May 8, 2014

1,425 years ago
589

Religion
Reccared I, Visigothic King of Hispania and Septimania, summoned the Third Council of Toledo.

220 years ago
1794

Died on this date
Antoine Lavoisier, 50. French chemist. Mr. Lavoisier has been called the Father of modern chemistry," being credited with changing from a qualitative to a quantitative science; his achievements are too numerous to mention here. He was also a tax collector with the Ferme générale, and was branded a traitor during the Reign of Terror. Mr. Lavoisier was tried, convicted, and guillotined in one day in Paris.

175 years ago
1839

Born on this date
Adolphe-Basile Routhier. Canadian judge and songwriter. Sir Basile, a native of Saint-Benoît (now Saint-Placide), Lower Canada, sat on the Quebec Superior Court from 1873-1906, serving as Chief Justice from 1904-1906, while also serving on the Admiralty of the Exchequer Court of Canada from 1897-1906. Sir Basile wrote the original French lyrics for O Canada. He died on June 27, 1920 in Saint-Irénée-les-Bains, Quebec at the age of 81.

110 years ago
1904

Born on this date
John Snagge. U.K. broadcaster. Mr. Snagge was a newsreader and commentator for BBC Radio from 1927-1965. He provided commentary for the coronations of King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and delivered important announcements of World War II developments. Mr. Snagge began announcing the annual Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race in 1931, and continued after his retirement, calling his last race in 1980. He died of throat cancer on March 25, 1996 at the age of 91.

Died on this date
Eadweard Muybridge, 74. U.K.-born photographer. Mr. Muybridge, born Edward Muggeridge, moved to the United States at the age of 20, and spent much of his life photographing the American West. He was best known for The Horse in Motion (1878), which was an important step in the development of motion pictures. In 1874, Mr. Muybridge shot and killed Major Harry Larkyns, his wife's lover; a jury acquitted Mr. Muybridge on grounds of justifiable homicide. Mr. Muybridge returned to England permanently in 1894, and died of prostate cancer, 29 days after his 74th birthday.

90 years ago
1924

Diplomacy
The Klaipėda Convention was signed, formally incorporating Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory) into Lithuania.

75 years ago
1939

Baseball
Pepper Martin's steal of home plate with 2 out in the top of the 6th inning was the only run of the game as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Brooklyn Dodgers 1-0 before 7,693 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Bob Weiland pitched the 6-hit shutout, while Red Evans allowed 3 hits and 2 earned run in 7 innings and took the loss.

The Chicago Cubs defeated the New York Giants 4-2 before 6,098 fans at the Polo Grounds in New York, but lost first baseman Phil Cavaretta for almost the entire season when he broke his right ankle sliding into second base in the 2nd inning. Bill Lee pitched a 9-hit complete game victory and hit a solo home run in the 4th inning to conclude the Chicago scoring.

Chuck Klein's bases-loaded pinch-hit triple off Jim Weaver was the big hit of a 5-run 8th inning, helping the Philadelphia Phillies to an 8-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 2,313 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. For Mr. Weaver, who allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run in 1/3 inning, it was the 189th and last game of his 8-year major league career.

Bob Johnson hit a solo home run in the 8th inning to tie the score and Bill Nagel hit a solo homer in the 9th to break the 5-5 tie as the Philadelphia Athletics edged the Detroit Tigers 6-5 before 2,751 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.

The Cleveland Indians scored all their runs in the 7th inning as they beat the Washington Nationals 6-2 before 1,500 fans at League Park in Cleveland. Willis Hudlin pitched a 6-hit complete game victory; Walt Masterson, who pitched the 8th inning for Washington in relief of losing pitcher Ken Chase, allowed a hit and 2 bases on balls, but no runs in his major league debut.

70 years ago
1944

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

Died on this date
Ethel Smyth, 86. U.K. composer. Dame Ethyl wrote six operas, as well as songs, orchestral, chamber, piano, and organ works. She was a prominent supporter of women's suffrage.

War
After an 18-day lull, Soviet forces smashed the main German defense belt around Sevastopol. British troops turned back a new Japanese offensive in the Manipur hills in India.

Diplomacy
U.S. and U.K. officials consented to the signing of a Soviet-Czech agreement, granting the U.S.S.R. supreme authority in a liberated Czechoslovakia, with Czech administrators assuming jurisdiction as the fighting ended.

Politics and government
Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez resigned as President of El Salvador as unrest swept the country because of a general strike.

Washington's 16 delegates and Delaware's 6 delegates endorsed New York Governor Tom Dewey as the Republican Party candidate for President of the United States in the November 1944 election.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied the request of Texas Attorney General Grove Sellers for a rehearing on the decision voiding the Texas "white primary."

