April 14, 2014

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Laura O'Leary!

375 years ago
1639

War
Saxon and Imperial forces led by General Rodolfo Giovanni Marazzino were defeated by Swedish forces under the command of General Johan Banér in the Battle of Chemnitz in what is now eastern Germany. The Swedish victory prolonged the Thirty Years' War and allowed them to advance into Bohemia.

150 years ago
1864

Died on this date
Charles Lot Church, 87. U.S.-born Nova Scotian politician. Mr. Church, a native of New England, represented Lunenburg County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1820-1830.

125 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Arnold J. Toynbee. U.K. historian. Professor Toynbee taught at the London School of Economics for many years. He was best known for his 12-volume A Study of History (1934-1961), in which he argued that civilizations "rose by responding successfully to challenges under the leadership of creative minorities composed of elite leaders." Prof. Toynbee was perhaps the world's most influential scholar in the 1940s and '50s, but his influence faded after 1960. He died on October 22, 1975 at the age of 86.

120 years ago
1894

Died on this date
Zebulon Vance, 63. U.S. politician. Mr. Vance was a member of the Whig Party until the mid-1850s and was with the American Party when he represented North Carolina's 8th District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1858-1861). When North Carolina seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy, he became a colonel in the C.S. Army, and a a member of the Conservative Party of North Carolina, served as Governor of North Carolina (1862-1865). Mr. Vance joined the Democratic Party in 1872, serving another term as Governor (1877-1879) and representing the state in the U.S. Senate from 1879 until his death.

Movies
The first ever commercial motion picture house opened in New York City using ten Kinetoscopes (devices for peep-show viewing of films).

100 years ago
1914

Died on this date
Hubert Bland, 59. U.K. activist. Mr. Bland co-founded the Fabian Society, promoting the introduction of socialism into soceity through gradual means. He died of a heart attack.

Edmontonia
It was announced in London that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would visit Edmonton as part of his Canadian tour in June.

75 years ago
1939

Literature
John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath was first published by Viking Press.

70 years ago
1944

Radio
CBS received the 1944 award of the Socieda Gombasta Panamericana for its contributions to hemispheric solidarity through its Latin American network.

Movies
Mrs. Helen G. Carlisle filed suit for $300,000 in damages, accusing Warner Brothers Pictures of pirating the picture Princess O'Rourke (1943) from a novelette that she had written.

War
Only a 1,000-square-mile area at the southern end of the Crimean Peninsula was reported to still be in German hands. A Japanese force reached the Bishenpur-Silchar trail southwest of Imphal, threatening to cut the last land supply line to the capital of the Indian state of Manipur. Turkish Foreign Minister Numan Menemencioglu said, "We will, in the general direction of our foreign policy, aid the Allies to the limit of our material possibilities." U.S. Navy Secretary Frank Knox said that the court martial of Lieutenant General Walter Short and Admiral Husband Kimmel for their role in the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii would not be held at this time.

Politics and government
In forming a new government-in-exile, Greek Prime Minister Sofoklis Venizelos took the war, navy, air, and justice portfolios. Social-Democratic Party leader George Papandreou, who had escaped from German imprisonment in Athens, arrived in Cairo to serve in Mr. Venizelos' cabinet.

Energy
The Quebec Legislative Assembly passed Bill 17, creating the provincial utility company Hydro-Québec.

Economics and finance
U.S. Interior Secretary Harold Ickes proposed that government-owned war plants be turned over to veterans to be operated in competition with private industry after World War II.

Disasters
A massive explosion in Bombay harbour killed 300 and caused economic damage valued then at 20 million pounds.

50 years ago
1964

On television tonight
The Fugitive, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Storm Center, with guest stars Bethel Leslie and Dennis Patrick

Died on this date
Rachel Carson, 56. U.S. marine biologist and author. Miss Carson was best known for her books The Sea Around Us (1951) and Silent Spring (1962), the latter of which was credited for inspiring the conservation and environmental movements in the United States. She died of a heart attack after a long battle with cancer.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Detroit 4 @ Toronto 3 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Larry Jeffrey took a perfect pass from Gordie Howe and scored at 7:52 of the 1st overtime period to give the Red Wings the win over the Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens. Gerry Ehman scored for Toronto with 43 seconds left in regulation time to tie the score 3-3.



40 years ago
1974

Disasters
At least 100 people were feared dead after two motor launches collided on the Rupsa River in Bangladesh.

