December 21, 2011

650 years ago
1361

War
The Battle of Linuesa was fought in the context of the Spanish Reconquista between the forces of the Emirate of Granada and the combined army of the Kingdom of Castile and of Jaén, resulting in a Castilian victory.

160 years ago
1851

Born on this date
Thomas Chipman McRae. U.S. politician. Mr. McRae, a Democrat, was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives (1877-1879), and represented Arkansas' 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1885-1903). He was Governor of Arkansas (1921-1925), and was briefly special Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court (1925). Mr. McRae practiced law when he wasn't engaging in political activities, and died on June 2, 1929 at the age of 77.

150 years ago
1861

Defense
Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a U.S. Navy Medal of Valor, was signed into law by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

125 years ago
1886

Born on this date
Gennaro Papi. Italian-born opera conductor. Mr. Papi emigrated to the United States in 1913, serving as assistant conductor (1913-1915) and principal conductor (1915-1927, 1935-1941) of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, and as the first conductor of the Chicago Civic Opera (1927-1935). He died of a heart attack in his apartment on November 29, 1941, 22 days before his 55th birthday, and several hours before he was to conduct a performance of La Traviata at the Metropolitan.

120 years ago
1891

Born on this date
John W. McCormack. U.S. politician. Mr. McCormack, a Democrat, represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives from 1928-1971. He was majority leader from 1939-1947, 1951-1953, and 1955-1961, minority leader from 1947-1949 and 1953-1955, and Speaker of the House from 1962-1971. Mr. McCormack opposed Communism and supported farm bills. He died on November 22, 1980 at the age of 88.

Politics and government
Charles Boucher de Boucherville, a Conservative, was sworn in as Premier of Québec for the second time, five days after Honoré Mercie had been removed from office by Lieutenant Governor Auguste-Réal Angers on corruption charges. Mr. Boucherville had previously been Premier from 1874-1878.

Basketball
The first game of basketball was played at International Young Men's Christian Association Training School (today known as Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts. A soccer ball was used, and peach baskets (with the bottoms intact) were nailed onto a 10-foot elevated track.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Josh Gibson. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Gibson was a catcher in the Negro Leagues with the Homestead Grays (1930-1931, 1937-1939, 1942-1946) and Pittsburgh Crawfords (1932-1936), as well as the Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo (1937) in the Dominican League, and Azules de Veracruz (1940-1941) in the Mexican League. He has been credited with approximately 800 career home runs, although Negro League statistics are difficult to quantify. Whatever his official statistics, Mr. Gibson was one of the best power hitters--if not the best--in baseball history. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1943, and died of a stroke on January 20, 1947, 31 days after his 35th birthday. Baseball lore has it that Mr. Gibson died of a broken heart because he was passed over in favour of Jackie Robinson when the major leagues finally decided to abandon the prohibition on signing Negro players. Mr. Gibson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972; he and Buck Leonard were the second and third Negro League players so honoured, one year after the induction of pitcher Satchel Paige.

Politics and government
U.S. President William Howard Taft delivered the final part of his four-part annual State of the Union message to Congress. Part IV dealt with the financial condition of the treasury, needed banking and currency reform, and departmental questions.

80 years ago
1931

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Juliette Richard!

70 years ago
1941

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Donald's Death

Died on this date
David Howard, 45. U.S. film director. Mr. Howard directed 46 movies, mainly low-budget Westerns, from 1930 until his death.

Movies
The U.S. National Board of Review of Motion Pictures chose Citizen Kane as the best Hollywood picture of 1941.

War
Thai Prime Minister Luang Bipul Songgram and Japanese Ambassador Teiji Tsubogami signed a 10-year military alliance pledging each country not to make a separate peace. The treaty was signed in the presence of the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand. The U.S. War Department reported that U.S. planes had bombed the Philippine islands of Luzon, Cebu, and Mindanao in the past 24 hours. U.S. Navy Secretary Frank Knox claimed that U.S. Navy ships "have to the present time probably sunk or damaged at least 14 enemy submarines" in the Atlantic Ocean.

