August 20, 2015

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
H. P. Lovecraft. U.S. author. Mr. Lovecraft was known for his horror stories, published in magazines such as Weird Tales. His stories often emphasized the irrelevance of man in the face of cosmic evils in the universe, including the deity created by Mr. Lovecraft, known as Cthulhu. Mr. Lovecraft, as is so often the case, didn't become famous until after his death from stomach cancer at the age of 46 on March 15, 1937.

100 years ago
1915

Died on this date
Paul Ehrlich, 61. German physician. Dr. Ehrlich shared the 1908 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Ilya Mechnikov of Russia "in recognition of their work on immunity." He was the subject of the Hollywood bipic Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940), starring Edward G. Robinson.

90 years ago
1925

Defense
Major Georges Vanier was appointed commanding officer of the Canadian Army's 22e Régiment at Quebec City.

80 years ago
1935

Baseball
The Chicago White Sox swept a doubleheader from the Philadelphia Athletics 13-4 and 11-4 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Jock Conlin batted 7 for 8 in the 2 games for the White Sox, while Luke Sewell drove in 5 runs for Chicago in the second game, 4 coming on a grand slam. Jimmie Foxx hit a home run in each game for the Athletics.

75 years ago
1940

War
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed the House of Commons and praised the Royal Air Force's performance in the Battle of Britain, saying, "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few." He reiterated British determination to enforce a strict blockade against all countries under German control, including France. Mr. Churchill also announced that the U.K. was willing to lease the U.S. defense facilities in the West Indies in Newfoundland. Italian Duce Benito Mussolini announced a "total blockade" of all British possessions in the Mediterranean and Africa. Japanese incendiary bombs destroyed an estimated 25,000 homes in Chungking.

Defense
U.S. Army General George Marshall said that a U.S. army of four million was required for adequate defense of the Western Hemisphere. The U.S. House of Representatives Military Affairs Committee approved the registration procedures of the Burke-Wadsworth bill.

World events
Exiled Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky was wounded with an ice pick by Ramón Mercader in Mexico City.

Politics and government
The Cleveland Plain Dealer and Chicago Daily News announced their support of Republican Party candidate Wendell Willkie for President of the United States in the November 1940 election. President Franklin D. Roosevelt claimed that he was too busy to engage Mr. Willkie in a series of public debates as part of the presidential campaign.

Business
A joint statement issued by Douglas, Lockheed, Consolidated, Boeing, and Vultee aircraft companies asked the U.S. government to discuss excess profits at a later time.

Baseball
The Cleveland Indians scored 7 runs in the 8th inning as they defeated the Boston Red Sox 11-6 before 20,200 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. The 8th-inning outburst allowed Bob Feller to be the winning pitcher, improving his record for the season to 22-6 despite allowing 10 hits and 5 runs--all earned--in 7 innings.

The New York Yankees swept a doubleheader from the Detroit Tigers 4-3 and 4-2 before 30,346 fans at Yankee Stadium, with Red Ruffing (12-8) and Ernie Bonham (2-2) the respective winning pitchers.

The Chicago White Sox scored 5 runs in the 9th inning to defeat the Philadelphia Athletics 6-1 in the first game of a doubleheader before 5,500 fans at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, but Wally Moses stole home in the 10th inning of the second game to give the Athletics a 4-3 win.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe--Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and his Orchestra
--Bing Crosby
--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
2 Chopin's Polonaise--Carmen Cavallaro and his Orchestra
3 Sentimental Journey--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day)
--Hal McIntyre and his Orchestra
--The Merry Macs
4 Bell Bottom Trousers--Tony Pastor and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
--Louis Prima and his Orchestra
--Jerry Colonna
5 There! I've Said it Again--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra (vocal refrain by Vaughn Monroe and the Norton Sisters)
--Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra
6 You Belong to My Heart--Bing Crosby and Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra
--Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra
7 If I Loved You--Perry Como
--Bing Crosby
--Frank Sinatra
8 The More I See You--Dick Haymes
--Harry James and his Orchestra
9 Gotta Be This or That--Benny Goodman and his Orchestra
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
10 Dream--The Pied Pipers
--Frank Sinatra
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra

No new singles entered the chart.

War
U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur reported that the Manila conference with Japanese peace emissaries was over, and that they had returned to Japan with instructions for preparing the surrender. Soviet troops entered the Manchurian cities of Mukden, Harbin, and Changchun. France accepted a U.S. invitation to take part in the signature of the Japanese surrender and to participate with the British and Chinese in the Indochina surrender.

