December 27, 2013

125 years ago
1888

Born on this date
Thea von Harbou. German actress, director, and screenwriter. Miss Harbou was married to director Fritz Lang from 1922-1933, and helped to write the screenplays for films of his such as Metropolis (1927) and Spione (Spies) (1928). The couple divorced in 1933, and Miss Harbou remained loyal to Germany, staying in the country through the years of Nazi rule. She died on July 1, 1954 at the age of 65.

90 years ago
1923

World events
Daisuke Namba, a Japanese student and Communist, attempted to assassinate Prince Regent Hirohito by firing a pistol at the regent's carriage as he was riding to the opening of the 48th session of the Imperial Diet in Tokyo. Prince Hirohito was unharmed, and a chamberlain was slightly injured.

75 years ago
1938

Died on this date
Zona Gale, 64. U.S. writer. Miss Gale wrote in various genres, but was best known for her novels and short stories about life in the midwestern United States. She adapted her novel Miss Lulu Bett (1920) into a play, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1921, making Miss Gale the first woman to achieve the honour. Miss Gale died of pneumonia.

70 years ago
1943

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Tired Captain

War
Defending German paratroopers started to abandon the Italian town of Ortona after a week of fierce fighting with Major-General Christopher Vokes' 1st Canadian Division. Infantry from the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada suffered heavy casualties; 1,372 Canadians were killed in taking Ortona and environs. U.S.S.R. troops occupied 30 places near Vitebsk and cut the Vitebsk-polotsk railway near Dvorishche. U.S. Marines consolidated their beachheads on both sides of Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island, and advanced inland.

Diplomacy
The Inter-American Emergency Committee for the Political Defense of the Continent adopted a resolution not to recognize regimes established by force without prior investigation and consultation by all American governments.

Labour
The U.S. Fair Employment Practices Commission asked U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to enforce its order to 16 southeastern railroads and 7 unions to end discrimination against Negroes. U.S. President Roosevelt ordered War Secretary Henry Stimson to take over all railroads as of & P.M. today, as three operating unions continued their refusal to accept his arbitration.

60 years ago
1953

Football
NFL Championship
Cleveland 16 @ Detroit 17

Bobby Layne's 33-yard touchdown pass to Jim Doran, converted by Doak Walker with 2:08 remaining in regulation time, gave the Lions their win over the Browns before 54,577 fans at Briggs Stadium, and their second consecutive NFL title. Cleveland quarterback played the worst game of his professional career, completing just 2 of 15 passes for 20 yards and 2 interceptions, and also losing a fumble deep in his own territory early in the 1st quarter. Les Bingaman recovered the fumble for Detroit at the Cleveland 13-yard line, and Mr. Walker rushed 1 yard for the touchdown and kicked the convert to give the Lions a 7-0 lead just 4:05 into the game. The Browns recovered a fumble on the Detroit 6-yard line late in the quarter, but the Detroit defense held, and Lou Groza kicked a 13-yard field goal on the first play of the 2nd quarter to get the Browns on the scoreboard. Jim David intercepted a pass and returned it 36 yards to set up a 23-yard field goal by Mr. Walker with 1:15 remaining in the 2nd quarter to give the Lions a 10-3 halftime lead. Cleveland fullback Chick Jagade, who led all rushers with 104 yards on 15 carries, finished a drive with a 9-yard touchdown rush, converted by Mr. Groza at 6:48 of the 3rd quarter, to tie the game 10-10. Mr. Groza kicked a 15-yard field goal 44 seconds into the 4th quarter to give the Browns a 13-10 lead. Mr. Walker missed a 33-yard field goal, and Mr. Groza kicked a 43-yard FG to give Cleveland a 16-10 lead with 4:10 remaining in regulation time. After Mr. Groza's kickoff went through the Detroit end zone for a touchback, Mr. Layne marched the Lions 80 yards for the winning score. The drive included completions to Mr. Doran of 17 and 18 yards before the touchdown pass. After the Lions took the lead, Mr. Graham's first pass was intercepted and returned 12 yards by Carl Karilivacz, and the Lions preserved the victory. Mr. Layne completed 12 of 25 passes for 179 yards and 2 interceptions. Mr. Doran led all receivers with 95 yards on 4 receptions.

50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): No More--Brendan Bowyer

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 Move Over--Bobby Curtola (3rd week at #1)
2 Johnny Liar--Molly Bee
3 Pretty Paper--Roy Orbison
4 Dominique--The Singing Nun
5 Forget Him--Bobby Rydell
6 Shindig--The Shadows
7 Daisy Petal Pickin'--Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs
8 Sugar and Spice--The Searchers
9 It's All in the Game--Cliff Richard
10 Judy Loves Me--Johnny Crawford
Pick hit of the week: Do You Hear What I Hear--Bing Crosby
New this week: You Don't Own Me--Lesley Gore
See the Funny Little Clown--Bobby Goldsboro
Southtown, U.S.A.--The Dixiebelles
A Fool Never Learns--Andy Williams

On television tonight
Twilight Zone, hosted by Rod Serling, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Ring-a-Ding Girl, starring Maggie McNamara. Mary Munday, David Macklin, and Betty Lou Gerson

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Marilyn Draper!

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Merry X'mas Everybody--Slade (2nd week at #1)

30 years ago
1983

Religion
The Campus Crusade for Christ student conference known as "KC '83" opened at Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, with CCC president Bill Bright delivering the keynote address.

World events
Pope John Paul II visited Mehmet Ali Ağca in prison in the Rome suburb of Rebibbia and personally forgave him for the assassination attempt on him in St. Peter's Square in Rome on May 13, 1981.

Politics and government
Argentinian President Raul Alfonsin signed a law repealing amnesty for both former security personnel and leftist guerrillas.

Scandal
The New York Times reported that U.S. Information Agency director Charles Wick had tape-recorded telephone conversations without telling the other parties. Mr. Wick acknowledged having done so, but made contradictory statements concerning the tapings.

Economics and finance
U.S. Steel Corporation announced that it planned to reduce its production capacity by about 20%, resulting in the loss of 15,400 jobs.

25 years ago
1988

Died on this date
Hal Ashby, 59. U.S. movie director. Mr. Ashby won the Academy Award for film editing for In the Heat of the Night (1967) before becoming a director. His movies included Harold and Maude (1971); The Last Detail (1973); Shampoo (1975); Bound for Glory (1976); Coming Home (1978); and Being There (1979). He died of pancratic cancer.

Disasters
250 people were missing and feared drowned when a river ferry capsized and sank en route to Dhaka, Bangladesh.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)--Meat Loaf (6th week at #1)

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Alan Bates, 69. U.K. actor. Sir Alan was known for his performances in movies such as Whistle Down the Wind (1961); The Running Man (1963); Zorba the Greek (1964); Georgy Girl (1966); Le Roi de coeur (King of Hearts) (1966); Far from the Madding Crowd (1967); The Fixer (1968); Women in Love (1969); and An Unmarried Woman (1978).

Ivan Calderon, 41. U.S. baseball player. A native of Puerto Rico, Mr. Calderon was an outfielder who played for five major league teams from 1984-1993, batting .272 with 104 home runs and 444 runs batted in in 924 games. He was murdered in a bar in Loiza, Puerto Rico, a crime that remains unsolved.

Health
The Chinese government announced the country's first new case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).