March 31, 2013

110 years ago
1903

Aviation
Richard Pearse allegedly made a powered flight of 350 yards at Temuka, New Zealand in an aircraft of his own design. Documentary evidence is inconclusive.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Etta Baker. U.S. musician. Ms. Baker, born Etta Reid in North Carolina, was a blues guitarist, banjoist, and singer who worked with artists such as Taj Mahal and Bob Dylan. She died on September 23, 2006 at the age of 93.

Died on this date
J. P. Morgan, 75. U.S. banker. Mr. Morgan was the leading financier in the United States in the late 19th-early 20th century. He financed the mergers that created General Electric and United States Steel Corporation, and directed the banking coalition that stopped the Panic of 1907.

80 years ago
1933

Economics and finance
The U.S. administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps, with the mission of relieving rampant unemployment in the United States.

75 years ago
1938

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
New York Americans 0 @ Chicago 1 (2OT)

Cully Dahlstrom scored at 13:01 of the 2nd overtime period to give the Black Hawks the win over the Americans at Chicago Stadium.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Don't Want to Walk Without You--Harry James and his Music Makers (2nd month at #1)

Theatre
The musical Oklahoma! by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II opened at the St. James Theatre on Broadway in New York.

War
Soviet forces captured Anastasevsk, an important German defense base north of Novorossiisk on the Black Sea.

Music
Erich Leinsdorf, 32, a conductor of the Metropolitan Opera Company Orchestra, was appointed to succeed Artur Rodzinski as conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra for three years.

Aviation
Bendix Aviation President Ernest Breech said that a revolutionary device had been developed that would conquer the hazards of blind flying and fog in commercial aviation.

Labour
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations leaders resumed peace negotiations that had begun six years earlier, discussing the 1942 proposed agreement covering jurisdictional disputes and "no raiding."

Economics and finance
The U.S. Office of Price Administration placed ceiling prices on all used commercial motor vehicles in roder to curb speculators.

Disasters
At least 400 people were killed and 2,000 injured when an ammunition depot exploded in the harbour area of Naples.

60 years ago
1953

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Death in the Cave, starring Zachary Scott

Britannica
Queen Mary of Teck, the consort of King George V, was laid to rest at Windsor Castle a week after her death at the age of 85.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Detroit 2 @ Boston 6 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Montreal 1 @ Chicago 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Jack McIntyre and Ed Sandford each scored 2 goals and Sugar Jim Henry outplayed Terry Sawchuk in goal as the Bruins defeated the Red Wings at Boston Garden.

The Black Hawks overcame a 1-0 deficit to defeat the Canadiens at Chicago Stadium. Bill Mosienko got the Black Hawks onto the scoreboard with a goal that Montreal coach Dick Irvin claimed was offside, and Vic Lynn, who hadn't scored a goal in 29 games during the regular season, scored the winning goal.

50 years ago
1963

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Chicago 2 @ Detroit 4 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Gordie Howe celebrated his 35th birthday by scoring a goal and 2 assists to lead the Red Wings over the Black Hawks at Olympia Stadium. The winning goal was scored by Alex Faulkner.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: The Twelfth of Never--Donny Osmond

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 You're So Vain--Carly Simon (4th week at #1)
2 I'd Love You to Want Me--Lobo
3 Crocodile Rock--Elton John
4 Your Mama Don't Dance--The Bootleg Family
5 Separate Ways--Elvis Presley
6 Funny Face--Donna Fargo
7 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy
8 Dueling Banjos--Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell
9 Killing Me Softly with His Song--Roberta Flack
10 Dreams are Ten a Penny--Kincade

Singles entering the chart were You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio by Joni Mitchell (#32); Pretty Maid by Tony Marshall (#33); Dreidel by Don McLean (#36); Last Song by Edward Bear (#37); and Solid Gold, Easy Action by T. Rex (#39).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Killing Me Softly with His Song--Roberta Flack (5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Love Train--O'Jays
2 Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)--Gladys Knight and the Pips
3 Last Song--Edward Bear
4 Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)--Deodato
5 The Cover of "Rolling Stone"--Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
6 Killing Me Softly with His Song--Roberta Flack
7 Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)--Four Tops
8 Danny's Song--Anne Murray
9 Sing--Carpenters
10 Call Me (Come Back Home)--Al Green

Singles entering the chart were Pillow Talk by Sylvia (#73); Hearts of Stone by the Blue Ridge Rangers (#78); Drinking Wine Spo-Dee O'Dee by Jerry Lee Lewis (#85); Give it to Me by the J. Geils Band (#87); Back When My Hair was Short by Gunhill Road (#88); It's Hard to Stop (Doing Something When it's Good to You) by Betty Wright (#94); If We Try by Don McLean (#96); Friend and a Lover by the Partridge Family (#98); Friends or Lovers by Act I (#99); and I'm a Stranger Here by Five Man Electrical Band (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Killing Me Softly with His Song--Roberta Flack
2 Dueling Banjos--Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell
3 Danny's Song--Anne Murray
4 The Cover of "Rolling Stone"--Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
5 Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)--Deodato
6 Dancing in the Moonlight--King Harvest
7 Daddy's Home--Jermaine Jackson
8 Do it Again--Steely Dan
9 Control of Me--Les Emmerson
10 Crocodile Rock--Elton John

Singles entering the chart were The Right Thing to Do by Carly Simon (#77); Close Your Eyes by Edward Bear (#90); Shadow by R. Dean Taylor (#92); Orbit by Thundermug (#95); Broken Guitar Blues by Lighthouse (#97); Here it Comes Again by Gary and Dave (#98); and You are the Sunshine of My Life by Stevie Wonder (#99).

