March 25, 2012

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Mystery of Edwin Drood: Part 2, starring John Baragrey

50 years ago
1962

Hockey
NHL
Chicago 1 @ New York 4
Toronto 4 @ Boston 5
Montreal 5 @ Detroit 2

Bobby Hull scored his 50th goal of the season in the Black Hawks' loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, tying him for the single season record with Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion (1960-61) and Maurice "Rocket" Richard (1944-45), both of whom had accomplished the feat with the Montreal Canadiens.

Don McKenney's 22nd goal of the season with 23 seconds remaining in the game gave the Bruins their win over the Maple Leafs at Boston Garden. Dick Duff scored his 16th and 17th goals of the season to lead the Maple Leafs, who were outshot 55-31. Bruce Gamble won the goaltending duel over Johnny Bower.

Billy Hicke scored his 19th and 20th goals of the season to lead the Canadiens past the Red Wings at Olympia Stadium. Red Berenson scored his 1st NHL goal for Montreal, while Gordie Howe scored his 33rd of the season for the Red Wings.

It was the final night for regular season play in the 1961-62 season, and the final standings were:

National Hockey League GP W L T GF GA Pts
Montreal Canadiens 70 42 14 14 259 166 98
Toronto Maple Leafs 70 37 22 11 232 180 85
Chicago Black Hawks 70 31 26 13 217 186 75
New York Rangers 70 26 32 12 195 207 64
Detroit Red Wings 70 23 33 14 184 219 60
Boston Bruins 70 15 47 8 177 306 38

40 years ago
1972

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Without You--Nilsson (3rd week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean (3rd week at #1)
2 Ranger's Waltz--The Mom and Dads
3 Cherish--David Cassidy
4 Brand New Key--Melanie
5 My World--The Bee Gees
6 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--The New Seekers
7 Day by Day--Colleen Hewitt
8 Captain Zero--The Mixture
9 Without You--Nilsson
10 Cos I Luv You--Slade

Singles entering the chart were Follow Your Drum by Don Fardon (#33); Superman by Allison MacCallum (#38); and Sunshine by Jonathan Edwards (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): A Horse with No Name--America

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 A Horse with No Name--America
2 Heart of Gold--Neil Young
3 Puppy Love--Donny Osmond
4 Mother and Child Reunion--Paul Simon
5 The Lion Sleeps Tonight--Robert John
6 Without You--Nilsson
7 Jungle Fever--Chakachas
8 Down by the Lazy River--The Osmonds
9 The Way of Love--Cher
10 In the Rain--The Dramatics

Singles entering the chart were The Family of Man by Three Dog Night (#54); Back Off Boogaloo by Ringo Starr (#65); Look What You've Done for Me by Al Green (#73); (Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All by the 5th Dimension (#77); Help Me Make it Through the Night by Gladys Knight and the Pips (#78); Hearsay by Soul Children (#80); Am I Losing You by the Partridge Family (#84); I Had it All the Time by Tyrone Davis (#85); Morning has Broken by Cat Stevens (#86); Pool of Bad Luck by Joe Simon (#88); Legend in Your Own Time by Carly Simon (#90); Ask Me What You Want by Millie Jackson (#95); Jubilation by Paul Anka (#96); Mister Can't You See by Buffy Sainte-Marie (#97); Hot Rod Lincoln by Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen (#98); and Simple Song of Freedom by Buckwheat (#99)

Canada’s top 10 (RPM)
1 Down by the Lazy River--The Osmonds (2nd week at #1)
2 Heart of Gold--Neil Young
3 Cotton Jenny--Anne Murray
4 A Horse with No Name--America
5 Puppy Love--Donny Osmond
6 Mother and Child Reunion--Paul Simon
7 The Way of Love--Cher
8 Everything I Own--Bread
9 Hurting Each Other--Carpenters
10 Without You--Nilsson

Singles entering the chart were Brandy by Scott English (#77); We Gotta Make it Together by Marty Butler (#78); Baby Blue by Badfinger (#92); Louisiana by Mike Kennedy (#94); The Family of Man by Three Dog Night (#96); Josie by Kris Kristofferson (#97); Train to Glory by Jonathan Edwards (#98); Everyday by John Denver (#99); and Jump Into the Fire by Nilsson (#100). Brandy became a bigger hit three years later, when it was recorded by Barry Manilow under the title Mandy, and became Mr. Manilow's first hit. The song by Mr. English bore no relation to Brandy (You're a Fine Girl), which became a major hit for the Looking Glass later in 1972.

Calgary's top 10
1 Mother and Child Reunion--Paul Simon
2 Joy--Apollo 100
3 Give Ireland Back to the Irish--Wings
4 Down by the Lazy River--The Osmonds
5 Heart of Gold--Neil Young
6 Monday Morning Choo Choo--Stampeders
7 I Just Get Older--Murray McLauchlan
8 Mozart Serenade No. 13--Manuel de Falla Orchestra, conducted by Waldo De Los Rios
9 Life in the Bloodstream--The Guess Who
10 Castles in the Air--Don McLean
Pick hit of the week: Everything I Own--Bread

Castles in the Air was the B-side of Vincent. Mr. McLean re-recorded Castles in the Air in 1981, and it became a hit in late 1981-early 1982.

World events
Rebel troops in El Salvador under the command of Colonel Benjamin Mejia unsuccessfully attempted a coup against the government of General Fidel Sanchez Hernandez. More than 300 soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
Edmonton’s top 12 (CHED)
1 I Love Rock 'N' Roll—Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
2 Open Arms—Journey
3 Sweet Dreams—Air Supply
4 Tonight I’m Yours—Rod Stewart
5 Tainted Love—Soft Cell
6 Make a Move on Me—Olivia Newton-John
7 You Could Have Been with Me—Sheena Easton
8 Should I Do It—Pointer Sisters
9 That Girl—Stevie Wonder
10 Leader of the Band—Dan Fogelberg
11 Take it Easy on Me—Little River Band
12 What Kind of Love is This--Streetheart

Politics and government
The junta that had assumed control of Guatemala in a coup two days earlier officially annulled the results of the March 7 presidential election. General Angel Anibal Guevara had won the election and was due to replace General Romeo Lucas Garcia in July, but the election had been marred by allegations of fraud.

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 7 Calgary 2

Wayne Gretzky scored 2 goals and 2 assists to reach 203 points for the season, becoming the first NHL player to score 200 points in a season.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Caravan of Love--The Housemartins (7th week at #1)

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Stockholm--Orup (2nd week at #1)

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

Died on this date
Nancy Walker, 69. U.S. actress. Miss Walker, born Anna Myrtle Swoyer, was a comic actress who achieved success on Broadway, but was best-known for her television appearances in the 1970s, especially as Ida Morgenstern in the series Rhoda (1974-1978).

Defense
United Nations weapons experts in Baghdad began destroying Iraq’s SCUD missile production and repair facilities.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 2 Winnipeg 2

10 years ago
2002

Space
China launched Shenzhou 3, its third unmanned spacecraft, from the Jiuquan Launch Centre.

Disasters
About 1,000 people were presumed dead when an earthquake of magnitude 6.1 destroyed the densely-populated village of Nahrin in northern Afghanistan.