December 22, 2016

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Elena!

375 years ago
1641

Died on this date
Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, 81. Chief Minister of France, 1589-1611. The Duke of Sully served in the Protestant army as a teenager during the religious wars in the 1570s. As Chief Minister, Superintendent of Finances, and adviser to King Henri IV, he built a strong centralized administrative system in France using coercion and highly effective new administrative techniques, but was unpopular, and his power was weakened after the assassination of King Henri in 1610. The Duke of Sully resigned in 1611, and died nine days after his 81st birthday.

350 years ago
1666

Died on this date
Guercino, 75. Italian artist. Guercino, whose real name was Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, was a Baroque painter and draftsman who produced over 140 paintings and numerous drawings. He painted and drew landscapes, genre subjects, and caricatures.

320 years ago
1696

Born on this date
James Oglethorpe. U.K. military officer and politician. Mr. Oglethorpe was a general who fought with Holy Roman Empire forces in the Austro-Turkish War (1716-1718) before returning to England. A Tory, he represented Haslemere in the House of Commons (1722-1754). As chairman of the Gaols Committee in 1729, he recommended creating a buffer colony in British North America between the Carolinas and Florida, to be settled by those released from debtors' prisons. Mr. Oglethorpe thus founded Georgia, serving as its first Governor (1732-1743). He returned to England after an unsuccessful siege of St. Augustine, Florida, was unsuccessful in leading British troops in the Jacobite rising of 1745, and served undercover in the Prussian Army during the Seven Years' War. Mr. Oglethorpe died on June 30, 1785 at the age of 88.

125 years ago
1891

Died on this date
Paul de Lagarde, 64. German orientalist. Professor Lagarde, born Paul Bötticher, taught oriental languages at the University of Göttingen. He was the most renowned scholar of the Septuagint in the 19th century, but he rejected the Bible as the Word of God, and opposed Christianity and Jews, advocating a German folkish religion, racial Darwinism, and German imperialism within Europe. Prof. Lagarde's ideas influenced Nazi ideology, especially that of theorist Alfred Rosenberg.

Space
Asteroid 323 Brucia became the first asteroid to be discovered using photography.

90 years ago
1926

Football
AFL
Exhibition
Los Angeles 34 New York Yankees 0 @ Beaumont, Texas

75 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Karel Hašler, 62. Czech entertainer. Mr. Hašler was an actor, director, singer, and songwriter who acted in plays and operated various cabarets in a career that began in the late 1890s. He appeared in silent and sound films from 1914-1941. Mr. Hašler's patriotic songs led to his arrest by the Gestapo in September 1941; he was taken to Malthausen concentration camp in Germany, where he was tortured to death.

War
Japanese troops captured Wake Island-2,000 miles west of Honolulu--after two weeks of attacks; the island had been garrisoned by fewer than 400 U.S. Marines. 80,000-100,000 Japanese troops attempted to land around Lingayen on the Philippine island of Luzon at dawn under strong naval air escort. Marshal Klementy Voroshilov was named commander of Soviet troops in the Far East. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the amended Selective Service bill under which men aged 20-44 would be subject to military service. The U.S. War Department reported that 273 fifth columnists had been arrested among the 35,000 Japanese aliens in Hawaii.

Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived in Washington with an 86-man delegation to discuss with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt all questions relevant to the concerted war effort.

Labour
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-0 that an employer had the right to express his views on labour unions so long as he did not attempt to coerce his employees.

U.S. troops were withdrawn from strike duty in San Francisco. About 495 of 3,000 welders on the day shift continued picketing.

70 years ago
1946

Movies
Humphrey Bogart signed a record 15-year contract with Warner Brothers.

Defense
The U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics revealed the development of "Tiamat," an experimental winged rocket missile with a speed of 600 miles per hour.

Politics and government
The Polish government reported that the Peasant Party had been allowed to file candidates for the forthcoming elections in all 52 electoral districts.

British Viceroy of India Sir Archibald Wavell returned to New Delhi from conferences in London.

Economics and finance
U.K. and U.S.S.R. officials in Germany signed a three-month agreement by which the Soviet zone would furnish grain, forage, fuel, and wood pulp to the British zone in return for iron, steel, and tires.

Football
AAFC
Championship @ Cleveland Stadium
New York 9 @ Cleveland 14

Otto Graham's 16-yard touchdown pass to Dante Lavelli, converted by Lou Groza, with 4:13 remaining in regulation time, gave the Browns their victory over the Yankees before 40,469 fans on a snowy day to end the first season of the All-America Football Conference. Marion Motley rushed 1 yard for the other Cleveland touchdown in the 2nd quarter. Harvey Johnson's 11-yard field goal gave New York a 3-0 lead in the 1st quarter. Spec Sanders rushed 2 yards for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter to give the Yankees a 9-7 lead, but Mr. Johnson missed the convert--his only such miss of the season.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Just Walking in the Rain--Johnnie Ray (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Smoky--Die Sieben Raben (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Just Walking in the Rain--Johnnie Ray (7th week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Singing the Blues--Guy Mitchell (Best Seller--3rd week at #1; Disc Jockey--3rd week at #1; Jukebox--2nd week at #1; Top 100--3rd week at #1);

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Singing the Blues--Guy Mitchell (4th week at #1)
2 Love Me Tender--Elvis Presley
3 The Green Door--Jim Lowe
4 True Love--Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly
--Jane Powell
5 Blueberry Hill--Fats Domino
6 A Rose and a Baby Ruth--George Hamilton IV
7 Just Walking in the Rain--Johnnie Ray
8 Hey! Jealous Lover--Frank Sinatra
9 Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody--Jerry Lewis
10 Cindy, Oh Cindy--Vince Martin with the Tarriers
--Eddie Fisher

Singles entering the chart were Don't Forbid Me by Pat Boone (#25); Greensleeves by the Beverley Sisters (#37); On My Word of Honor by the Platters (#38); Jim Dandy by LaVern Baker and the Gliders (#45); I Miss You So by Chris Connor (#48); I Saw Esau by the Ames Brothers (#49); and Cinco Robles (Five Oaks) by Russell Arms (#50). Don't Forbid Me was the other side of Anastasia, charting at #35.

At the movies
The Wrong Man, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Henry Fonda, Vera Miles, and Harold J. Stone, opened in theatres.



Born on this date
Colo. U.S. gorilla. Colo, the first western gorilla born in captivity, was born at the Columbus Zoo in Columbus, Ohio, and still resides there with her family.

