May 8, 2015

270 years ago
1745

Born on this date
Carl Stamitz. German composer. Mr. Stamitz was a court violinist who wrote 50 symphonies, 38 symphonies concertantes, numerous concertos for various instruments, chamber works, and two operas. He died on November 9, 1801 at the age of 56, after gradually descending into poverty.

125 years ago
1890

Baseball
16-year-old Willie McGill of the Cleveland Infants of the Players League became the youngest pitcher in major league history to pitch a complete game as he beat the Buffalo Bisons 14-5 at Brotherhood Park in Cleveland.

The Chicago Pirates routed the Pittsburgh Burghers 20-5 in a Players League game at South Side Park in Chicago.

In the National League, the Chicago White Stockings scored 12 runs in the 6th inning to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 18-9 at West Side Park in Chicago. The big blow in the inning was a grand slam by Howard Earl.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
James H. Kindelberger. U.S. aviation engineer and executive. Mr. Kindelberger served with the U.S. Army Air Service during World War I, and was an engineer with the Glenn L. Martin Company in the 1920s and Douglas Aircraft Company in the '30s. He was President and general manager of North American Aviation from 1934-1960 and then served as Chairman of the Board until his death from congestive heart failure on July 27, 1962 at the age of 67.

Edmund Wilson. U.S. writer. Mr. Wilson wrote novels, plays, and non-fiction, but was best known as a literary critic. He was influenced by the ideas of Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud, and in turn influenced several novelists, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and Upton Sinclair. Mr. Wilson's books included To the Finland Station (1940); O Canada: An American's Notes on Canadian Culture (1965); and The Dead Sea Scrolls, 1947–1969 (1969). He died on June 12, 1972 at the age of 77.

Fulton J. Sheen. U.S. clergyman. Rev. Sheen was a Roman Catholic Bishop who became nationally known through his use of radio and television. He was ordained a priest in 1919, and taught theology at Catholic University of America before serving as Auxiliary Bishop of New York (1951-1966) and Bishop of Rochester (1966-1969). Rev. Sheen hosted the radio program The Catholic Hour (1930-1950) and the television programs Life is Worth Living (1952-1957) and The Fulton Sheen Program (1961-1968). He was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Television in 1953 and 1954, winning in 1953; he was nominated in 1957 in the category of Best Male Personality--Continuing Performance. Rev. Sheen also wrote 73 books, and died on December 9, 1979 at the age of 84.

Abominations
Nicholas Flood Davin (Conservative--Assiniboia West) introduced a motion in the Canadian House of Commons to give women the vote; it was eventually defeated 105-47.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
John Archer. U.S. actor. Mr. Archer, born Ralph Bowman, appeared in numerous radio and television programs and movies. He played the title role in the radio series The Shadow from 1944-1945. Mr. Archer died on December 3, 1999 at the age of 84.

Economics and finance
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Robert Borden appointed a War Purchasing Board.

Horse racing
Regret, with Joe Notter aboard, won the 41st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:05 2/5, becoming the first filly to win the race.

75 years ago
1940

War
Japanese forces broke the Chinese Hupeh-Honan defense lines.

Politics and government
U.K. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain narrowly survived a non-confidence vote in the House of Commons amid demands from the opposition Labour Party that he resign. Many Conservative backbenchers joined the demands for Mr. Chamberlain's resignation; the vote was seen as making his resignation inevitable.

Dr. Rafael Angel Caldron Guardia was inaugurated as President of Costa Rica.

A poll showed 67% of Republican Party voters in favour of New York City District Attorney Thomas Dewey as their party's candidate for the 1940 nomination for President of the United States, over Senators Arthur Vandenberg (Michigan) and Robert Taft (Ohio).

The U.S. House of Representatives rejected President Franklin D. Roosevelt's proposal for shifting the Civil Aviation Administration and Air Safety Board to the Commerce Department.

