April 21, 2011

175 years ago
1836

War
Republic of Texas forces under Sam Houston defeated Mexican troops led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna in the Battle of San Jacinto, assuring Texas' independence.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Leonard Warren. U.S. singer. Mr. Warren, born Leonard Warenoff, was an operatic baritone who began performing with the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1938, and enjoyed a performing and recording career through the 1950s. He was best known for performing the works of Giuseppe Verdi, especially Rigoletto. Mr. Warren was in the middle of a performance of La forza del destino when he collapsed with a heart attack and died on stage on March 4, 1960 at the age of 48.

70 years ago
1941

War
German forces claimed to have destroyed five British troop transports in seas off Greece. British battleships shelled Tripoli for 40 minutes at daybreak. Bishop Henry Hobson, head of the U.S. Fight for Freedom Committee, said that the United States should send troops to Europe to defeat Germany if they were needed.

Defense
Japanese newspapers reported that the U.S.A., U.K., China, India, Australia, and the Netherlands East Indies had concluded a secret military and naval pact to strengthen their Far east defenses and to oppose Japanese expansion southward.

Diplomacy
Ankara radio announced that King Peter II of Yugoslavia had arrived in Jersualem by plane.

Politics and government
Emmanouil Tsouderos became Prime Minister of Greece, and promised a "fight to the end."

General Isaias Medina Angarita and Romulo Gallegos, candidates for the Venezuelan presidency, agreed to drop their election campaigns and let the Congress choose between them.

Texas Governor W. Lee O'Daniel appointed Andrew Jackson Houston, 86, son of General Sam Houston, to serve in the United States Senate until June 28, 1941, when a successor would be elected to fill the remainder of the term of Morris Sheppard, who had died on April 9, 1941. Mr. Houston was a Democrat.

Economics and finance
U.S. Treasury officials presented their recommendations to the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee for raising $3.6 billion in additional revenues in 1942.

Labour
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appealed to soft coal operators and the United Mine Workers of America to reopen mines closed since April 1, 1941.

60 years ago
1951

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)--Paul Weston and his Orchestra with the Norman Luboff Choir (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford (Best Seller--1st week at #1); If--Perry Como (Disc Jockey--8th week at #1; Jukebox--4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Mockin’ Bird Hill--Les Paul and Mary Ford
--Patti Page
2 Be My Love--Mario Lanza
3 If--Perry Como
4 Aba Daba Honeymoon--Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter
5 Beautiful Brown Eyes--Rosemary Clooney
6 Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)--Patti Page
7 My Heart Cries for You--Guy Mitchell
--Dinah Shore
--Vic Damone
--Jimmy Wakely
8 Sparrow in the Tree Top--Guy Mitchell
--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
9 Bring Back the Thrill--Eddie Fisher
10 You’re Just in Love--Perry Como

Singles entering the chart were The Loveliest Night of the Year by Mario Lanza (#27); Never Been Kissed by Freddy Martin and his Orchestra (#32); Pretty Eyed Baby (#34), with versions by Jo Stafford and Frankie Laine; and Al Trace and his Orchestra with Lola Ameche; and Metro Polka by Frankie Laine (#37).

At the movies
My Forbidden Past, directed by Robert Stevenson, and starring Robert Mitchum, Ava Gardner, Melvyn Douglas, and Janis Carter, opened in theatres.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 2 @ Toronto 3 (OT) (Toronto won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Bill Barilko scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Maple Leafs at 2:53 of overtime at Maple Leaf Gardens. The photo of the puck going past Montreal goalie Gerry McNeil is one of the most famous in hockey history. Tragically, it turned out to be Mr. Barilko’s last game. He was killed in a plane crash while on a fishing trip in Ontario that summer, and his remains weren’t discovered until 1962, the next year that the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup. The team retired his jersey number 5.



