December 31, 2013

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Mike Matson!

275 years ago
1738

Born on this date
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis. U.K. military officer and politician. Lord Cornwallis was one of the leading British generals in the American War of Independence. He led his forces to victory in the Battle of Camden in 1780, and recorded a Pyrrhic victory at Guilford Court House in March 1781. Lord Cornwallis surrendered to American forces at Yorktown in October 1781, effectively ending hostilities in the war. Lord Cornwallis then held several vice-regal offices, including Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William (India) (1786-1793, 1805) and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1798-1801). He died of a fever on October 5, 1805 at the age of 66, just over two months into his second term in India.

160 years ago
1853

Transportation
The Great Western Railway reached London, Ontario from Hamilton.

130 years ago
1883

Born on this date
Lester Patrick. Canadian hockey player, coach, and executive. Mr. Patrick, nicknamed "The Silver Fox" in middle age, was a native of Drummondville, Quebec who played rover and defence for several teams in a career spanning 1903-26. He helped the Montreal Wanderers to Stanley Cup championships in 1906 and '07. Mr. Patrick and his brother Frank moved to British Columbia in 1911 and founded the professional Pacific Coast Hockey Association, competing for the Stanley Cup, and devising new rules, many of which still exist. Lester Patrick played in the PCHA from 1911-22, mostly with the Victoria Aristocrats and Cougars. He moved to the National Hockey League as the first coach and general manager of the New York Rangers in 1926, leading them through the 1938-39 season, compiling a regular season record of 281-216-107 and leading them to Stanley Cup championships in 1928 and 1933. Mr. Patrick was most famous for coming out of retirement as a player during the second game of the 1928 Stanley Cup finals, replacing injured Lorne Chabot in goal with 8 minutes remaining in the 2nd period of a 0-0 game against the Montreal Maroons. He allowed just 1 goal--with just over a minute remaining in regulation time--and stopped 18 of 19 shots as the Rangers won 2-1 in overtime. Mr. Patrick remained the Rangers' general manager through the 1945-46 season, leading them to another Stanley Cup championship in 1940. He remained as general manager of Madison Square Garden until 1950, and eventually moved back to Victoria, where he died of a heart attack while suffering from cancer on June 1, 1960 at the age of 76. Mr. Patrick was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947; the championship trophy of the Western Hockey League was renamed the Lester Patrick Cup in 1960, and the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding contributions to hockey in the United States was first presented in 1966.

Defense
The first unit of the Canadian Permanent Force, "A" Company of the Infantry School Corps, was first mustered in Fredericton, New Brunswick. It later became the Royal Canadian Regiment.

90 years ago
1923

On the radio
The chimes of Big Ben were broadcast on radio for the first time by the BBC.

75 years ago
1938

Technology
The first breath test for drivers, the "drunkometer," was introduced in Indianapolis.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Had the Craziest Dream--Vera Lynn; Harry James and his Music Makers (1st month at #1)

War
The Royal Canadian Air Force was at its peak, with 215,000 men and women, and 78 squadrons, including 35 overseas and 6 heading there. Canada had produced 11,000 planes so far. The first German V-2 rockets rolled off the assembly line at the Mittelbau-Dora slave labour camp, an underground facility in the Harz Mountains. Production chief Arthur Rudolph later declared that the first rockets had been rejected and sent back underground for rework.

Politics and government
The Allied Military Government ordered the removal from public office in Italy of all members of organizations of a Fascist tinge.

The Argentine government dissolved all political parties.

Crime
Louis Kaufman was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and fined $10,000, and six others with him received 10-year prison terms and $10,000 fines for extortion in the motion picture industry. U.S.S.R. forces recaptured the rail centre of Zhitomir, 87 miles west of Kiev, as Soviet penetration of the German lines reached 200 miles.

50 years ago
1963

World events
The Central African Federation--aka Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland--was formally dissolved after 10 years, to be split into the independent countries of Zambia and Malawi, and U.K.-controlled Rhodesia.

Defense
Nuclear warheads for Bomarc missiles arrived at the Royal Canadian Air Force base near North Bay, Ontario.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)--Helen Reddy (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Noël interdit--Johnny Hallyday (5th week at #1)

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Dès que le vent soufflera--Renaud

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): You Are--Dolly Parton (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Only You--The Flying Pickets (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Only You--The Flying Pickets (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Say Say Say--Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Union of the Snake--Duran Duran
2 Say Say Say--Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
3 Say it Isn't So--Daryl Hall-John Oates
4 Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes
5 All Night Long (All Night)--Lionel Richie
6 Twist of Fate--Olivia Newton-John
7 Uptown Girl--Billy Joel
8 Love is a Battlefield--Pat Benatar
9 Break My Stride--Matthew Wilder
10 Talking in Your Sleep--The Romantics

Singles entering the chart were She's Trouble by Musical Youth (#85) and Just One More Time by the Headpins (#90).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Say Say Say--Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)
2 Love is a Battlefield--Pat Benatar
3 Major Tom (Coming Home)--Peter Schilling
4 Union of the Snake--Duran Duran
5 Church of the Poison Mind--Culture Club
6 All Night Long (All Night)--Lionel Richie
7 Islands in the Stream--Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton
8 Cum On Feel the Noize--Quiet Riot
9 Tonight I Celebrate My Love--Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack
10 Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes

Singles entering the chart were Middle of the Road by the Pretenders (#43); Rebel Yell by Billy Idol (#46); 99 Red Balloons by Nena (#49); and Melody by Boys Brigade (#100).

World events
A military coup led by Major General Mohammed Buhari deposed Nigerian President Shehu Shagari, ending four years of civilian government, two days after Mr. Shugari had presented an austerity budget to the National Assembly that called for cuts in capital spending and imports in an attempt to balance the budget. Maj. Gen. Buhari, who said that deteriorating economic conditions had made the coup necessary, replaced Mr. Shagari as President, suspended the constitution, and banned political parties.

Diplomacy
Rev. Jesse Jackson, a candidate for the 1984 Democratic party nomination for President of the United States, met U.S. Navy Lieutenant Robert Goodman at a Syrian army headquarters in Damascus. Lt. Goodman had been shot down by Syrian antiaircraft batteries near Beirut on December 4, and Rev. Jackson, accusing the U.S. administration of not doing enough to secure Lt. Goodman's freedom, had flown to Damascus on December 29.

Religion
At KC '83, Campus Crusade for Christ's Christmas Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, Howard Hendricks concluded his series of morning addresses on the kind of person needed to make an impact on a deteriorating society with a talk about Joseph, a person of conviction. Near the end of his message, Dr. Hendricks issued a warning that unfortunately, CCC is no longer heeding--see the details here. Josh McDowell and Bill Bright were the keynote speakers at Bartle Hall on the final evening of the conference.

Football
NFL
AFC Divisional Playoff
Seattle 27 @ Miami 20

NFC Divisional Playoff
Detroit 23 @ San Francisco 24

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): C'è da spostare una macchina--Francesco Salvi (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Orinoco Flow--Enya (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40):

#1 single in France (SNEP): Pourvu qu'elles soient douces--Mylène Farmer (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Mistletoe and Wine--Cliff Richard (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Mistletoe and Wine--Cliff Richard (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Every Rose Has its Thorn--Poison (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Every Rose Has its Thorn--Poison (2nd week at #1)
2 My Prerogative--Bobby Brown
3 Two Hearts--Phil Collins
4 Waiting for a Star to Fall--Boy Meets Girl
5 Don't Rush Me--Taylor Dayne
6 Armageddon It--Def Leppard
7 Giving You the Best That I Got--Anita Baker
8 Smooth Criminal--Michael Jackson
9 Look Away--Chicago
10 In Your Room--Bangles

Singles entering the chart were Girl You Know It's True by Milli Vanilli (#81); The Living Years by Mike + the Mechanics (#83); I Beg Your Pardon by Kon Kan (#89); The Great Commandment by Camouflage (#91); Chip Away the Stone by Aerosmith (#93); and Tears Run Rings by Marc Almond (#95).

Disasters
At least 51 people died when a boat transporting New Year's Eve celebrants sank at the entrance of the bay in Rio de Janeiro.

Hockey
NHL
New Jersey 6 @ Pittsburgh 8

Pittsburgh centre Mario Lemieux scored a goal in each of the five possible ways: even strength, by power play, shorthanded, by penalty shot and into an empty net, in the victory over the Devils at Pittsburgh Civic Arena. He assisted on the 3 Pittsburgh goals that he didn't score.

Football
NFL
NFC Divisional Playoff
Philadelphia 12 @ Chicago 20

Mike Tomczak completed a 64-yard touchdown pass to Dennis McKinnon in the 1st quarter and handed off to Neal Anderson for a 4-yard TD run in the 2nd quarter to help the Bears defeat the Eagles before 65,534 fans at Soldier Field in a game that was nicknamed the "Fog Bowl." Philadelphia quarterback Randall Cunningham completed 27 of 54 passes for 407 yards, but was unable to produce a touchdown.

AFC Divisional Playoff
Seattle 13 @ Cincinnati 21

Stanley Wilson rushed for a pair of 3-yard touchdowns and Ickey Woods rushed 1 yard for another TD as the Bengals took a 21-0 halftime lead and withstood a 13-point 4th-quarter rally to defeat the Seahawks before 58,560 fans at Riverfront Stadium. David Krieg passed 7 yards to John L. Williams for the first Seattle touchdown and rushed 1 yard for the second, but Norm Johnson missed the convert attempt on Mr. Krieg's TD with 6:04 remaining in regulation time, and the Seahawks were never able to get back into scoring position.

