its New York and Cleveland consulates by January 15 in retaliation for the arrest of International Telephone & Telegraph official Robert Vogeler.

Protest
Mexico City police jailed 800 striking taxi drivers after a leftist-led demonstration ended in a riot, causing two deaths.

Politics and government
The liberal Wafd Party, led by Mustafa el-Nahhas, was restored to power after a five-year absence, winning 225 of 319 seats in Parliament in the Egyptian general election. The Wafd total was an increase of 196 over their total in the most recent election in 1945. The Saadist Institutional Party, led by Mahmoud an-Nukrashi Pasha, was second, with 28 seats, a decrease of 97. The Liberal Constitutional Party, led by Ali Mahir Pasha, lost 48 seats, and finished third, with 26.

Colombia merged all local and state police into a national force.

Crime
At the New York perjury trial of former U.S. State Department official Alger Hiss, his wife denied typing secret State Department documents for Time magazine editor and confessed Communist Whittaker Chambers, and claimed that she had given the typewriter on which the documents were allegedly typed to her maid's family in 1935.

Religion
The Czechoslovakian government confiscated church records of births, marriages, and deaths, after Roman Catholic bishops refused to surrender the records voluntarily.

Transportation
U.S. officials in Vienna announced the opening of the Danube River, controlled by the U.S.S.R. and other Cominform countries, to freight shipments between Yugoslavia and West Germany.

Environment
U.S. President Harry Truman appointed a seven-member Water Resources Commission headed by Morris Cooke to study the nation's water supply problems, including New York's current water shortage.

Economics and finance
Pakistan announced the conclusion of a commercial agreement with Poland, providing for the monthly purchase of 85,000 tons of Polish coal, enough to meet Pakistan's normal requirements.

Baseball
Sport magazine named New York Yankees' first baseman-outfielder Tommy Henrich as "athlete of the year" for 1949. He batted .287 with 24 home runs and 85 runs batted in in 115 games, and made big hits in key situations as he helped the Yankees narrowly edge out the Boston Red Sox for the American League pennant and defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series.

50 years ago
1960

On the radio
Ungdomsteatern, on Sveriges Radio
Today's episode: Den guldbagade pincenen, starring Georg Arlin as Sherlock Holmes and Ragnar Falck as Dr. Watson

This was a Swedish adaptation of A. Conan Doyle's story The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez.

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Man from the South, starring Steve McQueen, Peter Lorre, and Neile Adams





Died on this date
Eric P. Kelly, 75. U.S. author. Mr. Kelly was a journalist before serving in Poland with a welfare organization at the end of World War I and during the Polish Soviet War (1919-1920). His experiences led him to write children's novels with Polish themes; his first novel, The Trumpeter of Krakow (1929) won the Newbery Medal.

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Abbey Road (LP)--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Wight is Wight--Michel Delpech (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Belinda--Gianni Morandi (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Dein schönstes Geschenk--Roy Black

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Two Little Boys--Rolf Harris (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Two Little Boys--Rolf Harris (3rd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Suspicious Minds--Elvis Presley
2 Something/Come Together--The Beatles
3 Penny Arcade--Roy Orbison
4 Picking Up Pebbles--Matt Flinders
5 And When I Die--Blood, Sweat & Tears
6 Take a Letter Maria--R.B. Greaves
7 Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head--Johnny Farnham
8 I'll Never Fall in Love Again--Bobbie Gentry
9 Tracy--The Cuff Links
10 Try a Little Kindness--Glen Campbell

Singles entering the chart were You're Everything by Don Lane (#36); The Hunter by Pacific Gas and Electric (#38); and Nobody's Child by Karen Young (#40).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Marian--The Cats (3rd week at #1)
2 Mighty Joe--Shocking Blue
3 Another 45 Miles--The Golden Earring
4 The Flood--Ginger Ale
5 Tonight Today--DBM & T
6 One Million Years--Robin Gibb
7 Cha-La-La, I Need You--The Shuffles
8 Marie Jolie--Aphrodite's Child
9 Oh Well!--Fleetwood Mac
10 Whole Lotta Love--Led Zeppelin

