August 5, 2011

330 years ago
1681

Baptized on this date
Vitus Bering. Danish explorer. Commander Bering was a cartographer served in the Russian Navy and led the First Kamchatka Expedition (1725-1731), which explored the Asian Pacific Coast, and the Great Northern Expedition (1733-1743), which explored the Arctic coast of Siberia and parts of the North American coastline. He died of scurvy on December 30, 1741 at the age of 60 on an uninhabited island, later named in his honour, near the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Bering Strait and Bering Sea are among the things named in Commander Bering's honour.

230 years ago
1781

War
The naval Battle of Dogger Bank took place between Dutch forces commanded by Vice Admiral Johan Zoutman and a British squadron led by Vice Admiral Sir Hyde Parker. It was tactically indecisive but a strategic British victory.

200 years ago
1811

Born on this date
Ambroise Thomas. French composer. Mr. Thomas wrote orchestral, chamber, and ballet music, keyboard and vocal works, but was best known for his more than 20 operas, particularly Mignon (1866) and Hamlet (1868). He was appointed as a professor at the Conservatoire de Paris in 1856, and was its director from 1871 until his death on February 12, 1896 at the age of 84.

150 years ago
1861

Economics and finance
In order to help pay for the war effort, the United States government levied the first income tax as part of the Revenue Act of 1861: 3% of all incomes over U.S.$800. It was rescinded in 1872.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Claude Autant-Lara. French film director and politician. Mr. Autant-Lara directed at least 40 movies from 1923-1977, including Buster se Marie (1931); Les sept péchés capitaux (The Seven Deadly Sins) (1952); and Le joueur (The Gambler) (1958). He was elected to the European Parliament in July 1989 as a candidate for the National Front, but resigned his seat less than two months later, after giving an interview in which he expressed anti-Semitic sentiments. Mr. Autant-Lara died on February 5, 2000 at the age of 98.

Died on this date
Victoria, Princess Royal, 60. U.K. Royal Family member and Empress of Germany. Victoria, the eldest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, was the wife of German Kaiser Frederick III and the mother of Wilhelm II. She died of breast cancer, less than seven months after the death of her mother.

Track and field
Peter O'Connor set the first IAAF recognised long jump world record of 24 feet 11¾ inches (7.6137 metres), a record that stood for 20 years.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Robert Taylor. U.S. actor. Born Spangler Arlington Brugh in Nebraska, Mr. Taylor had early success as a romantic lead in such movies as Magnificent Obsession (1935) and Camille (1937), and achieved later success in historical epics such as Quo Vadis (1951) and Ivanhoe (1952). This blogger’s favourite Robert Taylor movies include Johnny Eager (1942); Conspirator (1949); Tip on a Dead Jockey (1957); Saddle the Wind (1958); and The Night Walker (1964). His fine speaking voice was well suited to radio; his best-known performance on this medium was probably in the Suspense episode The House in Cypress Canyon (1946). Mr. Taylor was an anti-Communist back in the good old days when there were a few of those in Hollywood. He died of lung cancer on June 8, 1969 at the age of 57.

90 years ago
1921

On the radio
The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh as KDKA in Pittsburgh became the first station to broadcast a baseball game. Harold Arlin was the announcer.

Died on this date
Dimitrios Rallis, 76-77. Prime Minister of Greece, 1897, 1903, 1905, 1909, 1920-1921. Mr. Rallis was the son of the Chief Justice of the Greek Supreme Court and the father of two Prime Ministers. He served five brief terms as Prime Minister; his last government authorized the plebiscite that saw the return of King Constantine I to the throne. Mr. Rallis died of cancer.

Baseball
Ray Rohwer, Tony Brottem, and Jimmy Zinn hit consecutive run-scoring singles with 1 out in the bottom of the 8th inning for the Pirates as they broke a 5-5 tie and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 in the game broadcast from Forbes Field in Pittsburgh on KDKA. Mr. Zinn (5-4) allowed 6 hits and 1 run--unearned--in 6 innings of relief to get the win, batting 2 for 3 with a double. Jimmy Ring (8-12) allowed 10 hits and 8 earned run in a complete game loss.

