February 25, 2012

90 years ago
1922

Died on this date
Henri Landru, 52. French criminal. Mr. Landru, better known as "Bluebeard," was known to have murdered at least 10 women and a young man from December 1914-January 1919, although the actual number of victims was probably higher. He was convicted on November 30, 1921 of 11 murders, and was guillotined outside the gates of the Prison Saint-Pierre in Versailles.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Perfect Servant, starring Joseph Allen, Henry Daniell, and Albert Dekker

40 years ago
1972

Died on this date
Phan Dinh Soan, 43. South Vietnamese military officer. Brigadier General Soan was killed, along with an American officer, three U.S. servicemen, and two South Vietnamese servicemen, in the crash of a U.S. helicopter in Danang Harbor.

War
In fighting east of Saigon, 34 U.S. soldiers were injured, marking the heavies casualties suffered by U.S. forces in ground action in Vietnam in 10 months. The fighting continued from dusk to noon, when the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces ambushed the U.S. 3rd Brigade, 1st Air Cavalry Division, which was sweeping Long Khanh province, and ended when U.S. bombers, gunships, and artillery came to the aid of the ground troops.

Labour
British miners ended a seven-week strike after a settlement was reached.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CFRN)
1 I Believe--Chiliwack
2 Should I Do It--Pointer Sisters
3 When All is Said and Done--Abba
4 Open Arms--Journey
5 Tainted Love--Soft Cell
6 Through the Years--Kenny Rogers
7 Sea of Love--Del Shannon
8 All Our Tomorrows--Eddie Schwartz
9 You Could Have Been with Me--Sheena Easton
10 My Guy--Sister Sledge

Abominations
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the use of corporal punishment in schools was a violation of the Human Rights Convention.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index for January had increased 0.3%, the smallest increase since July 1980. The price of food had increased, but there were declines in the prices of gasoline, new cars, houses, and clothing.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden: Caravan of Love--The Housemartins (3rd week at #1)

Scandal
The National Collegiate Athletic Association cancelled the 1987 football season for Southern Methodist University as partial punishment for violation of NCAA rules. The NCAA found that SMU officials had given illegal payments totalling $61,000 to 13 football players while the school was already on probation for other rules violations. The money apparently came from a wealthy booster. SMU’s football season for 1988 was limited to 7 games instead of the usual 11, and was barred from television and post-season bowl games until 1990.

20 years ago
1992

Died on this date
Dick Rice, 92. Canadian broadcasting executive. Dr. Rice was the founder of CFRN radio and television in Edmonton. He secured the license for Edmonton’s first television station in 1948, which was six years before the station went on the air.