May 11, 2015

300 years ago
1715

Born on this date
Johann Gottfried Bernhard Bach. German musician. Mr. Bach, a son of Johann Sebastian Bach, was a church organist in Mühlhausen and Sangerhausen before secretly abandoning a career in music to study law in Jena, where he died on May 27, 1739, 16 days after his 24th birthday.

130 years ago
1885

Died on this date
Ferdinand Hiller, 73. German composer and conductor. Mr. Hiller was a pianist who was a friend of Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, and succeeded Felix as director of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in 1843. He was appointed municipal kapellmeister of Düsseldorf (1847) and Cologne (1850), founding the Cologne Conservatoire and remaining its kapellmeister until 1884. Mr. Hiller wrote four symphonies, six operas, three piano concertos, a violin concerto, and numerous chamber works; his music is largely forgotten today.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Willie Applegarth. U.K.-born runner. Mr. Applegarth was a sprinter who won several British championships in the 1910s. He won a gold medal as the anchor of the men's 4 x 100-metre relay team and a bronze medal in the men's 200-metre run at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. Mr. Applegarth moved to the United States in 1922, coaching soccer and track at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania. He played with Brooklyn in the American Soccer League for several years in the 1920s, and worked as a welder with General Electric Company until his retirement in 1955. Mr. Applegarth died in Schenectady, New York on December 5, 1958 at the age of 68.

Woodall Rodgers. U.S. politician. Mr. Woodall was Mayor of Dallas (1939-1947), presiding over the city's economic expansion. He died on July 6, 1961 at the age of 71, after a long illness.

Helge Løvland. Norwegian decathlete. Mr. Løvland won the gold medal at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp. He died on April 26, 1984, 15 days before his 94th birthday.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Jacques Brugnon. French tennis player. Mr. Brugnon was, with Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet, and René Lacoste, one of the "Four Musketeers" from France who dominated tennis from the mid-1920s through the mid-'30s. Mr. Brugnon achieved his greatest success in doubles events, winning the Australian Open (1928); French Open (1927-1928, 1930, 1932, 1934); and Wimbledon (1926, 1928, 1932-1933) as well as the mixed doubles competition at the French Open (1925-1926). He won a silver medal in the men's doubles competition at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris in 1924, and was a member of five Davis Cup championship teams (1927-1928, 1930-1932). The Four Musketeers were inducted together into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1976; Mr. Brugnon died on March 20, 1978 at the age of 82.

William Grant Still. U.S. composer. Mr. Still, the "Dean of Afro-American composers," wrote over 200 works, including five symphonies and six operas. His best-known work was Symphony No. 1 "Afro-American" (1931), which was, until 1950, the most widely-performed symphony composed by an American. Mr. Still died on December 3, 1978 at the age of 83.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Elwood Glover. Canadian broadcaster. Mr. Glover, a native of Carmel, Saskatchewan, was with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from 1938-1975. He was best known as host of the daytime talk show Elwood Glover's Luncheon Date, which began on radio in 1956 before moving to television in 1963. The show ran until June 27, 1975, when Mr. Glover retired from CBC. He worked with other stations before retiring for good in 1983. Mr. Glover died on November 14, 1990 at the age of 75.

80 years ago
1935

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A.: I Won't Dance--Eddy Duchin and his Orchestra

75 years ago
1940

War
German Panzers drove Belgian forces back from the Albert Canal to the Dyle Line, where British and French units had advanced to form a new defense line. German forces continued to advance almost unopposed through the Ardennes toward Sedan and Dinant. British and French forces landed on the Dutch Caribbean islands of Curacao and Aruba at the request of the Dutch government to avert any attempted German takeover. Netherlands East Indies authorities interned Germans of military age and seized German ships in port.

Diplomacy
Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, conferred in London with British officials on the future of Palestine.

The U.S. State Department announced application of the Neutrality Laws to Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

Politics and government
Japanese Foreign Minister Hachirō Arita said that Japan would not permit the Netherlands East Indies to change hands.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill named newspaper tycoon Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook as Minister of Aircraft Production.

Americana
The New York World's Fair opened for the 1940 season.

Horse racing
Bimelech, with F.A. Smith up, won the 65th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore in a time of 1:58 3/5. Mioland placed second.

70 years ago
1945

At the movies
The Scarlet Clue, starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan, opened in theatres.