Calgary’s Top 10
1 Killing Me Softly with His Song--Roberta Flack (5th week at #1)
2 Dueling Banjos--Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell
3 Little Willy--The Sweet
4 You Don't Know What Love Is--Susan Jacks
5 The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia--Vicki Lawrence
6 Do You Want to Dance--Bette Midler
7 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
8 Oh My Lady--Stampeders
9 Dead Skunk--Loudon Wainwright III
10 Daddy's Home--Jermaine Jackson
Pick hit of the week: Wildflower--Skylark

Boxing
Ken Norton (30-1) broke Muhammad Ali's jaw and won a 12-round split decision over the former world heavyweight champion (41-2) at San Diego Sports Arena to capture the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight title.



Hockey
NHL
Boston 3 @ Toronto 7

In their last appearance of the 1972-73 season on Hockey Night in Canada, the Maple Leafs were so impressive in their win over the Bruins at Maple Leaf Gardens that they even scored a goal directly off a face-off when CBC was still in a commercial break. Darryl Sittler led the Maple Leafs with 2 goals and 2 assists, while Norm Ullman scored 4 assists. John Grisdale scored his first National Hockey League goal for Toronto, while Joe Lundrigan scored his second and last NHL goal for the Maple Leafs. Bobby Orr scored all 3 Boston goals.

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
New York 95 Baltimore 83 (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Western Conference Semi-Finals
Milwaukee 110 Golden State 90 (Milwaukee led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Chicago 104 @ Los Angeles 107 (OT) (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 1-0)

ABA
Eastern Division Semi-Finals
New York 114 Carolina 111 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Western Division Semi-Finals
Indiana 114 Denver 91 (Indiana led best-of-seven series 1-0)

30 years ago
1983

Disasters
An earthquake in southern Colombia killed at least 250 people.

World events
Three Soviet citizens were expelled from Britain and accused of espionage.

Politics and government
37 members of the United States House of Representatives wrote to President Ronald Reagan expressing concern about possible violations of the Boland Amendment, a law passed in 1982 forbidding the use of U.S. defense funds to help overthrow the Sandanista government of Nicaragua.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): I Should Be So Lucky--Kylie Minogue (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
William McMahon, 80. Prime Minister of Australia, 1971-1972. Mr. McMahon, a Liberal, was a member of parliament from 1949-1982. He became Prime Minister on March 10, 1971 when John Gorton resigned. Mr. McMahon's government was defeated by the Labour Party in the general election of December 2, 1972.

Diplomacy
The United States Senate approved $47.9 million in humanitarian aid for the Contras in Nicaragua and for children injured in the war between the Contras and the Sandanistas.

Politics and government
15-year school board member Dianne Cunningham won an Ontario provincial by-election in the riding of London North. Ms. Cunningham’s win gave the Progressive Conservatives 20 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, far behind the governing Liberals and opposition New Democrats. London North was held by Ron Van Horne of the Liberals from 1977-1987; Mr. Van Horne was named to the cabinet of Premier David Peterson as minister in charge of seniors’ services when the Liberals came to power in 1985, and had easily retained his seat in the election of September 10, 1987. However, Premier Peterson dropped him from cabinet, and Mr. Van Horne resigned his seat effective December 31, 1987. Of the seven candidates in the by-election, five (including those of all three major parties) were women.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): No Limit--2 Unlimited (6th week at #1)

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

Died on this date
Mitchell Parish, 92. Lithuanian-born U.S. songwriter. Mr. Parish, born Michael Pashelinsky, emigrated to the United States with his family as an infant. He wrote lyrics to such songs as Stardust; Stars Fell on Alabama; Deep Purple; Sweet Lorraine; and Volare.

Brandon Lee, 28. U.S. actor. Mr. Lee, the son of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee, also became a martial artist, and was on the verge of movie stardom. He landed the starring role in The Crow (1994); with just eight days of filming remaining, Mr. Lee was killed in a shooting accident while filming a scene. Oddly, Bruce Lee had died (of a cerebral edema) at the young age of 32 in 1973.

Diplomacy
Former U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance announced his intention to resign as United Nations mediator in the Balkans.

Hockey
NHL
The National Hockey League announced a realignment of teams and divisions, and adopted a playoff format in which teams in each conference were seeded from first place through eighth.

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Anne Gwynne, 84.. U.S. actress. Miss Gwynne, born Marguerite Gwynne Trice, was known as a "scream queen" because of her appearances in horror movies such as Black Friday (1940) and House of Frankenstein (1944). She was one of the stars of Public Prosecutor (1947-1948), the first filmed television series.