August 31, 2015

Married on this date
Happy Anniversary, Lee & Lois Morrow!

230 years ago
1785

Born on this date
Agustín Gamarra. President of Peru, 1829-1833, 1838-1841. Mariscal (Marshal) Gamarra was a career military officer who overthrew José de la Mar to take the presidency in 1829. Marsical Gamarra led troops to thwart rebellions in various parts of the country, and he opposed constitutional limitations on the president. He was obsessed with uniting Bolivia and Peru in a single country, and opposed the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy that went into effect in 1836. Mariscal Gamarra supported efforts to depose President Luis José de Orbegoso; the efforts ultimately proved successful, and Mariscal Gamarra was named President by Congress in 1838. He led Peruvian troops in a border war against Bolivia, and was killed in the Battle of Ingavi on November 18, 1841 at the age of 56. Mariscal Gamarra was succeeded as President by Manuel Menéndez.

220 years ago
1795

Died on this date
François-André Danican Philidor, 68. French composer and chess player. Mr. Philidor wrote more than 20 operas, as well as cantatas, motets, and music for Masonic rituals. He was the best chess player of his time, and his book Analyse du jeu des Échecs (three editions from 1749-1790) was a standard text for 100 years. Mr. Philidor was in England at the time of the French Revolution, and was banned from returning to France. He died in London, a week before his 69th birthday.

War
British forces captured Trincomalee (present-day Sri Lanka) from the Dutch in order to keep it out of French hands.

120 years ago
1895

Aviation
German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin patented his Navigable Balloon.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Pete Newell. Canadian-born U.S. basketball coach. Mr. Newell, a native of Vancouver, coached university basketball at San Francisco (1946-1950); Michigan State (1950-1954); and California (1954-1960), compiling a record of 233-123. He led San Francisco to the NIT championship in 1949; California to the NCAA championship in 1959; and the U.S. men's team to the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome. Mr. Newell was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. He died on November 17, 2008 at the age of 93.

Baseball
The Brooklyn Robins claimed pitcher Rube Marquard on waivers from the New York Giants. Mr. Marquard was 9-8 with an earned run average of 3.73 in 27 games with the Giants in 1915.

Jimmy Lavender pitched a no-hitter and hit a single of his own as the Chicago Cubs blanked the New York Giants 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader at the Polo Grounds in New York in a game that was played in 1 hour 41 minutes. Rube Benton pitched a 9-hitter and Larry Doyle batted 3 for 4 with a double and 3 runs as the Giants won the second game 7-1 in a game that was played in 1 hour 40 minutes.

80 years ago
1935

Law
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Act, prohibiting the export of U.S. arms to belligerents.

Baseball
Vern Kennedy pitched the first no-hitter in the American League in 4 years and the first ever in Comiskey Park as the Chicago White Sox blanked the visiting Cleveland Indians 5-0. Mr. Kennedy was also the batting star, driving in 3 runs in the 6th inning with a bases-loaded triple. He struck out 5, including Joe Vosmik, the AL’s leading hitter, to end the game.

75 years ago
1940

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Till the Lights of London Shine Again--The Joe Loss Orchestra (1st month at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A.
(Billboard): I'll Never Smile Again--Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (vocal refrain by Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers) (6th week at #1)

At the movies
Night Train to Munich, directed by Carol Reed, and starring Margaret Lockwood, Rex Harrison, and Paul Hernreid (Henreid), opened in theatres in the United Kingdom.



Married on this date
Vince and Marie Lombardi. The head coach of the Washington Redskins died of cancer at the age of 57 on September 3, 1970, just three days after his and Mrs. Lombardi’s 30th anniversary.

Died on this date
Ernest Lundeen, 62. U.S. politician. Mr. Lundeen, a Republican, represented Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives from 1917-1919 and 1933-1937, and in the Senate from 1937-1940. He was one of those killed in the crash of Pennsylvania Central Airlines Trip 19.

War
Canadians joined the British Royal Air Force in the first bombing attack on the centre of Berlin. After months of negotiations, a peace treaty was announced in Nanking between Japan and its puppet government in China led by Wang Ching-wei. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered 26 units of the National Guard, mostly dealing with coastal defense, on active duty for one year.

World events
Rebellion broke out in French West Africa following the action of Equatorial Africa in support of the Free French movement. The French government reported that rebellion had broken out in Indochina in support of the Allied effort.

Disasters
Pennsylvania Central Airlines Trip 19, a Douglas DC-3A, crashed near Lovettsville, Virginia, killing all 21 passengers and crew members. The CAB investigation of the accident was the first investigation to be conducted under the Bureau of Air Commerce Act of 1938.

