November 15, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Ken Powless!

700 years ago
1315

War
The Schweizer Eidgenossenschaft--a 1,500-man force from the Swiss Confedaracy--ambushed an Austrian force led by Duke Leopold I in the Battle of Morgarten in Switzerland.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Richmal Crompton. U.K. authoress. Richmal Crompton Lamburn wrote short stories and 41 novels for adults, but was best known for her Just William series of 39 children's books (1922-1970). She died of a heart attack on January 11, 1969 at the age of 78.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Olga Nikolaevna Romanova. Russian royal family member. Grand Duchess Olga was the eldest child of Czar Nikolai II and Empress Alexandra. She was murdered at the age of 22 with the rest of her family, on July 17, 1918.

Antoni Słonimski. Polish writer. Mr. Słonimski wrote fiction, non-fiction, and poetry who opposed Stalinism and supported liberalization. He was killed in a car accident in Warsaw on July 4, 1976 at the age of 80.

80 years ago
1935

At the movies
A Night at the Opera, starring Groucho, Chico, and Harpo Marx, opened in theatres.



Politics and government
Manuel L. Quezon was inaugurated as the second President of the Philippines.

Football
AFL
Former New York Giants' personnel director Harry March announced plans for the formation of the second American Football League. The first league to play under that name had lasted just one season (1926).

75 years ago
1940

Education
Official ceremonies were held for the opening of Glenora School, which had opened for classes in September. This blogger attended the school for Grade 1 in 1967-1968, and also attended ceremonies on September 26, 2015 celebrating its 75th anniversary. Glenora School, on 102 Ave. between 134 St. and 136 St., now offers kindergarten in addition to the traditional grades 1-6.

War
The German Luftwaffe concluded their 10-hour bombing of the English city of Coventry. The people of the Netherlands East Indies donated L650,000 for bombers and fighters for Britain.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally proclaimed the existence of a state of war between Greece and Italy, and applied the U.S. neutrality statutes.

Defense
The first 75,000 men were called to service in the United States armed forces under peacetime conscription.

Crime
Former U.S. census employee Edward D. Blount was sentenced in Washington, D.C. to 2-6 years in prison for threatening the life of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Politics and government
Turibio Olasso resigned as Uruguay's minister of public instruction and social welfare in protest against the negotiations with the U.S. on naval bases.

Economics and finance
Former U.S. President Herbert Hoover urged immediate aid to "the five little democracies" of Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and central Poland in order to prevent famine and epidemic diseases.

Labour
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt named Dr. Harry Mills to succeed J. Warren Madden as chairman of the National Labor Relations Board.

The U.S. United Auto Workers called a strike at the Vultee Aircraft Company plant at Downey, California, halting work on $80 million worth of military aircraft.

Boxing
World welterweight champion Fritzie Zivic (102-24-4) defeated Al "Bummy" Davis (40-2-2) by disqualification in the 2nd round of a scheduled 10-round non-title fight at Madison Square Garden in New York. Mr. Davis was knocked down in the 1st round, and when he was thumbed in the eye by Mr. Zivic in the 2nd round, he went berserk and hit Mr. Zivic with at least 10 straight low blows, and was disqualified. Mr. Davis then kicked referee Bily Cavanaugh and attempted to resume the fight.

70 years ago
1945

War
Chinese Communist forces closed in on the Changchun airfield to prevent Nationalist landings as Soviet troops withdrew from the area.

40 elite guard members, including camp commander Martin Gottfreid-Weiss, went on trial in a military court in Dachau, Germany for war crimes.

A joint U.S. congressional committee investigating the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii began hearings in Washington with the introduction of 379 pages of Japanese messages intercepted prior to the attack.

Protest
British troops restored order in Tel Aviv after another outburst of rioting in protest against the U.S.-U.K. statement on Palestine.

Diplomacy
The 44-nation conference in London established the United Nations Economic, Social, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Venezuela joined the United Nations.

U.S. President Harry Truman, U.K. Prime Minister Clement Attlee, and Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced their joint decision to share the atomic secret with other United Nations members "as soon as effective enforceable safeguards against its use for destructive purposes can be devised."

Defense
Allied Supreme Commander in Europe General Dwight Eisenhower told a U.S. Senate committee that universal military training was "essential" to meet any "threat of aggression" and to assure "keeping the peace for which we fought."

Literature
Gabriela Mistral of Chile was awarded the 1945 Nobel Prize in Literature "for her lyric poetry which, inspired by powerful emotions, has made her name a symbol of the idealistic aspirations of the entire Latin American world."

Science
The 1945 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Artturi Virtanen of Finland "for his research and inventions in agricultural and nutrition chemistry, especially for his fodder preservation method" and James Sumner of the United States "for his discovery that enzymes can be crystallized." Wolfgang Pauli of Austria was awarded the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physics "for the discovery of the Exclusion Principle, also called the Pauli principle."