Education
The American Council of Education recommended that the high school and college education of talented students be sped up to permit them to graduate from college at age 20 in order to meet the new military draft requirements.

Health
Reports from Stockholm stated that an epidemic of typhus had broken out in Lithuania and other German-occupied territory in eastern Europe.

Football
NFL
Championship @ Wrigley Field, Chicago
New York Giants 9 @ Chicago Bears 37

The game was played just two weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and only 13,341 fans showed up to see the Bears defeat the Giants to win their second straight NFL title. Field goals of 14, 39, and 37 yards by Chicago's Bob Snyder offset an unconverted New York touchdown on a 31-yard pass from Tuffy Leemans to George Franck, and the Bears led 9-6 at halftime. The Giants tied the game in the 3rd quarter on a 16-yard field goal by Ward Cuff, but the Bears put the game away with touchdown rushes of 2 and 7 yards by Norm Standlee--the first converted by Mr. Snyder, the second by Joe Maniaci--to lead 23-9 after 3 quarters. In the 4th quarter, George McAfee rushed 5 yards for a touchdown, and Lee Artoe's convert made the score 30-9. The final touchdown came on a 42-yard fumble return by Ken Kavanaugh. Ray "Scooter" McLean drop-kicked the convert for the game's final point. Mr. McLean's convert was the last successful drop kick in the NFL until a point after touchdown by Doug Flutie of the New England Patriots in January 2006.



60 years ago
1951

Died on this date
Elma Wischmeier, 52. U.S. accident victim. Miss Wischmeier was struck in Cleveland by a tractor-trailer, becoming the U.S.A.'s one millionth automobile fatality.

War
British authorities imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the Suez Canal trouble centre of Ismalia.

Defense
The U.S.A., U.K., France, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, New Zealand, China, Brazil, and South Africa repudiated World War II peace treaty limitations on the size and type of Italian armed forces.

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly's Political and Security Committee rejected a Soviet-sponsored resolution asking the United States to revoke its Mutual Security Act for allegedly providing aid to anti-Communist movements in Eastern Europe.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy (Republican--Wisconsin) demanded that all federal employees in "sensitive" positions, as well as applicants for federal employment, be requied to take lie detector tests to determine their loyalty.

Education
The New York State Board of Regents voted to establish a three-man commission to check for subversive material in public school textbooks.

Economics and finance
Michigan appealed for federal aid to help ease unemployment, particularly in the Detroit area.

Disasters
119 miners were killed in an explosion in the New Orient No. 2 mine in West Frankfort, Illinois, one of the world's largest coal mines.

Football
NFL
A United Press panel selected Cleveland Browns' quarterback Otto Graham as the National Football League's best player for 1951. He completed 147 of 265 passes for 2,205 yards with 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in leading the Browns to an 11-1 record and their second straight American Conference title.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): Moon River--Jerry Butler

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Tower of Strength--Frankie Vaughan (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Hammerlock

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Mamy Blue--Pop-Tops (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Akropolis adieu--Mireille Mathieu

Died on this date
Charlie Fuqua, 61. U.S. singer. Mr. Fuqua was a founding member of the singing group the Ink Spots in 1934. In 1952, he left the group and formed the first of several spinoff groups performing and recording under the Ink Spots name. As a member of the original group, he was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council chose Kurt Waldheim to succeed U Thant as UN Secretary-General.

Transportation
New Zealand Railways (NZR) launched the twice-daily Kingston Flyer, a new tourist-oriented steam passenger venture in the South Island.

