April 24, 2011

160 years ago
1851

Politics and government
Reform Party leader George Coles was asked by Lieutenant-Governor Sir Alexander Bannerman to form a government; Prince Edward Island thus obtained responsible government.

120 years ago
1891

Died on this date
Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, 90. Prussian military officer. Graf Generalfeldmarschall Moltke had a military career that spanned almost 70 years. He modernized the Ottoman Army in the mid-late 1830s, and was Chief of the Prussian General Staff, and later the Imperial German General Staff from 1857-1888. Graf Moltke was a disciple of Carl von Clausewitz and regarded strategy as a practical art of adapting means to ends. He planned and led the successful Prussian campaigns in the Austro-Prussian War (1866) and Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). Graf Moltke died after a short illness. He's referred to as "the Elder" to distinguish him from his nephew Helmuth von Moltke, who commanded the German Army at the outbreak of World War I.

110 years ago
1901

Baseball
The Chicago White Stockings defeated the Cleveland Blues 8-2 before 9,000 fans at South Side Park in Chicago in the American League's first official game as a major league. Cleveland second baseman Erve Beck hit the AL's first major league home run off Chicago's Roy Patterson (1-0), who pitched a 7-hit complete game victory over Bill Hoffer (0-1). Three other scheduled AL openers were rained out.

100 years ago
1911

Transportation
The Canadian Pacific Railway launched the steamship Bonnington (1,700 tons) at Nakusp, British Columbia. It was retired in 1931 and dismantled in 1948.

80 years ago
1931

Died on this date
David Kldiashvili, 68. Georgian author and playwright. Mr. Kldiashvili was known for his humourous social satires in the 1890s and early 1900s about the degeneration of Georgia's gentry and the miseries of the peasantry, boldly exposing the antagonisms of Georgian society.

70 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Karin Boye, 40. Swedish authoress and poetess. Miss Boye is best known in her native Sweden for her poetry, but elsewhere she's best known for her dystopian novel Kallocain (1940). Miss Boye was a lesbian who committed suicide with an overdose of sleeping pills.

War
Heavy fighting at Thermopylae and German aerial attacks on evacuation ships continued. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill postponed a House of Commons debate on the situation in the eastern Mediterranean region until the situation was clarified.

Defense
Japanese Emperor Hirohito formally ratified the U.S.S.R.-Japan neutrality pact after it was unanimously approved by the Privy Council. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered American warships to report movements of German vessels west of Iceland, but not to fire unless fired upon. U.S. Navy Secretary Frank Knox said in a speech in New York, "We cannot allow our goods to be sunk in the Atlantic--we shall be beaten if they do." Mr. Knox said, "we must see the job through," be delivering war materials to Britain. The Mexico City newspaper Excelsior reported that the Mexican government had approved an initial expenditure of $14 million for improving the harbours on the Gulf and Pacific coasts as naval bases.

Society
Harvard University anthropologist Professor Ernest Hooton said that medical science must regenerate mankind biologically by checking human degeneration through birth control, sterlization, and euthanasia.

Economics and finance
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau urged a cut of $1 billion in ordinary expenditures by reducing agriculture, Civilian Conservation Corps, National Youth Administration, and soil conservation appropriations.

Labour
U.S. Labor Secretary Frances Perkins certified the 24-day coal strike to the National Defense Mediation Board.

Academia
The New School for Social Research of New York, popularly known as the "University in Exile," received a permanent charter from the Board of Regents.

60 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: Murderers’ Meeting, starring Jackie Cooper, Wally Cox, Sally Hester, and Mildred Natwick



Died on this date
Dennis Fielden. N.Z. military officer. Second Lieutenant Fielden was a seven-year veteran of the Royal Artillery and the Royal Air Force before joining the 1,056-man Kayforce in Korea. He was killed in the Battle of Kapyong, becoming New Zealand's first combat fatality in the Korean War.

War
Canadian troops, including Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), successfully defended the Kapyong Valley in Korea against a two-day Chinese attack, suffering 10 dead and 23 wounded. The Australians bore the brunt of the original attack and had to retreat.

