May 1, 2011

840 years ago
1171

Died on this date
Diarmait Mac Murchada, 60-61 (?). King of Leinster, 1126-1171. Diarmait Mac Murchada acceded to the throne of Leinster, a kingdom in Ireland, upon the death of his older brother Énna. Diarmait was the king who invited the first wave of English settlers, planted by the Norman conquest. During his reign, the indigenous Celtic Christian Church in Ireland came under the jurisdiction of the Holy See through a bull issued to the Normans by Pope Adrian IV. King Diarmait was deposed in 1167 by High King of Ireland Ruaidri Ua Conchobair (Rory O'Connor), but regained the throne with English and Welsh military support. King Diarmait was succeeded as King of Leinster by his son Domhnall Caomhánach.

280 years ago
1731

Died on this date
Johann Ludwig Bach, 54. German composer. Mr. Bach, a third cousin of Johann Sebastian Bach, was a violinist whose catalogue of 39 compositions includes 17 cantatas.

190 years ago
1821

Born on this date
Henry Ayers. U.K.-born Australian politician. Sir Henry was a carpenter when he emigrated to South Australia in 1840; he worked as a law clerk and mine manager before entering politics. He was a member of the South Australia Legislative Council from 1857-1893, and served five terms as Premier of South Australia (1863-1864, 1865, 1867-1868, October-November 1868, 1872-1873). Sir Henry died on June 11, 1897 at the age of 76.

160 years ago
1851

Britannica
Queen Victoria opened the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in London.







140 years ago
1871

Born on this date
Emiliano Chamorro Vargas. President of Nicaragua, 1917--1921, 1926. Mr. Chamorro participated in a failed coup attempt against President José Santos Zelaya in 1893, but after Mr. Zelaya was removed by a coup in 1909, Mr. Chamorro became Chairman of the Constituent Assembly and leader of the Nicaragua's Conservative Party. He helped to suppress a revolt against President Adolfo Díaz in 1911, and was rewarded by being appointed Ambassador to the United States, serving until 1916. He was elected President with American assistance, and used his term to try to pay off Nicaragua's creditors. Mr. Chamorro was defeated by Carlos José Solórzano in the 1923 presidential election, but led a successful coup against Mr. Solórzano in March 1926. However, Mr. Chamorro failed to win American support, a civil war ensued, and he was forced to resign in favour of Mr. Díaz in November 1926. Mr. Chamorro held ambassadorial posts to several European countries in later years, and died on February 26, 1966 at the age of 94.

125 years ago
1886

Baseball
Al Atkinson pitched his second career no-hitter as the Philadelphia Athletics edged the New York Metropolitans 3-2 in an American Association game at Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia.

120 years ago
1891

Baseball
The Cleveland Spiders defeated the Cincinnati Reds 12-3 in the first major league game at League Park in Cleveland before a crowd of about 9,500. Cy Young was the winning pitcher.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Heinz Eric Roemheld. U.S. composer. Mr. Roemheld was a child prodigy as a pianist, and performed in the United States and Europe, performing his scores for silent movies. He wrote music for more than 400 films, and won the Academy Award for his original score for Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942). Mr. Roemheld is perhaps best known as the composer of the song Ruby, from the movie Ruby Gentry (1952). He died of pneumonia on February 11, 1985 at the age of 83.

100 years ago
1911

Diplomacy
Philippe Ray was appointed Canadian Commissioner to France.

90 years ago
1921

Society
The Québec government took control of the sale of liquor in the province when the Alcoholic Beverages Act created the Commission des liqueurs du Québec, today's SAQ; with near universal prohibition of alcoholic beverages in North America, Québec was the only 'wet' jurisdiction on the continent for a time.

80 years ago
1931

Americana
The Empire State Building, then the world's tallest at 102 storeys, opened in New York City.



70 years ago
1941

At the movies
Citizen Kane, co-written by, directed by, and starring Orson Welles, received its premiere screening at the Palace Theatre in New York City.



