January 9, 2011

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Olga!

150 years ago
1861

Americana
Mississippi voted 84-15 in a state convention to become the second state--after South Carolina--to secede from the Union.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Vilma Bánky. Hungarian-born U.S. actress. Miss Bánky, born Vilma Koncsics, began her career in silent films in Hungary in 1919, moving to Hollywood in 1925, where she was best-known for co-starring with Rudolph Valentino in The Eagle (1925) and The Son of the Sheik (1926). Miss Bánky married actor Rod La Rocque in 1927 and made few movies thereafter, retiring to domestic life. She died from cardiopulmonary failure on March 18, 1991 at the age of 90.

100 years ago
1911

Died on this date
Edwin Arthur Jones, 57. U.S. composer. Mr. Jones wrote chamber and instrumental pieces, but his best-known work was the cantata Song of Our Savior, which was composed in 1881 but not performed until 1992.

80 years ago
1931

At the movies
Little Caesar, directed by Mervyn LeRoy, and starring Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Glenda Farrell, opened in theatres in New York City.





Died on this date
Wayne Munn, 34. U.S. football player and wrestler. Mr. Munn was a lineman with the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers before becoming a professional wrestler in 1924. He was boosted by Ed "Strangler" Lewis as the next big star in wrestling, and won the National Wrestling Alliance world heavyweight title from Mr. Lewis in 1925, becoming the first pure performer (i.e., someone without legitimate wrestling skills or background) to win a professional world championship. Just three months after winning the title, Mr. Munn was defeated by Stanislaus Zbyszko despite a previous agreement for Mr. Munn to win the match. Mr. Munn retired from wrestling in 1926, and died from kidney problems.

75 years ago
1936

Died on this date
John "Jack" Gilbert, 36 or 38. U.S. actor. Mr. Gilbert began appearing in movies in 1915 as an extra, but it wasn't until 1925 that he achieved genuine stardom with The Big Parade. He co-starred with Greta Garbo in several movies--Flesh and the Devil (1926); Love (1927); and A Woman of Affairs (1928). They were also lovers off-screen, but she failed to show up for their scheduled wedding, and when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio boss Louis B. Mayer made an unflattering remark about Miss Garbo, Mr. Gilbert physically attacked him. Mr. Mayer then reportedly vowed to ruin his star, and he was successful, casting him in such films as His Glorious Night (1929)--his first starring role in a sound film--in which his proclamations of love for his leading lady provoked laughter from audiences. He had few movie roles after this, although he did return to co-star with Miss Garbo in Queen Christina (1933). Mr. Gilbert became romantically involved with Marlene Dietrich, but heavy drinking took its toll, and he died of a heart attack at his Hollywood home.

70 years ago
1941

War
French military authorities claimed destruction of at least 40 Thai war planes on the Indochina border, but acknowledged a general withdrawal of 5-10 miles from the frontier.

Defense
The Royal Air Force Avro Lancaster made its first flight. Ernest W. Gibson was elected chairman of the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's personal representative Harry Hopkins arrived in London in the middle of a German bombing attack. The U.S. State Department reported American denial of a French request for aid in solving the problem of German Jewish refugees in France.

Politics and government
U.S. Representatives Edith Rogers (Republican--Massachusetts), John Taber (Republican--New York), Clare Hoffman (Republican--Michigan), and Noah Mason (Republican--Illinois) criticized U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt for her January 7 remarks about their failure to applaud President Franklin D. Roosevelt's State of the Union address.

60 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Tough Cop, starring Barry Nelson, Katharine Baird, and Robert Emhardt



Defense
Supreme Commander of NATO-Europe General Dwight D. Eisenhower conferred in Paris with French leaders, who outlined plans to organize 20 new combat divisions and urged the U.S. to step up arms shipments.



The U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee approved a bill from the administration of President Harry Truman for a new $2-billion Navy shipbuilding program, to include conversion of 291 ships and construction of 173 new ones.