Defense
The U.S. Defense Department disclosed plans to send 500-600 military advisers to Taiwan to help train Nationalist Chinese forces.

Protest
The Iraniain government announced the end of two weeks of anti-British strikes and violence in the oil city of Abadan as 17,000 workers returned to their jobs.

Politics and government
Democratic Party U.S. congressional leaders announced that the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees would hold joint hearings on the dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur from his commands and on U.S. Far Eastern policy.

Prospects of a split in the British Labour Party diminished when the left-wing Aneurin Bevan faction agreed not to oppose Prime Minister Clement Attlee's government in key votes which might cause the downfall of Mr. Attlee's cabinet.

Academia
The University of North Carolina admitted its first Negro student, Edward Diggs, who entered the medical school.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Office of Price Stabilization issued a new price control system for durale consumer goods, limiting manufacturers to pre-Korean War prices plus increases in labour and materials costs.

Disasters
A fire on an electric train in Yokohama caused 104 deaths, including 3 American soldiers.

Olympics
The U.S.S.R., which had never participated in the Olympic Games, announced the formation of a national Olympic committee and applied to compete in the 1952 Olympics.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Quince Años Tiene Mi Amor--Dúo Dinámico (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Non, je ne regrette rien--Édith Piaf (15th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Runaway--Del Shannon
2 Blue Moon--The Marcels
3 Mother-in-Law--Ernie K-Doe
4 But I Do--Clarence "Frogman" Henry
5 On the Rebound--Floyd Cramer
6 A Hundred Pounds of Clay--Gene McDaniels
7 I've Told Every Little Star--Linda Scott
8 You Can Depend on Me--Brenda Lee
9 Take Good Care of Her--Adam Wade
10 One Mint Julep--Ray Charles

Singles entering the chart were Travelin' Man by Ricky Nelson (#71); A Dollar Down by the Limeliters (#73); The Touchables in Brooklyn by Dickie Goodman (#78); (Dance the) Mess Around by Chubby Checker (#79); Peanut Butter by the Marathons (#81); That's the Way with Love by Piero Soffici (#83); What a Surprise by Johnny Maestro (#84); Lullaby of the Leaves by the Ventures (#85); The Bilbao Song by Andy Williams (#86); Tossin' and Turnin' by Bobby Lewis (#91); Better Tell Him No by the Starlets (#92); Shy Away by Jerry Fuller (#93); I'm a Fool to Care by Oscar Black (#94); Jura (I Swear I Love You) by Les Paul and Mary Ford (#95); Little Egypt (Ying-Yang) by the Coasters (#96); (A Ship Will Come) Ein Schiff Wird Kommen by Lale Anderson (#97); Won'cha Come Home, Bill Bailey by Della Reese (#98); I'm a Fool to Care by Joe Barry (#99); and Nobody Cares (About Me) by Jeanette (Baby) Washington (#100). The Touchables in Brooklyn was a "break-in" record, a comedy record featuring excerpts from recent hits, and was a sequel to Mr. Goodman's recent hit The Touchables.

Died on this date
Lee Moran, 72. U.S. actor, director and screenwriter. Mr. Moran appeared in 462 films, directed 109, and wrote for 92 from 1912-1935. He was was often paired with actor Eddie Lyons and the two made several comedic films together.

Labour
The Royal York Hotel's Hotel & Club Employees Union members walked off the job in Toronto, rejecting a contract that would give management the right to cancel shifts with just 48 hours’ notice. The strike was big news--Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas, carrying his own bags, predicted a swift victory for the union--but after a bitter 11 month strike, they accepted the original offer and went back to work on April 9, 1962.

Boxing
National Boxing Association world light heavyweight champion Harold Johnson (64-8) retained his title with a technical knockout of Von Clay (13-4-2) at 2:28 of the 2nd round at Philadelphia Arena. Mr. Clay was knocked down once in the 1st round and 3 times in the 2nd round, forcing a technical knockout under a rule that mandated a TKO if a fighter was knocked down 3 times in the same round.

