November 23, 2014

200 years ago
1814

Died on this date
Elbridge Gerry, 70. 5th Vice President of the United States of America, 1813-1814. Mr. Gerry represented Massachusetts' 3rd District in the United States House of Representatives from 1789-1793 before joining the Democratic-Republican Party, serving as Governor of Massachusetts from 1810-1812 and then as U.S. Vice President under President James Madison. He died after suddenly taking ill, becoming the first U.S. Vice President to die in office. Mr. Gerry is best known as the inspiration for the term gerrymander, referring to the manipulation of the boundaries of electoral districts in order to give an advantage to a particular party or candidate. In 1812, Mr. Gerry, then Governor of Massachusetts, signed a bill that redistricted the state to favour the Democratic-Republican Party. The shape of one of the districts was said to resemble a salamander when shown on a map, hence the term.

125 years ago
1889

Technology
The first jukebox was installed at the Palais Royale Saloon in San Francisco.

100 years ago
1914

Born on this date
Donald Nixon. U.S. restaurateur. Mr. Nixon, a younger brother of U.S. President Richard Nixon, operated a drive-in restaurant called Nixon's in Whittier, California. In 1957 he accepted a loan of $205,000 from billionaire Howard Hughes to bail out the financially-troubled restaurant, but many suspected that the loan was actually a political favour for Richard Nixon. Donald Nixon died on June 27, 1987 at the age of 72.

War
The last U.S. forces withdrew from the Mexican city of Veracruz, occupied seven months earlier in response to the Tampico Affair.

90 years ago
1924

Space
Astronomer Edwin Hubble's scientific discovery that Andromeda, previously believed to be a nebula within the Milky Way, was actually another galaxy, and that the Milky Way is only one of many such galaxies in the universe, was first published in a newspaper.

80 years ago
1934

World events
An Anglo-Ethiopian boundary commission in the Ogaden discovered an Italian garrison at Walwal, well within Ethiopian territory. The discovery led to the Abyssinia Crisis.

75 years ago
1939

War
The British armed merchant cruiser HMS Rawalpindi was sunk by the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau north of the Faroe Islands, with the loss of 238 men, including Captain Edward Kennedy. 48 survivors were picked up.

70 years ago
1944

Theatre
The Man Who Had All the Luck, written by Arthur Miller and starring Karl Swenson, opened at the Forrest Theatre on Broadway in New York City. It was Mr. Miller's first play to be performed on Broadway.

War
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Mackenzie King issued an order-in-council making 16,000 conscripts--popularly known as "Zombies"--eligible for immediate overseas duty as reinforcements. French troops entered Strasbourg against light German opposition. Soviet troops renewed their drive in the eastern end of Slovakia, capturing Cop. American planes destroyed or damaged four troop-laden Japanese ships heading for Ormoc in the Philippines.

World events
Two days after being arrested, U.K. author P.G. Wodehouse was released by Paris police with the provision that he report at intervals to French authorities.

Politics and government
Yugoslavian leader Marshal Tito announced plans for a federal democratic government in Yugoslavia.

Aviation
The technical committees of the International Civil Aviation Conference in Chicago adopted a code of common practices involving worthiness of craft; identification markers; weather reporting procedures; scales; symbols; and customs procedures.

Health
The Journal of the American Medical Association published a Duke University study claiming that Americans with a normal diet did not benefit from vitamins.

60 years ago
1954

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson, on BBC Light Programme
Tonight's episode: The Norwood Builder

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average closed at 382.74, marking its highest level since before the crash of October 29, 1929.

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Ma Vie--Alain Barriere (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Canada (RPM): Ain't That Loving You Baby--Elvis Presley (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The McGregor Affair, starring Andrew Duggan, Elsa Lanchester, Bill Smith, and John Hoyt

Football
CFL
Bobby Dobbs resigned as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders, the day after they had been defeated in the Western Finals by the British Columbia Lions. Jim Finks had resigned as the Stampeders' general manager in September to accept the same position with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League, and Mr. Dobbs was one of those interested in the vacant Calgary position. However, the Stampeder directors chose one of Mr. Dobbs' assistant coaches, Rogers Lehew, to be the new general manager, and Mr. Dobbs was unwilling to work under someone who had worked under him, especially when he also wanted the job. In 4 seasons as head coach of the Stampeders Mr. Dobbs compiled a record of 44-33-3, and led the team into the Western Finals 3 times, losing every time. He announced his resignation at the team's end-of-season party, and was never heard from in the CFL again.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Sing a Song of Love--George Baker Selection

#1 single in the U.K.: Gonna Make You a Star--David Essex (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Can Help--Billy Swan

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
2 My Melody of Love--Bobby Vinton
3 I Can Help--Billy Swan
4 Longfellow Serenade--Neil Diamond
5 Back Home Again--John Denver
6 When Will I See You Again--The Three Degrees
7 Whatever Gets You Thru the Night--John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Nuclear Band
8 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas
9 Everlasting Love--Carl Carlton
10 Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)--Reunion

