April 26, 2010

110 years ago
1900

Disasters
A fire destroyed Hull, Quebec and about one-fifth of Ottawa, causing $20 million in damage. 2,500 houses were destroyed, 15,000 people were left homeless.

100 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Tomoyuki Tanaka. Japanese movie producer. Mr. Tanaka produced more than 200 films in a career spanning 60 years, but was best known for creating the Godzilla series of monster movies. He died on April 2, 1997, 24 days before his 87th birthday.

Died on this date
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, 77. Norwegian author and poet. Mr. Bjørnson wrote novels and plays, but was awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature "as a tribute to his noble, magnificent and versatile poetry, which has always been distinguished by both the freshness of its inspiration and the rare purity of its spirit."

Disasters
45 families were left homeless from an apartment fire in New York. George Davis, Kid Gleason, and Mike Grady, all baseball players with the New York Giants, were on their way to the Polo Grounds when they stopped to help rescue people from the blaze.

80 years ago
1940

Died on this date
Carl Bosch, 65. German chemist. Dr. Bosch shared the 1931 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Friedrich Bergius for their contributions to the invention and development of chemical high pressure methods." Dr. Bosch helped to found the chemical company IG Farben in 1925. IG Farben became infamous for making the poison gas used in Nazi death camps during World War II, but Dr. Bosch was an opponent of the Nazis, and reportedly turned to drink after he was relieved of various positions after the Nazis came to power in Germany.

Literature
Dodd, Mead & Company and Redbook magazine named Hildreth--Her Story by Mrs. Harlow Estes as the winner of the $10,000 prize as the best first novel by any author in 1939.

War
German forces broke Allied defenses at Roeros, Norway. British sources in Hong Kong reported that Japan had taken full control of Lappa Island, a Portuguese possession.

Diplomacy
The United Kingdom and France acceded to U.S. pressure to keep the inconveniences of their blockade to a minimum.

The Allies and Switzerland agreed that the latter could obtain supplies for her own use under a guarantee that they would not go to Germany.

Terrorism
Terrorists bombed the office of the American-owned Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury.

World events
64 people received prison sentences in Brazil for being Communist propagandists.

60 years ago
1950

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Ben Wright and Eric Snowden, on ABC
Tonight’s episode: The Turkish Bath

The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Martin Gabel, on ABC

Died on this date
Charles Ziegler, 79. U.S. physician and inventor. Dr. Ziegler, an obstetrician, was the first medical director of Elizabeth Steel Magee Hospital in Pittsburgh (1911-1919). During summers while attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he worked for the Aluminum Company of America as a salesman; he started the company's cooking utensil department, and invented a coffee percolator, using the royalties to pay for further medical education in Germany.

George Murray Hulbert, 68. U.S. judge and politician. Mr. Hulbert, a Democrat, represented New York's 21st District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1915-1918) and was President of the Board of Aldermen of New York City (1921-1925) before sitting on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from 1934 until his death, 18 days before his 69th birthday.

Attilio Teruzzi, 67. Italian military officer and politician. Lieutenant General Teruzzi served in the Italo-Turkish War (1911-1912) and World War I, and left the Army in 1920 to join the Fascist Party, becoming the party's deputy secretary in 1921. He was Governor of Cyrenaica, the eastern coastal region of Libya, from 1926-1928, and was Minister of Italian Africa from 1939-1943. When Duce Benito Mussolini was ousted from power in 1943, Lt. Gen. Teruzzi joined him in his refuge in northern Italy, helping Mr. Mussolini found the Fascist Italian Social Republic. Lt. Gen. Teruzzi escaped the wrath of Italian partisans at the end of World War II, but was captured by Allied authorities and sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment on the island of Procida. He was released after five years, but died on the island just 20 days after his release.

E. Lee Keyser, 64. U.S. baseball executive. Mr. Keyser was the minor league secretary for the St. Louis Browns. In 1930, when he was the owner of the Des Moines Devils of the Class A Western League, he built the first ballpark with permanently-installed lights. Mr. Keyser was called the "Father of night baseball," which was credited with saving minor league baseball in the 1930s and '40s. He died six days before the 20th anniversary of the first night game in Des Moines.

World events
Local authorities in the South Moluccas rebelled against the Indonesian state and proclaimed their independence.