Brian London (24-7) scored a technical knockout of Billy Hunter (18-9-3) in a heavyweight bout in Manchester, England when Mr. Hunter retired at the end of the 8th round.



40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): My Sweet Lord--George Harrison

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Il cuore e' uno zingaro--Nicola Di Bari (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Hot Love--T. Rex (6th week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 The Pushbike Song--The Mixtures (5th week at #1)
2 I'll Be Gone--Spectrum
3 My Sweet Lord--George Harrison
4 Knock Three Times--Dawn
5 Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson
6 Have You Ever Seen the Rain/Hey Tonight--Creedence Clearwater Revival
7 Band of Gold--Freda Payne
8 Eleanor Rigby--Zoot
9 Armstrong--Reg Lindsay
10 Your Song--Elton John

Singles entering the chart were If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lightfoot (#51); Ruby Tuesday by Melanie (#57); and Watching Scotty Grow by Bobby Goldsboro (#59).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Mozart - First Movement Symphony No. 40--Waldo De Los Rios (3rd week at #1)
2 Funny, Funny--The Sweet
3 True Love that's a Wonder--Sandy Coast
4 Du--Peter Maffray
5 Those Words--Sandra & Andres
6 What is Life--George Harrison
7 Power to the People--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
8 Underneath the Blanket Go--Gilbert O'Sullivan
9 Waarheen, Waarvoor...--Mieke Telkamp en De Hi-Five
10 Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep--Middle of the Road

Singles entering the chart were Un Banc, Un Arbre, Une Rue by Severine (#25); Hot Love by T. Rex (#26); Kleine Liefdesmelodie by De Kermis Klanten (#30); Joy to the World by Three Dog Night (#32); Ich Hab' Nur Dich by Peter Maffay (#33); Theme From Love Story by Francis Lai (#35); and Acapulco Gold by Mason-Dixon (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night (2nd week at #1)
2 What's Going On--Marvin Gaye
3 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Ocean
4 Never Can Say Goodbye--The Jackson 5
5 Another Day/Oh Woman, Oh Why--Paul McCartney
6 I Am...I Said/Done Too Soon--Neil Diamond
7 Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)--The Temptations
8 If--Bread
9 She's a Lady--Tom Jones
10 Stay Awhile--The Bells

Singles entering the chart were Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley by C Company featuring Terry Nelson (#41); I Don't Know How to Love Him by Yvonne Elliman (#80); Be Nice to Me by Runt (#84); Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On by Edwin Starr (#87); Brownsville by the Joy of Cooking (#88); House at Pooh Corner by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (#89); Ajax Liquor Store by Hudson and Landry (#90); Be My Baby by Cissy Houston (#92); I Wanna Be Free by Loretta Lynn (#94); Don't Knock My Love - Pt. I by Wilson Pickett (#96); That Evil Child by B.B. King (#98); Red Eye Blues by Red Eye (#99); and Happy by Hog Heaven (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night (2nd week at #1)
2 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Ocean
3 Never Can Say Goodbye--The Jackson 5
4 I Am...I Said--Neil Diamond
5 What’s Going On--Marvin Gaye
6 She’s a Lady--Tom Jones
7 Another Day--Paul McCartney
8 One Toke Over the Line--Brewer and Shipley
9 Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)--The Temptations
10 (Where Do I Begin) Love Story--Andy Williams

Singles entering the chart were Brown Sugar by the Rolling Stones (#53); It Don’t Come Easy by Ringo Starr (#64); Don’t Knock My Love (Part 1) by Wilson Pickett (#66); Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On by Edwin Starr (#71); The Good Book by Melanie (#82); When You’re Hot, You’re Hot by Jerry Reed (#84); Reach Out Your Hand by the Brotherhood of Man (#86); California Blues by Redwing (#88); That’s the Way by Carly Simon (#93); Be My Baby by Cissy Houston (#95); Music is Love by David Crosby (#96); Help Me Make it Through the Night by Joe Simon (#98); Michigan Harry Slaughter by Wadsworth Mansion (#99); and Brownsville by the Joy of Cooking (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night (2nd week at #1)
2 What’s Going On--Marvin Gaye
3 Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)--The Temptations
4 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Ocean
5 Another Day/Oh Woman, Oh Why--Paul McCartney
6 Never Can Say Goodbye--The Jackson 5
7 She's a Lady--Tom Jones
8 I Am...I Said--Neil Diamond
9 (Where Do I Begin) Love Story--Andy Williams
10 One Toke Over the Line--Brewer and Shipley