Basketball
NBA
Finals
New York 75 @ Rochester 79 (Rochester won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Bob Davies sank two free throws for the winning points as the Royals defeated the Knickerbockers before 4,200 fans at Edgerton Park Arena to win their first--and, so far, only--NBA championship. Rochester had won the first three games of the series, but New York had come back to win the next three to force a seventh game. Mr. Davies scored 20 points, while Arnie Risen led the Royals with 24. Max Zaslofsky and Vince Boryla each scored 16 for New York. The Royals later became the Cincinnati Royals; Kansas City-Omaha Kings; Kansas City Kings; and Sacramento Kings.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Are You Sure--The Allisons (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: The Rip Van Winkle Caper, starring Oscar Beregi, Simon Oakland, Lew Gallo, and John Mitchum

World events
Retired French Army Generals Maurice Challe (former commander-in-chief in French Algeria), Edmond Jouhaud (former Inspector General of the French Air Force), André Zeller (former Chief of staff of the French Army) and Raoul Salan (former commander-in-chief in French Algeria) initiated the generals' putsch, an attempted coup d'état intended to force French President Charles de Gaulle not to abandon French Algeria.

Politics and government
U.S. President John F. Kennedy addressed various issues in a news conference at U.S. State Department headquarters in Washington.



40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Hot Love--T. Rex (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier, 64. President of Haiti, 1957-1971. Dr. Duvalier was a physician who was appointed Director General of the National Public Health Service in 1946 and was Minister of Health and Labour (1949-1950). He was elected President on a populist platform in 1957, appealing to the majority black rural population who resented the mulatto elite, but quickly became a dictator. Dr. Duvalier suffered a heart attack in 1959 and was comatose for nine hours, which may have had effects that influenced his future behaviour. He called a presidential election in 1961 in violation of the 1957 constitution, and became "President for Life" as the result of a rigged 1964 referendum. Dr. Duvalier was repsonsible for the murder of as many as 60,000 political opponents, and had difficult relations with foreign countries. He revived the traditions of Vodou to aid his cult of personality, identifying himself with Jesus Christ and God. Dr. Duvalier died a week after his 64th birthday after suffering his second stroke in five months and was succeeded by his 19-year-old son, Jean-Claude, nicknamed "Baby Doc."

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Baltimore 88 @ Milwaukee 98 (Milwaukee led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Lew Alcindor scored 31 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, while Oscar Robertson added 22 points for the Bucks as they beat the Bullets before 10,746 fans at Milwaukee Arena. Earl Monroe led Baltimore scorers with 26 points.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Chain Reaction--Diana Ross

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Si Tú Eres Mi Hombre y Yo Tu Mujer (The Power of Love)--Jennifer Rush (3rd week at #1)

Politics and government
The Liberal Party, led by Joe Ghiz, took 21 of 32 seats in the legislature in the Prince Edward Island provincial election, ending the seven-year government of the Progressive Conservatives under Premier James Lee. The Liberals took 50.4% of the vote to 45.6% for the Progressive Conservatives, who won the remaining 11 seats.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Montreal 4 @ Hartford 1 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Washington 6 @ New York Rangers 3 (Washington led best-of-seven series 2-1)

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Trippin'--Push Push (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Joyride--Roxette (3rd week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Joyride--Roxette (4th week at #1)
2 No Coke--Dr. Alban
3 Secret Love--Bee Gees
4 Blue Hotel--Chris Isaak
5 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C & C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
6 Should I Stay or Should I Go--The Clash
7 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa
8 Crazy--Seal
9 Sister Soul & Mr. Beat--Beat 4 Feet featuring Kim Cooper
10 Kränk di net--Jazz Gitti & her Disco Killers

Singles entering the chart were Bussi, Bussi by Andy & Bernd (#25); and Highwire by the Rolling Stones (#27).

Politics and government
Canadian Liberal Party leader Jean Chrétien urged a Canadian constitutional referendum in early 1992; he suggested giving a veto to four regions - Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario and the West - and the allocation of power to the government that could handle it best.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Boston 3 @ Montreal 2 (Boston led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Pittsburgh 3 @ Washington 1 (Pittsburgh led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Football
CFL
The Toronto Argonauts signed Universty of Notre Dame receiver and kick returner Raghib "Rocket" Ismail to a contract for $18.2 million over four years. Mr. Ismail was expected to be the number one choice in the upcoming National Football League draft.