Labour
Ford Motor Company joined General Motors and Chrysler Motors in opposing the United Auto Workers demand for a 30% wage increase and asked for 31 modifications in the current contract.

60 years ago
1955

Boxing
Joe Erskine (25-0-1) won a 10-round decision over Henry Cooper (11-2) at Harringay Arena in London in an elimination bout for the British Board of Boxing Control British Heavyweight title. On the undercard, Peter Waterman (29-0-1) won by disqualification over Peter King (25-10-2) in an elimination bout for the BBBC British Welterweight title. James J. Parker (27-5-4) and Ewart Potgieter (9-0-1) fought a 10-round draw in a heavyweight bout. Mr. Parker, a Canadian, normally weighed around 210 pounds, but weighed 250 for the fight against Mr. Potgieter, a South African, who stood 7' 2" and weighed 335 pounds. Associated Press scored the fight 7 rounds to 3 in favour of Mr. Parker.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): El Mundo (Il Mondo)--Jimmy Fontana (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Yesterday Man--Chris Andrews (2nd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Positively 4th Street--Bob Dylan
2 You've Got to Hide Your Love Away--The Silkie
3 Let's Hang On--The 4 Seasons
4 Taste of Honey--Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
5 Get Off My Cloud--The Rolling Stones
6 Run Baby Run--The Newbeats
7 Make it Easy on Yourself--The Walker Brothers
8 Steppin' Out--Paul Revere and the Raiders
9 Where Have All the Flowers Gone--Johnny Rivers
10 I Miss You So--Little Anthony and the Imperials

Singles entering the chart were It's My Life by the Animals (#36); Someday, Someday by the Shindogs (#37); Forget Her by Bobby Curtola (#38); I'm a Man by the Yardbirds (#39); and I Hear a Symphony by the Supremes (#40).

Auto racing
Craig Breedlove of the United States regained the world land speed record, driving his car Spirit of America on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah at an average speed of 600.601 miles per hour. Fellow American Art Arfons had driven at an average speed of 576.553 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats eight days earlier.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Sabato pomeriggio--Claudio Baglioni (13th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Dansez maintenant--Dave

#1 single in the U.K.: Space Oddity--David Bowie (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Island Girl--Elton John (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Island Girl--Elton John (2nd week at #1)
2 Fly, Robin, Fly--Silver Convention
3 The Way I Want to Touch You--Captain & Tennille
4 Heat Wave--Linda Ronstadt
5 Low Rider--War
6 That's the Way (I Like It)--K.C. and the Sunshine Band
7 Who Loves You--The Four Seasons
8 Lyin' Eyes--The Eagles
9 Nights on Broadway--Bee Gees
10 This Will Be--Natalie Cole

Singles entering the chart were Love Rollercoaster by Ohio Players (#76); Fox on the Run by Sweet (#77); Walk Away from Love by David Ruffin (#79); School Boy Crush by Average White Band (#80); Squeeze Box by the Who (#82); Times of Your Life by Paul Anka (#88); Baby Face by Wing And a Prayer Fife & Drum Corps (#89); Evil Woman by Electric Light Orchestra (#95); Theme from S.W.A.T. by Rhythm Heritage (#98); and This is What You Mean to Me by Engelbert Humperdinck (#100). Theme from S.W.A.T., as the title indicates, was from the television series S.W.A.T.

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CFRW)
1 Island Girl--Elton John (2nd week at #1)
2 Bad Blood--Neil Sedaka
3 Lyin' Eyes--The Eagles
4 They Just Can't Stop It (The Games People Play)--The Spinners
5 Who Loves You--The Four Seasons
6 Feelings--Morris Albert
7 I'm Sorry/Calypso--John Denver
8 Heat Wave--Linda Ronstadt
9 Rocky--Austin Roberts
10 S O S--ABBA
11 Miracles--Jefferson Starship
12 The Homecoming--Hagood Hardy
13 Sky High--Jigsaw
14 Third Rate Romance--Amazing Rhythm Aces
15 Tonite is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love--April Wine
16 The Way I Want to Touch You--Captain & Tennille
17 I Only Have Eyes for You--Art Garfunkel
18 What the Hell I Got--Pagliaro
19 Wasted Days and Wasted Nights--Freddy Fender
20 Low Rider--War
21 My Little Town--Simon and Garfunkel
22 Lady Blue--Leon Russell
23 Rhinestone Cowboy--Glen Campbell
24 Long Distance Love--Little Feat
25 Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady--Helen Reddy
26 Just Too Many People--Melissa Manchester
27 Help Me Make It (To My Rockin' Chair)--B.J. Thomas
28 Ballroom Blitz--Sweet
29 Nights on Broadway--Bee Gees
30 Make Me Your Baby--Suzanne Stevens

Economics and finance
The heads of government of the U.S.A., U.K., France, Italy, Japan, and West Germany began a three-day economic summit in France.

