January 20, 2015

750 years ago
1265

Politics and government
The first English parliament to include not only nobles but also representatives of the major towns met in the Palace of Westminster, now commonly known as the "Houses of Parliament."

140 years ago
1875

Born on this date
Ernie Courtney. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Courtney was a third baseman with the Boston Beaneaters (1902); Baltimore Orioles (1902); New York Highlanders (1903); Detroit Tigers (1903); and Philadelphia Phillies (1905-1908), batting .245 with 5 home runs and 200 runs batted in in 558 games. He led the National League in games played (155) in 1905. Mr. Courtney played at least 9 seasons in the minor leagues from 1898-1911, and died on February 29, 1920 at the age of 45.

125 years ago
1890

Died on this date
Franz Lachner, 86. German composer and conductor. Mr. Lachner conducted at various concerts and festivals in Munich in the mid-19th century. His compositions, which included eight symphonies, and other orchestral, chamber, and keyboard works, are now largely forgotten.

100 years ago
1915

At the movies
Hypocrites, written, produced, and directed by Lois Weber, and starring Courtenay Foote, Herbert Standing, and Margaret Edwards, opened in theatres.



Born on this date
Ghulam Ishaq Khan. 7th President of Pakistan, 1988-1993. A career bureaucrat, Mr. Ghulam Ishaq served as Pakistan's Defence Secretary (1975-1977), Minister of Finance (1977-1985), and Chairman of the Senate (1985-1988) before succeeding to the presidency upon the death of Zia-ul-Haq. Mr. Ghulam Ishaq resigned as President in 1993 and left public life; he died on October 27, 2006 at the age of 91.

80 years ago
1935

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Case of the Dual Personality

75 years ago
1940

Law
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the federal government could abolish all appeals from Canadian courts to the Privy Council in London.

Diplomacy
The United Kingdom denied that it had violated the 11th Hague Convention by interfering with mail from the United States to Europe in its search for contraband.

In a letter released by the White House, Pope Pius XII expressed little support for U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's peace effort.

Economics and finance
Sweden announced that it would accept $10 million in RFC credit from the U.S.A. for purchase of agricultural products.

Figure skating
Jane Vaugh retained the women's senior title at the United States championship competition in Rye, New York.

70 years ago
1945

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--5th week at #1; Juke Box--6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Hermann Braun, 27. U.S.-born German actor. Mr. Braun appeared in several films during the Nazi era, but his opposition to the regime probably led to his departure from the movie industry. He was drafted into the Wehrmacht and was killed during heavy fighting near Lodz, Poland.

War
The provisional Hungarian government established at Debrecen signed an agreement in Moscow with the Allies providing for unconditional surrender; a declaration of war against Germany; and reparations of $300 million. In a surprise offensive, French troops moved forward from the Vosges Mountains to the Rhine River in the Alsace sector of Mulhouse. Soviet forces took the East Prussian stronghold of Tilsit, as Germany began the evacuation of 1.8 million people from East Prussia, a task which would take nearly two months. The important Philippine communications centre and provincial capital of Tarlac, 65 miles north of Manila, was captured by American forces. U.S. carrier-based planes attacked Formosa, the Pescadores, and the Sakishima Island groups, reportedly destroying 140 enemy aircraft. Chinese troops captured Wanting, eliminating the last enemy resistance along the old land route to India through northern Burma.

Politics and government
Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated into his fourth term as the 32nd President of the United States of America in the smallest such ceremony on record. Harry Truman was inaugurated as Vice President, taking the oath from his predecessor, Henry Wallace, who had been dumped from the 1944 election ticket by President Roosevelt.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated former U.S. Senator Guy Gillette as chairman of the Surplus War Property Administration.

Society
A 24-hour guard was placed on the farm of a Japanese-American in Placer County, California to protect his property against vigilantes.

Track and field
After winning the two-mile run at the Boston YWCA Games, Gil Dodds announced his retirement from track to devote himself to full-time gospel work in Los Angeles.

50 years ago
1965

Died on this date
Alan Freed, 43. U.S. disc jockey. Mr. Freed was working at WJW in Cleveland in 1951 when he began playing rhythm and blues records on his program, The Moondog House. On March 21, 1952, Mr. Freed presented The Moondog Coronation Ball at Cleveland Arena, which has been credited with being the first rock and roll concert. Mr. Freed moved to New York, working at WINS and then WABC. He hosted his own television program and appeared as himself in several movies, all of which featured numerous performances by rock and roll artists. When the payola scandal broke in 1959--record companies paid disc jockeys to play their records--Mr. Freed was the most prominent of those who lost their jobs. He had difficulty holding a steady job after that, and years of heavy smoking and drinking caught up with him and hastened his death, broke and all but forgotten. Mr. Freed was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1986.

