April 7, 2015

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Marjory Stoneman Douglas. U.S. authoress and environmentalist. Mrs. Douglas was best known for her book The Everglades: River of Grass (1947), which was very influential in promoting the Florida Everglades as an ecosystem worthy of protection. She died on May 14, 1998 at the age of 108.

Society
The Ontario legislature passed the Municipal Institutions Act, letting local councils pass by-laws "for prohibiting the sale by retail of spirituous, fermented, or other manufactured liquors in any inn or other house of public entertainment, and for prohibiting totally the sale thereof in shops and places other than houses of public entertainment, provided the by-law before the passing thereof has been duly approved by the electors of the Municipality in the manner provided by this Act." The act thus provided for local options in the sale of liquor.

Transportation
The first Lake Biwa Canal was completed from Lake Biwa to Kyoto, Japan.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Margarete Schön. German actress. Miss Schön, born Margarethe Schippang, appeared in plays and films in a career spanning 50 years. She was best known for playing Kriemhild in the two-part film series Die Nibelungen (1924). Miss Schön died on December 26, 1985 at the age of 90.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Billie Holiday. U.S. singer. Miss Holiday, born Eleanora Fagan and nicknamed "Lady Day," was one of the 20th century's most popular and influential jazz singers. She sang with the bands such as those of Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson in the 1930s before embarking on a successful solo career. Miss Holiday's most memorable songs were probably the anti-lynching anthem Strange Fruit (1939) and God Bless the Child (1941). Drug abuse and heavy drinking impeded her career and hastened her death at the age of 44 on July 17, 1959.

Stanley Adams. U.S. actor. Mr. Adams was a character actor in numerous movies and television programs, often playing comic blowhards. He shot himself to death on April 27, 1977 at the age of 62.

80 years ago
1935

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

Golf
A spectacular albatross (double eagle) on the 15th hole enabled Gene Sarazen to finish in a tie with Craig Wood after the fourth round of the Masters at Augusta, Georgia, necessitating an 18-hole playoff the next day.

75 years ago
1940

War
The Allies announced the mining of the Norwegian coast, the Stadtlantet Peninsula, Bud, and West Fjord areas to hinder shipping to Germany.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. and Finland resumed diplomatic relations.

Wang Ching-wei, leader of the Japanese-backed government in central China, decreed that his government would hold invalid any treaties negotiated by the government in Chungking led by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.

Economics and finance
Japanese delegates, negotiating a trade agreement with the U.S.S.R., abruptly left Moscow.

Americana
Educator Booker T. Washington became the first Negro American to be depicted on a United States postage stamp.

Politics and government
Rejecting the advice of United Mine Workers of America President John L. Lewis, Labor's Non-Partisan League of New Jersey supported a third term as President of the United States for Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Martin Dies (Democrat--Texas), Chairman of the United States House of Representatives Committee Investigating Un-American Activities, demanded that President Franklin D. Roosevelt support his plan to expose and curb foreign-affiliated organizations.

Norman Thomas was nominated as the Socialist Party's candidate for President of the United States in the November 1940 election.

Science
The Rockefeller Foundation provided the University of California with $150,000 for the construction of a 4,900-ton cyclotron under the direction of Professor E.O. Lawrence.

Health
A Gallup Poll reported that Americans felt the following to be the nation's most serious health problems: syphilis (46%); cancer (29%); tuberculosis (16%); and infantile paralysis (9%).

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day) (Best Seller--1st week at #1; Airplay--1st week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--2nd week at #1); Rum and Coca-Cola--The Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen and his Orchestra (Juke Box--9th week at #1)

War
U.S. troops discovered a hoard of German gold and currency, along with numerous art treasures, stored in a 2,100-foot-deep salt mine at Merkers, Germany. Soviet troops swept around Vienna, encircling most of the city. Visoko was liberated by the 7th, 9th, and 17th Krajina brigades from the Tenth division of Yugoslav Partisan forces.
355 Japanese kamikaze planes participated in the first attack of Operation Ten-Go, sinking 6 American vessels of the 5th Fleet off Okinawa and damaging 17. The Japanese battleship Yamato, the largest battleship ever constructed, was sunk by American planes 60 miles south of Kyushu Island and 200 miles north of Okinawa while en route to a suicide mission in Operation Ten-Go. Southeast Asia headquarters reported the end of organized Japanese resistance in central Burma, opening the way to the invasion of Rangoon.