War
British and French forces completed their withdrawal from Egypt.

World events
The Syrian government of President Shukri al-Quwatli ordered 47 opposition leaders, including former President Adib Shishekly, court-martialed on charges of "preparing a pro-Iraqi armed rebellion."

The Soviet new agency Tass charged that the United States had "staged" the recent Hungarian revolution to restore the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and place Habsburg pretender Prince Otto of Austria on the throne.

Baseball
A poll of U.S. sportscasters and sportswriters named New York Yankees' center fielder Mickey Mantle as the American "male athlete of the year." Mr. Mantle won the triple crown, leading the American League in batting average (.353), home runs (52), and runs batted in (130) as the Yankees won the World Series.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Stop Stop Stop--The Hollies (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Green, Green Grass of Home--Tom Jones (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Lucy Burns, 87. U.S. political activist. Miss Burns and Alice Paul worked together to promote the cause of women's suffrage, and co-founded the National Woman's Party in 1916. The suffragettes conducted repeated protests outside the White House and were repeatedly arrested and imprisoned, but their efforts were ultimately rewarded when the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution went into force on August 26, 1920. Miss Burns retired from public life and devoted her remaining years to the Roman Catholic Church and her orphaned niece.

Politics and government
Ioannis Paraskevopoulos took office as Prime Minister of Greece, following the resignation of Stephanos Stephenopoulos, who had lost a substantial part of his parliamentary support. Mr. Paraskevopoulos led an interim government in preparation for general elections scheduled for May 1967.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K (New Musical Express): When a Child is Born--Johnny Mathis

Politics and government
Takeo Fukuda, 71, was elected leader of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party by the party's caucus. He replaced Prime Minister Takeo Miki, who had resigned after the party suffered losses in the December 5 parliamentary elections. Mr. Fukuda was narrowly elected Prime Minister by the Diet on December 24.

Hockey
WHA
International Series (exhibition)
C.S.S.R. (2-4) 2 @ Indianapolis 3

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Funkytown--Pseudo Echo

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Geronimo's Cadillac--Modern Talking (2nd week at #1)

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Black or White--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Black or White--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Let's Talk About Sex!--Salt-N-Pepa (6th week at #1)
2 Black or White--Michael Jackson
3 Do the Limbo Dance--David Hasselhoff
4 Any Dream Will Do--Jason Donovan
5 Always Look on the Bright Side of Life--Monty Python
6 (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams
7 Jambo--Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung
8 Love to Hate You--Erasure
9 Something Got Me Started--Simply Red
10 I'm Too Sexy--Right Said Fred

Singles entering the chart were Bitterblue by Bonnie Tyler (#22); Way of the World by Tina Turner (#27); and You by Ten Sharp (#29).

World events
Armed opposition groups launched a military coup against Georgian President Zviad Gamsakhurdia.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Thug Devotion--Mo Thugs

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)--Backstreet Boys (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Verpiss' Dich--Tic Tac Toe (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Scotland (OCC): 2 Become 1--Spice Girls

Disasters
Airborne Express Flight 827, a functional evaluation flight of an Airborne Express Douglas DC-8-63F that had undergone a major modification, en route from Greensboro, North Carolina, over New River Valley Airport in Pulaski County, Virginia, then to Beckley, West Virginia, followed by other way points in Kentucky and Virginia, and then back to Greensboro, stalled and crashed near Narrows, Virginia, killing all 6 people--3 crew and 3 passengers--aboard.

Hockey
NHL
Los Angeles (12-19-4) 4 @ St. Louis (16-19-1) 7

Brett Hull became the 24th player in National Hockey League history to score 500 career goals when he notched a hat trick for the Blues in their victory over the Kings at Kiel Center. He joined his father Bobby as the only father-son combination to score 500 goals apiece.

December 21, 2016

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Juliette Richard and Maria de los Milagros!

130 years ago
1886

Born on this date
Gennaro Papi. Italian-born opera conductor. Mr. Papi emigrated to the United States in 1913, serving as assistant conductor (1913-1915) and principal conductor (1915-1927, 1935-1941) of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, and as the first conductor of the Chicago Civic Opera (1927-1935). He died of a heart attack in his apartment on November 29, 1941, 22 days before his 55th birthday, and several hours before he was to conduct a performance of La Traviata at the Metropolitan.

125 years ago
1891

Born on this date
John W. McCormack. U.S. politician. Mr. McCormack, a Democrat, represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives from 1928-1971. He was majority leader from 1939-1947, 1951-1953, and 1955-1961, minority leader from 1947-1949 and 1953-1955, and Speaker of the House from 1962-1971. Mr. McCormack opposed Communism and supported farm bills. He died on November 22, 1980 at the age of 88.

Politics and government
Charles Boucher de Boucherville, a Conservative, was sworn in as Premier of Québec for the second time, five days after Honoré Mercie had been removed from office by Lieutenant Governor Auguste-Réal Angers on corruption charges. Mr. Boucherville had previously been Premier from 1874-1878.

Basketball
The first game of basketball was played at International Young Men's Christian Association Training School (today known as Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts. A soccer ball was used, and peach baskets (with the bottoms intact) were nailed onto a 10-foot elevated track.

120 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Leroy Robertson. U.S. composer. Dr. Robertson taught at Brigham Young University (1925-1948) and the University of Utah (1948-1962). He wrote piano, organ, and string works, as well as Mormon hymns, and was best known for Oratorio from the Book of Mormon (1953). Mr. Robertson died on July 25, 1971 at the age of 74.

80 years ago
1936

Defense
The German Junkers Ju 88 multi-role combat aircraft made its first flight.

75 years ago
1941

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Donald's Death

Died on this date
David Howard, 45. U.S. film director. Mr. Howard directed 46 movies, mainly low-budget Westerns, from 1930 until his death.

Movies
The U.S. National Board of Review of Motion Pictures chose Citizen Kane as the best Hollywood picture of 1941.

War
Thai Prime Minister Luang Bipul Songgram and Japanese Ambassador Teiji Tsubogami signed a 10-year military alliance pledging each country not to make a separate peace. The treaty was signed in the presence of the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand. The U.S. War Department reported that U.S. planes had bombed the Philippine islands of Luzon, Cebu, and Mindanao in the past 24 hours. U.S. Navy Secretary Frank Knox claimed that U.S. Navy ships "have to the present time probably sunk or damaged at least 14 enemy submarines" in the Atlantic Ocean.

