February 21, 2010

570 years ago
1440

Politics and government
The Prussian Confederation was formed by a group of 53 nobles and clergy and 19 cities in Prussia, to oppose the arbitrariness of the Teutonic Knights.

280 years ago
1730

Died on this date
Benedict XIII, 81. Roman Catholic Pope, 1724-1730. Benedict XIII, born Pietro Francesco Orsini, was a Dominican friar who was ordained a priest in 1671. He held several bishoprics before succeeding Innocent XIII as pope. Benedict XIII focused on his religious responsibilities as bishop rather than on papal administration. His political naivety led him to rely on Cardinal Niccolò Coscia, a secretary whose financial abuses ruined the papal treasury. Benedict XIII died of an attack of catarrh on February 21, 1730, 19 days after his 81st birthday. He was succeeded as pope by Clement XII.

110 years ago
1900

Born on this date
Jeanne Aubert. French singer and actress. Miss Aubert, born Jeanne Perrinot, sang on stage and on radio, and appeared in several films--almost all of them made in France--in a performing career stretching from childhood through the late 1960s. She died on March 6, 1988, two weeks after her 88th birthday.

100 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Douglas Bader. U.K. military aviator. Group Captain Bader joined the Royal Air Force in 1928 and lost both legs in a crash in 1931. He was able to resume his career as a pilot, and became a fighter ace in World War II. Group Captain Bader's biography, Reach for the Sky, was published in 1954 and made into a movie in 1956. An apartment building in Edmonton, Alberta that was designed to be accessible to people with disabilities was named in his honour. Group Captain Bader died of a heart attack on September 5, 1982 at the age of 72.

Died on this date
Boutros Ghali, 63. Prime Minister of Egypt, 1908-1910. Boutros Ghali Pasha was a career bureaucrat before being appointed Finance Minister (1893) and Foreign Minister (1894). He succeeded Mustafa Fahmi Pasha as Prime Minister, while retaining the portfolio of Foreign Minister. Boutros Ghali Pasha died the day after being shot, as he was leaving the ministry of foreign affairs, by Ibrahim Nassif al-Wardani, 23, a pharmacology graduate who had just returned from Britain.

70 years ago
1940

War
The Chilean Foreign Office reaffirmed the country's observance of strict neutrality in the European war.

Politics and government
The New York Times reported that Democratic Party Senators and Representatives said that Franklin D. Roosevelt could have the party's nomination in the November 1940 election for a third term as President of the United States if he so desired. U.S. Senator Gerald Nye (Republican--North Dakota) said that Mr. Roosevelt should follow the precedent established by George Washington and step down after two terms.

Medicine
The Pasteur Institute in Paris announced development of a vaccine that simultaneously immunized against smallpox and yellow fever for one year.

Economics and finance
Canadian Finance Minister J.L. Ralston announced a $125-million increase to $500 million in war expenditures for fiscal 1941.

Disasters
An earthquake struck the Turkish province of Kaysori, killing 40 people.

60 years ago
1950

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

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Roman Holiday, starring Jack Dimond and Leslie Nielsen

World events
International Telephone & Telegraph official Robert Vogeler, Jr. and a British associate, Edgar Sanders, were convicted in Budapest and sentenced to prison; two Hungarian co-defendants were sentenced to death.

Diplomacy
Yugoslavia announced the establishment of relations with Ho Chi Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Politics and government
Jacobo Árbenz resigned as Guatemala's Defense Minister in order to run as the candidate of the three leftist parties in the December 1950 Guatemalan presidential election.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Senate passed a $707-million irrigation reclamation and power project for central Arizona.

Business
The U.S. Justice Department filed a civil anti-trust suit charging Lee and Jacob Shubert with monopolizing U.S. theatre ownership.

