April 5, 2015

225 years ago
1790

Politics and government
The first town meeting in Upper Canada was held at Grimsby, marking the start of local self-government in the province.

130 years ago
1885

Defense
Two permanent artillery batteries arrived in Winnipeg.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Mike O'Dowd. U.S. boxer. Mr. O'Dowd compiled a record of 93-39-6-1 in a professional career from 1913-1923; he was world middleweight champion from 1917-1920 and held New York State Athletic Commission from 1922-1923. Mr. O'Dowd was the only current world champion to serve in the armed forces in World War I, and retired after being knocked out in his last fight by Jock Malone--the only knockout defeat of his career. Mr. O'Dowd died on July 28, 1957 at the age of 62.

Scandal
British playwright Oscar Wilde lost his criminal libel case against John Douglas, Marquess of Queensberry, who had accused the writer of homosexual practices. Under the Libel Act 1843, the Marquess of Queensberry's acquittal rendered Mr. Wilde legally liable for the considerable expenses the Marquess had incurred in his defense, which left Mr. Wilde bankrupt.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
John McLendon. U.S. basketball coach. Mr. McLendon, who was partly of Negro and Delaware Indian ancestry, became the first Negro to coach a professional basketball team in North America when he was hired as coach of the Cleveland Pipers in the American Basketball League in 1961. He was fired, or resigned (the team was owned by George Steinbrenner, who later made a habit of firing managers when he owned the New York Yankees) partway through the season, and Bill Sharman, who had recently lost his job as coach of the Los Angeles Jets upon the folding of that franchise, was hired as his replacement and guided the Pipers to the ABL championship. In 1966, Mr. McLendon was hired by Cleveland State University, becoming the first Negro basketball coach at a predominantly white university. Mr. McLendon returned to the professional ranks with the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association in 1969, but was fired when the team started the 1969-70 season with a record of 9-19. Mr. McLendon was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979 as a "contributor," and into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 as a coach. He died on October 8, 1999 at the age of 84.

Boxing
Jess Willard (21-3-1) knocked out Jack Johnson (55-6-11-3) at 1:26 of the 26th round to win the world heavyweight title at Oriental Park in Havana. The fight had been scheduled for a maximum of 45 rounds, the last professional fight to be scheduled for that distance. Mr. Johnson had held the belt since defeating Tommy Burns on December 26, 1908.



75 years ago
1940

Died on this date
Jay O'Brien, 57. U.S. bobsledder. Mr. O'Brien was a member of the team that won the silver medal in the five-man event at the 1928 Winter Olympic Games in St. Moritz, and the gold medal in the four-man competition at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. He died of a heart attack.

Theatre
Theatre Club, Inc. awarded Life with Father, by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, its annual prize as the best play written by an American.

War
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declared his confidence in victory over Germany was growing. The Allies had improved their relative position since the war had begun, he added, declaring that German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler had "missed the bus."

Defense
Domei news agency reported that Portuguese troops were withdrawing from the island of Lappa on Japan's request.

Diplomacy
Chile and Argentina agreed to submit the Beagle Channel boundary dispute to U.S. arbitration.

The U.S. State Department named 35 educators for service in Latin America under the terms of the 1936 Inter-American Cultural Relations Agreement.

Politics and government
Germany announced that Krakow would succeed Warsaw as the capital of Poland.

Law
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt indicated his opposition to the Walter-Logan bill, which would permit the court review of rulings by federal quasi-judicial agencies.

Economics and finance
The United States Senate approved and sent to President Franklin D. Roosevelt a bill authorizing the president to negotiate reciprocal trade agreements for the next two years.

Horse racing
Bogakar won the Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree, England.

70 years ago
1945

Literature
The Collected Poetry of W.H. Auden was published.

War
The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz would lead all Army and Navy forces respectively against Japan. The U.S.S.R. denounced her neutrality pact with Japan, ostensibly because of Japan's aid to Germany. British troops advancing from the south reached within about 30 miles of Bremen. Soviet units reached the southern city limits of Vienna. U.S. troops attacked below German-held Massa on the Italian Tyrrhenian coast, and gained 2 miles.