Education
The American Council of Education recommended that the high school and college education of talented students be sped up to permit them to graduate from college at age 20 in order to meet the new military draft requirements.

Health
Reports from Stockholm stated that an epidemic of typhus had broken out in Lithuania and other German-occupied territory in eastern Europe.

Football
NFL
Championship @ Wrigley Field, Chicago
New York Giants 9 @ Chicago Bears 37

The game was played just two weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and only 13,341 fans showed up to see the Bears defeat the Giants to win their second straight NFL title. Field goals of 14, 39, and 37 yards by Chicago's Bob Snyder offset an unconverted New York touchdown on a 31-yard pass from Tuffy Leemans to George Franck, and the Bears led 9-6 at halftime. The Giants tied the game in the 3rd quarter on a 16-yard field goal by Ward Cuff, but the Bears put the game away with touchdown rushes of 2 and 7 yards by Norm Standlee--the first converted by Mr. Snyder, the second by Joe Maniaci--to lead 23-9 after 3 quarters. In the 4th quarter, George McAfee rushed 5 yards for a touchdown, and Lee Artoe's convert made the score 30-9. The final touchdown came on a 42-yard fumble return by Ken Kavanaugh. Ray "Scooter" McLean drop-kicked the convert for the game's final point. Mr. McLean's convert was the last successful drop kick in the NFL until a point after touchdown by Doug Flutie of the New England Patriots in January 2006.



70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Ole Buttermilk Sky--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Michael Douglas and the Campus Kids) (Best Seller--2nd week at #1); Rumors are Flying--Frankie Carle and his Orchestra with Marjorie Hughes (Airplay--9th week at #1); The Old Lamp-Lighter by Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye (Vocal refrain by Billy Williams and Choir) (Juke Box--1st week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--1st week at #1)

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Tom Conway and Nigel Bruce, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Grand Old Man

Died on this date
Eugene Talmadge, 62. U.S. politician. Mr. Talmadge, a Democrat, was Governor of Georgia from 1933-1937 and 1941-1943; he was elected to a fourth term in November 1946, but died of hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver, caused by heavy drinking, before the January 1947 inauguration. Mr. Talmadge was known for his opposition to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal economic policies, and for civil rights for Negroes; his third term included the dismissal of University of Georgia Dean Walter Cocking and others at the university who supported bringing white and Negro students together in the classroom. Mr. Talmadge was succeeded after his death by his son Herman, who served for just two months before yielding to a court ruling in favour of Melvin Thompson, who had been elected Lieutenant Governor in November 1946.

Diplomacy
In accordance with the December 9 United Nations decision on Spain, the United Kingdom recalled her Amabassador to Spain, Sir Victor Mallet.

The Arab Higher Executive Committee announced that Palestinian Arabs would refuse to pay taxes if the money was used to support Jewish immigration.

Politics and government
The Bavarian State Assembly elected Christian Social Unionist Hans Ehard as Minister President of Bavaria.

Law
The U.S. War Department Advisory Committee on Military Justice issued a report detailing seven basic defects in the Army court martial system, including domination of courts by commanders, and excessive sentences. Among the changes recommended was inclusion of enlisted men on courts martial.

Economics and finance
The government of Quebec reorganized the province's Dairy Industry Commission, following the resignation of its president, Jules Côté. The commission, created in 1934, was used to set the price of milk in the cities.

Labour
Mexican President Miguel Aleman supported the state oil agency in dismissing 50 leaders of the national oil workers' union for a December 19 strike.

Disasters
An 8.1 Mw earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Nankaidō, Japan killed over 1,300 people and destroyed over 38,000 homes.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Just Walking in the Rain--Johnnie Ray (6th week at #1)

Diplomacy
A Chinese Communist broadcast warned the U.S.S.R. to avoid "great-nation chauvinism" in its relations with other Communist states.

India warned Portugal against further violation of Indian air space by Portuguese planes en route to Goa.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Export-Import Bank offered the United Kingdom a $600-million loan for oil and other purchases in the United States.

Died on this date
Lewis Terman, 79. U.S. psychologist. Dr. Terman was known for his work in intelligence testing, particularly the revision of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Quotient test. His interest in gifted children led him to initiate the longitudinal Genetic Studies of Genius. Dr. Terman was a eugenicist and a member of the Human Betterment Foundation; he died 25 days before his 80th birthday.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set):
1 Ooh La La--Normie Rowe
2 Good Vibrations--The Beach Boys
4 No Milk Today--Herman's Hermits
3 Friday on My Mind--The Easybeats
5 Let it Be Me (EP)--Johnny Young
6 Sorry--The Easybeats
7 Winchester Cathedral--The New Vaudeville Band
8 Mellow Yellow--Donovan
9 Spicks and Specks--The Bee Gees
10 Lady Godiva--Peter and Gordon

Singles entering the chart were Blueberry Hill (EP) by the Loved Ones (#17) and You Keep Me Hangin' On by the Supremes (#32).

At the movies
Gambit, directed by Ronald Neame, and starring Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine, opened in theatres.



Grand Prix, directed by John Frankenheimer, and starring James Garner and Eva Marie Saint, opened in theatres.



Space
The U.S.S.R. launched the lunar probe Luna 13.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Daddy Cool--Boney M (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: On the First Day of Christmas

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Black or White--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Black or White--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Black or White--Michael Jackson (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Black or White--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Black or White--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Qui a le droit...--Patrick Bruel (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Bohemian Rhapsody/These Are the Days of Our Lives--Queen

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Kon Ik Maar Even Bij Je Zijn--Gordon (4th week at #1)
2 I Love Your Smile--Shanice
3 Black or White--Michael Jackson
4 Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana
5 Roodkapje--Pater Moeskroen
6 Go--Moby
7 The Show Must Go On--Queen
8 Mysterious Ways--U2
9 Over and Over Again--Robby Valentine
10 Let's Talk About Sex!--Salt-N-Pepa

Singles entering the chart were When a Man Loves a Woman by Michael Bolton (#28); Keepin' the Faith by De La Soul (#30); The Unforgiven by Metallica (#34); and 2 Legit 2 Quit by Hammer (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Black or White--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)
2 It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday--Boyz II Men
3 All 4 Love--Color Me Badd
4 Set Adrift on Memory Bliss--P.M. Dawn
5 When a Man Loves a Woman--Michael Bolton
6 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
7 Blowing Kisses in the Wind--Paula Abdul
8 Finally--CeCe Peniston
9 2 Legit 2 Quit--MC Hammer
10 Wildside--Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch

