February 15, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Arlene Carlstrom!

80 years ago
1932

At the movies
The Reckoning, directed by Harry L. Fraser, and starring Sally Blane and James Murray, opened in theatres.



70 years ago
1942

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

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sherry Jackson!

A child actress who blossomed into a beautiful young woman, Miss Jackson was born in Wendell, Idaho.

War
British forces on Singapore surrendered unconditionally to Japanese forces, seven days after the Japanese had invaded the island.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Tales of Tomorrow, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Age of Peril, starring Phyllis Kirk, Donald Briggs, and Dennis Patrick



Britannica
Nine days after his death, King George VI was buried at St. George's Chapel on his Windsor Castle estate.

50 years ago
1962

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): The Young Ones--Cliff Richard and the Shadows (6th week at #1)

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

At the movies
Ponzio Pilato (Pontius Pilate), directed by Gian Paolo Callegari and Irving Rapper, and starring Jean Marais, Jeanne Crain, Basil Rathbone, Leticia Roman, and John Drew Barrymore, opened in theatres in Italy.



40 years ago
1972

Defense
The United States Senate voted 83-0 to ratify a treaty banning nuclear weapons from the ocean floor, making the U.S.A. one of the nations pledging not to install nuclear arms more than 12 miles off their shores.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Trouble--Lindsey Buckingham (3rd week at #1)

Labour
A strike began at Edmonton Transit, bringing a halt to bus and light rail transit service in the city for six weeks.

Disasters
Ocean Ranger, the world's largest semi-submersible oil-drilling rig, capsized and sank off Newfoundland's Grand Banks, killing all 84 crew members, 56 of whom were from Newfoundland.

Religion
It was announced that Pope John Paul II had relieved Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of his pastoral duties in the Diocese of Munich and Freising in order to move to Rome to carry out his duties as Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, originally known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in France: T'en va pas--Elsa (7th week at #1)

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Let's Talk About Sex--Salt-n-Pepa (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Qui a le droit...Patrick Bruel (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'm Too Sexy--Right Said Fred (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Diamonds and Pearls--Prince and the New Power Generation (2nd week at #1)
2 I Love Your Smile--Shanice
3 Mysterious Ways--U2
4 The Way I Feel About You--Karyn White
5 Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana
6 To Be with You--Mr. Big
7 I Can't Make You Love Me--Bonnie Raitt
8 There Will Never Be Another Tonight--Bryan Adams
9 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John
10 I'll Get By--Eddie Money

Singles entering the chart were You Showed Me by Salt-N-Pepa (#84); Helluva by Brotherhood Creed (#86); Everlasting Love by Tony Terry (#91); and Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes) by Mint Condition (#93).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me-George Michael/Elton John
2 Mysterious Ways--U2
3 There Will Never Be Another Tonight--Bryan Adams
4 No Regrets--Tom Cochrane
5 Diamonds and Pearls--Prince and the New Power Generation
6 I'm Too Sexy--Right Said Fred
7 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
8 Rescued (By the Arms of Love)--Glass Tiger
9 Go Back to Your Woods--Robbie Robertson
10 Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana

Singles entering the chart were Justified and Ancient by the KLF (featuring Tammy Wynette) (#63); Your Song by Rod Stewart (#73); Church of Your Heart by Roxette (#75); Too Much Passion by the Smithereens (#80); Love Monkey #9 by Bootsauce (#86); Until Your Love Comes Back Around by RTZ (#89); Mama, I'm Coming Home by Ozzy Osbourne (#91); Live and Let Die by Guns N' Roses (#93); Save the Best for Last by Vanessa Williams (#94); Thinkin' Back by Color Me Badd (#95); and Keep it Comin' by Keith Sweat (#96).

10 years ago
2002

Britannica
50 years to the day of the funeral of King George VI, the funeral of his youngest daughter, Princess Margaret, took place. It was a private service for family and friends. Elizabeth, the Queen Mother attended; it was her last public appearance.

Olympics
In an unprecedented move, Canadian figure skaters Jamie Sale and Daniel Pelletier were awarded a gold medal in the pairs event at the Winter games in Salt Lake City, the day after the French judge had admitted being pressured to give Russian pair Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze a higher score. The French judge was fired and her scoring disallowed, while the Russians were allowed to keep their gold medal--which, of course, should have been changed to a silver medal.

Labour
The musicians of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra went on strike. The main issue was governance; the musicians were unhappy that they had virtually no say over how the orchestra was run.