Edmontonia
This blogger's family flew the first Canadian maple leaf flag in Edmonton. Although the act creating a new Canadian flag had been passed by Parliament in December 1964, it didn't become effective until February 15, 1965. However, this blogger's father had connections, and was able to obtain a new flag before it became official. The early flags had two more points on the maple leaf than the official version and tended to look more orange than red. The Edmonton Journal, then an afternoon newspaper, published an article about the three different flags (maple leaf, Union Jack, Canadian Red Ensign) flying on the same block. Unfortunately, because the address was published, the flag was stolen that night.

Politics and government
Lyndon Johnson, who had become the 36th President of the United States of America upon the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, was inaugurated into a term in his own right. Hubert Humphrey was inaugurated as Vice President.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): You're My World--Daryl Braithwaite (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Fuyu no Iro--Momoe Yamaguchi (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Todo El Tiempo Del Mundo--Manolo Otero (5th week at #1)

Canadiana
Katherine Eckel, representing Regina, was named Miss Teen Canada 1975. Cathy Park of Yellowknife represented the Northwest Territories at the pageant in Toronto which was televised on CTV.

Society
Police in Edmonton seized the film Emmanuelle (1974) from the Odeon Theatre and charged the theatre's parent company, Odeon Mid-Western Ltd. with exposing obscene material to the public. The movie, which had been approved by the Alberta Film Censorship Board, had been playing at the Odeon for about five weeks, and was showing at the Uptown Two theatre in Calgary six times daily. The seizure took place at 11:20 P.M., at the conclusion of the day's last screening.

Football
NFL
Pro Bowl @ Orange Bowl, Miami
NFC 17 AFC 10

James Harris of the Los Angeles Rams completed 2 touchdown passes in a span of 1 minute 24 seconds early in the 4th quarter as the National Football Conference, trailing 10-3 after 3 quarters, came back to defeat the American Football Conference before 26,484 fans. The NFC led 3-0 at halftime on a 33-yard field goal by Chester Marcol of the Green Bay Packers, but the AFC took the lead in the 3rd quarter on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Miami Dolphins' quarterback Bob Griese to teammate Paul Warfield. Roy Gerela of the Pittsburgh Steelers converted and added a 33-yard field goal. Mr. Harris's first touchdown pass was an 8-yard strike to Mel Gray of the St. Louis Cardinals at 2:03 of the 4th quarter, converted by Mr. Marcol. On the subsequent possession, Pittsburgh running back Franco Harris fumbled, and Washington Redskins' defensive halfback Ken Houston recovered. Mr. Harris then passed 8 yards for the touchdown to Charlie Taylor of the Redskins; Mr. Marcol converted. Mr. Harris was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Do They Know it's Christmas?--Band Aid

#1 single in France (SNEP): Ghostbusters--Ray Parker, Jr.

#1 single in Switzerland: One Night in Bangkok--Murray Head

On the radio
The Stories of Sherlock Holmes, starring Graham Armitage and Kerry Jordan, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: Lizard Point

Politics and government
Ronald Reagan began his second term as 40th President of the United States of America, with George Bush beginninghis second term as Vice President. Because it was a Sunday, Mr. Reagan took the oath of office in private. The public ceremony took place the next day.

Television
This year’s Super Bowl telecast marked the first time that television commercials ran for a million dollars per minute. It was the first Super Bowl to be televised on ABC: Frank Gifford called the play-by-play--the only time he did so for a Super Bowl--and Don Meredith, in his last game as a broadcaster, provided colour commentary along with Washington Redskins’ quarterback Joe Theismann.

Football
NFL
Super Bowl XIX @ Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California
San Francisco 38 Miami 16

San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana completed 24 of 35 passes for 331 yards and 3 touchdowns, and rushed 5 times for 59 yards and a touchdown to earn the nod as the game’s Most Valuable Player (see video). Roger Craig caught 2 of Mr. Montana’s touchdown passes, with the other going to Carl Monroe. Mr. Craig also rushed for a touchdown, becoming the first player ever to score 3 touchdowns in a Super Bowl. He finished with 58 yards rushing and 77 yards receiving. Ray Wersching kicked 5 converts and a field goal for the 49ers. Miami quarterback Dan Marino completed 29 of 50 passes for 318 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions; his touchdown pass was a 2-yard completion to Dan Johnson in the first quarter. Uwe von Schamann converted and added 3 field goals to complete the Dolphins’ scoring. Most of the action came in the first half, as the 49ers built up a 28-16 lead. 84,059 were in attendance at Stanford Stadium.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Love Shack--The B-52's (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Lambada--Kaoma (17th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Hélène--Roch Voisine (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Hangin' Tough--New Kids on the Block (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield (3rd week at #1)
2 Homely Girl--UB40
3 Eleni--Cees Tol & Thomas Tol
4 Got to Get--Rob 'n' Raz featuring Leila K
5 Me So Horny--The 2 Live Crew
6 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville
7 Get a Life--Soul II Soul
8 Dançando Lambada--Kaoma
9 Words--The Christians
10 Lily was Here--David A. Stewart and featuring Candy Dulfer

