December 16, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Heather Austin!

120 years ago
1892

Scandal
Charles de Lesseps was arrested for complicity in the Panama Canal frauds. An attempt to build the canal, beginning in 1882, had ended with the bankruptcy of the Panama Canal Company in December 1888. In 1892 it emerged that 150 French deputies had been bribed into voting for the allocation of financial aid for the Panama Canal Company. Charles was the son of Ferdninand de Lesseps, who had developed the Suez Canal.

100 years ago
1912

War
A Greek fleet forced a fleet of the Ottoman Empire to retreat in the Battle of Elli in the Dardanelles in the First Balkan War.

90 years ago
1922

Died on this date
Gabriel Narutowicz, 57. President of Poland, 1922. Mr. Narutowicz, who had no party affiliation but was wiedely believed to represent left-wing views, was attending an art exhibition in warsaw when he was assassinated by a painter named Eligiusz Niewiadomski, a supporter of the National Democratic Party. Mr. Narutowicz had been elected by the National Assembly as Poland's first President just a week earlier, and had taken office on December 11.

75 years ago
1937

Crime
Convicted bank robbers Ted Cole and Ralph Roe attempted to escape from the U.S. federal prison on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay during a dense fog by floating on large cans. According to eyewitness Alvin "Creepy" Karpis, the two were caught up in the swift currents and sucked beneath the surface of the water. They were never seen again, but authorities concluded that they probably drowned soon after their escape and were swept out to sea.

70 years ago
1942

Abominations
Nazi S.S. Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler ordered that Roma (Gypsy) candidates for extermination be deported to the death camp at Auschwitz. The program became known as the Porajmos.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Tortured Hand, starring Peter Lorre

50 years ago
1962

Space
The United States launched the satellite Explorer 16, whose mission was to study micrometeoroids.

40 years ago
1972

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: My Ding-A-Ling--Chuck Berry (4th week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Popcorn--Hot Butter (6th week at #1)
2 Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me--Mac Davis
3 Burning Love--Elvis Presley
4 Too Young--Donny Osmond
5 Garden Party--Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band
6 Rock Me Baby--Johnny Farnham
7 Sugar Me--Lynsey De Paul
8 You Wear it Well--Rod Stewart
9 Ben--Michael Jackson
10 Kings of the World--Mississippi

Singles entering the chart were I've Got to Have You by Carly Simon (#27); Wings of an Eagle by Russell Morris (#29); The Guitar Man by Bread (#38); and Mad About You by Bruce Ruffin (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul

U.S. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy
2 Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul
3 You Ought to Be with Me--Al Green
4 Papa was a Rollin' Stone--The Temptations
5 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
6 Clair--Gilbert O'Sullivan
7 If You Don't Know Me by Now--Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
8 Ventura Highway--America
9 Rockin' Pneumonia-Boogie Woogie Flu--Johnny Rivers
10 I'm Stone in Love with You--The Stylistics

Singles entering the chart were Hi, Hi, Hi by Wings (#67); Trouble Man by Marvin Gaye (#73); Daddy's Home by Jermaine Jackson (#80); Anthem by Wayne Newton (#81); Songman by Cashman and West (#89); Daytime Night-Time by Keith Hampshire (#93); What My Baby Needs Now is a Little More Lovin' by James Brown and Lyn Collins (#95); Trying to Live My Life Without You by Otis Clay (#97); Melanie Makes Me Smile by Terry Williams (#98); One Last Time by Glen Campbell (#99); and Silly Wasn't I by Valerie Simpson (#100). Trouble Man was the title song from the movie.

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy
2 Clair--Gilbert O'Sullivan
3 I'd Love You to Want Me--Lobo
4 Sunny Days--Lighthouse
5 Ventura Highway--America
6 Summer Breeze--Seals and Crofts
7 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
8 Something's Wrong with Me--Austin Roberts
9 Running Back to Saskatoon--The Guess Who
10 Sweet Surrender--Bread

Singles entering the chart were I'm Gonna Love You Too by Terry Jacks (#75); Les Colombes by Lise Thouin (#93); Separate Ways by Elvis Presley (#95); Crocodile Rock by Elton John (#96); Natalie by Roby Rey (#98); Looking Through the Eyes of Love by the Partridge Family (#99); and You're So Vain by Carly Simon (#100).

Calgary’s top 10
1 Ben--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)
2 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
3 Something's Wrong with Me--Austin Roberts
4 Last Song--Edward Bear
5 Clair--Gilbert O'Sullivan
6 I'm Stone in Love with You--The Stylistics
7 Rockin' Pneumonia--Boogie-Woogie Flu--Johnny Rivers
8 Crazy Horses--The Osmonds
9 Julia Get Up--Rich Dodson
10 Walk on Water--Neil Diamond
Pick hit of the week: I'm Gonna Love You Too--Terry Jacks

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): House of Love--East 17 (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Let Nothing You Dismay