March 14, 2011

220 years ago
1791

Canadiana
The Constitutional Act received Royal Assent in London. The act divided Canada into two parts, Lower and Upper; each province was to have an Executive Council crown appointed--Lower Canada to have no fewer than fifteen members and Upper Canada no fewer than seven members--and each was to have a Legislative Assembly, the members for Lower Canada to be no less than fifty and for Upper Canada to be no less than sixteen. The act granted one-seventh of the crown lands in each province "for the support and maintenance of a Protestant clergy within the same." The Act was proclaimed at Quebec on November 18, 1791, and went into effect on December 26.

200 years ago
1811

Died on this date
Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, 75. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1768-1770. The Duke of Grafton, the son of a Royal Navy officer, was a Whig who represented the pocket boroughs of Boroughbridge (1756) and Bury St Edmunds (1756-1757) in the House of Commons before being elevated to the House of Lords upon the death of his grandfather in 1757. He was Northern Secretary (1765-1766) and First Lord of the Treasury (1766-1767) before succeeding the Earl of Chatham as Prime Minister. The Duke of Grafton was criticized for his handling of foreign affairs, particularly for allowing France to annex Corsica in 1769. He was just 34 when he resigned in 1770 in favour of Lord North, and served as Lord Privy Seal (1771-1775, 1782-1783).

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Sid Atkinson. S.A. athlete. Mr. Atkinson was a hurdler and long jumper who won a silver medal in the men's 110-metre hurdles at the 1924 Summer Olympic Games in Paris and a gold medal in the same event at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. He died on August 31, 1977 at the age of 76.

80 years ago
1931

At the movies
India's first sound film, Alam Ara, directed by Ardeshir Irani, and starring Master Vithal, Zubeida, Prithviraj, and Jilloobai, opened in theatres in India.

75 years ago
1936

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Harry West, on MBS
Tonight’s episode: The Resident Patient

70 years ago
1941

War
1,100 people were dead and 1,050 injured after a two-day German bombing attack on Clydesdale, England.

Defense
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that Sir Arthur Salter would go to the United States to discuss urgent shipping needs to transport Lend-Lease material. The U.S. House of Representatives passed and sent to the Senate the $3,446,685,144 Navy supply bill for 1942. Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced a new dive bomber for the U.S. Navy that was said to exceed the German Stuka in performance.

Diplomacy
Representatives of Chile and Argentina began conferences in Santiago to determine their boundaries in the Antarctic.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Bureau of Internal Revenue began a test action to determine whether the federal government had the right to tax income from state and municipal securities.

Labour
American Federation of Labor President William Green said that he supported the U.S. government's plan of an 11-member board to mediate strikes in defense industries; Congress of Industrial Organizations President Philip Murray described the plan as detrimental to labour. Pennsylvania Governor Arthur James ordered state police to protect workers who would remove finished defense goods at a strike-bound Vanadium Steel Corporation plant in Bridgeville.

60 years ago
1951

War
United Nations troops recaptured Seoul for the second time and shifted their front lines northward almost to the 38th Parallel on the heels of a general Communist retreat.

Politics and government
The seven-week Dutch cabinet crisis, which had begun with a dispute over Dutch policy in New Guinea, ended when Willem Drees resumed office as Prime Minister, leading a coalition cabinet.

The National Party of Suriname (NPS), led by Archibald Currie, won 13 of 21 seats in the Estates in the Surinamese general election. The United Hindustani Party, led by Jagernath Lachmon, took 6 seats, and the Party for National Unity and Solidarity won the remaining 2 seats. The Progressive Party, which was larger than the NPS, boycotted the election.

Crime
Columbia University physics instructor William Perl was arrested in New York on perjury charge resulting from his denial that he knew accused Soviet spies Julius Rosenberg and Morton Sobell.

Science
Harvard University mathematical physicist Julian Schwinger and Professor Kurt Goedel, mathematical logician at Princeton University's Institute for Advanced Study, received the first $15,000 Albert Einstein Awards for achievement in the natural sciences.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Seemann--Lolita (9th week at #1)

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, hosted by John Newland, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Face, starring Sean Kelly, John Bown, and Andrew Faulds



Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Horse Player, starring Claude Rains and Ed Gardner

This episode was directed by Mr. Hitchcock.

Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Trio for Terror, starring John Abbott, Reginald Owen, and Robin Hughes



Academia
Massey College, a centre for graduate studies at the University of Toronto, was founded. Robertson Davies was appointed Master.

