January 1, 2015

500 years ago
1515

Died on this date
Louis XII, 52. King of France, 1498-1515; King of Naples, 1501-1504. Louis XII, the son of Charles, Duke of Orléans, and Maria of Cleves, succeeded his cousin King Charles VIII, who died without a closer heir in 1498. He conquered the Duchy of Milan in 1500 and the Kingdom of Naples in 1501, serving as king there until he was forced to cede Naples to Spain in 1504. Louis XII died without leaving a male heir and was succeeded by his cousin Francis I from the Angoulême cadet branch of the House of Valois.

160 years ago
1855

Canadiana
Ottawa was incorporated as a city.

130 years ago
1885

World events
Sanford Fleming's proposal for Standard Time and time zones was put into effect by 25 nations.

125 years ago
1890

Africana
Eritrea was consolidated into a colony by the Italian government.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
J. Edgar Hoover. U.S. law enforcement official. John Edgar Hoover joined the U.S. Bureau of Investigation in 1919, and became its Director in 1924; the agency was renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1935. Under Mr. Hoover's leadership, the FBI modernized crime-fighting, creating a forensic laboratory and compiling a large centralized fingerprint database. However, Mr. Hoover was criticized for abusing his power, including the use of illegal methods to obtain evidence, and harassing individuals and groups he opposed. Mr. Hoover was still directing the FBI at the time of his death from a heart attack on May 2, 1972 at the age of 77.

110 years ago
1905

War
In the Russo-Japanese War, Fort Sungshu, the sole surviving major fortress at the Russian naval base at Port Arthur, Manchuria, surrendered after a series of mines were exploded under the fortress.

Communications
The city of Edmonton established Edmonton Telephones.

100 years ago
1915

Literature
The January 1915 issue of The Strand Magazine contained the fifth segment of The Valley of Fear, the fourth and last Sherlock Holmes novel by A. Conan Doyle.
In this issue: Part I: The Tragedy of Birlstone: Chapter VII. The Solution (continued); Part II: The Scowrers: Chapter I. The Man.

Americana
The Panama-California Exposition opened in City Park in San Diego. The exposition celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal, and was meant to tout San Diego as the first U.S. port of call for ships traveling north after passing westward through the canal.

90 years ago
1925

Football
NCAA
Rose Bowl
Notre Dame 27 Stanford 10

80 years ago
1935

Football
NCAA
Orange Bowl
Bucknell 26 U. of Miami 0

Sugar Bowl
Tulane 20 Temple 14

Sun Bowl
El Paso All-Stars 25 Ranger (Texas) 21

These were the first Sugar Bowl and Sun Bowl games ever played.

Rose Bowl
Alabama 29 Stanford 13

75 years ago
1940

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

Died on this date
William A. Ashbrook, 72. U.S. politician. Mr. Ashbrook founded the newspaper The Johnstown (Ohio) Independent in 1884. A Democrat, he represented Licking County in the Ohio House of Representatives (1906-1907), and represented Ohio's 17th District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1907-1921, 1935-1940). Mr. Ashbrook's son John, a Republican, held the same seat from 1961-1982, and also died in office.

War
Canada's National Defence Department announced that the Canadian Army's 1st Division had arrived in Britain, as King George VI signed a proclamation providing for the military conscription of all British males aged 19-28. Soviet planes bombed Jyvaskyla, Finland. Japanese troops advanced in the southern Chinese province of Kwangtung.

Diplomacy
Vladimir Sokolina was dismissed as under-secretary general of the League of Nations after he refused to resign as instructed by the Soviet government.

Politics and government
Yellowknife enacted the first municipal government in the Northwest Territories.

Economics and finance
Dutch fiscal authorities forecast an increase in the world's gold flow to the United States because of World War II.

In his annual report, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Henry Wallace said that World War II would hinder rather than help American farmers.

Disasters
Nearly 60 towns and villages were washed away as floods spread across Turkey from the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea.

