January 4, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Angela Ieriti, Agness Nyambe, and Aydee Ramirez!

70 years ago
1942

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

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Tales of Tomorrow, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Dune Roller, starring Bruce Cabot, Nancy Coleman, and Lee Graham



50 years ago
1962

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Moon River--Danny Williams (2nd week at #1)

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

Music
The January 4-18 issue of the English periodical Mersey Beat carried the front-page headline Beatles Top Poll above a photo of the group: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Down Under--Men at Work (3rd week at #1)

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in France: T'en va pas--Elsa

Died on this date
Tony Rensa, 85. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Rensa was a catcher with the Detroit Tigers (1930); Philadelphia Athletics (1930-1931); New York Yankees (1933); and Chicago White Sox (1937-1939), batting .261 with 7 home runs and 65 runs batted in in 200 games. He played 1,706 games in 21 seasons in the minor leagues (1925-1949), hitting at least 51 homers.

Football
NFL
AFC Divisional Playoff
New England 17 @ Denver 22

NFC Divisional Playoff
San Francisco 3 @ New York Giants 49

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Black or White--Michael Jackson (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John

#1 single in France: Qui a le droit...--Patrick Bruel (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Black or White--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): Black or White--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
Algerian President Chadli Benjedid dissolved the National Popular Assembly and turned power over to a Constitutional Council. That council and the Algerian Supreme Court appointed a five-member High Committee of State to assume responsibility for the state.

Football
NFL
AFC Divisional Playoff
Houston 24 @ Denver 26

NFC Divisional Playoff
Atlanta 7 @ Washington 24

10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
Nathan Chapman, 31. U.S. soldier. A Sergeant First Class with the 1st Special Forces Group, Mr. Chapman was directing troop movements in Afghanistan from the back of a flatbed truck when he was fatally shot. Sgt. Chapman was the first U.S. soldier to be killed in the war in Afghanistan that followed the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

World events
Israel seized a ship loaded with munitions that was destined for the Palestinian National Authority.