January 8, 2015

225 years ago
1790

Politics and government
U.S. President George Washington delivered the first State of the Union address in New York City, then the provisional capital of the United States.

200 years ago
1815

War
U.S. forces commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson defeated British troops commanded by General Edward Pakenham in the Battle of New Orleans, the last major battle in the War of 1812. The Treaty of Ghent ending the war had been signed on December 24, 1814, but the news had yet to reach North America.

180 years ago
1835

Economics and finance
The United States national debt was zero for the only time.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Walker Cooper. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Cooper was a catcher with six National League teams from 1940-1957, most notably with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1940-1945 and 1956-1957. He batted .285 with 173 home runs and 812 runs batted in 1,473 games. His best season was probably 1943, when he batted .318 with 9 homers and 81 RBIs, and was third in voting for the NL's Most Valuable Player. Mr. Walker and his brother Mort, a pitcher with the Cardinals, combined to form one of the major leagues' most effective batteries as the Cardinals won World Series in 1942 and 1944, and the NL pennant in 1943. Walker Cooper died on April 11, 1991 at the age of 76.

80 years ago
1935

Born on this date
Elvis Presley. U.S. musician. The King of Rock and Roll was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and died in Memphis, Tennessee on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42. Click on the links to see Mark Steyn's comments on Elvis; Sam Phillips; Rock-A-Hula Baby; and It's Now or Never.

Crime
Arthur "Doc" Barker, son of Ma Barker, was arrested in Chicago. A map found in his possession indicated that other members of the gang of bank robbers and kidnappers were in Ocklawaha, Florida.

75 years ago
1940

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce
Tonight’s episode: The Priory School

War
The Japanese cabinet of Prime Minister Nobuyuki Abe stated any peace treaty with China must recognize Manchukuo and permit Japanese economic expansion.

Politics and government
Negotiations between government and opposition parties in Cuba failed to decide when new elections should be held.

New York Governor Herbert Lehman urged all Americans to support the foreign policy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The Alabama Democratic Executive Committee adopted a resolution stating that a third term for President Roosevelt was "unwise," and then endorsed House of Representatives Speaker William Bankhead (Alabama) for the 1940 Democratic party presidential nomination.

An amendment to the Hatch Act was introduced in the United States Senate aimed at prohibiting employees of state and local governments from influencing elections.

Law
The United States Senate passed and sent to conference an alien bill providing for immediate deportation of spies.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that General Motors vice president John T. Smith could not deduct a tax loss resulting from the sale of securities to a corporation owned by himself.

Economics and finance
Food rationing began in the United Kingdom.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Don't Fence Me In--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters (2nd week at #1)
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
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 I Dream of You (More than You Dream I Do)--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
--Andy Russell
5 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
6 There Goes that Song Again--Russ Morgan and his Orchestra
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
7 Let Me Love You Tonight (No Te Importe Saber)--Woody Herman and his Orchestra
--Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra
8 Always--Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
--Jack Smith
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
9 Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall--The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald
10 Whispering--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
--The Benny Goodman Quartet

Singles entering the chart were Don't Fence Me In/Always by Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra and Rum and Coca-Cola (#30)/One Meat Ball (#41) by the Andrews Sisters.

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Play's the Thing

War
U.S. Navy Admiral Jonas Ingram, the new chief of the Atlantic fleet, said that German robot bombing of New York or Washington within 30-60 days was not only "possible but probable." German forces fell back in Belgium, the Saar, and in Alsatian border areas. Soviet troops staved off German attacks northwest and west of Budapest. Philippine Commonwealth troops under the Philippine Commonwealth Army units entered the province of Ilocos Sur in Northern Luzon and attacked Japanese Imperial forces.

Diplomacy
The Pan-American Union indefinitely postponed consideration of Argentina's request to call a foreign ministers' meeting to consider Argentine foreign policy.

Business
The United States government and Montgomery Ward & Company began their battle in U.S. federal court in Chicago to test the power of the President of the United States to seize private property.

Labour
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional a Texas law requiring labour organizers to obtain registration cards before soliciting members. The decision reversed the contempt of court conviction of Congress of Industrial Organizations-United Auto Workers President R.J. Thomas.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Skokiaan--The Four Lads (2nd week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Mr. Sandman--The Chordettes (Best Seller--6th week at #1; Disc Jockey--4th week at #1; Jukebox--4th week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Let Me Go Lover--Joan Weber (2nd week at #1)
--[Teresa Brewer with the Lancers]
2 Mr. Sandman--The Chordettes
--The Four Aces
3 The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane--The Ames Brothers
--Archie Bleyer
4 Papa Loves Mambo--Perry Como
5 Teach Me Tonight--The DeCastro Sisters
6 I Need You Now--Eddie Fisher
7 Hearts of Stone--The Fontane Sisters
--The Charms
8 This Ole House--Rosemary Clooney
9 Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)--Eddie Fisher
10 Melody of Love--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra
--David Carroll and his Orchestra
--The Four Aces

Singles entering the chart were the versions of Melody of Love by David Carroll and his Orchestra and the Four Aces; I Love You Madly by the Four Coins (#27); As Time Goes By by Johnnie Ray (#35); and Unsuspecting Heart, with versions by Sunny Gale and Terri Stevens (#36).

