April 12, 2015

1,775 years ago
240

Asiatica
Shapur I was crowned king of the Sasanian Empire in Iran.

175 years ago
1840

Born on this date
Edmond Audran. French composer. Mr. Audran was a church organist who wrote sacred music, but was best known for comic operas that were successful in Paris and the West End of London, most notably La mascotte (1880). He died on August 17, 1901 at the age of 61, after several years of physical and mental illness.

150 years ago
1865

War
In the U.S. Civil War, Mobile, Alabama fell to the Union Army.

110 years ago
1905

Politics and government
The Yukon territorial election resulted in the eelction of 5 of the 10 members of the Yukon Territorial Council.

80 years ago
1935

Defense
The British light bomber Bristol Blenheim was given its first flight at Filton, England.

Boxing
Joe Louis (18-0) scored a technical knockout of Roy Lazer (38-3-2) at 2:28 of the 3rd round of a heavyweight bout at Chicago Stadium.

75 years ago
1940

At the movies
Rebecca, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, opened in theatres.



War
British troops invaded the Faroe Islands, a Danish possession between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The move was meant to counterbalance the April 9 invasion of Denmark by Germany, and had the objective of strengthening British control of the North Atlantic. European Allies declared the Danish merchant marine the property of the enemy and began seizing Danish vessels in foreign ports.

Diplomacy
Argentine Foreign Minister Jose Maria Castillo said that Argentina would not recognize the German occupation of Norway and Denmark.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt conferred with Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Harold Stark on methods to speed up naval construction.

Politics and government
The United States Senate passed and sent to President Franklin D. Roosevelt the bill for reapportionment of the House of Representatives based on the current census.

Forces supporting New York City District Attorney Thomas Dewey for the 1940 Republican Party nomination for President of the United States gained control of the New York State Republican Committee, naming Edwin Jaeckle as chairman and taking the first step to ousting Kenneth F. Simpson as the state's national committeeman.

Transportation
The Japanese news agency Domei announced that Japan would reopen the Pearl River, closed since 1938, to world commercial traffic on April 20, 1940.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act, extending the original act of 1937 for another three years.

Medicine
Dr. Paul Ehrlich of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York reported finding a five-day chemical treatment for syphilis.

70 years ago
1945

Died on this date
Franklin D. Roosevelt, 63. 32nd President of the United States of America, 1933-1945. Mr. Roosevelt, a Democrat, was the first American President to serve more than two terms in office. He died in Warm Springs, Georgia of a cerebral hemorrhage, less than three months into his fourth term as President, just as Allied forces were about to successfully conclude World War II in Europe, and were making gains in the Pacific theatre. Mr. Roosevelt was succeeded as President by Vice President Harry Truman.



War
U.S. War Secretary Henry Stimson informed new President Harry Truman of the secret Manhattan Project to develop an atomic bomb. Canadian troops liberated the Nazi concentration camp at Westerbork, Netherlands. U.S. troops in Germany captured Weimar and Erfurt, Schweinfurt, and Heilbronn. Soviet troops entered Moravia and cut the last serviceable communications in an 8-mile Nazi escape corridor from Vienna. Japanese forces launched a second massed kamikaze attack against the U.S. 5th Fleet off Okinawa. 185 kamikaze planes participated, sinking two U.S. ships and damaging nine.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. and Yugoslavia concluded a 20-year friendship and military treaty, providing for mutual aid against attack and abstinence from alliances against each other.

Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Lebanon signed the United Nations Declaration, bringing total membership to 47 countries.

Defense
U.S. Navy Admiral Chester Nimitz suggested the U.S. keep the island of Iwo Jima and the Marianas Islands after World War II because they would be vital for future defense.

Protest
The U.S.S.R. reported that armed clashes took place between right-wing and left-wing factions in Iran over Iranian policy toward the Soviet Union.

Economics and finance
Canadian Minister of Reconstruction C.D. Howe presented the White Paper on Employment and Income, a blueprint for the coming federal election.

The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration reached an agreement with Czechoslovakia for relief aid.

