April 9, 2014

220 years ago
1794

Born on this date
Theobald Boehm. German musician and composer. Mr. Boehm perfected the modern flute and improved its fingering system, while composing various works for flute. He died on November 25, 1881 at the age of 87.

110 years ago
1904

Died on this date
Isabel II, 73. Queen of Spain, 1833-1868. Isabel II acceded to the throne shortly before her 3rd birthday upon the death of her father Ferdinand VII. Her right to the throne was challenged by her uncle the Infante Carlos, leading to the Carlist Wars that on for more than four decades. Maria Christina, Queen consort to King Ferdinand VII, ruled as regent during Queen Isabel's minority, and oversaw Spain's transition from an absolute monarchy to a consitutional monarchy. Isabel II's reign was characterized by palace intrigues and military revolts, and she was finally deposed in 1868. She spent most of the rest of her life in Paris, and formally renounced her rights in 1870 in favour of her son, who became King Alfonso XII in 1874. Queen Isabella II died in Paris after a bout of influenza.

100 years ago
1914

At the movies
The first full-colour dramatic film, The World, The Flesh and the Devil, premiered in London.

War
One of the world's first naval/air skirmishes, part of the Mexican Revolution, took place off Topolobampo, Sinaloa, Mexico. Constitutionalist Captain Gustavo Salinas Camiña, flying a Glenn L. Martin Company biplane, dropped bombs toward Huertista gunboats Guerrero and Morelos. The bombs missed their targets.

75 years ago
1939

Music
Contralto Marian Anderson sang at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. after being denied the right to sing at the Daughters of the American Revolution's Constitution Hall because she was a Negress.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Toronto 3 @ Boston 2 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Doc Romnes scored at 10:38 of the 1st overtime period to give the Maple Leafs their win over the Bruins at Boston Garden.

70 years ago
1944

Died on this date
Yevgeniya Rudneva, 23. U.S.S.R. military aviatrix. Senior Lieutenant Rudneva, a Ukrainian, served as a navigator in the Soviet Air Force during World War II, flying 645 bombing missions in a Polikarpov Po-2 biplane before she and pilot Panna Prokofyeva were killed when they were shot down over Crimea.

War
The Soviet Red Army continued its advance in Romania, capturing 200 more localities, mostly between the Prut and Siretul Rivers. Soviet forces took the railroad junction of Sortirovochnaya, moving to within 3 miles of Odessa. Japanese pressure in the Indian state of Manipur continued with patrols infiltrating across the Tiddem Road only 18 miles southwest of Imphal.

Politics and government
The Chicago Tribune backed U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur in the April 11 Illinois primary in the Republican Party contest for President of the United States in the November 1944 election. The Tribune said that a vote for Gen. MacArthur "will be a vote for the return of stalwart Americanism to the White House."

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 3 @ Chicago 2 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-0)

60 years ago
1954

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I See the Moon--The Stargazers (5th week at #1)

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Anyone Who Had a Heart--Dionne Warwick

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Can't Buy Me Love--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Toronto 3 @ Montreal 1 (Toronto won best-of-seven series 4-3)
Detroit 4 @ Chicago 2 (Detroit won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Dave Keon scored all 3 of his team's goals, the last into an empty net with 11 seconds remaining in the game, as he led the Maple Leafs over the Canadiens at the Montreal Forum. Ralph Backstrom scored the Montreal goal at 7:27 of the 3rd period; it was the only shot to get past Toronto goalie Johnny Bower, who made 38 saves. Montreal goalie Charlie Hodge made 32 saves.

Floyd Smith, Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, and Parker MacDonald scored for the Red Wings as they defeated the Black Hawks at Chicago Stadium to advance to the finals against the defending Stanley Cup champion Maple Leafs for the second straight year. Bill Hay and Bobby Hull scored for Chicago.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Quelque chose et moi--Gérard Lenorman (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh signed an agreement settling a three-year dispute on Pakistani prisoners of war taken in the 1971 war between India and Pakistan. All 195 Pakistani POWs facing charges of murder and rape in Bangladesh would be repatriated, and Bangladesh agreed to drop the trials as an "act of clemency." Pakistan also stated that it "condemned and deeply regretted any crimes that may have been committed" by its forces in the war. Pakistan would accept more than the 140,000 members of the Bihari ethnic minority it had initially proposed to receive. India and Pakistan immediately agreed to work out plans to resume communication and travel links as well as trade, economic, and cultural ties.

Baseball
The Houston Astros scored 3 runs in each of the 1st and 2nd innings and coasted to a 9-5 win over the San Diego Padres before 39,083 fans at San Diego Stadium. It was the first home game for the Padres under new owner Ray Kroc, and with the Astros leading 9-2 in the middle of the 8th inning, Mr. Kroc seized the microphone from the public address announcer, and said:

Ladies and gentlemen, I suffer with you...I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the Dodgers drew 31,000 for their opener and we've drawn 39,000 for ours. The bad news is that this is the most stupid baseball playing I've ever seen.

Mr. Kroc's remarks were cheered by the fans, but were frowned upon by the players of both teams. The game also marked the debut of Ted Giannoulas as the Padres' mascot, the San Diego Chicken.

