June 30, 2011

360 years ago
1651

War
The Battle of Berestechko between forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Ukrainian Cossacks in what is now part of Ukraine concluded with a Polish victory.

150 years ago
1861

Canadiana
Prince Alfred continued his tour, returning to Quebec after a visit to Niagara Falls, Hamilton, Toronto, and Montreal.

140 years ago
1871

Business
The Sun Mutual Life Insurance Company of Montreal, incorporated in 1865, started operations.

125 years ago
1886

Transportation
Artillery, church bells, brass bands and locomotive whistles celebrated the arrival of the Pacific Express from Montréal in Winnipeg, en route to Calgary, Alberta and Port Moody, British Columbia. The Canadian Pacific Railway's first through passenger train to the Pacific coast left Montreal on June 28.

Politics and government
Premier William Wilfred Sullivan led his Conservative Party to a fifth consecutive majority government in the Prince Edward Island provincial election. The Conservatives took 18 of the 30 seats in the House of Assembly, with the Liberals winning the other 12. The Liberals gained 3 seats, and the Conservatives lost 3.

120 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Man Mountain Dean. U.S. wrestler. Mr. Dean, born Frank Simmons Leavitt, wrestled professionally in the 1920s and '30s, eventually growing a long, full beard and adopting his ring name. He was one of the first professional wrestlers to emphasize showmanship as part of his persona. Mr. Dean died of a heart attack at the age of 61 on May 29, 1953.

Ed "Strangler" Lewis. U.S. wrestler. Mr. Lewis, born Robert Herman Julius Friedrich, won the world heavyweight championship six times in a professional career that spanned 40 years. He died on August 8, 1966 at the age of 75.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Czesław Miłosz. Polish writer. Mr. Miłosz wrote poetry and prose, and was awarded the 1980 Nobel Prize in Literature. He died on August 14, 2004 at the age of 93.

90 years ago
1921

Law
William Howard Taft, President of the United States from 1909-1913, was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States by President Warren G. Harding.

75 years ago
1936

Literature
The novel Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell was published by Macmillan.

Diplomacy
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia appealed to the League of Nations for aid against Italy's invasion of his country.

Labour
The Canadian Department of National Defence ceased administering federal and provincial work-camps; DND had performed this duty since May 1, 1933.

70 years ago
1941

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square--Vera Lynn; West End Players (2nd month at #1)

At the movies
Panggilan Darah (Call of Blood), starring Dhalia and Soerip, received its premiere screening at the Orion Theatre in Batavia, Dutch East Indies.

Died on this date
Aleksander Tõnisson, 66. Estonian military commander. Kindralmajor (Major General) Tõnisson was a commander of Estonian forces during Estonia's war of independence against the U.S.S.R. in 1940. He was arrested by Soviet authorities and eventually executed.

Yefim Fomin, 32. U.S.S.R. politician. Mr. Fomin was a Communist commissar who participated in the defense of Brest Fortress against the invasion of German forces from June 22-30, 1941. When the Germans finally overcame the resistance, Mr. Fomin was identified as a Jew and a Communist, and was immediately shot.

War
The German command announced the capture of Lwow--capital of western Ukraine--and Libau on the Latvian coast. German columns were reportedly encircling Minsk. U.S.S.R. dictator Josef Stalin was named chairman of a Russian Defense Council "to accelerate mobilization." The Canadian government of Prime Minister Mackenzie King government introduced Bill 80 in the House of Commons, sanctioning his promise not to bring in conscription for overseas service; it passed on July 23, 1941 by a vote of 141-45. U.S. Navy Secretary Frank Knox told the conference of U.S. state governors in Boston that "the time to use our navy to clear the Atlantic of the German menace is at hand...Now is the time to strike." Chinese Foreign Minister Dr. Kuo Tai-Chi stated in Chungking that China would not consider any "specious offer of peace terms or a negotiated peace" which would involve the sacrifice of her "essential rights and interests."

Americana
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated a library in Hyde Park, New York, containing six million items bearing his name, and housing his private papers.

Diplomacy
The Vichy French government severed diplomatic relations with the U.S.S.R.

Mexican Ambassador to the U.S.A. Francisco Catillo Najera presented U.S. Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles with a cheque for $1 million as partial payment of the claims of American citizens whose property in Mexico had been expropriated since 1927.

Argentina rejected Uruguay's proposal that any American republic engaged in a foreign war be regarded as a non-belligerent.