Singles entering the chart were I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred (#67); To Be with You by Mr. Big (#82); I'll Get By by Eddie Money (#85); Every Road Leads Back to You by Bette Midler (#86); There Will Never be Another Tonight by Bryan Adams (#87); Give it Away by Red Hot Chili Peppers (#93); and Live and Let Die by Guns N' Roses (#95).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday--Boyz II Men (2nd week at #1)
2 Black or White--Michael Jackson
3 All 4 Love--Color Me Badd
4 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
5 Set Adrift on Memory Bliss--P.M. Dawn
6 Keep Coming Back--Richard Marx
7 No Son of Mine--Genesis
8 Blowing Kisses in the Wind--Paula Abdul
9 Street of Dreams--Nia Peeples
10 Broken Arrow--Rod Stewart

Singles entering the chart were There Will Never be Another Tonight by Bryan Adams (#64); Live and Let Die by Guns N' Roses (#77); I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred (#78); Keep it Comin' by Keith Sweat (#79); I Wanna Be Your Girl by Icy Blu (#86); She Ain't Pretty by the Northern Pikes (#87); Stars by Simply Red (#88); and Move Any Mountain (Progen 91) by Shamen (#89).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 No Son of Mine--Genesis (2nd week at #1)
2 Black or White--Michael Jackson
3 Broken Arrow--Rod Stewart
4 When a Man Loves a Woman--Michael Bolton
5 Keep Coming Back--Richard Marx
6 Life is a Highway--Tom Cochrane
7 Blowing Kisses in the Wind--Paula Abdul
8 That's What Love is For--Amy Grant
9 Mysterious Ways--U2
10 Set Adrift on Memory Bliss--P.M. Dawn

Singles entering the chart were Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by George Michael/Elton John (#49); Daniel by Wilson Phillips (#87); Diamonds & Pearls by the Police (#89); Dreams to Dream by Linda Ronstadt (#90); Celebrate by Infidels (#91); and Caribbean Blue by Enya (#94). Dreams to Dream was from the movie An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991).

World events
The Commonwealth of Independent States was formed, consisting of Russia; Belarus; Ukraine; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Kazakhstan; Kyrgystan; Moldova; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; and Uzbekistan. The parliament of Azerbaijan didn't ratify the treaty creating the CIS until 1993.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Wannabe--Spice Girls (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): One & One--Robert Miles featuring Maria Nayler (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): One & One--Robert Miles featuring Maria Nayler (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Aïcha--Khaled (8th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Freed from Desire--Gala (9th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Gabbertje--Hakkûhbar (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): A Different Beat--Boyzone

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton (3rd week at #1)
2 I Believe I Can Fly--R. Kelly
3 No Diggity--BLACKstreet (featuring Dr. Dre)
4 Don't Let Go (Love)--En Vogue
5 Nobody--Keith Sweat featuring Athena Cage
6 Mouth--Merril Bainbridge
7 It's All Coming Back to Me Now--Celine Dion
8 I Finally Found Someone--Barbra Streisand/Bryan Adams
9 Pony--Ginuwine
10 I'm Still in Love with You--New Edition

Singles entering the chart were Fly Like an Eagle by Seal (#17); Space Jam by Quad City DJ's (#67); Desperately Wanting by Better than Ezra (#70); Macarena Christmas by Los Del Rio (#83); I Can Make it Better by Luther Vandross (#90); and Naked Eye by Luscious Jackson (#96). Fly Like an Eagle and Space Jam were from the movie Space Jam (1996).

Scandal
After two years of denials, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich (Republican--Georgia) admitted violating House ethics rules.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Saparmurat Niyazov, 66. 1st President of Turkmenistan, 1990-2006. Mr. Niyazov was First Secretary of the Turkmen Communist Party from 1985-1991, and governed Turkmenistan as self-titled Türkmenbaşy (Head of the Turkmen) for the rest of his life. Mr. Niyazov turned his government as a cult of personality, to the extent of renaming the months and days of the calendar after himself and other prominent Turkmen. He died of a reported heart attack, and was succeeded in office by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.

December 20, 2016

210 years ago
1806

Born on this date
Martín Carrera. President of Mexico, 1855. Brigadier General Carrera entered the Mexican Army at the age of 9 as a cadet and was a career officer. He was a member of the National Legislative Junta charged with writing the Bases Orgánicas (constitution) in 1843 and Senator of the Republic (1844-1846). When Antonio López de Santa Anna resigned the presidency in 1855, a junta of representatives named Brig. Gen. Carrera interim president to replace him. He served from August 5-September 12, 1855, resigned after calling elections for a constituent congress, and retured to private life. Brig. Gen. Carrera died on April 22, 1871 at the age of 64.

175 years ago
1841

Born on this date
Ferdinand Buisson. French politician. Mr. Buisson was a member of the Radical-Socialist party who was president of the French Human Rights League from 1913-1926. He and Ludwig Quidde of Germany shared the 1927 Nobel Peace Prize "[for] contributions to Franco-German popular reconciliation." Mr. Buisson died on February 16, 1932 at the age of 90.

125 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Erik Almlöf. Swedish athlete. Mr. Almlöf specialized in the triple jump, winning bronze medals at the 1912 Olympic Games in Oslo and the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp. He had a business career divided between Sweden and the United States, and died in Pennsylvania on January 18, 1971, 29 days after his 79th birthday.

110 years ago
1906

Born on this date
Tony Kubek. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Kubek was an outfielder who played 6 seasons in the minor leagues (1931-1936), batting .304 with 24 home runs in 609 games. Most of his career was spent with the Milwaukee Brewers of the AA American Association (1931-1935). Mr. Kubek died on December 13, 1994, a week before his 88th birthday. His son Tony played with the New York Yankees (1957-1965) before embarking on a long career as a baseball broadcaster.

90 years ago
1926

Baseball
The St. Louis Cardinals traded manager and second baseman Rogers Hornsby to the New York Giants for second baseman Frankie Frisch and pitcher Jimmy Ring. Mr. Hornsby was the National League batting champion for six straight years from 1920-1925, and led the Cardinals to their first World Series championship in 1926, batting .317 with 11 home runs and 93 runs batted in in 134 games. Mr. Frisch hit .314 with 5 homers and 44 RBIs in 135 games with the Giants in 1926, while Mr. Ring was 11-10 with an earned run average of 3.72 in 33 games. The Giants had finished fifth in the National League in 1926 with a record of 74-77, 13 1/2 games behind the Cardinals.

