February 17, 2012

80 years ago
1932

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 4

50 years ago
1962

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Wheels--Marcel Amont

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): The Young Ones--Cliff Richard (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): The Young Ones--Cliff Richard (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Duke of Earl--Gene Chandler

U.S. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Duke of Earl--Gene Chandler (3rd week at #1)
2 The Twist--Chubby Checker
3 Peppermint Twist - Part I--Joey Dee & the Starliters
4 The Wanderer--Dion
5 Norman--Sue Thompson
6 Dear Lady Twist--Gary (U.S.) Bonds
7 Break it to Me Gently--Brenda Lee
8 Hey! Baby--Bruce Channel
9 Crying in the Rain--The Everly Brothers
10 Midnight in Moscow--Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen

Singles entering the chart were Dream Baby by Roy Orbison (#69); Walk on the Wild Side by Brook Benton (#79); Cry Baby Cry by the Angels (#88); Love Letters by Ketty Lester (#89); Soul Twist by King Curtis and the Noble Knights (#90); Joey Baby by Anita and Th' So-and-So's (#96); Pop-Eye by Huey Smith (#99); It's Magic by the Platters (#100); Come Back Silly Girl by the Lettermen (also #100); and Drums are My Beat by Sandy Nelson (also #100).

40 years ago
1972

Died on this date
John Ellwood, 29. Canadian man. Mr. Ellwood was a Grade 13 student at North Toronto Collegiate Institute who was playing football against Jarvis Collegiate Institute on October 25, 1960. He carried the ball into the line, walked off the field unsteadily two plays later, and collapsed on his team's bench. Mr. Ellwood suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage and never regained consciousness. His father was a Salvation Army Colonel, and his parents visited him daily, praying and reading the Bible to him. Mr. Ellwood had been in a coma for 11 years and 115 days when he died.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon departed the United States to visit the People's Republic of China, becoming the first American president to visit the country.

30 years ago
1982

Died on this date
Lee Strasberg, 80. Ukrainian-born U.S. actor, director, and teacher. Mr. Strasberg, a native of what was then Austrian Poland, emigrated to New York City in 1909. He co-founded the Group Theatre in 1931, and became director of the Actors Studio in 1951. Mr. Strasberg is regarded as the "father of method acting in America," which involves actors exploring inner motivations and emotions, often drawing on their own experiences. The list of actors trained by Mr. Strasberg is too lengthy to be mentioned here. He appeared in serveral Broadway plays from the mid-1920s to the early '30s, and in seven movies, receiving an Academy Award nomination for his supporting performance in The Godfather Part II (1974). Mr. Strasberg was still directing the Actors Studio when he died of a heart attack.

Thelonious Monk, 64. U.S. musician. Mr. Monk was a jazz pianist and composer who was known for a unique improvisational style and works such as Round Midnight; Blue Monk; and Straight, No Chaser. He was highly regarded by fellow musicians, but his recordings didn't sell particularly well. Mr. Monk was active from the 1940s through the 1960s, but retreated into isolation for most of his later years until his death from a stroke.

25 years ago
1987

Protest
A group of Tamils from Sri Lanka, seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, stripped off their clothes at London's Heathrow Airport as they were about to be deported.

20 years ago
1992

Crime
A Wisconsin court sentenced serial killer, cannibal, and sodomite necrophiliac Jeffrey Dahmer to 15 consecutive sentences of life in prison for murdering and dismembering 15 young men and boys.

Olympics
Men's hockey
U.S.A. 3 Sweden 3