February 24, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Kavis Reed!

200 years ago
1815

Died on this date
Robert Fulton, 49. U.S. engineer. Mr. Fulton was credited with developing the first commercially successful steamboat, and designed the first working submarine, the Nautilus. He also invented some of the world's first naval torpedoes. Mr. Fulton died of tuberculosis.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Marjorie Main. U.S. actress. Miss Main, born Mary Tomlinson, was best known for playing Ma Kettle in a series of 10 Ma and Pa Kettle movie comedies in the 1940s and '50s. She died on April 10, 1975 at the age of 85.

120 years ago
1895

War
Revolution broke out in Baire, a town near Santiago de Cuba, beginning the Cuban War of Independence.

110 years ago
1905

Hockey
Members of the Ottawa Silver Seven celebrated their Stanley Cup championship by booting the cup onto the frozen Rideau Canal. Captain Harry Smith retrieved it unharmed the following day.

100 years ago
1915

War
The Canadian Corps took over 4 miles of a section of trench line near Armentières, France.

90 years ago
1925

Died on this date
Hjalmar Branting, 64. Prime Minister of Sweden, 1920; 1921-1923; 1924-1925. Mr. Branting led the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1907 until his death. He was awarded a share of the 1921 Nobel Peace Prize "for his work in the League of Nations." Upon Mr. Branting's death, he was succeeded as Prime Minister by Rickard Sandler.

Diplomacy
Canada and the U.S.A. signed a boundary treaty in Washington, creating the International Lake of the Woods Control Board.

80 years ago
1935

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Leigh Lovell, on NBC

75 years ago
1940

At the movies
The short film Teddy, the Rough Rider, directed by Ray Enright, and starring Sidney Blackmer, opened in theatres.



War
The German general staff completed the final secret plan for an offensive in the West. The Turkish Supreme Defense Council declared a state of emergency after Soviet troops were reported crossing the Caucasus frontier. Labour leaders in New Zealand issued a statement supporting the war aims of the United Kingdom.

Diplomacy
Speaking in Birmingham, England, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain appealed to all European nations to work together for a new European order. He outlined the U.K.'s peace aims, and offered to seek a settlement with any government that subscribed to them.

Communications
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission urged Congress to bring all U.S. cable and radio services overseas under its rule to avoid foreign interference.

Track and field
Gregory Rice set a world record of 13:55.9 for the three-mile run at Madison Square Garden in New York.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Rum and Coca-Cola--The Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen and his Orchestra (Best Seller--3rd week at #1; Juke Box--3rd week at #1); Don't Fence Me In--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen and his Orchestra (Airplay--5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Ahmad Mahir Pasha, 56 (?). Prime Minister of Egypt, 1944-1945. Mr. Mahir, leader of the Saadist International Party, took office as Prime Minister on October 10, 1944, following King Farouk's removal of Mustafa an-Nahhas Pasha. Mr. Mahir called for new elections and opposed the Muslim Brotherhood, all of whose candidates were defeated amidst accusations of unfairness in the electoral process. Mr. Mahir was assassinated in the parliamentary chamber in Cairo by Wadf Party member Mustafa Essawy, 28, after reading aloud a declaration of war against Germany and Japan. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by Mahmoud an-Nukrashi Pasha.

Movies
A nationwide Gallup Poll of readers of movie magazines determined that Greer Garson was the most popular star in the United States.

Theatre
Trio, written by Dorothy and Howard Baker, closed at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway in New York after New York License Commissioner Paul Moss had refused to renew the theatre's license if the play continued to run there. Trio 's themes included an older woman's feelings for a girl. It had been scheduled to open at the Cort Theatre on November 8, 1944, but Cort owner Lee Shubert had refused to allow the play to run there. Belasco lease-holder Elmer Rice then permitted Trio to open on December 19, 1944. The play, whose cast included Richard Widmark, closed after 67 performances.

War
The U.S. Selective Service announced that men up to age 34 would have to meet more rigid specifications to be eligible for occupational deferments. German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler delivered a radio address in which he said that "there is no greater terror in store" for Germany, and predicted a turning point in the war in 1945. In two days of fighting across the Roer River, U.S. troops reported the capture of 21 German towns and the taking of 400 prisoners. U.S. troops in the Philippines completed the liberation of Manila with the complete destruction of the Japanese garrison, which made a last stand in the fortress of Intramuros.

Diplomacy
Uruguay became a member of the United Nations, leaving Argentina as the only Latin American republic not yet a member.

