January 29, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Ken Dies!

210 years ago
1802

Americana
John Beckley became the first Librarian of Congress. He was paid $2 per day.

90 years ago
1922

Born on this date
Gerda Steinhoff. German war criminal. SS-Oberaufseherin Steinhoff took part in selections of prisoners to be sent to the gas chambers at the Stutthof concentration camp. She was publicly hanged at the age of 24 on July 4, 1946, on Biskupia Gorka Hill, near Gdańsk.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Death Drum, starring Herbert Berghof, Ian Keith, and Wright King



The Storm, on WKRC
Tonight's episode: No Gods to Serve, starring Jay Overholts, George Brengel, Paul Lauman, Jim Smith, Duane Brady, and Bob Lang

The Storm was a locally-produced show broadcast on WKRC in Cincinnati. No Gods to Serve, was one of a number of scripts for the show written by Rod Serling.





50 years ago
1962

On television tonight
Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff, on NBC
Tonight's episode: A Wig for Miss Devore, starring Patricia Barry, John Baragrey, and John Fieldler



40 years ago
1972

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--New Seekers (4th week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Imagine--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (5th week at #1)
2 Peace Train--Cat Stevens
3 The Desiderata--Les Crane
4 Day by Day--Colleen Hewitt
5 Maggie May/Reason to Believe--Rod Stewart
6 Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves--Cher
7 Cherish--David Cassidy
8 Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)--Benny Hill
9 Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey--Paul & Linda McCartney
10 The Banks of the Ohio--Olivia Newton-John

Singles entering the chart were Stones by Neil Diamond (#28); Is This the Way to Amarillo? by Tony Christie (#36); and Your Move by Yes (#38).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean (3rd week at #1)
2 Let's Stay Together--Al Green
3 Day After Day--Badfinger
4 Clean Up Woman--Betty Wright
5 Sunshine--Jonathan Edwards
6 Sugar Daddy--The Jackson 5
7 Scorpio--Dennis Coffey and the Detroit Guitar Band
8 Drowning in the Sea of Love--Joe Simon
9 You are Everything--Stylistics
10 Brand New Key--Melanie

Singles entering the chart were Talking Loud and Saying Nothing (Part 1) by James Brown (#65); Heart of Gold by Neil Young (#77); I Gotcha by Joe Tex (#84); Standing in for Jody by Johnnie Taylor (#89); Gimme Some More by the JB's (#93); Cry by Lynn Anderson (#96); Mr. Penguin (Part 1) by Lunar Funk (#97); Where are You by Cat Stevens (#98); Every Day of My Life by Bobby Vinton (#99); and Can I by Eddie Kendricks (#100).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean
2 Brand New Key--Melanie
3 Day After Day--Badfinger
4 Sunshine--Jonathan Edwards
5 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--New Seekers
6 It's One of Those Nights--The Partridge Family
7 Never Been to Spain--Three Dog Night
8 Stay with Me--Faces
9 Cherish--David Cassidy
10 No Good to Cry--The Poppy Family

Singles entering the chart were Love Is by Mashmakhan (#69); Same Old Feelin' by Fergus (#82); The Nickel Song by Melanie (#85); Victorious by Hartford Baby Grands (#94); Son of Shaft by the Bar-Kays (#95); Jeepster by T. Rex (#96); The Way of Love by Cher (#97); Heart of Gold by Neil Young (#98); I'm a Preacher by Tony Kingston (#99); and Jungle Fever by Chakachas (#100).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Brand New Key--Melanie
2 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--New Seekers
3 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean
4 Without You--Nilsson
5 Never Been to Spain--Three Dog Night
6 Friends with You--John Denver
7 Don't Say You Don't Remember--Beverly Bremers
8 No Good to Cry--The Poppy Family
9 It's One of Those Nights--The Partridge Family
10 Day After Day--Badfinger
Pick hit of the week: Cotton Jenny--Anne Murray

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
Winnipeg's Top 10 (CFRW)
1 Tainted Love--Soft Cell
2 Centerfold--J. Geils Band
3 Our Lips are Sealed--Go-Go's
4 Jump (album track)--Loverboy
5 Letting Go--Straight Lines
6 Abacab--Genesis
7 Love is Alright Tonight--Rick Springfield
8 Liza Radley (album track)--The Jam
9 My Kinda Lover--Billy Squier
10 Prince Charming--Adam and the Ants

Winnipeg's Top 10 (CHIQ)
1 Turn Your Love Around--George Benson
2 Cool Night--Paul Davis
3 Trouble--Lindsey Buckingham
4 Spirits in the Material World--The Police
5 Leather and Lace--Stevie Nicks and Don Henley
6 The Sweetest Thing--Juice Newton
7 Comin' in and out of Your Life--Barbra Streisand
8 I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)--Daryl Hall & John Oates
9 Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight--Eddie Rabbitt
10 Leader of the Band--Dan Fogelberg

25 years ago
1987

World events
Philippine President Corazon Aquino suppressed an attempted insurrection.

20 years ago
1992

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Kodachrome

10 years ago
2002

Politics and government
In his annual State of the Union message, U.S. President George W. Bush labelled Iraq, Iran, and North Korea an "axis of evil."