Politics and government
The New York City Board of Higher Education voted unanimously to dismiss John Kenneth Ackley, suspended City College of New York registrar, who, five days earlier, had been convicted of Communist activity and interference with the state's Rapp-Coudert Committee. The trial committee of the Board had recommended Mr. Ackley's dismissal.

Crime
Two American Federation of Labor Teamsters union officials and five alleged racketeers were arrested in New York on charges of extorting $2.5 million from trucking concerns and wholesale milk dealers.

60 years ago
1951

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Too Young--Nat "King" Cole (2nd week at #1)
2 How High the Moon--Les Paul and Mary Ford
3 On Top of Old Smoky--The Weavers and Terry Gilkyson
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
4 Jezebel--Frankie Laine
5 Sound Off (The Duckworth Chant)--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
6 My Truly, Truly Fair--Guy Mitchell
--Vic Damone
7 Mockin’ Bird Hill--Les Paul and Mary Ford
8 Mister and Mississippi--Patti Page
–-Dennis Day
9 Rose, Rose, I Love You--Frankie Laine
10 The Loveliest Night of the Year--Mario Lanza

Singles entering the chart were What is a Boy by Jan Peerce (#25); My Life's Desire, with versions by Vic Damone and Doris Day (#30); Lonely Little Robin by the Pinetoppers (#37); There's a Big Blue Cloud (Next to Heaven) by Perry Como (#38); and I'm a Fool to Want You by Frank Sinatra (#40). Vic Damone's version of My Life's Desire was the B-side of My Truly, Truly Fair.

At the movies
Strangers on a Train, this blogger's favourite Alfred Hitchcock film and one of the greatest suspense thrillers ever made, opened in theatres.



Theatre
The Playhouse in the Park, the first municipally owned and operated summer theatre-in-the round, opened in Philadelphia.

War
On instruction from the U.S. National Security Council, General Matthew Ridgway broadcast a message stting his readiness to begin truce negotiations with North Korean and Chinese Communist representatives.

World events
Argentina announced the arrest of two retired Army officers and 11 civilians for an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Juan Peron.

Refugees from Romania reported the deportation of all members of Yugoslavian ethnic groups from villages within 30 miles of the Yugoslavian border.

Politics and government
Socialists from 21 countries meeting in Frankfurt, West Germany established a new Socialist International.

The Young Republican National Federation ended a three-day meeting in Boston after rejecting a proposal by U.S. Senator Karl Mundt (Republican--South Dakota) for a coalition of Republicans and Southern Democrats opposed to President Harry Truman.

Economics and finance
The U.S. dollar ceased to be legal tender in Cuba as the Cuban peso, valued at par with the dollar, became the country's sole monetary unit.

Labour
U.S. President Truman signed a bill extending wage, price, and rent controls for one month but banning price rollbacks.

The U.S. Congress completed work on a compsomise bill authorizing the Labor Department to recruit Mexicans for work on U.S. farms.

Disasters
A United Air Lines DC-6 crashed in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, killing 50 passengers.

Baseball
The Cleveland Indians released pitcher Johnny Vander Meer, ending his 13-year major league career. He spent his first 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, and was best known for pitching two consecutive no-hitters in 1938. Mr. Vander Meer's final major league game was on May 7, 1951 with the Indians, when he allowed 8 hits and 6 runs--all earned--in 3 innings in his only appearance in a Cleveland uniform, taking a loss.

The Boston Braves scored 8 runs in the 7th inning and 7 in the 8th to beat the New York Giants 19-7 at Braves Field before 10,812 fans at Braves Field. Earl Torgeson led the Boston attack, hitting a grand slam in the 7th inning and a 3-run home run in the 8th. Vern Bickford (9-7) was the winning pitcher over Sal Maglie (12-4). Spider Jorgensen flied out as a pinch hitter for New York in the 8th in the 267th and last game of his 5-year major league career.