War
German and Italian forces launched a major attack on the Libyan port of Tobruk, breaking through the city's outer defenses. Reports from London indicated that additional troops had been landed at Basra, Iraq over the protests of the Iraqi government. Iraqi Prime Minister Rashid Ali Beg Gallani asserted that the new arrival of British troops violated the Anglo-Iraqi treaty.

Defense
U.S. Senator Joseph Guffey (Democrat--Pennsylvania) urged that the U.S. Navy convoy merchant ships to Britain. U.S. Senator Charles Tobey (Republican--New Hampshire) claimed that "pressure" from President Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated his anti-convoy resolution; he told Mr. Roosevelt to "keep your hands off the Congress." U.S. defense bonds and stamps ranging from 10c-$10,000 went on sale at post offices and banks. The U.S. Senate passed and sent to President Roosevelt the $3,415,521,750 naval appropriations bill.

Diplomacy
Chinese Foreign Minister Dr. Kuo Tai-chi said that America, Britain, and China should form an ABC combination, pooling their economic and natural resources to crush totalitarianism.

Transportation
U.S. President Roosevelt asked Congress for funds to complete a 1,500-mile stretch of the Inter-American highway from the southern border of Mexico across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama to the Panama Canal at a cost estimated at $20 million.

Science
Dr. Robley Evans of Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported that new methods of determining geological ages indicated that life had existed on Earth much longer than previous estimates of 500 million years, and that man may be much older than the one million years now commonly accepted.

Economics and finance
The British Ministry of Economic Warfare urged the United States to boycott the Axis and freeze Axis funds in the United States.

Business
Albert W. Hawkes of Congoleum-Nairn Inc. was elected president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Labour
Workers at the Phelps-Dodge plant in Elizabeth, New Jersey voted to end their three-week strike.

60 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: No Friend Like an Old Friend, starring Judith Evelyn, Ruth Ford, and Tom Helmore

War
The 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group was sent to join United Nations forces in Korea. Chinese Communist forces halted their drive on Seoul.

Defense
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee released General Albert Wedemeyer's secret 1947 report to President Harry Truman on the Korean situation, showing that Gen. Wedemeyer had accurately forecast the invasion of South Korea by Soviet-controlled North Korean Communists.

Politics and government
Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza completed the unexpired term of the late Victor Manual Roman y Reyes and began a regular six-year term.

The pro-Indian Kashmiri government summoned a Constituent Assembly to "frame a constitution" for the state.

Two "right-wing" socialist groups in Italy merged to form the new anti-Communist Italian Socialist Party.

Protest
Iran's outlawed Tudeh Party staged a pro-Soviet demonstration in Tehran with 30,000 participants.

Law
Leonard Nicholson was appointed Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; he served until March 31, 1959.

Crime
The U.S. Senate Crime Investigating Committee issued a third interim report, accusing Ambassador to Mexico William O'Dwyer of aiding crime while Mayor of New York by failing to take effective action against top gangsters in their gambling, narcotics, waterfront, bookmaking, and murder rackets.

Americana
The American Mothers Committee of the Golden Rule Foundation named Dr. Mary Sloop, a North Carolina physician, as the American Mother of 1951.

Labour
Federal officials in the southwestern United States began a "get-tough" policy of enforcing existing regulations against hiring illegal Mexican migrant workers.

Baseball
Mickey Mantle his his first major league home run to help the New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 8-3 before 14,776 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Yogi Berra also homered for New York. Minnie Minoso, in his first game with Chicago, hit a 2-run homer in his first at bat.

Pinch hitter Lou Limmer doubled in three runs and scored himself as the Philadelphia Athletics erupted for 8 runs in the top of the 11th inning to break a 1-1 tie and defeat the Detroit Tigers 9-1 before 3,583 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.