Diplomacy
Delegates of 40 peace organizations meeting at International House in New York City urged the creation of some form of international government.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department announced the formation of an Interstate Trade Barriers Committee to study federal legislation needs against trade restrictions.

Medicine
Drs. Philip Polatin, Hyman Spotnitz, and Benjamin Wiesel of New York State Psychiatric Institute reported successful use of insulin in the shock treatment of mental patients.

Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds traded center fielder Vince DiMaggio to the Pittsburgh Pirates for left fielder Johnny Rizzo. In 2 games with the Reds in 1940, Mr. DiMaggio was batting .250 (1 for 4) with no home runs or runs batted in. Mr. Rizzo was batting .179 with no home runs and 2 RBIs in 9 games with the Pirates in 1940.

70 years ago
1945

On the radio
On a Note of Triumph, hosted and narrated by Martin Gabel, on CBS

This broadcast, which also featured William L. Shirer as a reporter, was written by Norman Corwin.



Died on this date
Bernhard Rust, 61. German politician. Mr. Rust was Minister of Science, Education and National Culture (Reichserziehungsminister) in the Nazi regime of Fuehrer Adolf Hitler from 1934 until his death by reported suicide. He was instrumental in purging Jews and others regarded as enemies of the Nazi state from universities, and issued a rule in 1933 that students and teachers should greet each other with the Nazi salute.

Josef Terboven, 46. German politician. Mr. Terboven was Reichskommissar for Norway during the Nazi occupation of that country from April 24, 1940 until he committed suicide in Oslo, next to the body of Wilhelm Rediess, by detonating 50 kilograms of dynamite in a bunker on the Skaugum compound.

Wilhelm Rediess, 44. German SS officer. Mr. Rediess was the SS and Police Leader during the German occupation of Norway from 1940 until he committed suicide in Oslo by shooting himself as the Third Reich collapsed in Norway.

War
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill officially announced the end of the war with Germany as the German surrender signed the previous day in Rheims, France went into effect and was confirmed in Berlin at 11:01 P.M. local time. The German surrender ended the Prague uprising after a three-day attempt to liberate the Czech capital from Nazi occupation. U.S. Navy Secretary James Forrestal named Admiral Henry Hewitt to conduct further investigations into the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The United States War Department indefinitely suspended a regulation requiring review of all cases of professional athletes.

















Abominations
Several thousand civilians were killed by French Army soldiers after clashes in and around the Algerian town of Sétif.

Crime
In the second day of rioting, 10,000 servicemen looted and vandalized downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia during VE-Day celebrations.



Diplomacy
The United States delegation to the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco asked the conference to accept the formula for relating the Pan-American security system to the United Nations, which would permit the Western Hemisphere to deal with its own disputes.

Politics and government
Frank Hague was re-elected to his eighth consecutive term as Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey.

Economics and finance
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau said that U.S. costs for World War II had reached $276 billion.

Energy
The national brownout of non-essential lighting was lifted by the U.S. War Production Board.

60 years ago
1955

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Cherie Rivest!

Married on this date
U.S. movie director and actor Orson Welles and Italian actress Paola Mori were married in London.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Ticket to Ride/Yes It Is--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: La Nuit--Salvatore Adamo (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Un anno d'amore--Mina (6th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Downtown--Petula Clark (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Ticket to Ride--The Beatles

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Ticket to Ride--The Beatles (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter--Herman's Hermits (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter--Herman's Hermits (2nd week at #1)
2 Ticket to Ride--The Beatles
3 I Know a Place--Petula Clark
4 Count Me In--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
5 Game of Love--Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
6 I'll Never Find Another You--The Seekers
7 I'm Telling You Now--Freddie and the Dreamers
8 Silhouettes--Herman's Hermits
9 One Kiss for Old Times' Sake--Ronnie Dove
10 I'll Be Doggone--Marvin Gaye

Singles entering the chart were Engine Engine #9 by Roger Miller (#61); L-O-N-E-L-Y by Bobby Vinton (#69); Last Chance to Turn Around by Gene Pitney (#76); Catch the Wind by Donovan (#80); For Your Love by the Yardbirds (#83); Before You Go by Buck Owens (#86); Keep on Trying by Bobby Vee (#88); Mr. Tambourine Man by the Byrds (#88); Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette) by the O'Jays (#89); Let me Down Easy by Betty LaVette (#93); Love is a 5-Letter Word by James Phelps (#94); And I Love Him by Esther Phillips (#96); When the Ship Comes In by Peter, Paul and Mary (#97); and Voodoo Woman by Bobby Goldsboro (#98).

