April 30, 2015

700 years ago
1315

Died on this date
Enguerrand de Marigny, 54 or 55. Grand Chamberlain of France, 1304-1315. Mr. Marigny helped to carry out the plans of King Philip IV, but fell out of favour with the princes, and when King Philip died on November 29, 1314, Mr. Marigny was left without his principal advocate. He was arrested by the new king, Louis X, convicted of sorcery, and hanged on the public Gibbet of Montfaucon, protesting that in all his acts he had only been carrying out King Philip's commands.

150 years ago
1865

Died on this date
Robert FitzRoy, 59. Governor of New Zealand, 1843-1845. Vice-Admiral FitzRoy was a British Royal Navy officer who was perhaps best known as captain of HMS Beagle, the ship carrying naturalist Charles Darwin on his voyage to the Western Hemisphere. Vice-Admiral FitzRoy was a Bible-believing Christian who rejected Mr. Darwin's theory of evolution, and regretted his role in its birth. He was a pioneering meteorologist who coined the term "forecast" to describe his predictions. Vice-Admiral FitzRoy was appointed Governor of New Zealand following the death of Captain William Hobson in 1842. He didn't receive the financial backing required to end a war between Maori natives and British colonists, and was recalled and replaced by then-Governor of South Australia George Grey.

130 years ago
1885

Americana
New York Governor David B. Hill signed legislation creating the Niagara Reservation, New York's first state park, ensuring that Niagara Falls would not be devoted solely to industrial and commercial use.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Philippe Panneton. Canadian physician, author, and diplomat. Dr. Panneton, a native of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, was a professor at the Université de Montréal. He wrote novels in the 1940s using the pseudonym Ringuet, and won the 1940 Governor General's Award for Fiction for Trente arpents (Thirty Acres) (1938). Dr. Panneton was Canada's Ambassador to Portugal from 1956 until his death in Lisbon on December 28, 1960 at the age of 65.

90 years ago
1925

Business
U.S. automobile manufacturer Dodge Brothers, Inc. was sold to Dillon, Read & Co. for U.S. $146 million plus $50 million for charity.

75 years ago
1940

War
The Communist International issued a statement from Moscow warning that the current war would spread to the Balkans, Near East, and Pacific regions. German troops in Norway occupied Dombas and Opdal, thus gaining control of the Oslo-Trondheim rail line.

Politics and government
In the Massachusetts primaries in the contest for the nominations in the 1940 U.S. presidential election, U.S. Postmaster General James Farley defeated President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Democratic primary, while Republican voters rejected a slate of delegates pledged to New York City District Attorney Thomas Dewey, opting instead for an unpledged slate.

Labour
In response to requests from unions, the Quebec government of Premier Adélard Godbout created the Supreme Labour Council, to act as an advisory body to the government.

Football
The American Football Coaches Association awarded the first Amos Alonzo Stagg Award to Donald Herring, Jr., a player with Princeton University, as the "individual, group or institution whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football."

Baseball
Tex Carleton pitched a no-hitter to lead the Brooklyn Dodgers to a 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds before 10,544 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. The scoring came on a 3-run home run by Pete Coscarart in the 5th inning off losing pitcher Jim Turner. The win improved Brooklyn’s record for the season to 9-0.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Swinging on a Star--Bing Crosby and Joe Loss (1st month at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day) (4th week at #1)
--Johnny Long and his Orchestra and Dick Robertson
--Phil Moore Four
2 Candy--Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
3 I'm Beginning to See the Light--Harry James and his Orchestra
--Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra
--Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots
4 Dream--The Pied Pipers
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
5 A Little on the Lonely Side--Frankie Carle and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
6 Just a Prayer Away--Bing Crosby
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
7 More and More--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
--Perry Como
8 Laura--Woody Herman and his Orchestra
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
9 Sentimental Journey--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day)
--Hal McIntyre and his Orchestra
10 Rum and Coca-Cola--The Andrews Sisters
--Abe Lyman and his Orchestra
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were Chloe by Spike Jones and his City Slickers (#22); Caldonia, with versions by Woody Herman and his Orchestra and Erskine Hawkins and his Orchestra (#32); and Stormy Weather by Frank Sinatra (#34). The version of Caldonia by Erskine Hawkins and his Orchestra was the other side of I Hope to Die if I Told a Lie, which had charted the previous week at #40.