Mickey Vernon hit a solo home run with 1 out in the top of the 13th inning to break an 8-8 tie as the Washington Nationals edged the St. Louis Browns 9-8 before 3,346 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Quince Años Tiene Mi Amor--Dúo Dinámico (7th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Et maintenant--Gilbert Bécaud

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

Singles entering the chart were That Old Black Magic by Bobby Rydell (#53); Little Devil by Neil Sedaka (#56); Hello Mary Lou by Ricky Nelson (#73); Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me of You) by Little Caesar and the Romans (#80); Buzz Buzz A-Diddle-It by Freddy Cannon (#88); Raindrops by Dee Clark (#90); Big Big World by Johnny Burnette (#92); You're Gonna Need Magic by Roy Hamilton (#93); Count Every Star by Donnie and the Dreamers (#94); Moody River by Pat Boone (#95); Halfway to Paradise by Tony Orlando (#96); A Cross Stands Alone by Jimmy Witter (#97); The Kissin' Game by Dion (#99); and Rama Lama Ding Dong by the Edsels (#100).

Abominations
Cuban dictator Fidel Castro announced that Cuba was now a socialist state and that he had banned elections.

Diplomacy
Habib Bourguiba, President of Tunisia, arrived in Ottawa to start a two-day visit to Canada.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Morning--Steve Montgomery

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): 4 marzo 1943--Lucio Dalla (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Hot Love--T. Rex (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Double Barrel--Dave and Ansel Collins

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 I'll Be Gone--Spectrum
2 Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson
3 The Pushbike Song--The Mixtures
4 What is Life/Apple Scruffs--George Harrison
5 Knock Three Times--Dawn
6 My Sweet Lord--George Harrison
7 Armstrong--Reg Lindsay
8 Have You Ever Seen the Rain/Hey Tonight--Creedence Clearwater Revival
9 Amazing Grace--Judy Collins
10 Your Song--Elton John

Singles entering the chart were Another Day by Paul McCartney (#25); and Oye Como Va by Santana (#54).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Funny, Funny--The Sweet
2 Mozart - First Movement Symphony No. 40--Waldo De Los Rios
3 True Love that's a Wonder--Sandy Coast
4 Underneath the Blanket Go--Gilbert O'Sullivan
5 Loop di Love--J. Bastós
6 Those Words--Sandra & Andres
7 Du--Peter Maffray
8 Power to the People--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
9 In Your Eyes (I Can See the Lies)--Tee-Set
10 Proud Mary--Ike & Tina Turner

Singles entering the chart were Brown Sugar by the Rolling Stones (#15); It Don't Come Easy by Ringo Starr (#20); United by Drafi (#30); Rosetta by Georgie Fame & Alan Price (#33); A Day Begins by Greenfield & Cook (#36); O Daar Heb Je Ze Weer by Jack De Nijs (#37); The Leader by Unit Gloria (#38); and I'm a Bum by the Gloomys (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night (3rd week at #1)
2 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Ocean
3 Never Can Say Goodbye--The Jackson 5
4 What's Going On--Marvin Gaye
5 I Am...I Said/Done Too Soon--Neil Diamond
6 If--Bread
7 Stay Awhile--The Bells
8 Another Day/Oh Woman, Oh Why--Paul McCartney
9 Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)--The Temptations
10 Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)--Daddy Dewdrop

Singles entering the chart were Brown Sugar by the Rolling Stones (#40); It Don't Come Easy by Ringo Starr (#49); Reach Out I’ll Be There by Diana Ross (#66); Feelin’ Alright by Grand Funk Railroad (#78); Reach Out Your Hand by the Brotherhood of Man (#80); I’m Comin’ Home by Dave Edmunds (#87); A Mama and a Papa by Ray Stevens (#88); Jumpin' Jack Flash by Johnny Winter (#89); The Drum by Bobby Sherman (#90); Music is Love by David Crosby (#95); The Electronic Magnetism (That's Heavy, Baby) by Solomon Burke (#96); and Be Good to Me Baby by Luther Ingram (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night (3rd 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 Stay Awile--The Bells
6 Another Day--Paul McCartney
7 Bridge Over Troubled Water--Aretha Franklin
8 If--Bread
9 What’s Going On--Marvin Gaye
10 We Can Work it Out--Stevie Wonder

