April 17, 2012

130 years ago
1882

Born on this date
Artur Schnabel. Austro-Hungarian born musician and composer. Mr. Schnabel was born in what is now part of Poland, but moved to Vienna with his family at the age of 2. He began his career as a concert pianist in 1897, moved to Berlin in 1898, and became known for his performances of the works of German composers, especially Beethoven and Schubert. Mr. Schnabel fled Germany after the Nazis came to power in 1933, eventually settling in the United States in 1939 and becoming an American citizen in 1944. His compositions included three symphonies, works for piano, and chamber and choral works. Mr. Schnabel died in Switzerland on August 15, 1951 at the age of 69.

120 years ago
1892

Died on this date
Alexander Mackenzie, 70. Prime Minister of Canada, 1873-1878. A native of the Pertshire hills of Scotland, Mr. Mackenzie moved to Canada at the age of 20, becoming a lawyer in Kingston and later in Sarnia, Ontrario. He became the first official leader of the Liberal Party of Canada in 1872, and formed a government in November 1873 when the Conservative government of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald had lost the support of Parliament as a result of scandals concerning the awarding of contracts in the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Liberals were rewarded with a majority of seats in the House of Commons in the federal election on January 22, 1874, but Canada was afflicted by a serious economic depression ove the next several years, and Mr. Macdonald's Conservatives were returned to power in the federal election of September 17, 1878. Achievements of Mr. Mackenzie's government included creation of the Supreme Court of Canada and introduction of the secret ballot into Canadian elections. Ironically, the first election in which voting was done by secret ballot was the one that defeated Mr. Mackenzie's government. Mr. Mackenzie resigned as Liberal leader upon his party's defeat and returned to private life in Sarnia.

75 years ago
1937

At the movies
The Warner Brothers cartoon Porky's Duck Hunt opened in theatres. It marked the first appearance of Daffy Duck, and Mel Blanc's first appearance as the voice of Porky Pig.

50 years ago
1962

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Kerry Blue, starring Gene Evans, Carmen Mathews, and John Zaremba

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Toronto 1 @ Chicago 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Bobby Hull and Reg Fleming each scored 2 goals and Glenn Hall made 30 saves as the Black Hawks defeated the Maple Leafs at Chicago Stadium. Johnny Bower started in goal for Toronto but left with an injury in the 1st period and was replaced by Don Simmons for the balance of the series. With 2:36 remaining in regulation time, Mr. Mikita and Frank Mahovlich of the Maple Leafs got into a stick-swinging duel and were both penalized with majors and game misconducts.

40 years ago
1972

Politics and government
Nihat Erim resigned as Premier of Turkey.

Boxing
Jerry Quarry (42-5-4) knocked out Eduardo Corletti (32-11-5) at 2:58 of the 1st round of a heavyweight bout at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

Track and field
Nina Kuscsik of Huntington, New York became the first official winner of the women's event in the 76-year history of the Boston Marathon.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: My Camera Never Lies--Bucks Fizz

#1 single in the U.S.A.: (Billboard): I Love Rock 'N' Roll--Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Love Rock 'N' Roll--Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (4th week at #1)
2 We Got the Beat--Go-Go's
3 Titles--Vangelis
4 That Girl--Stevie Wonder
5 Freeze Frame/Flamethrower--J. Geils Band
6 Make a Move on Me--Olivia Newton-John
7 Don't Talk to Strangers--Rick Springfield
8 Key Largo--Bertie Higgins
9 Centerfold--J. Geils Band
10 Pretty Woman--Van Halen

Singles entering the chart were Heat of the Moment by Asia (#77); Murphy's Law by Cheri (#87); and Cat People by David Bowie (#89).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Love Rock 'N' Roll--Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (5th week at #1)
2 Freeze Frame--J. Geils Band
3 We Got the Beat--Go-Go's
4 Don't You Want Me--The Human League
5 Open Arms--Journey
6 Tainted Love--Soft Cell
7 Key Largo--Bertie Higgins
8 Pretty Woman--Van Halen
9 Pac-Man Fever--Buckner & Garcia
10 Make a Move on Me--Olivia Newton-John

Singles entering the chart were Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder (#42); Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) by Elton John (#44); Six Months in a Leaky Boat by Split Enz (#49); and Hiding from Love by Rosetta Stone (#50).

Abominations
The Constitution Act, 1982 came into effect in Canada. The worst part of the revised Constitution was the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which did away with parliamentary supremacy in favour of Supreme Court-made law. I predicted that the only people who would end up having any rights would be perverts, criminals, deadbeats, and malcontents, and everything that’s happened in the last 30 years has vindicated that view.

Hockey
CHL
Adams Cup
Indianapolis 3 Wichita 2 @ Edmonton

This blogger was among the more than 14,000 in attendance to see the New York Islanders’ farm team edge the Edmonton Oilers’ farm team in a playoff game at Northlands Coliseum. Kelly Hrudey of the Checkers won the goaltending duel over Andy Moog of the Wind.

25 years ago
1987

Terrorism
Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka stopped three buses and three other vehicles along a state highway, identified which travellers were members of the country’s Sinhalese minority, and attacked them with machine guns and grenades, killing 127 and wounding 60.

10 years ago
2002

Politics and government
A court in Madagascar ordered a recount of the votes in the disputed presidential election.

Business
Hewlett-Packard announced that independent inspectors had confirmed that the disputed shareholder vote on March 19 had been won by those voting with CEO Carly Fiorina in favour of a merger with Compaq Computer.