February 23, 2010

325 years ago
1685

Born on this date
Georg Frideric Handel. German-born U.K. composer. Mr. Handel moved to England permanently in 1712. His compositions include Water Music (1713); Messiah (1742); and Royal Fireworks Music (1749). He died on April 14, 1759 at the age of 74.

250 years ago
1760

Diplomacy
In what is now New Brunswick, Passamaquoddy Indian Chief Mitchel Neptune and Maliseet Indian Captain Ballomy Glode renewed the 1725 and 1749 Treaties of Peace and Friendship--affirming that the agreements “shall for ever thereafter be strictly observed.”

190 years ago
1820

Crime
The Cato Street Conspiracy, a plot by the radical group Spencean Philanthropists to murder all the British cabinet ministers and Prime Minister Lord Liverpool, was exposed. 13 conspirators were arrested, and one policeman was killed during the arrest.

160 years ago
1850

Born on this date
César Ritz. Swiss hotelier. Mr. Ritz began managing hotels in the 1870s, but was best known for the hotels he founded and owned, most notably the Hôtel Ritz in Paris and the Ritz and Carlton Hotels in London. The term "ritzy" has come to denote high-class cuisine and accommodation. Mr. Ritz died on October 26, 1918 at the age of 68.

140 years ago
1870

Americana
Post-Civil War military control of Mississippi ended, and the state, which had seceded in 1861, was readmitted to the Union.

110 years ago
1900

Died on this date
Ernest Dowson, 32. U.K. writer. Mr. Dowson wrote poetry and literary reviews, and translated French fiction, while collaborating with Arthur Moore on two novels. Mr. Dowson was often associated with the Decadent movement, and died after years of declining health.

War
During the Battle of the Tugela Heights in South Africa, the first British attempt to take Hart's Hill from Boer forces failed.

80 years ago
1930

At the movies
Chasing Rainbows, directed by Charles Reisner, and starring Charles King, Bessie Love, Jack Benny, and Polly Moran, opened in theatres.

Died on this date
Horst Wessel, 22. German SA officer. Mr. Wessel, the son of a Lutheran minister, was a member of several paramilitary nationalist groups in the mid-1920s before joining the Nazi Party and the Sturmabteilung ("Storm Detachment" or SA) in December 1926. He rose up the ranks of the SA, speaking at rallies and advocating violence against Communists. Mr. Wessel was shot in the head by Communist Albrecht Höhler on January 14, 1930; Mr. Wessel recovered somewhat, but died of blood poisoning, and was regarded as a martyr for the Nazi cause. He wrote lyrics to the song Die Fahne hoch (The Flag High), which became known as Horst-Wessel-Lied (Horst-Wessel Song), and was adopted as a second national anthem for Germany during the Nazi regime (1933-1945).

70 years ago
1940

War
Allied forces established a blockade in the Arctic in an effort to halt shipment of high-grade ore to Germany from Scandinavia.

Economics and finance
Chinese officials rejected a British offer to settle their dispute over $3.2 million in silver by storing it in a neutral bank.

60 years ago
1950

On television tonight
Escape, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Myth Makers, starring Dave Ballard, Fran Carlon, Dan Morgan, and Tommy Rettig

Politics and government
In the closest British general election since 1910, the Labour Party of Prime Minister Clement Attlee was re-elected with a majority of seats in the House of Commons, but saw its majority reduced from 146 seats to 5. Labour took 315 of 625 seats, a decrease of 78 from before the election. The Conservatives, led by former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, increased their total to 298 seats, an increase of 90. The Liberals, led by Clement Davies, dropped from 12 to 9. The Nationalist Party elected 2 MPs, and 1 independent Liberal was elected. Voter turnout was 83.9%, an increase of 11.1% from the most recent election in 1945.





Journalism
The Congress of Industrial Organizations American Newspaper Guild's Heywood Broun Awards for outstanding journalistic achievement went to Washington Post cartoonist Herbert "Herblock" Block, and New York Post reporter Ted Poston for his coverage of the rape trial of three Negroes in Tavares, Florida.