20 years ago
1993

Died on this date
Zviad Gamsakhurdia, 54. 1st President of Georgia, 1991-1992. Mr. Gamsakhurdia was a philologist and dissident who served as Chairman of the Supreme Council of Georgia from November 14, 1990-April 14, 1991, when he became the independent republic's first president. He faced much opposition and accusations of dictatorial behaviour, and was deposed in a violent coup d'état on January 6, 1992. Mr. Gamsakhurdia was leading a "government in exile" in the western Georgian city of Zugdidi, and died in the western Georgian village of Khibula under circumstances that remain unclear.

Music
Barbra Streisand performed her first paid concert in 22 years, singing to a sellout crowd at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average closed at 3,754.09, a 13.7% increase for the year.

December 30, 2013

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Gladys Lucy Pomazongo Levano!

175 years ago
1838

Born on this date
Émile Loubet. 7th President of France, 1899-1906; Prime Minister of France, 1892. Mr. Loubet, a member of the Democratic Republican Alliance, was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1876, and was elected to the Senate in 1885. He served as Minister of Public Works (1887-1888), and was Minister of the Interior while serving as Prime Minister from February-December 1892. Mr. Loubet became President of the Senate in 1896 and President of the Republic in 1899. As President, Mr. Loubet dealt with the relations between the Roman Catholic church and the state, saw the forging of the Entente Cordiale with the United Kingdom, and inaugurated the Paris Exhibition of 1900. He died on December 20, 1929, 10 days before his 91st birthday.

160 years ago
1853

Diplomacy
In a treaty signed by U.S. Ambassador to Mexico James Gadsden, the United States bought a 29,670-square-mile region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.

110 years ago
1903

Disasters
At least 605 people were killed in a fire at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago.

Hockey
Stanley Cup
Winnipeg Rowing Club 1 @ Ottawa Silver Seven 9 (Ottawa led best-of-three challenge series 1-0)

The Silver Seven were the defending champions.

90 years ago
1923

Radio
Canadian National Railways set up the first radio network in Canada by hooking up Montreal station CHYC with Ottawa station CNRO over telephone lines to broadcast the CNR anniversary program.

70 years ago
1943

At the movies
Whispering Footsteps, directed by Howard Bretherton, and starring John Hubbard, Rita Quigley, Joan Blair, and Charles Halton, opened in theatres.



War
After a week-long counterattack by Soviet forces west of Kiev, German divisions fled along a 186-mile front. Yugoslavian partisans reported driving German forces from the Croatian provinces of Banija and Kordun. Allied forces proceeded across the Garigliano River at the Tyrrhenian end of the Italian front. U.K. troops pushed a mile beyond Ortona along the Adriatic coast on the route to Pescara. U.S. Marines seized control of the Cape Gloucester air strips as surviving Japanese troops fled to the surrounding hills on New Britain Island.

World events
Indian independence activist Subhas Chandra Bose raised the flag of Indian independence at Port Blair.

Americana
Dr. George Fisher was named National Scout Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America, succeeding the late Daniel Beard.

Journalism
After a long series of hearings in Washington in which U.S. Post Office lawyers sought to prove that Esquire magazine was "lewd and lascivious," U.S. Postmaster General Frank Walker ordered second class mailing privileges withdrawn effective February 28, 1944.

Transportation
The U.S. War Department announced that it would retain control of the nation's railroads because the threatened strike had been "postponed" and not "cancelled."

Economics and finance
The U.S. Treasury reported expenditures for 1943 at $87.932 billion, of which $82.142 billion was for war costs. The U.S. Office of Price Administration took a number of canned vegetables and fruits off the ration list.

60 years ago
1953

At the movies
The Wild One, starring Marlon Brando, Mary Murphy, Robert Keith, and Lee Marvin, received its premiere screening in New York City.





50 years ago
1963

On television tonight
The Outer Limits, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Zanti Misfits, starring Michael Tolan, Robert F. Simon, Claude Woolman, Bruce Dern, and Olive Deering

40 years ago
1973

Politics and government
In his first public appearance since the December 20 assassination of Prime Minister Luis Carrero Blanco, Spanish dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco told the nation that the attack had strengthened the country's institutions and had united Spaniards.

Football
NFL
AFC Championship
Oakland 10 @ Miami 27

NFC Championship
Minnesota 27 @ Dallas 10

Larry Csonka rushed 29 times for 117 times and 3 touchdowns as the Dolphins defeated the Raiders before 75,105 fans at the Orange Bowl to advance to the Super Bowl for the third straight year. Mercury Morris added 86 yards on 14 carries, and Miami quarterback Bob Griese, who threw just 6 passes, completing 3 for 34 yards, rushed 3 times for 39 yards as the Dolphins amassed 266 yards rushing. Garo Yepremian convertted all 3 Miami touchdowns and added 2 field goals. Mike Siani scored the only Oakland touchdown on a 25-yard pass from Ken Stabler in the 3rd quarter. George Blanda converted and added a field goal. Mr. Stabler completed 15 of 23 passes, but for just 129 yards and an interception.

Bobby Bryant's 63-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 4th quarter was a key play as the Vikings defeated the Cowboys before 60,272 fans at Texas Stadium in Irving to advance to the Super Bowl against the Dolphins in Houston. Mr. Bryant's interception, which gave the Vikings a 24-10 lead after Fred Cox's convert, was one of 4 made by the Minnesota defense against Dallas quarterback Roger Staubach. A subsequent interception led to Mr. Cox's second field goal of the game to close the scoring, and Dallas running back Walt Garrison lost a fumble at the Minnesota 2-yard line late in the game. Chuck Foreman, who rushed 19 times for 76 yards and caught 4 passes for 28, scored the game's first TD on a 5-yard rush in the 2nd quarter, after Mr. Cox had kicked a field goal in the 1st quarter to open the scoring. The Cowboys scored their only touchdown on a 63-yard punt return by Golden Richards in the 3rd quarter. Toni Fritsch converted to make the score 10-7, but the Vikings regained a 10-point lead on a 54-yard touchdown bomb from Fran Tarkenton to John Gilliam, converted by Mr. Cox. Mr. Fritsch kicked a 17-yard field goal to pull the Cowboys to within 17-10 after 3 quarters. The Vikings, led by Mr. Foreman and Oscar Reed, who rushed for 75 yards on 18 carries, amassed 203 yards rushing. The Cowboys were without injured running back Calvin Hill, and were held to 80 yards rushing, with rookie Robert Newhouse leading with 14 carries for 40 yards. Mr. Tarkenton completed 10 of 21 passes for 133 yards, while Mr. Staubach completed 10 of 21 for just 89 yards.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Uptown Girl--Billy Joel (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Jenseits von Eden--Nino de Angelo

War
More than 100 Salvadoran soldiers were reportedly killed in an attack by leftist guerrillas on a brigade headquarters, the highest toll in any single clash with the guerrillas.

Religion
Dr. Joon Gon Kim and Elisabeth Elliot were the keynote evening speakers at the Campus Crusade for Christ student conference "KC '83" at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Missouri.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Don't Worry Be Happy--Bobby McFerrin (9th week at #1)

Died on this date
Bob Foxworth, 65. U.S. boxer. Mr. Foxworth was a light heavyweight who was national Amateur Athletic Union champion (1942-1943, 1946), and compiled a professional record of 20-3 from 1946-1948. He knocked out future heavyweight contender Bob Satterfield in 1 round and lost a 10-round split decision to future world light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim, both in 1947. Mr. Foxworth scored a 4-round technical knockout of Leonard Morrow on September 1, 1948, but suffered a detached retina in the 1st round, and was forced to retire.

Economics and finance
The Canadian Senate passed the bill approving the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

The United States Commerce Department reported that the index of leading economic indicators had declined 0.2% in November.

On the last trading day of 1988, the Dow Jones industrial average closed at 2,168.57, an increase of 11.8% from its 1987 close. The year's gain of 229.74 points still left it far below the figure of 2,722.42 before the collapse of October 19, 1987.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): The Sign--Ace of Base (4th week at #1)

Diplomacy
Israel and the Vatican signed an agreement of mutual recognition to put an end to Jewish-Roman Catholic hostilities.

10 years ago
2003

Health
The United States government announced that it would ban the sale of ephedra, an herbal stimulant linked to 155 deaths and dozens of heart attacks and strokes. Perhaps the most prominent death linked to ephedra was that of Baltimore Orioles' pitcher Steve Bechler, who was in danger of not making the team, and who was taking the supplement to help him lose weight when he died of heatstroke at spring training in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 17, 2003 at the age of 23.

December 29, 2013

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Christine Gotaas!

220 years ago
1793

War
The Second Battle of Wissembourg concluded in France between French forces commanded by General Lazare Hoche and an army of Austrians, Prussians, Bavarians, and Hessians led by General Dagobert Sigmund von Wurmser. The French forced their enemies to withdraw to the east bank of the Rhine River.

