June 29, 2011

210 years ago
1801

Born on this date
Frédéric Bastiat. French economist and politician. Mr. Bastiat didn't become an economic theorist until the mid-1840s, but was a classical economist responsible for the concept of opportunity cost and the parable of the broken window. His best-known book was The Law (1850), which was written shortly before his death from tuberculosis on December 24, 1850 at the age of 49. Mr. Bastiat was a member of the French National Assembly from 1848 until his death.

150 years ago
1861

Born on this date
William James Mayo. U.S. physician and surgeon. Dr. Mayo and his brother Charles were sons of William Worrall Mayo, a physician in Rochester, Minnesota. The brothers joined their father's practice, and all three worked together at Saint Mary's Hospital when it was established in 1889. They were among seven founders of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester in 1919. Dr. W.J. Mayo died of stomach cancer on July 28, 1939, 29 days after his 78th birthday.

Died on this date
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 55. U.K. poetess. Mrs. Browning achieved popularity from the 1820s through the 1840s; her collection Poems (1844) attracted the attention of writer Robert Browning. The pair met and married in 1845, and moved to Italy in 1846. Mrs. Browning suffered from poor health for most of her life, and in later years suffered from lung problems, which eventually proved fatal. Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allan Poe were among those influenced by Mrs. Browning's works, the best-known of which include Sonnet 43 ("How Do I Love Thee?") (1845) and Aurora Leigh (1856).

140 years ago
1871

Canadiana
The British Parliament granted assent to An Act respecting the establishment of Provinces in the Dominion of Canada (The British North America Act, 1871), under which Canada was permitted to establish new provinces.

Economics and finance
The Bank Act gained royal assent; it provided for a uniform banking code throughout Canada.

130 years ago
1881

World events
In Sudan, Muhammad Ahmad declared himself to be the Mahdi, the messianic redeemer of Islam.

120 years ago
1891

Transportation
Thomas Ahearn and Warren Soper (Ahearn & Soper) started operating their Ottawa Street Railway Company with four electric tram cars; it was the first streetcar service in Ottawa, and the origin of OC Transpo.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Ed Gardner. U.S. actor, director, and writer. Mr. Gardner wrote and directed several plays and radio programs in the 1930s and early '40s before achieving lasting success with the radio comedy series Duffy's Tavern (1941-1951), in which he starred as Archie, the tavern's manager. He died of liver disease on August 17, 1963 at the age of 62.

Nelson Eddy. U.S. actor and singer. Mr. Eddy appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and '40s, and was best known for eight in which he co-starred with Jeanette MacDonald, including Naughty Marietta (1935); Maytime (1937); and Sweethearts (1938). He had a recording career from the 1930s through the 1960s, and was performing at the Sans Souci Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida when he was stricken on stage with a cerebral hemorrhage, and died several hours later on March 6, 1967 at the age of 65.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Bernard Herrmann. U.S. composer and conductor. The greatest composer of music for movies was born in New York City. A successful conductor on radio broadcasts, he composed music for Orson Welles' Mercury Theater on the Air and accompanied Mr. Welles to Hollywood. Mr. Herrmann's first film score, Citizen Kane (1941), as was his score for The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941), for which he won his only Academy Award. He was nominated for Oscars for Anna and the King of Siam (1946), and for his last two films, Obsession and Taxi Driver (both 1976). He wrote all the music for Alfred Hitchcock's films from 1955-1964; his scores for Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959), and Psycho (1960) are among the most famous and influential ever written, but none were nominated for Oscars. My favourite film score is the one that Mr. Herrmann wrote for Fahrenheit 451 (1966), which was also ignored in Oscar nominations. Mr. Herrmann also wrote music for television, including a number of episodes of The Twilight Zone. He composed the opening and closing themes for the first season (1959/60) of that series, and his score for the episode titled Walking Distance (1959) is probably the best score ever written for a single episode of a television series. He died on December 24, 1975, just after completing work on Taxi Driver.

Katherine DeMille. Canadian-born U.S. actress. Miss DeMille, born Katherine Lester in Vancouver, was orphaned in childhood and adopted by movie producer and director Cecil B. DeMille. She appeared, often uncredited, in 30 movies from 1930-1956, including Madame Satan (1930); Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937); and Unconquered (1947). Miss DeMille was married to actor Anthony Quinn from 1937-1965, and died on April 27, 1995 at the age of 83.

Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. Prince consort of the Netherlands, 1948-1980. Prince Bernhard, a member of the princely House of Lippe, married the future Queen Juliana in 1937, and becams prince consort when she acceded to the throne in 1948. The couple had four children, and he fathered two illegitimate children with other women. Prince Bernhard was a member of the Nazi Party before World War II, but fought against German occupation of the Netherlands, and fled to England, serving as a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force. He co-founded the globalist Biderberg Group in 1954, and helped found the World Wildlife Fund, serving as its first president in 1961. Prince Bernhard accepted more than $1 million in bribes from the U.S. aircraft firm Lockheed Corporation in the 1970s, but escaped prosecution. Queen Juliana abdicated in 1980 in favour of their daughter Beatrix, and died on March 20, 2004. Prince Bernhard died of lung cancer just over eight months later, on December 1, 2004 at the age of 93.