80 years ago
1931

Baseball
Jim Bottomley had 4 hits for the St. Louis Cardinals as they lost 5-4 in 12 innings to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of a doubleheader before 12,000 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, and then batted 6 for 6 with a double, 2 runs, and 3 runs batted in as the Cardinals won the second game 16-2. The Pirates won the opener when pinch hitter Jim Mosolf drew a bases-loaded walk from Jim Lindsey (3-2) to score George Grantham with none out in the bottom of the 12th. Mr. Lindsey had been brought into the game after starter Flint Rhem was ejected by home plate umpire Ernie Quigley for arguing his call on the first pitch of the inning. Larry French (11-8) pitched a 12-hit complete game victory. Bill Hallahan (12-8) pitched a 7-hit complete game victory for St. Louis in the second game, but struck out for the first and second outs of an 8-run 5th inning for the Cardinals, who outhit the Pirates 35-18 in the doubleheader.

Vince Barton singled home Footsie Blair with 1 out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 7,500 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Lon Warneke (1-3) pitched an 8-hit complete game and batted 2 for 4 with a double and a run batted in in his first major league win.

70 years ago
1941

War
The Battle of Smolensk concluded with Germany capturing about 300,000 Soviet Red Army prisoners. A Japanese Army spokesman said that several Japanese and Soviet border troops had exchanged shots near Manchuli about two weeks earlier after the Soviets had crossed into Manchukuo.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. established relations with the exiled governments of Norway and Greece in London.

Dispatches from Ankara stated that the United Kingdom had warned the government of Afghanistan against permitting German tourists into the country and urged that those already there be expelled.

Defense
Both houses of the United States Congress accepted and sent to President Franklin D. Roosevelt a conference-approved bill deferring the drafting of men aged 28 or over and permitting 28-year-old draftees to resign. The U.S. Senate defeated Senator Robert Taft's (Republican--Ohio) amendment extending Army service for draftees to a total of 18 months, instead of 30 months, as desired by the Roosevelt administration.

Politics and government
South Carolina Governor Burnet Maybank appointed Roger Peace (Democrat) to serve in the United States Senate until November 4, 1941, succeeding Alva Lumpkin (Democrat), who had died on August 1. Mr. Peace was not a candidate in the subsequent election to fill the seat.

Radio
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission issued a proposed order prohibiting anyone from owning more than one radio station in the same area.

Economics and finance
U.S. Price Control Administrator Leon Henderson told a House of Representatives committee that higher prices were inevitable and that the nation stood "at the brink of inflation." He urged immediate passage of the price and rent control bill.

60 years ago
1951

On the radio
Mr. Moto, starring James Monks, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Voronzoff Necklace

Died on this date
Red Hill, 38. U.S. daredevil. William Hill, Jr., whose father was famed for escuing people from the Niagara River and its rapids, began performing stunts on the river in 1945. He formed a "barrel" of 14 inner tubes lashed together with netting, and plunged from Ushers Creek on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls before 200,000 spectators, but the "barrel" shattered into bits upon impact with the water, and Mr. Hill was killed. His death resulted in a ban on such stunts.





War
The U.S.A. suspended Korean truce talks for five days after a group of armed North Korean soldiers marched to within 100 yards of the conference site in Kaesong.

World events
Cuban People's Party leader Senator Eduardo Chibas shot and critically wounded himself after making a radio broadcast in an attempt to focus national attention on alleged corruption in the administration of President Carlos Prio Socarras.

Politics and government
The Communist-sponsored World Youth Festival opened in East Berlin, with about 500,000 young people from Eastern Europe participating.

Labour
The U.S. Senate Internal Security Committee investigators released a report charging that members of the American Communications Association ousted from the Congress of Industrial Organizations for alleged Communist Party connections had access to government telegraph and cable messages.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door--Eddie Hodges

#1 single in Italy: Legata a un granello di sabbia--Nico Fidenco (6th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Wheels (Vier Schimmel, ein Wagen)--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra (11th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Dutch Top 40): Hello Mary Lou--Ricky Nelson

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Well I Ask You--Eden Kane

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Tossin' and Turnin'--Bobby Lewis (3rd week at #1)
2 I Like it Like That (Part 1)--Chris Kenner
3 Let's Twist Again--Chubby Checker
4 Dum Dum--Brenda Lee
5 Quarter to Three--U.S. Bonds
6 Last Night--Mar-Keys
7 Hats Off to Larry--Del Shannon
8 Together--Connie Francis
9 Pretty Little Angel Eyes--Curtis Lee
10 The Boll Weevil Song--Brook Benton