The United States government filed a civil antitrust suit in Newark, New Jersey against Westinghouse, accusing it of being in conspiracy with two German concerns to restrict production and trade.

Labour
Bethlehem Steel and the Congress of Industrial Organizations-United Steel Workers signed a new wage pact covering 17,000 workers and including 6c night shift premiums and vacation provisions.

Medicine
Organization of The Eye Bank for Sight Restoration was announced in New York for the collection of healthy cornea tissue for grafting operations.

Disasters
A tornado struck parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois, killing more than 100 people.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Detroit 0 @ Toronto 1 (Toronto led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Frank McCool set a Stanley Cup record by posting his third straight shutout in goal for the Maple Leafs as they edged the Red Wings at Maple Leaf Gardens. Harry Lumley was in goal for Detroit, and allowed the game's only goal, by Gus Bodnar at 3:06 of the 3rd period.

60 years ago
1955

Health
The polio vaccine of Dr. Jonas Salk was called "safe, effective, and potent."

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Detroit 3 @ Montreal 6 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Flamenco--Los Brincos

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Walking the Streets in the Rain--Butch Moore (2nd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Know a Place--Petula Clark
2 Girl Don't Come--Sandie Shaw
3 Mean Woman Blues--Bobby Curtola
4 Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood--The Animals
5 Long Lonely Nights--Bobby Vinton
6 I'll Never Find Another You--The Seekers
7 Shakin' All Over--Chad Allan and the Expressions (Guess Who?)
8 Me and You--The Regents
9 Tired of Waiting for You--The Kinks
10 The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)--Shirley Ellis

Singles entering the chart were Rockin' Pneumonia and Boogie Woogie Flu by P.J. Proby (#34); It's Growing by the Temptations (#36); All My Life by Lesley Gore (#37); ...And Roses and Roses by Andy Williams (#38); Don't Go Breaking My Heart by Burt Bacharach and his Orchestra (#39); and It's Got the Whole World Shakin' by Sam Cooke (#40).

On television tonight
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The World's Oldest Motive, starring Henry Jones, Linda Lawson, Robert Loggia, and Kathleen Freeman

Politics and government
Joseph Cals took office as Prime Minister of the Netherlands.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): You're the First, the Last, My Everything--Barry White (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Hey mal yo--Johnny & Orquesta Rodrigues (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Bye Bye Baby--Bay City Rollers (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Philadelphia Freedom--The Elton John Band

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Philadelphia Freedom--The Elton John Band
2 Lovin' You--Minnie Riperton
3 No No Song--Ringo Starr
4 Lady Marmalade--LaBelle
5 Poetry Man--Phoebe Snow
6 Once You Get Started--Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
7 Have You Never Been Mellow--Olivia Newton-John
8 (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song--B.J. Thomas
9 Emma--Hot Chocolate
10 Chevy Van--Sammy Johns

Singles entering the chart were When Will I Be Loved by Linda Ronstadt (#69); Trampled Under Foot by Led Zeppelin (#71); Spirit of the Boogie by Kool & The Gang (#79); Sister Golden Hair by America (#80); Where is the Love by Betty Wright (#83); Misty by Ray Stevens (#87); I Wanna Dance Wit' Choo (Doo Dat Dance) (Part 1) by Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes (#91); Remember What I Told You to Forget by Tavares (#920; The House on Telegraph Hill by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods (#94); Ease on Down the Road by Consumer Rapport (#96); Pinball by Brian Protheroe (#97); Real Man by Todd Rundgren (#98); and A Pirate Looks at Forty by Jimmy Buffett (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 No No Song--Ringo Starr (2nd week at #1)
2 Philadelphia Freedom--The Elton John Band
3 Express--B.T. Express
4 You are So Beautiful--Joe Cocker
5 Don't Call Us, We'll Call You--Sugarloaf/Jerry Corbetta
6 Emma--Hot Chocolate
7 Lovin' You--Minnie Riperton
8 Poetry Man--Phoebe Snow
9 Lady Marmalade--LaBelle
10 Shame, Shame, Shame--Shirley (And Company)

