December 4, 2014

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Marina Kosan!

800 years ago
1214

Died on this date
William I "The Lion," 71. King of the Scots, 1165-1214. William I succeeded his brother Malcolm IV. William I died four days short of 49 years on the throne and was succeeded by his son Alexander II.

175 years ago
1839

Born on this date
Ezekiel Stone Wiggins. Canadian educator and weather forecaster. Mr. Wiggins, a native of Grand Lake, New Brunswick, moved to Ontario, and became known as the "Ottawa Prophet." He was a school principal, amateur historian, and cryptozoologist, but was best known for predicting weather disasters, basing his predictions on his belief that severe weather events were caused by planetary attraction. Mr. Wiggins accurately predicted some storms and earthquakes, but he received criticism in March 1883 when a severe hurricane and tidal wave that he predicted turned out to be less severe than his forecast. He sparked a panic in late September 1886 when he predicted a major disaster for North America for September 29; an earthquake struck Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania and the volcano Colima erupted in Mexico, but it fell short of Mr. Wiggins' forecast of the "greatest blow of the century." Mr. Wiggins continued to predict major weather events until his death in Ottawa on August 14, 1910 at the age of 70.

Politics and government
The U.S. Whig National Convention opened in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of selecting the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 1840 election.

130 years ago
1884

Died on this date
Alice Mary Smith, 45. U.K. composer. Miss Smith wrote two symphonies, two large works for stage, a clarinet sonata, and numerous chamber works. She died of typhoid fever.

Politics and government
Calgary's Town Council held its first meeting ever in Boynton Hall. Mayor George Murdock and aldermen S.J. Clarke, N.J. Lindsay, J.H. Milward and S.J. Hogg passed several motions: adopting railway time; approving a design for a Corporation Seal; and petitioning the Northwest Territories government for power to issue licenses and retain the proceeds.

100 years ago
1914

Hockey
The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association was founded in Ottawa with a mandate to promote hockey, and an amateur code. W.F. Taylor of Winnipeg was named the founding president.

75 years ago
1939

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: Charles Augustus Milverton

War
The British Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson was struck by a mine (laid by German submarine U-31) off the Scottish coast, and was laid up for repairs until August 1940.

70 years ago
1944

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Dance with a Dolly (With a Hole in Her Stocking)--Russ Morgan and his Orchestra
--Evelyn Knight with Camarata and his Orchestra
--Tony Pastor and his Orchestra
2 I'll Walk Alone--Dinah Shore
--Martha Tilton
--Mary Martin
3 The Trolley Song--The Pied Pipers
4 Together--Helen Forrest and Dick Haymes
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
5 You Always Hurt the One You Love--The Mills Brothers
6 I'm Making Believe--The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald
7 It Had to Be You--Dick Haymes and Helen Forrest
--Betty Hutton
--Artie Shaw and his Orchestra
8 Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby)--Bing Crosby
9 Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall--The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald
10 Is You is or is You Ain't (Ma' Baby)--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
--Louis Jordan and the Tympany Five

The only single entering the chart was Don't Fence Me In by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters (#25).

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

CJEM went on the air in Edmundston, New Brunswick at 1240 on the AM dial, becoming Canada's first French-speaking station outside Quebec.

Died on this date
Roger Bresnahan, 65. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Bresnahan played with the Washington Senators (1897); Chicago Orphans (1900); Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902); New York Giants (1902-1908); St. Louis Cardinals (1909-1912); and Chicago Cubs (1913-1915), batting .279 with 26 home runs and 530 runs batted in in 1,446 games. He was a pitcher and outfielder before becoming a catcher, where he pioneered the use of shin guards and batting helmets. He died of a heart attack, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945.

War
The 1st Canadian Infantry Division reached the Moro River in Italy after taking control of the bridgehead on the Sangro River. U.S. armoured and infantry divisions in Germany began drives toward Saarbrucken and Saareguemines.

Civil war broke out in Greece between members of the EAM (National Liberation Front) and government troops. Martial law was imposed.

Politics and government
Chinese Foreign Minister T.V. Soong assumed duties as Chinese Premier, paving the way for an agreement with the Communists.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Joseph Grew as Undersecretary of State.

