January 25, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Zlata Antunovich!

500 years ago
1515

Franciana
King Francis I was crowned in the Cathedral of Reims.

125 years ago
1890

Adventure
Nellie Bly, a reporter for the New York World, bested Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days by completing her circumnavigation in 72 days.

110 years ago
1905

Politics and government
The Conservative Party, led by James Whitney, defeated the Liberal government of Premier George William Ross in the Ontario provincial election. The Conservatives elected 69 Members of the Provincial Parliament to 28 for the Liberals and 1 Liberal independent. The Liberals entered the campaign with 50 seats to 48 for the Conservatives.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Ewan MacColl. U.K. musician. Mr. MacColl, born James Henry Miller, was a Communist playwright and singer-songwriter who was best known for writing the songs The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Dirty Old Town. He died on October 22, 1989 at the age of 74.

Communications
Thomas Watson, who had been on the receiving end when Alexander Graham Bell had made the world's first telephone call in 1876, was at 333 Grant Avenue in San Francisco to receive the first transcontinental telephone call in the United States, placed by Mr. Bell from the Telephone Building at 15 Dey Street in New York City. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and the mayors of both cities were also involved in the call.

75 years ago
1940

War
German planes bombed the Shetland Islands.

Politics and government
Canadian Governor General Lord Tweedsmuir granted Prime Minister Mackenzie King's request for a dissolution of Parliament.

Protest
Indian activist Mohandas Gandhi began a 24-hour fast in Bombay to draw attention to demands for Indian independence from Britain.

Economics and finance
The United States government banned shipments of packages to belligerent countries without an affidavit that the material was being transferred to foreign ownership.

70 years ago
1945

Died on this date
Konstantin Umansky, 42. U.S.S.R. diplomat. Mr. Umansky was the Soviet Ambassador to the United States from 1939-1941, Ambassador to Mexico from 1943-1945, and Ambassador to Costa Rica from 1944-1945, concurrent with his posting to Mexico. He was to fly to Costa Rica to present his diplomatic credentials, but the plane on which he was a passenger crashed on takeoff outside Mexico City, killing Mr. Umansky, his wife Raisa, and three embassy officials.

War
A survey by U.S. Selective Service revealed that 40.3% of men aged 28 called for the draft were rejected as physically unfit. German forces in France increased their threat to Strasbourg with a 2,000-yard advance in the Hagenau Forest and a crossing of the Moder River. British forces took Linne, Putbrock, and Kirchhoven, while U.S. troops captured Wallerode, Medel, Ambleve, and Mirfeld. Soviet forces in East Prussia advanced to within 4 miles of Posen and cut the Germans' escape corridor to 11 miles. U.S. forces in the Philippines commanded by General Douglas MacArthur captured the Clark Field airstrips and nearby Fort Stotsenburg and Luzon.

Economics and finance
The Association of American Railroads ordered a 72-hour freight embargo effective January 27, 1945 on everything but war material.

60 years ago
1955

War
The U.S.S.R. ended its state of war with Germany.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Vamos A La Cama--La Familia Telerín

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Hucklebuck--Brendan Bowyer (2nd week at #1)

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'--The Righteous Brothers
2 Downtown--Petula Clark
3 I'll Be There--Gerry and the Pacemakers
4 Amen--The Impressions
5 If You Don't Want My Love--Jack London
6 Bucket "T"--Ronny and the Daytonas
7 This Diamond Ring--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
8 It's Alright--Adam Faith
9 Love Potion No. 9--The Searchers
10 The Name Game--Shirley Ellis

Singles entering the chart were Tell Her No by the Zombies (#25); Somewhere by P.J. Proby (#29); Promised Land by Chuck Berry (#30); No Arms Can Ever Hold You by the Bachelors (#32); I Go to Pieces by Peter and Gordon (#33); Look of Love by Lesley Gore (#34); He's My Guy by Irma Thomas (#35); Till We Kissed by Chad Allan and the Expressions (Guess Who?) (#36); I Can't Stop by the Honeycombs (#37); Six Boys by J. Frank Wilson (#38); Heart of Stone by the Rolling Stones (#39); and The Crusher by the Novas (#40). Till We Kissed was the B-side of Shakin' All Over.

