December 1, 2013

120 years ago
1893

Died on this date
Eduard Franck, 76. German musician and composer. Mr. Franck was a classical pianist and music teacher, whose compositions included four symphonies, and numerous chamber and keyboard works. He wasn't as well known as some of his contemporaries, perhaps because many of his works weren't published until late in his life.

Literature
The Adventure of the Final Problem by A. Conan Doyle, twelfth and last in a series of short stories published in book form in 1894 as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, was published in the December 1893 issue of The Strand Magazine.

100 years ago
1913

Society
The U.S.A.'s first drive-in automobile service station opened in Pittsburgh.

90 years ago
1923

Football
CRU
Grey Cup @ Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Queen's University 54 Regina 0

Harry Batstone, Bill Campbell, and Johnny Evans each scored 2 touchdowns as the Tricolor routed the Roughriders before 8,629 fans in the most lopsided Grey Cup in history. N.L. Walker, Carl Ray, and Roy Reynolds also scored touchdowns. Pep Leadlay kicked 4 converts and 3 singles, and Mr. Batstone added 2 singles. It was the second straight Grey Cup championship for Queen's, who won every game they played in 1923. It was Saskatchewan's first appearance in the Grey Cup.

70 years ago
1943

War
U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and U.S.S.R. dictator Josef Stalin concluded their four-day Tehran Conference on the course of World War II in Europe and the post-war division of Germany. The 1st Canadian Infantry Division started to take control of the bridgehead on the Sangro River in Italy.
Strong German counterattacks in all sectors held Soviet forces to small gains. After 40 hours of street fighting, Chinese troops drove Japanese forces from Changteh, Hunan Province. U.S. planes continued their attacks on Japanese targets in the Marshall Islands, northwest of the Gilberts.

Diplomacy
The Swedish liner Gripsholm reached Jersey City, New Jersey with 1,222 American and 217 Canadian civilian repatriates from Japan.

Politics and government
Representatives of 25 American Negro groups announced through the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples a political code pledging support for a party that worked for full Negro rights. James Johnson, a Negro, was sworn in as a collector of internal revenue for the New York district; it was one of the highest federal positions held by a Negro.

Economics and finance
Ration point values for beef and 15 processed foods were lowered, and citrus juices and soups were made point-free, effective December 5, 1943.

Labour
The Congress of Industrial Organizations United Steel Workers of America policy committee voted to demand a 17c-per-hour wage increase for its 750,000 members working on 30-day contracts.

Football
NCAA
The U.S. Naval Academy won the 1943 Lambert Trophy, symbolic of football supremacy on the East Coast of the United States.

Baseball
William G. Bramham was re-elected President of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues for a five-year term.

60 years ago
1953

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Laugh it Off, starring Dick Haymes

50 years ago
1963

Football
NFL
Pittsburgh (6-3-3) 20 @ Philadelphia (2-8-2) 20
Washington (3-9) 20 @ Baltimore (6-6) 36
Green Bay (9-2-1) 13 @ Detroit (4-7-1) 13
Minnesota (4-7-1) 17 @ Chicago (9-1-2) 17
Cleveland (9-3) 24 @ St. Louis (8-4) 10
New York (9-3) 34 @ Dallas (3-9) 27
Los Angeles (5-7) 21 @ San Francisco (2-10) 17

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Schönes Mädchen aus Arcadia--Demis Roussos

#1 single in the U.K.: I Love You Love Me Love--Gary Glitter (3rd week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Angie--Rolling Stones (3rd week at #1)
2 He Did with Me--Vicki Lawrence
3 Rubber Bullets--10 C.C.
4 Half-Breed--Cher
5 Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)--Kevin Johnson
6 Can the Can--Suzi Quatro
7 Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
8 Dancing on a Saturday Night--Barry Blue
9 Cassandra--Sherbet
10 Monster Mash--Bobby (Boris) Pickett and the Crypt Kickers

Singles entering the chart were Summer (The First Time) by Bobby Goldsboro (#23); Fool by Elvis Presley (#24); Rock On by David Essex (#30); Jesse by Roberta Flack (#34); Brother Love by Hot Chocolate (#38); and All I Know by Garfunkel (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Top of the World--Carpenters

