January 20, 2013

490 years ago
1523

World events
Christian II was forced to abdicate as King of Denmark and Norway when Jutland rose against him and renounced its allegiance, offering the Danish crown to Christian's uncle, Duke Frederick of Holstein.

225 years ago
1788

Australiana
The third and main part of the First Fleet arrived at Botany Bay.

170 years ago
1843

Politics and government
Honório Hermeto Carneiro Leão, Marquis of Paraná became President of the Council of Ministers of Brazil. By selecting his own cabinet, he became the de facto first Prime Minister of Brazil.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Cleon Skousen. Canadian-born U.S. political theorist. Mr. Skousen, a lifelong Mormon, was born in Raymond, Alberta but grew up in California. He was an FBI agent from 1940-1951, and police chief of Salt Lake City from 1956-1960. Mr. Skousen was a supporter of the John Birch Society and made his name writing and speaking against Communism and the New World Order. His best-known book was The Naked Communist (1958); other books of his included The Naked Capitalist (1970); The Five Thousand Year Leap (1981); and The Cleansing of America (2010). Mr. Skousen's views have been embraced by some--including Mormons such as Glenn Beck--and denounced by many others. He died in Salt Lake City on January 9, 2006, 11 days before his 93rd birthday.

70 years ago
1943

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Rick Evans! Mr. Evans and Denny Zager comprised the musical duo Zager and Evans, whose single In the Year 2525 was one of the biggest hits of 1969.

60 years ago
1953

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Vacancy for Death, starring Joan Blondell, Steven Elliott, and Dorothy Hart



Politics and government
Dwight D. Eisenhower was inaugurated as the 34th President of the United States of America.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Long Haired Lover from Liverpool--Little Jimmy Osmond (5th week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Ben--Michael Jackson
2 You're a Lady--Peter Skellern
3 The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.--Donna Fargo
4 I Can See Clearly Now--Johnny Nash
5 Mouldy Old Dough--Lieutenant Pigeon
6 Popcorn--Hot Butter
7 Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me--Mac Davis
8 Rainbow on the River/We'll Meet Again--Jamie Redfern
9 Sealed with a Kiss--Bobby Vinton
10 There are Too Many Saviours on My Cross--Richard Harris

Singles entering the chart were Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues (#17); No by Bulldog (#19); Don't You Know it's Magic by Johnny Farnham (#20); Clair by Gilbert O'Sullivan (#23); I Am Woman by Helen Reddy (#28); Rockin' Pneumonia-Boogie Woogie Flu by Johnny Rivers (#31); Morning by the Halle Orchestra (#36); Crocodile Rock by Elton John (#38); and Father by Pat Kerry (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): You're So Vain--Carly Simon (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Superstition--Stevie Wonder
2 You're So Vain--Carly Simon
3 Crocodile Rock--Elton John
4 Why Can't We Live Together--Timmy Thomas
5 Your Mama Don't Dance--Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina
6 Superfly--Curtis Mayfield
7 Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul
8 Rockin' Pneumonia-Boogie Woogie Flu--Johnny Rivers
9 Keeper of the Castle--Four Tops
10 I Wanna Be with You--Raspberries

Singles entering the chart were I Got Ants in My Pants (And I Want to Dance) (Part 1) by James Brown (#67); I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) by the Moody Blues (#69); Killing Me Softly with His Song by Roberta Flack (#83); Today I Started Loving You Again by Bettye Swan (#84); She's Got to Be a Saint by Ray Price (#91); Little Willy by the Sweet (#93); Fever by Rita Coolidge (#94); Dead Skunk by Loudon Wainwright III (#95); Sweet Lorraine by Uriah Heep (#98); Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) by Gladys Knight and the Pips (#99); and Come Softly to Me by the New Seekers (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Clair--Gilbert O'Sullivan (2nd week at #1)
2 You're So Vain--Carly Simon
3 Rockin' Pneumonia-Boogie Woogie Flu--Johnny Rivers
4 Last Song--Edward Bear
5 Daytime Night Time--Keith Hampshire
6 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
7 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy
8 Walk on Water--Neil Diamond
9 Mouldy Old Dough--Lieutenant Pigeon
10 Something's Wrong with Me--Austin Roberts

Singles entering the chart were Why Can't We Live Together by Timmy Thomas (#73); Tell the People by Joey Gregorash (#74); Dancing in the Moonlight by King Harvest (#76); Peaceful Easy Feeling by the Eagles (#77); Living Together, Growing Together by the 5th Dimension (#78); Do it Again by Steely Dan (#79); Big City Miss Ruth Ann by Gallery (#81); The World is a Ghetto by War (#83); I Can't Move No Mountain by Blood, Sweat and Tears (#87); Lucky Man by Emerson, Lake & Palmer (#90); Dueling Banjos by Eric Weissberg with Steve Mandel (#92); One Last Time by Glen Campbell (#95); Jesus was a Capricorn by Kris Kristofferson (#97); Gypsy by Van Morrison (#98); and Good Morning Heartache by Diana Ross (#100).

Calgary’s Top 10
1 Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul
2 You're So Vain--Carly Simon
3 Crocodile Rock--Elton John
4 Pieces of April--Three Dog Night
5 Hi, Hi, Hi--Wings
6 Last Song--Edward Bear
7 Africa--Thundermug
8 Keeper of the Castle--Four Tops
9 Long Dark Road--The Hollies
10 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
Pick hit of the week: You Ought to Be with Me--Al Green

On television tonight
A Touch of Grace, starring Shirley Booth and J. Pat O'Malley, on ABC
Tonight's episode: A Touch of Grace

This short-lived (13 episodes), but fondly-remembered (by this blogger) comedy series had the misfortune of airing opposite CBS's Monday night lineup of comedies led by All in the Family and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and thus attracted few viewers. In Canada the series aired on CTV, which is how I was able to see it.

Music
Jerry Lee Lewis performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville for the first time.

Politics and government
Richard Nixon was inaugurated to begin his second term as the 37th President of the United States of America.

30 years ago
1983

Disappeared on this date/b>
6-year-old Tania Murrell disappeared on her way home from school in Edmonton. Tania's disappearance has never been solved, and led to the creation of Child Find Alberta.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Audrey Hepburn, 63. Belgian-born U.K. actress. One of the most popular stars of the 1950s and '60s, Miss Hepburn won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Roman Holiday (1953). Her other movies included Sabrina (1954); Funny Face (1957); Love in the Afternoon (1957); The Nun's Story (1959); Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961); Charade (1963); My Fair Lady (1964); How to Steal a Million (1966); Wait Until Dark (1967); and Robin and Marian (1976).

Politics and government
Bill Clinton was inaugurated as the 42nd President of the United States of America.