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Unfortunate Tobacconist

William Joyce, better known as Lord Haw-Haw, delivered his last broadcast from Berlin, while clearly under the influence of alcohol.



Died on this date
Adolf Hitler, 56. Chancellor of Germany, 1933-1945; Fuehrer of Germany, 1934-1945. Mr. Hitler, a native of Linz, Austria, led the National Socialist German Workers' (Nazi) Party from 1921 until his death. His actions, too numerous to mention here, led him to gain infamy as one of the most evil people in history. During the final days of World War II, as Soviet troops were in Berlin and were rapidly approaching the Reich Chancellery, Mr. Hitler and his wife Eva Braun, 33, who had been married the previous day, were in their underground Fueherbunker, and committed suicide.

William O. Darby, 34. U.S. military officer. Brigadier General Darby joined the United States Army in 1933, and commanded the 1st Ranger Battalion in World War II, most notably in Italy. The battalion became famous as "Darby's Rangers," conspicuous for their heroism. Brig. Gen. Darby, whose ultimate rank was conferred posthumously, was killed with one of his sergeants when an artillery shell burst in the middle of the assembled officers and NCOs as he was giving orders for the attack on Trento to cut off a German retreat.

War
The U.S.S.R. flag was raised by Soviet soldiers over the ruins of the Reichstag in Berlin. Munich was secured by American troops, who received cooperation from the freedom movement within the city.

Politics and government
Josef Goebbels became Fuehrer of Germany upon the death of Adolf Hitler.

Diplomacy
Argentina was invited to the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco.

U.S. acting Secretary of State Joseph Grew said that the United States did not recognize the new government of Austria, installed the previous day in Vienna by Soviet occupation forces.

Economics and finance
The U.S.A. and the Netherlands signed a Lend-Lease agreement in Washington with a total value of $242 million.

Because sugar reserves "are at rock bottom," the U.S. Office of War Information announced a 25% cut in sugar rations.

Labour
The U.S. National War Labor Board ordered United Mine Workers of American President John L. Lewis and his union to extend the hard coal contract until a new agreement was reached.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe--Caterina Valente (2nd month at #1)

#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Let Me Go, Lover--Joan Weber; Teresa Brewer

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Give Me Your Word--Tennessee Ernie Ford (10th week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White--Perez Prado and his Orchestra (Best Seller--1st week at #1); The Ballad of Davy Crockett--Bill Hayes (Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1; Jukebox--2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Ballad of Davy Crockett--Bill Hayes (6th week at #1)
2 Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White--Perez Prado and his Orchestra
3 Dance with Me Henry (Wallflower)--Georgia Gibbs
4 Unchained Melody--Les Baxter and his Orchestra
--Al Hibbler
--Roy Hamilton
5 The Crazy Otto--Johnny Maddox and the Rhythmasters
6 Melody of Love--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra
--David Carroll and his Orchestra
--The Four Aces
7 Whatever Lola Wants--Sarah Vaughan
--Dinah Shore
8 Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup--Nat "King" Cole
9 Tweedlee Dee--Georgia Gibbs
10 Two Hearts--Pat Boone

Singles entering the chart were Heart, with versions by Eddie Fisher; and the Four Aces (#28); A Blossom Fell by Nat "King" Cole (#39)/If I May by Nat "King" Cole and the Four Knights (#40); Chop Chop Boom by the Crew-Cuts (#41); The Berry Tree by Bill Hayes (#45); Is This the End of the Line? (#46)/When You Wish Upon a Star (#48) by Joni James; and Opus One by the Mills Brothers (#49).

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Silhouettes--Herman's Hermits
2 Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter--Herman's Hermits
3 Count Me In--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
4 Ticket to Ride--The Beatles
5 I'll Never Find Another You--The Seekers
6 I Know a Place--Petula Clark
7 She's About a Mover--Sir Douglas Quintet
8 Game of Love--Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
9 It's Gonna Be All Right--Gerry & the Pacemakers
10 Help Me, Rhonda--The Beach Boys
Pick hit of the week: Crying in the Chapel--Elvis Presley
New this week: Mission Bell--P.J. Proby
My Guy--Dianne James
You Were Made for Me--Freddie and the Dreamers
When the Ship Comes In--Peter, Paul and Mary
An Ol' Tin Cup--Lorne Greene
Tears Keep Falling--Jerry Vale

Music
The Beach Boys were at Western Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, where they recorded the song Girl Don't Tell Me.

