January 16, 2012

70 years ago
1942

Died on this date
Carole Lombard, 33. U.S. actress. Born Jane Alice Peters in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Miss Lombard was known for her roles in screwball comedy movies such as Twentieth Century (1934); My Man Godfrey (1936); Nothing Sacred (1937); Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941) and To Be or Not to Be (1942). She was killed in a plane crash while flying back to Hollywood after visiting Indiana in a drive to sell war bonds.

60 years ago
1952

At the movies
Scandal Sheet, directed by Phil Karlson, and starring Broderick Crawford, Donna Reed, and John Derek, opened in theatres.





50 years ago
1962

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Door Without a Key, starring Claude Rains, John Larch, and Billy Mumy

40 years ago
1972

Died on this date
Ross Bagdasarian, 52. U.S. recording artist and actor. Mr. Bagdasarian recorded under the name David Seville, and was best known for the novelty songs Witch Doctor and The Chipmunk Song, both of which reached #1 on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1958. He created the cartoon "chipmunks" Simon, Theodore, and Alvin, achieving the voice effects by manipulating the speed control on a tape recorder. Mr. Bagdasarian appeared in small roles in several plays and films, most notably as a songwriter and pianist in the movie Rear Window (1954). Mr. Bagdasarian died of a heart attack, 11 days before his 53rd birthday. His son Ross, Jr. carried on the Chipmunks franchise.

Politics and government
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat named Aziz Sidky as the nation’s new Premier, succeeding Mahmoud Fawzi.

Football
NFL
Super Bowl VI @ Tulane Stadium, New Orleans
Dallas 24 Miami 3

Duane Thomas rushed 19 times for 95 yards and a touchdown and caught 3 passes for 17 yards as the Cowboys won the Super Bowl for the first time. Dallas quarterback Roger Staubach completed 12 of 19 passes for 119 yards, including touchdown passes to Lance Alworth and Mike Ditka. Mike Clark added 3 converts and a 9-yard field goal. The Dolphins' only scoring came on a 31-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian in the 2nd quarter. The Cowboys outrushed the Dolphins 255 yards to 81. Tom Landry won the battle of head coaches over Don Shula before 81,023 fans.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: The Land of Make Believe--Bucks Fizz

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Physical--Olivia Newton-John (7th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)--Daryl Hall and John Oates
2 Physical--Olivia Newton-John
3 Waiting for a Girl Like You--Foreigner
4 Let's Groove--Earth, Wind and Fire
5 Young Turks--Rod Stewart
6 Centerfold--J. Geils Band
7 Harden My Heart--Quarterflash
8 Turn Your Love Around--George Benson
9 Trouble--Lindsey Buckingham
10 Comin' In and Out of Your Life--Barbra Streisand

Singles entering the chart were Open Arms by Journey (#58); Mirror, Mirror by Diana Ross (#59); Spirits in the Material World by the Police (#67); That Girl by Stevie Wonder (#69); Daddy's Home by Cliff Richard (#72); When All is Said and Done by Abba (#74); Let's Get it Up by AC/DC (#81); You're My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration by Teddy Pendergrass (#82); One Hundred Ways by Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram (#83); Tell Me Tomorrow (Part 1) by Smokey Robinson (#84); I Believe by Chilliwack (#85); Should I Do It by the Pointer Sisters (#86); Perhaps Love by Placido Domingo and John Denver (#89); and Call Me by Skyy (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Physical--Olivia Newton-John (5th week at #1)
2 Young Turks--Rod Stewart
3 Under Pressure--Queen and David Bowie
4 Centerfold--J. Geils Band
5 Our Lips are Sealed--Go-Go's
6 Oh No--Commodores
7 My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)--Chilliwack
8 Shake it Up--The Cars
9 Trouble--Lindsey Buckingham
10 Waiting for a Girl Like You--Foreigner

Singles entering the chart were Spirits in the Material World by the Police (#40); Feel Like a Number by Bob Seger (#45); Sweet Dreams by Air Supply (#46); and Love is Alright Tonite by Rick Springfield (#48).

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 1 @ Toronto 7

Norm Aubin scored the game's first 2 goals and added 2 assists for the Maple Leafs as they upset the Oilers at Maple Leaf Gardens. Rick Vaive added 2 goals and an assist and Wilf Paiement scored a goal and 2 assists for Toronto. Wayne Gretzky scored his 57th goal of the season for the Oilers, but was also stopped on a penalty shot by goalie Bunny Larocque, who made 34 saves in his best game in a Toronto uniform.



25 years ago
1987

World events
Ecuadorean President Leon Febres Cordero and about 30 members of his military staff were seized and held for 12 hours by air force troops at a base near Guyaquil until the president met the captors’ demands and ordered the release of General Frank Vargas Pazzos, who had been imprisoned after a rebellion attempt in 1986. The air force troops, all but two of whom were enlisted men, opened fire on the president’s party during a military review, killing two bodyguards and wounding seven other people. Mr. Febres was freed after Gen. Vargas came to the base. The president claimed to have been beaten by his captors, but promised not to punish them.

Politics and government
After a meeting of China’s ruling politburo, a communiqué was issued stating that Hu Yaobing, 71, had resigned as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee and had been succeeded as acting secretary by Premier Zhao Ziyang. The communiqué said that Mr. Hu had been accused of “mistakes on major issues of political principle.” The communiqué endorsed supreme leader Deng Xiaoping’s reforms and approaches to Western nations.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board announced that the nation’s output from factories, mines, and utilities had declined 0.9% in 1986.

Disasters
At least 50 people died when a boat carrying passengers to a Roman Catholic festival sank near Abugan Island in the central Philippines.

20 years ago
1992

War
12 years of civil war in El Salvador formally ended when the government signed a peace treaty with guerrilla leaders.

Diplomacy
Several days of peace talks in Washington between Israeli and Arab representatives ended with little apparent progress. The issues had included Israel's plan to construct 5,000 houses in the Gaza Strip and Paestinian desires for self-government.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that consumer prices had risen 3.1% in 1991, the lowest annual increase since 1986.

10 years ago
2002

Protest
Riots broke out in Lagos as the Nigerian Labour Congress began a general strike to protest an 18% increase in the price of gasoline and diesel fuel and a 40% increase in the price of kerosene.

Oil
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Sao Tome and Principe President launched the Joint High Authority to manage exploration in the Gulf of Guinea.