Diplomacy
Ernest Bevin made his first speech in the House of Commons as British Foreign Secretary, aligning the Labour government of Prime Minister Clement Attlee with the former coalition government of Prime Minister Winston Churchill on matters of foreign policy. Mr. Bevin said that the present Greek government should continue, pending an election. The United States announced an agreement with the United Kingdom and France on sending commissioners to Greece to assist in assuring free elections there. The Soviet Presidium ratified the United Nations Charter.

World events
Former Norwegian dictator Vidkun Quisling went on trial in Oslo for treason, and repeatedly shouted that he was the "saviour of Norway."

Economics and finance
The U.S. War Production Board cancelled 210 production controls, leaving only 130 in effect, and released a wide range of consumer goods and necessary materials.

Labour
Montgomery Ward and Company filed a $1.3-million libel suit against the Congress of Industrial Organizations United Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Employes union, charging the union with injuring the company's good name and credit.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock--Bill Haley and his Comets

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Rose Marie--Slim Whitman (5th week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock--Bill Haley and his Comets (Best Seller--7th week at #1; Disc Jockey--5th week at #1; Jukebox--4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock--Bill Haley and his Comets (7th week at #1)
2 Ain't That a Shame--Pat Boone
--Fats Domino
3 The Yellow Rose of Texas--Mitch Miller and his Orchestra
--Johnny Desmond
4 Seventeen--Boyd Bennett and the Rockets
--The Fontane Sisters
5 Learnin' the Blues--Frank Sinatra
6 Hummingbird--Les Paul and Mary Ford
--Frankie Laine
--The Chordettes
7 Hard to Get--Gisele MacKenzie
8 Wake the Town and Tell the People--Les Baxter and his Orchestra
--Mindy Carson
9 Unchained Melody--Les Baxter and his Orchestra
--Al Hibbler
--Roy Hamilton
10 Song of the Dreamer--Eddie Fisher
--Johnnie Ray

Singles entering the chart were The Moment I Saw You by Joni James (#48) and Pete Kelly's Blues by Ray Anthony (#49). Pete Kelly's Blues was the title song of the movie.

Music
The single I Forgot to Remember to Forget/Mystery Train by Elvis Presley was released on Sun Records.

War
In Morocco, a force of Berbers from the Atlas Mountains region of Algeria raided two rural settlements and killed 77 French nationals.

Golf
Arnold Palmer won the Canadian Open at Weston Golf Club in Weston, Ontario, finishing with a 23-under-par score of 265, 4 strokes ahead of Jack Burke, Jr. It was Mr. Palmer's first win as a professional, and his first prize money was $2,400.

Football
CRU
WIFU
Winnipeg (0-1) 7 @ Saskatchewan (1-0) 17
Edmonton (1-0) 13 @ Calgary (0-1) 10

Ken Carpenter scored 2 touchdowns to lead the Roughriders over the Blue Bombers at Taylor Field in Regina. Gordon Sturtridge scored the other Saskatchewan touchdown on an interception return. Buddy Leake, playing his first regular season game in Canada, scored the Winnipeg touchdown and added the convert.

Jackie Parker and Normie Kwong scored touchdowns for the Eskimos as they opened defense of their Grey Cup championship by defeating the Stampeders before 14,000 fans at Mewata Stadium. Players in their first game included Gino Fracas, who converted both Edmonton touchdowns; Bob Heydenfeldt, who punted for a single for the Eskimo's other point; and Eskimo linemen Kurt Burris, Dale Meinert, and Art Walker. It was the first regular season game for Jack Hennemier as coach of the Stampeders.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Help!--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)
2 Down in the Boondocks--Billy Joe Royal
3 California Girls--The Beach Boys
4 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me--Mel Carter
5 Houston--Dean Martin
6 (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction--The Rolling Stones
7 Save Your Heart for Me--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
8 I'm Henry VIII, I Am--Herman's Hermits
9 I'm a Fool--Dino, Desi and Billy
10 Don't Just Stand There--Patty Duke
Pick hit of the week: Ride Away--Roy Orbison
New this week: If You Want Me To--Roger Miller
I Don't Want to Love You Baby--Chad & Jeremy
With These Hands--Tom Jones
Baby Don't Go--Sonny and Cher
Take Me Back--David Clayton-Thomas and the Shays