Singles entering the chart were The Drum by Bobby Sherman (#49); Reach Out I’ll Be There by Diana Ross (#60); Nathan Jones by the Supremes (#69); I Cried by James Brown (#70); You’re My Man by Lynn Anderson (#72); I’m Comin’ Home by Dave Edmunds (#76); Feelin’ Alright by Grand Funk Railroad (#77); A Mama and a Papa by Ray Stevens (#85); House at Pooh Corner by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (#87); Hot Love by T. Rex (#88); Love's Made a Fool of You by Cochise (#92); Be Nice to Me by Runt (#95); Funky Nassau - Part I by the Beginning of the End (#97); Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian) by the Raiders (#98); and Sea Cruise by Johnny Rivers (#100).

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

Singles entering the chart were Brown Sugar by the Rolling Stones (#77); Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On by Edwin Starr (#80); The Drum by Bobby Sherman (#84); Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling in Love) by the Main Ingredient (#93); House at Pooh Corner by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (#94); Brownsville by the Joy of Cooking (#95); Ajax Liquor Store by Hudson & Landry (#96); L.A. International Airport by Susan Raye (#97); Feelin’ Alright by Grand Funk Railroad (#98); and Happy by Hog Heaven (#100).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night (2nd week at #1)
2 I Am...I Said--Neil Diamond
3 Jodie--Joey Gregorash
4 Another Day--Paul McCartney
5 One Toke Over the Line--Brewer and Shipley
6 Carry Me--Stampeders
7 Power to the People--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
8 Eighteen--Alice Cooper
9 If--Bread
10 Woodstock--Matthews’ Southern Comfort

Singles entering the chart were Brown Sugar by the Rolling Stones (#45); It Don’t Come Easy by Ringo Starr (#54); I’m Comin’ Home by Dave Edmunds (#61); Toast and Marmalade for Tea by Tin Tin (#67); Hello Mom by the Mercey Brothers (#69); Cool Aid by Paul Humphrey and his Cool Aid Chemists (#71); I Love You for All Seasons by Fuzz (#81); Baby Let Me Kiss You by King Floyd (#99); and Bridge Over Troubled Water by Aretha Franklin (#100).

Calgary’s Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Tillicum--Syrinx
2 I Am...I Said--Neil Diamond
3 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
4 Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)--Daddy Dewdrop
5 Another Day--Paul McCartney
6 A Country Boy Named Willy--Spring
7 Eighteen--Alice Cooper
8 I Play and Sing--Dawn
9 Indian Reservation--Raiders
10 Snow Blind Friend--Steppenwolf
Pick hit of the week: Garden of Ursh--Karen Young

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State William Rogers began a five-nation tour of the Middle East to evaluate chances of settling the Arab-Israeli dispute.

Transportation
The U.S. passenger railroad system Amtrak (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) went into service, combining and streamlining the operations of 18 intercity passenger railroads, linking about 300 cities.

Horse racing
Canonero II, a "dark" horse from Venezuela ridden by Gustavo Avila, won the 97th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:03 1/5. First prize money was $145,500; Canonero II, so lightly regarded that he had been placed in the mutuel field at 8-1 odds, paid $19.40 to win. Jim French, with Angel Cordero, Jr. aboard, placed second, with Bold Reason third in the 20-horse field. Unconscious, the 5-2 pre-race favourite, finished fifth.



30 years ago
1981

Hit parade #1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Stop the Cavalry--Jona Lewie (5th week at #1)

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

The only single entering the chart was Santa Maria by Alan Garrity (#20).

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce Music Theatre
2 In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins
3 Fade to Grey--Visage
4 Woman--John Lennon
5 9 to 5--Dolly Parton
6 Flash--Queen
7 Amoureux solitaires--Lio
8 Vienna--Ultravox
9 Angel of Mine--Frank Duval & Orchestra
10 Some Broken Hearts Never Mend--Telly Savalas

Singles entering the chart were Jealous Guy by Roxy Music (#11); Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz (#12); and Fremde Erde by Roy Black (#15).