Economics and finance
The United States Senate passed and sent to conference the Lend-Lease extension bill.

The U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee approved a bill raising the public debt to $240 billion, $20 billion less than the Treasury's request.

Business
A U.S. federal court in Philadelphia ordered Pullman, Inc. to separate its railroad car building business from its sleeping car operation.

Medicine
The first "eye bank" was established, in New York City.

60 years ago
1954

Hit Parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Oh My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa)--Eddie Fisher

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Wanted--Perry Como (Best Seller--5th week at #1; Disc Jockey--3rd week at #1; Jukebox--2nd week at #1)

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

Singles entering the chart were Until Yesterday (Non E La Pioggia) by Tony Bennett (#25); I Could Have Told You by Frank Sinatra (#39); Love I You by the Gaylords (#41); Crazy 'Bout Ya Baby by the Crew-Cuts (#42); I was Meant for You by the Four Knights (#43); Pretty as a Rainbow by Harry Belafonte (#44); and The Zoo by Johnny Desmond (#45). Love I You was the B-side of Isle of Capri, which charted at #16.

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): A World Without Love--Peter and Gordon

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 All My Loving--The Beatles (9th week at #1)
2 Bits and Pieces--The Dave Clark Five
3 Kiss Me Quick--Elvis Presley
4 Little Children--Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas
5 You're Not a Goody Goody--Bobby Curtola
6 Viva Las Vegas--Elvis Presley
7 Don't Let the Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man)--The Serendipity Singers
8 Twist and Shout--The Beatles
9 Can't Buy Me Love--The Beatles
10 Do You Love Me--The Dave Clark Five
Pick hit of the week: La Bamba--The Crickets
New this week: Viva Las Vegas--Elvis Presley
He Doesn't Want You--Molly Bee
Invisible Tears--Ned Miller
I'll Be So Good for You--Joanie Sommers
I'm the One--Gerry and the Pacemakers
Everybody Knows--Steve Lawrence

Viva Las Vegas was the title song of the movie. It was the B-side of another song from the movie, What'd I Say.

On television tonight
Twilight Zone, hosted by Rod Serling, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Mr. Garrity and the Graves, starring John Dehner, J. Pat O'Malley, Stanley Adams, John Mitchum, and Percy Helton

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Sign of Satan, starring Christopher Lee, Gia Scala, Gilbert Green, Adam Roarke, and Byron Keith

Music
The single One and One is Two by the Strangers with Mike Shannon was released in the United Kingdom on Philips Records. One and One is Two was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: Waterloo--ABBA (3rd week at #1)

Politics and government
The Liberal government of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau lost a non-confidence vote on the budget, when the Progressive Conservative official opposition and New Democratic Party combined to defeat the government by a vote of 137-123. The opposition parties charged that Mr. Trudeau's budget failed to come to terms with rising inflation. Mr. Trudeau, whose government had been kept in power by NDP support since narrowly winning the election of October 30, 1972, announced that a federal election would be held on July 8, 1974.

Boxing
Jerry Quarry (49-6-4) knocked out Joe Alexander (8-4) in a heavyweight bout at Nassau Memorial Veterans Coliseum in Uniondale, New York when Mr. Alexander was counted out at 3:00 of the 2nd round. Mr. Alexander knocked down Mr. Quarry late in the 1st round, but Mr. Quarry knocked Mr. Alexander down twice in the last minute of the 2nd round.



Basketball
ABA
Finals
New York 89 @ Utah 97 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-1)

The Nets outscored the Stars 23-13 in the 4th quarter to win the game at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. Julius Erving led New York scorers with 22 points, while Ron Boone scored 22 for Utah.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): 99 Luftballons--Nena (6th week at #1)

At the movies
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), received its premiere screening in Los Angeles. This blogger attended one of the opening day screenings on May 23, but wasn't impressed.



Died on this date
Lila Bell Wallace, 94. Canadian-born U.S. publisher. Mrs. Wallace, a native of Virden, Manitoba, co-published Reader's Digest with her husband DeWitt.

Crime
Canadian Armed Forces Corporal Denis Lortie sprayed the Quebec National Assembly in Quebec City with sub-machine gun fire, killing 3 and wounding 13. René Jalbert, sergeant-at-arms of the assembly, succeeded in calming Cpl. Lortie, for which he later received the Cross of Valour. Cpl. Lortie, who was on leave from his base, told his captors that he wanted to destroy the Parti Quebecois.