Politics and government
Prime Minister Baron Kantaro Suzuki's new Japanese government was sworn in in Tokyo.

A new Czechoslovakian cabinet with Colonel Zdenek Fierlinger took office, pledging to maintain good relations with the U.S.S.R.

Economics and finance
U.S. Director of Economic Stabilization William Davis, Price Administrator Chester Bowles, and War Food Administrator Marvin Jones reported to President Franklin D. Roosevelt that the dangers of inflation were apparent, and called for continuation of controls into the postwar period.

60 years ago
1955

Died on this date
Theda Bara, 69. U.S. actress. Miss Bara, born Theodosia Burr Goodman, was one of the most famous movie stars of the silent era, making more than 40 films from 1914-1926. She was known as the "vamp" because of the characters she played. Her best-known movie was probably Cleopatra (1917).

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Detroit 2 @ Montreal 4 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion scored 3 goals to lead the Canadiens over the Red Wings at the Montreal Forum.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Syracuse 71 Fort Wayne 74 @ Indianapolis (Fort Wayne led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Frank Brian made two free throws late in the game to clinch the win for the Pistons over the Nationals. The game was interrupted in the 3rd quarter when a fan, who turned out to be an off-duty policeman, threw a chair onto the floor. He later obtained a warrant against Syracuse's George King for making threatening statements in connection with the incident. Mr. King reluctantly went along with authorities and apologized for the language he had used. 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

Died on this date
Roger Leger, 46. Canadian hockey player. Mr. Leger was a defenceman with the New York Rangers (1943-44) and Montreal Canadiens (1946-50), scoring 18 goals and 53 assists in 187 regular season games, and 7 assists in 20 playoff games. He died 12 days after his 46th birthday.

War
U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, speaking at Johns Hopkins University, proposed unconditional talks on Vietnam. He offered a $1-billion aid program to southeast Asia (including North Vietnam), and asked the U.S.S.R., other countries, and the United Nations to assist.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Horror Movie--Skyhooks (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Waga Yoki Tomoyo--Hiroshi Kamayatsu (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Todo El Tiempo Del Mundo--Manolo Otero (16th week at #1)

Oil
Talks between importing nations and exporting nations began in Paris.

Hockey
WHA
Houston 2 @ Baltimore 4

Bill Evo scored in the 1st period and Ray Larose, Gary Veneruzzo, and Jerry Zrymiak scored in the 2nd period as the Blades defeated the Aeros before 4,068 fans at the Baltimore Civic Center. Murray Hall and Gordie Howe scored for Houston. Jim McLeod made 44 saves for Baltimore in winning the goaltending duel over Wayne Rutledge. It was the final game for the Blades, who started as the Los Angeles Sharks and moved to Detroit after two seasons. They started the 1974-75 season as the Michigan Stags, but moved to Baltimore in January. The Stags and Blades finished fifth and last in the West Division, with a record of 21-53-4. The Aeros, also in the West Division, finished with the World Hockey Association's best record, 53-25-0.

Basketball
ABA
Playoffs
First Round
Utah 120 @ Denver 126 (Denver led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Indiana 98 @ San Antonio 93 (Indiana led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Ralph Simpson scored 28 points and Mack Calvin added 27 as the Nuggets overcame a 10-point deficit in the 4th quarter to defeat the Stars before 7,298 fans at Denver Auditorium Arena. Utah's Ron Boone led all scorers with 29 points, but missed the last 7 minutes with a shoulder injury.

George McGinnis scored 33 points--19 in the 4th quarter--as the Pacers beat the Spurs before 7,643 fans at Convention Center Arena. San Antonio's George Gervin led all scorers with 38 points.

Baseball
The Philadelphia Phillies released relief pitcher Eddie Watt. Mr. Watt had pitched with the Baltimore Orioles from 1966-1973 before being sold to the Phillies, compiling a record of 38-35 with an earned run average of 2.96 and 80 saves. He was subsequently signed by the Chicago Cubs.

Pinch hitter George Foster's infield single with 2 out in the bottom of the 13th inning drove in Cesar Geronimo with the winning run as the Cincinnati Reds edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 in the season opener before 52,526 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Pat Darcy pitched the last 2 innings and was credited with the win over Charlie Hough. John Vukovich, starting at third base for the Reds in place of injured Dan Driessen, batted 1 for 3.