Golf
Gary Player won the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia shooting a 2-under par 70 in the final round to finish with a 10-under total of 278, 2 strokes ahead of Dave Stockton and Tom Weiskopf. It was the second time that Mr. Player had won the Masters, with his previous victory coming in 1961. Maurice Bembridge had the best score in the final round, making 8 birdies and tying the course record with an 8-under par score of 64; he finished tied with Hubert Green for ninth, five strokes behind Mr. Player. First prize money was $35,000.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
East Division
Boston 4 @ Toronto 3 (OT) (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-0)
Montreal 4 @ New York Rangers 6 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

West Division
Philadelphia 4 @ Atlanta 3 (OT) (Philadelphia won best-of-seven series 4-0)
Chicago 1 @ Los Angeles 5 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Ken Hodge deflected a Carol Vadnais shot for his second goal of the game at 1:27 of the 1st overtime period to give the Bruins the win over the Maple Leafs before 16,485 fans at Maple Leaf Gardens. Terry O'Reilly and Bobby Orr also scored for Boston. Ron Ellis, Norm Ullman, and Inge Hammarstrom scored for Toronto, with Mr. Hammarstrom scoring with just 1:17 left in regulation time to send the game into overtime. Paul Henderson assisted on the goals by Messrs. Ellis and Hammarstrom in what turned out to be his last game as a Maple Leaf.

Bruce MacGregor scored with 4:54 remaining in regulation time and assisted on Pete Stemkowski's goal into an empty net with 42 seconds remaining as the Rangers defeated the Canadiens before 17,500 fans at Madison Square Garden. Ted Irvine scored twice for New York, with Ron Harris and Rod Gilbert also scoring. Steve Shutt, Pete Mahovlich, Frank Mahovlich, and Serge Savard scored for Montreal.

Dave Schultz scored at 5:40 of the 1st overtime period to give the Flyers their win over the Flames before 15,141 fans at the Omni. Atlanta took a 3-0 lead on goals by Larry Romanchych in the 1st period and Jean Lemieux and Rey Comeau in the 2nd period, but Andre Dupont scored for Philadelphia in the 2nd period and Gary Dornhoefer and Tom Bladon scored for the Flyers in the 3rd period. Bernie Parent stopped 23 of 26 shots in the Philadelphia goal while Atlanta goalie Phil Myre stopped 35 of 39 shots.

Juha Widing scored at 3:24 of the 3rd period to break a 1-1 tie and Tom Williams followed with a pure hat trick as the Kings erupted to avert elimination against the Black Hawks before 12,912 fans at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Dennis Hull opened the scoring for Chicago 3:07 into the game and Gene Carr tied the game for the Kings in the 2nd period. Gary Edwards, playing the first Stanley Cup game of his 3-year NHL career, made 22 saves to win the goaltending duel over rookie Mike Veisor, who was playing his first playoff game, as Tony Esposito took a rare night off.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
Quarter-Finals
East Division
New England 2 @ Chicago 0 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

West Division
Winnipeg 4 @ Houston 5 (Houston won best-of-seven series 4-0)
Edmonton 4 @ Minnesota 5 (Minnesota won best-of-seven series 4-1)

John French scored at 1:54 of the 3rd period and Rick Ley scored at 12:04 as the defending champion Whalers averted elimination against the Cougars before 4,253 fans at Chicago International Amphitheatre. Al Smith made 31 saves to get the shutout, whil Chicago goalie Cam Newton made 29 saves.

Mark Howe's goal at 6:33 of the 3rd period proved to be the winner as the Aeros held off a late rally to eliminate the Jets before 8,474 fans at Sam Houston Arena. John Schella and Larry Hale scored in the 1st period to give Houston a 2-0 lead, and Murray Hall and Ted Taylor scored in the 2nd period to make it 4-0. Chris Bordeleau scored with 1:19 remaining in the 2nd period to get the Jets on the scoreboard, and scored at 2:26 of the 3rd period to make it 4-2. Mr. Howe's goal gave the Aeros a 5-2 lead, but Norm Beaudin scored at 8:57 and Bobby Hull at 13:52, with Mr. Bordeleau assisting on both. Don McLeod was the winning goalie despite giving up 4 goals on just 26 shots, while Frank Blum, playing his second game in as many nights, stopped 25 of 30 shots in the Winnipeg goal. Mr. Blum, the Toronto Toros' third-string goalie, had been obtained on loan from the Toros in time for game 3 on an emergency basis when regulars Ernie Wakely and Joe Daley had both fallen ill with pneumonia. Mr. Blum never played another WHA game.

