December 23, 2014

325 years ago
1689

Born on this date
Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. French composer. Mr. Boismortier wrote more than 100 instrumental and vocal works, and was the first French composer to use the Italian concerto form. He obtained a royal license for engraving music in 1724, and was able to become wealthy by publishing his music for sale to the public. Mr. Boismortier died on October 28, 1755 at the age of 85.

100 years ago
1914

War
Australian and New Zealand troops arrived in Cairo.

80 years ago
1934

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Today’s episode: The Poisoned Stick

75 years ago
1939

Died on this date
Anthony Fokker, 49. Indonesian-born Dutch aircraft manufacturer. Mr. Fokker designed the Fokker Dr.I and Fokker D.VII, which were used by the German Luftstreitkräfte to great effect during World War I. He died of meningitis.

70 years ago
1944

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Don't Fence Me In--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen and his Orchestra (Best Seller--1st week at #1; Juke Box--2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Charles Dana Gibson, 77. U.S. artist. Mr. Gibson created the "Gibson Girl" the iconic representation of American womanhood at the beginning of the 20th century.

War
German submarine U-806 torpedoed Royal Canadian Navy minesweeper HMCS Clayoquot by the Halifax lightship; the minesweeper sank on the 24th. U.S. Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion James F. Byrnes said that he found it difficult to understand how men could be physically unfit for military service yet still participate in professional sports. Fighting between left-wing ELAS and right-wing EDES guerrillas broke out in northwestern Greece. U.S. land-based plans attacked Grace Park Field in the area of Manila and destroyed about 25 enemy aircraft.

Politics and government
The U.S.S.R. announced that Premier General Bela Mikos had formed a Hungarian provisional government in Debrecen.

Exiled Basque, Castilian, and Galician leaders signed a pact of solidarity in Mexico City, pledging to overthrow the Spanish regime of Generalissimo Francisco Franco.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill providing for postwar flood control projects estimated at $1 billion and authorizing a $400,000 multipurpose project in the Missouri River Valley.

Horse racing
United States Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion James F. Byrnes ordered that all horse racing operations cease effective January 3, 1945 because of the sport's drain on manpower, tires and gasoline that could better be used in the war effort. The ban wasn't lifted until V-E Day, May 8, 1945.

50 years ago
1964

Music
Brian Wilson, leader of the Beach Boys, suffered a nervous breakdown on board a plane shortly after takeoff from Los Angeles as the group was beginning a short tour. The incident led to Mr. Wilson's permanent retirement from touring with the group, spending his time in the studio writing, producing, and recording the songs.

Religion
Anglican, Baptist, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches agreed to share a pavilion at the Expo '67 world's fair in Montreal.

Transportation
British Railways Board chairman Richard Beeching resigned his position to return to his post at Imperial Chemical Industries.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Todo El Tiempo Del Mundo--Manolo Otero

Music
Child of Winter (Christmas Song) by the Beach Boys was released as a single on Brother/Reprise Records. The B-side was Susie Cincinnati, which had previously been released in 1970 as the B-side of Add Some Music to Your Day. The late recording (November 18, 1974) and release dates for Child of Winter (Christmas Song) all but guaranteed that the record would not be commercially successful. It failed to chart, and was unheard by most Beach Boys fans until its appearance on the album Ultimate Christmas (1998).

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in France (SNEP): I Just Called to Say I Love You--Stevie Wonder (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: When the Rain Begins to Fall--Jermaine Jackson and Pia Zadora (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Joan Lindsay, 88. Australian writer and artist. Mrs. Lindsay wrote fiction and non-fiction in various genres, and was best known for her novel Picnic at Hanging Rock (1967). She painted in her later years, and died of stomach cancer.

Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
New York Giants 16 @ Los Angeles Rams 13

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Lambada--Kaoma (13th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Lily was Here--David A. Stewart and Candy Dulfer (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Hélène--Roch Voisine (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Do They Know it's Christmas?--Band Aid II

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
2 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
3 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
4 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson
5 With Every Beat of My Heart--Taylor Dayne
6 Back to Life--Soul II Soul
7 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
8 Just Like Jesse James--Cher
9 This One's for the Children--New Kids on the Block
10 Living in Sin--Bon Jovi

Singles entering the chart were Price of Love by Bad English (#68); Here and Now by Luther Vandross (#78); Room by the B-52s (#88); Too Hot by Loverboy (#90); and Right and Hype by Abstrac' (#93).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)
2 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
3 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
4 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson
5 With Every Beat of My Heart--Taylor Dayne
6 Back to Life--Soul II Soul
7 Just Like Jesse James--Cher
8 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
9 Living in Sin--Bon Jovi
10 (It's Just) The Way that You Love Me--Paula Abdul

Singles entering the chart were Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair) (#70); Price of Love by Bad English (#72); Everything You Do (You’re Sexing Me) by Fiona with Kip Winger (#80); Going Home by Kenny G (#82); I Will Survive by Safire (#85); Roam by the B-52's (#88); Foolish Heart by Sharon Bryant (#90); and A Girl Like You by the Smithereens (#92).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)
2 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
3 Blame it on the Rain--Milli Vanilli
4 Angelia--Richard Marx
5 The Last Worthless Evening--Don Henley
6 When I See You Smile--Bad English
7 With Every Beat of My Heart--Taylor Dayne
8 Leave a Light On--Belinda Carlisle
9 Love Shack--The B-52's
10 Rock and a Hard Place--Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were Expedition Sailor by Kim Mitchell (#80); Principal's Office by Young M.C. (#82); Move to Move by Kon Kan (#84); Here is Christmas by Ann and Nancy Wilson (#86); Dangerous by Roxette (#88); So Far Away by Mystery Romance (#90); and Hide Your Heart by Kiss (#92).

War
The U.S. Defense Department announced that secret radar-evading F-117A Stealth bombers had been used in combat for the first time in Panama, and had dropped two bombs near a barracks.

Football
NFL
Buffalo (9-7) 37 @ New York Jets (4-12) 0
Washington (10-6) 29 @ Seattle (7-9) 0

Only 21,148 fans were in attendance at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey to see the Bills rout the Jets.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Old Pop in an Oak--Rednex (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Stay Another Day--East 17 (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Sebastian Shaw, 89. U.K. actor. Mr. Shaw appeared in numerous plays, films, and television programs in a career spanning 65 years. His movies included The Squeaker (1937); The Spy in Black (1939); and Return of the Jedi (1983).

10 years ago
2004

Died on this date
P. V. Narasimha Rao, 83. Prime Minister of India, 1991-1996. Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao, a member of the Indian National Congress Party, was Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (1971-1973) and sat in the Lok Sabha (1977-1997), holding several cabinet posts, including Minister of External Affairs (1980-1984, 1988-1989, 1992-1994) and Minister of Defence (1984-1985, 1993-1996). He was the first Prime Minister from South India, and became known as the "Father of Indian Economic Reform," adopting free-market policies in contrast to the mixed economic policies of his predecessors. The Indian National Congress Party was defeated in the 1996 general election; Mr. Rao was forced to resign as party president. He was convicted of corruption in 2000, but was acquitted on appeal in 2002. Mr. Rao died two weeks after suffering a heart attack.

Scandal
Former Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland pled guilty to a corruption charge. He served 10 months in prison.