February 1, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Snejka!

150 years ago
1862

Literature
Julia Ward Howe's poem The Battle Hymn of the Republic was published in Atlantic Monthly.

110 years ago
1902

Born on this date
Langston Hughes. U.S. poet. One of the key figures of the Harlem Renaissance, Mr. Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri.

Died on this date
Salomon Jadassohn, 70. German musician and composer. Mr. Jadassohn was a classical pianist and piano teacher who composed more than 140 works, including four symphonies, two piano concertos, lieder, sonatas, opera and a considerable amount of chamber music.

100 years ago
1912

Edmontonia
The City of Strathcona officially merged with the City of Edmonton.

70 years ago
1942

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

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Tales of Tomorrow, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: The Escape: Part 2, starring Roger De Koven, Eddie Hyans, and Brian Keith



Technology
Equipment for detecting unlicensed users of television sets in the United Kingdom was unveiled in London.

50 years ago
1962

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): The Young Ones--Cliff Richard and the Shadows (4th week at #1)

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

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Trouble--Lindsey Buckingham

Diplomacy
Two border crossings between Egypt and Libya were reopened. Libya had closed the crossings three years earlier out of anger with Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel. Egypt and Libya had also fought a four-day war in 1977. Martial law was still in effect along the border. It was said that the border had been reopened to permit the 200,000 Egyptians who worked in Libya to visit their homeland.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in France: T'en va pas--Elsa (5th week at #1)

Law
Ethiopian voters gave overwhelming approval to a new constitution establishing a civilian Communist government.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Let's Talk About Sex--Salt-n-Pepa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (3rd week at #1)

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

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me-George Michael/Elton John

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John
2 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
3 Diamonds and Pearls--Prince and the New Power Generation
4 All 4 Love--Color Me Badd
5 Mysterious Ways--U2
6 The Way I Feel About You--Karyn White
7 Finally--Ce Ce Peniston
8 I Love Your Smile--Shanice
9 Black or White--Michael Jackson
10 Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana

Singles entering the chart included I Can't Dance by Genesis (#62); You're All that Matters to Me by Curtis Stigers (#83); Uhh Ahh by Boyz II Men (#86); and Masterpiece by Atlantic Starr (#87).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Mysterious Ways--U2
2 Black or White--Michael Jackson
3 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
4 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me-George Michael/Elton John
5 There Will Never Be Another Tonight--Bryan Adams
6 No Regrets--Tom Cochrane
7 No Son of Mine--Genesis
8 Keep Coming Back--Richard Marx
9 All 4 Love--Color Me Badd
10 Change--Lisa Stansfield

Singles entering the chart were I Can't Dance by Genesis (#34); Remember the Time by Michael Jackson (#40); I'll Get By by Eddie Money (#49); Good for Me by Amy Grant (#52); King of the Heap by the Odds (#53); Hearts Don't Think (They Feel) by Natural Selection (#56); Love Me All Up by Stacy Earl (#57); To Be with You by Mr. Big (#65); Levon by Jon Bon Jovi (#68); Hazard by Richard Marx (#72); Give it All Up by Darby Mills and the Unsung Heroes (#75); I Love Your Smile by Shanice (#76); Again Tonight by John Mellencamp (#83); Vibeology by Paula Abdul (#84); and Make You a Believer by Sass Jordan (#87).

10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
Daniel Pearl, 38. U.S. journalist. Mr. Pearl, a reporter with The Wall Street Journal, was beheaded by Islamic terrorists in Pakistan nine days after being kidnapped in Karachi. Mr. Pearl's death wasn't confirmed until a video was released on February 21, 2002.