Politics and government
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the George bill, stripping the Commerce Department of control over federal lending agencies.

Energy
U.S. Interior Secretary Harold Ickes announced the return to owners of 72 bituminous coal mines in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.

Track and field
At the Amateur Athletic Union championships in New York City, the New York Athletic Club retained its team title, with the United States Military Academy second and he United States Naval Academy third.

60 years ago
1955

Weather
Much of the United Kingdom was cut off from essential supplies because of deep snow and the coldest temperatures in 30 years.

50 years ago
1965

Music
The Beach Boys were at Universal/Radio Recorders Studio in Hollywood, California, where they recorded the single version of Help Me, Rhonda.

Diplomacy
East German President Walter Ulbricht arrived in Cairo for a visit, which caused a breach in relations between Egypt and West Germany.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Todo El Tiempo Del Mundo--Manolo Otero (10th week at #1)

Died on this date
Nikolai Bulganin, 79. 6th Premier of the Soviet Union, 1955-1958. Mr. Bulganin was an associate of Nikita Khrushchev, and became Minister of Defence in March 1953, after the death of dictator Josef Stalin. Mr. Bulganin relinquished that post the day after taking office as Premier, succeeding Georgy Malenkov. Mr. Bulganin eventually ran afoul of Mr. Khrushchev and was forced to resign in 1958 and forced into retirement in 1960.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Born in the U.S.A.--Bruce Springsteen

#1 single in France (SNEP): When the Rain Begins to Fall--Pia Zadora and Jermaine Jackson (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Shout--Tears for Fears

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 4 New York Islanders 3 (OT)

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Un' Estate Italiana--Edoardo Bennato; Gianna Nannini (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Get Up! (Before the Night is Over--Technotronic

#1 single in France (SNEP): Hélène--Roch Voisine (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (4th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (2nd week at #1)
2 Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic
3 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
4 Sacrifice--Elton John
5 Me So Horny--The 2 Live Crew
6 Daar Gaat Ze--Clouseau
7 Get a Life--Soul II Soul
8 Get Into It--Tony Scott
9 Fools Gold--The Stone Roses
10 King Kong Five--Mano Negra

Singles entering the chart were Live Together (New Version) by Lisa Stansfield (#22); Here I Am (Come and Take Me) by UB40 (#24); Scandalous! by Prince (#32); Tears on My Pillow by Kylie Minogue (#35); I Don't Wanna Lose You by Tina Turner (#36); and Hey You by the Quireboys (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair) (3rd week at #1)
2 Escapade--Janet Jackson
3 Dangerous--Roxette
4 All or Nothing--Milli Vanilli
5 What Kind of Man Would I Be?--Chicago
6 Roam--The B-52s
7 Two to Make it Right--Seduction
8 Here We Are--Gloria Estefan
9 We Can't Go Wrong--The Cover Girls
10 Price of Love--Bad English

Singles entering the chart were Without You by Motley Crue (#66); Heartbeat by Seduction (#69); Wild Women Do by Natalie Cole (#84); House of Pain by Faster Pussycat (#89); Whip Appeal by Babyface (#90); Got to Have Your Love by Mantronix featuring Wondress (#91); I'm Not Satisfied by Fine Young Cannibals (#92); and Make it Like it Was by Regina Belle (#96).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Two to Make it Right--Seduction
2 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (with Wild Pair)
3 Escapade--Janet Jackson
4 Dangerous--Roxette
5 What Kind of Man Would I Be?--Chicago
6 All or Nothing--Milli Vanilli
7 Tell Me Why--Expose
8 How am I Supposed to Live Without You?--Michael Bolton
9 We Can't Go Wrong--Cover Girls
10 Here We Are--Gloria Estefan

Singles entering the chart were Without You by Motley Crue (#63); The Heart of the Matter by Don Henley (#64); True Blue Love by Lou Gramm (#72); A Face in the Crowd by Tom Petty (#76); I'll Be There by Joyce “Fenderella” Irby (#78); Living in Oblivion by Anything Box (#83); and Anytime by McAuley Schenker Group (#87).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Downtown Train--Rod Stewart (3rd week at #1)
2 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair)
3 Janie's Got a Gun--Aerosmith
4 What Kind of Man Would I Be?--Chicago
5 Peace in Our Time--Eddie Money
6 Free Fallin'--Tom Petty
7 Dangerous--Roxette
8 Escapade--Janet Jackson
9 All or Nothing--Milli Vanilli
10 Two to Make it Right--Seduction

Singles entering the chart were Blue Sky Mine by Midnight Oil (#69); Take One Away by Burton Cummings (#70); Don't Look Back by Kenny MacLean (#72); Forever by Kiss (#74); The Pass by Rush (#77); All Around the World by Lisa Stansfield (#81); Look Me in the Heart by Tina Turner (#87); Long Way by Honeymoon Suite (#89); and Bodyguard by the Bee Gees (#93).