75 years ago
1941

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Elmer's Tune--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (Vocal refrain by Ray Eberle and the Modernaires)

War
A Soviet communique reported the recapture of Volololamsk on the central front and Voibokala on the northern front. Japanese troops landed from four transports at Davao on the Philippine island of Mindanao, 60 miles southeast of Manila; heavy fighting was reported. The 1st American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, better known as the "Flying Tigers," saw their first action in Kunming, China, when aircraft of the 1st and 2nd squadrons intercepted 10 unescorted Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" bombers of the 21st Hikōtai attacking Kunming. The bombers jettisoned their loads before reaching Kunming. Three of the Japanese bombers were shot down near Kunming and a fourth was damaged so severely that it crashed before returning to its airfield at Hanoi. Two American tankers were attacked by submarines off the Pacific coast of the United States; one ship escaped, but the 6,912-ton Emidio was abandoned off Cape Mendocino after being shelled and torpedoed. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt named Admiral Ernest King, current commander of the Atlantic Fleet, as commander-in-chief of the U.S. Fleet. The Cuban government ordered the internment of all Japanese in Cuba.

Labour
Scores of welders went on strike in shipyards and defense plants in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas in protest against alleged American Federation of Labor discrimination.

70 years ago
1946

War
French forces recaptured parts of Hanoi that had been seized the day before by Vietnamese nationalists, who took refuge west of the city near Ha Dong.

British authorities in Hamburg ordered immediate trials for 27,000 members of the SS and other Nazi organizations condemned for war crimes at Nuremberg.

World events
Soviet occupation authorities ordered a U.S. courier ship out of the Manchurian port of Dairen after a two-day stay, creating an international incident.

Defense
Commanding general of U.S. ground forces General Jacob Devers announced plans for an increase in the size and firepower of fighting units to meet the requirements of the "atomic age."

Politics and government
The United Kingdom offered Burma independence on the same terms extended to India, and invited a Burmese delegation to London for negotiations.

Boxing
Sugar Ray Robinson (74-1-1) won a 15-round unanimous decision over Tommy Bell (39-11-2) before 15,670 fans at Madison Square Garden in New York to win the National Boxing Association and New York State Athletic Commission world welterweight titles, which had been vacant since the retirement of Marty Servo three months earlier.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Je vais revoir ma blonde--Darío Moreno (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Samuel Anderson, 76. U.S. physicist. Dr. Anderson headed a scientific team that first succeeded in bouncing radio signals off the Moon.

Diplomacy
The United Kingdom agreed to allow the United Nations use of her salvage vessels in the Suez Canal, but insisted that teh ships' regular crews remain on board.

Politics and government
The Japanese Diet named former international Trade and Industry Minister Tanzan Ishibashi, 72, as Prime Minister after Ichiro Hatayama resigned because of ill health.

Protest
The Hungarian government decreed up to six months' detention without trial for disturbances of public order or "endangering of production."

Society
Negroes in Montgomery, Alabama called off their year-long boycott of buses as U.S. marshals served a federal injunction to state, city, and bus company officials prohibiting segregation on Montgomery buses.

50 years ago
1966

On television tonight
Quentin Durgens, M.P., starring Gordon Pinsent, on CBC
Tonight's episode: A Family Affair

The Fugitive, starring David Janssen, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Blessings of Liberty, with guest stars Ludwig Donath, Arlene Martel, and Tony Musante

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Money, Money, Money--ABBA (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kita no Yadokara--Harumi Miyako (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Libertad Sin Ira--Jarcha (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Richard J. Daley, 74. U.S. politician. Mr. Daley, a Democrat, was Mayor of Chicago from 1955 until his death from a heart attack. He was perhaps the most prominent American mayor of the 20th century; he ran a political machine that was accused of corruption, but has been credited with running the city in such a way as to prevent the decline that affected other major American cities during the 1960s and '70s. Mr. Daley was succeeded in office by Michael Bilandic. Mr. Daley's son Richard M. Daley was Mayor of Chicago from 1989-2011.

Politics and government
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin resigned, the day after losing his majority in the Knesset when he ousted members of the National Religious Party from his coalition.

Hockey
NHL
The St. Louis Blues traded defenceman Rick Smith to the Boston Bruins for defenceman Joe Zanussi. Mr. Smith, who had previously played with the Bruins from 1968-72, had no goals and 1 assist in 18 games with St. Louis, and 1 goal and 6 assists with the Kansas City Blues of the Central Hockey League in 1976-77. Mr. Zanussi, who had come to the Bruins with defenceman Brad Park and centre Jean Ratelle on November 7, 1975 in a trade with the New York Rangers for centre Phil Esposito and defenceman Carol Vadnais, had no goals and 1 assist in 8 games with the Bruins, and 1 goal and 9 assists in 17 games with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League in 1976-77.

WHA
International Series (exhibition)
C.S.S.R. (2-3) 4 @ New England 1

Football
Liberty Bowl
Alabama 36 California at Los Angeles 6

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): The Final Countdown--Europe (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Don't Leave Me This Way--The Communards (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Caravan of Love--The Housemartins (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Caravan of Love--The Housemartins

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles
2 The Way it Is--Bruce Hornsby and the Range
3 Everybody Have Fun Tonight--Wang Chung
4 You Give Love a Bad Name--Bon Jovi
5 Notorious--Duran Duran
6 The Next Time I Fall--Peter Cetera with Amy Grant
7 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
8 Hip to Be Square--Huey Lewis and the News
9 To Be a Lover--Billy Idol
10 Stand by Me--Ben E. King

Singles entering the chart were (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) by the Beastie Boys (#83); Brand New Lover by Dead or Alive (#85); This is the World Calling by Bob Geldof (#86); Somewhere Out There by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram (#88); Girlfriend by Bobby Brown (#89); and We Connect by Stacey Q (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Stand by Me--Ben E. King
2 You Give Love a Bad Name--Bon Jovi
3 The Way it Is--Bruce Hornsby and the Range
4 The Next Time I Fall--Peter Cetera with Amy Grant
5 The Lady in Red--Chris de Burgh
6 Two of Hearts--Stacey Q
7 Amanda--Boston
8 Everybody Have Fun Tonight--Wang Chung
9 The Rain--Oran "Juice" Jones
10 Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles

Singles entering the chart were Ballerina Girl by Lionel Richie (#78); Welcome to the Boomtown by David and David (#87); We're Ready by Boston (#90); Jimmy Lee by Aretha Franklin (#92); Keep Your Hands to Yourself by the Georgia Satellites (#93) and A Hard Day's Night by the Beatles (#97). A Hard Day's Night was a reissue of the title song of the movie and was originally a hit in 1964, but a few months before RPM began publication. The B-side, Things We Said Today, had not previously been released on a single in Canada.