Sport
The Pan-Am Sports Congress announced that the first Pan-Am Olympic Games would be held in Buenos Aires in 1942.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I'll Be Seeing You--Bing Crosby; The Joe Loss Orchestra (1st month at #1)

World events
The Argentine Supreme Court voided the government's conviction of General Adolfo Espindola and all other retired officers on conspiracy charges passed in June.

The public prosecutor in Oslo asked for the death penalty for former Norwegian Minister President Vidkun Quisling on three counts.

Politics and government
Nai Thawi Bunyakat formed a new Thai cabinet with himself as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

The Liberal Party of Australia was founded by former Prime Minister Robert Menzies to replace the United Australia Party.

The U.S. Office of War Information was abolished by President Harry Truman and its foreign information functions and those of the Office of Inter-American Affairs were transferred to a temporary International Information Service under the State Department.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Die Gipsy-Band--Bibi Johns (1st month at #1)

At the movies
The Man from Laramie, directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy, Donald Crisp, and Cathy O'Donnell, opened in theatres.



Protest
A placard-carrying mob of Ukrainian nationalists punched and kicked four Royal Canadian Mounted Police plain-clothes officers at the Winnipeg airport, thinking they were part of a visiting delegation of U.S.S.R. farming experts. The RCMP, Winnipeg city police, and the railway police stop a potential riot; the Soviets were put under protective guard in a downtown hotel.

Religion
The Church of England in Canada changed its name to the Anglican Church of Canada.

Horse racing
Nashua finished 6½ lengths ahead of Swaps to win their $100,000 match race at Washington Park in Chicago (see video). Swaps had narrowly defeated Nashua in the Kentucky Derby almost four months earlier, but Nashua had come back to win the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

Boxing
Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson (24-3-1) won a 10-round unanimous decision over former world heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles (89-15-1) at Cleveland Arena. Mr. Jackson had won a unanimous 10-round decision over Mr. Charles in Syracuse, New York exactly four weeks earlier.

50 years ago
1965

Died on this date
E.E. Smith, 75. U.S. author. Edward Elmer Smith was a food engineer who was known as the "father of space opera" for creating the Lensman and Skylark series of science fiction novels.

Music
The Beatles concluded their North American tour with two shows at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California.

Aviation
The Aero Spacelines Super Guppy cargo aircraft made its first flight.

World events
An Act of Reconciliation was signed in the Dominican Republic, providing for a provisional government and the end of the civil war. The provisional government was led by former Foreign Minister Hector Garcia-Godoy, who would rule until elections could be held.

Diplomacy
Changes in the United Nations Charter came into effect as the United States became the last of the five permanent members of the Security Council to deposit its ratification (plus 82 of the 114 UN members). The Security Council was increased from 11 to 15 members, and the Economic and Social Council from 18 to 27 members.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (4-1) 30 @ Saskatchewan (3-2-1) 6
Toronto (0-5) 21 @ Edmonton (1-5) 23

The Tiger-Cats tied a league record for a regular season game by intercepting 7 passes as they defeated the Roughriders before 17,530 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Art Baker, Willie Bethea, and Frank Cosentino scored Hamilton touchdowns, while Don Sutherin added 2 converts, 3 field goals, and a single.

Tommy-Joe Coffey's 23-yard field goal with 46 seconds remaining in the game gave the Eskimos their first win of the season, defeating the Argonauts before 16,745 fans at Clarke Stadium. Mr. Coffey also scored the first Eskimo touchdown and added 2 converts. Jim Fauver and Butch Pressley scored the other Edmonton TDs. Peter Liske played his second CFL game, and made his first start at quarterback for the Argonauts, completing a 104-yard touchdown pass to Larry Ferguson, who had recently been released by the Eskimos.

40 years ago
1975

Baseball
The Oakland Athletics purchased infielder and outfielder Cesar Tovar from the Texas Rangers. Mr. Tovar was batting .258 with 3 home runs and 28 runs batted in in 102 games with Texas in 1975.

Reggie Jackson singled in 2 runs with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to give the Oakland Athletics an 8-6 win over the Boston Red Sox before 32,753 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B08310BOS1975.htm

Paul Splittorff pitched a 5-hitter, George Brett had 3 hits, and Hal McRae had 2 hits with a double and 3 runs batted in as the Kansas City Royals shut out the New York Yankees 7-0 before 15,563 fans at Shea Stadium in New York.

Phil Niekro pitched an 8-hitter and singled and scored the eventual winning run in the 5th inning as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Chicago Cubs 3-1 in the first game of a doubleheader before 12,346 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Losing pitcher Rick Reuschel allowed 11 hits and 3 earned runs in 8 innings. Jose Cardenal singled home Don Kessinger with 2 out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Cubs a 9-8 win in the second game, despite allowing home runs by Darrell Evans, Mike Lum, and Dave May.

