January 3, 2012

Born on this date Happy Birthday, Gulbahar! 80 years ago 1932 World events Martial law was declared in Honduras in order to stop a revolt by workers who had been fired by the United Fruit Company. 70 years ago 1942 Hit parade #1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Chattanooga Choo Choo--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (5th week at #1) 60 years ago 1952 Died on this date Harriette Moore, 49. U.S. civil rights leader. Mrs. Moore was the wife of Harry T. Moore, who founded, in 1934, the first branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Brevard County, Florida, and was president of the state chapter of the NAACP. Mrs. Moore and Harry, 46, were at their home in Mims, Florida on Christmas night, December 25, 1951, when a bomb planted under the bedroom floor exploded. The local hospital in Titusville refused to treat Negroes, and Mr. Moore died while being transported by ambulance to the closest one where he could receive treatment. Mrs. Moore was seriously injured, and died nine days later. The murders were investigated in 1951-1952, but no one was prosecuted then or in later decades when subsequent investigations took place. A state investigation in 2005-2006 named four Ku Klux Klan members, by then long dead, as the likely murderers. 50 years ago 1962 Religion Pope John XXIII excommunicated Cuban dictator Fidel Castro from the Roman Catholic Church. 30 years ago 1982 Edmontonia A "Gardens Goodbye" celebration was held to mark the closing of the Edmonton Gardens, which was known as the Edmonton Arena when it was built in 1913, and changed its name in 1950. Various activities were held to mark the building's closing, starting with a concert by Bobby Curtola, hosted by CFRN radio's Barry Boyd. The final event was an oldtimers' hockey game. Football NFL AFC Divisional Playoff Buffalo 21 @ Cincinnati 28 NFC Divisional Playoff New York Giants 24 @ San Francisco 38 25 years ago 1987 Hit parade #1 single in Italy: The Final Countdown--Europe (4th week at #1) #1 single in the U.K.: Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl in Town)--Jackie Wilson (2nd week at #1) #1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles (3rd week at #1) Music Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Football NFL AFC Divisional Playoff New York Jets 20 @ Cleveland 23 (2 OT) NFC Divisional Playoff Washington 27 @ Chicago 13 This was Doug Flutie's last game as quarterback for the Bears. 10 years ago 2002 Transportation The Netherlands renationalized its rail network after years of private ownership during which service had deteriorated. Weather The heaviest snowfall in many years covered a swath of the southern United States, causing hundreds of traffic accidents and leaving 70,000 people without electricity. Football U.S. university Rose Bowl @ Pasadena Miami (Florida) 37 Nebraska 14 The Hurricanes' win over the Cornhuskers gave them the national championship.