Politics and government
U.S. President Truman urged Congress to redistribute congressional districts in line with the 1950 census, proposing that each House of Representatives member represent about 350,000 citizens.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Greenfields--The Brothers Four (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Kili Watch--Johnny Hallyday

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Wonderland by Night--Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra
2 Are You Lonesome To-night?--Elvis Presley
3 Exodus--Ferrante and Teicher
4 Last Date--Floyd Cramer
5 Will You Love Me Tomorrow--The Shirelles
6 Rubber Ball--Bobby Vee
7 Angel Baby--Rosie and the Originals
8 North to Alaska--Johnny Horton
9 Corinna, Corinna--Ray Peterson
10 You're Sixteen--Johnny Burnette

Singles entering the chart were My Empty Arms by Jackie Wilson (#60); Lost Love by H.B. Barnum (#80); Wheels by the String-A-Longs (#81); And the Heavens Cried by Ronnie Savoy (#84); If I Didn't Care by the Platters (#87); What am I Gonna Do by Jimmy Clanton (#88); Is There Something on Your Mind by Jack Scott (#89); (Ghost) Riders in the Sky by the Ramrods (#92); Chills and Fever by Ronnie Love and his Orchestra (#94); Jimmy's Girl by Johnny Tillotson (#95); Baby Sittin' Boogie by Buzz Clifford (#96); You've Got to Love Her with a Feeling by Freddy King (#97); and Muskrat Ramble by Freddy Cannon (#98).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Music Vendor)
1 Wonderland by Night--Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra (3rd week at #1)
--Louis Prima
2 Exodus--Ferrante and Teicher
--Mantovani & his Orchestra
3 Are You Lonesome To-night?--Elvis Presley
4 Will You Love Me Tomorrow--The Shirelles
5 Calcutta--Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra
6 Rubber Ball--Bobby Vee
7 Corinna, Corinna--Ray Peterson
8 Angel Baby--Rosie and the Originals
9 Last Date--Floyd Cramer
--Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra
10 You're Sixteen--Johnny Burnette

Died on this date
Emily Greene Balch, 94. U.S. economist and activist. Professor Balch taught at Wellesley College (1913-1919), and was later an editor of The Nation. She was a longtime pacifist, a participant in Henry Ford's International Committee on Mediation, and winner of a share of the 1946 Nobel Peace Prize "for her work with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom." Miss Balch died the day after her 94th birthday.

Boxing
World featherweight champion Davey Moore (46-6-1) won a 10-round decision over Gracieux Lamperti (46-8-2) in a non-title bout at Palais des Sports in Paris.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Cracklin' Rosie--Neil Diamond (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Anna--Lucio Battisti (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Grandad--Clive Dunn (6th week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 I Think I Love You--The Partridge Family (2nd week at #1)
2 A Song of Joy--Miguel Rios
3 Look What They've Done to My Song Ma--The New Seekers
4 It's Only Make Believe--Glen Campbell
5 We've Only Just Begun--Carpenters
6 Lola--The Kinks
7 Lookin' Out My Back Door/Long as I Can See the Light--Creedence Clearwater Revival
8 Joanne--Michael Nesmith & the First National Band
9 Cracklin' Rosie--Neil Diamond
10 Comic Conversation--Johnny Farnham

Singles entering the chart were Gasoline Alley Bred by the Hollies (#48); and My Baby's Gone by Axiom (#56).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 My Sweet Lord--George Harrison (2nd week at #1)
2 She Likes Weeds--Tee-Set
3 Lonely Days--Bee Gees
4 Yesterday, When I was Young--Charles Aznavour
5 Voodoo Chile--The Jimi Hendrix Experience
6 Tears in the Morning--The Beach Boys
7 See Me, Feel Me--The Who
8 I Hear You Knocking--Dave Edmunds
9 Peace Planet (Badinerie from suite no. 2 - J.S.Bach)--Ekseption
10 The Witch--Rattles