200 years ago
1813

War
In the War of 1812, British forces commanded by Major General Phineas Riall attacked the villages of Black Rock and Buffalo, New York with a party of Canadian militia and Indians to get revenge for the December 10 burning of Newark and Queenston, Upper Canada.

70 years ago
1943

Theatre
South Pacific, a drama written by Howard Rigsby and Dorothy Heyward, directed by Lee Strasberg, and starring Canada Lee and Ruby Dee (in her Broadway debut), opened at the Cort Theatre on Broadway in New York.

War
U.K. Royal Navy Admiral Bertram Ramsay and Royal Air Force Chief Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory were named to command Allied sea and air forces, respectively, under Supreme Commander for Europe General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Soviet Red Army captured Korosten, an important rail centre 90 miles northwest of Kiev. U.S. troops broke into San Vittore, Italy, 5 miles east of Cassino. Yugoslavian partisan units penetrated the Yugoslav-Italian border, attacking the German garrisons at Castelnuovo and Gouiza. U.S. Marines advanced to within a half-mile of the Japanese airstrip at Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island.

Diplomacy
Cuba and Costa Rica announced that they would withhold recognition of the new Bolivian revolutionary government.

Politics and government
The MacArthur for President Club entered U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur's name in the 1944 Illinois U.S. presidential primary.

Academia
Brazilian President Getulio Vargas became the first chief executive to be elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters.

Labour
Leaders of U.S. railway, conductors, firemen's, and switchmen's unions told their members not to on strike on December 30, but they refused to accept President Franklin D. Roosevelt as an arbiter in the wage dispute.

Sport
U.S. middle-distance runner Gil Dodds was named the 1943 winner of the John E. Sullivan Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship.

60 years ago
1953

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Mr. Nobody, starring Constance Bennett and Art Carney

50 years ago
1963

Tennis
The United States, led by Chuck McKinley and Dennis Ralston, won the Davis Cup for the first time in five years, defeating Australia three matches to two in Adelaide, Australia. Mr. McKinley outlasted John Newcombe in four sets for the decisive victory.

Football
NFL
Championship
New York 10 @ Chicago 14

The Chicago defense, which had allowed an average of only 10 points per game during the regular season, allowed just 10 points in this game, making 5 interceptions off Y.A. Tittle as the Bears edged the Giants before 45,801 fans at Wrigley Field. The Giants scored first after recovering a fumble by Chicago quarterback Billy Wade at the New York 17-yard line. Mr. Tittle marched the Giants 83 yards, ending the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Frank Gifford, converted by Don Chandler to give New York a 7-0 lead at 7:22 of the 1st quarter. An interception return by Larry Morris of the Bears to the Giants' 5-yard line led to a 2-yard touchdown rush by Mr. Wade, and Bob Jencks converted to tie the game 7-7 with 16 seconds remaining in the 1st quarter. Mr. Chandler kicked a 13-yard field goal at 5:11 of the 2nd quarter to give New York a 10-7 halftime lead. Chicago defensive end Ed O'Bradovich intercepted a screen pass and returned it to the New York 14-yard line, leading to a 1-yard touchdown sneak by Mr. Wade. Mr. Jencks converted to give the Bears a 14-10 lead with 2:12 remaining in the 3rd quarter, and there was no further scoring, as the Bears made 2 more interceptions in the 4th quarter to preserve the lead. Mr. Wade completed 10 of 28 passes for 138 yards, while Mr. Tittle was 11 for 29 for 147 yards. Joe Morrison of the Giants led all rushers with 61 yards on 18 carries, while Ron Bull led the Bears with 42 yards on 13 carries. No one caught more than 3 passes; among those who did was Joe Marconi of the Bears, who led all receivers with 64 yards. It was the seventh NFL championship for George Halas as head coach of the Bears, but his first since 1946, and it turned out to be his last.







40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): t Is weer voorbij die mooie zomer--Gerard Cox (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Merry X'mas Everybody--Slade (3rd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Angie--Rolling Stones (5th week at #1)
2 48 Crash--Suzi Quatro
3 He Did with Me--Vicki Lawrence
4 The Ballroom Blitz--The Sweet
5 Photograph--Ringo Starr
6 Dancing on a Saturday Night--Barry Blue
7 Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)--Helen Reddy
8 Rubber Bullets--10 C.C.
9 Summer (The First Time)--Bobby Goldsboro
10 I Am Pegasus--Ross Ryan

Singles entering the chart were Helen Wheels/Country Dreamer by Paul McCartney and Wings (#21); The Most Beautiful Girl by Charlie Rich (#33); Loves Me Like a Rock by Paul Simon with the Dixie Hummingbirds (#37); Ooh Baby by Gilbert O'Sullivan (#39); and The Day that Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee by the Hollies (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Time in a Bottle--Jim Croce

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Most Beautiful Girl--Charlie Rich (2nd week at #1)
2 Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)--Helen Reddy
3 Time in a Bottle--Jim Croce
4 The Joker--Steve Miller Band
5 Hello It's Me--Todd Rundgren
6 Show and Tell--Al Wilson
7 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road--Elton John
8 Living for the City--Stevie Wonder
9 If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)--Staple Singers
10 Mind Games--John Lennon

Singles entering the chart were Abra-Ca-Dabra by the DeFranco Family (#75); Raised on Robbery by Joni Mitchell (#77); Last Time I Saw Him by Diana Ross (#78); Jessica by the Allman Brothers Band (#79); Americans by Byron MacGregor (#81); Boogie Down by Eddie Kendricks (#85); You're So Unique by Billy Preston (#86); Put Your Hands Together by the O'Jays (#88); WOLD by Harry Chapin (#90); It May Be Winter Outside (But In My Heart It’s Spring) by Love Unlimited (#93); Trying to Hold On to My Woman by Lamont Dozier (#98); Meadows by Joe Walsh (#99); and Eres Tu (Touch The Wind) by Mocedades (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 The Most Beautiful Girl--Charlie Rich
2 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road--Elton John
3 Top of the World--Carpenters
4 Painted Ladies--Ian Thomas
5 Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks
6 Photograph--Ringo Starr
7 Big Time Operator--Keith Hampshire
8 I Got a Name--Jim Croce
9 Pretty Lady--Lighthouse
10 Space Race--Billy Preston

Singles entering the chart were Good to Be by You by Jack Cornell (#84); Goddess of Nature by Abraham's Children (#96); Teenage Lament '74 by Alice Cooper (#98); Jennifer by Tom Kelly (#99); and Make it Better by Kindness (#100).

#1 single in Calgary: Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks (3rd week at #1)

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 17 (CHED)
1 Undercover of the Night--Rolling Stones
2 Union of the Snake--Duran Duran
3 Major Tom (Coming Home)--Peter Schilling
4 Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes
5 Twist of Fate--Olivia Newton-John
6 Say it Isn't So--Daryl Hall John Oates
7 The Best was Yet to Come--Bryan Adams
8 That's All--Genesis
9 Crumblin' Down--John Cougar Mellencamp
10 In Dim Light--Darkroom
11 Synchronicity--The Police
12 I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues--Elton John
13 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club
14 Gold--Spandau Ballet
15 Why Me--Irene Cara
16 Ready to Make Up--Toronto
17 P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)--Michael Jackson

Diplomacy
Rev. Jesse Jackson, a candidate for the 1984 Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States, flew to Damascus to seek the release of U.S. Navy Lieutenant Robert Goodman, whose plane had been shot down on December 4 while on a strike against Syrian antiaircraft batteries in the mountains east of Beirut. Rev. Jackson had accused the U.S. administration of President Ronald Reagan of doing little to free Lt. Goodman.

Economics and finance
Nigerian President Shehu Shagari presented an austerity budget to the National Assembly, calling for cuts in capital spending and imports in an attempt to balance the budget.

The United States Commerce Department reported that the index of leading economic indicators had fallen 0.4% in November, the first monthly decline in 15 months.

Religion
Crawford Loritts was the keynote evening speaker at the Campus Crusade for Christ student conference "KC '83" at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Missouri. Dallas Theological Seminary professor Howard Hendricks delivered his second of four keynote morning addresses.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Back to the Stone Age--Stone

Defense
The U.S. Defense Secretary's Commission on Base Realignment and Closure issued its recommendation. To save an estimated $5.6 billion over 20 years, it proposed the closing of 54 bases, the partial shutdown of 5, and the "realignment" of 54 others. The Defense Secretary and Congress would have to accept the recommendation on an "all-or-nothing" basis.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
In a draft proposal, Israel offered the Palestine Liberation Organization joint control of border checkpoints, and proposed to increase the area of Palestinian autonomy around Jericho to 43 square miles. PLO chairman Yasser Arafat rejected this compromise, and the Palestinians continued to insist on a greater sphere of autonomy and sole control of border crossings from Egypt and Jordan.

War
Canadian forces made their 1,000th relief flight into Sarajevo.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the index of leading economic indicators had increased 0.5% in November.

10 years ago
2003

World events
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the dismantling of four unauthorized Jewish settlement outposts on the West Bank.

December 28, 2013

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Heather Pick!

1,120 years ago
893

Disasters
An earthquake destroyed the Armenian city of Dvin.

250 years ago
1763

Born on this date
John Molson. Canadian brewer. In 1786, Mr. Molson used a legacy to buy the brewery that bears his family name to this day. He died on January 11, 1836 at the age of 72.