50 years ago
1960

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Hitch Hike, starring John McIntire, Robert Morse, and Suzanne Pleshette

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Pretty Belinda--Chris Andrews (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Billy le Bordelais--Joe Dassin (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Ma chi se ne importa--Gianni Morandi (5th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Dein schönstes Geschenk--Roy Black (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)--Edison Lighthouse (4th week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head--Johnny Farnham (5th week at #1)
2 I Thank You--Lionel Rose
3 Smiley--Ronnie Burns
4 Jam Up Jelly Tight--Tommy Roe
5 Venus--Shocking Blue
6 Down on the Corner/Fortunate Son--Creedence Clearwater Revival
7 Superstar--Murray Head with the Trinidad Singers
8 Holly Holy--Neil Diamond
9 Arkansas Grass--Axiom
10 Suspicious Minds--Elvis Presley

Singles entering the chart were Don't Cry Daddy/Rubberneckin' by Elvis Presley (#28) and Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter, Paul and Mary (#39).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Mijn Gebed--D.C. Lewis (3rd week at #1)
2 Seasons--Earth and Fire
3 Venus--Shocking Blue
4 Mighty Joe--Shocking Blue
5 Who'll Stop the Rain--Creedence Clearwater Revival
6 Het Stoomlied (Kunst- En Vliegwerk)--Ed & William Bever
7 Our Father--Unit Gloria
8 Room to Move--John Mayall
9 Melting Pot--Blue Mink
10 Travelling in the U.S.A.--Bintangs

Singles entering the chart were Bitter Tears by the Shuffles (#27); Jesus is Just Alright by the Byrds (#33); Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel (#36); A Song of Joy (Himno a la Alegria) by Miguel Rios (#37); and Vietnam by Jimmy Cliff (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin/Everybody is a Star--Sly & the Family Stone (2nd week at #1)
2 Hey There Lonely Girl--Eddie Holman
3 Bridge Over Troubled Water--Simon & Garfunkel
4 I Want You Back--The Jackson 5
5 Travelin' Band/Who'll Stop the Rain--Creedence Clearwater Revival
6 No Time--The Guess Who
7 Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head--B.J. Thomas
8 Psychedelic Shack--The Temptations
9 Venus--The Shocking Blue
10 Rainy Night in Georgia--Brook Benton

Singles entering the chart were Gotta Hold on to this Feeling by Jr. Walker & the All Stars (#64); Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Grows) by Edison Lighthouse (#68); Gotta Get Back to You by Tommy James and the Shondells (#79); A Change is Gonna Come & People Gotta Be Free/The Declaration by the 5th Dimension (#80); Until it's Time for You to Go by Neil Diamond (#87); Take a Look Around by Smith (#88); The Cat Walk by the Village Soul Choir (#91); California Girl by Eddie Floyd (#93); Just Seventeen by the Raiders (#94); Baby Make it Soon by the Flying Machine (#95); Temma Harbour by Mary Hopkin (#97); and Comin' Home by Delaney & Bonnie and Friends featuring Eric Clapton (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin--Sly & the Family Stone
2 Hey There Lonely Girl--Eddie Holman
3 Venus--The Shocking Blue
4 No Time--The Guess Who
5 Bridge Over Troubled Water--Simon & Garfunkel
6 Psychedelic Shack--The Temptations
7 Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head--B.J. Thomas
8 Rainy Night in Georgia--Brook Benton
9 Arizona--Mark Lindsay
10 I'll Never Fall in Love Again--Dionne Warwick

Singles entering the chart were Gotta Hold on to this Feeling by Jr. Walker & the All Stars (#63); Rag Mama Rag by the Band (#64); Celebrate by Three Dog Night (#67); Temma Harbour by Mary Hopkin (#71); Instant Karma (We All Shine On) by John Ono Lennon (with the Plastic Ono Band) (#72); Come Together by Ike & Tina Turner and the Ikettes (#77); Sparkle and Shine by the Clique (#79); Silly, Silly, Fool by Dusty Springfield (#80); Stir it Up and Serve It by Tommy Roe (#85); Until it's Time for You to Go by Neil Diamond (#89); Ticket to Ride by the Carpenters (#91); Brighton Hill by Jackie DeShannon (#92); Can't Help Falling in Love by Andy Williams (#93); Mississippi Mama by Owen B. (#95); Shilo by Neil Diamond (#96); Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum (#97); Baby Make it Soon by the Flying Machine (#99); and To the Other Woman (I'm the Other Woman) by Doris Duke (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin/Everybody is a Star--Sly & the Family Stone (2nd week at #1)
2 Hey There Lonely Girl--Eddie Holman
3 No Time--The Guess Who
4 Travelin' Band/Who'll Stop the Rain--Creedence Clearwater Revival
5 Venus--The Shocking Blue
6 Bridge Over Troubled Water--Simon & Garfunkel
7 Psychedelic Shack--The Temptations
8 Without Love (There is Nothing)--Tom Jones
9 Arizona--Mark Lindsay
10 Honey Come Back--Glen Campbell