Football
CFL
Eastern Final
Montreal 20 @ Ottawa 10

The Montreal defense stopped the Ottawa offense on a third-down gamble from the Montreal 1-yard line in the 1st quarter, and Johnny Rodgers returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter, as the defending Grey Cup champion Alouettes defeated the Rough Riders before 32,699 fans at Lansdowne Park. The Alouettes were leading 6-3 when Mr. Rodgers scored his touchdown with just over 2 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. Midway through the 4th quarter, Montreal defensive back Dickie Harris returned an interception to the Ottawa 14-yard line, and Steve Ferrughelli rushed 2 yards for a touchdown, converted by Don Sweet, to make the score 20-3 with 7:50 remaining. The Rough Riders then marched downfield, and Molly McGee rushed 4 yards for a touchdown, converted by Gerry Organ, to make the score 20-10 with 4:39 left. Mr. Organ's short kickoff was recovered by teammate Al Brenner, who took the ball to the Montreal 22. However, Phil Price intercepted to end the threat. Mr. Rodgers rushed 5 times for 27 yards and caught 3 passes for 47, in addition to his kick returns. Mr. Ferrughelli rushed for 60 yards on 20 carries, while teammate Joe Petty led all receivers with 73 yards on 6 catches. Mr. McGee rushed for 43 yards on 11 carries and caught 3 passes for 35 yards, while Art Green led the Rough Riders with 51 yards on 11 carries. Ottawa quarterback Tom Clements completed 14 of 27 passes for 149 yards and allowed 4 interceptions. Montreal quarterback Jimmy Jones completed 12 of 19 passes for 130 yards. The Ottawa dressing room was a centre of discontent after the game, with defensive end Wayne Smith complaining about the club's treatment of Negro players, and repeating his demand for a trade, while defensive back Al Marcelin complaining about the coaching staff's inattentiveness to Negro players, and particularly the recent release of split end Rhome Nixon.

CIAU
Atlantic Bowl
Calgary 38 @ Acadia 13

The Dinosaurs took a 24-0 halftime lead and coasted to victory over the Axemen in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Calgary quarterbacks Don Siler and Greg Watson combined to complete 10 of 14 passes for 119 yards, including an 8-yard pass from Mr. Watson to Larry Leathem for the game's first touchdown in the 1st quarter. Gary Jackson and Dan Diduck rushed for touchdowns later in the 1st half, and Mr. Diduck added a TD in the 2nd half. Lindsay Hay converted all 5 TDs and added a field goal as the Dinosaurs advanced to the Canadian College Bowl for the first time in their 12-year history.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Take on Me--A-Ha (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Rock Me Amadeus--Falco (5th week at #1)

Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Irish Prime Minister Garret FitzGerald signed an agreement at Hillsborough Castle in County Down, Northern Ireland that gave the Republic of Ireland a role in Northern Ireland for the first time in more than 60 years.

Terrorism
A research assistant was injured when a package from the Unabomber addressed to a University of Michigan professor exploded.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers (2nd week at #1)

Space
The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida to begin the 5-day military mission STS-38. The five-man crew was led by Commander Richard Covey.



Politics and government
The Communist People's Republic of Bulgaria was disestablished and a new republican government is instituted.

Scandal
The U.S. Senate Ethics Committee began hearings in a case involving conduct by five Senators: Alan Cranston (Democrat--California); Dennis DeConcini (Democrat--Arizona); Donald Riegle (Democrat--Michigan); John Glenn (Democrat--Ohio) and John McCain (Republican--Arizona). The Senators were known as the "Keating 5" because of their relationship with Charles Keating, who had been chairman of the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association in California. The collapse of the S&L in 1989 had cost the government $2 billion. Special counsel Bob Bennett said that Senators Cranston and DeConcini had been "by far the most active" in the allegedly improper activity; that Sen. Riegle had played a greater role than he later recalled; and that Sens. Glenn and McCain had not played any meaningful role. Mr. Bennett said that Sens. Cranston and DeConcini had pressured Federal Home Loan Bank Board chairman Edwin Gray to ease regulations that restricted investments by thrifts into high-risk investments, and had continued to do favours for Mr. Keating, coinciding with large political contributions by Mr. Keating.

Society
Canadian abortionist Henry Morgentaler was served with an eviction notice by the St. John’s city council and given 10 days to close his abortion clinic. A day earlier, the city council had rescinded the clinic’s permit and said it was unaware of the clinic’s purpose when the operating permit had been granted earlier in the year. "Dr." Morgentaler, who had officially opened the clinic on November 14, said that he wouldn’t obey the order and would take the city to court.

Energy
Canada’s National Energy Board approved a $546-million initial phase of a $2.6-billion expansion for a cross-country natural gas pipeline to be built by TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. The board agreed with TransCanada that increased capacity was needed to deliver 155 million cubic feet of gas daily from Alberta gas fields to Ontario, Quebec, and the northeastern United States beginning late in 1991.