May 27, 2011

80 years ago
1931

Baseball
Will Harridge was named president of the American League, succeeding E.S. Barnard.

75 years ago
1936

Transportation
The British ocean liner Queen Mary left England on its maiden voyage, arriving in France four hours later.

70 years ago
1941

War
British ships sank the German battleship Bismarck off the coast of France, resulting in the loss of 2,300 lives. German forces captured the Cretan capital of Canea.



Defense
A Japanese official said in a Tokyo radio broadcast that Japan had 500 warships and 4,000 naval planes in fighting order. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed that "an unlimited national emergency confronts this country, which requires that its military, naval, air and civilian defenses be put on the basis of readiness to repel any and all acts or threats of aggression directed toward any part of the Western Hemisphere." Mr. Roosevelt reasserted the doctrine of freedom of the seas, and asked Congress for additional appropriations of over $3.3 billion for aircraft construction.

Economics and finance
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill extending for two years President Roosevelt's power to operate the $2-billion Exchange Stabilization Fund and to alter the gold content of the dollar.

Labour
American Federation of Labor President William Green denounced the San Francisco shipyard strike.

Chess
U.S. champion Samuel Reshevsky retained his title with two games remaining by drawing the 14th game with Israel Horowitz in New York.

60 years ago
1951

On the radio
Mr. Moto, starring James Monks, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Smoke Screen

Defense
U.S. Civil Defense Administrator Millard Caldwell said that he doubted that the Air Force could stop even 30% of the planes in a Soviet bomber attack on the United States.

Politics and government
The second round of voting in the Austrian presidential election resulted in the election of Socialist Party candidate and Mayor of Vienna Theodor Körner, who took 52.06% of the vote to 47.94% for Austrian People's Party candidate Heinrich Gleißner. The first round of voting on May 6 had resulted in Mr. Gleißner leading with 40.14% to 39.15% for Mr. Körner.

Economics and finance
International Monetary Fund directors in Washington urged that member states act at once to promote "relaxation or removal" of trade restrictions.

Labour
The U.S. National Farm Labor Union charged that police in the California towns of Brawley, Calexico, and El Centro were rounding up illegal Mexican immigrants and escorting them through picket lines to work on Imperial Valley farms, where workers were striking for a 60c hourly wage increase.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Runaway--Del Shannon (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Where the Boys Are--Connie Francis (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Wheels (Vier Schimmel, ein Wagen)--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra

#1 single in the Netherlands (Dutch Top 40): Wheels--The String-A-Longs (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Surrender--Elvis Presley; Runaway--Del Shannon

1 Mother-in-Law--Ernie K-Doe (3rd week at #1)
2 Runaway--Del Shannon
3 A Hundred Pounds of Clay--Gene McDaniels
4 Daddy’s Home--Shep and the Limelites
5 Breakin’ in a Brand New Broken Heart--Connie Francis
6 Running Scared--Roy Orbison
7 Mama Said--The Shirelles
8 Travelin’ Man--Ricky Nelson
9 I Feel So Bad--Elvis Presley
10 Hello Mary Lou--Ricky Nelson

Singles entering the chart were Every Beat of My Heart by the Pips (#70); The Writing on the Wall by Adam Wade (#72); Bring Back Your Heart by the Del Vikings (#83); Anna by Jorgen Ingmann & his Guitar (#87); Dance on Little Girl by Paul Anka (#92); Rainin’ in My Heart by Slim Harpo (#93); Miss Fine by the New Yorkers (#94); Son-in-Law, with versions by the Blossoms; and Louise Brown (#98); Ring of Fire by Duane Eddy (#99); I’m Gonna Knock on Your Door by Eddie Hodges (#100); Quarter to Three by U.S. Bonds (also #100); and Yellow Bird by Arthur Lyman Group (also #100). Every Beat of My Heart, released on Vee-Jay Records and credited to the Pips, also appeared on the Fury label, credited to Gladys Knight and the Pips; that version was listed with the other version, but was not charted. Son-in-Law is listed as having versions by the Blossoms and Louise Brown, but the two are actually different songs with the same title. Both are presumably responses to Mother-in-Law. The version of Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me of You) by Nino and the Ebb Tides was listed with the version by Little Caesar and the Romans at #51, but not charted.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Moody River--Pat Boone (2nd week at #1)
2 Little Devil--Neil Sedaka
3 Everyday--Bobby Lee
4 Barbara-Ann--The Regents
5 Louisiana Mama--Gene Pitney
6 Hello Walls--Faron Young
7 Triangle--Janie Grant
8 Travelin' Man/Hello Mary Lou--Ricky Nelson
9 How Many Tears--Bobby Vee
10 Indian Giver--Annette

Singles entering the chart were I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door by Eddie Hodges (#23); Dance on Little Girl by Paul Anka (#35); Sacred by the Castells (#39); Temptation by the Everly Brothers (#42); You Always Hurt the One You Love by Clarence Henry (#45); Book of Love by Bobby Bare (#46); Wishbone by Donnie Brooks (#47); Be My Boy by the Paris Sisters (#49); and Respectable by the Chants (#50).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 Moody River--Pat Boone
2 Travelin' Man/Hello Mary Lou--Ricky Nelson
3 Everyday--Bobby Lee
4 Louisiana Mama--Gene Pitney
5 Little Devil--Neil Sedaka
6 I Feel So Bad/Wild in the Country--Elvis Presley
7 She Wears My Ring--Jimmy Bell
8 Indian Giver--Annette
9 Hello Walls--Faron Young
10 Barbara-Ann--The Regents

Singles entering the chart were Love Hurts by Roy Orbison (#19, charting with its A-side, Running Scared); Ronnie by Marcy Joe (#27); The Battle's O'er by Andy Stewart (#28); Jimmy Love by Cathy Carroll (#30); Dance on Little Girl by Paul Anka (#33); I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door by Eddie Hodges (#36); Girl of My Best Friend by Ral Donner (#37); What a Surprise by Johnny Maestro (#39); and Temptation by the Everly Brothers (#40).

On television tonight
The Roaring 20's, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Million Dollar Suit

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Les rois mages--Sheila (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Chips Rafferty, 62. Australian actor. Mr. Rafferty, born John Goffage, worked at various jobs before becoming an actor, embodying the typical Australian in movies such as Forty Thousand Horsemen (1940) and The Overlanders (1946). He died of a heart attack.

25 years ago
1986

Died on this date
Ajoy Mukherjee, 85. Indian politician. Mr. Mukherjee was a member of the Indian National Congress Party, and later joined the Banga Congress. He represented Tamlu in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly (1951-1977), and served three terms as Chief Minister of West Bengal (March-November 1967, 1969-1970, April-June 1971).

Popular culture
Dragon Quest, the game credited as setting the template for role-playing video games, was released in Japan.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Please--Shizuka Kudo

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Sweet Soul Music--London Boys

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Joyride--Roxette (8th week at #1)

Baseball
In a Pacific Coast League game at Civic Stadium in Portland, Vancouver Canadians’ right fielder Rodney McCray became an instant celebrity when he crashed through the plywood right field wall while attempting to catch a drive off the bat of the Beavers’ Chip Hale.

10 years ago
2001

Auto racing
Helio Castroneves won the Indianapolis 500 for the first time.