December 30, 2012

160 years ago
1852

Married on this date
Rutherford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb.
The future President of the United States of America (1877-1881) and Miss Webb were married in her mother's home in Chillicothe, Ohio.

150 years ago
1862

War
The ironclad warship USS Monitor sank in a storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

120 years ago
1892

Religion
The New York Presbytery of the U.S. Presbyterian Church, by majorities ranging from 7 to 21, voted to dismiss charges of heresy against Professor Briggs.

90 years ago
1922

World events
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics--a confederation of Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine, and the Transcaucasian Federation--was established.

70 years ago
1942

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Michael Nesmith! Best known as a member of the Monkees, the musician, songwriter and Grammy Award-winning music video pioneer was born in Houston, Texas.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Invisible Killer, starring Jackie Cooper, John Dall, Anne Sargent, and Roy Roberts



50 years ago
1962

Space
The mission of the Soviet satellite Cosmos 12 ended, eight days after launch.

Football
NFL
Championship
Green Bay 16 @ New York 7

Jim Taylor rushed 31 times for 85 yards and a touchdown and caught 3 passes for 20 yards on a cold day as the Packers disappointed 64,892 fans at Yankee Stadium by defeating the Giants in the title game for the second straight year. The Packers opened the scoring in the 1st quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Jerry Kramer. After Green Bay recovered a New York fumble on the Giants’ 28-yard line late in the 2nd quarter, halfback Paul Hornung passed 21 yards to Boyd Dowler, and Mr. Taylor rushed 7 yards for his touchdown on the next play. Mr. Kramer’s convert gave the Packers a 10-0 halftime lead. The Giants scored their only points midway through the 3rd quarter when Erich Barnes blocked a Max McGee punt and Jim Collier fell on the ball in the Green Bay end zone for a touchdown, converted by Don Chandler. Mr. Kramer kicked a 29-yard field goal 3½ minutes later to increase Green Bay’s lead to 13-7, and he put the game away with a 30-yard field goal with 1:50 remaining in regulation time. New York quarterback Y.A. Tittle completed just 18 of 41 passes for 197 yards, while Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr completed just 9 of 21 for 85 yards.





40 years ago
1972

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Long Haired Lover from Liverpool--Little Jimmy Osmond (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul (3rd week at #1)

U.S. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul (2nd week at #1)
2 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
3 You Ought to Be with Me--Al Green
4 Clair--Gilbert O'Sullivan
5 You're So Vain--Carly Simon
6 Rockin' Pneumonia-Boogie Woogie Flu--Johnny Rivers
7 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy
8 Superstition--Stevie Wonder
9 Funny Face--Donna Fargo
10 Something's Wrong with Me--Austin Roberts

Singles entering the chart were Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend by Lobo (#65); Could it Be I'm Falling in Love by the Spinners (#66); Peaceful Easy Feeling by the Eagles (#77); Control of Me by Les Emmerson (#88); Give Me Your Love by Barbara Mason (#92); Tweedlee Dee by Little Jimmy Osmond (#93); I Can't Move No Mountains by Blood, Sweat & Tears (#95); Oh No, Not My Baby by Merry Clayton (#98); and How Can I Tell You by Travis Wammack (#100).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy (3rd week at #1)
2 Clair--Gilbert O'Sullivan
3 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
4 Sweet Surrender--Bread
5 Rockin' Pneumonia-Boogie Woogie Flu--Johnny Rivers
6 Something's Wrong with Me--Austin Roberts
7 Daytime Night Time--Keith Hampshire
8 Ventura Highway--America
9 Sunny Days--Lighthouse
10 Walk on Water--Neil Diamond

Singles entering the chart were Superstition by Stevie Wonder (#73); Sound of Peace by Bobby G. Griffith (#91); The Relay by the Who (#93); Always Be Thinking of You by Fludd (#95); Dreidel by Don McLean (#96); Do You Want to Dance? by Bette Midler (#98); Remember by Nilsson (#99); and Let Us Love by Bill Withers (#100).

Calgary’s top 10
1 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
2 Ben--Michael Jackson
3 Last Song--Edward Bear
4 I'm Gonna Love You Too--Terry Jacks
5 Something's Wrong with Me--Austin Roberts
6 Clair--Gilbert O'Sullivan
7 Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul
8 I'm Stone in Love with You--The Stylistics
9 Crazy Horses--The Osmonds
10 Can't You Hear the Song--Wayne Newton
Pick hit of the week: Come and Join Us--Dublin Corporation

War
With North Vietnam agreeing to return to peace talks in Paris, the United States halted Operation Linebacker II, better known as the "Christmas bombing" of North Vietnam.

30 years ago
1982

Died on this date
Bruce Gamble, 44. Canadian hockey goaltender. Mr. Gamble played with the New York Rangers (1958-59); Boston Bruins (1960-62); Toronto Maple Leafs (1965-71); and Philadelphia Flyers (1971-72), posting a record of 110-150-46, with 22 shutouts, in 327 NHL games. The high point of his career was when he posted 4 shoutouts in a span of 8 games late in the 1965-66 season with the Maple Leafs, playing in place of injured regulars Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk. Mr. Gamble saw most of his action in the NHL from 1967-70, when the Maple Leafs were in a rebuilding mode. On February 1, 1971, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in a deal that saw Bernie Parent go to Toronto. On February 8, 1972, Mr. Gamble played an outstanding game for the Flyer as they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, coming within 2 minutes of a shutout. Late in the game, he fell to the ice without being hit. He got up and finished the game, but wasn't feeling well on the team's flight to Oakland the next day, and an examination revealed that he'd suffered a heart attack. Mr. Gamble immediately retired as a player and scouted briefly for the Flyers. Reportedly going against doctor's orders, Mr. Gamble resumed playing in a recreational league, and suffered a fatal heart attack hours after a practice. Oddly, his grave lists 1984 as the year of his death. Mr. Gamble holds the distinction of being the last Toronto Maple Leafs' goalie to play without a mask; he didn't start wearing one until the 1970-71 season.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): House of Love--East 17 (6th week at #1)

10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
Mary Brian, 96. U.S. actress. Miss Brian, once dubbed "the sweetest girl in pictures," was one of the last surviving stars of silent movies. Her films included Beau Geste (1926); Harold Teen (1928); The Virginian (1929); The Front Page (1931); and Charlie Chan in Paris (1935).

Mary Wesley, 90. U.K. author. Miss Wesley wrote three novels for children and 10 novels for adult readers. Her novels for adults were all published in the last 20 years of her life, and included Jumping the Queue (1983); The Camomile Lawn (1984); Not that Sort of Girl (1987); and Part of the Furniture (1997).