Singles entering the chart were Superstar by Murray Head with the Trinidad Singers (#30); Het Zal Je Kind Maar Wezen by Adèle Bloemendaal, Leen Jongewaard, Piet Römer en koor (#31); She Sold Me Magic by Lou Christie (#32); Mijn Stil Verdriet by Corry en de Rekels (#38); and Jin-Go-Lo-Ba by Santana (#40). Superstar was from the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar (1971).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head--B.J. Thomas
2 Leaving on a Jet Plane--Peter, Paul and Mary
3 Someday We'll Be Together--Diana Ross and the Supremes
4 Down on the Corner/Fortunate Son--Creedence Clearwater Revival
5 Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye--Steam
6 Whole Lotta Love--Led Zeppelin
7 I Want You Back--The Jackson 5
8 Venus--The Shocking Blue
9 Holly Holy--Neil Diamond
10 La La La (If I Had You)--Bobby Sherman

Singles entering the chart were Walk a Mile in My Shoes by Joe South and the Believers (#54); Thank You Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin/Everybody is a Star by Sly & the Family Stone (#59); Blowing Away by the 5th Dimension (#77); Hold On by the Rascals (#81); Jennifer Tomkins by Street People (#87); Won't Find Better (Than Me) by the New Hope (#89); Theme Music for the Film "2001: A Space Odyssey" from Also Sprach Zarathustra by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (#94); Want You to Know by Rotary Connection (#96); I'm Just a Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin') by Candi Staton (#97); and Moon Walk Part I by Joe Simon (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Someday We'll Be Together--Diana Ross and the Supremes (2nd week at #1)
2 Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head--B.J. Thomas
3 Leaving on a Jet Plane--Peter, Paul and Mary
4 Holly Holy--Neil Diamond
5 Whole Lotta Love--Led Zeppelin
6 I Want You Back--The Jackson 5
7 Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye--Steam
8 Jam Up Jelly Tight--Tommy Roe
9 Venus--The Shocking Blue
10 Down on the Corner--Creedence Clearwater Revival

Singles entering the chart were Blowing Away by the 5th Dimension (#47); How Can I Forget by Marvin Gaye (#56); Love Bones by Johnnie Taylor (#69); Rainy Night in Georgia by Brook Benton (#84); Breaking Up is Hard to Do by Lenny Welch (#86); If Walls Could Talk by Little Milton (#88); My Honey and Me by Luther Ingram (#89); She's Ready by the Spiral Starecase (#92); Won't Find Better (Than Me) by the New Hope (#94); and You Got Me Hummin' by Cold Blood (#96).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head--B.J. Thomas
2 Someday We'll Be Together--Diana Ross and the Supremes
3 Leaving on a Jet Plane--Peter, Paul and Mary
4 Holly Holy--Neil Diamond
5 Whole Lotta Love--Led Zeppelin
6 Jam Up Jelly Tight--Tommy Roe
7 Venus--The Shocking Blue
8 Jingle Jangle--The Archies
9 I Want You Back--The Jackson 5
10 La La La (If I Had You)--Bobby Sherman

Singles entering the chart included Blowing Away by the 5th Dimension (#59); Everybody is a Star/Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin) by Sly & the Family Stone (#67); Love Bones by Johnnie Taylor (#68); Moon Walk by Joe Simon (#81); Breaking Up is Hard to Do by Lenny Welch (#82); How Can I Tell My Mom and Dad by the Lovelites (#92); I'll Hold Out My Hand by Wind (#96); Guess Who by Ruby Winters (#97); and Ma Belle Amie by the Tee Set (#100).

Calgary’s Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Something--The Beatles (6th week at #1)
2 Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head--B.J. Thomas
3 Cherry Hill Park--Billy Joe Royal
4 That's Where I Went Wrong--The Poppy Family
5 Holly Holy--Neil Diamond
6 Cold Turkey--Plastic Ono Band
7 Venus--The Shocking Blue
8 Whole Lotta Love--Led Zeppelin
9 Don't Cry Daddy--Elvis Presley
10 The Rainmaker--Tom Northcott
Pick hit of the week: No Time--The Guess Who

Died on this date
Gladys Aylward, 67. U.K. missionary. Miss Aylward served as a Christian missionary in China from 1932-1949 and in Taiwan from 1958 until her death. She founded the Gladys Aylward orphanage in Taiwan. The movie The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) was based on Miss Aylward and her work, but was heavily fictionalized.

Music
The Beatles, minus John Lennon, went into Abbey Road Studios in London for the last time as a group to record I Me Mine, a song written by George Harrison, with George singing lead. The song, extended and supplemented with strings by producer Phil Spector on April 1, appeared on the Let it Be album, released on May 8, 1970.