Defense
Yugoslav leader Marshal Josip Broz Tito signed an agreement with the U.S.S.R. to allow "temporary entry of Soviet troops into Yugoslav territory."

The U.K. published a secret protocol to the Polish treaty of 1939 in which Britain pledged assistance to Poland against German aggression only.

Politics and government
Japanese Prime Minister Kuniaki Koiso's cabinet resigned, and Emperor Hirohito ordered Admiral Baron Kantaro Suzuki to form a new government.


Diplomacy
John Foster Dulles accepted an appointment as an adviser to the U.S. delegation at the conference in San Francisco to found the United Nations.

Law
The new police chief of Rio de Janeiro promised to permit legitimate strikes and respect religious freedom in the city.

Labour
The U.S. National War Labor Board warned United Mine Workers of America coal miners that unless work stoppages were halted at 200 mines the government would seize the operations.

60 years ago
1955

Politics and government
Sir Winston Churchill announced his resignation as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom because of failing health. He had held the office from 1940-1945 and again from 1951 until his resignation, which took effect the following day. Sir Winston was succeeded by longtime Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden.





Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 1 @ Detroit 7 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Ted Lindsay scored 4 goals and goaded Montreal's Dickie Moore into taking a minor, misconduct, and game misconduct penalties as the Red Wings routed the Canadiens at Olympia Stadium.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Syracuse 102 Fort Wayne 109 @ Indianapolis (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

The Nationals made just 32 of 103 field goal attempts as they lost to the Pistons. Syracuse's Dolph Schayes led all scorers with 28 points. The Pistons' home games in the series were played in Indianapolis because War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne had been booked and was unavailable.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): La Yenka--Johnny & Charley (8th week at #1)

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

Canada's Top 8 (RPM)
1 Shakin' All Over--Chad Allan and the Expressions (Guess Who?) (3rd week at #1)
2 Girl Don't Come--Sandie Shaw
3 Mean Woman Blues--Bobby Curtola
4 I Know a Place--Petula Clark
5 Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood--The Animals
6 I'll Never Find Another You--The Seekers
7 Long Lonely Nights--Bobby Vinton
8 Me and You--The Regents

On television tonight
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Power of Attorney, starring Richard Johnson, Geraldine Fitzgerald, and Fay Bainter

This was the final role for Miss Bainter, who won an Academy Award for her supporting performance in Jezebel (1938).

Movies
The Academy Awards for 1964 were presented at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The awards given to My Fair Lady included Best Picture; Best Director (George Cukor); and Best Actor (Rex Harrison). Other awards included: Best Actress--Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins); Best Supporting Actor--Peter Ustinov (Topkapi); Best Supporting Actress--Lila Kedrova (Zorba the Greek); Best Foreign Language Film--Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.



Music
The single Help Me, Rhonda/Kiss Me, Baby by the Beach Boys was released on Capitol Records.

40 years ago
1975

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

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

#1 single in the U.K.: Bye Bye Baby--Bay City Rollers (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Lovin' You--Minnie Riperton

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

Singles entering the chart were Bad Time by Grand Funk (#77); I Want to Be Free by Ohio Players (#81); Only Women by Alice Cooper (#86); Cut the Cake by Average White Band (#88); Magic by Pilot (#89); Get Down, Get Down (Get on the Floor) by Joe Simon (#94); and A Hurricane is Coming Tonight by Carol Douglas (#97).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 No No Song--Ringo Starr
2 Lady Marmalade--LaBelle
3 Shame, Shame, Shame--Shirley (and Company)
4 You are So Beautiful--Joe Cocker
5 Don't Call Us, We'll Call You--Sugarloaf/Jerry Corbetta
6 Have You Never Been Mellow--Olivia Newton-John
7 My Eyes Adored You--Frankie Valli
8 Philadelphia Freedom--The Elton John Band
9 Lovin' You--Minnie Riperton
10 Emma--Hot Chocolate

Singles entering the chart were We're Almost There by Michael Jackson (#82); Thank God I'm a Country Boy by John Denver (#84); Beer Barrel Polka by Bobby Vinton (#86); Shaving Cream by Benny Bell (#87); The Pill by Loretta Lynn (#88); Amie by Pure Prairie League (#91); How Long by Ace (#92); My Little Lady by Bloodstone (#93); Shining Star by Earth, Wind & Fire (#94); Showdown by Odia Coates (#95); Young Americans by David Bowie (#96); The Immigrant by Neil Sedaka (#97); Play Your Cards Right by Kelly Jay and Bad Manors (#98); Only Yesterday by the Carpenters (#99); and Leona by Wet Willie (#100).

