June 29, 2014

820 years ago
1194

Europeana
Sverre was crowned King of Norway.

570 years ago
1444

War
League of Lezhë forces commanded by Skanderbeg defeated an Ottoman invasion force commanded by Ali Pasha in the Battle of Torvioll in what is now Albania.

420 years ago
1594

Died on this date
Niels Kaas, 58 or 59. Chancellor of Denmark, 1573-1594. Mr. Kaas entered the Chancery in 1560, and was instrumental in negotiating the Treaty of Stettin (1570). He used his diplomatic skills as Chancellor, and died in office.

270 years
1744

Died on this date
André Campra, 83. French composer. Mr. Campra was known for his operas, cantatas, and religious music, including a requiem.

150 years ago
1864

Disasters
In Canada's worst railway disaster, a Grand Trunk Railway train ran through an open switch near St.-Hilaire, Quebec and fell through an open swing bridge into the Richelieu River, killing 99 people, many of them German and Polish immigrants.

125 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Willie Macfarlane. U.K.-born U.S. golfer. Mr. Macfarlane moved from Scotland to the United States to pursue a professional career. He won 22 professional tournaments from 1916-1936, most notably the 1925 U.S. Open. Mr. Macfarlane died on August 15, 1961 at the age of 72.

100 years ago
1914

Born on this date
Rafael Kubelík. Czechoslovakian-born Swiss orchestra conductor and composer. Mr. Kubelík fled Czechoslovakia in 1948 after the Communist takeover of the country, and was music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1950–53);Royal Opera, Covent Garden (1955–58); and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (1961–79). His compositions included five operas, three symphonies, chamber music, and choral works. Mr. Kubelík died on August 11, 1996 at the age of 82.

80 years ago
1934

Golf
Henry Cotton won the British Open at Royal St. George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England with a score of 283, 5 strokes ahead of Sid Brews. First prize money was £100.

70 years ago
1944

Literature
Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon was published in New York by John Day.

Died on this date
Friedrich Dollmann, 62. German military officer. Generaloberst Dollman commanded the 7th Army during the Invasion of France and the early phases of the Allied invasion of Normandy until his death--either by heart attack or suicide--three days after the fall of Cherbourg, which had prompted Fuehrer Adolf Hitler to demand that Generaloberst Dollman be relieved of command.

War
In Camilly France, the Canadian Army Second Corps under Guy Simonds was sent to join the Second Army in the Caen sector with the Eighth Army on its left and the First Corps on its right; the second Infantry Division was sent immediately since infantry casualties were heavy because of fierce counterattacks from German forces. Allied troops in Italy made gains of up to 9 miles along a 100-mile front. Soviet units reported the liberation of 1,050 localities in White Russia, including Bobruisk. The White House published a joint statement by U.S. service chiefs General George Marshall, General Hap Arnold, and Admiral Ernest King warning against optimism over an early military victory.

Medicine
The American Red Cross announced development of a serum to prevent measles.

Economics and finance
The government of Argentina seized all properties of the "House of Bamberg," reportedly worth more than $1 billion, for allegedly falsifying inheritance tax reports.

Labour
An estimated 10,000 workers at the Timken Roller Bearing Company in Canton, Ohio went on strike due to a breakdown in labour relations and the company's plans to close down its furnaces.

60 years ago
1954

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Hunted, starring Ward Bond, John Kerr, Jane Du Frayne, and Steve Parker



Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden arrived in Ottawa for two days of talks with Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent and Secretary of State for External Affairs Lester Pearson.

Boxing
Sonny Liston (6-0) won an 8-round unanimous decision over Johnny Summerlin (18-2-2) in a heavywweight bout at Motor City Arena in Detroit.

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): La Mamma--Charles Aznavour (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Eric Dolphy, 36. U.S. musician. Mr. Dolphy was a jazz saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist, who also played other instruments and led his own band. He died in Berlin after lapsing into a coma because of an undiagnosed diabetic condition.

Music
The Beach Boys were at Western Recorders in Hollywood, California, where they recorded vocals for the songs Frosty the Snowman; We Three Kings of Orient Are; Blue Christmas; White Christmas; Santa Claus is Coming to Town; and I'll Be Home for Christmas, all of which appeared on The Beach Boys' Christmas Album, released several months later.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Sugar Baby Love--The Rubettes

#1 single in the U.K.: She--Charles Aznavour

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Devil Gate Drive--Suzi Quatro (2nd week at #1)
2 Billy - Don't Be a Hero--Paper Lace
3 The Entertainer--Marvin Hamlisch
4 Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks
5 Hooked on a Feeling--Blue Swede
6 The Air That I Breathe--The Hollies
7 Candle in the Wind/Bennie and the Jets--Elton John
8 The Loco-Motion--Grand Funk
9 Ships in the Night--Vicki Lawrence
10 The Way We Were--Barbra Streisand

Singles entering the chart were Evie by Stevie Wright (#16); La Grange by ZZ Top (#25); Do the Spunky Monkey by Digby Richards (#28); and You Make Me Feel Brand New by the Stylistics (#37).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Sundown--Gordon Lightfoot