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Top of the World--Carpenters
2 Photograph--Ringo Starr
3 I Got a Name--Jim Croce
4 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road--Elton John
5 Just You 'N' Me--Chicago
6 Space Race--Billy Preston
7 Midnight Train to Georgia--Gladys Knight and the Pips
8 Hello It's Me--Todd Rundgren
9 The Love I Lost (Part 1)--Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes
10 Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)--Helen Reddy

Singles entering the chart were American Tune by Paul Simon (#75); Frisky by Sly and the Family Stone (#84); When I Fall in Love by Donny Osmond (#85); Blue Collar by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (#94); Love's Theme by Love Unlimited Orchestra (#98); and The Way We Were by Barbra Streisand (#100). The Way We Were was the title song from the movie (1973).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Photograph--Ringo Starr (2nd week at #1)
2 Top of the World--Carpenters
3 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road--Elton John
4 Just You 'N' Me--Chicago
5 Midnight Train to Georgia--Gladys Knight and the Pips
6 Painted Ladies--Ian Thomas
7 Space Race--Billy Preston
8 Last Kiss--Wednesday
9 Angie--Rolling Stones
10 Ooh Baby--Gilbert O'Sullivan

Singles entering the chart were Let There Be Drums by the Incredible Bongo Band (#78); Rockin' Roll Baby by the Stylistics (#81); Tell Her She's Lovely by El Chicano (#90); You're Driving Me Crazy by Cochrane (#91); Are You Lonesome Tonight by Donny Osmond (#93); I'm Gonna Get Out by Mickey Posner (#96); Frisky by Sly and the Family Stone (#97); Woman by Barrabas (#98); Dream On by Aerosmith (#99); and Rock & Roll Boogie Woogie and Wine by Copper Penny (#100). You're Driving Me Crazy was the first charted single for Tom Cochrane.

Calgary's top 10
1 Top of the World--Carpenters
2 Angie--Rolling Stones
3 Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks
4 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road--Elton John
5 Photograph--Ringo Starr
6 Heartbeat--It's a Lovebeat--DeFranco Family
7 Knockin' on Heaven's Door--Bob Dylan
8 Rocky Mountain Way--Joe Walsh
9 Just You 'N' Me--Chicago
10 We're an American Band--Grand Funk
Pick hit of the week: The Most Beautiful Girl--Charlie Rich

Died on this date
David Ben-Gurion, 87. Prime Minister of Israel, 1948-1954; 1955-1963. Born David Gruen in Poland, Mr. Ben-Gurion was Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization in 1946, and was the leading voice of Zionists calling for an independent Jewish state in Palestine. On May 14, 1948, he proclaimed the founding of the state of Israel, and was the first person to sign Israel's Declaration of Independence, which he had helped to write. Mr. Ben-Gurion not only served as Israel's Prime Minister, but as Minister of Defense from 1948-1954 and 1955-1963.

Energy
The U.S. administration of President Richard Nixon announced plans to create a Federal Energy Administration to be headed by Deputy Treasury Secretary William Simon.

Boxing
Bob Foster (51-6) retained his world light heavyweight title with a 15-round unanimous decision over Pierre Fourie (44-3-1) at Rand Stadium in Johannesburg. The result, in Mr. Fourie's hometown, was the same as on August 21, when the two had fought in Mr. Foster's hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

30 years ago
1983

At the movies
This blogger attended a preview screening of Terms of Endearment (1983) in Edmonton.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Lebanese President Amin Gemayel began two days of talks in Washington.

King Hussein of Jordan warned that the agreement of strategic cooperation that the U.S.A. had announced with Israel three days earlier--without obtaining concessions from Israel on Middle Eastern issues--would handicap efforts by the United States to appear fair-minded.