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

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

Died on this date
Chiang Kai-shek, 87. 1st President of the Republic of China, 1928-1975. Generalissimo Chiang took the leadership of the governing Kuomintang (KMT) party upon the death of Sun Yat-sen in 1925, and the presidency in 1928. When Generalissimo Chiang's Nationalist forces were forced out of power by the Communists led by Mao Zedong in 1949, they fled to Taiwan, where Chiang continued to lead the nation as the Republic of China. He was succeeded as President by Vice President Yen Chia-kan and as Kuomintang party leader by his son Chiang Ching-kuo.

Harold Osborn, 75. U.S. athlete. Mr. Osborn won gold medals in the decathlon and men's high jump at the 1924 Summer Olympic Games in Paris; he remains the only competitor to win gold medals in the decathlon and an individual event. Mr. Osborn competed in the high jump in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, just failing to win a medal. He died eight days before his 76th birthday.

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched Soyuz 18a, with a crew of Commander Vasily Lazarev and Flight Engineer Oleg Makarov, from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The spacecraft was supposed to dock with the Salyut 4 space station, but failed to reach Earth orbit because of a failure of the launch vehicle. The mission was aborted and the spacecraft fell rapidly back to Earth, and the cosmonauts endured forces up to 21.3 g forces before landing on a snow-covered slope north of the Chinese border and rolling downhill toward a 499-foot sheer drop before its parachute snagged on trees. The flight lasted just 21 minutes. A rescue team needed rescue themselves when they were trapped in deep snow, and the cosmonauts weren't rescued until the next day. Dr. Lazarev never fully recovered from his injuries, and never flew in space again. Mr. Makarov made three subsequent space flights, but suffered from heart problems.



Politics and government
Ahmadou Ahidjo, leader of the Cameroonian National Union, was re-elected President of Cameroon, running unopposed. He had been President since Cameroon had gained her independence from France in 1960.

Hockey
Buffalo 4 @ Toronto 2
Washington 2 @ Montreal 10

The Sabres defeated the Maple Leafs in the national Hockey Night in Canada telecast, while the Canadiens routed the Capitals in the Quebec and French telecast.

Baseball
The Philadelphia Phillies traded outfielder Bill Robinson to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher Wayne Simpson. Mr. Robinson had hit .288 with 25 home runs and 65 runs batted in in 1973, but had dropped to .236 with 5 homers and 29 RBIs in 1974. Mr. Simpson had come into the major leagues in 1970 with the Cincinnati Reds and had won 13 of his first 14 decisions, but an undiagnosed torn rotator cuff in his pitching arm had reduced him to mediocrity. He had been acquired by the Pirates from the Kansas City Royals in 1974 and had spent the entire 1974 season with the Charleston Charlies of the International League, posting a record of 9-10 with an earned run average of 3.32.

The Cleveland Indians broke a 4-4 tie with 7 runs in the top of the 11th inning--aided by 3 errors--as they defeated the defending World Series champion Oakland Athletics 11-6 in a spring training game before 3,506 fans in Mesa, Arizona. An interesting aspect of the game was the use of a "designated runner," an innovation championed by Athletics' owner Charlie Finley. Oakland right fielder Reggie Jackson batted 2 for 2 with a home run and 3 runs batted in. The box score lists both Don Hopkins and Herb Washington at "dr," with Mr. Hopkins scoring a run. The designated runner was never adopted, and I'm not sure if the experiment was ever tried in another game. Losing pitcher Roger Nelson, acquired by Oakland several days earlier after being released by the Chicago White Sox, entered the game to begin the 11th inning and allowed 3 hits and 2 bases on balls, and made one of the errors that aided the Cleveland outburst. Shortstop Dal Maxvill and rookie first baseman David Nitschke, who never played a regular season game in the major leagues, made the other Oakland errors.

