January 31, 2013

120 years ago
1893

Died on this date
James McCulloch, 73. U.K.-born Australian politician. Sir James, a native of Glasgow, moved to Australia in 1853, and sat in the Legislative Council (1854-1856) and the Legislative Assembly (1856-1878), serving four terms as Premier of Victoria (1863-1868, 1868-1869, 1870-1871, 1875-1877). He was regarded as a "cautious liberal," becoming more conservative over time.

70 years ago
1943

War
German Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus surrendered to the U.S.S.R. at Stalingrad.

60 years ago
1953

Hit Parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): You Belong to Me--Jo Stafford with Paul Weston and his Orchestra; Dean Martin (3rd week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes--Perry Como (Best seller--4th week at #1, Jukebox--3rd week at #1; Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes--Perry Como (3rd week at #1)
2 Till I Waltz Again with You--Teresa Brewer
3 Why Don't You Believe Me--Joni James
--Patti Page
4 Oh Happy Day--Don Howard
5 Tell Me You're Mine--The Gaylords
6 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me--Karen Chandler
7 Keep it a Secret--Jo Stafford
8 It's in the Book (Parts 1 and 2)--Johnny Standley
9 Have You Heard--Joni James
10 The Glow-Worm--The Mills Brothers

Singles entering the chart were Hot Toddy by Ralph Flanagan and his Orchestra (#20); Side by Side by Kay Starr (#23); Anywhere I Wander by Julius LaRosa (#24); A Stolen Waltz by Dick Thomas (#30, with the version by Sunny Gale, in its third week on the chart); Congratulations to Someone by Tony Bennett (#32); Water Can't Quench the Fire of Love by Helen O'Connell and Gisele MacKenzie (#33); and The Doggie in the Window by Patti Page (#34).

Disasters
133 people were killed when the British Railways car ferry Princess Victoria sank in a gale in the North Sea. Flooding in the North Sea killed more than 1,500 people in the Netherlands and more than 150 additional people in the U.K.

50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Diamonds--Jet Harris and Tony Meehan

On television tonight
Twilight Zone, hosted by Rod Serling, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Mute, starring Ann Jillian, Frank Overton, and Oscar Beregi

Music
The Beach Boys were at Western Studios in Los Angeles, where they recorded the songs Surfin' U.S.A.; Shut Down; Farmer's Daughter; and Lana.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Robert Stevens, 83. U.S. businessman and politician. Mr. Stevens was chairman of the textile manufacturing firm J.P. Stevens and Company and served as U.S. Secretary of the Army under President Dwight Eisenhower from 1953-1955, during the period when U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy (Republican--Wisconsin) was investigating alleged Communist infiltration of the Army.

25 years ago
1988

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Pilot

This was broadcast after the Super Bowl telecast.

Football
NFL
Super Bowl XXII @ Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego
Washington 42 Denver 10

The Redskins, behind 10-0 after the first quarter, stormed back to rout the Broncos before 73,302 fans (see video). Washington quarterback Doug Williams was voted the game's Most Valuable Player, as he became the first black man to quarterback a team to the NFL championship, completing 18 of 29 passes for 349 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Deion Sanders caught 9 passes for 193 yards and 2 touchdowns. Broncos' quarterback John Elway completed just 14 of 38 passes for 257 yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Austria (Ö3): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): This Time--Christy Moore (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (10th week at #1)

Died on this date
John Mandarich, 31. Canadian football player. Mr. Mandarich, a native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, played at Kent State University before being drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos in the first round of the 1984 CFL draft. He began his CFL career as an offensive lineman, but was switched to the defensive line after a few games, where, except for one game, he played the rest of his career. Mr. Mandarich played 6 seasons with the Eskimos, and was a member of their Grey Cup championship team in 1987. He signed with the Ottawa Rough Riders as a free agent in 1990. He was moved back to the offensive line in 1991, but was cut after the pre-season. In 7 seasons in the CFL, Mr. Mandarich played 93 regular season games, 9 playoff games, and 2 Grey Cups. He developed cancer shortly after the end of his football career, resulting in the amputation of a finger in 1992. He continued to battle cancer, but died after a sudden turn for the worse. His younger brother Tony, an offensive tackle, was a high draft choice of the Green Bay Packers in 1988 and was a legendary bust before making a comeback in the mid-1990s with the Indianapolis Colts.

Football
NFL
Super Bowl XXVII @ Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Dallas 52 Buffalo 17

Troy Aikman completed 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and 4 touchdowns as the Cowboys routed the Bills before 98,374 fans (see video).