Brent Strom pitched a 3-hitter to lead the San Diego Padres to a 6-0 win over the Montreal Expos before 9,876 fans at San Diego Stadium. Willie McCovey and Dave Roberts hit home runs. Losing pitcher Dan Warthen allowed 7 hits and 5 runs--3 earned--in 5 1/3 innings.

Intercontinental Cup @ Jarry Park, Montreal
Final
U.S.A. 8 Japan 0

Don Ferriss pitched a 5-hitter and Paul Molitor batted 3 for 4 with a double, 2 runs, 2 runs batted in, and 2 stolen bases as the Americans routed the Japanese before 4,853 fans and a national television audience watching on CBC. Mr. Ferriss improved his record for the tournament to 2-1. Mr. Hogino allowed 4 hits and 4 runs--3 earned--in 1 2/3 innings to drop to 0-2.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Into the Groove--Madonna

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Tarzan Boy--Baltimora (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Tarzan Boy--Baltimora

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Got You Babe--UB40 with Chrissie Hynde

#1 single in the U.K.: I Got You Babe--UB40 with Chrissie Hynde

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Power of Love--Huey Lewis and the News (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Power of Love--Huey Lewis and the News (2nd week at #1)
2 St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)--John Parr
3 Freeway of Love--Aretha Franklin
4 Shout--Tears for Fears
5 We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)--Tina Turner
6 Never Surrender--Corey Hart
7 Summer of ‘69--Bryan Adams
8 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free--Sting
9 Don’t Lose My Number--Phil Collins
10 Money for Nothing--Dire Straits

Singles entering the chart were Dancing in the Street by Mick Jagger and David Bowie (#43); The Way You Do the Things You Do/My Girl by Daryl Hall John Oates with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick (#56); Sunset Grill by Don Henley (#69); You Wear it Well by El DeBarge with DeBarge (#80); Wise Up by Amy Grant (#87); Weird Science by Oingo Boingo (#88); Test of Time by the Romantics (#89); and All of Me for All of You by 9.9 (#90). Weird Science was the title song of the movie.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)--Tina Turner
2 Crying Over You--Platinum Blonde
3 You Spin Me Around (Like a Record)--Dead or Alive
4 The Power of Love--Huey Lewis and the News
5 Never Surrender--Corey Hart
6 Everytime You Go Away--Paul Young
7 You Give Good Love--Whitney Houston
8 What About Love--Heart
9 Who's Holding Donna Now--DeBarge
10 Head Over Heels--Tears for Fears

Singles entering the chart were Lonely Ol' Night by John Cougar Mellencamp (#70); Money for Nothing by Dire Straits (#72); I Got You Babe by UB40 with Chrissie Hynde (#74); Fortress Around Your Heart by Sting (#85); Just Like You by FM (#88); and Can't Get There from Here by R.E.M. (#95).

Died on this date
Frank Macfarlane Burnet, 85. Australian virologist. Dr. Burnet shared the 1960 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Peter Medawar of the United Kingdom "for discovery of acquired immunological tolerance." He died three days before his 86th birthday.

Crime
California's "Night Stalker" killer Richard Ramirez was captured by residents of an East Los Angeles neighbourhood.

25 years ago
1990

Protest
Canadian Pacific Rail sued the Pays Plat Ojibwa Band at Schreiber, Ontario for $37 million for blockading rail lines from August 21-23 in sympathy with the Oka occupation in Quebec. CP Rail also filed suit against the Pic Mobert band at White River, Ontario.

Baseball
Ken Griffey, Sr. and Jr. became the first father-and-son combination to play as teammates in a major league game. Ken Griffey, Jr. played center field and Ken Griffey, Sr., recently acquired after being waived by the Cincinnati Reds, played left field for the Seattle Mariners as they beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 before 27,166 fans at the Kingdome. They each batted 1 for 4.



20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Shut Up (and Sleep with Me)--Sin with Sebastian

Music
This blogger was in attendance as the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra performed the first of its annual series of Labour Day weekend concerts at Hawrelak Park.

Society
The Sûreté de Québec provincial police swore in its first six Inuit constables.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Joseph Rotblat, 96. Polish-born U.K. physicist. Dr. Rotblat, who fled Poland for Britain early in World War II, was the only scientist to leave the Manhattan Project on the grounds of conscience, which he did at the end of 1944. He shared the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize with the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs "for their efforts to diminish the part played by nuclear arms in international politics and, in the longer run, to eliminate such arms."

Disasters
1,199 people were killed when a religious procession across Al-Aaimmah bridge in Baghdad was engulfed in panic over rumours of a suicide bomber.