Singles entering the chart were It Don’t Come Easy by Ringo Starr (#78); Don't Knock My Love by Wilson Pickett (#80); Music is Love by David Crosby (#84); Nevada Fighter by Michael Nesmith & the First National Band (#86); We were Always Sweethearts by Boz Scaggs (#89); Married to a Memory by Arlene Harden (#92); Red Eye Blues by Red Eye (#96); I'll Erase Your Pain by the Whatnaughts (#97); and Can't Find the Time by Rose Colored Glass (#99).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
2 I Am...I Said--Neil Diamond
3 Carry Me--Stampeders
4 (Where Do I Begin) Love Story--Andy Williams
5 Jodie--Joey Gregorash
6 One Toke Over the Line--Brewer and Shipley
7 Another Day--Paul McCartney
8 Eighteen--Alice Cooper
9 What is Life--George Harrison
10 She’s a Lady--Tom Jones

Singles entering the chart were Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It) by Daddy Dewdrop (#73); We Can Work it Out by Stevie Wonder (#74); Going to the Country by Young (#80); Live Till You Die by Emitt Rhodes (#81); Nevada Fighter by Michael Nesmith & the First National Band (#83); Way Down Deep by Bpbby Curtola (#94);Whistling Away the Dark by Henry Mancini and his Orchestra (#96); Melting Pot by Booker T. & the M.G.’s (#98); Rock 'n Roll Lover Man by Northwest Company (#99); and Do Me Right by the Detroit Emeralds (#100). Whistling Away the Dark was from the movie Darling Lili (1970).

Calgary’s Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night (2nd week at #1)
2 I Am...I Said--Neil Diamond
3 Another Day--Paul McCartney
4 Tillicum--Syrinx
5 She’s a Lady--Tom Jones
6 Where Evil Grows--The Poppy Family
7 Snow Blind Friend--Steppenwolf
8 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Ocean
9 Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)--Daddy Dewdrop
10 A Country Boy Named Willy--Spring
Pick hit of the week: If--Bread

Space
The Soyuz 10 spacecraft, manned by Vladimir Shatalov, Aleksei Yeliseyev, and Nikolai Rukavishnikov, achieved soft docking for 5½ hours with the Soviet space station Salyut, which had been launched five days earlier, marking the first linkup between a spacecraft and a space station. The spacecraft, however, failed to achieve hard docking (full link), and returned to Earth later in the day, landing in Kazakhstan.

San Marco 3, a satellite that was a collaboration between the U.S.A. and Italy, was launched with the mission of conducting atmospheric studies.

Politics and government
David Lewis was elected leader of Canada's federal New Democratic Party, receiving 1,046 votes on the fourth ballot to 612 for runner-up James Laxer at the party's leadership convention at Ottawa Civic Centre. Mr. Lewis declared his opposition to the party's left-wing faction known as the "Waffles," of whom Mr. Laxer was regarded as the leader. Mr. Lewis, 61, replaced Tommy Douglas, who had led the party since its founding in 1961.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Montreal 6 @ Minnesota 3 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-1)

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade #1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Stop the Cavalry--Jona Lewie (4th week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce Music Theatre (8th week at #1)
2 I am the Beat--Look
3 Give Me Back My Love--Maywood
4 Spend the Night in Love--The Four Seasons
5 Here is My Love--Tommy Dee
6 Woman--John Lennon
7 Gypsy Girl--David Scobie
8 Song for You--Chicago
9 Twilight Café--Susan Fassbender
10 Rapture--Blondie

Singles entering the chart were Antmusic by Adam & the Ants (#14); Banana Republic by the Boomtown Rats (#17); and Johnny and Mary by Robert Palmer (#20).

