November 8, 2015

275 years ago
1740

Music
G.F. Handel’s Organ Concerto No. 13, "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale," was published.

270 years ago
1745

War
Charles Edward Stuart invaded England with an army of about 5,000 that would later participate in the Battle of Culloden.

125 years ago
1890

Died on this date
César Franck, 67. Belgian composer. Mr. Franck was a church organist and teacher whose compositions included Symphony in D minor and works for organ and piano. He died of a severe respiratory illness, several months after suffering a head injury in a carriage collision.

Football
Dominion Final
Montreal 12 @ Ottawa College 11

Under the rules then in effect, a team had to outscore its opponent by at least two points in order to win the game. The result was ruled a draw.

120 years ago
1895

Science
While experimenting with electricity, Wilhelm Röntgen discovered the X-ray.

80 years ago
1935

At the movies
Mutiny on the Bounty, co-produced and directed by Frank Lloyd, and starring Clark Gable and Charles Laughton, opened in theatres.



75 years ago
1940

On the radio



War
The Italian invasion of Greece failed as outnumbered Greek units repulsed Italian forces in the Battle of Elaia–Kalamas. Yugoslavia made representations to the British, Italian, and Greek governments regarding the November 5 bombing of Bitolj in southern Macedonia by "unknown planes." Germany claimed the sinking of an entire British convoy of 15-20 ships. Speaking in Munich, German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler emphasized his "unalterable determination to continue the struggle to a clear decision...[and]...reject any compromise." U.K. Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden returned from Cairo and presented Prime Minister Winston Churchill with General Archibald Wavell's plans for a major offensive against Italian forces.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt disclosed that he had established a rule of thumb under which the United Kingdom and Canada would get 50% of all new American warplanes and war materials. He denied that any arrangements had been made with the U.K. for use of the naval base at Singapore. The U.S. War Department announced that about 400,000 men, who would be called into service by March 15, 1941, would be sent directly to regular Army or National Guard units.

Politics and government
Pollster George Gallup, analyzing the November 5 U.S. presidential and congressional elections had resulted in a reduction of the Democratic Party majority throughout the nation, from 62.5% in 1936 to 54.5% in 1940, with the Midwest becoming the new Republican Party stronghold.

Oren Root, Jr., head of the Associated Willkie Clubs of America, indicated that the unsuccessful 1940 Republican Party U.S. presidential candidate was laying plans for the creation of a strong opposition party to act as a check on President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal economic policies.

Agriculture
The U.S. Agriculture Department announced that a 23-year campaign had practically eradicated bovine tuberculosis in the United States.

Labour
The Congress of Industrial Organizations New York State Industrial Union Council described the national presidential and congressional elections as a "complete repudiation" of John L. Lewis, and demanded that he resign as President of the CIO.

70 years ago
1945

Died on this date
August von Mackensen, 95. German military officer. Field Marshal Mackensen served in the Franco-Prussian War and had success as a commander during World War I. He retired from the army in 1920. Field Marshal Mackensen was a monarchist and was suspected of disloyalty toward Germany's Nazi regime, but nothing was ever proven against him.

War
British commander in eastern Java Major General E.C. Mansergh issued an ultimatum to the Indonesians at Surabaya and other areas to surrender their arms by 6 A.M. November 10 or face all-out attack.

Chinese Communists reported that the government in Chungking had massed 90 divisions for a drive into Manchuria.

An Iranian deputy claimed that the U.S.S.R. had stationed 12,000 troops at Bandar Shak on the Caspian Sea and two new divisions in Azerbaijan.

Protest
Romanian troops fired into a crowd of rioting Communists and supporters of King Michael in front of the royal palace, killing 13 and wounding 80.

Diplomacy
The United Kingdom appointed Lieutenant General Sir Alan Cunningham as High Commissioner for Palestine and Transjordan.

Politics and government
Splitting from the radicals, Peronists in Argentina set up a new political party in Buenos Aires in support of President Juan Peron.

Aviation
Bell Aircraft reported the successful testing of remote-controlled jet planes.

Communications
Bell Laboratories demonstrated a new "visual" language of phonetic sounds for the deaf, which were projected through microphones on screens that the deaf could read.

Defense
Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen proposed that atomic bomb production be outlawed and its control be given to the United Nations Security Council.

Energy
Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Karl Compton, who had recently returned from Japan, said that Japanese scientists had tried to split uranium atoms to make a substitute for coal after deciding that an atomic bomb wasn't feasible.

Labour
United Auto Workers of America filed complaints of unfair labor practices against General Motors with the National Labor Relations Board, charging the company with refusing to bargain collectively.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Help!--The Beatles

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Yesterday Man--Chris Andrews

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Knew You When--Billy Joe Royal
2 Positively 4th Street--Bob Dylan
3 1-2-3--Len Barry
4 Everybody Loves a Clown--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
5 Taste of Honey--Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
6 Let's Hang On--The 4 Seasons
7 You've Got to Hide Your Love Away--The Silkie
8 But You're Mine--Sonny & Cher
9 Steppin' Out--Paul Revere and the Raiders
10 Get Off My Cloud--The Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were Windmill in Old Amsterdam by Freddie and the Dreamers (#30); I Found a Girl by Jan & Dean (#32); Boys by the Beatles (#33); Watcha Gonna Do About It by the Small Faces (#34); Tears by Ken Dodd (#35); Message Understood by Sandie Shaw (#36); Take the First Train Home by Dee and the Yeomen (#37); One Good Reason by Ritchie Knight (#38); Here it Comes Again by the Fortunes (#39); and Love's Made a Fool of You by the Esquires (#40).

