July 12, 2012

300 years ago
1712

Died on this date
Richard Cromwell, 85. Lord Protector of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, 1658-1659. Mr. Cromwell became Lord Protector upon the death of his father Oliver on September 3, 1658. Opposition from the army led him to resign on May 25, 1659. When Charles II--who had been forced to flee England in 1949--returned in 1660 to restore the monarchy, Mr. Cromwell left for France, where he spent the next 20 years. He returned to England in 1680 or 1681 and spent the rest of his life living off the income from a family estate.

150 years ago
1862

Americana
The United States Congress authorized the Medal of Honor.

120 years ago
1892

Disasters
An avalanche from Mont Blanc killed 200 people and destroyed villages in France.

75 years ago
1937

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Bill Cosby!
The popular comedian and actor was born in Philadelphia.

60 years ago
1952

Hit Parade
#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Auf Widerseh'n Sweetheart--Vera Lynn (Best seller--1st week at #1); Here in My Heart--Al Martino (Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1); Kiss of Fire--Georgia Gibbs (Juke Box--5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Kiss of Fire--Georgia Gibbs (7th week at #1)
--Tony Martin
2 Here in My Heart--Al Martino
3 I'm Yours--Don Cornell
--Eddie Fisher
4 Delicado--Percy Faith and his Orchestra
5 Blue Tango--Leroy Anderson and his "Pops" Concert Orchestra
--Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra
6 Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart--Vera Lynn
7 I'll Walk Alone--Don Cornell
--Jane Froman
8 Walkin' My Baby Back Home--Johnnie Ray
9 Be Anything (But Be Mine)--Eddy Howard
10 Lover--Peggy Lee and Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were I Remember When by Eddie Fisher (#31); In the Good Old Summertime by Les Paul and Mary Ford (#32); and This is the Beginning of the End by Don Cornell (#36). In the Good Old Summertime was the B-side of Smoke Rings, which charted at #20.

At the movies
The Turning Point, directed by William Dieterle, and starring William Holden, Edmond O'Brien, and Alexis Smith, received its premiere screening in Los Angeles.



50 years ago
1962

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): I Can't Stop Loving You--Ray Charles

Music
Brian Jones, Ian Stewart Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Dick Taylor, and Tony Chapman played their first gig as the Rollin' Stones at the Marquee Club in London.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Toronto Argonauts intrasquad game
White 21 Blue 7

40 years ago
1972

Diplomacy
At a press conference, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi termed the recent talks in Simla, India with Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto a “worthwhile beginning,” but ruled out return of 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war until assured of a “durable peace,” which would be “closely connected with the border,” including that of Kashmir. The two leaders had concluded a five-day summit 10 days earlier with an agreement calling for the return of territory captured during the 14-day war between the countries the previous December, as well as eventual settlement of the 25-year-old dispute over the status of Kashmir.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Saskatchewan (0-2) 16 @ Ottawa (2-0) 19

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I've Never Been to Me--Charlene (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Kenneth More, 67. U.K. actor. One of the most popular British stars of the 1950s, Mr. More appeared in such movies as Genevieve (1953); Doctor in the House (1954); Reach for the Sky (1956); A Night to Remember (1958); and Sink the Bismarck! (1960), and in the BBC television series The Forsyte Saga (1967).

Personal
This blogger got his driver’s license on the first attempt.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan lifted economic sanctions that he had imposed on Argentina at the outbreak of that country’s war with the U.K. over the Falkland Islands. However, the ban on sales of military equipment remained in effect, pending an investigation of the situation in the islands.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: La Isla Bonita--Madonna

Football
CFL
Hamilton (1-2) 40 @ Edmonton (2-1) 30

Quarterback Tom Porras, who had replaced injured Ken Hobart in a loss at home to the Eskimos a week earlier, completed 28 of 42 passes for 464 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the Tiger-Cats to their first win ever at Commonwealth Stadium and their first win in Edmonton since 1968. Earl Winfield, playing his second CFL game, caught 7 passes for 158 yards, including a 58-yard play for his first CFL touchdown. Steve Stapler and Ken Zachary also caught TD passes for the Tiger-Cats, while Mr. Zachary rushed 14 times for 68 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown. Rocky DiPietro contributed to the Hamilton attack with 8 receptions for 156 yards. Edmonton quarterbacks Matt Dunigan and Damon Allen combined to complete 26 of 45 passes for 450 yards, but also gave up 3 interceptions. Edmonton kicker Tom Dixon was good on just 3 of 6 field goal attempts. The loss spoiled the debut of Joe Faragalli as head coach of the Eskimos. For rookie linebacker Doug Landry, it was his only game in a Hamilton uniform before joining the Toronto Argonauts. 32,265 attended the game on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): White Men Can't Jump--Riff (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): It's My Life--Dr. Alban (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (3rd week at #1)

10 years ago
2002

Football
CFL
Calgary (0-3-0-1) 31 @ Hamilton (2-1) 34

Paul Osbaldiston’s fourth field goal of the game, from 39 yards, gave the Tiger-Cats their win over the Stampeders before 17,140 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium. When the Stampeders took possession in overtime, their drive was broken up by an interception by Hamilton safety Rob Hitchock at the Tiger-Cats’ 5-yard line. The Tiger-Cats sent the game into overtime when quarterback Danny McManus completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Archie Amerson with 1:41 remaining in regulation time and Mr. Osbaldiston converted. The Stampeders drove into field goal range, but Mark McLoughlin, who had kicked 3 field goals, missed from 39 yards on the last play of regulation time, and Hamilton receiver Andrew Grigg punted the ball out of the end zone. Calgary quarterback Marcus Crandell completed touchdown passes of 43 yards to Travis Moore and 45 yards to Don Blair, and connected with Ibrahim Tounkara for a 2-point convert. Safety Greg Frers scored Calgary’s first touchdown in the 1st quarter when Hamilton’s Stephen Fisher, playing his first CFL game, fumbled a punt on his 7-yard line and Mr. Freres recovered in the end zone. Mr. McManus completed passes of 16 yards to Mr. Grigg and 6 yards to Darren Flutie for the other Hamilton touchdowns. Mr. Flutie caught 7 passes to reach 920 for his career, one more than Don Narcisse for second place on the CFL’s career list behind former Stampeder Allen Pitts with 966.