Disasters
A USAF B-52 bomber crashed near Yuba City, California whilst carrying nuclear weapons. The eight-man crew ejected safely, and the four onboard nuclear weapons were released, but didn't detonate because their safety devices worked.



40 years ago
1971

Golf
Arnold Palmer won the Florida Citrus Invitation tournament in Orlando, with first prize money of $30,000.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 5 @ Pittsburgh 1

Ken Dryden, who had been called up to the Canadiens from the Montreal Voyageurs of the American Hockey League a week earlier, stopped 35 shots in his NHL debut at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Montreal goals were scored by Peter Mahovlich (his 32nd of the season); J.C. Tremblay (10); Henri Richard (11); Marc Tardif (18); and Frank Mahovlich (his 25th of the season and 11th since being traded to the Canadiens from the Detroit Red Wings six weeks earlier). Rookie John Stewart, with his first NHL goal, scored for the Penguins at 18:01 of the 2nd period, becoming the first NHL player to score on Mr. Dryden. Al Smith also faced 36 shots in goal for the Penguins. The game was the regular Sunday NHL broadcast on CBC radio, and I tuned in after it had started, wondering who the Montreal goalie was. I knew there was a goalie named Dryden with the Buffalo Sabres, but I didn't know who this other one was, nor did I know at the time that this was his first NHL game.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Woman in Love--Barbra Streisand (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Stars on 45--Stars on 45 (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce Music Theatre (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Jealous Guy--Roxy Music

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Jealous Guy--Roxy Music

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Stars on 45--Stars on 45 (4th week at #1)
2 Embarrassment--Madness
3 Rock this Town--Stray Cats
4 In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins
5 Imagine--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
6 Don't Stop the Music--Yarbrough & Peoples
7 All American Girls--Sister Sledge
8 Shine Up--Doris D and the Pins
9 Amoureux Solitaires/Dis Moi que Tu M'aimes--Lio
10 It's a Love Thing--The Whispers

Singles entering the chart were Distant Love by Maywood (#25); Houtochdiekop by Dingetje (#27); Vienna by Ultravox (#28); Schoolgirl by Steve Forbert (#34); Woman by John Lennon (#37); and Something About You Baby I Like by Status Quo (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
2 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
3 Woman--John Lennon
4 The Best of Times--Styx
5 I Love a Rainy Night--Eddie Rabbitt
6 Crying--Don McLean
7 Rapture--Blondie
8 The Winner Takes it All--ABBA
9 Hello Again--Neil Diamond
10 Celebration--Kool & The Gang

Singles entering the chart were Her Town Too by James Taylor and J.D. Souther (#38); Time Out of Mind by Steely Dan (#70); Me (Without You) by Andy Gibb (#72); Lonely Together by Barry Manilow (#79); Right Away by Hawks (#81); Limelight by Rush (#83); 96 Tears by Garland Jeffreys (#86); I Loved 'em Every One by T.G. Sheppard (#87); and Memories by Tierra (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Woman--John Lennon
2 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
3 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
4 Rapture--Blondie
5 The Best of Times--Styx
6 Celebration--Kool & The Gang
7 I Love a Rainy Night--Eddie Rabbitt
8 Crying--Don McLean
9 Hello Again--Neil Diamond
10 Treat Me Right--Pat Benatar

Singles entering the chart were Her Town Too by James Taylor and J.D. Souther (#39); Time Out of Mind by Steely Dan (#60); Me (Without You) by Andy Gibb (#83); Limelight by Rush (#86); I Missed Again by Phil Collins (#88); Lonely Together by Barry Manilow (#89); Where's Your Angel? by Lani Hall (#98); and I Have the Skill by the Sherbs (#99).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 9 to 5--Dolly Parton (4th week at #1)
2 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
3 Woman--John Lennon
4 Celebration--Kool & The Gang
5 I Love a Rainy Night--Eddie Rabbitt
6 The Best of Times--Styx
7 Rapture--Blondie
8 Hello Again--Neil Diamond
9 The Tide is High--Blondie
10 Crying--Don McLean