Labour
The U.S. House of Representatives rejected President Harry Truman's Fair Employment Practices bill, and then passed and sent to the Senate a weaker substitute calling for a "voluntary" Fair Employment Practices Commission with no enforcement authority.

50 years ago
1960

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley, on BBC Light Programme
Tonight’s episode: The Stockbroker’s Clerk

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, hosted by John Newland, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Vanishing Point, starring Edward Binns, Fredd Wayne, June Vincent, and Byron Foulger



Boxing
Sonny Liston (27-1) knocked out Howard King (38-20-8) at the end of the 7th round of a heavyweight bout at Miami Beach Auditorium.

Baseball
The wrecking ball began demolition of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League from 1913-1957. The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles shortly after the end of the 1957 season.

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head--Johnny Farnham (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Awazu ni Aishite--Hiroshi Uchiyamada and Cool Five (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Venus--The Shocking Blue (3rd week at #1)

On the radio
The Challenge of Space, on Springbok Radio
Tonight’s episode: Mars, the Red Planet

At the movies
The Adventurers, produced, directed, and co-written by Lewis Gilbert, and starring Bekim Fehmiu, Candice Bergen, and many others, received its premiere screening as the in-flight movie aboard a Trans World Airlines Boeing 747 Superjet making its first flight, from New York to Los Angeles. The movie was 205 minutes long, but was trimmed to 177 minutes before going into general release on March 25.



Music
The Gold Leaf Awards of 1970, honouring the best achievements in the Canadian music industry over the past year, were presented at St. Lawrence Hall in Toronto. This was the first such ceremony for what was soon renamed the Juno Awards, named after Canadian Communications Minister Pierre Juneau, who introduced Canadian content regulations to radio in order to promote Canadian talent.

Canadiana
The Monarchist League of Canada was founded, largely in response to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's efforts to turn the country into a People's Republic.

South Americana
Prime Minister Forbes Burnham formally proclaimed the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, formally severing the country’s 139-year association with the British Crown. The former colony known as British Guiana, which had gained its independence in May 1966, remained a member of the Commonwealth.

Diplomacy
French President Georges Pompidou and his wife Claude arrived in Washington to begin an eight-day cross-country tour of the United States. The tour was planned as a celebration of improved Franco-American relations after the icy relations from the late 1950s to the late 1960s when Charles DeGaulle was President of France. Pro-Israel groups protested the visit over the recent sale of French jet fighter planes to Libya.





As he concluded his 15-nation, 10-day tour of Africa, U.S. Secretary of State William Rogers urged a greater role for the United States in Africa during the next decade "to assist them in their development."

Society
Governors Lester Maddox of Georgia and John McKeithen of Louisiana signed into law bills that would bar busing of pupils and teachers to integrate schools in their states. Alabama Governor Albert Brewer called a special session of the state legislature to seek a similar measure for his state.

Disasters
A Czechoslovakian train and locomotive collision near Horny Lidec killed 11 and injured 15.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Disco Bambina--Heather Parisi (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Rap-O Clap-O--Joe Bataan (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Crying--Don McLean
2 Nederland, Die Heeft De Bal--André Van Duin & Het Nederlands Elftal
3 Do That to Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille
4 Rapper's Delight--Sugarhill Gang
5 Que Sera Mi Vida--Gibson Brothers
6 An Englishman in New York--Godley & Creme
7 Rap-O Clap-O--Joe Bataan
8 Save Me--Queen
9 Babe--Styx
10 I Hear You Now--Jon and Vangelis

