February 13, 2012

75 years ago
1937

Popular culture
The comic strip Prince Valiant, created by Hal Foster, began running in newspapers.

60 years ago
1952

Died on this date
Elizabeth MacKintosh, 55. U.K. authoress and playwright. Miss MacKintosh wrote novels under the name Josephine Tey and plays under the name Gordon Daviot. She was best known for the novel The Daughter of Time (1951), a detective work investigating the role of Richard III of England in the death of the Princes in the Tower. Miss MacKintosh's best-known play was probably her first, Richard of Bordeaux (1932). She died of liver cancer.

50 years ago
1962

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Strange Miracle, starring David Opatoshu, Miriam Colon, Eduardo Ciannelli, and Frank DeKova

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Town Called Malice/Precious--The Jam

#1 single in the U.S.A.: (Billboard): Centerfold--J. Geils Band (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Centerfold--J. Geils Band (3rd week at #1)
2 I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)--Daryl Hall & John Oates
3 Physical--Olivia Newton-John
4 Harden My Heart--Quarterflash
5 Shake it Up--The Cars
6 Turn Your Love Around--George Benson
7 The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)--Juice Newton
8 Waiting for a Girl Like You--Foreigner
9 Sweet Dreams--Air Supply
10 Leader of the Band--Dan Fogelberg

Singles entering the chart were Make a Move on Me by Olivia Newton-John (#66); On the Way to the Sky by Neil Diamond (#74); (Oh) Pretty Woman by Van Halen (#81); (Theme From) Magnum P.I. by Mike Post (#83); Juke Box Hero by Foreigner (#84); Nobody Said it was Easy by Le Roux (#85); Another Sleepless Night by Anne Murray (#86); Only One You by T.G. Sheppard (#87); Find Another Fool by Quarterflash (#89); Pop Goes the Movies (Part 1) by Meco (#90); Apache by Sugarhill Gang (#95); If You Think You're Lonely Now by Bobby Womack (#96); and Running by Chubby Checker (#98).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Centerfold--J. Geils Band (3rd week at #1)
2 I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)--Daryl Hall & John Oates
3 Tainted Love--Soft Cell
4 Our Lips are Sealed--Go-Go's
5 Physical--Olivia Newton-John
6 Young Turks--Rod Stewart
7 Let's Groove--Earth, Wind & Fire
8 Letting Go--Straight Lines
9 Under Pressure--Queen and David Bowie
10 Waiting on a Friend--Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were Open Arms by Journey (#36); Make a Move on Me by Olivia Newton-John (#43); It's My Party by Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin (#45); Find Another Fool by Quarterflash (#46); Johnny are You Queer? by Josie Cotton (#47); Pretty Woman by Van Halen (#49); and Japanese Boy by Aneka (#50).

25 years ago
1987

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that prices charged by producers for finished goods had risen 0.6% in January. The U.S. Federal Reserve Board announced that industrial production had risen 0.4% in January.