War
Allied Supreme Commander in Europe U.S. Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower instructed his officers on reassignment of American forces in the Pacific theatre, ordering them not to send men who had fought in both Africa and Europe. U.S. and Soviet forces linked up in Czechoslovakia, where some Germans continued to fight. The American aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill was hit off the coast of Okinawa by two kamikazes, killing 346 of her crew. Although badly damaged, the ship was able to return to the U.S. under its own power. U.S. troops seized high ground on Okinawa commanding the main point in the Japanese defense line. Chinese forces fought their way into the east coast port of Foochow and also took the airfield south of the city. Australian troops captured Wewak Peninsula, clearing all Japanese forces from the north coast of New Guinea.

Diplomacy
Soviet delegates at the United Nations parley demanded that the U.S.S.R. be given a permanent seat on the proposed Trusteeship Council and a larger role in the Security Council.

Politics and government
U.S. War Secretary Henry Stimson said that the American zone in Germany would be administered in a "tough" and "ruthless" manner.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Harry Truman gave tentative approval to a program of tax concessions which was designed to make an estimated $5.7 billion in cash available to business for reconversion to a peacetime economy.

Labour
U.S. War Mobilization Committee Chairman Paul McNutt announced limited relaxation of manpower controls between now and July 1, 1945.

60 years ago
1955

At the movies
Bride of the Monster, written and directed by Edward D. Wood, Jr., and starring Bela Lugosi and Tor Johnson, received its premiere screening--under the title Bride of the Atom--at the Paramount Theater in Hollywood, California.



50 years ago
1965

Music
The Beatles were at Abbey Road studios in London, where they finished recording the song Bad Boy. They had begun recording the previous day, but the session lasted 5 hours and 15 minutes.

World events
The Israel Museum opened in Jerusalem; it included four separate museums.

Hockey
Canadian junior
Memorial Cup
Finals
Niagara Falls 1 @ Edmonton 5 (Niagara Falls led best-of-seven series 2-1)

A major brawl with 3 1/2 minutes remaining in the game resulted in a 10-minute melee with police halting the game as the Oil Kings beat the Flyers at the Edmonton Gardens. The brawl started when Niagara Falls centre Derek Sanderson knocked out Edmonton defenceman Bob Falkenberg with a punch and then rained punches on him as Mr. Falkenberg lay unconscious on the ice. Guy Allen then attacked Fran Huck, a member of the Regina Pats who had been added to the Oil Kings' roster for the championship finals, and began pummeling him, prompting the referee to summon police onto the ice. World War III was narrowly averted.

40 years ago
1975

Economics and finance
Israel became the first Mediterranean nation to sign trade agreements with the European Economic Community.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Philadelphia 1 @ New York Islanders 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Gerry Hart's unassisted goal with 16:18 remaining in regulation time broke a 1-1 tie as the Islanders edged the Flyers before 16,865 fans at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale and set a record by staving off elimination for the eighth time in 1975. Ross Lonsberry opened the scoring for Philadelphia just 1:42 into the game, but failed to score after that. Denis Potvin scored the tying goal with 3:45 left in the 2nd period. New York goalie Glenn Resch made 28 saves, while Philadelphia goalie Bernie Parent stopped 25 shots.

Basketball
NBA
Conference Finals
Boston 92 @ Washington 98 (Washington won best-of-seven series 4-2)
Golden State 86 @ Chicago 72 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Phil Chenier scored 24 points and Kevin Porter added 21 as the Bullets eliminated the defending champion Celtics before 19,035 fans at Capital Center in Landover, Maryland. Dave Cowens led Boston scorers with 23 points.

Rick Barry scored 36 points, made 6 steals, and added 2 assists to lead the Warriors over the Bulls before 19,594 fans at Chicago Stadium. Norm Van Lier led Chicago scorers with 24 points and Bob Love added 22.

Baseball
The Oakland Athletics scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning and held on to defeat the New York Yankees 7-5 before 12,253 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Winning pitcher Vida Blue pitched 6 2/3 innings and improved his record for the season to 7-1.

Steve Busby pitched a 5-hit shutout and Harmon Killebrew singled home Hal McRae with the winning run in the 4th inning, stole second for his first stolen base in four years, and scored on a single by Cookie Rojas as the Kansas City Royals blanked the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 before 11,163 fans at Royals Stadium.