Gary Carter batted 3 for 4, including a 3-run home run in the top of the 9th inning, and Tony Scott doubled in 2 runs in the 8th as the Montreal Expos opened their season with an 8-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals before 31,769 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Dave McNally, in his first game with Montreal after 13 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, allowed 9 hits and 4 runs--2 earned--to get the win, with Dale Murray pitching the final 2 innings to get the save. Bob Gibson allowed 9 hits and 5 runs--all earned--in taking the loss.

The Houston Astros scored 5 unearned runs with 2 out in the bottom of the 5th inning as they beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2 in their season opener before 14,959 fans at the Astrodome. A catcher's interference call against Atlanta's Vic Correll prolonged the Houston rally, which ws climaxed by a 3-run home run by Jose Cruz, playing his first game as an Astro. Mr. Cruz also had 2 singles and a stolen base. Larry Dierker allowed 4 hits and had 7 strikeouts in pitching a complete game victory, while Phil Niekro pitched 4 2/3 innings in taking the loss.

Bruce Bochte drove in Morris Nettles with a sacrifice fly with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning for the winning run to climax a 2-run rally as the California Angels defeated the Kansas City Royals in their season opener before 24,105 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Nolan Ryan pitched a complete game for the Angels, allowing 3 hits and striking out 12. Harmon Killebrew, playing his first game with Kansas City after 21 seasons with the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins, batted 0 for 4 as the Royals' designated hitter.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Shout--Tears for Fears (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Johnny, Johnny--Jeanne Mas (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: You're My Heart, You're My Soul--Modern Talking (5th week at #1)

On the radio
The Stories of Sherlock Holmes, starring Graham Armitage and Kerry Jordan, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: David Rensberg's Will

Defense
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev declared a moratorium on the deployment of middle-range missiles in Europe.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 5 Buffalo 4

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Vattene Amore--Amedeo Minghi; Mietta (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Enjoy the Silence--Depeche Mode (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Le temps des Yéyés--Les Vagabonds (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): The Power--Snap! (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (8th week at #1)
2 Daar Gaat Ze--Clouseau
3 The Power--Snap!
4 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton
5 Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International
6 Fortune Fairytales--Loïs Lane
7 The Healer--John Lee Hooker featuring Carlos Santana & the Santana Band
8 Sacrifice--Elton John
9 Enjoy the Silence--Depeche Mode
10 Infinity (1990's... Time for the Guru)--Guru Josh

Singles entering the chart were This Beat is Technotronic by Technotronic featuring MC Eric (#21); What "U" Waitin..... "4"? by Jungle Brothers (#22); Black Velvet by Alannah Myles (#30); Better World by Rebel MC (#31); That Sounds Good to Me by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers (#32); and Rode Rozen, Gaf Jij Aan Mij by De Vrijbuiters (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Love Will Lead You Back--Taylor Dayne
2 I'll Be Your Everything--Tommy Page
3 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
4 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
5 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles
6 Don't Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
7 Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic
8 Here and Now--Luther Vandross
9 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor
10 Forever--Kiss

Singles entering the chart were Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe (#52); It Must Have Been Love by Roxette (#67); Save Me by Fleetwood Mac (#70); Cruising for Bruising by Basia (#76); Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice) by Gloria Estefan (#78); Always and Forever by Whistle (#87); All that Glitters Isn't Gold by the Cover Girls (#89); You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) by Jimmy Somerville (#96); and The Ballad of Jayne by L.A. Guns (#99). It Must Have Been Love was from the movie Pretty Woman (1990).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles (2nd week at #1)
2 Love Will Lead You Back--Taylor Dayne
3 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
4 I’ll Be Your Everything--Tommy Page
5 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
6 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
7 Escapade--Janet Jackson
8 Keep it Together--Madonna
9 Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic
10 Here and Now--Luther Vandross

Singles entering the chart were It Must Have Been Love by Roxette (#57); Alright by Janet Jackson (#61); Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice) by Gloria Estefan (#65); Save Me by Fleetwood Mac (#69); U Can't Touch This by M.C. Hammer (#74); Heaven is a 4 Letter Word by Bad English (#77); Getting Away with It by Electronic (#85); Moonlight on Water by Laura Branigan (#87); and Ready or Not by After 7 (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins (3rd week at #1)
2 Escapade--Janet Jackson
3 Love Will Lead You Back--Taylor Dayne
4 I Go to Extremes--Billy Joel
5 Lover of Mine--Alannah Myles
6 Every Little Tear--Paul Janz
7 Blue Sky Mine--Midnight Oil
8 Keep it Together--Madonna
9 Roam--The B-52's
10 All My Life--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)