Singles entering the chart were When I'm Dead and Gone by McGuinness Flint (#30); Nu Dans Je Nooit Meer met Mij by Anja (#32); Do It by Neil Diamond (#34); Nothing Rhymed by Gilbert O'Sullivan (#36); Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin (#37); and In de Hemel is Geen Bier by Dorus (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 My Sweet Lord/Isn't it a Pity--George Harrison (3rd week at #1)
2 Knock Three Times--Dawn
3 One Less Bell to Answer--The 5th Dimension
4 Black Magic Woman--Santana
5 I Think I Love You--The Partridge Family
6 The Tears of a Clown--Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
7 Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?--Chicago
8 Stoned Love--The Supremes
9 Lonely Days--Bee Gees
10 Stoney End--Barbra Streisand

Singles entering the chart were When I'm Dead and Gone by McGuinness Flint (#85); Beautiful People by the New Seekers (#86); Mother by John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (#87); Fresh as a Daisy by Emitt Rhodes (#88); Problem Child by Mark Lindsay (#90); Revival (Love is Everywhere) by the Allman Brothers Band (#92); It's Up to You Petula by Edison Lighthouse (#95); You're a Big Girl Now by the Stylistics (#96); One Night Stand by the Magic Lanterns (#98); Fly Little White Dove, Fly by the Bells (#99); and Where are We Going by Bobby Bloom (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 My Sweet Lord--George Harrison (4th week at #1)
2 Knock Three Times--Dawn
3 One Less Bell to Answer--The 5th Dimension
4 Black Magic Woman--Santana
5 Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?--Chicago
6 Stoned Love--The Supremes
7 I Think I Love You--The Partridge Family
8 Immigrant Song--Led Zeppelin
9 Domino--Van Morrison
10 Groove Me--King Floyd

Singles entering the chart were Mother by John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (#56); There it Goes Again by Barbara and the Uniques (#94); and Ride a White Swan by Tyrannosaurus Rex (#95).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Knock Three Times--Dawn
2 My Sweet Lord/Isn't it a Pity--George Harrison
3 One Less Bell to Answer--The 5th Dimension
4 Black Magic Woman--Santana
5 Stoned Love--The Supremes
6 Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?--Chicago
7 Domino--Van Morrison
8 Pay to the Piper--The Chairmen of the Board
9 It's Impossible--Perry Como
10 Immigrant Song--Led Zeppelin

Singles entering the chart included One Bad Apple by the Osmonds (#64); Apeman by the Kinks (#71); I'm So Proud by the Main Ingredient (#73); Make Me Happy by Bobby Bloom (#91); Theme from Love Story by Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus (#92); D.O.A. by Bloodrock (#95); Fresh as a Daisy by Emitt Rhodes (#99); and Solution for Pollution by Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (#100). As the title indicates, Theme from Love Story was a version of the theme from the movie.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Isn't it a Pity--George Harrison (4th week at #1)
2 Knock Three Times--Dawn
3 Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?--Chicago
4 Black Magic Woman--Santana
5 Your Song--Elton John
6 Be My Baby--Andy Kim
7 I Think I Love You--The Partridge Family
8 Domino--Van Morrison
9 Stoned Love--The Supremes
10 No Matter What--Badfinger