Singles entering the chart were Juliana Bedankt! by Willy Alberti (#27); Too Much Too Young - Live! by the Special A.K.A. featuring Rico (#30); Down in the Silvermine by Diesel (#31); Ann-Maria by Luv' (#32); This is It by Kenny Loggins (#33); Matador by Garland Jeffreys (#34); and Tutti Ragazzi by the Nits (#35).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
2 Do That to Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille
3 Yes, I'm Ready--Teri DeSario with K.C.
4 Cruisin'--Smokey Robinson
5 Rock with You--Michael Jackson
6 Longer--Dan Fogelberg
7 On the Radio--Donna Summer
8 Desire--Andy Gibb
9 Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers
10 Sara--Fleetwood Mac

Singles entering the chart were I Can't Tell You Why by the Eagles (#60); Fire Lake by Bob Seger (#65); Pilot of the Airwaves by Charlie Dore (#74); Set Me Free by Utopia (#76); Fire in the Morning by Melissa Manchester (#81); Keep the Fire by Kenny Loggins (#82); Girl with the Hungry Eyes by Jefferson Starship (#83); Carrie by Cliff Richard (#84); It's Like We Never Said Goodbye by Crystal Gayle (#86); The Spirit of Radio by Rush (#88); Loving You with My Eyes by Starland Vocal Band (#89); Autograph by John Denver (#90); and Somewhere in America by Survivor (#95).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
2 Cruisin'--Smokey Robinson
3 Longer--Dan Fogelberg
4 Yes, I'm Ready--Teri DeSario with K.C.
5 Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers
6 Rock With You--Michael Jackson
7 On the Radio--Donna Summer
8 Do That to Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille
9 Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl--Spinners
10 Desire--Andy Gibb

Singles entering the chart were Fire Lake by Bob Seger (#49); I Can't Tell You Why by the Eagles (#53); Brass in Pocket (I'm Special) by the Pretenders (#82); The Spirit of Radio by Rush (#84); Carrie by Cliff Richard (#85); Desire by the Rockets (#87); It's Like We Never Said Goodbye by Crystal Gayle (#89); and The Walk by the Inmates (#96).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen (2nd week at #1)
2 Yes, I'm Ready--Teri DeSario with K.C.
3 Longer--Dan Fogelberg
4 On the Radio--Donna Summer
5 Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers
6 Rock With You--Michael Jackson
7 Desire--Andy Gibb
8 September Morn--Neil Diamond
9 Do That to Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille
10 Romeo's Tune--Steve Forbert

Singles entering the chart were Fire Lake by Bob Seger (#37); I Can't Tell You Why by the Eagles (#47); Pilot of the Airwaves by Charlie Dore (#65); Brass in Pocket (I'm Special) by the Pretenders (#86); It's Like We Never Said Goodbye by Crystal Gayle (#88); Girl with the Hungry Eyes by Jefferson Starship (#89); Desire by the Rockets (#90); Cars by Gary Numan (#97); Don't Ever Say Goodbye by Rick Derringer (#98); and Baby Don't Go by Karla Bonoff (#99).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
2 Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers
3 Please Don't Go--KC & the Sunshine Band
4 Rock With You--Michael Jackson
5 Do That to Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille
6 Video Killed the Radio Star--The Buggles
7 We Don't Talk Anymore--Cliff Richard
8 Ladies Night--Kool & The Gang
9 This is It--Kenny Loggins
10 Why Me--Styx

Singles entering the chart were I Thank You by ZZ Top (#82); Walking on the Moon by the Police (#85); Buffalo to Boston by Garfield (#90); Tiny Thing by Jenson Interceptor (#95); Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl by the Spinners (#97); The Hardest Part by Blondie (#98); and Three Times in Love by Tommy James (#99).

War
Soviet MiG fighters and helicopters concluded two days of buzzing Kabul in an attempt to discourage anti-Soviet demonstrations. Afghan troops loyal to the Soviet regime closed the Kabul-Peshawar highway, ending all road traffic to and from Pakistan for the first time.