Singles entering the chart were The Essence of Joan by Andy Kim (#81); Makin' Love in My Mind by Patsy Gallant (#86); Autobahn by Kraftwerk (#89); Runaway by Charlie Kulis (#90); Bad Luck (Part 1) by Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes (#91); I'm Her Fool by Billy Swan (#93); I'll Play for You by Seals and Crofts (#94); Don't Tell Me Goodnight by Lobo (#95); All the Love in the World by Mac Davis (#96); Shakey Ground by the Temptations (#97); Growin' by Loggins and Messina (#98); What Can You Do About It by Gary & Dave (#99); and Bad Time by Grand Funk (#100).

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CFRW)
1 No No Song--Ringo Starr
2 Philadelphia Freedom--The Elton John Band
3 You are So Beautiful--Joe Cocker
4 I Don't Like to Sleep Alone--Paul Anka
5 Don't Call Us, We'll Call You--Sugarloaf/Jerry Corbetta
6 Lady Marmalade--LaBelle
7 Black Water--The Doobie Brothers
8 Lovin' You--Minnie Riperton
9 Shame, Shame, Shame--Shirley (And Company)
10 In the Mood--Rush
11 Have You Never Been Mellow--Olivia Newton-John
12 (Make Me Do) Anything You Want--A Foot in Coldwater
13 Chevy Van--Sammy Johns
14 Roll on Down the Highway--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
15 (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song--B.J. Thomas
16 Poetry Man--Phoebe Snow
17 Lady--Styx
18 Lonely People--America
19 Stand by Me--John Lennon
20 Jackie Blue--The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
21 Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)--Leo Sayer
22 The Immigrant--Neil Sedaka
23 Changes--David Bowie
24 She's My Lady--Jayson Hoover
25 You're No Good--Linda Ronstadt
26 Loves Me Like a Brother--The Guess Who
27 Autobahn--Kraftwerk
28 Mandy--Barry Manilow
29 Best of My Love--The Eagles
30 Essence of Joan--Andy Kim

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CKRC)
1 Lovin' You--Minnie Riperton
2 Philadelphia Freedom--The Elton John Band
3 (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song--B.J. Thomas
4 Lady Marmalade--LaBelle
5 Don't Call Us, We'll Call You--Sugarloaf/Jerry Corbetta
6 Black Water--The Doobie Brothers
7 Have You Never Been Mellow--Olivia Newton-John
8 No No Song--Ringo Starr
9 Poetry Man--Phoebe Snow
10 You are So Beautiful--Joe Cocker
11 Emma--Hot Chocolate
12 Shame, Shame, Shame--Shirley (And Company)
13 I Can Dance--Shooter
14 Roll on Down the Highway--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
15 He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)--Tony Orlando and Dawn
16 Fire--Ohip Players
17 I Don't Like to Sleep Alone--Paul Anka
18 Butter Boy--Fanny
19 Jackie Blue--The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
20 Changes--David Bowie
21 Can You Give it All to Me--Myles and Lenny
22 Back Up (Against Your Persuasion)--Black & Ward
23 What am I Gonna Do with You--Barry White
24 Sad Sweet Dreamer--Sweet Sensation
25 Let the Phone Ring--Jim Mancel
26 Uproar--Anne Murray
27 Stand by Me--John Lennon
28 In the Mood--Rush
29 Killer Queen--Queen
30 Misty--Ray Stevens

Died on this date
Josephine Baker, 68. U.S.-born French entertainer. Miss Baker, born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, achieved some popularity as a vaudeville dancer in New York City, but became a sensation in Paris in the 1920s as a dancer and singer. She starred in French movies such as Zouzou (1934) and Princesse Tam Tam (1935). Miss Baker became a French citizen in 1937, although she supported the Negro civil rights movement in the United States in the 1950s and '60s. She died of a cerebral hemorrhage four days after successfully opening the retrospective revue Joséphine à Bobino 1975.

World events
The United States removed its remaining embassy personnel from the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. 276 people were evacuated in Operation Eagle Pull, including 159 Cambodians who had worked with the Americans.