70 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Ignace Jan Paderewski, 80. Prime Minister of Poland, January-November 1919; Chief of the National Council of Poland, 1939-1941. Mr. Paderewski was one of the world's most famous concert pianists, and was also a noted composer in the late 19th-early 20th century. He was a leading Polish nationalist, and served as the country's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister for most of 1919, but resigned and left Poland after losing political support. He moved to Switzerland, and eventually became leader of the Polish government-in-exile in London during the first two years of World War II.

Abominations
Romanian authorities launched one of the most violent pogroms in Jewish history in the city of Iași, resulting in the murder of at least 13,266 Jews.

Defense
Japanese Prime Minister Prince Fumimaro Konoye said in an interview in Tokyo that he "can see no reason why the Japanese and American people cannot remain friendly," and asserted that the Tripartite Pact was purely defensive. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the induction of 90,000 new men into the Army in the year beginning July 1, 1941. Former U.S. President Herbert Hoover declared that he was opposed to helping the U.S.S.R., which he described as "one of the bloodiest tyrannies...in human history."

Protest
Two people were killed and eight wounded when armed Italian Fascists clashed with opponents in Durazno, Uruguay.

Politics and government
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill named Canadian-born newspaper magnate Lord Beaverbrook as Minister of Supply in his war cabinet.

Law
A bill to permit wiretapping in order to trap spies and saboteurs was defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives 154-146.

Crime
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director J. Edgar Hoover announced that 26 men and 3 women had been arrested in the past 48 hours on charges of espionage.

Disasters
36 passengers and crew members of the cabin cruiser Don were missing after the ship exploded; it was the worst sea disaster off the coast of Maine in 50 years.

Baseball
Singling against knuckleballer Dutch Leonard and Walt Masterson of the Washington Nationals in each game of a doubleheader, Joe DiMaggio of the Yankees hit safely in his 41st and 42nd consecutive games, breaking the American League record set by George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns in 1922. The Yankees swept the twinbill 9-4 and 7-5 at Griffith Stadium in Washington.

60 years ago
1951

On the radio
The Life of Riley, starring William Bendix, on NBC Tonight's episode: The Rileys Leave for a Vacation in Brooklyn

This was the last episode of the series after a run of more than seven years. A television series starring Jackie Gleason aired in the 1949-50 season, and it was revived in 1953 with Mr. Bendix in the starring role.

At the movies
Oriental Evil, written by C. Ray Stahl, and co-directed and co-produced by Mr. Stahl and George P. Breakston, and starring Byron Michie, Martha Hyer, and Tetsu Nakamura, opened in theatres in Japan.



Died on this date
Dick Conway, 19. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Conway was a catcher with the Twin Falls Cowboys of the Class C Pioneer League, batting .277 with 11 home runs in 55 games in his first year as a professional. He became the third minor league player to die within the month when he was struck above the heart by a ball thrown during a pre-game practice at John Affleck Park in Ogden, Utah.

War
The South Korean National Assembly adopted a resolution against a cease-fire at the 38th Parallel, demanding the withdrawal of Chinese Communist troops to Manchuria and the unification of all Korea under the South Korean government.

Defense
Warning against an "ominous" buildup of Soviet-bloc military power, U.S. Defense Secretary George Marshall urged the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee to support President Harry Truman's administration's $8.5-million Mutual Security program.

Diplomacy
U.S. Ambassador to Iran Henry Grady met with Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh in an attempt to find some basis for the resumption of Iran's oil flow to world markets.

Labour
900 United Air Lines pilots ended a 10-day strike over flying time under a "truce agreement" following a government threat to seize the airline.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): Running Scared--Roy Orbison

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Runaway--Del Shannon

Space
The United States launched three satellites--Transit 4A; Solrad 3; and Injun 1 for purposes of obtaining data for a navigational gathering satellite system, solar x-rays, and cosmic rays. Solrad 3 and Injun 1 were launched together, but failed to separate.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Butterfly--Danyel Gérard

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep--Middle of the Road (4th week at #1)

Football
CFL
Pre-season
All-Star Game
CFL All-Stars 30 @ Montreal (0-1) 13

Fewer than 9,000 fans were in attendance at Autostade to see the first CFL game to be played in June. Tommy-Joe Coffey, Gary Wood, and Hugh McKinnis scored touchdowns for the All-Stars; Jack Abendschan converted all 3 and added 2 field goals and 3 singles. Sonny Wade rushed 3 yards for the Alouettes' touchdown in the 4th quarter. George Springate converted and added 2 field goals. Toronto Argonauts' running back Bill Symons was voted the game's most valuable player, earning a $500 Canada Savings Bond. Ottawa Rough Riders' receiver Hugh Oldham won a race at halftime to earn the title of the league's fastest man. The marked the end of the career for Saskatchewan Roughriders' centre Ted Urness, who had come out of retirement to replace injured teammate Ken Frith on the All-Stars' roster.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Blue Jeans Memory--Masahiko Kondō (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Stars on 45--Stars on 45 (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Medley--Stars on 45 (6th week at #1)

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Sailing Away--All of Us (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox (3rd week at #1)

Adventure
British millionaire Richard Branson set a world record for the fastest powerboat crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. The Virgin Atlantic Challenger reached the Bishop Rock off the Isles of Scilly to conclude the three-day crossing, beating by two hours the record held by SS United States since 1952.