Singles entering the chart were Her Town Too by James Taylor and J.D. Souther (#36); Time Out of Mind by Steely Dan (#55); Hold on Loosely by 38 Special (#76); Ch Ch Cherie by the Johnny Average Band featuring Nikki Wills (#78); Walking on Thin Ice by Yoko Ono (#79); Running Scared by the Fools (#81); Lonely Together by Barry Manilow (#88); Me (Without You) by Andy Gibb (#89); Hold On by Badfinger (#94); and It's My Job by Jimmy Buffett (#95).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Woman--John Lennon
2 The Best of Times--Styx
3 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
4 The Tide is High--Blondie
5 Celebration--Kool & The Gang
6 Ah! Leah!--Donnie Iris
7 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
8 Hey Nineteen--Steely Dan
9 Turn Me Loose--Loverboy
10 A Little in Love--Cliff Richard

Singles entering the chart were Shaddap You Face by Joe Dolce (#39); I Can’t Stand It by Eric Clapton and his Band (#43); Kiss on My List by Daryl Hall and John Oates (#45); and Angel of the Morning by Juice Newton (#49).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Keep on Loving You--REO Speedwagon
2 Woman--John Lennon
3 Turn Me Loose--Loverboy
4 A Little in Love--Cliff Richard
5 The Best of Times--Styx
6 Rapture--Blondie
7 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
8 Crying--Don McLean
9 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
10 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood

Singles entering the chart were Rapture; While You See a Chance; What Kind of Fool by Barbra Streisand (Duet with Barry Gibb) (#12); Morning Train (Nine to Five) by Sheena Easton (#13); Living in a Fantasy by Leo Sayer (#15); Somebody's Knockin' by Terri Gibbs (#20); Hello Again by Neil Diamond (#22); and Ain't Even Done with the Night by John Cougar (#28).

Terrorism
The three Pakistani political dissidents who had hijacked a Pakistani jetliner to Kabul, Afghanistan on March 2 surrendered when 55 Pakistani political prisoners whose release the hijackers had demanded landed in Aleppo, Syria.

Hockey
NHL
Buffalo 1 @ Vancouver 2

25 years ago
1986

Environment
The U.S. National Academy of Sciences reported that the burning of coal, gasoline, and other fossil fuels was definitely linked to the acid rain that fell in eastern North America and killed fish and possibly trees.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the index of prices paid by producers for finished goods had declined 1.6% in February, the largest monthly fall since the index had come into use in 1947.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Do the Bartman--The Simpsons (8th week at #1)

Died on this date
Doc Pomus, 65. U.S. songwriter. Mr. Pomus, born Jerome Solon Felder, and his partner Mort Shuman were one of the most successful songwriting teams who worked at the Brill Building in New York City in the 1950s and '60s, writing such hits as A Teenager in Love; Save The Last Dance For Me; Hushabye; This Magic Moment; Little Sister; Can't Get Used to Losing You; Suspicion; Surrender; and (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame.

Howard Ashman, 40. U.S. playwright and songwriter. Mr. Ashman was best known for his collaboration with Alen Menken on songs from Disney animated films. They won Academy Awards for Best Original Song for Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid, 1989) and Beauty and the Beast (Beauty and the Beast, 1991). Mr. Ashman was a sodomite who died of AIDS.

Weather
It was warm enough in Edmonton for this blogger to wear shorts outdoors.

World events
Two weeks after the end of the Gulf War, Emir Shaikh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir as-Sabah of Kuwait returned to his country. He was criticized for taking so long to return.

Terrorism
The Birmingham Six were freed after serving 16 years in prison when the U.K. High Court quashed their convictions. The six men had been convicted for the 1974 bombings by the Irish Republican Army of two pubs. 21 people had been killed and over 100 injured in the bombings.

Crime
12 days after the beating of Rodney King, four members of the Los Angeles Police department were indicted by a grand jury. U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh said that the Justice Department would review other cases of alleged police brutality.

Figure skating
Kurt Browning of Canada won his third consecutive men’s world championship, at Olympiahalle in Munich. Viktor Petrenko of the U.S.S.R. was in first place after the short program, but Mr. Browning put on a brilliant performance in the long program to overtake him. The ice dance competition was won by Isabel and Paul Duchesnay from Alymer, Quebec, skating for France.







10 years ago
2001

Protest
Hundreds of tractors and other farm vehicles headed for downtown Ottawa as part of the National Day of Action, a Canada-wide protest to back demands for more financial support for farmers. The federal government of Prime Minister Jean Chretien had offered a $500-million aid package, but farmers said it was not nearly enough to keep them going.