March 10, 2012

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Upstairs Floor, starring Josephine Hull and John Forsythe



50 years ago
1962

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Wheels--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): March of the Siamese Children--Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Rock-A-Hula Baby/Can't Help Falling in Love--Elvis Presley (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Hey! Baby--Bruce Channel

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Hey! Baby--Bruce Channel
2 Duke of Earl--Gene Chandler
3 Midnight in Moscow--Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen
4 Don't Break the Heart That Loves You--Connie Francis
5 Let Me In--The Sensations
6 Break it to Me Gently--Brenda Lee
7 The Twist--Chubby Checker
8 What's Your Name--Don and Juan
9 The Wanderer--Dion
10 Her Royal Majesty--James Darren

Singles entering the chart were You Better Move On by Arthur Alexander (#87); She Can't Find Her Keys by Paul Petersen (#90); The Rains Came by Big Sambo and the House Wreckers (#94); Ginny Come Lately by Brian Hyland (#99); and Amor by Roger Williams (#100).

40 years ago
1972

Politics and government
Lon Nol assumed supreme power as head of state of Cambodia.

30 years ago
1982

Space
An alignment of the planets in the solar system that occurs every 179 years took place. The 1982 formation was popularly known as “The Jupiter Effect,” which was the title of a book by John R. Gribbin and Stephen Plagemann, published in 1974. Contrary to the expectations of some, nothing unusual resulted from the event, although Edmonton was hit by a huge dump of snow the following day.

Oil
U.S. President Ronald Reagan imposed an embargo on oil imports from Libya, and a curtailment of exports of high technology to that country, because Libya was still supporting international terrorist and subversive activities. The U.S.A. was importing only 2% of its oil from Libya, but 25% of Libya’s oil exports went to the U.S.

Environment
The United States Interior Department reported that the populations of certain birds, including the bald eagle, osprey, brown pelican, and peregrine falcon, had increased in number in the 10 years since the pesticide DDT had been banned. The ban had been imposed after the discovery that the birds were laying eggs with thin shells that easily broke.

25 years ago
1987

Society
The Roman Catholic Church’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a document opposing artificial fertilization and generation of human life outside the body. The Congregation approved only those medical or scientific techniques that would assist married couples who engaged in normal intercourse. The document asked governments to forbid surrogate motherhood and experiments on living embryos, and asserted that “The one conceived must be the fruit of his parents’ love,” and opposed test-tube fertilization as well as artificial insemination of an unmarried woman—or of a widow even if her husband had donated the sperm.

Law
Haiti’s Constituent Assembly approved a new constitution for the country, with a national referendum to come on March 29.

Politics and government
Former Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt announced that he would seek the 1988 Democratic party nomination for President of the United States.

20 years ago
1992

Politics and government
Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton won primaries in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Oklahoma, and caucuses in Hawaii and Missouri for the 1992 Democratic party nomination for President of the United States. Former U.S. Senator Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts won primaries in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and led in the Delaware caucus. President George Bush defeated challenger Pat Buchanan in all the Republican primaries and caucuses, but Mr. Bush’s performance was considered poor for an incumbent president.

Hockey
NHL
Philadelphia 2 @ New York Islanders 5

The Islanders' win at Nassau County Coliseum was the 700th in the career of head coach Al Arbour, making him the second NHL head coach, behind Scotty Bowman, to reach that figure.

10 years ago
2002

Politics and government
Denis Sassou-Nguesso was overwhelmingly re-elected President of the Republic of Congo for a term of seven years.