August 1, 2011

720 years ago
1291

Europeana
The Old Swiss Confederacy was formed with the signature of the Federal Charter.

440 years ago
1571

War
The Ottoman conquest of Cyprus concluded with the surrender of Famagusta.

210 years ago
1801

War
The American schooner USS Enterprise captured the Tripolitan polacca Tripoli in a single-ship action off the coast of modern-day Libya.

120 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Karl Kobelt. President of the Swiss Confederation, 1946, 1952. Mr. Kobelt, a member of the Free Democratic Party, was a member of the Swiss Federal Council (1940-1954), and was also in charge of the Military Department during his time as President. He died on January 5, 1968 at the age of 76.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Francisco Guilledo, aka Pancho Villa. Filipino boxer. Mr. Guilledo fought under the name Pancho Villa and won the world flyweight title by knocking out Jimmy Wilde in the 7th round on June 18, 1923. He still held the title at the time of his death on July 14, 1925, 18 days before his 24th birthday, resulting from infection after having several teeth removed. Mr. Villa compiled a professional record of 89-8-4-2. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Jackie Ormes. U.S. journalist and cartoonist. Mrs. Ormes, born Zelda Mavin Jackson, was a journalist with the Pittsburgh Courier and later the Chicago Defender, but was better known as the first Negro female cartoonist in the U.S.A., writing and drawing the comic strip Torchy Brown (1937-1954) and comic panel Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger (1945-1956). She died from a cerebral hemorrhage on December 26, 1985 at the age of 74.

Died on this date
Samuel Arza Davenport, 77. U.S. politician and journalist. Mr. Davenport, a lawyer by profession, was owner and publisher of the Erie Gazette (1865-1890). A Republican, he represented Pennsylvania's at-large district in the U.S. House of Representatives (1897-1901).

Aviation
Harriet Quimby took her pilot's test and became the first American woman to earn an Aero Club of America aviator's certificate.

75 years ago
1936

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Harry West, on MBS
Tonight’s episode: The Lion's Mane

Olympics
The Summer Olympic Games opened in Berlin, with German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler in attendance.



70 years ago
1941

Economics and finance
In Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, wartime rationing forced the Prince Albert Restaurant Association to raise coffee prices from 5¢ per cup to 6¢ per cup.

60 years ago
1951

On the radio
Pete Kelly's Blues, starring Jack Webb, on NBC

Theatre
Le Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM) was founded in Montreal by comedians Jean-Louis Roux, Jean Gascon , Guy Hoffmann, Georges Groulx, Robert Gadouas, and Éloi de Grandmont. The evening of the premiere, l'Avare by Molière was presented in a production by Jean Gascon.

War
In response to Communist demands for the restoration of the 38th Parallel as the demarcation line in Korea, U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson said that the United States wanted a truce line on the present front, which it considered "defensible."

World events
The Western Allies began a "little airlift" of freight cargoes from West Berlin to West Germany to thwart Communist control of land shipments of through the Soviet zone.

Diplomacy
The United Kingdom demanded in the United Nations Security Council that Egypt end its "unjustified" and "increasingly abusive" blockade of shipments to Israel through the Suez Canal.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman named Atlantic Fleet Commander Admiral William Fechteler to succeed the late Adm. Forrest Sherman as Chief of Naval Operations. President Truman established an independent Defense Materials Procurement Agency to supervise the stockpiling of strategic materials.

The British Supply Ministry reported that atomic weapons were now under construction in Britain, but refused to disclose whether any had been completed.

Politics and government
Uruguay's two major political groups, the Colorado and Nationalist Parties, agreed to abolish the presidential system of government in favour of a nine-man federal council based on the Swiss model.

Journalism
French Morocco lifted press censorship, which had been in place since 1939.

Health
The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee condemned the use of chemicals to make bread softer and more attractive, urging a ban on the addition of non-nutritive ingredients to food.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Truman formally proclaimed the suspension of trade concessions to the U.S.S.R. and all Soviet bloc states in Europe and the Far East.

Boxing
Former world heavyweight champion Joe Louis (65-2) won a unanimous 10-round decision over Cesar Brion (32-6) at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California. It was the second decision Mr. Louis had won over Mr. Brion in just over eight months.



