August 4, 2013

320 years ago
1693

Technology
French monk Dom Perignon reportedly invented champagne; it's not clear whether he actually invented champagne, but he has been credited as an innovator who developed the techniques used to perfect sparkling wine.

260 years ago
1753

Religion
George Washington achieved the third degree of Scottish Rite Freemasonry, becoming a Master Mason.

230 years ago
1783

Disasters
Mount Asama erupted in Japan, killing about 1,400 people and causing a famine resulting in an additional 20,000 deaths.

140 years ago
1873

War
While protecting a railroad survey party in Montana, the United States 7th Cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, clashed for the first time with the Sioux Indians near the Tongue River. Only one man on each side was killed.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Wesley Addy. U.S. actor. Mr. Addy was a character actor in numerous plays, television programs, and movies. His films included Seconds (1966); Tora! Tora! Tora! 1970) and The Verdict (1982). He died on December 31, 1996 at the age of 83.

75 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Pearl White, 49. U.S. actress. Miss White appeared in plays and silent films, and was best known as the star of the 20-chapter movie serial The Perils of Pauline (1914). She died of liver disease, perhaps the result of years of heavy drinking.

70 years ago
1943

Politics and government
George Drew led the Progressive Conservative Party to victory in the Ontario Provincial election, winning 38 of 87 seats in the Provincial Parliament to form a minority government. The PCs' total was an increase of 15 from the most recent election in 1937. The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, led by Ted Jolliffe, captured 34 seats, after winning none in 1937. The Liberal Party, led by Premier Harry Nixon, dropped from 63 seats to 15. Mr. Nixon had replaced Mitchell Hepburn as Liberal leader and Premier earlier in 1943. CCF candidates Agnes MacPhail (York East) and Rae Luckock (Bracondale) became the first women elected to the Provincial Parliament. The election marked the beginning of 42 straight years of Progressive Conservative government in Ontario.

Disasters
The Indian government announced that more than 2,000 people had died in recent floods which had inundated Vijainagar and six other villages in Rajputana.

60 years ago
1953

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Vial of Death, starring Claude Dauphin



50 years ago
1963

Died on this date
Tom Keene, 66. U.S. actor. Mr. Keene, whose real name was George Duryea, also acted under the name Richard Powers. He appeared in more than 120 movies and television programs, mainly low-budget Westerns. Mr. Keene's movies included Our Daily Bread (1934) and Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959). He died of cancer.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Do You Love Me?--Sharif Dean (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am!)--Gary Glitter (2nd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Heaven is My Woman's Love--Col Joye
2 Daisy a Day--Jud Strunk
3 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
4 The Morning After--Maureen McGovern
5 My Love--Paul McCartney & Wings
6 Suzie Darling--Barrie Crocker
7 And I Love You So--Perry Como
8 Venus--Jamie Redfern
9 You are the Sunshine of My Life--Stevie Wonder
10 Never, Never, Never (Grande, Grande, Grande)--Shirley Bassey

Singles entering the chart were Je T'Aime by Abigail (#34); Hallelujah Day by the Jackson Five (#37); Playground in My Mind by Johnny Ashcroft (#38); and Letter to Lucille by Tom Jones (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Morning After--Maureen McGovern

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Yesterday Once More--Carpenters
2 Bad, Bad Leroy Brown--Jim Croce
3 Smoke on the Water--Deep Purple
4 Touch Me in the Morning--Diana Ross
5 Shambala--Three Dog Night
6 Get Down--Gilbert O'Sullivan
7 The Morning After--Maureen McGovern
8 Diamond Girl--Seals and Crofts
9 Live and Let Die--Wings
10 Money--Pink Floyd

Singles entering the chart were Show Biz Kids by Steely Dan (#73); Free Ride by the Edgar Winter Group (#85); Twisting the Night Away by Rod Stewart (#86); Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh (#91); There it Is by Tyrone Davis (#94); Ashes to Ashes by the 5th Dimension (#95); Send a Little Love My Way by Anne Murray (#97); The Peacemaker by Albert Hammond (#98); Ecstasy by Ohio Players (#99); and Let's Spend the Night Together by David Bowie (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Monster Mash--Bobby (Boris) Pickett and the Crypt Kickers
2 Bad, Bad Leroy Brown--Jim Croce
3 Smoke on the Water--Deep Purple
4 Shambala--Three Dog Night
5 Behind Closed Doors--Charlie Rich
6 Get Down--Gilbert O'Sullivan
7 Yesterday Once More--Carpenters
8 Will it Go Round in Circles--Billy Preston
9 Playground in My Mind--Clint Holmes
10 Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy--Bette Midler

Singles entering the chart were I Believe in You (You Believe in Me) by Johnnie Taylor (#83); Simple Life by Valdy (#85); Down on the Flat Rock by Skipper (#87); My Maria by B.W. Stevenson (#93); We're an American Band by Grand Funk (#94); Muskrat Love by America (#95); Walking on Back by Edward Bear (#96); California by Tapestry (#97); My Happy Song by Tommy Graham (#98); Angel by Aretha Franklin (#99); and The Singer by the Bells (#100).