An infield hit and 2 errors on the same play enabled the Cleveland Indians to score 2 runs with 2 out in the bottom of the 11th inning to beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3 before 19,490 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. Chicago scored a run in the top of the 11th to take a 3-2 lead, but with 2 out in the bottom of the inning and Rico Carty on third base and Johnny Ellis on first, Tom McCraw made an infield hit down the third base line, as Mr. Carty scored the tying run. Pitcher Terry Forster threw wildly to first base, and Chicago right fielder Bob Coluccio made a wild throw to the infield, allowing Mr. Ellis to come around and score the winning run.

Tom McGough pitched a no-hitter for the San Antonio Brewers of the AA Texas League as they edged the Shreveport Captains 1-0 at Keefe Stadium in San Antonio. Losing pitcher Doug Nelson allowed just 2 hits and struck out six, with the game's only run scoring in the 7th inning on 2 errors and a sacrifice fly.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): We are the World--USA for Africa (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): We are the World--USA for Africa (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): We are the World--USA for Africa (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Unforgettable Fire--U2

#1 single in the U.K.: 19--Paul Hardcastle

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Crazy for You--Madonna

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 We are the World--USA for Africa (5th week at #1)
2 Crazy for You--Madonna
3 Don't You (Forget About Me)--Simple Minds
4 One Night in Bangkok--Murray Head
5 Rhythm of the Night--Debarge
6 Some Like it Hot--Power Station
7 Smooth Operator--Sade
8 Everything She Wants--Wham!
9 All She Wants to Do is Dance--Don Henley
10 That was Yesterday--Foreigner

Singles entering the chart were Sussudio by Phil Collins (#35); Tough All Over by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band (#65); Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes) by Kim Carnes (#71); Everytime You Go Away by Paul Young (#78); You Give Good Love by Whitney Houston (#82); Black Cars by Gino Vannelli (#83); Hold Me by Menudo (#84); Save the Night for Me by Maureen Steele (#85); Ways to Be Wicked by Lone Justice (#86); Satisfaction Guaranteed by the Firm (#87); Reggae Rock 'N Roll by the B.E. Taylor Group (#88); (Come On) Shout by Alex Brown (#89); and Meeting in the Ladies Room by Klymaxx (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 We are the World--USA for Africa (2nd week at #1)
2 Tears are Not Enough--Northern Lights
3 Crazy for You--Madonna
4 Rhythm of the Night--DeBarge
5 One Night in Bangkok--Murray Head
6 Don't You (Forget About Me)--Simple Minds
7 Nightshift--Commodores
8 Obsession--Animotion
9 Shout--Tears for Fears
10 Some Like it Hot--Power Station

Singles entering the chart were (You're a) Strange Animal by Gowan (#72); Raspberry Beret by Prince and the Revolution (#74); Heaven by Bryan Adams (#77); Lucky in Love by Mick Jagger (#83); The Search is Over by Survivor (#91); In My House by Mary Jane Girls (#94); and Fresh by Kool & The Gang (#95).

Died on this date
Chester Gould, 84. U.S. cartoonist. Mr. Gould created the comic strip Dick Tracy, which he wrote and drew from 1931-1977. He won the National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Award in 1959 and 1977.

Disasters
56 people were killed and 265 injured when fire engulfed the Bradford City football stadium in England (see video).



25 years ago
1990

Scandal
Principal Group founder Don Cormie was sued for $235 million by the Alberta Government.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that producer prices for finished goods had declined 0.3% in April.

Disasters
A cyclone finished three days of battering the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, killing at least 220 people and leaving about three million homeless.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Ristinolla--Movetron

Defense
More than 170 countries extended the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty indefinitely and without conditions.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Bill Clinton met in Kiev with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma.

Crime
A U.S. federal grand jury in Detroit indicted James Nichols for allegedly conspiring with his brother Terry and Timothy McVeigh to make and set off bombs on James' farm in Decker, Michigan.

Health
The World Health Organization said that 27of the 49 people who had become ill in Kikwit, Zaire as a result of the Ebola virus had died.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that prices charged by manufacturers and farmers for finished goods had risen 0.5% in April.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference Quarter-Finals
Chicago 3 @Toronto 2 (Toronto led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Detroit 5 @ Dallas 1 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 3-0)
Calgary 9 @ San Jose 2 (San Jose led best-of-seven series 2-1)
St. Louis 1 @ Vancouver 6 (Vancouver led best-of-seven series 2-1)

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Léo Cadieux, 96. Canadian politician. Mr. Cadieux was Minister of Defence in the Liberal governments of Prime Ministers Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau from 1967-1970. He died 17 days before his 97th birthday.