March 17, 2015

975 years ago
1040

Died on this date
Harold "Harefoot", 23 or 24 (?). King of England, 1035-1040. Harold, who was nicknamed for his fleetness of foot, was elected regent following the death of his father Cnut the Great, while his half-brother Harthacnut, the legitimate heir, was in Denmark, facing a threat from invasion by Norway and Sweden. Harold sought coronation in 1035, but wasn't actually crowned until 1037, the same year in which he defeated an attempt by his step-brothers Edward and Alfred to depose him. King Harold died from a severe illness, and Harthacnut finally acceded to the throne.

250 years ago
1765

Canadiana
Irish troops serving in the British Army at Quebec City celebrated the first St. Patrick's Day in Canada.

210 years ago
1805

Italiana
The Italian Republic, with Napoleon Bonaparte as President, became the Kingdom of Italy, with Napoleon as King.

170 years ago
1845

Canadiana
The Geological Survey of Canada was established in Montreal.

Transportation
The St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad Company received a charter to build to the U.S. border and Portland, Maine, in order to give Montreal year-round access to a winter port.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Lloyd Rees. Australian artist. Mr. Rees was a landscape painter who emphasized harmony between man and nature. He died on December 2, 1988 at the age of 93.

110 years ago
1905

Married on this date
Franklin D. Roosevelt married his distant cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt, in New York City. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, FDR's fifth cousin, gave his niece away.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Henry Bumstead. U.S. movie art director and production designer. Mr. Bumstead won Academy Awards for To Kill a Mockingird (1962) and The Sting (1973), and was nominated for Academy Awards for Vertigo (1958) and Unforgiven (1992). He was still working when he died at the age of 91 on May 24, 2006.

80 years ago
1935

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

75 years ago
1940

War
British planes bombed German patrol ships in the Scapa Flow area. The Japanese Army opened a new offensive in the Chinese province of Kwangsi.

Agriculture
A Gallup Poll showed that 66% of U.S. farmers agreed that the policies of the U.S. administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, while 22% disagreed.

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--6th week at #1; Juke Box--6th week at #1); Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive--Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and his Orchestra (Airplay--1st week at #1)

War
The United States Selective Service announced deferment of 145,000 younger men in steel, coal mining, synthetic rubber, and non-ferrous mining industries. A German U-Boat torpedoed the Royal Canadian Navy minesweeper Guysborough in the Bay of Biscay. The centre span of Ludendorff Bridge in Remagen, Germany, collapsed at 3 P.M., ten days after its capture by U.S. troops. There was some loss of life among the 200 engineering troops working on it. U.S. Army troops had used the bridge when they first crossed the Rhine River. Soviet forces pierced Stettin's outer defenses, and captured Brandenburg in Prussia. The Battle of Iwo Jima officially ended as U.S. Marines reached Kitano Point at the northern end of the island.

Economics and finance
The United States Office of War Information announced that there would be 12% less meat available for civilian consumption over the next three months than for the same period in 1944.

60 years ago
1955

Protest
A seven-hour riot along St. Catherine Street in Montreal to protest National Hockey League President Clarence Campbell's suspension of Montreal Canadiens' right wing Maurice "Rocket" Richard for the rest of the season and the Stanley Cup playoffs resulted in 100 arrests, and continued inside the Montreal Forum, where Mr. Campbell was assaulted, and the Canadiens forfeited their game against the Detroit Red Wings when the game was stopped after the first period, when a smoke bomb was detonated. Detroit was leading 4-1 at the intermission.

Labour
A l09-day strike of Ford Motor Company workers in Windsor, Oakville, and Etobicoke, Ontario ended.

Boxing
Floyd Patterson (21-1) scored a technical knockout of Esau Ferdinand (44-13-8) at 2:49 of the 10th round of a heavyweight bout at Oakland Auditorium. Mr. Patterson had won an 8-round decision over Mr. Ferdinand on October 11, 1954.