On television tonight
Sherlock Holmes, starring Douglas Wilmer and Nigel Stock, on BBC 1
Tonight's episode: Lady Frances Carfax

This was the final episode of the series.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Oh Boy--Mud

Died on this date
Avery Brundage, 87. U.S. athlete and sports executive. Mr. Brundage competed in the 1912 Summer Olympic Games in Stockholm in the pentathlon and decathlon, but won no medals; he won national championships in track three times between 1914-1918. Mr. Brundage was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1936-1972 and the 5th President of the International Olympic Committee from 1952-1972. He was known as a zealous advocate of amateurism, but was criticized for turning a blind eye to the evils of the German Nazi regime when the 1936 Summer Olympics were awarded to Berlin, and for continuing the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich after the murders of 11 Israeli athletes by Arab terrorists.

Diplomacy
The Organization of American States began its fifth General Assembly in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Senator George McGovern (Democrat--South Dakota) concluded a three-day visit to Cuba, during which Cuban dictator Fidel Castro had called for improved Cuba-U.S. relations.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
New York Islanders 5 @ Philadelphia 1 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Buffalo 4 @ Montreal 3 (Buffalo won best-of-seven series 4-2)

J.-P. Parise scored in the 1st period, Billy Harris and Jude Drouin in the 2nd, and Bob Nystrom and Garry Howatt in the 3rd as the Islanders staved off elimination by the Flyers before 17,007 fans at the Spectrum. Bob Kelly spoiled New York goalie Glenn Resch's bid for a shutout with 4:50 remaining in regulation time.

Craig Ramsay's shorthanded goal just 2:05 into the game triggered a 3-goal 1st period for the Sabres as they held on to eliminate the Canadiens before 18,125 fans at the Montreal Forum and advance to the finals for the first time in their five-year history. Rick Martin scored to make it 2-0 before Pete Mahovlich got Montreal on the scoreboard, but Peter McNab scored to give Buffalo a 3-1 lead. Jim Lorentz scored in the 2nd period to give the Sabres a 4-1 lead. Guy Lafleur scored with 11:55 remaining in the 3rd period to make it 4-2, and Mr. Mahovlich scored his second goal of the game with 1:05 remaining to draw the Canadiens to within 4-3. It was the final game in the 20-year Hall of Fame NHL career for Montreal centre Henri Richard, who assisted on Mr. Lafleur's goal. Mr. Richard played on 11 Stanley Cup championship teams, which remains the record.

Basketball
NBA
Conference Finals
Chicago 89 @ Golden State 79 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Chet Walker scored 21 points and Jerry Sloan added 18 as the Bulls beat the Warriors in a sloppily-played game before 12,787 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena. Rick Barry led Golden State with 20 points. The Bulls were successful on just 40% of their field goals and the Warriors 37%. Golden State was never able to score more than 4 consecutive points.

Baseball
The Milwaukee Brewers traded outfielder Bob Coluccio to the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Bill Sharp. Mr. Coluccio was batting .194 with 1 home run and 5 runs batted in in 22 games with Milwaukee, while Mr. Sharp was batting .200 with no homers and 4 RBIs in 18 games with Chicago.

The Atlanta Braves released pitcher Gary Gentry. Mr. Gentry had been a starting pitcher with the New York Mets when they'd won the World Series in 1969, but arm problems had limited his effectiveness since then. In 7 games with the Braves in 1975 he posted a record of 1-1 with an earned run average of 4.95.