125 years ago
1888

Born on this date
F. W. Murnau. German film director. Mr. Murnau was one of the major directors of the silent era, and was known for such German films as Nosferatu (1922); Der letzte Mann (The Last Laugh) (1924); and Faust (1926). He moved to Hollywood and directed such movies as Sunrise (1927) and 4 Devils (1928). Mr. Murnau died on March 11, 1931 at the age of 42, the day after being seriously injured in a car accident, and a week before the premiere of his last movie, Tabu.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Lou Jacobi. Canadian-born actor and comedian. Mr. Jacobi, born Louis Jacobovitch in Toronto, began his career as an actor and standup comic in the 1920s, eventually becoming a character actor, usually playing stereotypical Jewish characters in numerous plays, films, and television programs through the 1990s. He was a regular cast member of the Wayne & Shuster television specials on CBC in the 1970s and '80s. Mr. Jacobi died on October 23, 2009 at the age of 95.

75 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Florence Lawrence, 52. Canadian-born U.S. actress. Miss Lawrence, born Florence Bridgwood in Hamilton, Ontario, moved to Buffalo, New York at the age of 12. She appeared in almost 300 movies--mostly from 1906-1915--and became known as the "first movie star." Miss Lawrence was known as "The Biograph Girl" for her work in most of that studio's films in 1908-1909, and became the first actor to be identified by name on screen in 1910. Her career rapidly declined after she suffered serious injuries on a set in 1915, and she suffered financial losses and bad marriages. Miss Lawrence was diagnosed in 1937 with a rare incurable bone disease, and suffered from chronic pain and depression, but attempted to keep working. She was to report to a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer set on December 28, 1938, but phoned in sick, and then committed suicide by poison.

70 years ago
1943

Died on this date
Steve Evans, 58. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Evans played right field with the New York Giants (1908); St. Louis Cardinals (1909-1913); Brooklyn Tip-Tops (1914-1915); and Baltimore Terrapins (1915), batting .287 with 32 home runs and 466 runs batted in in 978 games. His best season was 1914, when he led the Federal League in triples (15) and slugging (.556), while finishing second in batting (.348), doubles (41), homers (12), and RBIs (96). Mr. Evans excelled at being hit by a pitch, leading the National League in that category from 1910-1912; he was hit 31 times in 1910, a major league record that stood for 61 years until Ron Hunt of the Montreal Expos was hit 50 times in 1971. He also set a record by being hit three times in one game. Mr. Evans played at least 4 seasons in the minor leagues (1907-1908, 1916-1917), batting .288 in 466 games.

Movies
The New York Film Critics Circle announced their awards for the best achievements of 1943: Picture--Watch on the Rhine; Director--George Stevens (The More the Merrier); Actor--Paul Lukas (Watch on the Rhine); Actress--Ida Lupino (The Hard Way).

War
After eight days of brutal house-to-house fighting, the Battle of Ortona concluded with the victory of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division over the German 1st Parachute Division and the capture of the Italian town of Ortona. French Moroccan troops made short advances west of Castel San Vincenzo in the Italian mountains in the centre of the trans-peninsular front. U.S.S.R. forces continued their drive west of Kiev, advancing on a 65-mile front and reaching Behji, five miles northeast of Korosten.

Labour
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 300 strikes in November involving 500,000 workers, costing 2,285,000 man-days of idleness, amounting to one-third of 1% of available working time.

50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Want to Hold Your Hand--The Beatles

#1 single in France: Si J'avais un Marteau--Claude François

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Sabato triste--Adriano Celentano (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Rote Lippen soll man küssen--Cliff Richard and the Shadows (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I Want to Hold Your Hand--The Beatles (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Dominique--The Singing Nun (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Dominique--The Singing Nun (5th week at #1)
2 Louie Louie--The Kingsmen
--[Paul Revere and the Raiders]
3 There! I've Said it Again--Bobby Vinton
4 Since I Fell for You--Lenny Welch
5 Drip Drop--Dion Di Muci
6 You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry--The Caravelles
7 Popsicles and Icicles--The Murmaids
8 Talk Back Trembling Lips--Johnny Tillotson
9 Forget Him--Bobby Rydell
10 I'm Leaving it Up to You--Dale & Grace

Singles entering the chart were For You by Rick Nelson (#71); In the Summer of His Years by Connie Francis (#80, with a version by Millicent Martin mentioned but not charted); The Little Boy by Tony Bennett (#82); The Greasy Spoon by Hank Marr (#85); If Somebody Told You by Anna King (#90); Harlem Shuffle by Bob and Earl (#91); Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um by Major Lance (#92); The Twelve Gifts of Christmas by Allan Sherman (#93); What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am) by the Tams (#94); and You Don't Own Me by Lesley Gore (#98).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Music Reporter)
1 There! I've Said it Again--Bobby Vinton
2 You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry--The Caravelles
3 Dominique--The Singing Nun
4 Be True to Your School--The Beach Boys
5 Since I Fell for You--Lenny Welch
6 Popsicles and Icicles--The Murmaids
7 Drip Drop--Dion Di Muci
8 Talk Back Trembling Lips--Johnny Tillotson
--Ernest Ashworth
9 Louie Louie--The Kingsmen
--Paul Revere and the Raiders
10 The Nitty Gritty--Shirley Ellis

Singles entering the chart were Somewhere by the Tymes (#42); I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying by the Miracles (#44); Pretty Paper by Roy Orbison (#45); When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes by the Supremes (#47); Hey Little Cobra by the Rip Chords (#53); For You by Rick Nelson (#56); Hooka Tooka by Chubby Checker (#59); Please by Frank Ifield (#60); Baby's Gone by Gene Thomas (#61); Anyone Who Had a Heart by Dionne Warwick (#62); You Don't Own Me by Lesley Gore (#69); The Little Boy by Tony Bennett (#95); Uncle Willie Time by Bobby Miller (#97); Java by Al Hirt (#98); Big Feet by the Tikis (#99); and I Can't Stop Singing by Bobby Bland (#100).

On the radio
Sherlock Holmes, starring Fridtjof Hansen Mjoen and Arne Bang-Hansen, on Norsk Rikskringkasting (Norwegian State Broadcasting Corporation)
Tonight's episode: Smaragd-kronen (The Beryl Coronet)

Died on this date
Paul Hindemith, 68. German-born U.S. composer. Mr. Hindemith achieved renown as a violinist and an avant-garde composer, but fell out of favour with the Nazi regime in Germany, and emigrated first to Switzerland and then the United States. His works included the song cycle Das Marienleben (1923) and the opera Mathis der Maler (1938).

Space
The mission of the Soviet satellite Cosmos 24 ended, nine days after launch.

Football
AFL
Eastern Division playoff
Boston 26 @ Buffalo 8

The Patriots defeated the Bills at War Memorial Stadium to advance to the championship game in San Diego against the Western Division champion Chargers (see video). The playoff was necessitated by the Bills and Patriots finishing in a tie for the division lead with final regular season records of 7-6-1.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Photograph--Ringo Starr (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): I'd Love You to Want Me--Lobo (8th week at #1)

Space
Comet Kohoutek, touted as the "comet of the century," reached perihelion at 13 million miles from the sun. It fell far short of expectations for lighting up the sky, and I'm still waiting to see it.

Politics and government
Spanish dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco named Interior Minister Carlos Arias Navarro as the country's new Prime Minister, succeeding Luis Carrero Blanco, who had been assassinated eight days earlier. Meanwhile, four alleged members of the Basque terrorist group ETA denied that the six members who had been named were responsible for the assassination and told French newsmen that the commando unit responsible for the car bombing that had killed Mr. Carrero Blanco was "in a safe place" and ready to strike again against Fascist power.

Law
The Endangered Species Act was passed in the United States.

Literature
The first volume of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's novel The Gulag Archipelago, an expose of the Soviet prison system, was published in Russian by the French publisher Éditions du Seuil.

30 years ago
1983

Died on this date
William Demarest, 91. U.S. actor. Mr. Demarest was a character actor in many movies in the 1930s and '40s, usually playing gruff characters with a "heart of gold." He was best known as Uncle Charley in the television comedy series My Three Sons (1965-1972).

Jimmy Demaret, 73. U.S. golfer. Mr. Demaret won 31 PGA tournaments from 1935-1957. He won the Masters in 1940, 1947, and 1950, becoming the first man to win the event three times.

Dennis Wilson, 39. U.S. musician. Mr. Wilson, the middle (between older Brian and younger Carl) of the Wilson brothers of the Beach Boys, was the group's drummer and the only member of the rock group who actually surfed. He was the group's main "sex symbol" in their early days; his husky voice added to the Beach Boys' harmonies, although the only hit single on which he sang lead was Do You Wanna Dance (1965). In the late 1960s, Mr. Wilson began to show talent as a songwriter, and taught himself to play piano. The ballad Forever, from the album Sunflower (1970), is often regarded as Mr. Wilson's best song. Mr. Wilson released the solo album Pacific Ocean Blue in 1977, which was well-received. He then began recording another album, Bambu, but the project was abandoned and not released until 2008. A dissolute lifestyle eventually took its toll on Mr. Wilson; his voice went from husky to raspy, and he was kicked out of the Beach Boys briefly toward the end of 1979. In the final weeks of 1983 Mr. Wilson was homeless, and years of heavy drinking contributed to his death by accidental drowning as he was diving near his yacht.