Golf
The third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia concluded with Tom Weiskopf leading at 9-under-par, 1 stroke ahead of Jack Nicklaus.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
Quarter-Finals
Cleveland 3 @ Houston 5 (Houston led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Quebec 3 @ Phoenix 0 (Quebec led best-of-seven series 3-0)
Toronto 6 @ San Diego 7 (San Diego led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Murray Hall scored 2 goals as the Aeros beat the Crusaders before 7,882 fans at Sam Houston Coliseum.

Serge Bernier scored 1:43 into the game and assisted on goals by Marc Tardif and Rejean Houle in the 2nd period as the Nordiques blanked the Roadrunners before 8,738 fans. Richard Brodeur made 32 saves--18 in the 3rd period--for the shutout in goal, while Phoenix goalie Gary Kurt faced just 18 shots.

Gene Peacosh scored 2 goals, Rick Adduono added 3 assists, and Wayne Rivers scored the eventual winning goal with 15:03 remaining in regulation time as the Mariners held on to edge the Toros before 13,039 fans at San Diego Sports Arena. Mr. Rivers' goal gave the Mariners a 7-3 lead, but the Toros struck back with goals by Jim Dorey, Lou Nistico, and Tom Martin in the last 7:31 of regulation time.

Basketball
NBA
First Round
New York 86 @ Houston 118 (Houston won best-of-three series 2-1)
Detroit 93 @ Seattle 100 (Seattle won best-of-three series 2-1)

Conference Semi-Finals
Washington 120 @ Buffalo 106 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Rudy Tomjanovich scored 25 points and Calvin Murphy added 20, but it was substitutes Gus Bailey, Steve Hawes, Ron Riley, and Zaid Abdul-Aziz who came off the bench to combine for 14 points in the 2nd quarter to help spark the Rockets to their victory over the Knickerbockers before 10,218 fans at Hofheinz Pavilion.

Tom Burleson scored 26 points to lead the SuperSonics to their victory over the Pistons before 14,082 fans. Detroit's Bob Lanier led all scorers with 29 points.

Elvin Hayes scored 34 points and Phil Chenier added 23 as the Bullets came back from a 10-point 2nd-quarter deficit to defeat the Braves before 17,189 fans at War Memorial Auditorium.

ABA
Playoffs
First Round
Utah 119 @ Denver 130 (Denver led best-of-seven series 3-2)
San Antonio 110 @ Indiana 109 (Indiana led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Dave Robisch, making his first start of the season, scored 22 points to help the Nuggets defeat the Stars before 7,498 fans at Denver Auditorium Arena. Mike Green and Ralph Simpson each added 21 points for Denver. Utah's John Roche led all scorers with 27 points--19 in the 1st quarter.

George Gervin's 18-foot field goal with 5 seconds remaining in regulation time enabled the Spurs to avert elimination by the Pacers before 17,389 fans at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. Mr. Gervin led San Antonio with 29 points, and his late heroics offset a 51-point performance by Indiana's George McGinnis.

Baseball
The New York Mets signed veteran outfielder Jesus Alou. Mr. Alou had previously played with the San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, and Oakland Athletics, batting .279 with 27 home runs and 311 runs batted in in 1,199 games from 1963-1974. He had been released by the Athletics on March 28.

Sal Bando hit a 3-run home run in the 5th inning for the Oakland Athletics as they held on to defeat the Texas Rangers before 20,598 fans in the first NBC Game of the Week to be televised from Arlington Stadium. Billy Williams, playing his first season with the Athletics after 15 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, hit his first American League home run. The Rangers rallied for 3 runs in the 9th inning off Oakland starting pitcher Vida Blue, but Rollie Fingers got the last out after giving up a 2-run single to Jeff Burroughs.



All the scoring took place in the 7th inning as the Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees 7-2 before 12,215 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. Bill Freehan opened the 7th inning with a home run, which was the Tigers' only earned run of the inning, all of which came against New York starting pitcher Pat Dobson. New York third baseman Graig Nettles made an error on a ground ball that would have ended the inning, and Nate Colbert eventually hit a grand slam for Detroit. The Yankees rallied for 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th to force Detroit starting pitcher Vern Ruhle out of the game.