Football
NCAA
Orange Bowl
Georgia Tech 21 Missouri 7

Cotton Bowl
Clemson 6 Boston College 3

Sun Bowl
Arizona State 0 Catholic 0

Sugar Bowl
Texas A&M 14 Tulane 13

Rose Bowl
Ohio State 17 California 14

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Don't Fence Me In--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
2 The Trolley Song--The Pied Pipers
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Judy Garland
3 I'm Making Believe--The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald
4 Dance with a Dolly (With A Hole In Her Stockin’)--Russ Morgan and his Orchestra
--Evelyn Knight with Camarata and his Orchestra
--Tony Pastor and his Orchestra
5 I Dream of You (More than You Dream I Do)--Andy Russell
--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
6 There Goes that Song Again--Russ Morgan and his Orchestra
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
7 Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby)--Bing Crosby
--Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra
8 I'll Walk Alone--Dinah Shore
--Martha Tilton
--Mary Martin
9 Together--Helen Forrest and Dick Haymes
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
10 The Very Thought of You--Ray Noble and his Orchestra
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were the version of I Dream of You by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra; the version of Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby) by Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra; Evelina by Bing Crosby (#21); I Promise You by Jo Stafford (#22); Corns for My Country by the Andrews Sisters (#23); How Deep is the Ocean by Benny Goodman and his Orchestra (#30); Twilight Time by the Three Suns (#31); and Sweet Dreams, Sweetheart, with versions by Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra; and Stan Kenton and his Orchestra (#45). The version of Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby) by Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra was the other side of Let Me Love You Tonight (No Te Importe Saber), charting at #19. Corns for My Country was the other side of I'm in a Jam (With Baby), charting at #44. Twilight Time was the other side of How Many Hearts Have You Broken, charting at #36. The version of Sweet Dreams, Sweetheart by Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra was the other side of Moon on My Pillow, charting at #35.

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot

Abominations
In retaliation for the Malmedy massacre, U.S. troops massacred 30 German S.S. prisoners at Chenogne.

War
German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler told the German people in a radio broadcast that World War II would not end until 1946 unless "by German victory," because Germany would never capitulate. The German Luftwaffe launched Operation Bodenplatte, a large but failed attempt to knock out Allied air power in northern Europe in a single blow; they reportedly lost 208 planes in attacks upon Allied positions in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. After taking another 200 blocks on both sides of the Danube River, Soviet troops claimed to control about 35 square miles of Budapest. U.S. forces in the Philippines landed unopposed on the east coast of Mindoro Island.

Diplomacy
France became a member of the United Nations.

U.S. Secretary of State Edward Stettinius announced that the United States would continue to recognize the Polish government-in-exile in London.

Economics and finance
U.S. Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion Director James F. Byrnes suggested legislation to increase the authority of the War Mobilization Commission and the National War Labor Board so that decisions could be enforced without making property seizures by the military necessary.

Football
NCAA
Orange Bowl
Tulsa 26 Georgia Tech 12

Sugar Bowl
Duke 29 Alabama 26

Cotton Bowl
Oklahoma A & M 34 Texas Christian 0

Rose Bowl
Southern California 25 Tennessee 0

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Skokiaan--The Four Lads

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Mr. Sandman--The Chordettes (Best Seller--5th week at #1; Jukebox--3rd week at #1); Let Me Go Lover--Joan Weber (Disc Jockey--1st week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Mr. Sandman--The Chordettes (4th week at #1)
--The Four Aces
2 Let Me Go Lover--Joan Weber
--[Teresa Brewer with the Lancers]
3 I Need You Now--Eddie Fisher
4 Papa Loves Mambo--Perry Como
5 The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane--The Ames Brothers
--Archie Bleyer
6 Teach Me Tonight--The DeCastro Sisters
7 Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)--Eddie Fisher
8 This Ole House--Rosemary Clooney
9 Shake, Rattle and Roll--Bill Haley and his Comets
10 Hey There--Rosemary Clooney
--Sammy Davis, Jr.

No new singles entered the chart. Let Me Go, Lover! by Teresa Brewer with the Lancers was mentioned with the version by Joan Weber but was not charted.