50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Hello Mary Lou/Travelin' Man--Ricky Nelson (4th week at #1)

Born on this date
John Mandarich. Canadian football player. Mr. Mandarich played for the Edmonton Eskimos from 1984-1989 and the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1990. After a few games at offensive tackle, he was moved to defensive tackle, where he spent the balance of his career. Mr. Mandarich never won all-star recognition, but played in the Grey Cups of 1986 and 1987, earning a championship ring in 1987. He was nicknamed "Juice" because he was widely acknowledged to be "juiced up" while he played. Mr. Mandarich was cut by the Rough Riders after the pre-season of 1991. He soon developed cancer, and lost his battle against the disease early in 1993 at the age of 31.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Ottawa (3-1) 22 @ British Columbia (2-2) 14
Saskatchewan (0-2) 7 Calgary (1-2) 14 @ Spokane

40 years ago
1971

Died on this date
Johnny McDermott, 79. U.S. golfer. Mr. McDermott turned professional in 1908, and the Philadelphia native became the first American-born golfer to win the U.S. Open, winning it in 1911 and 1912. He was 19 when he won in 1911, and remains the youngest to win the tournament, while his 1912 U.S. Open win marked the first time a golfer was able to break par over 72 holes in a significant event. Mr. McDermott won five more tournaments through 1913, and in 1914 attempted to play in the British Open, but was delayed by travel difficulties, and arrived too late to play. On the return voyage aboard the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II, the ship collided with an English grain carrier in fog in the English Channel and was forced to return to port. There were no fatalities and the passengers made the trip aboard another ship the next day, but the incident, combined with other concerns such as failed investments, apparently so upset Mr. McDermott that he had a mental breakdown shortly afterward, and never recovered, spending the rest of his life in and out of mental hospitals. He attended the 1971 U.S. Open near Philadelphia, six weeks before his death from heart failure, 11 days before his 80th birthday, and a day after playing nine holes at Valley Forge Golf Club.

Jim Maloney, 68. U.S. boxer. Mr. Maloney was a heavyweight who compiled a professional record of 51-18-2 from 1924-1934. He had four fights against future world champion Jack Sharkey (1924-1927), losing three. Mr. Maloney was a fish peddler during his boxing career, and later worked as a referee and boxing instructor.

Space
Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and Jim Irwin discovered the "Genesis Rock," thought to date from the origin of the moon.

Music
George Harrison and several other prominent musicians staged The Concert for Bangladesh, which attracted 40,000 people to two shows at Madison Square Garden in New York.



30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Enola Gay--OMD (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Only Crying--Keith Marshall (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: The Streets of New York--Wolfe Tones (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need this Pressure On)--Spandau Ballet

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Green Door--Shakin' Stevens

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Strada del sole--Rainhard Fendrich
2 Stars on 45--Stars on 45
3 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
4 Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)--Ottawan
5 Agadou--Saragossa Band
6 Video Life--Bilgeri
7 Consuela Biaz--Boney M.
8 This Ole House--Shakin' Stevens
9 Maledetta primavera--Loretta Goggi
10 Sarà perché ti amo--Ricchi & Poveri

Singles entering the chart were Strada del sole; Maledetta primavera; Sarà perché ti amo; All Those Years Ago by George Harrison (#14); and No me hables by Juan Pardo (#17).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 One Day in Your Life--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)
2 Caribbean Disco Show--Lobo
3 Rio--Maywood
4 Going Back to My Roots--Odyssey
5 More Stars--Stars on 45
6 Chequered Love--Kim Wilde
7 Only Crying--Keith Marshall
8 You Drive Me Crazy--Shakin' Stevens
9 A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)--Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio
10 How 'bout Us--Champaign

Singles entering the chart were De Nederlandse Sterre Die Strale Overal! by Rubberen Robbie (#14); Wordy Rappinghood by Tom Tom Club (#20); Hold on Tight by Electric Light Orchestra (#23); Ghost Town by the Specials (#28); There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis by Kirsty MacColl (#30); Une Chambre Pour la Nuit by Pussycat (#36); and Amor de Mis Amores (Que Nadie Sepa Mis Sufrir) by Julio Iglesias (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Jessie's Girl--Rick Springfield
2 The One that You Love--Air Supply
3 Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe it or Not)--Joey Scarbury
4 I Don't Need You--Kenny Rogers
5 Elvira--The Oak Ridge Boys
6 Slow Hand--Pointer Sisters
7 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
8 Boy from New York City--The Manhattan Transfer
9 Hearts--Marty Balin
10 Queen of Hearts--Juice Newton