Religion
Evangelist Billy Graham was the keynote evening speaker at the Campus Crusade for Christ student conference "KC '83" at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Missouri. Dallas Theological Seminary professor Howard Hendricks delivered his first of four keynote morning addresses.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Vingar--Mikael Rickfors

Terrorism
British investigators said that a powerful plastic explosive had destroyed the Boeing 747 that had exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland a week earlier, killing 270 people. "Conclusive evidence" of an explosive device had been found in a metal luggage holder in the wreckage.

20 years ago
1993

Died on this date
William L. Shirer, 89. U.S. journalist. Mr. Shirer was a reporter, first for wire services and then for the Columbia Broadcasting System, who covered events in Germany from 1934-1940. His best-known books were Berlin Diary (1941); Midcentury Journey (1952); and The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (1960).

Howard Caine, 67. U.S. actor. Mr. Caine, born Howard Cohen, played Nazi Major Hochstetter in the television comedy series Hogan's Heroes (1965-1971).

Politics and government
In single-constituency elections in Russia, results showed the Liberal Democrats, led by nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, with 64 seats, followed by Russia's Choice--led by President Boris Yeltsin--with 58. Next in order were Communists--48; Agrarian Party--33; Women of Russia--23; and Yabloko ("Apple") bloc--22. Other parties held many seats, and 130 deputies claimed no party affiliation.

Crime
Six bombs--four of which exploded--sent by courier or through the mail killed five people and wounded two in western New York state. All the bombs were delivered to relatives of the girlfriend of one of the two suspects who were arrested the next day.

British customs officials seized £70 million of Colombian cocaine which was thought to be directly linked to the Mafia.

Abominations
The United States Energy Department said that 800 people had been exposed to radiation in government experiments from the 1940s to the 1960s.

10 years ago
2003

Politics and government
Former Guatemala City Mayor Óscar Berger, a conservative businessman running as candidate of the Grand National Alliance, was elected President of Guatemala, taking 54.13% of the vote in the second round of voting. National Unity of Hope candidate Álvaro Colom received 45.87% of the vote.

Crime
British customs officials seized £70 million of Colombian cocaine which was thought to be directly linked to the Mafia.

Terrorism
The British government announced that sky marshals would be placed on some British passenger planes in the United States.

Scandal
Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers stormed the offices of two British Columbia cabinet ministers, and seized files as part of a 20-month investigation into marijuana smuggling and money laudering. No arrests were made. The raids were focused on two high-ranking ministerial aides, who had been heavily involved in Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin's campaign for the leadership of the Liberal Party.

December 27, 2013

125 years ago
1888

Born on this date
Thea von Harbou. German actress, director, and screenwriter. Miss Harbou was married to director Fritz Lang from 1922-1933, and helped to write the screenplays for films of his such as Metropolis (1927) and Spione (Spies) (1928). The couple divorced in 1933, and Miss Harbou remained loyal to Germany, staying in the country through the years of Nazi rule. She died on July 1, 1954 at the age of 65.

90 years ago
1923

World events
Daisuke Namba, a Japanese student and Communist, attempted to assassinate Prince Regent Hirohito by firing a pistol at the regent's carriage as he was riding to the opening of the 48th session of the Imperial Diet in Tokyo. Prince Hirohito was unharmed, and a chamberlain was slightly injured.

75 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Zona Gale, 64. U.S. writer. Miss Gale wrote in various genres, but was best known for her novels and short stories about life in the midwestern United States. She adapted her novel Miss Lulu Bett (1920) into a play, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1921, making Miss Gale the first woman to achieve the honour. Miss Gale died of pneumonia.

70 years ago
1943

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Tired Captain

War
Defending German paratroopers started to abandon the Italian town of Ortona after a week of fierce fighting with Major-General Christopher Vokes' 1st Canadian Division. Infantry from the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada suffered heavy casualties; 1,372 Canadians were killed in taking Ortona and environs. U.S.S.R. troops occupied 30 places near Vitebsk and cut the Vitebsk-polotsk railway near Dvorishche. U.S. Marines consolidated their beachheads on both sides of Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island, and advanced inland.

Diplomacy
The Inter-American Emergency Committee for the Political Defense of the Continent adopted a resolution not to recognize regimes established by force without prior investigation and consultation by all American governments.

Labour
The U.S. Fair Employment Practices Commission asked U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to enforce its order to 16 southeastern railroads and 7 unions to end discrimination against Negroes. U.S. President Roosevelt ordered War Secretary Henry Stimson to take over all railroads as of & P.M. today, as three operating unions continued their refusal to accept his arbitration.

60 years ago
1953

Football
NFL Championship
Cleveland 16 @ Detroit 17

Bobby Layne's 33-yard touchdown pass to Jim Doran, converted by Doak Walker with 2:08 remaining in regulation time, gave the Lions their win over the Browns before 54,577 fans at Briggs Stadium, and their second consecutive NFL title. Cleveland quarterback played the worst game of his professional career, completing just 2 of 15 passes for 20 yards and 2 interceptions, and also losing a fumble deep in his own territory early in the 1st quarter. Les Bingaman recovered the fumble for Detroit at the Cleveland 13-yard line, and Mr. Walker rushed 1 yard for the touchdown and kicked the convert to give the Lions a 7-0 lead just 4:05 into the game. The Browns recovered a fumble on the Detroit 6-yard line late in the quarter, but the Detroit defense held, and Lou Groza kicked a 13-yard field goal on the first play of the 2nd quarter to get the Browns on the scoreboard. Jim David intercepted a pass and returned it 36 yards to set up a 23-yard field goal by Mr. Walker with 1:15 remaining in the 2nd quarter to give the Lions a 10-3 halftime lead. Cleveland fullback Chick Jagade, who led all rushers with 104 yards on 15 carries, finished a drive with a 9-yard touchdown rush, converted by Mr. Groza at 6:48 of the 3rd quarter, to tie the game 10-10. Mr. Groza kicked a 15-yard field goal 44 seconds into the 4th quarter to give the Browns a 13-10 lead. Mr. Walker missed a 33-yard field goal, and Mr. Groza kicked a 43-yard FG to give Cleveland a 16-10 lead with 4:10 remaining in regulation time. After Mr. Groza's kickoff went through the Detroit end zone for a touchback, Mr. Layne marched the Lions 80 yards for the winning score. The drive included completions to Mr. Doran of 17 and 18 yards before the touchdown pass. After the Lions took the lead, Mr. Graham's first pass was intercepted and returned 12 yards by Carl Karilivacz, and the Lions preserved the victory. Mr. Layne completed 12 of 25 passes for 179 yards and 2 interceptions. Mr. Doran led all receivers with 95 yards on 4 receptions.

50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): No More--Brendan Bowyer

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 Move Over--Bobby Curtola (3rd week at #1)
2 Johnny Liar--Molly Bee
3 Pretty Paper--Roy Orbison
4 Dominique--The Singing Nun
5 Forget Him--Bobby Rydell
6 Shindig--The Shadows
7 Daisy Petal Pickin'--Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs
8 Sugar and Spice--The Searchers
9 It's All in the Game--Cliff Richard
10 Judy Loves Me--Johnny Crawford
Pick hit of the week: Do You Hear What I Hear--Bing Crosby
New this week: You Don't Own Me--Lesley Gore
See the Funny Little Clown--Bobby Goldsboro
Southtown, U.S.A.--The Dixiebelles
A Fool Never Learns--Andy Williams

On television tonight
Twilight Zone, hosted by Rod Serling, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Ring-a-Ding Girl, starring Maggie McNamara. Mary Munday, David Macklin, and Betty Lou Gerson

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Marilyn Draper!

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Merry X'mas Everybody--Slade (2nd week at #1)

30 years ago
1983

Religion
The Campus Crusade for Christ student conference known as "KC '83" opened at Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, with CCC president Bill Bright delivering the keynote address.

World events
Pope John Paul II visited Mehmet Ali Ağca in prison in the Rome suburb of Rebibbia and personally forgave him for the assassination attempt on him in St. Peter's Square in Rome on May 13, 1981.

Politics and government
Argentinian President Raul Alfonsin signed a law repealing amnesty for both former security personnel and leftist guerrillas.

Scandal
The New York Times reported that U.S. Information Agency director Charles Wick had tape-recorded telephone conversations without telling the other parties. Mr. Wick acknowledged having done so, but made contradictory statements concerning the tapings.

Economics and finance
U.S. Steel Corporation announced that it planned to reduce its production capacity by about 20%, resulting in the loss of 15,400 jobs.

25 years ago
1988

Died on this date
Hal Ashby, 59. U.S. movie director. Mr. Ashby won the Academy Award for film editing for In the Heat of the Night (1967) before becoming a director. His movies included Harold and Maude (1971); The Last Detail (1973); Shampoo (1975); Bound for Glory (1976); Coming Home (1978); and Being There (1979). He died of pancratic cancer.

Disasters
250 people were missing and feared drowned when a river ferry capsized and sank en route to Dhaka, Bangladesh.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (6th week at #1)

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Alan Bates, 69. U.K. actor. Sir Alan was known for his performances in movies such as Whistle Down the Wind (1961); The Running Man (1963); Zorba the Greek (1964); Georgy Girl (1966); Le Roi de coeur (King of Hearts) (1966); Far from the Madding Crowd (1967); The Fixer (1968); Women in Love (1969); and An Unmarried Woman (1978).