Mike Walton scored 3 goals, with his third, at 4:32 of the 3rd period, holding up as the winner, as the Fighting Saints held off a late rally to eliminate the Oilers before 10,764 fans at St. Paul Civic Arena. Mr. Walton scored twice to give Minnesota a 2-0 lead after the 1st period. The teams exchanged two goals each in the 2nd period, with Ken Baird and Eddie Joyal scoring for Edmonton and George Morrison and Wayne Connelly scoring for Minnesota. After Mr. Walton completed his hat trick, Doug Barrie and Blair McDonald scored for the Oilers, who outshot the Fighting Saints 20-7 in the 3rd period and 40-35 for the game. John Garrett won the goaltending duel over Chris Worthy. It was a disappointing finish for an Edmonton team that had started the season with a record of 13-1 in its first season under coach Brian Shaw.

Basketball
NBA
Semi-Finals
Eastern Conference
New York 88 @ Boston 113 (Boston led best-of-seven series 1-0)

John Havlicek led all scorers with 25 points as the Celtics easily beat the defending champion Knickerbockers before 14,101 fans at Boston Garden.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Love of the Common People--Paul Young (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT Top 30): Love Is A Battlefield--Pat Benatar (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Hello--Lionel Richie

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Hello--Lionel Richie (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Hello--Lionel Richie (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Footloose--Kenny Loggins (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Footloose--Kenny Loggins (3rd week at #1)
2 Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)--Phil Collins
3 Somebody's Watching Me--Rockwell
4 Eat It--"Weird Al" Yankovic
5 Here Comes the Rain Again--Eurythmics
6 Jump--Van Halen
7 Hold Me Now--Thompson Twins
8 Automatic--Pointer Sisters
9 Miss Me Blind--Culture Club
10 Hello--Lionel Richie

Singles entering the chart were I'll Wait by Van Halen (#55); Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper (#60); Self Control by Laura Branigan (#82); Wouldn't it Be Good by Nik Kershaw (#84); Blue Light by David Gilmour (#87); Sail Away by the Temptations (#88); and Perfect Combination by Stacy Lattisaw and Johnny Gill (#90).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Footloose--Kenny Loggins
2 Somebody's Watching Me--Rockwell
3 Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)--Phil Collins
4 Girls Just Want to Have Fun--Cyndi Lauper
5 Eat It--"Weird Al" Yankovic
6 99 Red Balloons--Nena
7 Jump--Van Halen
8 Miss Me Blind--Culture Club
9 Hold Me Now--Thompson Twins
10 I Want a New Drug--Huey Lewis and the News

Singles entering the chart were Wouldn't it Be Good by Nik Kershaw (#41); Girls by Dwight Twilley (#42); Illegal Alien by Genesis (#44); The Longest Time by Billy Joel (#47); and Don't Answer Me by the Alan Parsons Project (#50).

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Looking for Freedom--David Hasselhoff (3rd week at #1)

Music
Nova Scotia singer Rita MacNeil made her U.S. concert debut at the 1,200-seat Berklee Performance Centre in Boston.

Economics and finance
U.S. President George Bush announced that he and Congressional leaders had reached an agreement on the framework for the federal budget for the fiscal year of 1990. Their budget projected a deficit of $99.4 billion, just under the mandated limit of $100 billion. There were $8.5 billion projected in increased revenues and $4.7 billion in defense cuts. Domestic spending and interest would be reduced by $9.1 billion. The question of where the $5.3 billion in new tax revenue would be found had yet to be worked out.

The United States Commerce Department reported that the U.S. merchandise trade deficit had risen sharply to $10.5 billion in February. The U.S. Labor Department reported that the producer price index had risen only 0.4% in March after rising a full percentage point in each of the prior two months.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Jos sulla on toinen--Taikapeili (3rd week at #1)

Television
The U.S. cable network Turner Classic Movies began broadcasting.

War
In a friendly fire incident during Operation Provide Comfort in northern Iraq, two U.S. Air Force aircraft mistakenly shot down two U.S. Army helicopters, killing 26 people.

Scandal
Executives representing seven major tobacco companies testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health and the environment. The executives encountered generally hostile questioning as they stated that they did not believe that cigarettes were addictive and said that they did not know if cigarettes caused or contributed to major illnesses. The executives acknowledged that their companies could control the nicotine content of cigarettes through the blending of different tobbacos, but said that the blending was done to enhance flavour, not to make cigarettes addictive. The executives denied assertions by committee members that the companies were targeting their advertising at young people.

Politics and government
South African President F.W. de Klerk and his leading challenger for the presidency, Nelson Mandela, engaged in a pre-election debate that was broadcast on television and radio.

10 years ago
2004

Terrorism
In its preliminary report, the commission investigating the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States harshly criticized the U.S. intelligence community for failing to follow up on important leads and not making counterterrorism a priority.

Diplomacy
U.S. President George W. Bush endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's strategy of unilaterally separating from Palestinians in the West Bank.