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Sundown--Gordon Lightfoot
2 Billy, Don't Be a Hero--Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
3 Be Thankful for What You Got--William DeVaughn
4 Rock the Boat--The Hues Corporation
5 You Make Me Feel Brand New--The Stylistics
6 If You Love Me (Let Me Know)--Olivia Newton-John
7 Haven't Got Time for the Pain--Carly Simon
8 Hollywood Swinging--Kool & The Gang
9 Rock Your Baby--George McCrae
10 Rock and Roll Heaven--The Righteous Brothers

Singles entering the chart were Fish Ain't Bitin' by Lamont Dozier (#63); Love is the Message by MFSB featuring the Three Degrees (#76); Kung Fu by Curtis Mayfield (#77); Hang On in There Baby by Johnny Bristol (#84); That Song is Driving Me Crazy by Tom T. Hall (#88); Time for Livin' by Sly and the Family Stone (#94); Secretary by Betty Wright (#98); What's Your Name by Andy and David Williams (#99); and You Can't Be a Beacon (If Your Light Don’t Shine) by Donna Fargo (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Sundown--Gordon Lightfoot (3rd week at #1)
2 Billy, Don't Be a Hero--Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
3 You Make Me Feel Brand New--The Stylistics
4 If You Love Me (Let Me Know)--Olivia Newton-John
5 Haven't Got Time for the Pain--Carly Simon
6 The Air that I Breathe--The Hollies
7 Band on the Run--Paul McCartney & Wings
8 Save the Last Dance for Me--The DeFranco Family featuring Tony DeFranco
9 Be Thankful for What You Got--William DeVaughn
10 Rock the Boat--The Hues Corporation

Singles entering the chart were Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by Elton John (#74); Call on Me by Chicago (#76); Room Full of Roses by Mickey Gilley (#77); Wake Up and Love Me by April (#86); Happiness is Just Around the Bend by the Main Ingredient (#89); I'm on Fire for You Baby by April Wine (#94); Tell Me Something Good by Rufus (#95); Worse Comes to Worst by Billy Joel (#96); When Morning Comes by Hoyt Axton (#98); I Wish it were Me by the Dells (#99); and You're Welcome, Stop on By by Bobby Womack (#100).

#1 single in Calgary: Billy, Don't Be a Hero--Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
In Moscow, U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev concluded two days of signing agreements on cultural, scientific, and economic cooperation, augmenting accords signed in 1972. Talks between the leaders on nuclear weapons continued for several days thereafter.

In Toronto, Soviet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov defected from the Soviet Union while in Toronto as a guest star with the Bolshoi Ballet, who were on a Canadian tour. He was helped by John Fraser, dance critic for the Toronto newspaper The Globe and Mail, and was granted permission to stay.

Politics and government
Isabel Peron, 43, was sworn in as interim President of Argentina after her husband Juan, 78, took ill. Mrs. Peron had been Vice President since her husband's return to power in 1973 after 18 years in exile.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): I'm Only Shooting Love--Time Bandits

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Self Control--Laura Branigan (3rd week at #1)

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. offered to begin talks with the United States in the fall of 1984 on banning weapons in space. The U.S. State Department said it was willing, but wanted the talks broadened to include other weapons systems.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the index of Leading Economic Indicators had declind 0.1% in May.

Football
CFL
Winnipeg (0-1) 17 @ Calgary (1-0) 24

The Stampeders' win over the Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium marked a successful regular season debut for Steve Buratto as a CFL head coach.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Minä olen muistanut--Kim Lönnholm (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): All I Want is You--U2 (2nd week at #1)

Personal
This blogger attended a University of Western Ontario alumni social at University House on the University of Alberta campus, and enjoyed meeting UWO President George Pedersen, among others.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (0-2) 16 @ Toronto (1-0) 17
British Columbia (1-0) 25 @ Calgary (0-1) 7

The Argos' win over the Blue Bombers was the first football game ever played at SkyDome.

20 years ago
1994

Died on this date
Kurt Eichhorn, 85. German orchestra conductor. Mr. Eichhorn led various orchestras in a career spanning more than 60 years. He was chief conductor of the State Theatre at the Gärtnerplatz in Munich (1956-1967) and chief conductor of the Munich Radio Orchestra (1967-1975).

Politics and government
The Social Democratic Party of Japan and Liberal Democratic Party joined forces in the Diet to elect Socialist leader Tomiichi Murayama Prime Minister of Japan. Mr. Murayama succeeded Tsutomu Hata, who had resigned four days earlier.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Winnipeg (1-1) 43 @ Baltimore (2-0) 45
Hamilton (1-1) 28 @ Ottawa (0-2) 27
Sacramento (0-2) 4 @ Saskatchewan (1-1) 19
Edmonton (1-1) 11 @ Las Vegas (2-0) 22

10 years ago
2004

Defense
In the face of growing violence, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to send more troops to Afghanistan ahead of the elections scheduled for October.

Baseball
Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks became the fourth pitcher in major league history to record 4,000 career strikeouts, striking out 8 as he absorbed a 3-2 loss to the San Diego Padres before 34,633 fans at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix.