December 9, 2011

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Natalia, Mary-Ann Murphy, and Maria Mercedes Forero Hernandez!

290 years ago
1721

Born on this date
Peter Pelham. U.K.-born American musician. Mr. Pelham, a native of London, moved to Boston with his family at the age of 9. He was organist at Trinity Church in Boston from 1744 until about 1750, when he moved to Williamsburg, Virginia. Mr. Pelham was organist for Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg from 1755 until blindness forced his retirement in 1802. He was also a harpsichord teacher, supervisor for the printing of currency (1758-1775), and superintendent of the Public Gaol (1770-1780). Mr. Pelham's compositions have disappeared except for a short harpsichord minuet. He died on April 28, 1805 at the age of 83.

150 years ago
1861

Born on this date
Hélène Smith. Swiss medium. Miss Smith, born Catherine-Elise Müller, became a spiritualist in the early 1890s; Surrealists referred to her as the "Muse of automatic writing." Miss Smith claimed to communicate with Martians, and to be a reincarnation of a Hindu princess and Marie Antoinette; psychologist Théodore Flournoy publicized her claims in his book Des Indes à la Planete Mars (From India to the Planet Mars) (1900). Dr. Flournoy regarded Miss Smith's automatic writing as the result of "cryptomnesia" (unrecognized forgotten memories), and her "cycles" as the products of infantile imaginings, with the Martian language merely a constructed language. Miss Smith died on June 10, 1929 at the age of 67. In 1952, psychologist Donovan Rawcliffe examined her case in depth, and noted that she had suffered from a fantasy prone personality and hysterical hallucinations.

War
The Joint Committee on the Conduct of the [Civil] War was established by the U.S. Congress.

140 years ago
1871

Born on this date
Joe Kelley. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Kelley was a left fielder with five major league teams from 1891-1908, but was best known for his years with the Baltimore Orioles of the National League (1892-1898), whom he served as captain. He played on 6 teams that won the NL pennant, and finished his career with a .317 batting average with 65 home runs and 1,194 runs batted in in 1,853 games. Mr. Kelley managed the Cincinnati Reds from 1902-1905, compiling a record of 338-321. He died on August 14, 1943 at the age of 71, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans' Committee in 1971.

120 years ago
1891

Politics and government
U.S. President Benjamin Harrison delivered his third annual State of the Union message to Congress. Subjects included foreign relations and relations with American Indians.

110 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Jean Mermoz. French aviator. Mr. Mermoz flew with the Franch Air Force in Syria (1922-1924) before becoming an air mail pilot. He flew from Senegal to Brazil in 1930, and was the chief pilot for Aeroposta Argentina, Argentina's first air mail service. On December 7, 1936, two days before his 35th birthday, Mr. Mermoz disappeared four hours after taking off from Dakar, Senegal to Natal, Brazil after engine repairs; it was assumed that the engine they had tried to repair lost its propeller midflight, and being one of the aft engines, the loose propeller either badly damaged or cut the hull entirely, causing the plane to lose its tail and crash instantly. An investigative committee of the Uruguayan Parliament concluded in 1941 that the deaths of Mr. Mermoz and his four-man crew were the result of sabotage by Nazi fifth columnists operating in Uruguay, although Mr. Mermoz had been complaining for months about the poor quality of the planes he was forced to fly.

Ödön von Horváth. Austro-Hungarian-born playwright and author. Mr. Horváth wrote almost 20 plays and four novels; he often wrote about politics and history, and warned of the dangers of fascism Mr. Horváth lived in Germany in the 1920s, but moved to Vienna after the Nazis came to power in 1933, and moved to Paris after the German Anschluss of Austria in 1938. He died on June 1, 1938 at the age of 36 when he was hit by a falling tree branch during a thunderstorm on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

100 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Broderick Crawford. U.S. actor. The beefy, fast-talking Mr. Crawford was usually a supporting actor in movies, but won the Academy Award for Best Actor for All the King's Men (1949). He moved to television in the 1950s, starring in the series Highway Patrol (1955-1959), King of Diamonds (1961-1962), and The Interns (1970-1971). He died on April 26, 1986 at the age of 74, after a series of strokes.