Singles entering the chart were Transistor Sister by Freddy Cannon (#77); Amor by Ben E. King (#78); Who Put the Bomp (In the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) by Barry Mann (#87); Bless You by Tony Orlando (#88); I Wake Up Crying by Chuck Jackson (#89); The Guns of Navarone by Joe Reisman and his Orchestra (#96); Now and Forever by Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra (#97); Every Breath I Take by Gene Pitney (#98); Does Your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavor (On the Bedpost Overnight) by Lonnie Donegan and his Skiffle Group (#100); Johnny Willow by Fred Darian (also #100); and Summer Souvenirs by Karl Hammel, Jr. (also #100). The version of The Guns of Navarone by Mitch Miller and his Orchestra was listed with the version by Joe Reisman and his Orchestra, but not charted.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 The Mountain's High--Dick and Deedee
2 Hats Off to Larry--Del Shannon
3 Shake Shake Sherry--The Flairs
4 Tell Me Why--The Belmonts
5 Michael--The Highwaymen
6 School is Out--U.S. Bonds
7 Take Good Care of My Baby--Bobby Vee
8 Private Eye--Bob Luman
9 Pretty Little Angel Eyes--Curtis Lee
10 Have a Drink on Me--Lonnie Donegan

Singles entering the chart were Take Good Care of My Baby; Crying by Roy Orbison (#20); Mr. Happiness by Johnny Maestro with the Coeds (#34); Boomerang by Donnie Brooks (#38); Theme from "Come September" by Santo and Johnny (#39); You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It) by Ral Donner (#42); Big Cold Wind by Pat Boone (#43); Let the Four Winds Blow by Fats Domino (#45); (Theme from) Silver City by the Ventures (#47); First Love Never Dies by Jerry Fuller (#48); and Now and Forever by Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra (#50).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 Shake Shake Sherry--The Flairs (2nd week at #1)
2 Michael--The Highwaymen
3 Something for Everyone (LP)--Elvis Presley
4 Have a Drink on Me--Lonnie Donegan
5 Tossin' and Turnin'--Bobby Lewis
6 Johnny Willow--Fred Darian
7 Private Eye--Bob Luman
8 Preacher Boy--Les Vogt
9 Quarter to Three--U.S. Bonds
10 School is Out--U.S. Bonds

Singles entering the chart were Take Good Care of My Baby by Bobby Vee (#25); Bless You by Tony Orlando (#31); Hurt by Timi Yuro (#33); Let the Four Winds Blow by Fats Domino (#35); Runaround by the Regents (#37); Mr. Happiness by Johnny Maestro (#38); and Tell Me Why by the Belmonts (#40).

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley, on BBC
Tonight's episode: The Hound of the Baskervilles







50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Pour un flirt--Michel Delpech (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Sometimes--Red Hurley (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
The first Pacific Islands Forum (then known as the "South Pacific Forum") was held in Wellington, New Zealand, with the aim of enhancing cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Theme from "Greatest American Hero" (Believe it or Not)--Joey Scarbury
2 Queen of Hearts--Juice Newton
3 Slow Hand--Pointer Sisters
4 Gemini Dream--The Moody Blues
5 Boy from New York City--The Manhattan Transfer
6 For Your Eyes Only--Sheena Easton
7 In the Mood--Wildroot Orchestra
8 You're Not the Same Girl--Blue Northern
9 Elvira--The Oak Ridge Boys
10 I Don't Need You--Kenny Rogers

Singles entering the chart were (There's) No Gettin' Over Me by Ronnie Milsap (#19); and Hold on Tight by Electric Light Orchestra (#20).

Edmontonia
Heritage Mall opened.

Labour
U.S. President Ronald Reagan fired the air traffic controllers who hadn't returned to work by the deadline he had imposed.

25 years ago
1986

Diplomacy
Canada adopted sanctions against South Africa for its apartheid policies; the sanctions included bans on air links, new bank loans, and government contracts with majority-owned South African companies.

Baseball
Steve Carlton of the San Francisco Giants struck out Eric Davis of the Cincinnati Reds to become the second man (after Nolan Ryan) to amass 4,000 career major league strikeouts. The Reds won 11-6 before 17,303 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, scoring 7 runs off Mr. Carlton in 3 1/3 innings.



Jerry Mumphrey hit a 3-run home run with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th inning to breaka 5-5 tie and give the Chicago Cubs an 8-5 win over the New York Mets before 28,211 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Mets had tied the game on a 3-run homer by Keith Hernandez in the top of the 8th.