Religion
Archbishop Maurice Roy of Quebec was appointed a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): E la vita, la vita--Cochi e Renato (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): I Can Help--Billy Swan (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Ms Grace--The Tymes

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
2 Mandy--Barry Manilow
3 Laughter in the Rain--Neil Sedaka
4 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
5 You're No Good--Linda Ronstadt
6 Morning Side of the Mountain--Donny and Marie Osmond
7 One Man Woman/One Woman Man--Paul Anka with Odia Coates
8 Never Can Say Goodbye--Gloria Gaynor
9 Pick Up the Pieces--Average White Band
10 Fire--Ohio Players

Singles entering the chart were Roll on Down the Highway by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (#55); Have You Never Been Mellow by Olivia Newton-John (#73); My Boy by Elvis Presley (#74); Changes by Loggins & Messina (#80); I Fought the Law by Sam Neely (#89); Star on a TV Show by the Stylistics (#93); Lovin' You by Minnie Riperton (#95); I'll Still Love You by Jim Weatherly (#96); Supernatural Thing--Part I by Ben E. King (#97); Isn't it Lonely Together by Stark and O'Brien (#98); and If Loving You is Wrong I Don't Want to Be Right by Millie Jackson (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John (3rd week at #1)
2 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
3 Angie Baby--Helen Reddy
4 Laughter in the Rain--Neil Sedaka
5 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas
6 One Man Woman/One Woman Man--Paul Anka with Odia Coates
7 You're the First, the Last, My Everything--Barry White
8 Mandy--Barry Manilow
9 Bungle in the Jungle--Jethro Tull
10 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk

Singles entering the chart were Ms. Grace by the Tymes (#94); Do You Dream of Being Somebody by Murray McLauchlan (#97); Lady by Styx (#98); Don't Take Your Love from Me by the Manhattans (#99); and Missing You by Robbie Lane (#100).

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CFRW)
1 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
2 Mandy--Barry Manilow
3 Junior's Farm--Paul McCartney & Wings
4 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John
5 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas
6 Changes--David Bowie
7 One Man Woman/One Woman Man--Paul Anka with Odia Coates
8 Morning Side of the Mountain--Donny and Marie Osmond
9 Dream On--The Righteous Brothers
10 Only You--Ringo Starr
11 Bungle in the Jungle--Jethro Tull
12 You're the First, the Last, My Everything--Barry White
13 When Will I See You Again--The Three Degrees
14 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk
15 Laughter in the Rain--Neil Sedaka
16 Never Can Say Goodbye--Gloria Gaynor
17 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
18 Fairytale--The Pointer Sisters
19 Angie Baby--Helen Reddy
20 Doctor's Orders--Carol Douglas
21 Lonely People--America
22 Have You Never Been Mellow--Olivia Newton-John
23 You're No Good--Linda Ronstadt
24 I Can Help--Billy Swan
25 Cat's in the Cradle--Harry Chapin
26 You Beat Me to the Punch--Charity Brown
27 Sally G--Paul McCartney & Wings
28 Black Water--The Doobie Brothers
29 Get Dancin'--Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes
30 Roll on Down the Highway--Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CKRC)
1 Mandy--Barry Manilow (2nd week at #1)
2 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
3 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John
4 Morning Side of the Mountain--Donny and Marie Osmond
5 Bungle in the Jungle--Jethro Tull
6 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas
7 One Man Woman/One Woman Man--Paul Anka with Odia Coates
8 Never Can Say Goodbye--Gloria Gaynor
9 You're the First, the Last, My Everything--Barry White
10 You're No Good--Linda Ronstadt
11 Laughter in the Rain--Neil Sedaka
12 Cat's in the Cradle--Harry Chapin
13 Junior's Farm--Paul McCartney & Wings
14 My Eyes Adored You--Frankie Valli
15 You Beat Me to the Punch--Charity Brown
16 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk
17 Angie Baby--Helen Reddy
18 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
19 Doctor's Orders--Carol Douglas
20 Roll on Down the Highway--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
21 Dancin' Fool--The Guess Who
22 Best of My Love--The Eagles
23 Lady--Styx
24 Lady Ellen--James Leroy
25 Black Water--The Doobie Brothers
26 When Will I See You Again--The Three Degrees
27 Only You--Ringo Starr
28 Pick Up the Pieces--AWB
29 Sweet Surrender--John Denver
30 Mother Earth--Ian Thomas