Singles entering the chart were I Really Don't Want to Know/There Goes My Everything by Elvis Presley (#52); Mother by John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (#53); Sweet Mary by Wadsworth Mansion (#55); Remember Me by Diana Ross (#61); Temptation Eyes by the Grass Roots (#72); Let Your Love Go by Bread (#73); Problem Child by Mark Lindsay (#77); Somebody's Watching You by Little Sister (#79); Fresh as a Daisy by Emitt Rhodes (#80); If You were Mine by Ray Charles (#81); D.O.A. by Bloodrock (#85); Amos Moses by Jerry Reed (#88); Mixed Up Guy by Joey Scarbury (#90); When I'm Dead and Gone by McGuinness Flint (#92); Everything is Going to Be Alright by Teegarden & Van Winkle (#95); It's Impossible by Perry Como (#99); and Mozart Symphony No. 40 in G Minor "K 550" 1st Movement (Allegro Molto) by the Manuel de Falla Orchestra (#100). Mozart Symphony No. 40 in G Minor "K 550" 1st Movement (Allegro Molto) was the B-side of Beethoven 9th Symphony in D Minor "Choral" 4th Movement "Ode to Joy", which was not on the chart. In France, the Mozart piece was released as the A-side, with the 2nd Movement of Haydn's Symphonie des Jouets as the B-side.

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 My Sweet Lord--George Harrison (3rd week at #1)
2 Share the Land--The Guess Who
3 Burning Bridges--The Mike Curb Congregation
4 One Man Band--Three Dog Night
5 No Matter What--Badfinger
6 Knock Three Times--Dawn
7 Lonely Days--Bee Gees
8 Gypsy Woman--Brian Hyland
9 One Less Bell to Answer--The 5th Dimension
10 Sing High, Sing Low--Anne Murray
Pick hit of the week: Stoned Love--The Supremes

On the radio
Sherlock Holmes, starring Georg Arlin and Gosta Pruzelius, on Radioteatern (Sweden)
Tonight's episode: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 1

Died on this date
Elmer Flick, 94. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Flick was a right fielder with the Philadelphia Phillies (1898-1901); Philadelphia Athletics (1902); and Cleveland Bronchos/Naps (1902-1910), batting .313 with 48 home runs and 756 runs batted in in 1,483 games. He led the National League in runs batted in in 1900 (110), and led the American League in batting (.308) and slugging (.462) in 1905, and also led the AL in triples three times, stolen bases twice, and in 1906 led the AL in games (157); plate appearances (704); at bats (624); and runs (98). Mr. Flick suffered from gastrointestinal problems that shortened his career, and 1907 was his last good year. He scouted for Cleveland in later years, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963. Mr. Flick died from congestive heart failure, two days before his 95th birthday.

War
U.S. casualties in Vietnam for the week numbered 27 dead and 83 wounded, the lowest combined total for one week since the week ending October 23, 1965.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): När vi två blir en--Gyllene Tider (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Woman in Love--Barbra Streisand (7th week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Woman in Love--Barbra Streisand (8th week at #1)
2 Man on the Moon--Ballyhoo
3 Love on the Rocks--Neil Diamond
4 Don't Stand So Close to Me--The Police
5 Give Me the Night--George Benson
6 Another One Bites the Dust--Queen
7 Can You Feel It--The Jacksons
8 Upside Down--Diana Ross
9 Shine On--Spirits Rejoice
10 The Wanderer--Donna Summer

Singles entering the chart were I'm Alright (Theme from "Caddyshack") by Kenny Loggins (#17); and Passion by Rod Stewart (#20).

Died on this date
Cozy Cole, 71. U.S. musician. William Randolph Cole was a jazz drummer who worked with various bands and singers from the late 1920s through the 1970s. He was probably best known for his single Topsy I/Topsy II (1958), both sides of which became hits on pop singles charts. Mr. Cole died of cancer.

Kazimierz Serocki, 58. Polish musician and composer. Mr. Serocki was a concert pianist from 1946-1951, but then concentrated on composing. He wrote two symphonies, orchestral and instrumental works, chamber music, and film and television scores. Mr. Serocki co-founded the Warsaw Autumn international contemporary music festival in 1956.

Protest
It was announced in Nigeria that at least 1,000 people had been killed in two weeks as followers of renegade Islamic cult leader Alhaji Mohammadu Marwa had attacked local authorities with bows and arrows, daggers, and swords. Nigerian officials stated that the revolt was backed by Libya.