Singles entering the chart were All or Nothing (The U.S. Remix) by Milli Vanilli (#22); Follow My Rainbow by Sheena Easton (#25); Get Into It by Tony Scott (#26); Whatcha Gonna Do with My Lovin' by Inner City (#29); Do What You Want by 2 in a Room (#31); and Prayer for You by Texas (#33).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton
2 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
3 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
4 Everything--Jody Watley
5 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart
6 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson
7 Just Between You and Me--Lou Gramm
8 Free Fallin'--Tom Petty
9 Two to Make it Right--Seduction
10 Love Song--Tesla

Singles entering the chart were Escapade by Janet Jackson (#37); Too Late to Say Goodbye by Richard Marx (#49); Just a Friend by Biz Markle (#71); The Deeper the Love by Whitesnake (#77); Whole Wide World by A'me Lorain (#79); Anything I Want by Kevin Paige (#82); Summer Rain by Belinda Carlisle (#86); House of Fire by Alice Cooper (#87); and Real Love by Skyy (#88). Whole Wide World was from the movie True Love (1989).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
2 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
3 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
4 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson
5 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton
6 Just Like Jesse James--Cher
7 Just Between You and Me--Lou Gramm
8 With Every Beat of My Heart--Taylor Dayne
9 This One's for the Children--New Kids on the Block
10 Everything--Jody Watley

Singles entering the chart were Too Late to Say Goodbye by Richard Marx (#49); Escapade by Janet Jackson (#54); I Go to Extremes by Billy Joel (#59); Wait for You by Bonham (#66); Here and Now by Luther Vandross (#70); No Myth by Michael Penn (#73); Summer Rain by Belinda Carlisle (#76); Never 2 Much of You by Dino (#77); and The Deeper the Love by Whitesnake (#86).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (6th week at #1)
2 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart
3 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
4 Just Between You and Me--Lou Gramm
5 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
6 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson
7 With Every Beat of My Heart--Taylor Dayne
8 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
9 Blame it on the Rain--Milli Vanilli
10 Free Fallin'--Tom Petty

Singles entering the chart were Chippin' Away by Crosby, Stills & Nash (#69); Price of Love by Bad English (#71); Bad Love by Eric Clapton (#73); Tell Me Why by Expose (#76); Too Late to Say Goodbye by Richard Marx (#79); Love Song by Tesla (#83); Escapade by Janet Jackson (#86); Roam by the B-52's (#88); I Go to Extremes by Billy Joel (#90); and Wherever You Run by Regatta (#92).

Died on this date
Barbara Stanwyck, 82. U.S. actress. Miss Stanwyck, born Ruby Stevens, was a major movie star from the 1930s through the 1950s, with her most notable films coming in the 1940s. Her films included Golden Boy (1939); The Lady Eve (1941); Ball of Fire (1941); Meet John Doe (1941); Double Indemnity (1944); Christmas in Connecticut (1945); The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946); and Sorry, Wrong Number (1948). Miss Stanwyck turned to television in the 1960s, and starred in the Western series The Big Valley (1965-1969).

War
Soviet troops, led by tanks, forced their way into Baku, the capital of the dissident republic of Azerbaijan, following seven days of pogroms against the local Armenian population.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Stay Another Day--East 17 (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Think Twice--Celine Dion

Diplomacy
The U.S. administration of President Bill Clinton announced that it would ease the trade embargo against North Korea that had been in effect since the Korean War in the early 1950s. The two countries had agreed in 1994 that North Korea would end its nuclear development program in return for American oversight of construction of two lightweight nuclear reactors, from which it was difficult to extract weapons-grade plutonium. The U.S. would also put together a $4-billion package of aid to pay for the reactors, to be used to generate electricity. The U.S. also said that American visitors to N.K. could use credit cards. Telephone calls between the countries would be allowed; each country could open news bureaus in the other; and the U.S. would accept imports from North Korea of magnesite, a mineral used in steel production.

Crime
Roger Warren was convicted of second-degree murder for planting a bomb inside Giant gold mine in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in 1992, which killed nine men when it exploded.

Hockey
NHL
Nine days after the National Hockey League Players Association had decided to accept the final offer from club owners, the NHL regular season began after a five-month lockout. The 1994-95 season consisted of a revised 48-game schedule instead of the usual 82.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Per Borten, 91. Prime Minister of Norway, 1965-1971. Mr. Borten was credited with leading the Bondepartiet (Agrarian Party) into what is now the Centre Party. As Prime Minister, he led a four-party coalition.

Politics and government
George W. Bush was inaugurated into his second term as the 43rd President of the United States of America, with Dick Cheney beginning his second term as Vice President.

Protest
Labour unions and businesses in Belize called for a two-day nationwide strike in protest against large tax increases in the budget announced on January 14 by the government of Prime Minister Said Musa. Water service for much of the country was turned off as a result of employees not showing up for work.