March 26, 2012

120 years ago
1892

Diplomacy
An extradition treaty between France and the United States was signed in Paris.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
The Unexpected, hosted by Herbert Marshall, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Fury and Sound, starring Paul Guilfoyle, Hans Conried, and Lois Hall

50 years ago
1962

On television tonight
Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Kill My Love, starring Richard Carlson, K.T. Stevens, and David Kent



Edmontonia
Chuck Connors, star of the television series The Rifleman, was a guest celebrity at the Edmonton Rodeo before a capacity crowd of 6,000 at the Edmonton Gardens. Mr. Connors was in the ring giving a recital, with 10-year-old Phillip Ross playing his son. Suddenly, a bull broke loose and jumped over the fence and into the ring. Mr. Connors quickly leaped over the fence and out of danger, leaving the boy in the ring. The bull was subdued by rodeo personnel, and young Mr. Ross was unharmed. Mr. Connors said, "I'm an actor, not a bullfighter...I took off in the opposite direction to draw the bull away from the boy." Mr. Connors was able to finish his recital, but his reputation in Edmonton was permanently tarnished.

40 years ago
1972

Defense
Maltese Prime Minister Dom Mintoff and British Defense Secretary Lord Carrington signed a $260-million treaty giving the U.K. use of the Mediterranean island’s air and naval bases for seven years. The agreement assured the retention of Malta in the western defense network, and stipulated that Soviet bloc forces would not be allowed “to be stationed in Malta or to use the facilities there.” It was signed five days before the deadline for the withdrawal of British troops.

30 years ago
1982

World events
The new government of Bangladesh that had taken power in a coup two days earlier declared martial law and announced that several former high government officials and 200 others had been arrested on charges of corruption, misuse of power, and anti-state activities. A.S.M. Ahsan, a retired judge, was appointed President of Bangladesh, but he was regarded as a mere figurehead, with the real power in the hands of Lieutenant General Hussain Mohammed Ershad.

Americana
Ground-breaking ceremonies for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial took place in Washington, D.C.

25 years ago
1987

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average posted another record high of 2,372.59.

Hockey
NHL
Boston 4 Edmonton 1

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Stay--Shakespears Sister (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Barbara Frum, 54. Canadian journalist. Mrs. Frum co-hosted the CBC radio show As it Happens from 1971-1982 and then moved to television to host the news program The Journal from 1982-1992 until her death from cancer.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the gross domestic product had grown at an annual rate of 0.4% during the fourth quarter of 1991, and that the GDP had declined 0.7% for all of 1991.

10 years ago
2002

Diplomacy
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat chose not to attend the Arab League summit in Beirut because Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had indicated that he might not permit Mr. Arafat to the West Bank once he left.

Business
The Finnish telecommunications company Sonera and the Swedish telecommunications company Telia announced that they would merge.