Singles entering the chart were It's a New Day by James Brown (#66); Celebrate by Three Dog Night (#72); The Declaration by the 5th Dimension (#74); Take a Look Around by Smith (#77); Temma Harbour by Mary Hopkin (#84); Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum (#86); All I Have to Do is Dream by Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry (#87); Until it's Time for You to Go by Neil Diamond (#91); Can't Help Falling in Love by Al Martino (#93); Heartbreaker by Grand Funk Railroad (#95); You're the One by Little Sister (#96); Gotta Hold on to this Feeling by Jr. Walker & the All Stars (#97); Brighton Hill by Jackie DeShannon (#98); Don't Wanna Be Left Outside by Ellie Greenwich (#99); and Instant Karma (We All Shine On) by John Ono Lennon (with the Plastic Ono Band) (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Hey There Lonely Girl--Eddie Holman
2 Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin--Sly & the Family Stone
3 No Time--The Guess Who
4 Without Love (There is Nothing)--Tom Jones
5 Arizona--Mark Lindsay
6 Venus--The Shocking Blue
7 Psychedelic Shack--The Temptations
8 Honey Come Back--Glen Campbell
9 I Want You Back--The Jackson 5
10 Walk a Mile in My Shoes--Joe South and the Believers

Singles entering the chart were Kentucky Rain by Elvis Presley (#56); It's a New Day by James Brown (#79); Call Me by Aretha Franklin (#81); Rhymes and Reasons by the Irish Rovers (#83); Walking Through the Country by the Grass Roots (#87); Until it's Time for You to Go by Neil Diamond (#90); Je T'Aime...Moin Non Plus by Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg (#93); Just Seventeen by the Raiders (#94); Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Grows) by Edison Lighthouse (#96); Comin' Home by Delaney & Bonnie and Friends featuring Eric Clapton (#97); The Declaration by the 5th Dimension (#98); Gotta Get Back to You by Tommy James and the Shondells (#99); and Can't Help Falling in Love by Al Martino (#100).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 That's Where I Went Wrong--The Poppy Family
2 Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head--B.J. Thomas
3 No Time--The Guess Who
4 Venus--The Shocking Blue
5 I Want You Back--The Jackson 5
6 Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye--Steam
7 Arizona--Mark Lindsay
8 Up on Cripple Creek--The Band
9 Light of Love--The Cat
10 She Came in Through the Bathroom Window--Joe Cocker
Pick hit of the week: Ma Belle Amie--The Tee Set

Light of Love may have been the first single by any artist other than the Guess Who to be released on the Nimbus label.

Space
This blogger saw his first lunar eclipse, as a partial eclipse was visible in North and South America.

Terrorism
All 47 aboard were killed in the crash of a Swissair jet shortly after takeoff from Zurich to Tel Aviv, victims of an explosion on board. In Beirut, a Palestinian organization--the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, General Command--first claimed responsibility for the blast, and then denied it.

War
After an 11-day drive, pro-Communist Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese troops swept across the strategically-located Plaine des Jarres in north-central Laos with Soviet-built PT-76 tanks, and took control. The withdrawal left more than 500 of the 1,500-man garrison at Xieng Khouang airfield dead or missing. Royal Laotian troops under General Vang Pao were reported later to have regrouped, and with 10,000 Meo tribesmen, to be fighting a rearguard action to consolidate new positions in the hills south and west of the plateau. Laotian troops, with U.S. air support, had taken the plain in the fall of 1969 in a surprise reversal after the Communists had held it for five years.