Disasters
The Cross Mountain Mine disaster, a coal mine explosion near Briceville, Tennessee, killed 84 miners despite rescue efforts led by the United States Bureau of Mines.

90 years ago
1921

Radio
Ted Rogers Sr., who would later invent the first alternating-current vacuum radio tube and give birth to Toronto’s CFRB Radio, became the first amateur radio operator in Canada to successfully transmit a signal across the Atlantic. He was taking part in a competition sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).

80 years ago
1931

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight's episode: A Study in Scarlet, Part 4

Politics and government
The Constituent Cortes approved a constitution which established the Second Spanish Republic.

70 years ago
1941

War
China, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa declared war on Japan, while China also declared war on Germany and Italy. The Cuban Senate and House of Representatives voted for a declaration of war against Japan, while Guatemala, and the Philippine Commonwealth declared war on Germany and, Japan. In the Battle of Hong Kong, Japanese ground forces attacked across the frontier of the New Territories and captured the key position of Shing Mun Redoubt; D Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers was dispatched to the mainland to strengthen this sector. Japanese troops supported by warships and planes landed on the northern and western coast of Luzon, main island of the Philippines. The American 19th Bombardment Group attacked Japanese ships off the coast of Vigan, Luzon. Japan landed reinforcements in the Kota Bharu area of northeastern Malaya and in the Singora-Patani area of Thailand. Russian forces recaptured Tikhvin, near Leningrad. As fear of Japanese invasion spread on the west coast of Canada, the federal government ordered blackouts, and closed Japanese-Canadian newspapers and schools in British Columbia. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt invoked "enemy alien" regulations and ordered federal agents to round up dangerous German, Italian, and Japanese nationals. New York, Boston, and other East Coast American cities held their first air raid alarms.

Defense
Argentina and Chile announced that they would grant non-belligerent status to the United States as an act of solidarity.

World events
The Vichy French regime disclosed that 1,850 Communists had been arrested in unoccupied France during the past three days, bringing the total arrested in the past six weeks to 12,850.

Politics and government
John Hart was sworn in as Premier of British Columbia, replacing Duff Patullo, who had been in power since November 15, 1933. Mr. Hart headed the province's first coalition government, composed of Liberals and Conservatives, in an effort to prevent the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from coming to power.

Robert F. Rockwell (Republican) defeated Frank Delaney (Democrat) in a special U.S. congressional election in Denver to fill the seat of the late Rep. Edward Taylor (Democrat).

Baseball
Cleveland Indians' ace pitcher Bob Feller, 25, became the first major league player to volunteer for active military service since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor two days earlier. Mr. Feller had posted a 25-13 record with an earned run average of 3.15 in 1941, leading the American League in wins; games (44); starts (40); innings pitched (343); hits allowed (284); bases on balls (194); strikeouts (260); and shutouts (6).

60 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Out There, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Mewhu's Jet, starring Dennis Alexander, Janie Alexander, John Boruff, and Eileen Heckart

Crime
U.S. singer and actor Frank Sinatra and his wife, actress Ava Gardner, were robbed of $16,800 in jewellery in London.

Canadian-born U.S. bandleader Guy Lombardo killed a pedestrian with his car in New York, but police filed no charges, saying that Mr. Lombardo had the light in his favour.

Economics and finance
The U.S. government invoked the Trading with the Enemy Act to prevent Chinese-Americans from sending money to Communist China.

Labour
The U.S. Congress of Industrial Organizations announced a contribution of $100,000 intended to encourage the growth of strong unions in backward nations.

The U.S. Civil Service Commission reported that the salaries of the government's 1,004,624 full-time employees averaged $3,954 per year.