Diplomacy
A five-man United Nations commission on the rule of the deposed Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi arrived in Tehran in an attempt to take advantage of the election of the new Iranian President, Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, who appeared to want to end the U.S. embassy hostage crisis in order to consolidate his power. However, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini announced that the hostages could only be released by a parliament that was to be elected in March and meet in April. The announcement jolted U.S. officials.

Politics and government
Republican Party candidates for President of the United States debated in Nashua, New Hampshire. Ronald Reagan and four other candidates argued for an open debate rather than one between only Mr. Reagan and George Bush, as the sponsor, the Nashua Telegraph, had stipulated. Mr. Bush weakly defended the sponsor’s rules. The debate went on as planned, but the television cameras, barred from the debate itself, followed the four uninvited candidates into another room where they denounced Mr. Bush.

Olympics
Men’s speed skating @ Lake Placid, New York
Eric Heiden of the United States won the 10,000 metres at Lake Placid to capture his fifth gold medal, a record for a single Winter Olympic games.

Hockey
NHL
Winnipeg 3 @ Toronto 9
Boston 4 @ Vancouver 4

25 years ago
1985

Hit parade
U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Careless Whisper--Wham! featuring George Michael (2nd week at #1)
2 Easy Lover--Philip Bailey with Phil Collins
3 I Want to Know What Love Is--Foreigner
4 Loverboy--Billy Ocean
5 California Girls--David Lee Roth
6 The Boys of Summer--Don Henley
7 Sugar Walls--Sheena Easton
8 Can't Fight This Feeling--REO Speedwagon
9 Method of Modern Love--Daryl Hall and John Oates
10 The Old Man Down the Road--John Fogerty

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 6 Winnipeg 4
Washington 3 Edmonton 3

Basketball
NCAA
Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight, angered by a foul call against one of his players and a technical against himself for yelling an obscenity, was ejected from a game against Purdue for hurling a chair from the bench area across the court during a game in Bloomington.

20 years ago
1990

Died on this date
José Napoleón Duarte, 64. President of El Salvador, 1984-1989. Mr. Duarte was a founding member of the centrist Christian Democratic Party before serving as Mayor of San Salvador from 1964-1970. He lost a close and disputed presidential election in 1972, but when a junta took power in 1979, served as El Salvador's head of state from 1980-1982, during a civil war against the rebel organization Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). Mr. Duarte was elected President in 1984; he was supported by the United States, and succeeded in ending the civil war. Mr. Duarte served out his term in 1989, despite suffering from terminal stomach cancer.

Politics and government
Kim Campbell, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, became Canada's first female Justice Minister, replacing Doug Lewis, as Prime Minister Brian Mulroney shuffled his Progressive Conservative cabinet. Benoît Bouchard became Minister of Industry, Science and Technology in the shuffle.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 6 @ Edmonton 5

This was the Maple Leafs’ first win in Edmonton since 1979.

10 years ago
2000

Died on this date
Stanley Matthews, 85. U.K. soccer player. Sir Stanley, an outside right, was one of the greatest players in history in a career spanning more than 30 years. He played with Stoke City (1932-1947, 1961-1965) and Blackpool (1947-1961), scoring 71 goals in 697 games. Sir Stanley played with the English national team from 1934-1957, scoring 11 goals in 54 matches. He served as general manager (1965-1968) and manager (1967-1968) with Port Vale, without success. Sir Stanley died 22 days after his 85th birthday; he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame as a charter member in 2002.

Ofra Haza, 42. Israeli singer-songwriter. Miss Haza, born Bat-Sheva Ofra Haza-Ashkenazi, was Israel's most popular recording artist in the 1980s and '90s, combining traditional and commercial singing styles. Her single Im Nin'alu (1988) was an international hit, reaching #1 in Germany and Switzerland, and reaching the top 30 in other European countries. Miss Haza died of AIDS-related pneumonia, perhaps acquired from a blood transfusion following a miscarriage.

Music
Carlos Santana won eight Grammy Awards for his album Supernatural, tying the record set by Michael Jackson in 1983 for Thriller.