Calgary's Top 10
1 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John
2 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
3 Bungle in the Jungle--Jethro Tull
4 Mandy--Barry Manilow
5 Ride 'Em Cowboy--Paul Davis
6 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
7 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas
8 I Can Help--Billy Swan
9 Promised Land--Elvis Presley
10 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk
Pick hit of the week: Look In My Eyes Pretty Woman--Tony Orlando and Dawn

Died on this date
Charlotte Whitton, 78. Canadian politician. Miss Whitton was the first woman to be a mayor of a major city in Canada, serving as Mayor of Ottawa from 1951-1956 and 1961-1964. She was known for her keen wit and her support of Canadian traditions.

Hockey
NHL
Buffalo 7 @ Montreal 6

Rene Robert, Jim Lorentz, and Peter McNab each scored twice for the Sabres as they outlasted the Canadiens before 17,689 fans at the Montreal Forum in the national Hockey Night in Canada broadcast. Rick Dudley scored the other Buffalo goal. Yvon Lambert and Pete Mahovlich each scored twice for Montreal, with Serge Savard and Yvan Cournoyer also scoring. The Sabres outshot the Canadiens 49-27; Bunny Larocque was in goal for Montreal, while Gary Bromley and Rocky Farr split the goaltending chores for Buffalo, with Mr. Farr playing just 13 seconds.

WHA
The Baltimore Blades, playing their first game since relocating from Detroit and changing their name from the Michigan Stags, lost 2-1 to the Cleveland Crusaders before 6,984 fans at Cleveland Arena. Bill Evo opened the scoring for Baltimore in the 1st period, but Rich Leduc scored in the 2nd period for Cleveland, and Al McDonough scored his 17th goal of the season with 5:26 remaining in regulation time to provide the winning margin. Gerry Cheevers won the goaltending duel over Gerry Desjardins. The Baltimore Clippers of the American Hockey League had disbanded on January 23 after playing 46 games of the 1974-75 season.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): One Night in Bangkok--Murray Head (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Want To Know What Love Is--Foreigner

At the movies
The Falcon and the Snowman, starring Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn, opened in theatres.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Letkautus--Lättykettu & Tehosekoittajat (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor

Died on this date
Ava Gardner, 67. U.S. actress. Miss Gardner was one of Hollywood's most noted beauties, starring in such movies as The Killers (1946); The Hucksters (1947); The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952); Mogambo (1953); The Barefoot Contessa (1954); Bhowani Junction (1956); On the Beach (1959); Seven Days in May (1964); and The Night of the Iguana (1964).

Diplomacy
U.S. President George Bush announced his support for a $1 billion package of cash, loans, and other types of aid to help rebuild the devastated economy of Panama.

Disasters
Avianca Flight 52, a Colombian jetliner, apparently ran out of fuel over Long Island in New York and crashed into a wooded area in the community of Cove Neck. 73 of the 161 people aboard were killed and the rest injured. The plane, en route from Bogota via Medellin, was to have landed at Kennedy International Airport. The landing was delayed for more than an hour because of bad weather. About 50 minutes before the crash, the pilot told the air traffic controllers that he needed a priority landing because of low fuel.

Hurricane-force winds caused the deaths of at least 39 people in England and Wales and at least 21 people elsewhere in Europe.

20 years ago
1995

Crime
Lead attorney Johnnie Cochran delivered the opening argument in the defense of former U.S. football star O.J. Simpson, on trial in Los Angeles for the June 12, 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Ray Peterson, 65. U.S. singer. Mr. Peterson was known for his hit singles The Wonder of You (1959); Tell Laura I Love Her (1960); Corinna, Corinna (1960); and Missing You (1961).

Disasters
291 Hindu pilgrims were killed in a stampede at Mandher Devi temple near Wai in Satara district in Indian state of Maharashtra.