War
Non-Communist opposition parties in Japan formed a "Joint Foreign Policy Council" to work against a peace agreement between Japan and the West, excluding the U.S.S.R.

Diplomacy
The National Committee for a Free Europe was established under the leadership of General Lucius Clay and career U.S. diplomat Joseph Grew to try to circulate Western ideas in Communist countries.

Defense
The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved a $350-million increase in the fiscal 1951 arms budget, primarily for the purchase of Air Force and Navy aircraft.

Scandal
A jury in Washington, D.C. convicted influence-peddler John Maragon on two counts of perjury for lying to a Senate subcommittee during the 1949 investigation of "five percenters."

Agriculture
Poland withdrew from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, charging U.S. discrimination against Eastern Europe in its grain allocation.

Business
U.S. Steel Corporation President Benjamin Fairless attacked congressional investigation of the steel industry, charging that "powerful agencies and groups" in the government wanted to "dismember business" on the theory that "there is something inherently vicious in bigness and growth and success."

50 years ago
1960

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, hosted by John Newland, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Peter Hurkos Story: Part 2, starring Albert Salmi, Alf Kjellin, and Justice Watson



Space
The mission of the U.S. satellite Discoverer 11 ended after 11 days. Its purpose was to study propulsion, communication, recovery techniques, and cosmic radiation.

Politics and government
Forced out by the April Revolution, Syngman Rhee resigned as President of South Korea after 12 years of dictatorial rule.

Boxing
Brian London (23-6) knocked out Pete Rademacher (6-3-1) 15 seconds into the 7th round of a heavyweight bout at Empire Pool, Wembley, London.

40 years ago
1970

Died on this date
Gypsy Rose Lee, 59. U.S. dancer and actress. Miss Lee, born Louise Hovick, was almost two years older than her sister June, who used the name June Havoc. Miss Lee became famous as a striptease artist in burlesque in the 1930s and '40s. She appeared in several films, wrote two mystery novels, and wrote her autobiography, which became the basis of the theatrical musical (1959) and movie (1962) Gypsy. Miss Lee hosted the daytime television talk show The Gypsy Rose Lee Show in San Francisco (1965-1968), and died of lung cancer.

Terrorism
A dynamite explosion shook the 34-storey Louisiana state capitol building in Baton Rouge, causing considerable damage.

Law
The Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Chicago 4 @ Boston 5 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-0)
St. Louis 1 @ Pittsburgh 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Auto racing
USAC
Lloyd Ruby won a 200-mile race at Trenton, New Jersey. Mario Andretti finished second, and Al Unser third.

Baseball
Dick Dietz and Willie McCovey each hit a grand slam, and Mike McCormick (1-1) pitched a 3-hit complete game victory as the San Francisco Giants whipped the Montreal Expos 11-1 in the first game of a doubleheader before 9,943 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The Expos won the second game 3-2, as Carl Morton (1-0) allowed 6 hits and 2 earned runs in 8 innings to get his first major league win.

Ron Santo hit a grand slam and Jim Hickman and Billy Williams each hit a solo home run as the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros 6-3 before 31,529 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago for their 10th straight win. Ferguson Jenkins (2-2) was the winning pitcher over Larry Dierker (3-2).

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Video Killed the Radio Star--The Buggles (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): You and Me--Spargo

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Call Me--Blondie

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Call Me--Blondie

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 You and Me--Spargo (2nd week at #1)
2 Sun of Jamaica--Goombay Dance Band
3 Song for the Children--Oscar Harris
4 Visite--Lenny Kuhr & Les Poppys
5 Sajang É--Massada
6 The End of the Show--The Cats
7 Take that Look Off Your Face--Marti Webb
8 American Dream--The Dirt Band
9 Matador--Garland Jeffreys
10 Stomp--The Brothers Johnson

Singles entering the chart were Funkytown by Lipps Inc. (#21); Working My Way Back to You by the Spinners (#25); Buzz Buzz a Diddle It by Matchbox (#27); Refugee by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#37); Coming Up by Paul McCartney (#38); and Turn it On Again by Genesis (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Call Me--Blondie (2nd week at #1)
2 Ride Like The Wind--Christopher Cross
3 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd
4 With You I’m Born Again--Billy Preston & Syreeta
5 Special Lady--Ray, Goodman & Brown
6 Lost in Love--Air Supply
7 Fire Lake--Bob Seger
8 I Can't Tell You Why--Eagles
9 You May Be Right--Billy Joel
10 Sexy Eyes--Dr. Hook