Bruce Kison pitched a 7-hit complete game and singled in 2 runs in the 5th inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Mets 4-2 before 14,053 fans at Shea Stadium in New York.

Randy Jones pitched a 4-hit shutout as the San Diego Padres blanked the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 before 14,192 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati in a game that was over in 1 hour and 39 minutes. Losing pitcher Gary Nolan allowed 9 hits and 3 earned runs in pitching a complete game.

Garry Maddox, playing his second game in a Philadelphia uniform since being acquired by the Phillies four days earlier in a trade with the San Francisco Giants, hit 2 doubles and a triple with 2 runs and 3 runs batted in as the Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 before 10,293 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Jim Lonborg pitched 7 shutout innings for the win.

Willie Davis hit a 2-run home run in the 7th inning to tie the game and then singled home Ceasr Tovar with the winning run in the 9th as the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 before 8,403 fans at Royals Stadium. Mr. Davis batted 4 for 5 with a run and 3 runs batted in.

Nolan Ryan pitched a 4-hit shutout and struck out 10 batters as the California Angels blanked the Oakland Athletics 5-0 before 3,598 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The win improved Mr. Ryan's record for 1975 to 6-1.

30 years ago
1985

Died on this date
Theodore Sturgeon, 67. U.S. writer. Mr. Sturgeon, born Edward Waldo, wrote over 200 science fiction stories and about 400 reviews of science fiction works.

Dolph Sweet, 64. U.S. actor. Mr. Sweet was a character actor, often playing a policeman, in numerous movies and television programs. He appeared in the television soap opera Another World (1972-1977) and the situation comedy series Gimme a Break! (1981-1985). Mr. Sweet died of cancer.

Music
Getcha Back, a new single by the Beach Boys, was released on Caribou Records. The song was written by Mike Love and Terry Melcher, with Mike singing lead, and was featured on the forthcoming album The Beach Boys. The B-side, Male Ego, was written by Brian Wilson and his therapist/Svengali, Eugene E. Landy. It appeared on the compact disc release of the album, but not on the vinyl version.

25 years ago
1990

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight’s episode: Daddy’s Little Girl

Died on this date
Luigi Nono, 66. Italian composer. Mr. Nono was an atheist and Communist who composed avant-garde classical music in a career spanning 40 years, and was a member of what he called the "Darmstadt School."

Politics and government
The Estonian Parliament declared the birth of the "Estonian Republic," and dropped the words "Soviet Socialist" from the republic’s name.

The Albanian Parliament approved a package of legislation that appeared to set the isolated Marxist nation on a path toward liberalization. President Ramiz Alia, who was also first secretary of the Albanian Workers’ (Communist) Party, provided the impetus for the new legislation. Under the new laws, the court system was reorganized, the number of capital offenses was reduced from 34 to 11, restrictions on the right to worship were apparently relaxed, and citizens were guaranteed the right to obtain foreign passports.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Missing--Everything but the Girl

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

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Wish You were Here--Rednex

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Back for Good--Take That (2nd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Believe--Elton John (4th week at #1)
2 No More "I Love You's"--Annie Lennox
3 I Know--Dionne Farris
4 Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?--Bryan Adams
5 Lightning Crashes--Live
6 Can't Stop Lovin' You--Van Halen
7 Wonderdrug--Jann Arden
8 Gel--Collective Soul
9 Hold On--Jamie Walters
10 You Lose You Gain--John Bottomley

Singles entering the chart were Angel by the Jeff Healey Band (#79); Strange Currencies by R.E.M. (#82); Genuine by Mae Moore (#90); Wiser Time by the Black Crowes (#95); and Over My Shoulder by Mike + the Mechanics (#99).

Died on this date
Teresa Teng, 42. Taiwanese singer. Miss Teng was known for singing folk songs and romantic ballads, and was popular in her native land, as well as Indonesia, Malaysia, China, and Japan. She died of a severe asthma attack.