June 24, 2012

570 years ago
1542

Born on this date
John of the Cross. Spanish mystic. John of the Cross, born Juan de Yepes y Álvarez, was a Roman Catholic priest and prior in the Carmelite Order who, with Teresa of Ávila, helped to found the movement eventually known as Discalced (barefoot) Carmelites. He died of erysipelas on December 14, 1591 at the age of 49, and was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726 as St. John of the Cross.

100 years ago
1912

Boxing
Frank Klaus (63-12-12), despite being 3 pounds over the weight limit, defended his claim to the world middleweight title with a victory over challenger Georges Carpentier (58-9-5) at Grand Hall des Magasins Généraux, Dieppe, France, when Mr. Carpentier was disqualified in the 19th round after his manager entered the ring after being hit twice by Mr. Klaus's elbow.



90 years ago
1922

Died on this date
Walter Rathenau, 54. German businessman and politician. A leading industrialist, Mr. Rathenau became Germany's Foreign Minister on February 1, 1922. He was assassinated by army officers Erwin Kern and Hermann Fischer two months after signing the Treaty of Rapallo with the U.S.S.R., in which Germany renounced her territorial claims from World War I. Anti-Semitism was said to be a factor in Mr. Rathenau's assassination.

Football
The American Professional Football Association changed its name to the National Football League.

80 years ago
1932

World events
A coup ended the absolute monarchy of King Prajadhipok of Thailand, whose Chakri dynasty had ruled the country for 150 years. Thailand's absolute monarchy, which had existed under several dynasties for 700 years, was replaced by a constitutional monarchy.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Night of Reckoning, starring John Baragrey and Gusti Huber

Horse racing
Eddie Arcaro, 36, became the first American jockey to achieve 3,000 wins when he rode a horse named Ascent to victory at Arlington Park, near Chicago.

50 years ago
1962

Baseball
Jack Reed's 2-run home run into the upper deck of Tiger Stadium in the top of the 22nd inning gave the New York Yankees a 9-7 win over the Detroit Tigers. Jim Bouton pitched the bottom of the 22nd inning to preserve the victory.

40 years ago
1972

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Vincent--Don McLean (2nd week at #1)

Rhodesia's Top 10 (Lyons Maid)
1 Beautiful Sunday--Daniel Boone
2 Amazing Grace--Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
3 Beg, Steal or Borrow--The New Seekers
4 Mother and Child Reunion--Paul Simon
5 Son of My Father--Chicory Tip
6 Pasadena--John Edmond
7 A Horse with No Name--America
8 American Pie--Don McLean
9 Amazing Grace--Murray Campbell
10 How Do You Do?--The Rising Sons

Singles entering the chart were Iron Horse by Christie (#18) and Too Beautiful to Last by Engelbert Humperdinck (#20).

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Amazing Grace--Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (4th week at #1)
2 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face--Roberta Flack
3 Hurting Each Other--Carpenters
4 A Horse with No Name--America
5 Without You--Nilsson
6 Vincent--Don McLean
7 Alone Again (Naturally)--Gilbert O'Sullivan
8 Everything I Own--Bread
9 Marshall's Portable Music Machine--Robin Jolley
10 Most People I Know Think that I'm Crazy--The Aztecs

Singles entering the chart were Young New Mexican Puppeteer by Tom Jones (#25); Someday Never Comes by Creedence Clearwater Revival (#30); Beautiful Sunday by Daniel Boone (#34); and Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard by Paul Simon (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Candy Man--Sammy Davis, Jr. with the Mike Curb Congregation (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Nice to Be with You--Gallery
2 Song Sung Blue--Neil Diamond
3 The Candy Man--Sammy Davis, Jr. with the Mike Curb Congregation
4 Sylvia's Mother--Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
5 Outa-Space--Billy Preston
6 (Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All--The 5th Dimension
7 Troglodyte--The Jimmy Castor Bunch
8 Lean on Me--Bill Withers
9 Oh Girl--Chi-Lites
10 Too Late to Turn Back Now--Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose

Singles entering the chart were Hold Her Tight by the Osmonds (#70); Bed and Board by Barbara Mason (#82); Sweet Inspiration/Where You Lead by Barbra Streisand (#83); War Song by Neil Young and Graham Nash (#85); You Don't Mess Around with Jim by Jim Croce (#86); Starting All Over Again by Mel and Tim (#88); Motorcycle Mama by Sailcat (#92); I Miss You (Part 1) by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (#94); Got Pleasure by Ohio Players (#97); and A Simple Man by Lobo (#99).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Amazing Grace--Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (3rd week at #1)
2 Sylvia's Mother--Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
3 The Candy Man--Sammy Davis, Jr. with the Mike Curb Congregation
4 Old Man--Neil Young
5 Song Sung Blue--Neil Diamond
6 Nice to Be with You--Gallery
7 (Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All--The 5th Dimension
8 Morning has Broken--Cat Stevens
9 Isn't Life Strange--The Moody Blues
10 Wild Eyes--Stampeders

Singles entering the chart were Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O'Sullivan (#85); Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Blue Haze (#89); Where is the Love by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway (#91); Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) by the Hollies (#92); Beautiful Sunday by Daniel Boone (#94); Gone by Joey Heatherton (#96); Nobody But You by Loggins and Messina (#97); Starman by David Bowie (#98); Ask Me What You Want by Millie Jackson (#99); and Hushabye by Robert John (#100).

Calgary's Top 10
1 Song Sung Blue--Neil Diamond
2 Nice to Be with You--Gallery
3 Troglodyte--The Jimmy Castor Bunch
4 Amazing Grace--Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
5 Young New Mexican Puppeteer--Tom Jones
6 Outa-Space--Billy Preston
7 Little Bitty Pretty One--The Jackson 5
8 Powder Blue Mercedes Queen--The Raiders
9 Guns, Guns, Guns--The Guess Who
10 Walkin' in the Rain with the One I Love--Love Unlimited
Pick hit of the week: How Do You Do--Mouth and MacNeal

Disasters
Nine people were killed when a light plane crashed and burned on a street in Winnipeg shortly after takeoff.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
Edmonton’s Top 10 (CFRN)
1 Rosanna—Toto (3rd week at #1)
2 Who Can it Be Now?—Men at Work
3 When He Shines—Sheena Easton
4 Six Months in a Leaky Boat—Split Enz
5 Any Day Now—Ronnie Milsap
6 Love’s Been a Little Bit Hard on Me—Juice Newton
7 I Don’t Know Where to Start—Eddie Rabbitt
8 The Other Woman—Ray Parker, Jr.
9 Love Over and Over—Kate and Anna McGarrigle
10 My Girl—Donnie Iris

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Hamilton (2-1) 24 @ Toronto (3-0) 34

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Jackie Gleason, 71. U.S. actor and bandleader. “The Great One” was one of television’s biggest stars from 1949-1971, starting with The Life of Riley (1949-1950). He created a number of characters for skits on The Jackie Gleason Show, none more popular or enduring than bus driver Ralph Kramden, the main character of “The Honeymooners.” The Honeymooners became a separate series in 1955-56, but the ratings weren’t as high as for Mr. Gleason’s variety show, so the series was cancelled after one season, and the variety show returned, incorporating “The Honeymooners” skits. Mr. Gleason had appeared in minor roles in movies in the 1940s (often as "Jackie C. Gleason"), and appeared in major roles in such films as The Hustler (1961); Gigot (1962); Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962); Papa’s Delicate Condition (1963); Soldier in the Rain (1963); Skidoo (1968); Smokey and the Bandit (1977); and Nothing in Common (1986). Despite not being able to read music, Mr. Gleason had a good ear, and he directed an orchestra that recorded best-selling albums with titles such as Music for Lovers Only and Music to Change Her Mind.

Terrorism
The Organization for the Defense of Free People freed the son of the Lebanese defense minister and his driver, who had been kidnapped in Beirut a week earlier. American Broadcasting Company correspondent Charles Glass, who had also been kidnapped on June 17, remained in custody.

Football
CFL
The day before they were to open their regular season in Toronto, the Montreal Alouettes folded. This blogger first heard the news on the radio just after 4 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time while working on an all-night assignment for library school.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Abba-esque--Erasure

10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
Pierre Werner, 88. Prime Minister of Luxembourg, 1959-1974; 1979-1984. Mr. Werner was often credited as the first politician to suggest a single European currency.

Diplomacy
U.S. President George W. Bush made a speech outlining a new Middle east policy, in which he said that if the Palestinian people ended terrorism, reformed their economy, established democracy, and changed their leadership, the United States would support the creation of a provisional Palestinian state.