Football
NFL
Chicago Bears (7-4) 45 @ New York Yanks (1-8-2) 21
Cleveland (10-1) 28 @ Pittsburgh (3-7-1) 0
Detroit (7-3-1) 24 @ Los Angeles (7-4) 22
Green Bay (3-8) 19 @ San Francisco (6-4-1) 31
New York Giants (8-2-1) 23 @ Philadelphia (4-7) 7
Washington (5-6) 20 @ Chicago Cardinals (2-9) 17



50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): My Boomerang Won't Come Back--Charlie Drake

#1 single in Italy: Nata per me--Adriano Celentano (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Weiße Rosen aus Athen--Nana Mouskouri (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Dutch Top 40): Och was ik maar bij moeder thuis gebleven--Johnny Hoes (12th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Tower of Strength--Frankie Vaughan

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Lion Sleeps Tonight--The Tokens
2 Goodbye Cruel World--James Darren
3 Big Bad John--Jimmy Dean
4 Please Mr. Postman--The Marvelettes
5 Moon River--Jerry Butler
--Henry Mancini, his Orchestra and Chorus
6 Walk on By--Leroy Van Dyke
7 Run to Him--Bobby Vee
8 Tonight--Ferrante and Teicher
--Eddie Fisher
--Jay and the Americans
9 Runaround Sue--Dion
10 The Twist--Chubby Checker

The Twist had already been a #1 hit for Chubby Checker in 1960. Singles entering the chart were Can't Help Falling in Love (#50)/Rock-a-Hula Baby (#54) by Elvis Presley; Jambalaya by Fats Domino (#86); Small Sad Sam by Phil McLean (#90); Turn on Your Love Light by Bobby Bland (#91); Tuff by Ace Cannon (#92); and You're Running Out of Kisses by Chuck Foote (#94). Can't Help Falling in Love and Rock-a-Hula Baby were from the movie Blue Hawaii. One of the writers of Rock-a-Hula Baby was Dolores Fuller, who had been the girlfriend of notorious movie writer/director Edward D. Wood, Jr., and had starred in several of his films.

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Walkin' with My Angel--Bobby Vee (3rd week at #1)
2 Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen--Neil Sedaka
3 The Lion Sleeps Tonight--The Tokens
4 The Wanderer--Dion
5 Static--Dana and Dexter
6 Run to Him--Bobby Vee
7 Hey! Little Girl--Del Shannon
8 The Twist--Chubby Checker
9 Can't Help Falling in Love--Elvis Presley
10 Please Mr. Postman--The Marvelettes

Singles entering the chart were Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker (#20); Fujikami the Warrior (#27)/Mo-Shun (#50) by the Hi-Fives; Just a Little Bit Sweet by Charlie Rich (#35); Tennessee Flat-Top Box by Johnny Cash (#39); What a Walk by Bobby Lewis (#42); If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody by James Ray (#45); Let Me Down Easy by Tompall and the Glaser Brothers (#47); and A Little Bitty Tear by Burl Ives (#48).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKWX)
1 The Lion Sleeps Tonight--The Tokens (2nd week at #1)
2 Walkin' with My Angel/Run to Him--Bobby Vee
3 The Twist--Chubby Checker
4 Hey! Little Girl--Del Shannon
5 Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen--Neil Sedaka
6 Gypsy Rover--The Highwaymen
7 The Wanderer/The Majestic--Dion
8 Blue Hawaii (LP)--Elvis Presley
9 Dreamy Eyes--Johnny Tillotson
10 Please Mr. Postman--The Marvelettes

Singles entering the chart were Weekend by Eddie Cochran (#29); When the Boy in Your Arms (Is the Boy in Your Heart)/Baby's First Christmas by Connie Francis (#30); Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Rydell/Chubby Checker (#34); and A Little Bitty Tear by Burl Ives (#40).

On television tonight
The Roaring 20's, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Asparagus Tips

Africana
Tanganyika Territory gained its independence from Britain; it became part of Tanzania three years later.

Boxing
Gene Fullmer (55-4-2) retained his National Boxing Association world middleweight title by knocking out world welterweight champion Benny "Kid" Paret (35-11-3) at 2:30 of the 10th round at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Mr. Paret was knocked down 3 times in the 10th round of the bout, which was scheduled for a maximum of 15 rounds.