Football
NCAA
Orange Bowl
Duke 34 Nebraska 7

Sugar Bowl
Navy 21 Mississippi 0

Cotton Bowl
Georgia Tech 14 Arkansas 6

Rose Bowl
Ohio State 20 Southern Cailifornia 7

50 years ago
1965

At the movies
The Outlaws IS Coming! , the final feature film to star the Three Stooges, opened in theatres.

Politics and government
The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan was founded in Kabul.

Weather
The first World Weather Center, a World Meteorological Organization unit, opened at Suitland, Maryland.

Football
NCAA
Orange Bowl
Texas 21 Alabama 17

Sugar Bowl
Louisiana State 13 Syracuse 10

Cotton Bowl
Arkansas 10 Nebraska 7

Rose Bowl
Michigan 34 Oregon State 7

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: I'm Leaving It (All) Up to You--Donny and Marie Osmond (9th week at #1)

Scandal
Former U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell and former White House aides Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman were convicted of obstruction of justice for their actions related to the June 1972 break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. and the subsequent cover-up.

Football
NCAA
Cotton Bowl
Pennsylvania State 41 Baylor 20

Rose Bowl
Southern California 18 Ohio State 17

Orange Bowl
Notre Dame 13 Alabama 11

J.K. McKay's pass reception for a 2-point convert gave the Trojans their win over the Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl. It was the final game in a USC uniform for star running back Anthony Davis.

30 years ago
1985

Technology
The Internet's Domain Name System was created.

Communications
The first British mobile phone call was made by Ernie Wise to Vodafone.

Football
NCAA
Fiesta Bowl
U of California at Los Angeles 39 U of Miami 37

Cotton Bowl
Boston College 45 Houston 28

Rose Bowl
Southern California 20 Ohio State 17

Orange Bowl
U of Washington 28 Oklahoma 17

Sugar Bowl
Nebraska 28 Louisiana State 10

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Love Shack--The B-52's (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Christmas Eve--Tatsuro Yamashita

Abominations
Salary raises for Canadian Members of Parliament went into effect, with MPs to get a minimum $82,700 per year, plus a $20,000 tax free allowance. The Prime Minister's salary increased to $153,700 per year.

Politics and government
David Dinkins was sworn in as New York City's first Negro mayor.

Football
NCAA
Fiesta Bowl
Florida State 41 Nebraska 17

Cotton Bowl
Tennessee 31 Arkansas 27

Rose Bowl
Southern California 17 Michigan 10

Orange Bowl
Notre Dame 21 Colorado 6

Sugar Bowl
U of Miami 33 Alabama 25

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: George--Headless Chickens (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Cotton Eye Joe--Rednex (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
E.P. Wigner, 92. Hungarian-born U.S. physicist and mathematician. Dr. Wigner received a share of the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his contributions to the theory of the atomic nucleus and the elementary particles, particularly through the discovery and application of fundamental symmetry principles."

Fred West, 53. U.K. criminal. Mr. West, alone and with his second wfe Rosemary, tortured at least 11 women and young girls in Gloucester, England. He was arrested in 1994 and hanged himself in his cell while on remand at Winson Green Prison in Birmingham.

War
A four-month truce between Bosnia's Muslim-led government and Bosnian Serbs went into effect.

Economics and finance
The World Trade Organization went into effect.

Europeana
Sweden, Austria, and Finland were admitted into the European Union.

Diplomacy
The Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe became the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Science
The Draupner wave in the North Sea in Norway was detected, confirming the existence of freak waves.

Football
NFL
AFC Wild Card Playoff
New England 13 @ Cleveland 20





NFC Wild Card Playoff
Chicago 35 @ Minnesota 18



10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Shirley Chisholm, 80. U.S. politician. Born Shirley St. Hill, Mrs. Chisholm was a Democrat who, in 1968, became the first Negro woman elected to the United States House of Representatives. She represented New York's 12th Congressional District from 1969-1983. In 1972 Mrs. Chisholm sought the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States, becoming the first Negro associated with a major party to seek the U.S. presidency. She received 152 votes on the first ballot at the Democratic National Convention.