The Brooklyn Dodgers scored 3 innings in each of the 2nd and 3rd innings and 7 in the 4th as they beat the Philadelphia Phillies 14-8 before 8,096 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Runaway--Del Shannon (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Lawless Years, starring James Gregory, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Miles Miller Story

Died on this date
Lee de Forest, 87. U.S. inventor. Mr. de Forest held over 180 patents, but was best known for his 1906 invention of the audion vacuum tube, the first practical amplification device. He was involved in several patent lawsuits, and spent much of his income and time in litigation. Mr. de Forest died several years after suffering a severe heart attack. For more on him, see Ken Burns' television documentary Empire of the Air: The Men who Made Radio (1992), and read the companion book of the same title by Tom Lewis.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep--Middle of the Road (2nd week at #1)

At the movies
Carnal Knowledge, directed by Mike Nichols, and starring Jack Nicholson, Candice Bergen, Art Garfunkel, and Ann-Margret, opened in theatres in the U.S.A.



Died on this date
Herbert Biberman, 71. U.S. director and screenwriter. Mr. Biberman directed movies such as Meet Nero Wolfe (1936); When Tomorrow Comes (1939); and The Master Race (1954), writing the screenplay for the latter. He was one of the Hollywood Ten directors and screenwriters who were cited for contempt of Congress in 1947 for their refusal to answer questions regarding their involvement with the Communist Party, and were blacklisted by Hollywood as a result. Mr. Biberman directed Salt of the Earth (1954), which was filmed independently in Mexico, employing other blacklistees. He died of bone cancer.

Georgy Dobrovolsky, 43; Victor Patsayev, 38; Vladislav Volkov, 35. U.S.S.R. cosmonauts. The crew of Soyuz 11, Mr. Dobrovolsky (Commander), Mr. Volkov (Flight Engineer), and Mr. Patsayev (Test Engineer) were returning from a 23-day flight, which had set a record for endurance in space. The mission had been a success, and the re-entry and landing appeared to be uneventful, but the crew were dead when the recovery team arrived and opened the capsule at 1:35 A.M. Moscow time. A breathing ventilation valve had been jolted open as the descent module had separated from the service module, causing a loss of air pressure that had proved fatal within seconds. The cosmonauts had not been wearing pressure suits. It was the Soviet Union's greatest space disaster involving cosmonauts.



Politics and government
Allan Blakeney was sworn in as Premier of Saskatchewan, eight days after leading his New Democratic Party to victory over the incumbent Liberal government of Premier Ross Thatcher in the provincial election.

The ratification process for the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution was completed as North Carolina became the 38th state to ratify the amendment, which reads:

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Journalism
The U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 to uphold The New York Times' right to publish the "Pentagon Papers," a classified study of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam from 1945-1967.

30 years ago
1981

Labour
Canada Post workers started a 42-day strike.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Addicted to Love--Robert Palmer (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Conga--Miami Sound Machine

Society
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bowers v. Hardwick that states can outlaw homosexual acts between consenting adults.

Baseball
Bo Jackson, winner of the Heisman Trophy in 1985 as the most outstanding college football player in the United States, played his first game of professional baseball, batting 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts with the Memphis Chicks of the AA Southern League.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Are You Ready?--AC/DC

#1 single in Switzerland: Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)--De La Soul (2nd week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher (3rd week at #1)
2 Wind of Change--Scorpions
3 The One and Only--Chesney Hawkes
4 Bobby Brown--Frank Zappa
5 Jesus Loves You--Bow Down Mister
6 Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee La Da Da)--Crystal Waters
7 Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)--Roxette
8 Secret Love--Bee Gees
9 Last Train to Trancentral--The KLF
10 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa

Singles entering the chart were Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee La Da Da); Just a Groove by Nomad (#29); and Touch Me (All Night Long) by Cathy Dennis (#30).

10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Chet Atkins, 77. U.S. musician. Mr. Atkins was a country singer-songwriter who played several instruments, but was primarily known for his guitar skills in a career spanning more than 50 years. He was a producer with RCA Records from the late 1940s through the early '70s, and helped to create the "Nashville sound," a smoother-sounding country music that broadened the appeal of country music. Mr. Atkins became frustrated with RCA's reluctance to let him branch into jazz as a performer, and left the label for Columbia Records in 1982. He won 14 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993. Mr. Atkins died after a long bout with colon cancer.

Joe Henderson, 64. U.S. musician. Mr. Henderson was a jazz tenor saxophonist and composer who performed on his own and with numerous other musicians in a career spanning more than 40 years. He was a heavy smoker, and died of emphysema.

Politics and government
The government of Quebec agreed to a multi-million dollar compensation deal for about 1,500 "Duplessis orphans" who had suffered physical and psychological abuse in church-run institutions in the 1940s and '50s; each received about $25,000 in compensation.