Scandal
Rita Lavelle, a former official with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was convicted by a U.S. district court jury in Washington, D.C. of four counts perjury and of obstructing a Congressional investigation. Ms. Lavelle, who had head the EPA's toxic waster program until her dismissal on February 7, 1983, had testified at Congressional hearings that she had not known before June 17, 1982 that her former employer, Aerojet-General Corporation, had dumped hazardous wastes at a California disposal site, and that she had not dealt with the cleanup of the California site after learning that Aerojet-General was involved. These assertions were contradicted by witnesses at her trial. Ms. Lavelle was also convicted of perjury for claiming that cleanup projects in three states had not been influenced by political considerations.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Stand Up for Your Love Rights--Yazz & the Plastic Population (3rd week at #1)

Edmonton's top 9 (CKRA)
1 Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley (Free Baby)--Will to Power
2 Wild, Wild West--Escape Club
3 How Can I Fall--Breathe
4 Kokomo--The Beach Boys
5 Look Away--Chicago
6 I Don't Want Your Love--Duran Duran
7 Hold Me Now--One-To-One
8 Waiting for a Star to Fall--Boy Meets Girl
9 The Loco-Motion--Kylie Minogue

Died on this date
J. Vernon McGee, 84. U.S. clergyman. Dr. McGee pastored a number of Presbyterian churches before serving as the pastor of the non-denominational Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles from 1949-1970. Dr. McGee is probably best known for his Thru the Bible radio ministry, a series of broadcasts covering the entire Bible over a five-year period. His messages are still being broadcast today, which shows that if your messages are entirely taken from the Bible, you'll never be out of date.

World events
Pravda reported that 28 people had died in renewed ethnic and religious strife in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Violence in the regions had driven 100,000 people from their homes.

Terrorism
Four armed men hijacked a bus carrying thirty schoolchildren and one teacher in Ordzhonikidze, U.S.S.R. (now Vladikavkaz in Russia), and were later given an Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft and ransom in exchange for the release of the hostages.

Politics and government
The Supreme Soviet approved sweeping changes in the U.S.S.R.'s political structure. The changes had been endorsed by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in June. Under the plan, the Supreme Soviet would become more representative and have real power. The upper house, the Congress of People's Deputies, would have 2,250 members, who in turn would name the 400 or more members of the lower house, the Supreme Soviet. The plan created a new office of President, limited to two five-year terms. Before the existing Supreme Soviet voted to approve the plan, a Latvian delegate asked that all republics be allowed to veto national laws. In the vote to approve the changes, 5 Latvians dissented and 27 Lithuanians and Estonians abstained.

Benazir Bhutto, whose Pakistani People's Party had led the November 16 parliamentary elections with 92 of 205 seats, was named to be Pakistan's next President by the country's acting president.

Scandal
U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Vice-President and President-elect George Bush received subpoenas to testify for the defense in the trial of former National Security Council member Oliver North, who was facing various charges in connection with the Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages scandal. Mr. Reagan, responding to a request by Mr. North's lawyers for 3,500 secret documents, Mr. Reagan said that his administration had a duty to withhold the classified papers.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the index of leading economic indicators had risen by 0.1% in October; the figure was later raised to 0.4%.

Business
NBC agreed to pay $401 million for U.S. television broadcast rights for the 1992 Summer Olympic games in Barcelona, Spain.

Religion
This blogger and fellow observer Chris Milner attended a presentation in Edmonton by an American speaker known as Yogi Satchakrananda Bodhisattvaguru, leader of the monastic community Raj-Yoga Math and Retreat near Deming, Washington. The yogi wore sneakers under his robe and turban, detracting somewhat from his appearance as a holy man. Yogi Satchakrananda's talk consisted of the usual New Age mumbo-jumbo about how we create our own reality.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (5th week at #1)

Radio
Sportscaster Bryan Hall, talk show host Ron Collister, and morning personality Gord Whitehead were among the people who officially joined Edmonton AM radio station CHED after many years with CJCA, but their former station grabbed the headlines by suddenly going off the air at noon. Doug Main made the announcement that the station was turning its broadcasting license over to the Canadian Radio and Television Commission. CJCA station manager and weekday afternoon talk show host Peter Weissbach had made many personnel and programming changes in a relatively short time and had succeeded in improving the station's rating, but the moves had the effect of creating an impression of instability and scared off advertisers. CJCA returned to the airwaves several months later after changing its format to Christian talk and music.