Transportation
The U.S. Railroad Express Agency suspended acceptance of express shipments for 12 states and 13 cities as a wartime measure.

60 years ago
1954

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Sh-Boom--The Crew-Cuts

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Mr. Sandman--The Chordettes (Best Seller--1st week at #1; Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1); I Need You Now--Eddie Fisher (Jukebox--1st week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Mr. Sandman--The Chordettes
2 Papa Loves Mambo--Perry Como
3 I Need You Now--Eddie Fisher
4 Hey There--Rosemary Clooney
--Sammy Davis, Jr.
5 Teach Me Tonight--The DeCastro Sisters
6 This Ole House--Rosemary Clooney
7 Shake, Rattle and Roll--Bill Haley and his Comets
8 If I Give My Heart to You--Doris Day
--Denise Lor
--Connee Boswell
9 Hold My Hand--Don Cornell
10 Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)--Eddie Fisher

Singles entering the chart were Let Me Go Lover by Joan Weber (#13); The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane by Archie Bleyer (#14, charting with the version by the Ames Brothers); When We Come of Age by Joni James (#25); Hearts of Stone by the Fontane Sisters (#28); My Own True Love (Tara’s Theme) by Johnny Desmond (#37, charting with the version by LeRoy Holmes and his Orchestra; Funny Thing by Tony Bennett (#38); In the Beginning by Frankie Laine (#39); Song of The Barefoot Contessa by Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra (#40); and Ling, Ting, Tong by the Five Keys (#41). Let Me Go Lover was the title song from the episode of the television anthology series Studio One that aired on November 15, 1954. Song of The Barefoot Contessa was a version of the title theme from the movie.

Died on this date
George Shepherd, 1st Baron Shepherd, 73. U.K. politician. Mr. Shepherd was a Labour Party functionary before being elevated to the House of Lords in 1946 as Baron Shepherd of Spalding. He was Lord-in-Waiting (Government Whip (1946-1949); Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Lords (July-October 1949); and Chief Whip of the House of Lords from October 1949 until his death.

Popular culture
The first Burger King restaurant opened in Miami, Florida.

50 years ago
1964

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Candy Store--Dickie Rock (6th week at #1)

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 I Feel Fine--The Beatles
2 Leader of the Pack--The Shangri-Las
3 Slaughter on Tenth Avenue--The Ventures
4 Run, Run, Run--The Gestures
5 Alone and Lonely--Bobby Curtola
6 Mr. Lonely--Bobby Vinton
7 She's Not There--The Zombies
8 Mountain of Love--Johnny Rivers
9 I'm Into Something Good--Herman's Hermits
10 Anyway You Want It--Dave Clark Five
Pick hit of the week: Boom Boom--The Animals
New this week: Lovely, Lovely (Loverly, Loverly)--Chubby Checker
So Many Other Boys--The Esquires
Big Brother--Dickey Lee
Here Comes Santa Claus--Ace Cannon
Is it Because--The Honeycombs
Dear Heart--Andy Williams

Music
The album Beatles for Sale by the Beatles was released in the United Kingdom on Parlophone Records.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: I'm Leaving It (All) Up to You--Donny and Marie Osmond (5th week at #1)

Diplomacy
Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau visited Washington for talks with U.S. President Gerald Ford.

30 years ago
1984

Died on this date
Jack Mercer, 74. U.S. actor. Mr. Mercer provided the voices of various cartoon characters, most notably Popeye from 1935 through the 1970s.

Abominations
Sri Lankan Army soldiers killed 107-150 civilians in Mannar.

Terrorism
Hezbollah members hijacked a Kuwait Airlines plane, killing four passengers.

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): If I Could Turn Back Time--Cher (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): That's What I Like--Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers

Defense
U.S. President George Bush met with NATO leaders in Brussels and reported on his summit with U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev. Mr. Bush pledged a continued U.S. military presence in Europe, and discussed the question of German reunification.

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Baby Come Back--Pato Banton featuring Ali and Robin Campbell (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Cotton Eye Joe--Rednex (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Cotton Eye Joe--Rednex (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Stay Another Day--East 17