50 years ago
1965

Died on this date
Amos Alonzo Stagg, 102. U.S. athlete and coach. Mr. Stagg played football and baseball at Yale University, and played in the first public game of basketball. He then embarked on a long career of coaching all three sports, but was best known as a football coach. Mr. Stagg was a head coach in college football from 1890-1946, compiling a record of 314-199-35. He coached the University of Chicago Maroons from 1892-1932, leading them to national championships in 1905 and 1913. Mr. Stagg was an assistant football coach in his later years, finally retiring at the age of 96 after the 1958 season. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach in 1951, becoming the first man to be honoured in both categories. Mr. Stagg was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1959.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): 22-sai no Wakare--Kaze (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Todo El Tiempo Del Mundo--Manolo Otero (13th week at #1)

Died on this date
James "Babe" McCarthy, 51. U.S. basketball coach. Mr. McCarthy coached the Mississippi State University Bulldogs from 1955-1965, compiling a record of 169-85 and winning Southeastern Conference championships in 1959, 1961, 1962, and 1963. In the 1963 NCAA playoffs, Mr. McCarthy sneaked his team, which was composed entirely of white players, out of town in order to play Loyola University Chicago, who had four Negro players--a breach of a Mississippi court injunction. After spending the 1966-67 season at George Washington University, Mr. McCarthy moved into the professional ranks, spending the rest of his career in the American Basketball Association with the New Orleans Buccaneers (1967-70); Memphis Tams (1970-72); Dallas Chapparals (1972-73); and Kentucky Colonels (1973-74). His teams didn't win any championships, but Mr. McCarthy was the first ABA coach to amass 200 wins, and he was voted the ABA's Coach of the Year in 1969 and 1974. He died of colon cancer.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Solid--Ashford & Simpson

#1 single in France (SNEP): Square Rooms--Al Corley (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: You're My Heart, You're My Soul--Modern Talking (2nd week at #1)

On the radio
The Stories of Sherlock Holmes, starring Graham Armitage and Kerry Jordan, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: The Man Who Loved Beetles

Died on this date
Veronica Yu, 30; Maria Hernandez, 22. U.S. murder victims. The two women were murdered in the Los Angeles area by serial killer Richard Ramirez, aka the "Night Stalker."

Diplomacy
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney welcomed U.S. President Ronald Reagan to a summit meeting at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City; the summit became known as the Shamrock Summit because of the leaders' common Irish ancestry and the date--St. Patrick's Day.

Hockey
CIAU
Men’s championship final
York 3 Alberta 2

The final Alberta goal was scored with 1 second remaining in the game.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Vattene Amore--Amedeo Minghi; Mietta

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor

#1 single in France (SNEP): Les Valses de Vienne--François Feldman (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (5th week at #1)
2 Daar Gaat Ze--Clouseau
3 Sacrifice--Elton John
4 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul
5 Live Together (New Version)--Lisa Stansfield
6 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton
7 King Kong Five--Mano Negra
8 Here I Am (Come and Take Me)--UB40
9 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
10 The Healer--John Lee Hooker featuring Carlos Santana & the Santana Band

Singles entering the chart were Fortune Fairytales by Loïs Lane (#25); Advice for the Young at Heart by Tears for Fears (#30); Blue Sky Mine by Midnight Oil (#31); The Power by Snap! (#32); Bakerman by Laid Back (#33); Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode (#34); and Rich in Paradise "Going Back to My Roots" by FPI Project featuring Sharon Dee Clarke (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Escapade--Janet Jackson (3rd week at #1)
2 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles
3 Roam--The B-52s
4 Love Will Lead You Back--Taylor Dayne
5 Price of Love--Bad English
6 I Go to Extremes--Billy Joel
7 No More Lies--Michel'le
8 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
9 Just a Friend--Biz Markle
10 C'mon and Get My Love--D-Mob introducing Cathy Dennis

Singles entering the chart were What it Takes by Aerosmith (#60); Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinéad O'Connor (#63); Love Child by Sweet Sensation (#69); Hold On by Wilson Phillips (#74); The Humpty Dance by Digital Underground (#81); A Little Love by Corey Hart (#86); 99 Worlds by Peter Wolf (#89); and House of Broken Love by Great White (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Escapade--Janet Jackson (2nd week at #1)
2 Dangerous--Roxette
3 Roam--The B-52's
4 Price of Love--Bad English
5 We Can't Go Wrong--Cover Girls
6 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (with Wild Pair)
7 C'mon and Get My Love--D Mob introducing Cathy Dennis
8 No More Lies--Michel'le
9 I Go to Extremes--Billy Joel
10 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles

Singles entering the chart were The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite) by Quincy Jones featuring Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge and Barry White (#61); A Little Love by Corey Hart (#70); What it Takes by Aerosmith (#73); The Way it Is by Tesla (#75); Bad Love by Eric Clapton (#80); Hide and Seek by Pajama Party (#84); Love Child by Sweet Sensation (#86); and Expression by Salt-N-Pepa (#89).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Escapade--Janet Jackson
2 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
3 I Go to Extremes--Billy Joel
4 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (with Wild Pair)
5 Dangerous--Roxette
6 No Myth--Michael Penn
7 Roam--The B-52's
8 Too Late to Say Goodbye--Richard Marx
9 Price of Love--Bad English
10 Lover of Mine--Alannah Myles

Singles entering the chart were Lead Me On by Boulevard (#74); How Can We Be Lovers by Michael Bolton (#76); Your Own Sweet Way by Notting Hillbillies (#78); Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Connor (#81); What it Takes by Aerosmith (#83); Still Water by Daniel Lanois (#86); Bird on a Wire by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider (#88); I'm in the Mood by John Lee Hooker with Bonnie Raitt (#91); and Cuts You Up by Peter Murphy (#93).

Died on this date
Capucine, 62. French model and actress. Capucine, born Germaine Hélène Irène Lefebvre, was a fashion model who became an actress, known for movies such as Song Without End (1960); North to Alaska (1960); Walk on the Wild Side (1962); The Pink Panther (1963); and What's New Pussycat? (1965). After reportedly suffering from illness and depression, she committed suicide by jumping out her eighth-floor apartment window in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Rick Grech, 43. Ukrainian-born U.K. musician. Mr. Grech played bass guitar and violin with the British rock groups Family, Traffic, and Blind Faith in the late 1960s. Drug abuse and heavy drinking derailed his career, and led to his death.

Abominations
Canadian Housing Minister Alan Redway promised compensation to Chinese-Canadians forced to pay over $20 million for admission to Canada. From 1885-1923, Chinese immigrants were forced to pay ahead tax of $50-$500 per person.

Politics and government
The Lithuanian parliament formed a non-Communist government.

Boxing
Julio Cesar Chavez (69-0) scored a technical knockout of Meldrick Taylor (24-1-1) with 2 seconds remaining in their 12-round world super lightweight (junior welterweight) fight at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas to retain the title. Mr. Taylor was knocked down with 16 seconds remaining; he got up at the count of 5, but didn't respond when referee Richard Steele asked him he was all right. If the fight had lasted the remaining 2 seconds, Mr. Taylor would have won a split decision.



Hockey
CIAU
Men's championship final
Moncton 2 Wilfrid Laurier 1

NHL
New Jersey 4 Edmonton 1

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Self Esteem--The Offspring (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Think Twice--Celine Dion (9th week at #1)

At the movies
Cirle of Friends, starring Chris O'Donnell and Minnie Driver, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
Ronnie Kray, 61. U.K. gangster. Mr. Kray and his twin brother Reggie were the foremost leaders of organized crime in the East End of London in the 1950s and '60s. They were arrested in 1968 and sentenced to life in prison in 1969. Ronnie was eventually declared insane and was transferred to Broadmoor Hospital, dying of a heart attack.

Rick Aviles, 42. U.S. comic and actor. Mr. Aviles was a standup comic who appeared in movies such as The Cannonball Run (1991); Ghost (1990); The Godfather Part III (1990); and Waterworld (1995). He was a heavy user of heroin, which led to his death from AIDS.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Bill Clinton hosted Irish Republican Army terrorist Gerry Adams at the White House, after publicly calling on the IRA to disarm. After the meeting, Mr. Adams expressed optimism about talks with British authorities over the future of Northern Ireland.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
George Kennan, 101. U.S. diplomat. Mr. Kennan was best known as an advocate of the policy of U.S. "containment" of the expansionist policies of the U.S.S.R., although he later became a critic of containment. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the U.S.S.R. from May-September 1952 and Ambassador to Yugoslavia from 1961-1963.

Andre Norton, 93. U.S. author. Miss Norton, born Alice Norton, was the first woman to achieve widespread success in the field of science fiction and fantasy, with more than 300 published works.

Royce Frith, 81. Canadian politician. Mr. Frith was a career bureaucrat until he was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, representing Ontario from 1977-1994. He led the Opposition in the Senate from 1991-1993.

Scandal
Major league baseball players Rafael Palmeiro and Sammy Sosa testified before the United States Congress that they hadn't used steroids, while Mark McGwire refused to say whether he had.