Basketball
NCAA
Georgia Tech 59 @ Kentucky 58
The top-ranked Wildcats' loss snapped their 32-game winning streak and was their first defeat at Lexington in 130 home games over 12 years.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 I Feel Fine--The Beatles (6th week at #1)
2 Love Potion No. 9--The Searchers
3 Amen--The Impressions
4 The Wedding--Julie Rogers
5 Downtown--Petula Clark
6 This Diamond Ring--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
7 Run, Run, Run--The Gestures
8 I'll Be There--Gerry and the Pacemakers
9 Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun)--Del Shannon
10 Alone and Lonely--Bobby Curtola
Pick hit of the week: Heart of Stone--The Rolling Stones
New this week: The Jolly Green Giant--The Kingsmen
Little Things--Bobby Goldsboro
Everyday--The Rogues
A Taste of Love--Doug Hutton
No Arms Can Ever Hold You--The Bachelors
I Love Being in Love with You--Adam Faith

Music
The Beach Boys were at Western Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, where they began recording the song Help Me, Ronda for the album The Beach Boys Today!

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland: I'm Leaving It (All) Up to You--Donny and Marie Osmond (10th week at #1)

Died on this date
Richard Tucker, 61. U.S. opera singer. Mr. Tucker, a tenor, sang with New York's Metropolitan Opera and performed elsewhare as the leading American tenor of his time until his death from a heart attack while resting before an evening performance in Kalamazoo, Michigan while on tour with baritone Robert Merrill.

Politics and government
Ella T. Grasso, a Democrat, took office as Governor of Connecticut, becoming the first woman to serve as a Governor of an American state other than by succeeding her husband.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Christmas Eve--Tatsuro Yamashita (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Terry-Thomas, 78. U.K. actor. Born Thomas Terry Hoar Stevens, Terry-Thomas, with his gap-toothed smile, moustache, distinctive speech, and frequent use of cigarette holder and monocle, provided the definitive image of the upper class English cad in movies such as Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959); I'm All Right, Jack (1960); Make Mine Mink (1960); Its' a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963); How to Murder Your Wife (1965); and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965). His last years were not pleasant, as he developed Parkinson's Disease and lived in poverty before a fund-raising project by fellow actors allowed him to move to a nursing home.

Diplomacy
Canada formally joined the Organization of American States (OAS) as its 33rd member.

World events
An official of the East German government disclosed that 60,000 of an original 85,000 secret police personnel were still on the government payroll despite a promise in December that they would be disbanded.

Economics and finance
In the first shift downward in six months, major banks in the United States lowered their prime lending rate by 0.5% to 10%.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 8 Washington 6

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: #1 single in New Zealand: George--Headless Chickens (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): An Angel--The Kelly Family

#1 single in Switzerland: Cotton Eye Joe--Rednex (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Carlos Monzón, 52. Argentinian boxer. Mr. Monzón was world middleweight champion from 1970 until his retirement in 1977, compiling a record of 87-3-9. He was regarded as one of the best middleweights ever, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Mr. Monzón was known for beating up his wives and girlfriends, and was convicted of homicide for the 1988 killing of girlfriend Alicia Muñiz. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison; while returning from a weekend furlough, he was killed when his car overturned.

Music
This blogger was in attendance at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton as the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Richard Eaton Singers performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

Two days before his 60th birthday, Ronnie Hawkins celebrated the occasion with a concert at Massey Hall in Toronto, with musical guests Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Band, Lawrence Gowan, and Jeff Healey.

Skiing
Alberto Tomba of Italy clinched his first World Cup championship by winning the slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, for his fifth consecutive victory in the slalom or giant slalom. He had been the overall runner-up for the Cup title three straight times before finally winning the championship.

Football
NFL
NFC Divisional Playoff
Green Bay 9 @ Dallas 35



AFC Divisional Playoff
Miami 21 @ San Diego 22



10 years ago
2005

Personal
This blogger was one of those in attendance at the CPR Stockholders of Edmonton Sherlock Holmes birthday dinner at Gino's.

Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
St. Louis 25 @ Seattle 20



AFC Wild Card Playoff
New York Jets 20 @ San Diego 17 (OT)