Doug Griffin singled home pinch runner Rick Miller with the winning run in the top of the 13th inning as the Boston Red Sox edged the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 before 8,752 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

Hal McRae singled home Fred Patek with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins before 8,369 fans at Royals Stadium.

Leroy Stanton hit a solo home run off Wilbur Wood with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the California Angels a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox before 6,517 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Andy Hassler allowed 7 hits in 10 innings and struck out 9 in getting the win, whil Mr. Wood allowed 12 hits in 9 1/3 innings.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored 4 runs in the 1st inning and a run in each of the next 2 innings as they held on to edge the Cleveland Indians 6-5 before 11,515 fans at County Stadium. Sixto Lezcano and Robin Yount hit home runs for Milwaukee, while George Hendrick homered for Cleveland.

The Chicago Cubs scored a run in the bottom of the 7th inning and 4 in the 8th as they beat the Montreal Expos 6-3 before 11,415 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Montreal starting pitcher Dave McNally allowed 6 hits and 2 runs--both earned--in 7 innings and singled to set up a run to give the Expos a 3-2 lead in the top of the 7th, but Dale Murray allowed 3 hits, a base on balls, and 4 runs--3 earned--in the 8th inning to take the loss.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning off Gene Garber to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies before 11,101 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Philadelphia first baseman Willie Montanez batted 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, a run, and 2 runs batted in.

The Atlanta Braves scored 4 runs in the 3rd inning and 2 unearned runs in the 5th as they beat the San Francisco Giants 7-4 before 4,863 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Carl Morton allowed 8 hits in pitching a complete game for his second win of the season.

The Houston Astros scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning off Juan Marichal and held on to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-5 before 25,024 fans at the Astrodome. Mr. Marichal, making his first start as a Dodger after 14 seasons with the San Francisco Giants and a year with the Boston Red Sox, pitched 3 scoreless innings before being knocked out of the box in the 4th, with Cliff Johnson's 2-run home run the big blow.

Bob Knepper gained his first Pacific Coast League win with relief help from Tom Toms as the Phoenix Giants beat the Salt Lake City Gulls.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Live is Life--Opus

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): We are the World--USA For Africa (2nd week at #1)

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Oi beibi/Tuhansien sulojen maa--Raptori (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The By-road to Glenroe--Mick Lally (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
Lothar de Maiziere, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, became Premier of East Germany. In coalition with the Social Democratic Party, he led East Germany’s first freely-chosen government. The Party of Democratic Socialism, successor to the Communist Party, was not included in the coalition. Meeting under its new leadership, parliament asked for forgiveness from Jews and the U.S.S.R. for the policy of genocide practiced by the Nazis in World War II. Parliament also acknowledged that East Germany shared the guilt for invading Czechoslovakia in 1968, and it pledged "unequivocal recognition" of Poland’s current border.

Environment
H.J. Heinz Company, Van Camp Seafood Company, and Bumble Bee Seafoods Inc., which produced a combined 70% of canned tuna sold in the United States, announced that they would no longer buy tuna that had been caught in nets that also trapped dolphins. An estimated 80,000-100,000 dolphins perished each year when trapped in the nets that were used to catch tuna.

Hockey
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Toronto 3 @ St. Louis 4 (St. Louis won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Minnesota 1 @ Chicago 5 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Winnipeg 3 @ Edmonton 4 (Winnipeg led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Los Angeles 1 @ Calgary 5 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 3-2)

20 years ago
1995

Died on this date
Constance Heaven, 83. U.K. authoress and actress. Mrs. Heaven, born Constance Fecher, was an actress from 1939-1956, but was best known for writing historical and romance novels under her maiden and married names and the pseudonym Christina Merlin. Her novel The House of Kuragin (1972) was named Romance Novel of the Year in 1973.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that consumer prices had increased 0.2% in March.