February 17, 2013

340 years ago
1673

Died on this date
Molière, 51. French playwright. Born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, Molière was known for comedies such as Le Misanthrope; L'École des Femmes; Tartuffe ou L'Imposteur; and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme.

175 years ago
1838

Abominations
In the Weenen Massacre, 282 Voortrekkers--Afrikaaners and Dutch pioneers making their way to the interior of South Africa--were killed by Zulus, as well as 250 or 252 members of the Khoikhoi and Basuto tribes that were accompanying the Voortrekkers. The dead Voortrekkers numbered 41 men, 56 woman, and 185 children.

130 years ago
1883

Died on this date
Vasudev Balwant Phadke, 37. Indian revolutionary leader. Mr. Phadke was widely acknowledged as the leader of the armed struggle for India's independence from British colonial rule. He died of a hunger strike in prison

110 years ago
1903

Born on this date
Kenne Duncan. Canadian-born U.S. actor. A native of Chatham, Ontario, Mr. Duncan appeared in dozens of B-western movies and television shows, usually as a villain. His best-known movie was probably Revenge of the Dead, aka Night of the Ghouls (1960), written and directed by the legendary Edward D. Wood, Jr. A notorious drinker and womanizer whose nickname was "Horsecock," Mr. Duncan committed suicide in Hollywood with an overdose of barbiturates on February 5, 1972, 12 days before his 69th birthday.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Jean Le Moyne. Canadian journalist and politician. Mr. Le Moyne was known for his book Convergences (1961). He was appointed to the Canadian Senate by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1982, and represented Rigaud as a Liberal from 1982-1988. Mr. Le Moyne died on April 1, 1996 at the age of 83.

Art
The International Exhibition of Modern Art opened at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York City. For many Americans, it was their first exposure to modern European art styles and artists.

80 years ago
1933

Journalism
Newsweek magazine (then known as News-Week) was founded by Thomas J.C. Martyn.

Law
The United States Senate passed the Blaine Act, initiating the repeal of the 18th Amendment to the Uninted States Constitution, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor. The bill was sponsored by Senator John J. Blaine (Republican--Wisconsin).

60 years ago
1953

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Quarry, starring Jeffrey Lyn, James Daly, Robert Middleton, and Andrew Duggan



40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Block Buster--The Sweet (4th week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Ben--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)
2 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy
3 You're So Vain--Carly Simon
4 Nights in White Satin--The Moody Blues
5 I'd Love You to Want Me--Lobo
6 You're a Lady--Peter Skellern
7 Mouldy Old Dough--Lieutenant Pigeon
8 Crocodile Rock--Elton John
9 Happy Xmas (War is Over)--John Lennon and Yoko Ono
10 I've Got to Have You--Carly Simon

The only single entering the chart was I Just Want to Make Love to You by Foghat (#29).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Crocodile Rock--Elton John (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Oh Babe, What Would You Say?--Hurricane Smith
2 Crocodile Rock--Elton John
3 Could it Be I'm Falling in Love--The Spinners
4 Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend--Lobo
5 Why Can't We Live Together--Timmy Thomas
6 Dueling Banjos--Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell
7 Do it Again--Steely Dan
8 You're So Vain--Carly Simon
9 Love Train--O'Jays
10 Dancing in the Moonlight--King Harvest

Singles entering the chart were Call Me (Come Back Home) by Al Green (#64); Sing by the Carpenters (#67); Masterpiece by the Temptations (#69); Pardon Me Sir by Joe Cocker (#79); Magic Woman Touch by the Hollies (#82); Superman by Donna Fargo (#83); Drift Away by Dobie Gray (#85); Pinball Wizard/See Me, Feel Me by the New Seekers (#92); Funky Worm by the Ohio Players (#93); Put on Your Shoes and Walk by Clarence Carter (#94); Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed (#96); Names, Tags, Numbers & Labels by the Association (#97); Woman from Tokyo by Deep Purple (#98); Crazy Legs by Donald Austin (#99); and Bell Bottom Blues by Eric Clapton (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Crocodile Rock--Elton John
2 Last Song--Edward Bear
3 Danny's Song--Anne Murray
4 You Are What I Am/That Same Old Obsession--Gordon Lightfoot
5 Oh Babe, What Would You Say--Hurricane Smith
6 Why Can't We Live Together--Timmy Thomas
7 I'm Gonna Love You Too--Terry Jacks
8 You're So Vain--Carly Simon
9 Rocky Mountain High--John Denver
10 Jambalaya (On the Bayou)--The Blue Ridge Rangers

Singles entering the chart were Boo Boo Don't 'Cha Be Blue by Tommy James (#81); Cook with Honey by Judy Collins (#85); Daddy's Home by Jermaine Jackson (#88); You Don't Know What Love Is by Susan Jacks (#90); Peaceful by Helen Reddy (#91); The Beatles' Thing by Moran (#92); Palace Guard by Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band (#93); Lost by Mickey Posner (#94); Chimbombay by Mashiya (#95); Oh My Lady by the Stampeders (#96); Wildflower by Skylark (#97); A Good Song by Valdy (#98); Stir it Up by Johnny Nash (#99); and Love Music by the Raiders (#100).

Calgary’s Top 10
1 You're So Vain--Carly Simon (4th week at #1)
2 Crocodile Rock--Elton John
3 Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend--Lobo
4 Pieces of April--Three Dog Night
5 Superstition--Stevie Wonder
6 Why Can't We Live Together--Timmy Thomas
7 Hi, Hi, Hi--Wings
8 Superfly--Curtis Mayfield
9 Control of Me--Les Emmerson
10 Your Mama Don't Dance--Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina
Pick hit of the week: Dancing in the Moonlight--King Harvest

Politics and government
U.S. President Richard Nixon named L. Patrick Gray III to succeed J. Edgar Hoover as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Gray had been acting director since Mr. Hoover's death on May 2, 1972. The nomination of Mr. Gray was criticized by Mr. Nixon's opponents as "cronyism," since Mr. Gray was a longtime friend of Mr. Nixon.

30 years ago
1983

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 3 @ Philadelphia 7

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Allt som jag känner--Tone Norum & Tommy Nilsson

Olympics
In men's hockey, the U.S.S.R. defeated the United States 7-5 at the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 4 @ Edmonton 4

A late goal by Mark Messier gave the Oilers their tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs at Northlands Coliseum. The Oilers had jumped out to a 3-0 lead, only to have the Maple Leafs come back with four straight goals. The tie gave the Maple Leafs their first point in Edmonton since a 6-6 tie on January 26, 1983.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (6th week at #1)

Disasters
About 900 people drowned when the overloaded passenger ferry Neptune sank near Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Steve Bechler, 23. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Bechler pitched in 3 games with the Baltimore Orioles in 2002, compiling a 0-0 record with an earned run average of 13.50 in 4.2 innings. He arrived at spring training in 2003 out of shape, and died of organ failure related to heatstroke the day after being taken to hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida following the day's workouts. Mr. Bechler had been taking the dietary supplement ephedra to help him lose weight, and it was promptly banned from use by major league players.

Edmontonia
40 Edmontonians, whose families had been affected by cancer, raised more than $83,000 for cancer research by setting a world record for playing the longest hockey game--80 hours.