On the radio
Nightfall, on CBC
Tonight's episode: Breaking Point

Personal
This blogger spent an enjoyable evening with the CPR Stockholders of Edmonton, our local Sherlock Holmes society, at the Jagerbeiz, a Swiss restaurant. Appropriately, the quiz for the occasion was on the short story The Final Problem.

Oil
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau imposed a special tax of $1.15 per barrel to pay for Petro-Canada's purchase of Petrofina.

Economics and finance
The government of Canada started the Sport Select baseball pool; it met the opposition of the provinces and major league baseball.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
Edmonton's top 30 (CHED)
1 Manic Monday--Bangles
2 Let's Go All the Way--Sly Fox
3 R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.--John Cougar Mellencamp
4 Kiss--Prince and the Revolution
5 West End Girls--Pet Shop Boys
6 Bad Boy--Miami Sound Machine
7 Harlem Shuffle--Rolling Stones
8 Addicted to Love--Robert Palmer
9 Tender Love--Force M.D.’s
10 Why Can’t This Be Love--Van Halen
11 If You Leave--Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
12 Greatest Love of All--Whitney Houston
13 Eurasian Eyes--Corey Hart
14 Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)--Glass Tiger
15 She Sells Sanctuary--The Cult
16 Something About You--Level 42
17 The Power of Love--Jennifer Rush
18 Vienna Calling--Falco
19 Feel it Again--Honeymoon Suite
20 Your Love--Outfield
21 Live to Tell--Madonna
22 What Have You Done for Me Lately--Janet Jackson
23 All I Need is a Miracle--Mike & the Mechanics
24 A Good Heart--Feargal Sharkey
25 Is it Love--Mr. Mister
26 What You Need--INXS
27 On My Own--Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald
28 Angel in My Pocket--One to One
29 Move Away--Culture Club
30 April Fool--Chalk Circle

Died on this date
Hugo Peretti, 69. U.S. songwriter and record producer. Mr. Peretti and his cousin Luigi Creatore formed the duo Hugo & Luigi, who produced records for artists such as Jimmie Rodgers, Perry Como, and Sam Cooke. Among the songs they helped write was Can't Help Falling in Love, a major hit for Elvis Presley in late 1961-early 1962.

Labour
Shirley Carr became the first female head of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, replacing Dennis McDermott as CUPE leader.

Hockey
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
New York Rangers 1 @ Montreal 2 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Joyride--Roxette (8th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight’s episode: The House That Jack Built

Died on this date
Richard Thorpe, 95. U.S. movie director. Mr. Thorpe, born Rollo Thorpe, directed more than 180 movies in a career running from the early 1920s through 1967. His films included Night Must Fall (1937); The Thin Man Goes Home (1945); and Jailhouse Rock (1957).

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
Pittsburgh 3 @ Boston 6 (Boston led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Baseball
Nolan Ryan, 44, pitched his seventh and last major league no-hitter as the Texas Rangers blanked the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 before 33,439 fans at Arlington Stadium.



Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics broke Lou Brock's major league career record, stealing his 939th base in a 7-4 win over the New York Yankees before 36,139 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mr. Brock was in attendance to salute Mr. Henderson.

Willie Randolph singled home Jim Gantner with 2 out in the bottom of the 19th inning to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 10-9 win over the Chicago White Sox before 13,973 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Mr. Randolph had just 2 hits in 9 at bats, but his first hit had been a single to score Bill Spiers with the tying run with 2 out in the 15th as the Brewers rallied for 3 runs after the White Sox had scored 3 runs in the top half of the inning to take a 9-6 lead.

10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Chandra Levy, 24. U.S. civil servant. Miss Levy was a federal government intern who went missing in Washington, D.C. She was having an affair with Representative Gary Condit (Democrat--California), which led to his being widely suspected in her disappearance. Due to police incompetence, Miss Levy's remains weren't discovered until May 2002, when they were discovered in Rock Creek Park. Ingmar Guandique, a Salvadoran who was in prison serving sentences for assaulting two women in Rock Creek Park, was convicted in 2010 of Miss Levy's murder and sentenced in February 2011 to 60 years in prison.