Football
NFL
Baltimore (7-6) 17 @ Los Angeles (4-9) 34

AFL
Boston (8-4-1) 35 @ Oakland (2-11) 21

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Le rire du sergent--Michel Sardou (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Don't Know How to Love Him--Tina and the Real McCoy

Died on this date
Ralph Bunche, 68. U.S. political scientist and diplomat. Dr. Bunche was the first Negro to earn a Ph.D. in political science from an American University, taught at Howard University (1928-1950), and was president of the American Political Science Association (1953-1954). He worked with the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (1941-1943) and then with the State Department and Institute of Pacific Relations, helping to prepare the founding of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Dr. Bunche worked to end colonialism, and supported the civil rights movement for Negroes in the United States. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950 "for his works in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict in Palestine" while serving as chief mediator for the United Nations. Dr. Bunche was appointed Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations in 1968, but resigned for reasons of ill health shortly before his death from complications of heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes.

War
In Operation Cactus Lilly, the Indian Air Force executed an airdrop of Indian Army units, bypassing Pakistani defenses.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Young Turks--Rod Stewart (2nd week at #1)
2 Physical--Olivia Newton-John
3 Waiting for a Girl Like You--Foreigner
4 Leather and Lace--Stevie Nicks with Don Henley
5 Start Me Up--Rolling Stones
6 Trouble--Lindsey Buckingham
7 Private Eyes--Daryl Hall & John Oates
8 Every Little Thing She Does is Magic--The Police
9 My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)--Chilliwack
10 Harden My Heart--Quarterflash

Singles entering the chart were Talking Out of Turn by the Moody Blues (#17); I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) by Daryl Hall & John Oates (#18); and Yesterday's Songs by Neil Diamond (#19).

Died on this date
John Kieran, 89. U.S. journalist and broadcaster. Mr. Kieran was a sportswriter with The New York Times, serving as the paper's lead sports columnist from 1927-1943. He was best known as a panelist on the radio (1938-1948) and television (1952) quiz program Information, Please! Mr. Kieran hosted television's first widely-syndicated program, Kieran's Kaleidoscope (1949-1952), commenting on various topics. He was an amateur naturalist and birdwatcher, and wrote the book A Natural History of New York City (1959). Mr. Kieran was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 1971, and in 1973 was honoured by the Baseball Writers' Association of America with the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for distinguished baseball writing.

Sonny Til, 53. Mr. Til, born Earlington Carl Tilghman, was the lead singer of the Orioles, generally regarded as the first rhythm and blues vocal group, from their beginning in 1948 until his death from a heart attack. The group's hits included It's Too Soon to Know (1948); Tell Me So (1949); and Crying in the Chapel (1953). Mr. Til and the other original members of the Orioles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 as an influence.

Daniel Faulkner, 25. U.S. police officer. Constable Faulkner was a soldier and corrections officer before joining the Philadelphia Police Department; he aspired to become a city prosecutor, and was working toward a degree in criminal justice administration when he got into an altercation with William Cook, whom he stopped in traffic. Mr. Cook's older brother, Mumia Abu-Jamal, whose taxi was parked across the street, ran toward the altercation, shooting Constable Faulkner in the back and then in the face. Constable Faulkner managed to shoot and wound Mr. Abu-Jamal in the stomach before he was killed. Mr. Abu-Jamal was convicted in 1982 and sentenced to death; years of appeals failed to change the verdict, but resulted in the sentence eventually being commuted to life in prison without possibility of parole. The case attracted much attention, with Negro rap thugs supporting the killer.

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Piece of My Wish--Miki Imai

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Laatikoita--Sielun Veljet

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Let's Talk About Sex--Salt-N-Pepa (4th week at #1)

10 years ago
2001

Died on this date
Michael Carver, Baron Carver, 86. Field Marshal Baron Carver joined the British Army in 1935 and served in World War II in Italy and North Africa. He rose through the ranks during the war and afterward; he was Deputy Chief of Staff at East Africa Command (1954), taking part in the closing stages of the response to the Mau-Mau rebellion, and then being promoted to Chief of Staff in East Africa (1955). Lord Carver had several more commands, and was promoted to Chief of the General Staff (1971) and Chief of Defence Staff (1973), serving until his retirement in 1976. He was appointed resident commissioner designate for Rhodesia in August 1977 with responsibility for ending the dispute over independence there, but resigned in October 1978 after 14 months of deadlock.