Abominations
Congo (Brazzaville) officially changed its name to the People's Republic of Congo and promulgated a new constitution, based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A council of state replaced the cabinet, and the National Assembly was abolished. The Congolese Workers' Party (CWP) became the country's sole political party, and party leader Marien N'Gouabi was sworn in as President of the country.

Society
After a six-month legal struggle, the body of Private Bill Terry was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, Alabama, within sight of the soldier’s boyhood home. Private Terry, who had been killed in Vietnam, was originally denied burial in the cemetery because he was a Negro.

Football
NFL
Bert Bell Benefit Bowl (aka Playoff Bowl) @ Orange Bowl, Miami
Los Angeles 31 Dallas 0

Roman Gabriel's 35-yard touchdown pass to Les Josephson on the Rams' second play from scrimmage in the 1st quarter provided the necessary scoring as they shut out the Cowboys before 31,151 fans in the 10th and last Playoff Bowl. The Cowboys responded with a drive to the Los Angeles 9-yard-line, but Mike Clark missed a 16-yard field goal attempt, and Mr. Gabriel connected with a 67-yard TD pass to Jack Snow on just his third pass of the game, with Bruce Gossett's extra point making the score 14-0.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
Edmonton’s Top 12 (CHED)
1 Video Killed the Radio Star--The Buggles
2 Chiquitita--Abba
3 Please Don’t Go--KC and the Sunshine Band
4 Babe--Styx
5 Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers
6 We Don’t Talk Anymore--Cliff Richard
7 I Don’t Like Mondays--The Boomtown Rats
8 No More Tears (Enough is Enough)--Barbra Streisand/Donna Summer
9 Escape (The Pina Colada Song)--Rupert Holmes
10 Do That To Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille
11 Cool Change--Little River Band
12 Heartache Tonight--Eagles

Died on this date
Joy Adamson, 69. Austro-Hungarian born Kenyan authoress. Mrs. Adamson, born Friederike Gessner in what is now the Czech Republic, met her third husband, George Adamson, while on safari. The two worked together in Kenya, and became known for their conservation work with Elsa the lioness in the late 1950s. Mrs. Adamson's book Born Free (1960) was an international bestseller, and inspired the 1966 movie of the same name. She remained in Kenya until she was murdered by fired employee Paul Nakware Ekai, 17 days before her 70th birthday.

World events
The new President of Afghanistan, Babrak Karnal, made his first public appearance since the previous week’s coup, and told foreign journalists that Soviet troops were defending his country against "outside threats."

Diplomacy
United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim concluded three days of meetings with Iranian officials in Tehran in an attempt to increase Iranian confidence in the UN as a mediator in the seizure of the U.S. embassy. Although Mr. Waldheim was not allowed to visit the hostages or Ayatollah Khomeini during his visit, he did meet with Iran’s Revolutionary Council.

Economics and finance
The price of gold in Hong Kong reached a high of U.S. $660.

Hockey
NHL-U.S.S.R. (Exhibition)
Super Series '80
Central Red Army 1 @ Buffalo 6



25 years ago
1985

Weather
The temperature hit 46 F. in Edmonton.

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)

War
Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega surrendered to U.S. authorities and agreed to give himself up after being assured that he would not face the death penalty. After leaving the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in Panama, where he had been since December 24, Gen. Noriega was taken to a U.S. military base in Panama City and arrested on drug-trafficking indictments by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents.

Business
Merrill Lynch Canada sold its retail arm to Wood Gundy, Inc.

Hockey
NHL
Chicago 3 Edmonton 2

10 years ago
2000

Popular culture
The last daily panel of the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz was published in 2,600 newspapers. Mr. Schulz had recently announced his retirement; there were five new Sunday strips remaining to be published.

Diplomacy
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara began several days of talks in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Politics and government
A four-party coalition led by the Social Democratic Party took 71 of 151 seats in the Chamber of Representatives in the Croatian general election, unseating the governing Croatian Democratic Union, who won 46 seats. Another five-party coalition won 24 seats, with another two-party coalition taking 5 seats.

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed several members of his staff, including Tatyana Dyachenko, daughter of Mr. Putin’s predecessor Boris Yeltsin. She and her husband had been linked to possible financial irregularities.

Football
NFL
San Francisco (4-12) 29 @ Atlanta (5-11) 34