#1 single in Calgary (Glenn's Music): The Morning After--Maureen McGovern (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Sam Katzman, 72. U.S. movie producer. Mr. Katzman became known as "king of the quickies" for his ability to produce profitable low-budget movies in a short time; in a 40-year career he produced 239 films, including action serials and rock and roll musicals. Mr. Katzman died four weeks after his 72nd birthday.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
Canada's Top 30
1 Never Gonna Let You Go--Sergio Mendes
2 Every Breath You Take--The Police
3 Baby Jane--Rod Stewart
4 1999--Prince
5 Hot Girls in Love--Loverboy
6 Maniac--Michael Sembello
7 Is There Something I Should Know--Duran Duran
8 China Girl--David Bowie
9 It's a Mistake--Men at Work
10 Wanna Be Starting Something--Michael Jackson
11 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)--Eurythmics
12 Change--Tears for fears
13 Rock and Roll is King--Electric Light Orchestra
14 Human Touch--Rick Springfield
15 Video Kids--Prototype
16 Stand Back--Stevie Nicks
17 Come Dancing--The Kinks
18 She Works Hard for the Money--Donna Summer
19 All This Love--Debarge
20 Stop in the Name of Love--The Hollies
21 Wishing--A Flock of Seagulls
22 I'm Still Standing--Elton John
23 Tell Her About It--Billy Joel
24 Take Me to Heart--Quarterflash
25 Best Years of Our Lives--Mens Room
26 Human Nature--Michael Jackson
27 Mistake--Mike Oldfield
28 Rise Up--Parachute Club
29 Our House--Madness
30 The Haunting--The Front

Defense
At a meeting at the White House, U.S. President Ronald Reagan praised Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko for sending airplanes and 1,000 troops to the aid of Chad. The U.S. State Department said that Mr. Reagan had increased the package of economic aid to Chad from $10 million to $25 million to "provide the government of Chad with a reasonable chance to defend itself against Libyan escalation."

War
Fighting within the Palestine Liberation Organization temporarily ended withe the beginning of a cease-fire.

Oddities
In a baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, New York outfielder Dave Winfield threw a baseball back toward the infield, only to have the ball strike a seagull, killing it instantly. Toronto police charged Mr. Winfield with unnecessary cruelty to an animal.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Gimme Hope Jo’anna--Eddy Grant (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Yé ké yé ké--Mory Kanté (3rd week at #1)

Scandal
U.S. Congressman Mario Biaggi (Democrat--New York) was convicted in Federal District Court in New York City of racketeering, conspiracy and extortion in connection with a scandal involving Wedtech Corporation in the Bronx. Mr. Biaggi had obtained Wedtech stock worth about $1.8 million in return for lobbying on the company's behalf. Five other defendants, including Wedtech's founder, John Mariotta, were convicted of various felony counts. Former Bronx Borough president Stanley Simon was also among those convicted. Mr. Biaggi announced his resignation from the House of Representatives the next day, effective immediately.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (3-1) 27 @ Edmonton (3-1) 43

Tracy Ham threw 3 touchdown passes to Jim Sandusky to help the Eskimos defeat the Roughriders before 35,383 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Chris Skinner rushed 55 yards and Blake Marshall rushed 18 yards for the other Edmonton TDs.

20 years ago
1993

Crime
A judge in Los Angeles sentenced Stacey Koon and Laurence Powell, two of the police officers involved in the 1992 beating of Rodney King to 2 1/2 years in prison, explaining the lenient penalty by saying that he considered Mr. King to have provoked the violence.

Politics and government
The Italian parliament voted to abolish the country's electoral system of proportional representation after 45 years and replace it with a direct ballot expected to make politicians more accountable. 75% of deputies in the 945-seat lower house would now be directly elected. Minor parties would still have seats under the new system, which would be in place in time for a general election scheduled for early 1994.

Diplomacy
Marshall Harris, the top U.S. expert on Bosnia, resigned, accusing the administration of President Bill Clinton of putting too much pressure on the governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina to agree to partition.

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Frederick Chapman Robbins, 86. U.S. physician. Dr. Robbins shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1954 along with John Franklin Enders and Thomas Huckle Weller for breakthrough work in isolation and growth of the polio virus, paving the way for the development of vaccines.

War
Nigerian peacekeepers landed at the airport in Monrovia, Liberia in an effort to control vicious fighting between the Liberian government and rebel factions. The Nigerians represented the vanguard af an anticipated West African peacekeeping force of more than 3,000 troops.