Died on this date
Joe DeSa, 27. U.S. baseball player. Mr. DeSa was a first baseman with the St. Louis Cardinals (1980) and Chicago White Sox (1985), batting .200 with 2 home runs and 7 runs batted in in 35 games. This blogger saw Mr. DeSa play his first professional game with the Calgary Cardinals against the Idaho Falls Angels in a Pioneer League game at Foothills Park in Calgary on June 25, 1977; he played in all 70 of the Cardinals' games that year, batting .272 with 3 home runs and 55 RBIs. Mr. DeSa signed with the Kansas City Royals on November 8, 1986, and was playing in the Puerto Rico Winter League when he was killed in a car accident, hours after hitting 4 doubles for the Ponce Leones against the Mayagüez Indios.

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Radio & Records)
1 Black or White--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)
2 All 4 Love--Color Me Badd
3 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
4 It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday--Boyz II Men
5 Keep Coming Back--Richard Marx
6 No Son of Mine--Genesis
7 Wildside--Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch
8 Finally--Ce Ce Peniston
9 Broken Arrow--Rod Stewart
10 Blowing Kisses in the Wind--Paula Abdul

Singles entering the chart were I Love Your Smile by Shanice (#22); Save Up All Your Tears by Cher (#23); I Can't Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt (#30); Addams Groove by MC Hammer (#31); Keep it Comin' by Keith Sweat (#35); I'll Get By by Eddie Money (#37); and There Will Never be Another Tonight by Bryan Adams (#40).

Edmontonia
A year after it had closed, the Garneau Theatre reopened as a second-run movie theatre. The theatre, located at 8712 109 St., was built in 1940.

Defense
The U.S. Navy announced plans to close its Argentia, Newfoundland base in 1994; 500 personnel would leave what was once the largest U.S. base on foreign soil.

Abominations
A Missouri court sentenced Palestinian terrorist Zein Isa and his wife Maria to death for the "honour killing" of their daughter Palestina.

Hockey
NHL
National Hockey League governors granted membership to the new Ottawa and Tampa Bay teams; the Ottawa group was led by real estate investor Bruce Firestone.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): 2 Become 1--Spice Girls

At the movies
My Fellow Americans, directed by Peter Segal, and starring Jack Lemmon, James Garner, and Dan Aykroyd, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
Carl Sagan, 62. U.S. astronomer. Dr. Sagan was known within science for his research into planetary atmospheres, especially that of Venus, but was best known as a popularizer of astronomy and science. He wrote and hosted the PBS documentary series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage (1980). Dr. Sagan promoted investigation of unidentified flying objects, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), and nuclear disarmament. He died of pneumonia after a battle with cancer.

10 years ago
2006

Politics and government
The first parliamentary elections in United Arab Emirates concluded. 20 members were elected to the Federal National Council, joining the 20 members who had been appointed by the rulers of the seven constituent emirates.

December 19, 2016

275 years ago
1741

Died on this date
Vitus Bering, 60. Danish explorer. Commander Bering was a cartographer served in the Russian Navy and led the First Kamchatka Expedition (1725-1731), which explored the Asian Pacific Coast, and the Great Northern Expedition (1733-1743), which explored the Arctic coast of Siberia and parts of the North American coastline. He died of scurvy on an uninhabited island, later named in his honour, near the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Bering Strait and Bering Sea are among the things named in Commander Bering's honour.

240 years ago
1776

Literature
Thomas Paine published the first of a series of pamphlets in The Pennsylvania Journal titled The American Crisis; in this one, he wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls."

220 years ago
1796

War
Two British frigates under Commodore Horatio Nelson and two Spanish frigates under Commodore Don Jacobo Stuart engaged in battle off the coast of Murcia. One Spanish frigate was captured and another damaged before Spanish reinforcements drove the British off and recaptured the lost ship.

170 years ago
1846

Communications
The mayors of Toronto and Hamilton exchanged greetings to open Canada's first telegraph service; the line ran between Toronto and Hamilton over lines of the Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara and St. Catharines Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company, founded October 22, 1846. The first message was from Hamilton: “Well, advise Mr. Gamble (the President of the company) that Mr. Dawson will speak to him at half-past one.”

125 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Edward Bernard Raczyński. 4th President-in-exile of Poland, 1979-1986. Count Raczyński was a career diplomat who fled to the United Kingdom early in World War II, and held various positions in the government-in-exile before assuming the presidency at the age of 87. He resigned seven years later, and died in London at the age of 101 on July 30, 1993.

Football
CRU
The Canadian Rugby Union was founded.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Roy Ward Baker. U.K. film director. Mr. Baker, born Roy Horace Baker, was best known for directing A Night to Remember (1958). His other movies included Don't Bother to Knock (1952); Moon Zero Two (1969); and Asylum (1972). Mr. Baker died on October 5, 2010 at the age of 93.

Died on this date
Thibaw Min, 57. King of Burma, 1878-1885. King Thibaw was the last king in Burmese history. He succeeded his father Mindon on the throne, but he abdicated and surrendered on November 29, 1885, when Burmese forces lost to British forces in the Third Anglo-Burmese War. King Thibaw and his family were exiled to Ratanagiri, India, where he spent the rest of his life.

75 years ago
1941

Died on this date
John Kelburne Lawson, 54. Canadian military officer. Brigadier Lawson was commander of the West Brigade on the island of Hong Kong during the Japanese invasion; with his headquarters surrounded, he went out to meet the enemy with a pistol, and was fatally shot eight days before his 55th birthday, becoming the highest-ranking Canadian soldier killed during World War II.

John Robert Osborn, 42. U.K.-born Canadian soldier. Company Sergeant Major Osborn of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, leading a bayonet charge against the Japanese on Mount Butler, Hong Kong, threw himself on a Japanese grenade to save his comrades' lives, two weeks before his 43rd birthday; he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, becoming the first Canadian so honoured during World War II.