Soccer
FIFA World Cup @ Mexico City
Final
Argentina 3 West Germany 2

Jorge Luis Burruchuga scored the winning goal in the 86th minute of play before 114,600 fans at Estadio Azteca. West Germany had tied the score just three minutes earlier.



Football
CFL
Calgary (0-2) 14 @ Saskatchewan (1-0) 28



Baseball
The Detroit Tigers split a doubleheader with the Milwaukee Brewers, winning 9-5 and losing 3-1 before 40,605 fans at Tiger Stadium. The win in the first game was the 600th for Sparky Anderson as manager of the Tigers, making him the first man in major league history to reach that figure in each major league.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): The Grease Megamix--Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)--Crystal Waters (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)--Crystal Waters

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): De Sku' Ha' No'En Bank--Brian Igen-Igen (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Senza una donna--Zucchero & Paul Young (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Auteuil, Neuilly, Passy (rap BCBG)--Les Inconnus

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Any Dream Will Do--Jason Donovan

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee La Da Da)--Crystal Waters (2nd week at #1)
2 More than Words--Extreme
3 Senza Una Donna (Without a Woman)--Zucchero & Paul Young
4 Anasthasia--T99
5 Wind of Change--Scorpions
6 The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher
7 I Wanna Sex You Up--Color Me Badd
8 No Coke--Dr. Alban
9 It Ain’t Over ‘Til it’s Over--Lenny Kravitz
10 Mooi Man--Mannenkoor Karrespoor

Singles entering the chart were Burbujas De Amor by Juan Luis Guerra y 4;40 (#23); Kozmik by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers (#29); Safe from Harm by Massive Attack (#32); Morgen Wordt Alles Anders by Bonnie St Claire (#34); and Baby Baby by Amy Grant (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Rush Rush--Paula Abdul (3rd week at #1)
2 I Wanna Sex You Up--Color Me Badd
3 Unbelievable--EMF
4 Power of Love/Love Power--Luther Vandross
5 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
6 More than Words--Extreme
7 Right Here, Right Now--Jesus Jones
8 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
9 Strike it Up--Black Box
9 Playground--Another Bad Creation

Singles entering the chart were (Everything I Do) I Do it for You by Bryan Adams (#53); Love of a Lifetime by Firehouse (#81); With You by Tony Terry (#84); Learning to Fly by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#87); Now that We Found Love by Heavy D & the Boyz (#93); Borrowed Love by Bingo Boys (#95); and Blind Faith by Warrant (#99).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Rush Rush--Paula Abdul (2nd week at #1)
2 I Wanna Sex You Up—Color Me Badd
3 Unbelievable—EMF
4 More than Words—Extreme
5 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
7 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
6 Power of Love/Love Power—Luther Vandross
8 Couple Days Off—Huey Lewis and the News
9 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
10 Here I Am (Come and Take Me)--UB40

Singles entering the chart were (Everything I Do) I Do it for You by Bryan Adams (#53); Love on a Rooftop by Desmond Child (#65); Summertime by D.J. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (#77); Sunrise by the Triplets (#80); Perfect World by Alias (#85); Too Many Walls by Cathy Dennis (#86); Just Like You by Robbie Nevil (#87); Monster by Fred Schneider (#88); and 3 A.M. Eternal by the KLF (#89).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 More than Words—Extreme (4th week at #1)
2 Love is a Wonderful Thing--Michael Bolton
3 Rush Rush—Paula Abdul
4 Couple Days Off—Huey Lewis and the News
5 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey
6 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
7 Walking in Memphis—Marc Cohn
8 Unbelievable--EMF
9 Part of You, Part of Me—Glenn Frey
10 A Better Love--Londonbeat

Singles entering the chart were Something to Talk About by Bonnie Raitt (#31); Learning to Fly by Tom Petty (#39); Every Heartbeat by Amy Grant (#59); (Everything I Do) I Do it for You by Bryan Adams (#79); Set Me in Motion by Bruce Hornsby and the Range (#83); Unforgettable by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole (#85); Never Gonna Let You Down by Surface (#87); Heat of the Night by Worrall (#88); Lay Down and Dirty by Foreigner (#91); Everybody Plays the Fool by Aaron Neville (#92); Twist My Arm by the Tragically Hip (#94); The Sound of Your Voice by 38 Special (#95); and Looking for Summer by Chris Rea (#96).

10 years ago
2001

Britannica
The British government announced that a fountain honouring the memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, would be built in London's Hyde Park.