July 15, 2012

100 years ago
1912

Died on this date
Francisco Lázaro, 21. Portuguese runner. Mr. Lázaro was competing in the marathon at the Summer Olympic games in Stockholm when he collapsed at the 30-kilometre mark. It was initially thought that he had died of extreme dehydration, but it was later discovered that Mr. Lázaro had covered much of his body with wax to prevent sunburn, restricting natural perspiration and creating a serious electrolytic imbalance. He was the first athlete to die in Olympic competition.

Olympics
Eight days after winning the pentathlon, Jim Thorpe of the United States won the gold medal in the decathlon, prompting King Gustav V of Sweden to proclaim Mr. Thorpe the "world's greatest athlete."

75 years ago
1937

At the movies
Silver Blaze, the fifth and final film to star Arthur Wontner as Sherlock Holmes, opened in theatres in Britain. Ian Fleming played Dr. Watson and Lyn Harding played Professor Moriarty.

Crime
Clarence Norris, one of the "Scottsboro Boys" --Negro youths who had been accused of raping two white women in Alabama in 1931--was convicted of rape and sexual assault and sentenced to death.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: For the Love of Randi, starring Edwin Cooper, Rita Lynn, Jack Manning, and Darren McGavin

Albertana
A fire destroyed the main building of Jasper Park Lodge. There were no fatalities and only one serious injury.

40 years ago
1972

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Puppy Love--Donny Osmond (2nd week at #1)

Rhodesia's Top 10 (Lyons Maid)
1 Beautiful Sunday--Daniel Boone (4th week at #1)
2 Pasadena--John Edmond
3 Beg, Steal or Borrow--The New Seekers
4 Amazing Grace--Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
5 How Do You Do?--The Rising Sons
6 Iron Horse--Christie
7 Mother of Mine--Neil Reid
8 Mother and Child Reunion--Paul Simon
9 Too Beautiful to Last--Engelbert Humperdinck
10 Son of My Father--Chicory Tip

Singles entering the chart were Song Sung Blue by Neil Diamond (#14); Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard by Paul Simon (#16); and The Family of Man by Three Dog Night (#19).

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face--Roberta Flack (3rd week at #1)
2 Alone Again (Naturally)--Gilbert O'Sullivan
3 Puppy Love--Donny Osmond
4 Marshall's Portable Music Machine--Robin Jolley
5 Hurting Each Other--Carpenters
6 Sylvia's Mother--Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
7 Song Sung Blue--Neil Diamond
8 Vincent--Don McLean
9 Amazing Grace--Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
10 Everything I Own--Bread

Singles entering the chart were Metal Guru by T. Rex (#21); Long Haired Lover from Liverpool by Little Jimmy Osmond (#22); Daddy Don't You Walk so Fast by Wayne Newton (#23); and Troglodyte by the Jimmy Castor Bunch (#38).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Lean on Me--Bill Withers (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Lean on Me--Bill Withers
2 Troglodyte--The Jimmy Castor Bunch
3 Too Late to Turn Back Now--Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
4 Outa-Space--Billy Preston
5 Daddy Don't You Walk so Fast--Wayne Newton
6 (If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right--Luther Ingram
7 Song Sung Blue--Neil Diamond
8 I Wanna Be Where You Are--Michael Jackson
9 Too Young--Donny Osmond
10 Take it Easy--Eagles

Singles entering the chart were Join Together by the Who (#76); I am Woman by Helen Reddy (#93); Rock and Roll Part 2 by Gary Glitter (#97); If I were a Carpenter by Bob Seger (#99); and I Wanna Be Your Baby by the Three Degrees (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Troglodyte--The Jimmy Castor Bunch
2 Nice to Be with You--Gallery
3 Song Sung Blue--Neil Diamond
4 Amazing Grace--Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
5 I Need You--America
6 Wild Eyes--Stampeders
7 Masquerade--Edward Bear
8 Daddy Don't You Walk so Fast--Wayne Newton
9 Rocket Man--Elton John
10 Too Young--Donny Osmond

Singles entering the chart were Happy by the Rolling Stones (#57); Goodbye to Love by the Carpenters (#62); Breaking Up is Hard to Do by the Partridge Family (#65); Sunshine Morning by Frank Mills (#89); Duncan by Paul Simon (#93); Hold Your Head Up by Argent (#94); In a Broken Dream by Python Lee Jackson (#95); Sweet Inspiration by Barbra Streisand (#96); When You Say Love by Sonny and Cher (#97); Cat's Eye in the Window by Tommy James (#98); Brown Eyed Girl by El Chicano (#99); and Men of Learning by Vigrass and Osborne (#100).

Calgary's Top 10
1 How Do You Do--Mouth and MacNeal (2nd week at #1)
2 Wild Eyes--Stampeders
3 Nice to Be with You--Gallery
4 Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)--Looking Glass
5 Woman is the Nigger of the World--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
6 Superwoman (Where were You when I Needed You)--Stevie Wonder
7 Song Sung Blue--Neil Diamond
8 I Need You--America
9 Troglodyte--The Jimmy Castor Bunch
10 Sealed with a Kiss--Bobby Vinton
Pick hit of the week: Diary--Bread

Golf
Lee Trevino won the British Open at Muirfield Golf Links in Gullane, Scotland to win the British Open, finishing 1 stroke ahead of Jack Nicklaus.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
Edmonton’s Top 10 (CFRN)
1 Eye of the Tiger--Survivor
2 Island of Lost Souls—Blondie
3 Hurts So Good—John Cougar
4 Abracadabra—Steve Miller Band
5 Too Many Times—Mental as Anything
6 I Found Somebody—Glenn Frey
7 Wasted on the Way—Crosby, Stills & Nash
8 Hold Me—Fleetwood Mac
9 Out of Work—Gary U.S. Bonds
10 Any Day Now—Ronnie Milsap

War
The latest Iranian offensive into Iraq stalled when Iraqi forces halted, and at some points, repelled, the invaders along a 10-mile front.

25 years ago
1987

Died on this date
Lee Gaines, 73. U.S. jazz singer and lyricist. Mr. Gaines was a founder of the Delta Rhythm Boys. Among the songs he wrote lyrics for were Take the 'A' Train, which the Delta Rhythm Boys recorded.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the U.S. merchandise trade deficit had grown to $14.4 billion in May.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Abba-esque (EP)--Erasure (4th week at #1)

Politics and government
Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton was formally chosen as the Democratic party’s 1992 candidate for President of the United States, receiving 3,372 votes to 596 for former California Governor Jerry Brown and 209 for former U.S. Senator Paul Tsongas on the first ballot at the Democratic National Convention in New York City.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (0-2) 31 @ Edmonton (2-0) 34 (OT)

Sean Fleming’s 40-yard field goal with 8 seconds remaining in the 2nd period of overtime gave the Eskimos their win over the Roughriders before 26,764 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Dave Ridgway had tied the game for Saskatchewan with a 32-yard field goal with 1:20 remaining in regulation time. Edmonton quarterback Tracy Ham completed 23 of 35 passes for 317 yards and touchdowns to Jim Sandusky, Craig Ellis, and Blake Marshall. The Eskimos rushed for 242 yards, as Mr. Ham carried 9 times for 84 yards, Mike Pringle carried 7 times for 74, and Blake Marshall rushed 14 times for 71 yards and a touchdown. Saskatchewan quarterback Kent Austin completed 34 of 60 passes for 406 yards and touchdowns to Lucius Floyd and Ray Elgaard. Dave Pitcher scored the other Roughrider touchdown on a 32-yard return of a blocked punt in the 3rd quarter.