Ivan Calderon, 41. U.S. baseball player. A native of Puerto Rico, Mr. Calderon was an outfielder who played for five major league teams from 1984-1993, batting .272 with 104 home runs and 444 runs batted in in 924 games. He was murdered in a bar in Loiza, Puerto Rico, a crime that remains unsolved.

Health
The Chinese government announced the country's first new case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

December 26, 2013

220 years ago
1793

War
The Second Battle of Wissembourg began in France between French forces commanded by General Lazare Hoche and an army of Austrians, Prussians, Bavarians, and Hessians led by General Dagobert Sigmund von Wurmser.

120 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Mao Zedong. Chairman of the People's Republic of China, 1949-1976. Chairman Mao co-founded the Chinese Communist Party in 1921, and made his name as lead of the "Long March" to northern China to flee attacks from the Nationalists in the 1930s. Civil war resulted in a Communist triumph in 1949, and Mao became the leader of the People's Republic of China. Mao's policies, including the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward, resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of people; his regime killed more Christians than the number of Jews killed by the German Nazi regime under Adolf Hitler. Chairman Mao's death on September 9, 1976 at the age of 82 left the world a better place, but left a huge power vacuum in China.

110 years ago
1903

Literature
The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist, fourth in a series titled The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by A. Conan Doyle was published in this date's issue of Collier's Weekly in the United States and in the January 1904 issue of The Strand Magazine in the U.K.

70 years ago
1943

Literature
The American Library Association reported that a survey of 110 libraries revealed a decrease in public reading, but an improvement in taste, with entertainment reading suffering a heavy decline in favour of works dealing with international politics, aviation, and postwar planning.

War
General A.G.L. "Andy" McNaughton retired as commander of the First Canadian Army in Europe after falling out of favour with Minister of National Defence J.L. Ralston over his opposition to fragmentation of the Canadian Army Overseas. U.K. naval units attacked and sank the German battleship Scharnhorst in Arctic waters off North Cape, Norway, leaving Germany with two known battleships, the Tirpitz and Gneisenau. Only 36 of the 1,968 men aboard the Scharnhorst survived. Soviet troops resumed their offensive and rolled back German forces 25 miles on a 50-mile front in Ukraine. Street-by-street fighting continued in Ortona, Italy as Allied forces slowly cleared the northwestern part of the Adriatic port.

Science
The American Institute of Electrical Engineers announced that the 1943 Edison Medal was being awarded to Dr. Vannevar Bush for "development of new applications of mathematics to engineering problems."

Business
The Bolivian government announced that Axis firms there would be nationalized and their operations transferred to Bolivians.

Football
NFL Championship
Washington 21 @ Chicago Bears 41

Sid Luckman threw 5 touchdown passes and rushed for 64 yards to lead the Bears over the Redskins before 34,320 fans at Wrigley Field in a game played in such cold weather that it was nicknamed the "Ice Bowl." Mr. Luckman threw 2 touchdown passes each to Harry Clark and Dante Magnani and another to Jim Benton. Bronko Nagurski, who had come out of retirement late in the season, rushed 3 yards in the 2nd quarter for the other Chicago touchdown to conclude his Hall of Fame career. Washington quarterback Sammy Baugh completed touchdown passes to Andy Farkas and Joe Aguirre, and Mr. Farkas rushed 1 yard for a touchdown to open the scoring in the 2nd quarter. The championship was the third for the Bears in the previous four years.



60 years ago
1953

Hit Parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus--Jimmy Boyd (3rd week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Rags to Riches--Tony Bennett (Best Seller--6th week at #1; Disc Jockey--5th week at #1; Jukebox--4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Oh, Mein Papa (Oh! My Pa-Pa)--Eddie Fisher
--Eddie Calvert
2 Stranger in Paradise--Tony Bennett
--The Four Aces
3 Rags to Riches--Tony Bennett
4 That's Amore--Dean Martin
5 Changing Partners--Patti Page
--[Kay Starr]
6 Ricochet (Rick-O-Shay)--Teresa Brewer
7 Ebb Tide--Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra
8 Santa Baby--Eartha Kitt
9 Eh, Cumpari--Julius LaRosa
10 Istanbul (Not Constantinople)--The Four Lads

Singles entering the chart were C'est Si Bon (It's So Good) by Stan Freberg (#18); Granada, with versions by Frankie Laine and Monty Kelly and his Orchestra (#24); The Strings of My Heart by the Gaylords (#31); Kissing Bridge by the Fontane Sisters (#34); Bimbo by Eddy Howard (#35); Boogie Woogie Maxixe (#36)/I Can't Believe that You're in Love with Me (#42) by the Ames Brothers; Dear Mr. Godfrey by Ruth Wallis (#44); and Mama's Gone, Goodbye by Pee Wee Hunt and his Orchestra (#46). The Strings of My Heart was the other side of Mama-Papa Polka, which charted at #41.

50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: I Want to Hold Your Hand--The Beatles

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): I Want to Hold Your Hand--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Gorgeous George, 48. U.S. wrestler. Born George Wagner, Gorgeous George was the most popular professional wrestler in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s. His outrageous antics and effeminate appearance in the ring were credited wit inspiring huge increases in the sales of television sets during this period. Promoter Al Oeming brought Mr. Wagner--who had his name legally changed to Gorgeous George in 1950--to Edmonton in 1949 for an appearance at the Edmonton Arena, although the city was still five years away from having its first television station. Gorgeous George wrestled until December 1962, but heavy drinking and business setbacks took their toll on him. In 1963 he was living in a flophouse on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, and he died in hospital after suffering a heart attack. Gorgeous George had a tremendous influence on popular culture, including the public personas of boxer Muhammad Ali and singer James Brown, and even the music career of Bob Dylan. The biography Gorgeous George: The Outrageous Bad-Boy Wrestler Who Created American Pop Culture (2008) by John Capouya is well worth reading.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: I'd Love You to Want Me--Lobo (6th week at #1)

At the movies
The Exorcist, starring Ellen Burstyn, Max Von Sydow, and Linda Blair, opened in theatres.

Died on this date
Harold B. Lee, 74. U.S. religious leader. Mr. Lee joined the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1941, eventually serving as President from July 7, 1972 until his death from a pulmonary hemorrhage. He was succeeded as Mormon Church President by Spencer W. Kimball.

Diplomacy
Talks between Egyptian and Israeli generals on the separation of the two countries' troops from the Suez Canal began in Geneva under the auspices of the Middle East peace conference.

Oil
In view of the previous day's announcement by Arab oil producers of an increase in the production of oil in January 1974, the 20% reduction in the supply for industry in Japan, scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 1974, was suspended.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): All Night Long (All Night)--Lionel Richie (2nd week at #1)

Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
Los Angeles Rams 24 @ Dallas 17

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Kokomo--The Beach Boys

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (6th week at #1)

Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
Los Angeles Rams 17 @ Minnesota 28

Joey Browner made interceptions to set up touchdowns by Alfred Anderson and Allen Rice in the 1st quarter as the Vikings took a 14-0 lead and coasted to victory over the Rams before 57,666 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: It Keeps Rainin' (Tears from My Eyes)--Bitty McLean (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Babe--Take That (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Mr Blobby--Mr Blobby (2nd week at #1)

Abominations
The Boston Globe reported that from 1946-1956, scientists at Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology had given doses of radiation in milk to 19 mentally retarded boys to study effects on the digestive system.

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Clifton McNeely, 84. U.S. basketball player and coach. Mr. McNeely played at Texas Wesleyan University (1941-42, 1946-47), and became the first player ever drafted in what is now the National Basketball Association when he was selected by the Pittsburgh Ironmen of the Basketball Association of America in 1947. He declined to play professionally, and instead opted for a coaching career at Pampa High School in Pampa, Texas from 1947-60, compiling a record of 320-43 and leading the school to four state championships.

Disasters
An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale destroyed most of the ancient city of Bam in southeastern Iran.

Football
NCAA
Insight Bowl @ Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix
California 52 Virginia Tech 49

Tyler Frederickson kicked a 35-yard field goal on the last play of regulation time to give the Bears their win over the Hokies before 42,364 fans. California quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 27 of 35 passes for 394 yards and 2 touchdowns, and was named the game's outstanding offensive player. Teammate Ryan Gutierrez made 12 tackles and was names the game's outstanding defensive player.

December 25, 2013

1,000 years ago
1013

Britannica
Sweyn I "Forkbeard" was declared King of England after leading a successful raid on the country and driving King Ethelred the Unready into exile in Wessex. Sweyn I became the first of England's Danish kings.

75 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Karel Čapek, 48. Czech author and playwright. Mr. Čapek wrote fiction and non-fiction, in which he expressed his opposition to both Fascism and Communism. He was best known for his science fiction, especially the play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) (1921), which introduced the word "robot." Mr. Čapek suffered from fragile health, and died of pneumonia.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Paper Doll--The Mills Brothers (8th week at #1)

War
Allied forces in Italy captured Mount Sammucro, 6 miles east of Cassino. U.S.S.R. troops captured 200 more inhabited places in their drive on Vitebsk. U.S. Marines made two landings at points east and west of Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island. Chinese troops occupied Kungan, forcing the Japanese across the Hutu River in an eastward retreat.