Africana
Basutoland began internal self-government after 97 years of British rule.

40 years ago
1975

War
Communist forces gained control of Saigon. The Vietnam War formally ended with the unconditional surrender of South Vietnamese President Dương Văn Minh.

Oil
The Canadian House of Commons passed the Petroleum Administration Act, which permitted the federal government to set the domestic price of oil and gas without consulting the provinces.

Basketball
NBA
Conference Finals
Boston 92 @ Washington 117 (Washington led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Golden State 89 @ Chicago 90 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Elvin Hayes scored 29 points and Phil Chenier added 25 as the Bullets beat the Celtics before 19,035 fans at Capital Center in Landover, Maryland. Don Nelson led the Celtics with 23 points.

Tom Boerwinkle's layup field goal with 2 seconds remaining in regulation time gave the Bulls their win over the Warriors before 18,533 fans at Chicago Stadium. Golden State had a chance to tie the game in the last 2 seconds, but Rick Barry's 30-foot shot fell short. Chicago's Chet Walker led all scorers with 28 points.

ABA
Semi-Finals
Denver 104 @ Indiana 99 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Mike Green scored 31 points and Mack Calvin added 21 as the Nuggets defeated the Pacers before 17,421 fans at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, a record crowd for an American Basketball Association game. George McGinnis led Indiana scorers with 26 points.

Baseball
Steve Carlton pitched a 6-hit complete game as the Philadelphia Phillies edged the Montreal Expos 2-1 before 8,750 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia in a Wednesday night Expos Baseball telecast on CBC. Philadelphia second baseman Dave Cash batted 4 for 4, scored the game's first run on a single by Greg Luzinski in the bottom of the 1st inning, and singled home Mike Anderson with the second run in the 7th. Montreal catcher Barry Foote hit his first home run of the season in the 8th. Mr. Carlton's win was his first of the season after 3 straight losses. Steve Rogers allowed 7 hits and 2 earned runs in 7 innings as his record for the season dropped to 0-4.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Oh Yeah!--Princess Princess

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (9th week at #1)

World events
Frank Reed, an American who had disappeared in September 1986, was freed by his captors in Lebanon. U.S. President George Bush thanked the government of Iran for having used its influence to free Mr. Reed.

Protest
500 evacuated Mohawks from the 9,000-member Akwesasne reserve near Cornwall, Ontario decided not to return home until a dispute on gambling was resolved.

Politics and government
Prince Edward Island Premier Joe Ghiz defended the Meech Lake Canadian constitutional accord and warned that Canada would face political instability if it was not passed. Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells said that he would welcome a first ministers’ conference on the situation, but warned that he would not likely support a last-minute solution that did not provide time for public input and debate.

Scandal
DuBois Gilliam, deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1984-1987, who was serving a prison term for accepting payoffs from developers, began testifying before the House Government Operations subcommittee. Mr. Gilliam said that the department "was the best domestic political machine I’ve ever seen. We dealt strictly in politics." Mr. Gilliam charged that former HUD secretary Samuel Pierce had made decisions regarding HUD grants. An attorney for Mr. Pierce denied the allegations.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
St. Louis 2 @ Chicago 8 (Chicago won best-of-seven series 4-3)

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: If You Love Me--Brownstone (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)--Scatman John (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)--Scatman John

Died on this date
Maung Maung Kha, 74. Prime Minister of Burma, 1977-1988. Colonel Maung Maung Kha was a career army officer who held various cabinet posts until succeeding Sein Win as Prime Minister. Amid increasing unrest, Colonel Maung Maung Kha was replaced as Prime Minister by Tun Tin.

Edmontonia
This blogger was one of many people to attend an "open house" at Edmonton's yet-unnamed new ballpark on the former site of John Ducey Park.

Diplomacy
Bill Clinton became the first U.S. President to visit Northern Ireland.