Singles entering the chart were Coming Up (Live at Glasgow) by Paul McCartney & Wings (#73); Here Comes My Girl by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#80); Fool for a Pretty Face (Hurt by Love) by Humble Pie (#85); You're My Blessing by Lou Rawls (#88); It Takes Time by the Marshall Tucker Band (#89); Shining Star by the Manhattans (#90); and What's Your Hurry Darlin' by Ironhorse (#98).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Call Me--Blondie (3rd week at #1)
2 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd
3 Ride Like the Wind--Christopher Cross
4 Lost in Love--Air Supply
5 With You I’m Born Again--Billy Preston & Syreeta
6 Fire Lake--Bob Seger
7 Special Lady--Ray, Goodman & Brown
8 Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl--The Spinners
9 I Can’t Tell You Why--Eagles
10 Sexy Eyes--Dr. Hook

Singles entering the chart were Coming Up (Live at Glasgow) by Paul McCartney & Wings (#59); Here Comes My Girl by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#85); Shining Star by the Manhattans (#88); Fool for a Pretty Face (Hurt by Love) by Humble Pie (#89); Slipstream by Allan Clarke (#98); and Can't Help Falling in Love with You by Jimmy Castor (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Call Me--Blondie (2nd week at #1)
2 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd
3 Ride Like The Wind--Christopher Cross
4 Lost in Love--Air Supply
5 Fire Lake--Bob Seger
6 With You I’m Born Again--Billy Preston & Syreeta
7 I Can't Tell You Why--Eagles
8 Sexy Eyes--Dr. Hook
9 Special Lady--Ray, Goodman & Brown
10 You May Be Right--Billy Joel

Singles entering the chart were Coming Up (Live at Glasgow) by Paul McCartney & Wings (#51); Shining Star by the Manhattans (#85); Midnight Rendezvous by the Babys (#88); High by Skyy (#96); You Gave Me Love by Crown Heights Affair (#98); and Schemer-Dreamer (That's All Right) by Steve Walsh (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)--Pink Floyd (6th week at #1)
2 Refugee--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3 An American Dream--The Dirt Band
4 Fire Lake--Bob Seger
5 Call Me--Blondie
6 I Can't Tell You Why--Eagles
7 Money--The Flying Lizards
8 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
9 Romeo's Tune--Steve Forbert
10 On the Radio--Donna Summer

Singles entering the chart were Life Begins at the Top by XTC (#84); After You by Dionne Warwick (#86); Biggest Part of Me by Ambrosia (#88); Funkytown by Lipps Inc. (#95); Even the Score by Toronto (#98); and Love and Affection by Bill King (#100).

World events
Iranian state radio announced that the American hostages had been moved from the U.S. embassy in Tehran to other cities in the country to prevent further rescue attempts such as the failed attempt at a military rescue two days earlier.

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Oi beibi/Tuhansien sulojen maa--Raptori (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The By-road to Glenroe--Mick Lally (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Carlos Pizarro Leongómez, 38. Colombian politician. Mr. Pizarro, a candidate for the presidency of Colombia who was affiliated with the leftist movement M-19, was shot while travelling aboard an Avianca Airlines flight that had just left Bogota. The gunman was immediately shot by Mr. Pizarro's bodyguards. Mr. Pizarro was the third presidential candidate to be killed during the current campaign. Colombian drug lords issued a statement the next day condemning the killing, which they had been suspected of.

Politics and government
British Columbia Premier Bill Vander Zalm told a Canadian House of Commons committee that the best solution to the impasse over the Meech Lake constitutional accord might be to start the discussions again from scratch.

Disasters
An earthquake in the central Chinese province of Qinghai killed 115 people.

Hockey
IIHF
Men’s World Championship
Canada 3 U.S.S.R. 3

NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Chicago 3 @ St. Louis 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

10 years ago
2000

Abominations
Vermont Governor Howard Dean signed into law a bill giving sodomite and lesbian couples the same legal rights enjoyed by real married couples.