Diplomacy
The Ecuadorian government ordered German and Italian nationals held incommunicado, and notified all Axis subjects to leave the country.

Disasters
A fire razed the waterfront area of Wildwood, New Jersey, destroying three theatres, an amusement pier, and other buildings, causing $1 million in damage.

60 years ago
1953

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Answer Me--Frankie Laine (7th week at #1)

50 years ago
1963

At the movies
Love with the Proper Stranger, starring Steve McQueen and Natalie Wood, opened in theatres.

40 years ago
1973

At the movies
The Sting, starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Robert Shaw, premiered in New York and Los Angeles.

Oil
Arab oil producers announced an increase in production to begin in January 1974.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Come Back and Stay--Paul Young (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Joan Miró, 90. Spanish artist. Mr. Miró was a painter, sculptor, and ceramicist whose work has been described as surrealistic, and an attack on established styles of art.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Orinoco Flow--Enya (3rd week at #1)

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Please Forgive Me--Bryan Adams (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Penso Positivo--Jovanotti (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Saturday Night--Whigfield

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): The Sign--Ace of Base (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Please Forgive Me--Bryan Adams (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Living on My Own (1993)--Freddie Mercury (12th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Het pizzalied (Effe wachte...)--André van Duin (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Mr Blobby--Mr Blobby (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Hero--Mariah Carey

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box):
1 Again--Janet Jackson (2nd week at #1)
2 Hero--Mariah Carey
3 Please Forgive Me--Bryan Adams
4 All That She Wants--Ace of Base
5 Breathe Again--Toni Braxton
6 All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting
7 I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf
8 Can We Talk--Tevin Campbell
9 Said I Loved You...But I Lied--Michael Bolton
10 Shoop--Salt-N-Pepa

Singles entering the chart were Daughter by Pearl Jam (#23) and Stay (Faraway, So Close!) by U2 (#67).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Please Forgive Me--Bryan Adams (4th week at #1)
2 Both Sides of the Story--Phil Collins
3 Hero--Mariah Carey
4 I'll Always Be There--Roch Voisine
5 Said I Loved You...But I Lied--Michael Bolton
6 All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting
7 Again--Janet Jackson
8 5 Days in May--Blue Rodeo
9 All That She Wants--Ace of Base
10 All About Soul--Billy Joel

Singles entering the chart were You're Coming Home by the Jeff Healey Band (#71); Tones of Home by Blind Melon (#83); The Bottle by the Christians (#87); Crying in the Rain by Art Garfunkel and James Taylor (#95); Bless the World by David Wilcox (#96); Run Baby Run by Sheryl Crow (#97); Bad Thing by Cry of Love (#98); and I'm in Love by Lisa Keith (#99).

10 years ago
2003

Space
Scientists failed to make contact with the British-built Mars probe Beagle 2, which should have landed on the planet early in the day.

Terrorism
11 days after Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf had escaped an assassination attempt by the detonation of a car bomb, Mr. Musharraf's motorcade was attacked again by two suicide bombers. Mr. Musharraf escaped unharmed, but 14 people were killed.

December 24, 2013

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Hilary Hahn!

230 years ago
1783

Defense
British Loyalist troops stationed in Montreal, Lower Canada were disbanded.

150 years ago
1863

Died on this date
William Makepeace Thackeray, 52. Indian-born U.K. author. Mr. Thackeray wrote fiction and non-fiction, and was best known for his novels The Luck of Barry Lyndon (1844) and Vanity Fair (1848). He died from a stroke.

140 years ago
1873

Died on this date
Johns Hopkins, 78. U.S. businessman and philanthropist. Mr. Hopkins, a devout Quaker, became prosperous as a partner in Hopkins & Brothers Wholesalers, which he and his brothers founded in Baltimore in 1819. Mr. Hopkins made so much money from wise investments that he retired at the age of 52, and spent the rest of his life as a philanthropist. He was best known for providing the money to found Johns Hopkins University and various institutions associated with it.

120 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Harry Warren. U.S. songwriter. Mr. Warren, born Salvatore Antonio Guaragna, was the first major songwriter to write primarily for cinema. He was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning for writing the music for Lullaby of Broadway (Gold Diggers of 1935) (1935); You'll Never Know (Hello, Frisco, Hello) (1943); and On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe (The Harvey Girls) (1945). Mr. Warren's other songs are too numerous to mention here; he died on September 22, 1981 at the age of 87.

Died on this date
B.T. Finniss, 86. Australian politician. Boyle Travers Finniss was born at sea and grew up in India and the United Kingdom. He was a surveyor by trade, and settled in South Australia in 1836. Mr. Finniss held various offices in South Australia, and represented the city of Adelaide in the S.A. Parliament from 1857-1860, serving as the first Premier of South Australia from 1856-1857.

70 years ago
1943

Movies
A Motion Picture Herald survey named Betty Grable as the number one box office star, with Bob Hope second.

War
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed General Dwight D. Eisenhower supreme commander of Allied forces during World War II. In daylight, nearly 3,000 Allied planes engaged in record operations across the English Channel. U.K. units in Italy continued heavy street fighting against German troops in Ortona. The Soviet offensive aimed at Vitebsk, White Russia netted more than 60 inhabited places, including the large fortified centre and rail station of Gorodok. Chinese troops crossed the Sungtze River.

Politics and government
General Georges Catroux, representing the French National Committee of Liberation, turned over Lebanese and Syrian government responsibilities to Lebanese and Syrian administrations.

Labour
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen called off the strike scheduled for December 31, but the conductors, firemen, and switchmen left their strike call in effect.

U.S. National War Labor Board Director William Davis telegraphed Congress of Industrial Organizations President Philip Murray, offering to reconvene the board and reconsider its vote to reject the demand of the United Steel Workers of America that any new wage contracts carry a retroactive clause.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill extending the Civilian Conservation Corps through February 17, 1944.

60 years ago
1953

At the movies
Bad for Each Other, directed by Irving Rapper, and starring Charlton Heston, Lizabeth Scott, and Dianne Foster, opened in theatres in New York City.



50 years ago
1963

On television tonight
The Fugitive, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Girl from Little Egypt, with guest stars Ed Nelson, Pamela Tiffin, Diane Brewster, and June Dayton

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)--Helen Reddy

#1 single in France: Noël interdit--Johnny Hallyday (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Gerard Kuiper, 68. Netherlands-born U.S. astronomer. Dr. Kuiper moved to the United States in 1933 and became a U.S. citizen in 1937. He worked at the Yerkes Observatory at the University of Chicago for many years before founding the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona. Dr. Kuiper discovered two planetary satellites: Miranda (Uranus) and Nereid (Neptune), as well as several binary stars. He also discovered carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Mars and the existence of a methane-laced atmosphere above Saturn's satellite Titan. A region of small planets beyond Neptune is known as the Kuiper Belt in his honour.

Business
The Coal Association of Canada, a national body representing the coal industry, was founded.

Disasters
Nearly 200 people were killed when an overloaded ferry capsized in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Le Rita!--Claude Barzotti (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): You Are--Dolly Parton

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Only You--The Flying Pickets (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Only You--The Flying Pickets (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Say Say Say--Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Say Say Say--Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)
2 Union of the Snake--Duran Duran
3 All Night Long (All Night)--Lionel Richie
4 Say it Isn't So--Daryl Hall-John Oates
5 Uptown Girl--Billy Joel
6 Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes
7 Love is a Battlefield--Pat Benatar
8 Twist of Fate--Olivia Newton-John
9 Cum On Feel the Noize--Quiet Riot
10 Crumblin' Down--John Cougar Mellencamp

Singles entering the chart were So Bad by Paul McCartney (#62); Give it Up by KC (#84); Sweetheart Like You by Bob Dylan (#87); You're Looking Like Love to Me by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack (#89); and "Kid" Santa Claus by Patsy (#99).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Say Say Say--Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)
2 All Night Long (All Night)--Lionel Richie
3 Islands in the Stream--Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton
4 Tonight I Celebrate My Love--Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack
5 Love is a Battlefield--Pat Benatar
6 Church of the Poison Mind--Culture Club
7 Union of the Snake--Duran Duran
8 Uptown Girl--Billy Joel
9 Major Tom (Coming Home)--Peter Schilling
10 Cum On Feel the Noize--Quiet Riot

Singles entering the chart were Rush Rush by Debbie Harry (#43); The Politics of Dancing by Re-Flex (#45); Ready to Make Up by Toronto (#46); and Read 'Em and Weep by Barry Manilow (#49). Rush Rush was from the movie Scarface (1983).

Defense
French peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon pulled back from positions in southern Beirut and turned them over to the Lebanese army.

Disasters
Three days after an earthquake in Guinea had killed more than 300 people, another earthquake there killed about 150.

