January 12, 2013

240 years ago
1773

Americana
The first public museum in colonial America was established in Charleston, South Carolina.

175 years ago
1838

Religion
Mormon Church leader Joseph Smith and his followers fled Kirtland, Ohio to avoid arrest after a bank founded by Mr. Smith had failed during the panic of 1837.

70 years ago
1943

War
Soviet forces breached the German siege of Leningrad, which had lasted since September 8, 1941.

60 years ago
1953

Edmontonia
The Edmonton Stock Exchange opened for business.

50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Return to Sender--Elvis Presley

#1 single in France: L'idole des Jeunes--Johnny Hallyday (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Speedy Gonzales--Peppino di Capri

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Junge, komm bald wieder--Freddy Quinn (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Dance On!--The Shadows (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Go Away Little Girl--Steve Lawrence

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Telstar--The Tornados (3rd week at #1)
2 Go Away Little Girl--Steve Lawrence
3 Limbo Rock--Chubby Checker
4 Bobby's Girl--Marcie Blane
5 Return to Sender--Elvis Presley
6 Hotel Happiness--Brook Benton
7 Pepino the Italian Mouse--Lou Monte
8 Big Girls Don't Cry--The 4 Seasons
9 Tell Him--The Exciters
10 My Dad--Paul Petersen

Singles entering the chart were I'm a Woman by Peggy Lee (#84); All About My Girl by Jimmy McGriff (#85); Al Di La by Connie Francis (#87); The Gypsy Cried by Lou Christie (#89); Rhythm of the Rain by the Cascades (#91); Jellybread by Booker T. and the M.G.'s (#92); Mama Didn't Lie by Jan Bradley (#93); Bossa Nova U.S.A. by the Dave Brubeck Quartet (#98); Little White Lies by the Kenjolairs (#99); Every Day I Have to Cry by Steve Alaimo (#100); and Peppermint Man by Dick Dale and his Del-Tones (also #100).

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Ich wünsch' mir 'ne kleine Miezekatze--Wums Gesang (4th week at #1)

Music
Elvis Presley and his band conducted a rehearsal concert two days in advance of the Aloha from Hawaii concert at the Honolulu Convention Center, which became the first television program to be broadcast around the world by satellite. A recording of the concert was released as an album many years later.

30 years ago
1983

Died on this date
Nikolai Podgorny, 79. Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., 1965-1977. Mr. Podgorny was First Secretary of the Communist Party of Ukraine from 1957-1963 before becoming the Soviet Union's head of state. He was removed from office on June 16, 1977 and replaced by Soviet First Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, ostensibly for opposing detente and increased production of consumer goods. Mr. Podgorny had been removed from the Politburo on May 24, 1977.

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Alan Nunn May, 91. U.K. physicist and U.S.S.R. spy. Dr. Nunn May worked on radar and heavy water projects in England during World War II. A member of the Communist Party since the 1930s, he was a member of the "Cambridge Five" spy network and supplied the U.S.S.R. with U.S. and U.K. atomic secrets. Dr. Nunn May served 6 1/2 years in prison in Britain for espionage after being named in the revelations of defecting Soviet cipher clerk Igor Gouzenko.

Leopoldo Galtieri, 76. President of Argentina, 1981-1982. Mr. Galtieri was one of the leaders of the military junta that took power in Argentina in 1976, rising to the rank of lieutenant general. He became President as a result of a coup that ousted General Roberto Viola, but was removed from office several days after Argentina's humiliating loss to the U.K. in the Falklands War.

Maurice Gibb, 53. U.K. musician. One of the Brothers Gibb from whom the Bee Gees got their name, Mr. Gibb died from complications following intestinal surgery.

Football
NFL
NFC Divisional playoff
San Francisco 6 @ Tampa Bay 31

AFC Divisional playoff
New York Jets 10 @ Oakland 30

The Tampa Bay defense forced 5 turnovers and sacked San Francisco quarterback Jeff Garcia 4 times as the Buccaneers beat the 49ers before 65,599 fans at Raymond James Stadium.

The Oakland defense forced 4 consecutive turnovers and scored 20 unanswered points in the 2nd half to break a 10-10 tie as the Raiders defeated the Jets before 62,207 fans at Network Associates Coliseum.