83 Americans were killed in Vietnam during the previous week, the lowest death toll in three weeks. The number of American dead for 1970 stood at 666, compared with 1,380 for the same period in 1969. U.S. wounded for the week were 657, up from 589 the previous week. It was the second costliest week of the year for South Vietnam, with 361 killed and 1,123 wounded.

Crime
Three bombs exploded in front of the Manhattan home of New York Supreme Court Justice John Murtagh. Justice Murtagh was presiding over the trial of 13 Black Panthers who had been charged in April 1969 with plotting to bomb public places; possession of illegal weapons; attempted murder; and attempted arson.

30 years ago
1980

Protest
The commercial life of Kabul came to a halt as almost every merchant in the Afghan capital closed his business to protest the Soviet military presence in the country. Clandestine anti-Soviet leaflets, produced by anti-Communist insurgents, had urged the shopkeepers to show their "unanimous condemnation" of the Soviet invasion by striking.

Scandal
Rep. Richard Kelly (Republican--Florida), the only U.S. Congressman to admit taking a bribe from one of the undercover agents in the FBI’s Operation Abscam, resigned from the House Republican Conference to avoid a possible vote to expel him for his involvement in the scandal.

Disasters
After eight days of torrential rains and gale-force winds had resulted in flash floods, six counties in southern California were declared federal disaster areas by U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

25 years ago
1985

Died on this date
Louis Hayward, 75. South African-born U.S. actor. Mr. Hayward was the first actor to portray the Saint on film, starring in The Saint in New York (1938) and The Saint's Return (1953). His other movies included Anthony Adverse (1936); And Then There were None (1945); and Ruthless (1948). Mr. Hayward died 26 days before his 76th birthday.

Maurice Smith, 75. U.K.-born Canadian journalist. Mr. Smith, a native of London, moved to Winnipeg with his family in 1913. He worked with the Winnipeg Free Press from 1927-1976, serving as sports editor for the last 32 years of his career with the paper. Mr. Smith was known for his coverage of curling, hockey, and football, and helped to establish the Canadian High School Curling Championships in 1951. His honours included induction into the Football Reporters of Canada section of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1982. Mr. Smith died of heart failure while on vacation in Hawaii.

20 years ago
1990

At the movies
Films dating from the 1910s and 1920s that had been discovered buried in the ground at Dawson City, Yukon Territory in 1978, were shown at the Provincial Museum of Alberta in Edmonton. The Arctic permafrost had acted as a preservative, preventing the films from disintegrating. The films shown included a newsreel about the trial of the "Ohio Gang" members of the U.S. administration of President Warren G. Harding, and part of a feature film starring Douglas Fairbanks that had been thought to be lost. The latter film--possibly The Half-Breed (1916)--was set in the Canadian north, but showed a gorilla in the wild (!).

Diplomacy
Czechoslovakian President Vaclav Havel was enthusiastically received by the United States Congress as he addressed the body in Washington. Mr. Havel said he saw the rise of democracy in the Soviet bloc as a "historically irreversible process," and he foresaw "an era in which all of us, large and small, former slaves and former masters, will be able to create what your great President Lincoln called the ‘family of man.’"

10 years ago
2000

Died on this date
Violet Archer, 86. Canadian composer. Miss Archer, born Violet Balestreri in Montreal, studied under Bela Bartok and Paul Hindemith. Many of her choral and orchestral works, which included Ten Folk Songs for Four Hands and Prairie Profiles, were inspired by folk music of French Canada, the Maritimes, and Inuit culture. She taught at the University of Alberta from 1962 until her retirement, and died in Ottawa.

War
Russian military leaders declared victory in their war against the breakaway province of Chechnya. Russian President Vladimir Putin said, however, that the war would continue until the "total liberation" of Chechnya.

Hockey
NHL
Marty McSorley of the Los Angeles Kings clubbed Donald Brashear of the Vancouver Canucks senseless in a vicious stick-swinging incident during a game at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver (see video).