March 6, 2012

100 years ago
1912

Popular culture
Oreo cookies went on sale for the first time.

50 years ago
1962

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Big Score, starring Rafael Campos, Evans Evans, and Tom Gilleran

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: The Lion Sleeps Tonight--Tight Fit

#1 single in the U.S.A.: (Billboard): Centerfold--J. Geils Band (5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Centerfold--J. Geils Band (6th week at #1)
2 Open Arms--Journey
3 Shake it Up--The Cars
4 That Girl--Stevie Wonder
5 I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)--Daryl Hall & John Oates
6 I Love Rock 'N' Roll--Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
7 Physical--Olivia Newton-John
8 Mirror, Mirror--Diana Ross
9 Sweet Dreams--Air Supply
10 We Got the Beat--Go-Go's

Singles entering the chart were Don't Talk to Strangers by Rick Springfield (#56); I've Never Been to Me by Charlene (#85); Making Love by Roberta Flack (#86); Don't You Want Me by the Human League (#87); and Shanghai Breezes by John Denver (#88).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Tainted Love--Soft Cell (2nd week at #1)
2 Centerfold--J. Geils Band
3 I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)--Daryl Hall & John Oates
4 Our Lips are Sealed--Go-Go's
5 Physical--Olivia Newton-John
6 Tonight I'm Yours--Rod Stewart
7 Letting Go--Straight Lines
8 Open Arms--Journey
9 Let's Get it Up--AC/DC
10 Johnny are You Queer?--Josie Cotton

Singles entering the chart were Don't You Want Me by the Human League (#41); Pac-Man Fever by Buckner & Garcia (#47); What Kind of Love is This by Streetheart (#49); and Joan of Arc by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (#50).

Died on this date
Ayn Rand, 77. Russian-born U.S. philosopher. Founder of the philosophy known as objectivism, Miss Rand was known for the novels We the Living (1936), The Fountainhead (1943), and Atlas Shrugged (1957). For a good summation of objectivism, read Miss Rand's introduction to the 25th anniversary edition of The Fountainhead and the chapter near the end of the book containing Howard Roark's courtroom speech. You can skip the rest of the novel without missing much.

25 years ago
1987

Died on this date
Edward Zorinsky, 58. U.S. politician. Mr. Zorinsky, a Democrat, was a United States Senator from Nebraska from 1977-1987.

Disasters
Two days of earthquakes striking the northeastern jungle of Ecuador concluded with the deaths of 300 people, with 4,000 missing and perhaps 20,000 left homeless.

The British ferry Herald of Free Enterprise, en route from Zeebrugge, Belgium to Dover, capsized in the English Channel. The death toll was put at 193, and about 350 were rescued.

20 years ago
1992

Environment
Canadian Fisheries Minister John Crosbie, citing dwindling stocks and potential loss of the resource, announced a five-year ban on commercial salmon fishing in Newfoundland.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate had risen to 7.3% in February, but that the nation had added 164,000 payroll jobs.

Statistics Canada reported unemployment at 10.6% in February, the highest level in seven years.

10 years ago
2002

At the movies
This blogger attended a preview screening of The Believer.