June 7, 2012

120 years ago
1892

Society
Homer Plessy, an octoroon, was arrested for sitting in a car reserved for white people only on a commuter train in Louisiana. The incident led to the U.S. Supreme Court's Plessy v. Ferguson ruling in 1896 upholding "separate but equal" state laws requiring reacial segregation.

75 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Jean Harlow, 26. U.S. actress. Miss Harlow, born Harlean Harlow Carpenter, was one of the biggest stars of the 1930s, in movies such as Hell's Angels (1930); Platinum Blonde (1931); and Dinner at Eight (1933). She was most of the way through the filming of Saratoga (1937) when she collapsed on the set, and died of kidney failure nine days later.

70 years ago
1942

War
The Battle of Midway concluded after three days of fighting. The United States lost one aircraft carrier (the Yorktown); 150 planes; and 307 men. Japan lost 4 aircraft carriers; 253 planes; and 3,500 men (3,057 killed).

60 years ago
1952

Hit Parade
#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Blue Tango--Leroy Anderson and his "Pops" Concert Orchestra (Best Seller--4th week at #1), tied with Here in My Heart--Al Martino (Best Seller--1st week at #1); Kiss of Fire--Georgia Gibbs (Disc Jockey--4th week at #1); Wheel of Fortune--Kay Starr (Juke Box--10th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Kiss of Fire--Georgia Gibbs (2nd week at #1)
--Tony Martin
2 Blue Tango--Leroy Anderson and his "Pops" Concert Orchestra
--Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra
3 A Guy is a Guy--Doris Day
4 I'm Yours--Don Cornell
--Eddie Fisher
5 Wheel of Fortune--Kay Starr
6 The Blacksmith Blues--Ella Mae Morse
7 Be Anything (But Be Mine)--Eddy Howard
8 Here in My Heart--Al Martino
9 I'll Walk Alone--Don Cornell
--Jane Froman
10 Delicado--Percy Faith and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were Raminay (The New Orleans Chimney Sweep) by Jo Stafford (#21); That's How it Goes by Frankie Laine (#25); I Waited a Little Too Long by Kay Starr (#26); Oakie Boogie by Ella Mae Morse (#31); Heavenly Father, with versions by Evelyn Knight, Fran Warren, and Edna McGriff with Buddy Lucas and his Band Of Tomorrow (#36); and Rutza, Rutza by the Bell Sisters (#41).

50 years ago
1962

Hit parade

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Good Luck Charm--Elvis Presley (3rd week at #1)

40 years ago
1972

War
South Vietnam reported that its troops were driving North Vietnamese forces from pockets they had held since they had begun infiltrating the Central Highlands city of Kontum almost two weeks before.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Mickey--Toni Basil

Died on this date
Lou DiMuro, 50. U.S. baseball umpire. Mr. DiMuro was an umpire in the American League from 1963-1982. He died of head injuries two hours after being struck by a car while crossing a busy street in Arlingon, Texas, shortly after working in a game between the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox.

War
Israeli tanks and infantry captured several Palestine Liberation Organization strongholds, including Beaufort Castle, in southern Lebanon. Israeli jets fought with Syrian planes over the southern suburbs of Beirut. Nabatiye and Hesbeya were captured.

British troops captured a ridge overlooking the airfield five miles from the Falkland Islands’ capital of Stanley.

The French embassy in Chad reported that Chad’s capital city of Ndjamena had fallen to rebel forces, ending two years of fighting between the Armed Forces of the North, commanded by Hissen Habre, and troops loyal to President Goukouni Oueddei. The rebels had launched their offensive from the northeast after the government of Libya had withdrawn its forces from Chad the previous November.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan arrived in Rome for a six-hour visit with Italian leaders and an audience with Pope John Paul II. Mr. Reagan then flew to London, and was greeted at Windsor Castle by Queen Elizabeth II.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Viens boire un p'tit coup à la maison--License IV (9th week at #1)

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Los Angeles Lakers 103 @ Boston 109 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Larry Bird scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Dennis Johnson scored 26 points, and Kevin McHale added 21 points and 10 rebounds to help the Celtics defeat the Lakers before 14,890 fans at Boston Garden. Magic Johnson led the Lakers with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists.

20 years ago
1992

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Chicago 94 @ Portland 84 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Michael Jordan scored 26 points and Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant each added 18 as the Bulls beat the Trail Blazers before 12,888 fans at Memorial Coliseum. Portland's Clyde Drexler led all scorers with 32 points.

10 years ago
2002

Diplomacy
The leaders of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgystan, and Tajikistan signed a charter creating a new international organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.