Singles entering the chart were I Could Never Miss You (More than I Do) by Lulu (#71); A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#82); Tempted by Squeeze (#83); The Sensitive Kind by Santana (#85); We Can Get Together by Icehouse (#86); and We're in this Love Together by Al Jarreau (#88).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Elvira--The Oak Ridge Boys
2 Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe it or Not)--Joey Scarbury
3 Jessie's Girl--Rick Springfield
4 The One that You Love—Air Supply
5 I Don't Need You--Kenny Rogers
6 Slow Hand--Pointer Sisters
7 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
8 You Make My Dreams--Daryl Hall & John Oates
9 Boy from New York City--The Manhattan Transfer
10 Hearts--Marty Balin

Singles entering the chart were I Could Never Miss You (More than I Do) by Lulu (#77); The Sensitive Kind by Santana (#86); Straight from the Heart by the Allman Brothers Band (#87); We're in this Love Together by Al Jarreau (#89); and Secrets by Mac Davis (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Jessie's Girl--Rick Springfield
2 Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe it or Not)--Joey Scarbury
3 The One that You Love--Air Supply
4 Elvira--The Oak Ridge Boys
5 I Don't Need You--Kenny Rogers
6 Slow Hand--Pointer Sisters
7 Queen of Hearts--Juice Newton
8 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
9 Boy from New York City--The Manhattan Transfer
10 Hearts--Marty Balin

Singles entering the chart were For Your Eyes Only by Sheena Easton (#69); Heavy Metal (Takin' a Ride) by Don Felder (#73); Chloe by Elton John (#76); I Could Never Miss You (More than I Do) by Lulu (#85); Straight from the Heart by the Allman Brothers Band (#86); We're in this Love Together by Al Jarreau (#87); She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked) by Carl Carlton (#88); The Sensitive Kind by Santana (#89); You Don't Know Me by Mickey Gilley (#90); and Just Be My Lady by Larry Graham (#95).

Canada’s top 10 (RPM)
RPM didn't publish from July 11-August 22, 1981 because of a postal strike.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Gemini Dream--The Moody Blues (3rd week at #1)
2 Boy from New York City--The Manhattan Transfer
3 A Life of Illusion--Joe Walsh
4 Jessie's Girl--Rick Springfield
5 In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins
6 Arc of a Diver--Steve Winwood
7 Slow Hand--Pointer Sisters
8 You Make My Dreams--Daryl Hall & John Oates
9 Hearts--Marty Balin
10 The One that You Love--Air Supply

Singles entering the chart were Stop Draggin' My Heart Around by Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) (#22); Lady (You Bring Me Up) by the Commodores (#25); Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe it or Not) by Joey Scarbury (#26); Queen of Hearts by Juice Newton (#28); and Hold on Tight by Electric Light Orchestra (#30).

Died on this date
Paddy Chayefsky, 58. U.S. writer. Sidney Aaron Chayefsky wrote novels and plays, but was primarily known for his work in television and cinema. He was one of the most renowned dramatists in the "Golden Age of Television" in the 1950s, with his best known work being Marty (1953). Mr. Chayefsky was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning for his screenplays for Marty (1955); The Hospital (1971); and Network (1976). He died of cancer.

Kevin Lynch, 25. U.K. criminal. Mr. Lynch was a member of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) in Northern Ireland who was sentenced to 10 years in Maze Prison in December 1977 for stealing shotguns, taking part in a punishment shooting, and conspiring to take arms from the security forces. Mr. Lynch was one of several prisoners taking part in a hunger strike, and died on the 71st day of his hunger strike.

Television
MTV began broadcasting in the United States at 12:01 A.M. The first video shown was Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (3-2) 5 @ Edmonton (4-1) 41

Jim Germany became the first Eskimo to score 4 touchdowns in a game; he scored all his touchdowns on the ground as he rushed for 75 yards in the game at Commonwealth Stadium.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Lessons in Love--Level 42 (4th week at #1)

At the movies
Howard the Duck, one of the biggest turkeys of the 1980s, opened in theatres. Newspaper ads for the movie said that you could phone 1-900-410-DUCK for 85c per call plus tolls to hear a message from Howard the Duck, with a new message every day.