Cliff Johnson hit a solo home run in the 5th inning and a grand slam in the 6th as the Houston Astros blanked the Texas Rangers 6-0 in a spring training game before 11,454 fans in the Astrodome. Winning pitcher J.R. Richard pitched 6 hitless innings, while Texas starter Ferguson Jenkins allowed 1 hit in 4 scoreless innings before being relieved by Jim Bibby, who allowed 6 earned runs in 2 innings to take the loss.

Lee May hit a home run in the top of the 5th inning to give the Baltimore Orioles a 1-0 win over the Atlanta Braves in a spring training game before 5,995 fans in Birmingham, Alabama. Doyle Alexander started on the mound for Baltimore and allowed 2 hits in 4 innings before being relieved by Mike Torrez, who allowed just 1 hit in 5 innings to get the win. Losing pitcher Ron Reed allowed just 2 hits in 7 innings.

The Montreal Expos scored 4 runs in the top of the 1st inning as they defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-2 in a spring training game before 2,179 fans in Winter Haven, Florida. Mike Jorgensen and Pat Scanlon each hit 2-run home runs for the Expos, who finished spring training with a record of 19-8, tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the major leagues.

The Minnesota Twins scored 5 runs--4 earned--off Tom Hall in the bottom of the 6th inning as they defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 in a spring training game before 4,289 fans in Orlando, Florida. Cincinnati third baseman John Vukovich, normally a weak hitter, batted 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored 6 runs in the 4th inning and 7 in the 9th as they routed the Pittsburgh Pirates 18-4 in a spring training game before 1,423 fans in Bradenton, Florida. The Cardinals amassed 24 hits, led by Reggie Smith, who went 4 for 4 with a triple. Winning pitcher John Curtis batted 2 for 3 with 2 runs and 2 runs batted in, and relief pitcher Al Hrabosky singled in a run in the 9th inning.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): You're My Heart, You're My Soul--Modern Talking (6th week at #1)

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

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Oi beibi/Tuhansien sulojen maa--Raptori (4th week at #1)

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

Politics and government
South African President F.W. de Klerk and recently-freed black nationalist leader Nelson Mandela met in Cape Town and agreed that talks would soon be held between the government and the African National Congress.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
Montreal 1 @ Buffalo 4 (Buffalo led best-of-seven series 1-0)
New York Islanders 1 @ New York Rangers 2 (Rangers led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Hartford 4 @ Boston 3 (Hartford led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Washington 5 @ New Jersey 4 (OT) (Washington led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
1995

Died on this date
Christian Pineau, 90. French politician. Mr. Pineau was a banker before becoming a leader in the French Resistance during World War II, and survived internment at Buchenwald concentration camp. A Socialist, he held several cabinet posts from 1945-1958, including Foreign Minister (1956-1958). Mr. Pineau was designated as Prime Minister in February 1955, but held office for just two days, as he proved unable to form a government that could obtain the approval of the National Assembly.

Economics and finance
The U.S. dollar stood at 1.3733 German marks in New York, a near-record low.

The United States House of Representatives voted 246-188 to approve a bill that would cut taxes for individuals and corporations.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Dale Messick, 98. U.S. cartoonist. Miss Messick created the comic strip Brenda Starr in 1940 and continued drawing it until her retirement in 1980. She died six days short of her 99th birthday.

Saul Bellow, 89. Canadian-born U.S. author. Mr. Bellow, born Solomon Bellows in Lachine, Quebec, moved to the United States with his family at the age of 9. He was awarded the 1976 Nobel Prize in Literature "for the human understanding and subtle analysis of contemporary culture that are combined in his work." His novels included Dangling Man (1944); The Adventures of Augie March (1953); Seize the Day (1956); Henderson the Rain King (1959); Herzog (1964); and Humboldt's Gift (1975).

Debralee Scott, 52. U.S. actress. Miss Scott was known for her supporting roles in the television comedy series Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-1977) and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976). She died in her sleep three days after her 52nd birthday, after several years of heavy drinking.