Politics and government
The Canadian Parliament passed amendments to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's constitutional proposals; eight Liberals abstained from voting.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
St. Louis 4 @ New York Rangers 7 (New York won best-of-seven series 4-2)
New York Islanders 5 @ Edmonton 2 (New York won best-of-seven series 4-2)
Philadelphia 3 @ Calgary 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Baseball
PCL
Tacoma 11 @ Edmonton 2

Only 660 fans braved cold temperatures on a Friday afternoon at Renfrew Park to see the Tigers hammer the Trappers. Gary Holle hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 9th inning to avert a shutout.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 30 (CHED)
1 Kiss--Prince and the Revolution
2 Manic Monday--Bangles
3 R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.--John Cougar Mellencamp
4 Let's Go All the Way--Sly Fox
5 West End Girls--Pet Shop Boys
6 Eurasian Eyes--Corey Hart
7 Harlem Shuffle--Rolling Stones
8 Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)--Glass Tiger
9 Bad Boy--Miami Sound Machine
10 Tender Love--Force M.D.’s
11 Addicted to Love--Robert Palmer
12 Feel it Again--Honeymoon Suite
13 Why Can’t This Be Love--Van Halen
14 What You Need--INXS
15 She Sells Sanctuary--The Cult
16 If You Leave--Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
17 Greatest Love of All--Whitney Houston
18 Something About You--Level 42
19 Vienna Calling--Falco
20 The Power of Love--Jennifer Rush

Died on this date
Wallis Simpson, 89. U.S.-born socialite. Mrs. Simpson, born Wallis Warfield, grew up in Baltimore. She married U.S. Navy officer Win Spencer in 1916, but they were divorced in 1927. Mrs. Spencer then had an affair with married shipbroker Ernest Simpson; he divorced his wife and married Mrs. Spencer in 1928. Mrs. Spencer first met Edward, Prince of Wales in 1931, and allegedly became his mistress in 1934. Mrs. Simpson obtained a divorce from her husband in October 1936, nine months after the Prince of Wales had acceded to the throne as King Edward VIII. Widespread opposition to the suitability of Mrs. Simpson as queen consort forced the king to make a decision between the throne and his lover, and he chose the latter, abdicating in December in favour of his younger brother, who became King George VI. The former king, who had been created Duke of Windsor by his brother, and Mrs. Simpson were married in France in June 1937. The Duke of Windsor served as Governor of the Bahamas from 1940-1945, and the couple returned to France after World War II, splitting their time between France and the United States as useless socialites. The Duke of Windsor died in 1972; the Duchess spent her remaining years in Paris, growing increasingly frail and dying from dementia.

Hockey
IIHF World Championship
U.S.S.R. 7 Canada 4

NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
St. Louis 7 @ Toronto 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Edmonton 7 @ Calgary 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Joyride--Roxette (7th week at #1)

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

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
St. Louis 4 @ Minnesota 8 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Los Angeles 2 @ Edmonton 4 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Baseball
Darryl Kile of the Houston Astros pitched 6 hitless innings against the Cincinnati Reds in his first major league start. Houston manager Art Howe removed him at that point rather than risk injury to his arm. Curt Schilling finally gave up a single in the 9th inning, but the Astros edged the Reds 1-0 when pinch hitter Ken Oberkfell singled home Rafael Ramirez with 2 out in the bottom of the 13th before 10,869 fans at the Astrodome.

10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Johnny Valentine, 72. U.S. wrestler. Mr. Valentine, born John Theodore Wisniski, held numerous heavyweight titles in a professional career from 1947-1975. His career ended when he was paralyzed in a plane crash in 1975, but he remained in wrestling as a manager. Mr. Valentine suffered serious injuries when he fell off his front porch in 2000, and never recovered. He was the father of professional wrestler Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.