Died on this date
Jonathan Daniels, 26. U.S. civil rights activist. Mr. Daniels was an Episcopal seminarian from Keene, New Hampshire. He and Roman Catholic priest Richard Morrisroe were among civil rights activists who were in Fort Deposit, Alabama to picket stores that were serving only white people--a kind of discrimination that was now illegal. With Negro protesters Ruby Sales, 17, and Joyce Bailey, they went to buy soft drinks at a store, but were confronted by special deputy Tom Coleman, who pointed a shotgun at Miss Sales. Mr. Daniels pushed Miss Sales to the ground and took the blast that was meant for her. When Rev. Morrisroe grabbed Miss Bailey and fled, Mr. Morrisroe was shot in the back and seriously wounded. An all-white jury subsequently acquitted Mr. Coleman of manslaughter.

Music
The Beatles continued their North American tour with two shows at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (1-2-1) 10 @ Saskatchewan (2-1-1) 10

Rookie guard Jack Abendschan kicked a field goal in the 4th quarter to give the Roughriders their tie with the Lions before 16,676 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. George Reed scored the Saskatchewan touchdown.

40 years ago
1975

Died on this date
Jake Miller, 77. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Miller played with the Cleveland Indians (1924-1931) and Chicago White Sox (1933), compiling a record of 60-58 with an earned run average of 4.09 in 200 games. His best seasons were probably 1927 (10-8, 3.21) and 1929 (14-12, 3.58).

Personal
This blogger began classes in Grade 10 at Sir John Franklin Territorial High School in Yellowknife. The morning classes ended early because of a water main break.

Space
The United States launched the Viking 1 probe toward Mars.

Football
CFL
Toronto (2-3) 11 @ Edmonton (3-1) 28

Tom Wilkinson completed touchdown passes of 43 and 7 yards to John Konihowski in the 1st quarter as the Eskimos took a 17-0 lead and coasted to victory over the Argonauts before a sellout crowd of 24,636 at Clarke Stadium. Mr. Konihowski's touchdowns were his first in the CFL. The Toronto offense, led by quarterback Bill Bynum, marched from the opening kickoff to the Edmonton 1-yard line, but even when an offside penalty against the Eskimos gave them another down, they couldn't score on three straight plays, and Zenon Andrusyshyn's 7-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked and hit the crossbar. Dave Cutler opened the scoring for the Eskimos with a 55-yard field goal and added a 28-yard FG in the 2nd quarter. The Argonauts scored their only touchdown with 46 seconds remaining in the 1st half when rookie defensive back Steve Dennis blocked Mr. Cutler's field goal attempt and returned it 54 yards for the major score. Mr. Wilkinson completed 13 of
18 passes for 244 yards before he suffered injured ribs in the 2nd quarter and was replaced by Bruce Lemmerman, who rushed 6 yards for a touchdown in the 4th quarter. Edmonton's Roy Bell led all rushers with 18 carries for 96 yards, while teammate George McGowan led all receivers with 191 yards on 9 receptions. Walt McKee played his first game as an Eskimo; he punted for just a 33.2-yard average, but all of his punts were against the wind.

Baseball
Gene Locklear drove in 4 runs with a 3-run home run and a single, and Enzo Hernandez drove in 3 more with a double as the San Diego Padres beat the Montreal Expos 8-6 before 12,470 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal in the Wednesday Expos Baseball telecast on CBC. Montreal shortstop Tim Foli stole home in the 1st inning when San Diego catcher Fred Kendall threw to second base to get Jose Morales, who was running from first to second, apparently forgetting that the last pitch had been ball four to Bob Bailey, meaning that Mr. Morales was entitled to go to second base.

Ron Reed pitched a 4-hitter and Bake McBride drove in 3 runs with a pair of home runs as the St. Louis Cardinals blanked the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 before 37,164 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis in a game that was played in 1 hour and 52 minutes.

Cesar Cedeno singled to lead off the 10th inning and Cliff Johnson followed with a double to score Mr. Cedeno with the winning run as the Houston Astros edged the New York Mets 5-4 before 9,667 fans at the Astrodome.

30 years ago
1985

Died on this date
Donald O. Hebb, 81. Canadian psychologist. Dr. Hebb, a native of Chester, Nova Scotia, was known for his research in neuropsychology, especially in regard to how neurons in the brain contribute to learning.

Clarence Fieber, 71. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Fieber appeared in 3 games with the Chicago White Sox in May 1932, posting a record of 1-0 with an earned run average of 1.69 in 5 1/3 innings. He played in various minor leagues from at least 1932-1937.