Dennis Martinez pitched a 4-hit shutout for his first win in a Montreal uniform as the Expos blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 before 8,334 fans at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. Mr. Martinez had been acquired by the Expos from the Baltimore Orioles on June 16, 1986.

The Houston Astros scored 9 runs in the last 2 innings to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-2 before 45,525 fans at Dodger Stadium. Houston third baseman Denny Walling hit home runs in each of the 8th and 9th innings.

The Toronto Blue Jays hit 4 of the game's 5 home runs, but still lost 8-6 to the Kansas City Royals before 30,437 fans at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Lloyd Moseby hit 2 solo homers and George Bell added another, with Rick Leach hitting a 3-run homer for Toronto. George Brett homered for Kansas City.

Cecil Cooper singled home Paul Molitor with 1 out in the top of the 10th inning to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 2-1 win over the New York Yankees before 22,014 fans at Yankee Stadium.

The Detroit Tigers scored 9 runs in the first 3 innings and held on to defeat the Cleveland Indians 11-9 to complete the sweep of a twi-night doubleheader before 27,300 fans at Tiger Stadium. The first two Detroit batters in the game, Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell, hit home runs, and Mr. Whitaker homered again in the 3rd inning to help the Tigers take a 9-0 lead. Detroit led 11-3 after 7 innings, but Cleveland rallied for 2 in the 8th and 4 in the 9th, and had the potential tying run on first base when the game ended. In the first game, the Tigers trailed 5-2 after 5 1/2 innings, but scored a run in the 6th, and Darrell Evans hit a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 7th to give the Tigers a 6-5 win.

Brian Downing had 2 singles and 2 doubles, while teammate Gary Pettis had 4 singles as the California Angels overcame an early 1-0 deficit to rout the Minnesota Twins 13-1 before 22,689 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Say Yes--Chage and Aska

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Wind of Change--Scorpions (10th week at #1)

Died on this date
Soichiro Honda, 84. Japanese industrialist. Mr. Honda founded Honda Motor Company, Limited in 1948; it remains the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles.

Paul Brown, 82. U.S. football coach. Mr. Brown was the first coach of the Cleveland Browns of the All-American Football Conference in 1946, and the team was named in his honour. He led the Browns to the championship in all four seasons of the AAFC (1946-1949), before the AAFC merged with the National Football League. Mr. Brown then led the Browns to the NFL championship game in their first six seasons, winningin 1950, 1954, and 1955. He pioneered such innovations as hiring full-time assistant coaches, using game film to scout opponents, and the modern face mask. Mr. Brown's methods seemed to lose their effectiveness in the early 1960s, and he was fired after the 1962 season. He was co-owner and first head coach and general manager of the Cincinnati Bengals, who joined the American Football League in 1968 and joined the NFL in the merger of 1970. Mr. Brown led the Bengals to several playoff spots, and retired after the 1975 season, when the Bengals were 11-3, finishing in second place in the American Football Conference Central Division, making the playoffs as a wild card team, but losing to the Oakland Raiders in a divisional playoff game. Mr. Brown compiled a professional record of 213-104-9 in regular season play and 9-8 in post-season games. He was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1967.

Track and field
Sergei Bubka of the U.S.S.R. became the first pole vaulter to clear 20 feet with a vault of 20' ¼" at the Dag Galan Grand Prix meet in Malmo, Sweden.

10 years ago
2001

Baseball
Dave Winfield, Kirby Puckett, Bill Mazeroski, and Hilton Smith were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

The Cleveland Indians, trailing 12-0 and 14-2, became the third team in major league history to overcome a 12-run deficit to win a game as they edged the Seattle Mariners 15-14 in 11 innings before 42,494 fans at Jacobs Field in Cleveland. The Indians scored 3 runs in the 7th inning, 4 in the 8th, and 5 in the 9th before Jolbert Cabrera singled in Kenny Lofton with 1 out in the bottom of the 11th to win the game. Mike Bacsik, the second of five Cleveland pitchers, allowed 9 hits and 7 runs--6 earned--in 6 innings, walking 1 batter and striking out 2, hitting a batter, and making 1 assist, in his major league debut.



With 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 10th inning, Gary Sheffield doubled, Shawn Green was intentionally walked, and Eric Karros singled home Mr. Sheffield to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs before 51,327 fans at Dodger Stadium.