December 15, 2012

70 years ago
1942

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Dave Clark! Mr. Clark was the leader of the U.K. rock band The Dave Clark Five in the 1960s, who rivalled the Beatles as Britain's most popular band.

War
The Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse between U.S. and Japanese forces began on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

50 years ago
1962

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Pregherò--Adriano Celentano (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Return to Sender--Elvis Presley

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Big Girls Don't Cry--The 4 Seasons (5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Return to Sender--Elvis Presley
2 Limbo Rock--Chubby Checker
3 Bobby's Girl--Marcie Blane
4 Telstar--The Tornados
5 Big Girls Don't Cry--The 4 Seasons
6 The Lonely Bull--The Tijuana Brass
7 Don't Hang Up--The Orlons
8 Release Me--"Little Esther" Phillips
9 All Alone Am I--Brenda Lee
10 Ride!--Dee Dee Sharp

Singles entering the chart were It's Up to You by Rick Nelson (#74); Santa Claus is Coming to Town by the 4 Seasons (#77); Santa Claus is Watching You by Ray Stevens (#78); Half Heaven-Half Heartache by Gene Pitney (#81); I'm Gonna Be Warm this Winter by Connie Francis (#90); Cast Your Fate to the Wind, with versions by the Vince Guaraldi Trio; and Martin Denny and his Orchestra (#91); From a Jack to a King by Ned Miller (#92); Zero-Zero by Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra (#93); Won't You Come on Back by Fats Domino (#94); My Wife Can't Cook by Lonnie Russ (#95); and Maybe You'll Be There by Billy and the Essentials (#98).

Died on this date
Charles Laughton, 63. U.K.-born U.S. actor. Mr. Laughton appeared in many plays and movies, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for 1932-1933 for The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933). He was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) and Witness for the Prosecution (1957), and also turned in memorable performances in If I Had a Million (1932), Island of Lost Souls (1932), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939). Mr. Laughton died of kidney cancer, six months after the release of his last movie, Advise and Consent (1962).

Boxing
Doug Jones (21-3-1) knocked out Zora Folley (62-6-2) at 1:58 of the 7th round of a heavyweight bout at Madison Square Garden in New York. Mr. Folley had won a 10-round unanimous decision over Mr. Jones on August 1, 1962.



30 years ago
1982

World events
Spain opened its gates separating it from Gibraltar for the first time in 13 years.

Football
NCAA
University of Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant announced his retirement after 38 years as a U.S. college head coach, the last 25 of which were at Alabama. He retired with a career record of 323 wins, 85 losses, and 17 ties.

25 years ago
1987

Died on this date
Ray Malavasi, 57. U.S. football coach. Mr. Malavasi was an assistant coach with several American Football League and National Football League clubs, and was twice named as a head coach to replace one who'd been fired. In 1966, Mac Speedie was fired as coach of the Denver Broncos of the AFL after the sedond game of the season. Mr. Malavasi was head coach for the remainder of the season, coaching the Broncos to a 4-8 record over the final 12 games. In 1978, George Allen was fired after 2 pre-season games as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL; Mr. Malavasi took over as the team's head coach and remained in that position through 1982. The Rams posted a 12-4 record to finish first in the National Football Conference West Division in 1978, but were embarrassed 28-0 by the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC championship game. The Rams were just 9-7 in 1979, but finished first in their division and advanced to the Super Bowl for the first time in their history, losing 31-19 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1980 the Rams were 11-5, finishing second in the NFC West and losing to the Cowboys in the wild card playoff game. Mr. Malavasi was fired after the Rams dropped to 6-10 in 1981 and 2-7 in the strike-shortened 1982 season. Mr. Malavasi's career regular season record as a head coach in the AFL and NFL was 44-41. He also served two seasons (1967-1968) as an assistant coach with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. The defense that he coached in 1967 didn't allow a touchdown in their last 6 games, including a 24-1 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Grey Cup. Mr. Malavasi died of a heart attack in Los Angeles.