Died on this date
Dorothy Kilgallen, 52. U.S. journalist. Miss Kilgallen was employed by the Hearst newspaper chain. She began writing her column The Voice of Broadway in 1938, and it was widely syndicated. Miss Kilgallen was a regular panelist on the television quiz show What's My Line? from the program's beginning in 1950. Both activities ended with Miss Kilgallen's death from a combination of alcohol and barbiturates, perhaps concurrent with a heart attack, although conspiracy theories abound.

Music
The Beatles were at EMI Studios in London, where they recorded the song Think for Yourself.

Politics and government
Prime Minister Lester Pearson led his Liberal Party to its second conseutive minority government in the Canadian federal election, falling 2 seats short of a majority in the 265-seat House of Commons. The Liberals won 131 seats, up from 128 at the dissolution of Parliament. The Progressive Conservatives, led by former Prime Minister John Diefanbaker, won 97 seats, an increase of 2 from dissolution. The New Democratic Party, led by Tommy Douglas, won 21, an increase of 4. The Ralliement des créditistes--a Quebec party led by Réal Caouette that had split off from the federal Social Credit Party--won 9 seats. Social Credit, led by Robert Thompson, won 5 seats--3 in British Columbia and 2 in Alberta. 1 independent Conservative and 1 independent were elected. The NDP's total was their highest since the party's founding in 1961. It was the last federal election in which any Social Credit MPs were elected outside Quebec. Most ominously, future Prime Minister and destroyer of Canada Pierre Trudeau was first elected to the House of Commons.

Britannica
The British Indian Ocean Territory was created, consisting of Chagos Archipelago, Aldabra, Farquhar and Des Roches islands.

Abominations
The Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965 was given Royal Assent, formally abolishing the death penalty in the United Kingdom.

War
The U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team was ambushed by over 1,200 Viet Cong in Operation Hump in Vietnam, while the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment fought one of the first set-piece engagements of the war between Australian forces and the Viet Cong at the Battle of Gang Toi.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Sabato pomeriggio--Claudio Baglioni (12th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Morning Sky--George Baker Selection (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Space Oddity--David Bowie

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Island Girl--Elton John (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Island Girl--Elton John
2 Bad Blood--Neil Sedaka
3 They Just Can't Stop It (The Games People Play)--The Spinners
4 Miracles--Jefferson Starship
5 Low Rider--War
6 Lyin' Eyes--The Eagles
7 Heat Wave--Linda Ronstadt
8 Fly, Robin, Fly--Silver Convention
9 Who Loves You--The Four Seasons
10 The Way I Want to Touch You--Captain & Tennille

Singles entering the chart were For the Love of You (Parts 1 and 2) by the Isley Brothers (#72); I Write the Songs by Barry Manilow (#77); Full of Fire by Al Green (#82); Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.) by Glen Campbell (#83); Carry Me by David Crosby and Graham Nash (#84); The Last Game of the Season (A Blind Man in the Bleachers) by David Geddes (#85); Winners and Losers by Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds (#86); Rock and Roll All Nite by Kiss (#91); Over My Head by Fleetwood Mac (#93); We All Gotta Stick Together by the Four Tops (#95); Love to Love You Baby by Donna Summer (#98); Love Machine (Part 1) by the Miracles (#99); and Hey There Little Firefly (Part 1) by Firefly (#100).

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

Football
CFL
Western Semi-Final
Winnipeg 24 @ Saskatchewan 42

Ron Lancaster completed 20 of 27 passes for 338 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead the Roughriders over the Eskimos before 20,357 fans at Taylor Field in Regina. Mr. Lancaster threw 2 TD passes to Rhett Dawson and 1 each to Steve Molnar and Tom Campana. Winnipeg quarterback Dieter Brock completed 16 of 30 passes for 213 yards and touchdowns to Bob LaRose and Tom Scott, but was under constant pressure from the Saskatchewan defensive line, and was sacked 5 times by defensive end George Wells. Saskatchewan fullback George Reed, playing the final home game of his 13-year career with the Roughriders, rushed 27 times for 101 yards and a touchdown. Steve Beaird rushed 1 yard for the other Winnipeg TD.

CIAU
Calgary (6-2) 26 @ Manitoba (1-7) 37
Alberta (4-4) 31 @ British Columbia (4-4) 16

Rick Koswin completed 14 of 14 passes for 2 touchdowns and rushed for 71 yards and another 2 TDs to lead the Bisons over the Dinosaurs at University Stadium in Winnipeg. The Dinosaurs, who restes several starters, led 26-13 at halftime.

Dalton Smarsh rushed for 191 yards and 2 touchdowns and Brian Fryer caught 8 passes for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Golden Bears beat the Thunderbirds at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver.

30 years ago
1985

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

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Rock Me Amadeus--Falco (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Masten Gregory, 53. U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Gregory raced at various levels from 1952-1972. He competed in 46 Formula One races from 1957-1963 and 1965, and won (with Jochen Rindt) 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965. Mr. Gregory's only appearance in the Indianapolis 500 was in 1965, when he rose as high as 5th before developing oil pressure problems and finishing 23rd. He died in his sleep at his summer home in Italy.

25 years ago
1990

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