Football
NFL
AFC Wild Card Playoff
Denver 7 @ Seattle 31

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): C'è da spostare una macchina--Francesco Salvi (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Orinoco Flow--Enya (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Smooth Criminal--Michael Jackson

#1 single in France (SNEP): Pourvu qu'elles soient douces--Mylène Farmer (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Mistletoe and Wine--Cliff Richard (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Mistletoe and Wine--Cliff Richard (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard
1 Every Rose Has its Thorn--Poison
2 My Prerogative--Bobby Brown
3 Look Away--Chicago
4 Giving You the Best That I Got--Anita Baker
5 Waiting for a Star to Fall--Boy Meets Girl
6 Two Hearts--Phil Collins
7 Welcome to the Jungle--Guns n' Roses
8 In Your Room--Bangles
9 Walk on Water--Eddie Money
10 Don't Rush Me--Taylor Dayne

Singles entering the chart were Surrender to Me by Ann Wilson and Robin Zander (#80); All She Wants Is by Duran Duran (#85); I Beg Your Pardon by Kon Kan (#87); More than You Know by Martika (#91); and The Great Commandment by Camouflage (#98). Surrender to Me was from the movie Tequila Sunrise (1988).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Every Rose Has its Thorn--Poison
2 Giving You the Best That I Got--Anita Baker
3 My Prerogative--Bobby Brown
4 Waiting for a Star to Fall--Boy Meets Girl
5 Two Hearts--Phil Collins
6 Look Away--Chicago
7 I Don't Want Your Love--Duran Duran
8 Don't Rush Me--Taylor Dayne
9 Welcome to the Jungle--Guns N' Roses
10 In Your Room--Bangles

Singles entering the chart were Surrender to Me by Ann Wilson and Robin Zander (#80); All She Wants Is by Duran Duran (#82); More than You Know by Martika (#85); Doctorin' the Tardis by the Timelords (#87); Perfect by Fairground Attraction (#88); Madeline by Winger (#90); If Ever a Love There Was by the Four Tops with Aretha Franklin (#95); and Posse' on Broadway by Sir Mix-a-Lot (#97).

Politics and government
U.S. Vice President and President-elect George Bush named Elizabeth Dole, wife of U.S. Senator Bob Dole (Republican--Kansas) and Secretary of Transportation in the administration of President Ronald Reagan, as Secretary of Labor in his forthcoming administration.

Oil
Three oil fields in the North Sea were shut down after a giant floating storage vessel broke free of its moorings in gale-force winds.

Football
NFL
AFC Wild Card Playoff
Houston 24 @ Cleveland 23

Tony Zendejas' 49-yard field goal with 1:54 remaining in the game provided the winning margin for the Oilers as they edged the Browns before 74,977 fans at Cleveland Stadium. The Browns scored a converted touchdown with 31 seconds remaining to draw within 1 point, but three attempts at a short kickoff resulted in penalties, and the Oilers ran out the clock.

20 years ago
1993

Died on this date
Norman Vincent Peale, 95. U.S. clergyman. Rev. Peale was ordained as a Methodist minister in 1922, but changed his affiliation to the Reformed Church in America in 1932, serving as pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City from 1932-1984. He hosted the radio program The Art of Living from 1954-1989, and founded Guideposts magazine with his wife Ruth in 1945. Rev. Peale attempted to combine religion with psychiatry, as he and psychiatrist Smiley Blanton operated a religio-psychiatric clinic, which became the American Foundation of Religion and Psychiatry in 1951. Rev. Peale's most popular book, The Power of Positive Thinking, was published in 1952, which led Dr. Blanton to distance himself from Rev. Peale and his views. Rev. Peale's advice was criticized as promoting a form of self-hypnosis, while being advocated by prominent businessmen and politicians. Dr. Peale spoke out on political issues in the 1950s, but he was widely criticized for opposing John F. Kennedy's U.S. presidential candidacy in 1960 on the grounds of Mr. Kennedy's Catholicism; Rev. Peale thereafter withdrew from partisan politics. Rev. Peale was a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Freemason, and was much honoured by the world, despite whatever criticism he received.

December 23, 2013

230 years ago
1783

Defense
George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the U.S. Continental Army and retired to his home in Mount Vernon, Virginia.

225 years ago
1788

Americana
Maryland passed an act to cede a parcel of land for the seat of the national government, part of which later became the District of Columbia.

190 years ago
1823

Literature
The poem A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clark Moore was first published in the Troy Sentinel in Troy, New York.

100 years ago
1913

Abominations
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Owen-Glass Act, creating a consortium of privately-owned banks known as the Federal Reserve System wielding disproportionate control over the economy of the United States.

80 years ago
1933

World events
Marinus Van der Lubbe was convicted in Leipzig of setting the fire that had burned down the German Reichstag in Berlin on February 27, 1933, and of attempting to overthrow the government. Co-defendants Ernst Torgler, Georgi Dimitrov, Blagoi Popov, and Vasil Tanev were acquitted. Mr. Van der Lubbe was sentenced to death.

60 years ago
1953

Died on this date
Lavrentiy Beria, 54. U.S.S.R. politician. Mr. Beria was chief of the Soviet security and secret police apparatus (NKVD) under dictator Josef Stalin during World War II, serving as Minister of Internal Affairs (1938-1945), and Deputy Premier from 1941. He was responsible for organizing the Katyn Forest massacre of Polish military officers in 1940, and was known as a sexual predator, getting away with numerous rapes and perhaps murders of women. Upon the death of Mr. Stalin in March 1953, Mr. Beria resumed the office of Minister of Internal Affairs, and was also First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers. He soon lost a power struggle with Nikita Khrushchev, and was arrested for treason in June. He and six co-defendants were convicted in a secret trial, and Mr. Beria was executed by General Pavel Batitsky, who shot him through the forehead after stuffing a rag in Mr. Beria's mouth to stifle the pleas for his life.

50 years ago
1963

On television tonight
The Outer Limits, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Tourist Attraction, starring Ralph Meeker, Janet Blair, Jerry Douglas, Jay Novello, and Henry Silva

Canadiana
The National Centre for the Performing Arts was founded in Ottawa.

40 years ago
1973

Died on this date
Irna Phillips, 72. U.S. radio and television producer and writer. Miss Phillips created, produced, and wrote some of radio and television's soap operas, including The Guiding Light; As the World Turns; and Another World.

Oil
Arab oil producers announced a doubling of the price of crude oil from the Persian Gulf.

Disasters
A chartered Caravelle twin-engine plane crashed in the Rif Mountains in Morocco, killing all 106 people aboard, most of them Moroccans returning home for the holidays.

Football
NFL
NFC divisional playoff
Los Angeles 16 @ Dallas 27

AFC divisional playoff
Cincinnati 16 @ Miami 34

Roger Staubach completed touchdown passes to Drew Pearson of 4 yards in the 1st quarter and 83 yards in the 4th quarter as the Cowboys defeated the Rams before 64,291 fans at Texas Stadium in Irving. Mr. Pearson's touchdowns were his only receptions of the game; his second TD came after Tony Baker's 5-yard touchdown rush, converted by David Ray, had cut the Dallas lead to 17-16. Calvin Hill, who rushed 25 times for 97 yards, opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run in the 1st quarter. Toni Fritsch converted all 3 Dallas touchdowns and added 2 field goals. His first FG, from 39 yards, gave the Cowboys a 17-0 lead in the 2nd quarter. Mr. Ray kicked 3 field goals for the Rams. Mr. Staubach completed 8 of 16 passes for 180 yards and 2 interceptions, while Los Angeles quarterback John Hadl, the NFC's Most Valuable Player in 1973, had a poor game, completing just 7 of 23 passes for 133 yards and an interception.

Mercury Morris rushed 20 times for 106 yards and a touchdown and Larry Csonka added 71 yards on 20 carries for a touchdown as the Dolphins beat the Bengals before 80,047 fans at the Orange Bowl. Jim Kiick contributed 51 yards on 10 carries as the Dolphins amassed 241 yards rushing. Miami quarterback Bob Griese completed 11 of 18 passes for 159 yards and touchdown passes to Paul Warfield in the 1st quarter and Jim Mandich in the 3rd quarter. Garo Yepremian converted all 4 Miami touchdowns and added 2 field goals. Defensive back Neal Craig scored the only Cincinnati touchdown on a 45-yard interception return in the 2nd quarter. Horst Muhlmann converted and added 3 field goals. Cincinnati quarterback Ken Anderson completed 14 of 27 passes for just 113 yards and an interception.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Uptown Girl--Billy Joel (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Come Back and Stay--Paul Young (7th week at #1)

Politics and government
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau named Jeanne Sauve, a former Liberal federal cabinet minister, to be Canada's first female Governor General. She was sworn in on May 14, 1984, succeeding Ed Schreyer.

Scandal
J. Lynn Helms resigned as head of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration during investigations by two federal grand juries of his private business dealings. The Wall Street Journal had said that Mr. Helms had engaged in questionable business practices, reporting on October 7 that Mr. Helms and an associate had taken over several small businesses and manipulated their assets, resulting in several bankruptcies and defaults on millions of dolars of debt, much of it backed by government agencies.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Don't Worry Be Happy--Bobby McFerrin (8th week at #1)

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): The Sign--Ace of Base (3rd week at #1)

10 years ago
2003

Health
The U.S. government announced the first suspected case of mad cow disease in the United States.

Crime
A jury in Chesapeake, Virginia sentenced Lee Boyd Malvo, 17, to life in prison without parole, five days after convicting him of two counts of murder in the sniper shootings of 10 people in the Washington, D.C. area in October 2002. John Allen Muhammad had been sentenced to death a month earlier for his role in the killings.