Singles entering the chart were Please Mr. Postman by the Carpenters (#70); Morning Side of the Mountain by Donny and Marie Osmond (#71); Dark Horse by George Harrison (#73); Postcard by the Who (#78); Dancin' Fool by the Guess Who (#81); Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd (#85); Coldblooded by James Brown (#91); Doctor's Orders by Carol Douglas (#92); Pick Up the Pieces by Average White Band (#94); I Feel Sanctified by the Commodores (#95); If by Telly Savalas (#96); Ruby, Baby by Billy "Crash" Craddock (#97); Love Me Now by Ruby Winters (#98); Harlem by the 5th Dimension (#99); and Rock 'N Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life) by Terry Jacks (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet--Bachman-Turner Overdrive (3rd week at #1)
2 Whatever Gets You Thru the Night--John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Nuclear Band
3 My Melody of Love--Bobby Vinton
4 The Bitch is Back--Elton John
5 Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)--Reunion
6 I Honestly Love You--Olivia Newton-John
7 After the Goldrush--Prelude
8 Can't Get Enough--Bad Company
9 So You are a Star--The Hudson Brothers
10 Tin Man--America

Singles entering the chart were Dancin' Fool by the Guess Who (#76); Never Can Say Goodbye by Gloria Gaynor (#82); All that I Could Ever Be is Me by Bob Rapson (#85); Ain't Too Proud to Beg by the Rolling Stones (#92); Only You by Ringo Starr (#93); Fairytale by the Pointer Sisters (#96); Three Ring Circus by Blue Magic (#97); Early Morning Love by Sammy Johns (#98); Black Lassie (Featuring Johnny Stash) by Cheech & Chong (#99); and Nobody by the Doobie Brothers (#100).

Calgary's Top 10
1 So You are a Star--The Hudson Brothers
2 You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
3 Carrie's Gone--J.C. Stone
4 Can't Get Enough--Bad Company
5 Tin Man--America
6 Pencil Thin Mustache--Jimmy Buffett
7 Whatever Gets You Thru the Night--John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Nuclear Band
8 Ramona--Stampeders
9 Back Home Again--John Denver
10 Everlasting Love--Carl Carlton
Pick hit of the week: Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)--Three Dog Night

Died on this date
Cornelius Ryan, 54. Irish-born U.S. journalist and author. Mr. Ryan was best known for his World War II history books The Longest Day: 6 June 1944 D-Day (1959); The Last Battle (1966); and A Bridge Too Far (1974). He died of prostate cancer just two months after the publication of A Bridge Too Far, and while that book was topping bestseller lists.

Abominations
60 Ethiopian politicians, aristocrats, military officers, and other persons were executed by the country's provisional military government.

Hockey
NHL
Philadelphia 6 @ Toronto 3

The defending Stanley Cup champion Flyers beat the Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens in the national Hockey Night in Canada telecast. The highlight for Toronto fans was Eddie Shack's first goal of the season. The low point was Philadelphia centre and captain Bobby Clarke's vicious and unprovoked attack on Toronto defenceman Rod Seiling. Mr. Clarke speared Mr. Seiling in the stomach and then proceeded to beat him up. Mr. Clarke was a dirty player, but he was usually more subtle about it than on this occasion.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): I Just Called to Say I Love You--Stevie Wonder (7th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): When the Rain Begins to Fall--Jermaine Jackson and Pia Zadora (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): The Never Ending Story--Limahl

The NeverEnding Story was the title song of the movie (1984).

Disasters
Almost 1,000 passengers were trapped in smoke-filled tunnels for three hours after a fire at London's busiest underground station, Oxford Circus.

Football
NCAA
Doug Flutie’s 48-yard touchdown pass to Gerard Phelan on the last play of the game gave Boston College Eagles a 47-45 win over the University of Miami Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Lambada--Kaoma (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville) (2nd week at #1)

Protest
Alexander Dubcek, leader of the "Prague Spring" reform movement in Czechoslovakia in 1968, spoke to a pro-democracy crowd in Bratislava.

20 years ago
1994

Died on this date
Irwin Kostal, 83. U.S. musical arranger and orchestra conductor. Mr. Kostal won Academy Awards for scoring the musical films West Side Story (1961) and The Sound of Music (1965).

Tommy Boyce, 55. U.S. songwriter. Mr. Boyce and Bobby Hart were known for writing songs for the Monkees, such as (Theme From) The Monkees; Last Train to Clarksville; and Valleri. They also performed as a duo, achieving chart success in 1968 with singles such as I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight and Alice Long. Mr. Boyce had suffered a brain aneurysm not long before and had reportedly been told by his doctor that he was likely to suffer another more serious one in the future, which may have led to him committing suicide by shooting himself.

Art Barr, 28. U.S. wrestler. Mr. Barr began his professional career in the United States in 1987, but achieved his greatest popularity wrestling in Mexico from 1991 until his death, which may have been from a drug-related heart attack in his sleep.

War
About 50 NATO aircraft attacked three Serb militia bases in Bosnia in reprisal for the previous day's missiles fired at British aircraft on NATO patrol.