May 1, 2014

475 years ago
1539

Died on this date
Isabella of Portugal, 35. Holy Roman Empress, 1526-1539. Isabella, a native of Lisbon, was the consort of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. She died in Toledo, Spain after giving birth to their sixth child.

250 years ago
1764

Born on this date
Benjamin Henry Latrobe. U.K.-born U.S. architect. Mr. Latrobe was best known for designing the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. He died of yellow fever on September 3, 1820 at the age of 56.

220 years ago
1794

War
The Battle of Boulou ended with French forces defeating the Spanish and regaining nearly all the land lost to Spain in 1793.

170 years ago
1844

Politics and government
The U.S. Whig National Convention in Baltimore unanimously nominated former U.S. Senator Henry Clay (Kentucky) as the party's U.S. presidential candidate in the 1844 election. Former U.S. Senator Theodore Frelinghuysen was nominated on the third ballot as the party's vice presidential candidate.

Law
The Hong Kong Police Force, the world's second modern police force and Asia's first, was established.

160 years ago
1854

Born on this date
Hussein bin Ali. Sharif and Emir of Mecca, 1909-1924; King of the Hejaz, 1916-1924; King of the Arabs, 1916-1925. Hussein bin Ali, a member of a dynasty of emirs of Mecca, was appointed Emir of Mecca by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, and, with the promise of British support for Arab independence, proclaimed the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire. He refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles in protest against the Balfour Declaration, and refused to sign the Anglo-Hashemite Treaty, thus depriving himself of British support when his kingdom was invaded by Ibn Saud. Hussein bin Ali briefly proclaimed himself Caliph of all Muslims in October 1924, but quickly abdicated in the face of imminent defeat by Ibn Saud. He fled to Transjordan, where his son Abdullah was Emir, and lived in exile in Amman. Hussein bin Ali died on June 4, 1931 at the age of 77, a year after suffering a stroke.

130 years ago
1884

Baseball
Moses Fleetwood "Fleet" Walker, a catcher with the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association, became the first Negro to play in a major league baseball game in the United States.

110 years ago
1904

Died on this date
Antonín Dvořák, 62. Czech composer. Mr. Dvořák was known for many compositions, including his nine symphonies, especially Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, From the New World, aka New World Symphony, which he wrote in 1893 while in New York.

75 years ago
1939

Baseball
At Comiskey Park in Chicago, the Chicago White Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-1 in an exhibition game to benefit White Sox pitcher Monty Stratton, who had lost his lower left leg in a hunting accident after the 1938 season. Mr. Stratton, who tried to pitch in the game, received a new car and nearly $30,000 from the game. Dizzy Dean was the losing pitcher. In 1949 James Stewart played the White Sox ace in the movie The Stratton Story.

70 years ago
1944

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

Literature
The novel Journey in the Dark by Martin Flavin was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

War
A sharp German attack against British forces at the Italian beachhead of Anzio resulted in a slight advance. 200 Communist prisoners were shot by the Germans at Kaisariani in Athens in reprisal for the killing of General Franz Krech by partisans at Molaoi.

Politics and government
The London Conference of Dominion premiers began, meeting until May 16.

The Puerto Rican resident commissioner in Washington, D.C. denounced the administration of U.S.-appointed Governor Rexford Tugwell, and compared him "to Hitler and Mussolini."

Labour
The U.S. National War Labor Board rejected the contention of the American Federation of Musicians that radio station musicians were not in a war industry, and ordered strikes ended at stations WJJD in Chicago and KSTP in St. Paul, Minnesota.

60 years ago
1954

Hit Parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): That's Amore--Dean Martin (3rd week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Wanted--Perry Como (Best Seller--4th week at #1; Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1; Jukebox--1st week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Wanted--Perry Como (4th week at #1)
2 I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)--The Four Knights
3 Make Love to Me--Jo Stafford
4 Young at Heart--Frank Sinatra
5 Cross Over the Bridge--Patti Page
6 Secret Love--Doris Day
7 Here--Tony Martin
8 The Man with the Banjo--The Ames Brothers
9 A Girl, A Girl (Zoom-Ba Di Alli Nella)--Eddie Fisher
10 Answer Me, My Love--Nat "King" Cole

Singles entering the chart were Isle of Capri by the Gaylords (#18); Don't Worry About Me by Frank Sinatra (#28); Oh, That'll Be Joyful, with versions by the Four Lads and Bobby Wayne and Gene Baylos (#36); Wrapped Up in a Dream by the Hilltoppers (#37); Dream, Dream, Dream by Percy Faith and his Orchestra (#39, charting with the version by Sunny Gale); Angela Mia by Ralph Flanagan and his Orchestra (#40, charting with the version by Don, Dick & Jimmy); True Love Goes On and On by Burl Ives (#45); and Gimme a Little Kiss by the Three Suns (#46).

Died on this date
Tom Tyler, 50. U.S. actor. Mr. Tyler, born Vincent Markowski, appeared in numerous low-budget Western movies from 1924-1953. He played Kharis in The Mummy's Hand (1940), and played the title character in the serial The Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941). Mr. Tyler suffered from rheumatoid arthritis in later years, and was nearly destitute when he died from a heart attack and scleroderma.

Horse racing
Determine, with R. York aboard, won the 80th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:03. Hasty Road placed second.

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Can't Buy Me Love--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 All My Loving--The Beatles (8th week at #1)
2 Bits and Pieces--The Dave Clark Five
3 Kiss Me Quick--Elvis Presley
4 Twist and Shout--The Beatles
5 You're Not a Goody Goody--Bobby Curtola
6 Little Children--Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas
7 Don't Let the Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man)--The Serendipity Singers
8 This Boy--The Beatles
9 Can't Buy Me Love--The Beatles
10 Kissin' Cousins--Elvis Presley
Pick hit of the week: Kiss Me Quick--Vik Armen
New this week: A World Without Love--Peter and Gordon
Yesterday's Hero--Gene Pitney
The World of Lonely People--Anita Bryant
Have I Stayed Away Too Long--Bobby Bare
La Bamba--The Crickets
Too Late to Turn Back Now--Brook Benton

On television tonight
Twilight Zone, hosted by Rod Serling, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Encounter, starring Neville Brand and George Takei

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Ten Minutes from Now, starring Donnelly Rhodes, Lou Jacobi, Lonny Chapman, and Neile Adams

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Waterloo--ABBA (2nd week at #1)

Terrorism
The Argentine terrorist organization Montoneros was expelled from Plaza de Mayo by President Juan Perón.

Disasters
250 people drowned when a motor launch capsized in waters off Bangladesh.

Reports placed the death toll from floods and landslides in Brazil at 200.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
Semi-Finals
East Division
Chicago 3 @ Toronto 5 (Toronto led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Jack Gibson and Guy Trottier scored in the 3rd period to break a 3-3 tie to give the Toros their win over the Cougars before 8,356 fans at Varsity Arena. Billy Orr and Brit Selby scored to give Toronto a 2-0 lead after the 1st period, but Rosaire Paiement, Duke Harris, and Jim Watson scored for Chicago in the 2nd period, with Pat Hickey scoring for Toronto.

Baseball
Bill Stoneman allowed 6 hits and struck out 9 batters in 8+ innings as the California Angels beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 before 6,534 fans on a Wednesday afternoon at Fenway Park in Boston. The win was Mr. Stoneman's first since being obtained from the Montreal Expos on April 5, and turned out to be the last of his 8-year major league career. California second baseman Denny Doyle batted 3 for 4 with a double, giving him 8 hits in 10 at bats in his last 2 games. Boston catcher Carlton Fisk led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a home run and Cecil Cooper followed with a single, after which Rudy May replaced Mr. Stoneman and retired the side to earn his first save of the season. Losing pitcher Bill Lee pitched a complete game, allowing 12 hits and 4 runs (2 earned).

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): 99 Luftballons--Nena (5th week at #1)

World events
Syria seized three Israeli officials who had crossed Syrian lines in northern Lebanon, charging that the three were "saboteurs who tried to infiltrate the area held by our forces..." The officials were members of Israel's informal embassy in Lebanon.