Died on this date
Sandro Pertini, 93. 7th President of Italy, 1978-1985. Mr. Pertini had a career as a socialist politician lasting almost 60 years; he was opposed to both Communism and corruption.

Malcolm Forbes, 70. U.S. publisher and socialite. Mr. Forbes was the publisher of Forbes magazine, which had been founded by his father B.C. Forbes. Malcolm Forbes was an advocate of capitalism and a practitioner of an extravagant lifestyle, which included homosexual behaviour that wasn't disclosed until just after his death.

Johnnie Ray, 63. U.S. singer. Mr. Ray rocketed to fame with one of the biggest hit records of the 1950s. Cry was written by Churchill Kohlman, a night watchman in a dry-cleaning plant in Pittsburgh. The B-side, The Little White Cloud that Cried, was written by Mr. Ray. Released in the fall of 1951, the record sold a million copies in eight weeks, and 1½ million by February 1952. Cry held the #1 position on the Billboard chart for 10 weeks, while The Little White Cloud that Cried went to #2. Mr. Ray’s emotional singing style earned him a number of derisive nicknames, including "The Prince of Wails" and "The Nabob of Sob." He broke box office records with live appearances in the U.S.A. in 1952 and elsewhere through the mid-1950s. Mr. Ray was a link between post-World War II crooners and mid-’50s rock and roll artists. He was an inspiration to a young Elvis Presley, and had a hit with Such a Night a decade before Elvis covered it. Mr. Ray failed to duplicate the success of his biggest hit, but he had a respectable run on the charts, with singles such as Please, Mr. Sun/(Here Am I) Broken Hearted (1952); All of Me (#12, 1952); Just Walkin’ in the Rain (#2, 1956); and You Don’t Owe Me a Thing (#10)/Look Homeward, Angel (#36) (1957). Yes Tonight, Josephine (#12, 1957) was his last notable hit in the U.S.A., but as was the case with several other American performers, Mr. Ray remained popular in the U.K. His only movie appearance was in There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954), and his performance has to be seen to be believed. An unhappy private life--bisexuality and heavy drinking--as well as changing musical tastes contributed to his decline. Go here for more about Mr. Ray.

Tony Conigliaro, 45. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Conigliaro was an outfielder with the Boston Red Sox (1964-1970, 1975) and California Angels (1971), batting .264 with 166 home runs and 516 runs batted in in 876 games. In 1965 "Tony C." led the AL with 32 home runs despite missing 24 games. He had 104 home runs as of August 18, 1967--more than Babe Ruth at the same age--when he was hit near the left eye by a pitch from Jack Hamilton of the California Angels. Mr. Conigliaro mised the reat of 1967 and all of 1968, but came back to hit 20 home runs in 1969 and a career-best 36 in 1970. His vision began to deteriorate after his trade to the Angels, and he retired in mid-season in 1971 after hitting just 4 home runs. A comeback in 1975 produced limited success. Mr. Conigliaro then embarked on a career as a sportscaster. In 1982, Mr. Conigliaro suffered a heart attack while being driven to the airport by his brother Billy, and resulting brain damage left him bedridden for the remainder of his life.

Diplomacy
U.S. President George Bush and West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl began two days of talks.

Politics and government
Candidates favouring independence did very well in multiparty elections for the Supreme Soviet of Lithuania. Runoff elections would determine the final outcome.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Self Esteem--The Offspring

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Think Twice--Celine Dion (6th week at #1)

Energy
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgi Mamedov concluded two days of talks in Washington by telling U.S. officials that Russia would go ahead with an agreement with Iran to construct a nuclear power reactor on the Persian Gulf. Although the project was purportedly for commercial usage, U.S. officials feared that Iran would gain expertise and materials which which to build nuclear weapons.

Politics and government
The day after raising a record $4.1 million at a dinner in Dallas, U.S. Senator Phil Gramm (Republican--Texas) announced his intention to seek his party's nomination for President of the United States in the 1996 election. He declared that he was committed to balancing the federal budget, and pledged to overhaul the welfare system and end affirmative-action job programs.