Olympics
The U.S.S.R. announced that it would boycott the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in late July-early August. The Soviet National Olympic Committee referred to a "cavalier attitude of the U.S. authorities to the Olympic Charter," and said that the U.S. government "does not intend to insure the security of all sportsmen..." The reference to the Olympic Charter was an apparent criticism of the large amount of commercialism associated with the games. The Soviet boycott, which was followed by other Eastern bloc countries, was widely viewed as retaliation for the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Western nations had boycotted the Moscow games as a protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Diplomacy
Mexican President Miguel de la Madrid addressed the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa during an official visit to Canada.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator Gary Hart (Colorado) narrowly defeated former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale to win primaries in Ohio and Indiana, his first victories in northern industrial states in the contest for the Democratic party nomination for President of the United States in the November 1984 election. Mr. Mondale won primaries in North Carolina and Maryland and still held a large lead in delegates.

Economics and finance
Major U.S. banks boosted their prime lending rates from 12-12.5%. Fearing that rising interest rates could have a negative impact on voters in a presidential election year, spokesmen for the U.S. administration of President Ronald Reagan criticized Federal Reserve Board policies.

Britannica
The Thames Barrier, a flood barrier in London, was officially opened.

Baseball
Kirby Puckett, batting leadoff, was 4 for 5 with a run, and made 2 putouts in center field in his major league debut, helping the Minnesota Twins shut out the California Angels 5-0 before 23,678 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Mr. Puckett grounded out to start the game, but then hit 4 consecutive singles. Lewft fielder Mike Hart also made his major league debut with Minnesota, batting 0 for 4, and making 3 putouts. Frank Viola (3-3) pitched a 4-hitter, while Jim Slaton (1-1) took the loss.

Pinch hitter Keith Moreland singled home pinch runner Henry Cotto with 1 out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 12-11 win over the San Francisco Giants before 4,645 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Chicago third baseman Ron Cey hit a grand slam as part of a 7-run 3rd inning for the Cubs.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): The Living Years--Mike + the Mechanics

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Like a Prayer--Madonna (9th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM):
1 Like a Prayer--Madonna
2 The Look--Roxette
3 Girl You Know it's True--Milli Vanilli
4 Second Chance--Thirty Eight Special
5 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals
6 Heaven Help Me--Deon Estus (with George Michael)
7 Diamond Mine--Blue Rodeo
8 Walk the Dinosaur--Was (Not Was)
9 Love Makes No Promises--Candi
10 I'll Be There for You--Bon Jovi

Singles entering the chart were Victory Day by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider (#78); Rooms on Fire by Stevie Nicks (#82); This Time I Know it's for Real by Donna Summer (#83); Don't Feel Your Touch by Bruce Cockburn (#87); Romance by Paul Carrack & Terri Nunn (#89); Be with You by the Bangles (#91); All is Forgiven by Siren (#94); Talk to Me by Dalbello (#96); Lead Me Into Love by Anita Baker (#98); and If You Don't Know Me by Now by Simply Red (#99). Romance was from the movie Sing (1989).

Space
U.S. space shuttle Atlantis concluded the four-day mission STS-30 and landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

Politics and government
Leopold Belliveau was elected as Moncton, New Brunswick's first Acadian mayor.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Hungary agreed to convene a party conference to deal with political reform.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
Calgary 2 @ Chicago 1 (OT) (Calgary led best-of-seven series 3-1)

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: The Sign--Ace of Base (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Without You--Mariah Carey

#1 single in Switzerland: Without You--Mariah Carey (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Inside--Stiltskin

Died on this date
George Peppard, 65. U.S. actor. Mr. Peppard starred in movies such as The Strange One (1957); Home from the Hill (1960); Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961); The Carpetbaggers (1964); Operation Crossbow (1965); The Blue Max (1966); and What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968), and in the television series Banacek (1972-1974); Doctors' Hospital (1975-1976); and The A-Team (1983-1987). He was a heavy smoker for much of his life, and died of lung cancer.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Bill Clinton said that Haitian refugees intercepted in international waters while en route to the United States would be given asylum interviews and would be granted asylum if they could demonstrate that they faced the prospect of political persecution in Haiti.

Protest
Randall Robinson, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist on African and Caribbean issues, ended a fast that he had begun as a protest against the U.S. practice of turning back all Haitian refugees attempting to enter the United States.

Hockey
IIHF World Men's Championships @ Milan
Bronze Medal
Sweden 7 U.S.A. 2

Gold Medal
Canada 2 Finland 1 (SO)

Luc Robitaille scored the winning goal in the second round of a shootout to give Canada its first world championship in 33 years.

NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Toronto 8 @ San Jose 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Dallas 1 @ Vancouver 2 (OT) (Vancouver led best-of-seven series 3-1)