Football
CFL
Winnipeg (3-2) 37 @ Montreal (1-4) 10
Toronto (4-2) 35 @ Edmonton (4-1) 34

Tom Clements quarterbacked the Blue Bombers to touchdowns on their first two possessions as they beat the Alouettes before 14,127 fans at Olympic Stadium.

A single from a missed field goal attempt by Lance Chomyc on the final play of the game gave the Argonauts the win over the Eskimos before 38,674 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. A dull first half saw Toronto ahead 12-6, but the Eskimos took the lead when Stephen Jones returned Mr. Chomyc's second-half kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown, converted by Tom Dixon (Edmonton play-by-play broadcaster Bryan Hall was late coming back from a commercial break at the end of halftime and missed calling the play). Chris Skinner scored 2 touchdowns for the Eskimos, while Toronto quarterback Condredge Holloway connected with rookie slotback Darrell K. Smith for 2 touchdowns. Former Eskimo Chris Woods made his only Edmonton appearance as an Argonaut an impressive one, catching 6 passes for 159 yards. The CFL Players' Association hadn't officially approved the introduction of overtime for regular season games in 1986, so it wasn't sure if the teams would have played two 5-minute overtime periods, but Hector Pothier of the Eskimos told me that they probably would have.



Baseball
Bert Blyleven pitched a 2-hitter and set a club record for a single game with 15 strikeouts to become the 15th pitcher in major league history to record 3,000 career strikeouts as the Minnesota Twins beat the Oakland Athletics 10-1 before 14,855 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. Kirby Puckett hit for the cycle for the Twins.



The Baltimore Orioles scored 5 runs in the 6th inning as they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-3 before 34,370 fans at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto.

Don Mattingly hit a 2-run home run with 1 out in the 9th inning to break a 3-3 tie and give the New York Yankees a 5-3 win and a split of their twi-night doubleheader with the Cleveland Indians before 64,934 fans at Cleveland Stadium. The Indians won the opener 4-3.

Pete O'Brien hit a home run in each game to help the Texas Rangers sweep a twi-night doubleheader over the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2 and 8-6 before 19,482 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

Dwight Gooden and Roger McDowell combined for a 5-hitter as the New York Mets defeated the Montreal Expos 3-1 before 47,883 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Mr. Gooden allowed 4 hits and 1 earned run in 5 innings, striking out 7, as he improved his record for the season to 11-4.

Jeff Stone hit a solo home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs before 25,892 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

The Los Angeles Dodgers scored all their runs in the first 3 innings as they beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-5 before 46,078 fans at Dodger Stadium. Greg Brock hit a grand slam to climax a 5-run 1st inning for the Dodgers.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Chris Short, 53. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Short played with the Philadelphia Phillies (1959-1972) and Milwaukee Brewers (1973), compiling a record of 135-132 with an earned run average of 3.43 in 501 games. He was at his best from 1964-1968, winning 20 games in 1966. Mr. Short suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm in November 1988, and remained in a coma until his death.

Football
CFL
Toronto (3-1) 41 @ British Columbia (3-1) 52 (OT)

Ray Ethridge's 94-yard kickoff return for a B.C. touchdown in overtime was the key play in an exciting game before a capacity crowd at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.





10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Korey Stringer, 27. U.S. football player. Mr. Stringer played offensive tackle at Ohio State University (1992-1994), earning All-American honours in his last season. He played 93 games with the Minnesota Vikings (1995-2000), and was selected to play in the Pro Bowl in his final season. Mr. Stringer stood 6' 4" and weighed 336 pounds when he showed up to the Vikings' training camp late in July 2001, and experienced difficulty in practice, brought on by the extremely hot weather the team was practicing in. He died shortly after practice from multiple organ failure resulting from heat stroke. Mr. Stringer's death resulted in drastic changes in how professional and amateur teams deal with heat-related illness.



Crime
Scotland Yard police were investigating claims by a 13-year-old boy in London that he had been kept prisoner in his home for eight years.