Joe Rudi hit 3 doubles and drove in 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning with his final hit to help the Oakland Athletics defeat the Kansas City Royals 6-4 before 17,792 fans at Royals Stadium. Veteran outfielder Rick Reichardt came to bat for Kansas City in the bottom of the 9th and singled. It was his only appearance of 1974 and the last of his 11-year major league career, as he was put on waivers the next day and released. Mr. Reichardt, one of the last of the "bonus babies," received a reported bonus of $175,000 to sign with the Los Angeles Angels in 1964. An illness in 1966 requiring the removal of one kidney restricted his effectiveness, and he became an average major league player, batting .261 with 116 home runs and 445 runs batted in in 997 games with the Los Angeles and California Angels, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, and Royals.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
West Division
Atlanta 1 @ Philadelphia 4 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Orest Kindrachuk scored 2 goals, while Gary Dornhoefer and Tom Bladon also scored as the Flyers defeated the Flames before 17,007 fans at the Spectrum. Bob Murray broke up Bernie Parent's bid for a shutout with 10:31 remaining in regulation time. It was the first playoff game in the 2-year history of the Flames.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
Quarter-Finals
East Division
Cleveland 3 @ Toronto 4 (Toronto led best-of-seven series 2-0)
New England 6 @ Chicago 8 (New England led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Tom Martin's third goal of the game with 3:11 remaining in regulation time climaxed a 3-goal third-period comeback as the Toros edged the Crusaders before 5,177 fans at Varsity Arena. Wayne Carleton scored the other Toronto goal. Ron Ward, Tom Edur, and Paul Andrea scored for the Crusaders in the 2nd period to give them a 3-1 lead.

The Cougars jumped to a 5-0 lead after the 1st period and held on to defeat the Whalers before 3,125 fans at Chicago International Amphitheatre. Rosaire Paiement and Bob Liddington scored 2 goals each for the Cougars, while Tim Sheehy scored twice for the Whalers.

Basketball
NBA
Quarter-Finals
Eastern Conference
Buffalo 97 @ Boston 100 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Western Conference
Detroit 94 @ Chicago 98 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 3-2)

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): 99 Luftballons--Nena (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Thriller--Michael Jackson (8th week at #1)

Protest
About 100 "flying pickets"--striking miners bussed in from elsewhere--were arrested during violent clashes with police outside working coal mines in Nottingham and Derbyshire, England.

Politics and government
The Canadian House of Commons passed the Canada Health Act, under which provinces allowing extra billing would lose $1 for every $1 collected starting July 1, 1984.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Like a Prayer--Madonna

#1 single in Switzerland: Like a Prayer--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

Protest
In Tbilisi, Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, an anti-Soviet peaceful demonstration of 10,000 people at Lenin Square, demanding restoration of Georgian independence, was dispersed by the Soviet Red Army, who used poison gas, resulting in 20 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

A crowd stated to be 300,000, but probably much less, in Washington, D.C., demonstrated in favour of continuation of a woman's right to have an abortion. The protest, organized by the misnamed National Organization for Women, took place in advance of a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the issue.

Curling
World Men's Championships @ Milwaukee Auditorium
Final
Canada (Pat Ryan) 5 Switzerland (Patrick Hürlimann) 4

Golf
Nick Faldo birdied the second hole of a sudden-death playoff against Scott Hoch to win the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Mr. Hoch had three chances to sink a putt to win the tournament, but failed each time, with the worst failure coming on the first playoff hole, when he missed from 4 feet. Greg Norman bogeyed on the 18th hole of the last round, preventing him from entering the playoff. Former winner Ben Crenshaw also bogeyed on the last hole, falling into a tie with Mr. Norman for third. First prize money was $200,000.



20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): It's Alright--East 17 (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Serenata Rap--Jovanotti (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Dimension Divertida--Paco Pil (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Look Who's Talking--Dr. Alban (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Without You--Mariah Carey

#1 single in France (SNEP): Je danse le Mia--IAM (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Without You--Mariah Carey (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Everything Changes--Take That

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Bump n' Grind--R. Kelly
2 The Sign--Ace of Base
3 Without You/Never Forget You--Mariah Carey
4 The Power of Love--Celine Dion
5 So Much in Love--All-4-One
6 Whatta Man--Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue
7 Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm--Crash Test Dummies
8 Now and Forever--Richard Marx
9 The Most Beautiful Girl in the World--The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (Love Symbol)
10 Streets of Philadelphia--Bruce Springsteen

Singles entering the chart were I'll Take You There by General Public (#80); Papa'z Song by 2Pac (Duet with Mopreme) (#87); Anything by SWV (#88); Low by Cracker (#90); Sweet Potatoe Pie by Domino (#92); and In Walked Love by Expose (#98). I'll Take You There was from the movie Threesome (1994). Anything was from the movie Above the Rim (1994).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Without You--Mariah Carey (2nd week at #1)
2 The Sign--Ace of Base
3 Now and Forever--Richard Marx
4 So Much in Love--All-4-One
5 Whatta Man--Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue
6 Streets of Philadelphia--Bruce Springsteen
7 Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm--Crash Test Dummies
8 Bump n' Grind--R. Kelly
9 The Most Beautiful Girl in the World--The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (Love Symbol)
10 Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)--Us3

Singles entering the chart were Dreams by the Cranberries (#70); Neon Moonlight by Rosco Martinez (#73); Beautiful in My Eyes by Joshua Kadison (#79); and Big Time Sensuality by Bjork (#81).

10 years ago
2004

War
U.S. civilian contract worker Thomas Hamill was taken hostage by terrorists in Iraq.