January 2, 2013

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Kathy Fincham!

225 years ago
1788

Americana
Georgia became the 4th state to ratify the United States Constitution.

150 years ago
1863

War
In the U.S. Civil War, Union troops under Major General William Rosecrans defeated Confederate troops commanded by Braxton Bragg after three days of fighting in the Battle of Stones River at Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

120 years ago
1893

Diplomacy
Frederick Douglass, renowned American abolitionist and United States minister and general consul in Haiti from 1889-1891, delivered an address at the dedication of the Haitian Pavilion at the Columbian World Exposition in Chicago.

90 years ago
1923

Died on this date
Harrison Hunter, 52. U.S. actor. Mr. Hunter, born in the U.S. to Scottish parents who were on vacation, grew up in Scotland and began his career there before returning to the United States in 1899. He appeared in 14 Broadway productions from 1901-1922, most notably playing the title character in The Bat (1920-1922). After The Bat ended its Broadway run, Mr. Hunter appeared in a touring company's version of the play, but in a different role. While appearing in Boston, he took ill, underwent surgery, and died from complications.

Politics and government
Albert B. Fall resigned as U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a result of the Teapot Dome scandal.

80 years ago
1933

World events
The United States Marine Corps ended more than 20 years of occupation of Nicaragua when the withdrawal of the 5th Marine Regiment.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): White Christmas--Bing Crosby (10th week at #1)

60 years ago
1953

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Here in My Heart--Al Martino (8th week at #1)

On television tonight
Tales of Tomorrow, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Mask of Medusa, starring Raymond Burr

Died on this date
Guccio Gucci, 71. Italian fashion designer. Mr. Gucci founded the House of Gucci in Florence in 1921, expanding to Rome in 1938, Milan in 1951, and New York in 1952. Mr. Gucci's five sons grew and diversified the firm internationally after his death.

50 years ago
1963

Died on this date
Dick Powell, 58. U.S. actor. Mr. Powell starred in musical movies such as 42nd Street (1933), Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), and Footlight Parade (1933). In the 1940s he became known for film noir movies such as Murder, My Sweet (1944); Cornered (1945); and Pitfall (1948). Mr. Powell also starred in the radio detective series Rogue's Gallery and Richard Diamond, Private Detective, and starred in the audition episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. He became a director and producer in the 1950s. One of the movies he directed was The Conqueror (1956), which was filmed near St. George, Utah, where testing of nuclear weapons was taking place. Mr. Powell was one of 91 people of a cast and crew of 220 on the film who developed cancer, 46 of whom died from it. Radioactive fallout has been blamed for many of the deaths, although June Allyson, Mr. Powell's third and last wife, attributed his cancer to smoking.

Jack Carson, 52. Canadian-born U.S. actor. A native of Carman, Manitoba, Mr. Carson was a character actor, usually in comic roles. His movies included Destry Rides Again (1939); Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941); Love Crazy (1941); The Male Animal (1942); Arsenic and Old Lace (1944); Mildred Pierce (1945); Romance on the High Seas (1948); A Star is Born (1954); Tarnished Angels (1957); and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958). He also appeared in many television programs in the 1950s and early 1960s before his death from stomach cancer.

War
Viet Cong forces inflicted heavy casualties on South Vietnamese forces at Ap Bac.

40 years ago
1973

Boxing
Masao Ohba (35-2-1) retained his WBA world flyweight title with a knockout of Chartchai Chionoi (57-15-3) at 3:00 of the 12th round at Nihon University Auditorium in Tokyo. It was the last fight for Mr. Ohba, who was killed in a car accident 22 days later. Mr. Chionoi succeeded him as champion.

30 years ago
1983

On the radio
The Stories of Sherlock Holmes, starring Graham Armitage and Kerry Jordan, on Springbok Radio
Tonight’s episode: The Snow of Brendan Woods

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Étienne--Guesch Patti

#1 single in Italy: La Bamba--Los Lobos (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Fairytale of New York--The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Faith--George Michael (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): Faith--George Michael (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Canada (RPM): Faith--George Michael (3rd week at #1)

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Dur dur d'être bébé!--Jordy (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Dur dur d'être bébé!--Jordy

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Highland--One More Time (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Dur dur d'être bébé!--Jordy (11th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Canada (RPM): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (3rd week at #1)

Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
Washington 24 @ Minnesota 7

AFC Wild Card Playoff
Kansas City 0 @ San Diego 17

Brian Mitchell rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown and added 100 more yards on pass receptions and kick returns as the Redskins defeated the Vikings before 57,353 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.

Marion Butts rushed 54 yards for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter to break a 0-0 tie as the Chargers blanked the Chiefs before 58,278 fans at San Diego-Jack Murphy Stadium.