War
Nicaragua declared war on Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler appointed himself as head of the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH), the Supreme High Command of the Wehrmacht; he replaced Feldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch. The U.K. battleships HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Valiant, moored in the harbour at Alexandria, Egypt, were severely damaged by the detonation of limpet mines that had been attached to their hulls the previous day by Italian "human torpedoes" who had been launched from a submarine that had penetrated the harbour. In New Zealand’s worst naval tragedy, the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Neptune struck enemy mines and sank off Libya; of the 764 men who lost their lives, 150 were New Zealanders. The British command announced that the Derma airport, 170 miles inside Libya, had been captured the previous day. British forces abandoned their base on Penang Island as Japanese forces pressed forward. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio de Oliveira Salazar demanded that the U.K. and Netherlands withdraw their occupation forces from Portuguese Timor immediately. The entire Philippine Army was inducted into the U.S. Far Eastern Army under Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur. Both houses of the United States Congress quickly passed a conference-approved draft bill requiring all men aged 18-64 to register, and making those aged 20-44 subject to military service. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill requiring the Communist Party USA and the German-American Bund to register with the Justice Department as agents of foreign governments.

Politics and government
Cuban President Fulgencio Batista signed a congressional resolution declaring a state of national emergency and granting him special war powers.

Boxing
National Boxing Association world champion Sammy Angott (65-16-5) won a 15-round unanimous decision over New York State Athletic Commission world champion Lew Jenkins (50-19-5) at Madison Square Garden in New York to win the undisputed world lightweight title.

70 years ago
1946

At the movies
It's A Wonderful Life, directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, received a preview screening for charity at the Globe Theatre in New York City, a day before its official premiere.



War
The First Indochina War began when Vietnamese nationalists led by Ho Chi Minh attacked French districts in Hanoi and seized French civilians as hostages.

The U.S.S.R. signed a pact with the U.S.A. to repatriate Japanese prisoners now in Soviet-held areas at the rate of 50,000 per month.

Politics and government
Ricardo Guardo and Silvio Pontieri resigned as President and Vice President, respectively, of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies.

Society
U.S. President Harry Truman announced that he was not satisfied with the execution of his December 1945 directive on refugee immigration, and set aside four ships to transport refugees to the United States.

Law
A U.S. federal grand jury in Atlanta ended a three-week inquiry into the July 25, 1946 murder of four Negroes without being able to identify any of the guilty parties.

Scandal
In the final session of a U.S. Senate investigation of his conduct, Sen. Theodore Bilbo (Democrat--Mississippi) testified for six hours, and denied all charges of accepting bribes and other wrongdoing.

Archaeology
Roland Collier of the Chicago Natural History Museum announced that relics of eight separate Indian civilizations, the oldest dating back almost 2,000 years, had been discovered in the Viru Valley in Peru.

Labour
The U.K. National Coal Board ordered a five-day week for workers in state owned mines, beginning May 5, 1947.

60 years ago
1956

War
In a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, Israeli Ambassador Abba Eban accused Egypt of renewing "deliberate and planned" fedayeen raids against Israel.

Defense
Canada and West Germany signed an agreement in Bonn to train 360 West German air crewmen in Canada.

Diplomacy
U.N. Secretary-General Hammarskjokd accepted British and French reopening of the Suez Canal on condition that their salvage vessels were manned by "neutral" crews.

Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru said that his just-concluded talks with U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower had convinced him that U.S. foreign policy was "not as rigid as I thought."

Protest
Hungarian Premier Janos Kadar said that his government was now in a position to repress "provocations" without calling for help from Soviet troops in Hungary.

Politics and government
The Indian government rejected demands that its political opponents be allowed to use All-India Radio to campaign for upcoming elections.

Crime
British physician John Bodkin Adams was arrested in connection with the suspicious deaths from 1946-1956 of more than 160 patients, 132 of whom had left money or items to him in their wills.

Disasters
At least six people in England died and several others were injured in road accidents in thick fog.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Black is Black--Los Bravos (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Green, Green Grass of Home--Tom Jones (3rd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Stop Stop Stop--The Hollies
2 Mellow Yellow--Donovan
3 Lady Godiva--Peter and Gordon
4 Winchester Cathedral--The New Vaudeville Band
--Dana Rollin
5 I'm Ready for Love--Martha and the Vandellas
6 I've Got the Feeling--Neil Diamond
7 A Place in the Sun--Stevie Wonder
8 That's Life--Frank Sinatra
9 Coming on Strong--Brenda Lee
10 It's Only Love--Tommy James and the Shondells

Singles entering the chart were Snoopy vs. the Red Baron by the Royal Guardsmen (#73); Tell it to the Rain by the 4 Seasons (#82); Where Will the Words Come From by Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#84); Love Hides a Multitude of Sins by the Esquires (#85); (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet by the Blues Magoos (#86); Goodnight My Love by the Happenings (#88); Bad Misunderstanding by the Critters (#90); Communication Breakdown by Roy Orbison (#91); Blue Autumn by Bobby Goldsboro (#92); The Girl that Stood Beside Me by Bobby Darin (#93); A Little Bit of Oh Yeah by Martin Martin (#94); Your Ever Changing Mind by Crispian St. Peters (#95); Tell it Like it Is by Aaron Neville (#96); Poor Old World by Paul Anka (#97); I (Who Have Nothing) by Terry Knight (#98); Any Other Way by Jackie Shane (#99); and Stand by Me by Spyder Turner (#100).

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley, on BBC Light Programme
Tonight's episode: The Crooked Man

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly approved a treaty banning arms in space. The treaty prohibited orbiting nuclear weapons, and the use of the Moon and other bodies as military bases.

Economics and finance
The Asian Development Bank was inaugurated in Manila, with Takeshi Watanabe as its first president.

40 years ago
1976

Disasters
A small plane crashed into the upper deck at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore several minutes after the end of the National Football League playoff game between the Baltimore Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers. There were no people in the area, in no small part because the fans had left early because the Colts were so far behind. Pilot Donald Croner, 33, the plane's only occupant, was not seriously injured, but was charged with reckless flying.





Football
NFL
AFC Divisional Playoff
Pittsburgh 40 @ Baltimore 14





NFC Divisional Playoff
Los Angeles 14 @ Dallas 12



30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles

On television tonight
Shaka Zulu, on SABC Tonight's episode: Episode 9



World events
The U.S.S.R. announced it had freed dissident physicist Andrei Sakharov from internal exile and pardoned his wife, Yelena Bonner.