Politics and government
Roch LaSalle (Progressive Conservative), who had resigned as Member of Parliament for Joliette to enter Quebec provincial politics, was elected leader of the Union Nationale by acclamation.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that producer prices had risen in December by 0.6%, meaning that 1980 finished 11.7% higher than 1979. At the same time, food prices declined slightly. It was also announced that the unemployment rate for December was 7.4%, down slightly from November's figure of 7.5%.

Hockey
NHL
Buffalo 3 @ New York Rangers 3
Vancouver 4 @ Winnipeg 4
Hartford 6 @ Edmonton 6
Minnesota 2 @ Colorado 4

Phil Esposito played the 1,282nd and last game of his 18-year Hall of Fame NHL career, helping the Rangers tie the Sabres at Madison Square Garden. He scored 7 goals and 13 assists in 41 games in 1980-81.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
Canada’s Top 30
1 Say You, Say Me--Lionel Richie
2 Everything in My Heart--Corey Hart
3 Small Town--John Cougar Mellencamp
4 Girls are More Fun--Ray Parker, Jr.
5 Tonight She Comes--The Cars
6 Separate Lives--Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin
7 Sleeping Bag--ZZ Top
8 It’s Only Love--Bryan Adams and Tina Turner
9 That’s What Friends are For--Dionne and Friends
10 So Far Away--Dire Straits
11 Spies Like Us--Paul McCartney
12 Alive and Kicking--Simple Minds
13 Election Day--Arcadia
14 I Miss You--Klimaxx
15 Talk to Me--Stevie Nicks
16 Broken Wings--Mr. Mister
17 Wrap Her Up--Elton John
18 Situation Critical--Platinum Blonde
19 Burning Heart--Survivor
20 When the Going Gets Tough--Billy Ocean
21 Take Me Home--Phil Collins
22 Tarzan Boy--Baltimora
23 Go Home--Stevie Wonder
24 Who’s Zoomin’ Who--Aretha Franklin
25 Cosmetics--Gowan
26 I’m Your Man--Wham!
27 My Hometown--Bruce Springsteen
28 Love is the Seventh Wave--Sting
29 Face the Face--Pete Townshend
30 Live is Life--Opus

Politics and government
British Defense Secretary Michael Heseltine, who favoured a European consortium’s plan to rescue Westland Helicopters--Britain’s only helicopter manufacturer--resigned his post in a dispute with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who favoured the deal being proposed by the American Sikorsky firm and Fiat of Italy, which Westland had accepted in principle on December 13, 1985.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Lassie--Ainbusk (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight’s episode: The Candidate

Diplomacy
Representatives from the United States and Iraq met at the Geneva Peace Conference to try to find a peaceful resolution to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

Protest
Three days of rioting in Haiti concluded with at least 70 deaths. The riots resulted from an attempted coup at the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince on January 6 that had been thwarted nine hours later by troops loyal to President Ertha Pascal Trouillot. Mobs directed their violence toward coup leader Roger Lafontant and the Tonton Macoutes, the private militia of the previous dictatorships of "Papa Doc" and "Baby Doc" Duvalier. Many were hacked to death with machetes or burned with gasoline "necklaces." President-elect Jean-Bertrand Aristide did not condemn the violence.

Education
Limited racial integration of schools in South Africa began as small numbers of black students were admitted to formerly all-white public schools. The limited integration was the result of a government plan announced in 1990 whereby white parents were given the choice of whether to open schools to children of other races. 205 of South Africa's approximately 2,000 white public schools volunteered to integrate.

Hockey
NHL
Detroit 5 Edmonton 3

10 years ago
2001

Politics and government
Linda Chavez announced her withdrawal as nominee for Secretary of Labor in the cabinet of President-elect George W. Bush. It had been revealed that she had sheltered an illegal alien from Guatemala and had given her about $1,500.

Business
The Canadian Competition Bureau approved BCE's acquisition of The Globe and Mail and related Internet properties.