December 10, 2010

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Noah Hutchings!

490 years ago
1520

Religion
Martin Luther publicly burned his copy of Exsurge Domine--the papal bull demanding that he recant or face excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church--outside Wittenberg's Elster Gate.

400 years ago
1610

Born on this date
Adriaen van Ostade. Dutch artist. Mr. van Ostade painted scenes of everyday life, the number of which was estimated at anywhere from 385 to over 900. He died at the age of 74 and was buried on May 2, 1685.

180 years ago
1830

Born on this date
Emily Dickinson. U.S. poet. Miss Dickinson, a lifelong resident of Amherst, Massachusetts, wrote 1,800 poems, only 10 of which were published during her lifetime, which ended at the age of 55 on May 15, 1886 at the age of 55 after a period of illness. Her poems often dealt with the subjects of death and immortality. Miss Dickinson achieved posthumous fame after anthologies of her poems began appearing in 1890.

120 years ago
1890

Born on this date
László Bárdossy. Prime Minister of Hungary, 1941-1942. Mr. Bárdossy, a member of the Party of Hungarian Life, held several positions before succeeding Pál Teleki as Prime Minister upon the latter's suicide on April 3, 1941. Mr. Bárdossy pursued a pro-German policy before resigning under duress in March 1942. He was arrested at the end of World Aar II and was executed by firing squad in Budapest on January 10, 1946 at the age of 55, two months after after being convicted by the People's Court of war crimes and collaboration with the Nazis.

110 years ago
1900

Labour
Archbishop of Montréal Louis Bégin intervened to end the Québec Shoe Workers' lockout, which had begun on October 27, 1900. It was the first direct intervention in a labour conflict by Québec's Roman Catholic clergy and the first step toward the creation of Catholic unions.

90 years ago
1920

Died on this date
Horace Elgin Dodge, 52. U.S. automotive executive. Mr. Dodge and his brother John Francis co-founded Dodge Brothers Company in 1901. Both brothers died as a result of the flu epidemic in 1920.

75 years ago
1935

Canadiana
The Bessborough Hotel, a Canadian National Railways hotel, opened in Saskatoon.

70 years ago
1940

War
British troops captured Sidi Barrani, Egypt, with the capture of 38,000 Italian prisoners.

Diplomacy
12,000 people greeted the Duke and Duchess of Windsor when they arrived at the airport in Miami from the Bahamas to begin their first visit to the United States since their marriage in 1937.

Politics and government
U.S. Attorney General Robert Jackson wrote to Representative Jerry Voorhis (Democrat--California) of the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities, saying that the two bodies could cooperate in their investigation into fifth column activities.

Economics and finance
The Japanese cabinet approved a budget that would exceed 10 million yen--more than the entire national debt in 1936, when the war against China had begun.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that iron ore, pig iron, ferro alloys, and certain iron and steel manufactures would be placed under export licensing controls on December 30, 1940. The act was seen as a major blow to Japan, which was heavily dependent on American exports of those items.

Education
The U.S. National Association of Manufacturers announced that it was analyzing 800 public school textbooks for teachings subversive of the government or free enterprise.

Baseball
The National and American Leagues, meeting separately in Chicago, re-elected Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis as commissioner for another five-year term.

60 years ago
1950

Defense
New York State Civil Defense Commissioner Lawrence Wilkinson unveiled a disaster plan for the medical profession in the event of an atomic attack on the state's eight largest cities, estimating 120,000 causalties in New York City alone.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Commerce Department reported that American industry planned to spend a record $4.8 billion on new factories and equipment during the first quarter of 1951, an increase of 30% over the corresponding 1950 period.

Football
NFL
Baltimore (1-11) 14 @ New York Yanks (7-5) 51
Cleveland (10-2) 45 @ Washington (3-9) 21
New York Giants (10-2) 9 @ Philadelphia (6-6) 7
Chicago Cardinals (5-7) 7 @ Pittsburgh (6-6) 28
Detroit (6-6) 3 @ Chicago Bears (9-3) 6
Green Bay (3-9) 14 @ San Francisco (3-9) 30

George Ratterman and Zollie Toth each scored 2 touchdowns for the Yanks as they routed the Colts before just 6,386 fans at Yankee Stadium. Quarterback Y.A. Tittle rushed for both Baltimore touchdowns. It was the last game for the original Colts; owner Abraham Watner returned the franchise to the National Football League on January 18, 1951.

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Save the Last Dance for Me--The Drifters (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Il cielo in una stanza--Mina (9th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Ein Schiff wird kommen--Lale Andersen (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): It’s Now or Never--Elvis Presley (6th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Are You Lonesome To-night?--Elvis Presley (3rd week at #1)
2 Last Date--Floyd Cramer
3 He Will Break Your Heart--Jerry Butler
4 A Thousand Stars--Kathy Young with the Innocents
5 New Orleans--U.S. Bonds
6 Stay--Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs
7 Poetry in Motion--Johnny Tillotson
8 North to Alaska--Johnny Horton
9 Wonderland by Night--Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra
10 Sailor (Your Home is the Sea)--Lolita

Singles entering the chart were Artificial Flowers by Phil Napoleon and his Memphis Five (#42, charting with the version by Bobby Darin); Shop Around by the Miracles (#70); Ramona by the Blue Diamonds (#90); Twistin' Bells by Santo & Johnny (#91); Gloria's Theme by Adam Wade (#95); I Idolize You by Ike & Tina Turner (#98); Angel Baby by Rosie and the Originals (#99); Lovey Dovey by Buddy Knox (#100); The Age for Love by Jimmy Charles (also #100); and Walk Slow by Little Willie John (also #100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Are You Lonesome To-night?--Elvis Presley (3rd week at #1)
2 Doll House--Donnie Brooks
3 The Sock--The Valentines
4 Lovey Dovey--Buddy Knox
5 Lonely Teenager--Dion
6 Last Date--Floyd Cramer
7 The Hucklebuck--Chubby Checker
8 Rubber Ball--Bobby Vee
9 Wonderland by Night--Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra
10 A Thousand Stars--Kathy Young with the Innocents