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Down Under--Men at Work

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Sailor Fuku to Kikanjū--Hiroko Yakushimaru

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Ma Quale Idea--Pino D'Angio (13th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Polonäse Blankenese--Gottlieb Wendehals (a.k.a. Werner Böhm) (3rd week at #1)

20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Black or White--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Black or White--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Black or White--Michael Jackson (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Black or White--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Black or White--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Qui a le droit...--Patrick Bruel (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Bohemian Rhapsody/These Are the Days of Our Lives--Queen

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Kon Ik Maar Even Bij Je Zijn--Gordon (4th week at #1)
2 I Love Your Smile--Shanice
3 Black or White--Michael Jackson
4 Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana
5 Roodkapje--Pater Moeskroen
6 Go--Moby
7 The Show Must Go On--Queen
8 Mysterious Ways--U2
9 Over and Over Again--Robby Valentine
10 Let's Talk About Sex!--Salt-N-Pepa

Singles entering the chart were When a Man Loves a Woman by Michael Bolton (#28); Keepin' the Faith by De La Soul (#30); The Unforgiven by Metallica (#34); and 2 Legit 2 Quit by Hammer (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Black or White--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)
2 It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday--Boyz II Men
3 All 4 Love--Color Me Badd
4 Set Adrift on Memory Bliss--P.M. Dawn
5 When a Man Loves a Woman--Michael Bolton
6 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
7 Blowing Kisses in the Wind--Paula Abdul
8 Finally--CeCe Peniston
9 2 Legit 2 Quit--MC Hammer
10 Wildside--Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch

Singles entering the chart were I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred (#67); To Be with You by Mr. Big (#82); I'll Get By by Eddie Money (#85); Every Road Leads Back to You by Bette Midler (#86); There Will Never be Another Tonight by Bryan Adams (#87); Give it Away by Red Hot Chili Peppers (#93); and Live and Let Die by Guns N' Roses (#95).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday--Boyz II Men (2nd week at #1)
2 Black or White--Michael Jackson
3 All 4 Love--Color Me Badd
4 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
5 Set Adrift on Memory Bliss--P.M. Dawn
6 Keep Coming Back--Richard Marx
7 No Son of Mine--Genesis
8 Blowing Kisses in the Wind--Paula Abdul
9 Street of Dreams--Nia Peeples
10 Broken Arrow--Rod Stewart

Singles entering the chart were There Will Never be Another Tonight by Bryan Adams (#64); Live and Let Die by Guns N' Roses (#77); I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred (#78); Keep it Comin' by Keith Sweat (#79); I Wanna Be Your Girl by Icy Blu (#86); She Ain't Pretty by the Northern Pikes (#87); Stars by Simply Red (#88); and Move Any Mountain (Progen 91) by Shamen (#89).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 No Son of Mine--Genesis (2nd week at #1)
2 Black or White--Michael Jackson
3 Broken Arrow--Rod Stewart
4 When a Man Loves a Woman--Michael Bolton
5 Keep Coming Back--Richard Marx
6 Life is a Highway--Tom Cochrane
7 Blowing Kisses in the Wind--Paula Abdul
8 That's What Love is For--Amy Grant
9 Mysterious Ways--U2
10 Set Adrift on Memory Bliss--P.M. Dawn

Singles entering the chart were Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by George Michael/Elton John (#49); Daniel by Wilson Phillips (#87); Diamonds & Pearls by the Police (#89); Dreams to Dream by Linda Ronstadt (#90); Celebrate by Infidels (#91); and Caribbean Blue by Enya (#94). Dreams to Dream was from the movie An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991).

World events
The Commonwealth of Independent States was formed, consisting of Russia; Belarus; Ukraine; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Kazakhstan; Kyrgystan; Moldova; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; and Uzbekistan. The parliament of Azerbaijan didn't ratify the treaty creating the CIS until 1993.

10 years ago
2001

Politics and government
Ramon Puerta was installed as acting President of Argentina, the day after the resignation of Fernando de la Rua.

Diplomacy
India recalled its ambassador to Pakistan and cut off transportation ties to Pakistan, eight days after a five-man terrorist attack on India's Parliament House in New Delhi had left 12 people dead.

Transportation
The world's fastest roller coaster, the Dodonpa, with speeds up to 100 miles per hour, opened in Japan.