Politics and government
Former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale won the Tennessee primary in the contest for the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States in the November 1984 election. Rev. Jesse Jackson scored his first primary win, taking 67% of the vote in the District of Columbia.

Economics and finance
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau started the Sport Select baseball pool, meeting the opposition of the provinces and major league baseball.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
Montreal 1 @ New York Islanders 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
Edmonton 3 @ Minnesota 1 (Edmonton won best-of-seven series 4-0)

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Like a Prayer--Madonna (8th week at #1)

Austria's top 10 (Ö3)
1 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals (7th week at #1)
2 Looking for Freedom--David Hasselhoff
3 Like a Prayer--Madonna
4 Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney
5 The Look--Roxette
6 Das Phantom der Oper--Alexander Goebel & Luzia Nistler
7 The Way to Your Heart--Soulsister
8 You Got It--Roy Orbison
9 Straight Up--Paula Abdul
10 Listen to the Voices--Labi Siffre

Singles entering the chart were The Look; Straight Up; I Don't Want a Lover by Texas (#13); Ordinary Lives by the Bee Gees (#26); Hey Music Lover by S'Express (#28); and He's a Man by Mandy Winter (#30).

Canada's top 10 (RPM):
1 Like a Prayer--Madonna
2 The Look--Roxette
3 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals
4 Girl You Know it's True--Milli Vanilli
5 Eternal Flame--Bangles
6 Walk the Dinosaur--Was (Not Was)
7 Second Chance--Thirty Eight Special
8 Diamond Mine--Blue Rodeo
9 Stand--R.E.M.
10 Love Makes No Promises--Candi

Singles entering the chart were This is Your Land by Simple Minds (#75); I Drove All Night by Cyndi Lauper (#81); Cry by Waterfront (#87); Buffalo Stance by Neneh Cherry (#90); How'm I Gonna Sleep by Tim Finn (#93); Satisfied by Richard Marx (#96); Good Thing by Fine Young Cannibals (#97); and I'll Be You by the Replacements (#99).

Died on this date
Patrice Tardif, 84. Canadian politician. Mr. Tardif, a member of the Union Nationale, represented Frontenac in the Quebec Legislative Assembly (1935-1939, 1944-1952), and represented De la Vallière in the Legislative Council (1952-1968).

Movies
Disney-MGM Studios opened at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
Philadelphia 3 @ Montreal 1 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: The Sign--Ace of Base (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Streets of Philadelphia--Bruce Springsteen (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Without You--Mariah Carey (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): The Real Thing--Tony Di Bart

Died on this date
Ayrton Senna, 34. Brazilian auto racing driver. Mr. Senna won 41 races on the Formula One circuit and won the world driving championship in 1988, 1990, and 1991. He was killed in a crash (see also here) while leading the San Marino Grand Prix at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari outside Imola, Italy, just behind the spot where driver Roland Ratzenberger had been killed the previous day during qualifying.

Labour
During the pre-race drivers' briefing before the San Marino Grand Prix, drivers agreed to the reformation of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, with Ayrton Senna, Gerhard Berger, and Michael Schumacher as directors. The GPDA had originally been formed in 1961 and disbanded in 1982.

Auto Racing
Michael Schumacher won the San Marino Grand Prix, during which Ayrton Senna was killed. Nicola Larini finished second, and Mika Häkkinen third.

10 years ago
2004

Died on this date
Nelson Gidding, 84. U.S. screenwriter. Mr. Gidding wrote for radio and television before going into movies, where he specialized in adaptations. He was nominated for an Academy Award for I Want to Live! (1958); his other screenplays included Odds Against Tomorrow (1959); The Haunting (1963); and The Hindenburg (1975). Mr. Gidding taught a course in screenplay adaptation at the University of Southern California for many years, inspiring future screenwriters.

Abominations
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the European Union, with the ceremony taking place at the residence of Irish President Mary McAleese in Dublin.

Terrorism
Two Americans, two Britons, and an Australian were killed when gunmen opened fire in an engineering office in Cairo.

Horse racing
Smarty Jones, with Stewart Elliott aboard, won the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:04 3/5. Lion Heart placed second and Imperialism third.