Singles entering the chart were Corinna, Corinna by Ray Peterson (#27); Wings of a Dove by Paul Clayton (#33); I'm Hurtin' by Roy Orbison (#38); Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread) by Brook Benton (#41); Is There Something on Your Mind by Jack Scott (#42); Sad Mood by Sam Cooke (#44); Pepe by Duane Eddy and the Rebels (#45); What am I Gonna Do by Jimmy Clanton (#46); Tomorrow by the Shirelles (#48); (I Wanna) Love My Life Away by Gene Pitney (#49); and Ruby by Ray Charles (#50). Pepe was a version of the title theme of the movie.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 Are You Lonesome To-night?--Elvis Presley (4th week at #1)
2 Wonderland by Night--Anita Bryant
--Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra
3 North to Alaska--Johnny Horton
4 Exodus--Ferrante and Teicher
5 The Sock--The Valentines
6 Lovey Dovey--Buddy Knox
7 You're Sixteen--Johnny Burnette
8 Dear John--Pat Boone
9 Doll House--Donnie Brooks
10 The Hucklebuck--Chubby Checker

Singles entering the chart were Blue Christmas by the Browns (#30); Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee (#32); Oh, Lonesome Me by Bob Luman (#33); I'm Hurtin' by Roy Orbison (#34); Corinna, Corinna by Ray Peterson (#38); and Tomorrow by the Shirelles (#39).

On television tonight
The Roaring 20's, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Bold Edition

Space
A space capsule ejected by the U.S. satellite Discoverer 18 was recovered in midair over the Pacific Ocean by a Hawaii-based U.S. Air Force C-119 piloted by Captain Gene W. Jones. It was the third such recovery and the second in a row credited to Capt. Jones.

Boxing
Benny "Kid" Paret (34-8-3) retained his world welterweight title with a 15-round unanimous decision over Luis Federico Thompson (125-10-10) at Madison Square Garden in New York.





Football
NFL
Green Bay (7-4) 13 @ San Francisco (6-5) 0



AFL
Denver (4-8-1) 33 @ Los Angeles (9-4) 41

40 years ago
1970

War
At the Paris peace talks, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong spurned an offer by the U.S.A. and South Vietnam to release all North Vietnamese and Viet Cong prisoners if U.S. and other prisoners held by the Communists were to be freed.

Disasters
At least 83 people were killed when a dam burst on a tea estate in Ceylon.

Boxing
Former world lightweight champion Mando Ramos (30-4) scored a technical knockout of Raul Rojas (38-7-2) 48 seconds into the 6th round at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. It was Mr. Rojas' last fight.

30 years ago
1980

Space
U.S.S.R. cosmonauts Leonid Kizim, Oleg Makarov, and Gennady Strekalov returned home to conclude the 13-day mission Soyuz T-3, which included repairing and testing the space station Salyut 6. It was the sixth Soviet manned space mission of 1980 and the first three-man mission since 1971. The crew performed maintenance and repairs on the station’s temperature control, telemetry, and refuelling systems. Salyut 6 had been in space for more than three years and had been visited by 13 crews, including seven with astronauts from other countries.

War
Jordan announced that 36 U.S.-made tanks had been turned over to Jordan by Iraq as a gesture of thanks for Jordan’s help to Iraq in its war with Iran. The tanks had been captured from the Iranian armed forces. Some Syrian troops were being pulled back from the border, and Jordan indicated that it would also remove some if its soldiers.

Scandal
Representative John Jenrette (Democrat--South Carolina) resigned to avoid being expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives, following his conviction on charges related to the FBI's Abscam investigation.

Society
The second instance of a woman becoming a surrogate mother by delivering a baby belonging to another woman was reported in Knoxville, Tennessee. The surrogate mother had been impregnated by artificial insemination with the sperm of her sister’s husband.

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): I've Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Sadeness Part I--Enigma (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Armand Hammer, 92. U.S. businessman. Mr. Hammer, the son of a Ukrainian Jewish immigrant known for socialist and Communist activities, was best known as president and chief executive officer of Occidental Petroleum from 1957 until his death, and for his ties with political leaders in the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. Mr. Hammer's private "citizen diplomacy" led to suspicions and accusations that he was, in the words of biographer Edward Jay Epstein, a "virtual spy" for the Soviet Union.

World events
100 British hostages who had been held in the Persian Gulf since August arrived home after their release by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Politics and government
Canadian Liberal Party leader Jean Chretien was elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in the New Brunswick riding of Beausejour. Mr. Chretien took 52% of the vote to 39% for New Democratic Party candidate Guy Cormier.

Economics and finance
Nine days after the U.S.S.R. had initiated food rationing in Leningrad and three other cities, Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze appealed to the United States for food.

10 years ago
2000

Died on this date
Marie Windsor, 81. U.S. actress. Miss Windsor, born Emily Marie Bertelsen, was known as "Queen of the B's," playing femme fatale characters in movies such as Force of Evil (1948); The Narrow Margin (1952); and The Killing (1956). She frequently appeared on television until her early 70s, and died of congestive heart failure, the day before her 81st birthday.

Politics and government
After four years out of power, Ion Iliescu recaptured the presidency of Romania in a runoff election, defeating nationalist candidate Corneliu Vadim Tudor by a 2-1 margin.

World events
The day after his release from prison, former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia along with nearly 20 relatives under an agreement to stay in exile for 10 years; not to run for office for 21 years; and to give up US$10 million in property and other assets.