Baseball
Dwight Gooden struck out 16 batters, increasing his strikeout total for the season to 208, as the New York Mets blanked the San Francisco Giants 5-0 before 31,758 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. The win was Mr. Gooden’s 13th straight and improved his record for the season to 19-3. He became just the second pitcher in major league history (Herb Score of the Cleveland Indians in 1955 and '56 was the first) to strike out 200 or more batters in each of his first 2 seasons.

All the scoring took place in the first 6 innings as the Houston Astros routed the St. Louis Cardinals 17-2 before 10,348 fans at the Astrodome. Shortstop Dickie Thon drove in 4 runs with a triple and home run, and catcher Mark Bailey batted 3 for 4 with a home run, 4 runs, and 4 runs batted in.

25 years ago
1990

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Odoru Pompokolin--(おどるポンポコリン)--B.B.Queens (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Verdammt, Ich Lieb' Dich--Matthias Reim (14th week at #1)

Protest
The Canadian Armed Forces moved to dismantle barricades on the Mercier Bridge south of Montreal put up by Mohawks, after three days of rioting by South Shore residents against the police.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (4-3) 36 @ British Columbia (2-4-1) 34

B.C. kicker and punter Lui Passaglia scored 10 points to increase his CFL career points total to 2,244--breaking Dave Cutler’s record--but missed 3 of 4 field goal attempt, including a 34-yard attempt on the last play of the game that would have sent the game into overtime. Hamilton kicker Paul Osbaldiston, a former teammate of Mr. Passaglia’s kicked 5 field goals and 3 converts for the Tiger-Cats. Much of the action came in the last 5 minutes. B.C. quarterback Doug Flutie rushed 10 yards for a touchdown, converted by Mr. Passaglia, to give the Lions a 30-26 lead with 4:46 remaining in regulation time. With 2:50 remaining, Mr. Osbaldiston kicked a 49-yard field goal to reduce the lead to 30-29. The Lions came back with Mr. Passaglia’s 26-yard field goal 1:07 later to increase their lead to 33-29. Hamilton quarterback Mike Kerrigan then drove the Tiger-Cats downfield and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Richard Nurse. Mr. Osbaldiston’s convert gave the Tiger-Cats a 36-33 lead with 24 seconds left. Mr. Flutie brought the Lions back, setting them up for Mr. Passaglia’s kick on the last play. Derrick McAdoo rushed 1 yard for the first Hamilton touchdown, and Lee Knight scored on a 20-yard pass from Mr. Kerrigan. Joe Paopao started at quarterback for the Lions and threw touchdown passes to Larry Willis and Ray Alexander. Mr. Alexander also scored on a pass from Mr. Flutie. Mr. Kerrigan finished with 26 completions in 46 passes for 396 yards. Mr. Knight led all receivers with 9 catches for 153 yards. 32,699 fans witnessed the action at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.



20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Waterfalls--TLC (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Wish You were Here--Rednex (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Wish You were Here--Rednex (6th week at #1)

Personal
This blogger enjoyed the privilege of being treated to lunch in downtown Ottawa by retired journalist Lubor Zink.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Thomas Herrion, 24. U.S. football player. Mr. Herrion was a rookie guard with the San Francsico 49ers who stood 6'3" and weighed 310 pounds. He collapsed in the locker room after a pre-season game against the Denver Broncos; the cause of death was listed as coronary artery disease.

Football
CFL
Toronto (5-3) 22 @ Edmonton (5-3) 18

Toronto quarterback Damon Allen led the Argonauts to just 9 first downs, and completed just 11 of 27 passes, but threw 3 touchdown passes as the Argonauts defeated the Eskimos before 38,927 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Mr. Allen completed a 90-yard touchdown pass to Robert Baker in the 2nd quarter and TD passes of 89 yards to Arland Bruce and 6 yards to Tony Miles in the 3rd quarter. Edmonton quarterback Ricky Ray completed 40 of 56 passes for 414 yards, but didn't produce a touchdown until he rushed 2 yards with 10:14 remaining in regulation time. Mr. Ray completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Trevor Gaylor with 1:58 remaining and Sean Fleming's convert pulled the Eskimos to within 21-18, but Toronto punter Noel Prefontaine punted 69 yards for a single with 47 seconds remaining to give the Argonauts a 4-point cushion. Mr. Gaylor led Edmonton receivers with 123 yards on 10 receptions.