Singles entering the chart were Hold On by Wilson Phillips (#72); Cruising for Bruising by Basle (#75); Heartbeat by Seduction (#77); As Soon as the Sun Comes Up by Animal Logic (#81); Every Road by Shari Ulrich (#83); Carry Me by Ray Lyell & the Storm (#85); Song for Whoever by Beautiful South (#87); Coming of Age by Damn Yankees (#89); No More Words by Luba (#91); and I Wanna Know by John James (#93).

Died on this date
Ron Evans, 56. U.S. astronaut. Captain Evans was an aviator with the United States Navy who joined the astronaut corps in 1966. He was the Command Module Pilot on Apollo 17 in December 1972, the last manned moon mission. Capt. Evans was the backup Command Module Pilot for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission in 1975. He left the astronaut corps in 1977 to pursue a career in business, and died of a heart attack in his sleep.

Society
The Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati and its director, Dennis Barrie, were indicted by a grand jury on obscenity charges--pandering and illegal use of a minor--for opening on that day an exhibit of photographs by the late sodomite degenerate Robert Mapplethorpe. Prosecutors had concentrated their charges on 7 (of 175) photographs in the exhibit that depicted naked children or homosexual acts.

Politics and government
The Latvian Communist Party broke into pro- and anti-independence factions.

Scandal
Former U.S. national security adviser Admiral John Poindexter was convicted on all five felony counts in a federal district court in Washington, D.C. connected with his involvement with the Iran-Contra arms scandal of the mid-1980s. The counts included two of obstructing Congress; two of making false statements to Congress; and one of conspiracy to obstruct Congress. Adm. Poindexter was the highest-ranking official to be convicted in the Iran-Contra affair.

Disasters
As many as 176 people died, while about 360 escaped, when a fire broke out on the Danish ferry Scandinavian Star while it was en route from Oslo, Norway to Frederikshavn, Denmark. Most of the deaths were from smoke inhalation.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Montreal 3 @ Buffalo 0 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Washington 5 @ New Jersey 6 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
New York Islanders 2 @ New York Rangers 5 (Rangers led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Hartford 1 @ Boston 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Curling
Men’s World Championships @ Rocklundahallen, Västerås, Sweden
Final
Canada (Ed Werenich) 3 Scotland (David Smith) 1

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Think Twice--Celine Dion (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Back for Good--Take That (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Frank Secory, 82. U.S. baseball player and umpire. Mr. Secory played left field with the Detroit Tigers (1940); Cincinnati Reds (1942); and Chicago Cubs (1944-1946), batting .228 with 7 home runs and 36 runs batted in in 93 games. He served as a National League umpire from 1952-1970, working in 2,977 regular season games, 4 World Series, and 6 All-Star games.

Nicholas Ingram, 31. U.K.-born U.S. criminal. Mr. Ingram, who held dual citizenship, was executed in the electric chair at Jackson State prison in Georgia for murdering a man and wounding his wife during a robbery in 1983.

Abominations
Russian paramilitary troops began a massacre of civilians in Samashki, Chechnya.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate in March had increased 0.1% to 5.5%.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Bob Kennedy, 84. U.S. baseball player, coach, and manager. Mr. Kennedy was a right fielder and third basemen with the Chicago White Sox (1939-1942, 1946-1948, 1955-1956, 1957); Cleveland Indians (1948-1954); Baltimore Orioles (1954-1955); Detroit Tigers (1956); and Brooklyn Dodgers (1957), batting .254 with 63 home runs and 514 runs batted in in 1,483 games. He was a member of the Indians when they won the 1948 World Series. Mr. Kennedy was one of the participants in the "College of Coaches" experiment with the Chicago Cubs from 1962-1965, when team owner Phil Wrigley eschewed the traditional position of manager. Mr. Kennedy acted as head coach and manager in all but name in guiding the Cubs to an 82-80 record in 1963, and posted an identical record as the manager of the Oakland Athletics in 1968, their first season after moving from Kansas City. He returned to the Cubs as their general manager from 1977-1981.

Politics and government
Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a Shiite Arab, was named Prime Minister of Iraq.