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Bohemian Rhapsody/These Are the Days of Our Lives--Queen

Bohemian Rhapsody had previously occupied the #1 position for six weeks from December 1975-January 1976.

Labour
Canadian Auto Workers President Bob White announced a merger with the Canadian Association of Industrial, Mechanical and Allied Workers; the merger affected 6,500 aerospace and mining workers in Manitoba and British Columbia.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Breathe--The Prodigy (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Anna mulle piiskaa--Apulanta

Died on this date
Ronald Howard, 78. U.K. actor. Mr. Howard, the son of actor Leslie Howard, was best known for starring as the title character in the television series Sherlock Holmes (1954-1955). His films included The Browning Version (1951) and The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964).

Marcello Mastroianni, 72. Italian actor. Mr. Mastroianni was a popular leading man in films in Italy and elsewhere for more than 40 years, and won numerous awards. His movies included La Dolce Vita (1960); 8½ (1963); Ieri, oggi, domani (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) (1963); and Oci ciornie (Dark Eyes) (1987). Mr. Mastroianni died in Paris of pancreatic cancer.

10 years ago
2006

Politics and government
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper fired Canadian Wheat Board head Adrian Measner, who openly disagreed with the government's policy to eliminate the board's monopoly on wheat sales from the Prairie provinces.

December 18, 2016

160 years ago
1856

Born on this date
Graciano López Jaena. Filipino journalist. Mr. López Jaena was living in exile in Spain when he founded the newspaper La Solidaridad in 1889. He was one of the leaders of the Propaganda Movement, which advocated the reform of the Philippines, and was a key step toward a Philippine national identity. Mr. López Jaena died from tuberculosis in Barcelona at the age of 39 on January 20, 1896, seven months before the beginning of the Philippine Revolution.

130 years ago
1886

Born on this date
Ty Cobb. U.S. baseball player. Often called the greatest player ever, the "Georgia Peach," a native of Narrows, Georgia, was an outfielder with the Detroit Tigers (1905-1926) and Philadelphia Athletics (1927-1928), batting .366 with 117 home runs and 1,938 runs batted in, with 892 stolen bases, in 3,034 games, leading the American League in batting percentage from 1907-1909; 1911; 1914; and 1916-1919. His .366 lifetime percentage remains the career record, and his 4,189 hits was the career record until it was broken by Pete Rose in 1985 (I respect the research conducted by The Sporting News in 1981 that found that Mr. Cobb had been erroneously credited with a 2-for-3 performance in 1910). Mr. Cobb also managed the Tigers (1921-1926), compiling a record of 479-444. His fiery style of play and competitive nature made him many enemies--among teammates as well as opponents--and his reported racial attitudes would be considered very politically incorrect today. Mr. Cobb was one of the first five inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936, and died on July 17, 1961 at the age of 74.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Betty Grable. U.S. actress. Miss Grable Miss Grable was one of the most popular movie stars of the 1940s, and photographs of her "million dollar legs" made her one of the most popular pinup girls among American servicemen in World War II. Her movies included Million Dollar Legs (1939); Down Argentine Way (1940); Moon Over Miami (1941); Footlight Serenade (1942); Springtime in the Rockies (1942); Pin Up Girl (1944); Mother Wore Tights (1947); Call Me Mister (1951); and How to Marry a Millionaire (1953). Miss Grable died of lung cancer at the age of 56 on July 2, 1973.

War
The Battle of Verdun, which had begun on February 21, 1916, concluded with a French victory over German forces, commanded by Chief of staff Erich von Falkenhayn, who suffered 337,000 casualties.

75 years ago
1941

War
Japanese troops crossed the Lye Mun Passage after dark, in assault boats, landing craft and small boats towed by ferry steamers, to attack Hong Kong. Two platoons of the Winnipeg Grenadiers were deployed to seize the hills known as Jardine's Lookout and Mount Butler, where they engaged in intense fighting; heavily outnumbered, they were cut to pieces, and both platoon commanders were killed. British authorities in Malaya conceded that Imperial troops had fallen back about 100 miles in northern Malaya during the past 11 days. The Netherlands government-in-exile announced in London that Dutch and Australian forces had occupied the Portuguese section of the island of Timor. The British command announced that Axis forces in Libya "are now in full retreat." The U.S. Senate voted 79-2 in favour of its own draft bill making men aged 19-44 subject to military service. 100 enemy aliens seized in the San Francisco area were sent to a concentration camp in Montana. Noted American aviatrix Laura Ingalls was arraigned in Washington on a charge of failing to register as a paid agent of the German government.

Diplomacy
The U.S. State Department reported that an agreement had been reached for neutralizing the French possessions in the Caribbean area, including Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana.

Politics and government
The U.S. Senate Elections Committee voted 13-3 to recommend that the Senate bar William Langer (Republican--North Dakota) from taking his seat, on the grounds of moral turpitude. Sen. Langer had repeatedly been accused of attempting to bribe a federal judge.

Academia
Dr. Willard C. Rappleye of the Association of American Medical Colleges announced that 76 medical schools were planning to reduce their present four-year courses to three years by operating on a year-round basis because of war needs because of war needs for doctors.

70 years ago
1946

Movies
The U.S. National Board of Review of Motion Pictures listed the best films of 1946 as: Henry V; Open City; The Best Years of Our Lives; and Brief Encounter.

British Kinematograph Weekly reported that James Mason was the most popular British movie star of 1946.

Diplomacy
Sir William Fitzgerald, U.K. chief justice of Palestine, recommended the division of Jerusalem into Jewish and Arab sectors.

Crime
Four German prisoners of war were hanged at the Lethbridge Provincial Jail in Alberta for the murder of fellow prisoner Corporal Karl Lehmann at the Medicine Hat POW camp in September, 1944.

Politics and government
Union Nationale candidate Daniel Johnson was elected to the Quebec Legislative Assembly in a provincial by-election in Bagot; he received 4,725 votes to 3,585 for Liberal candidate Roland Bailly and 40 for independente Unionist Georges de Grandpré. The by-election was necessitated by the death of Liberal MLA Cyril Dumaine.

Science
Carl Anderson and Robert Brode reported the discovery of new high-energy cosmic rays.

Defense
The father of Henry Stewart, a Negro who had allegedly been refused enlistment in the United States Army on racial grounds, filed suit in Pittsburgh to stop further enlistment until segregation was banned.

Economics and finance
The Allied Far Eastern Commission in Washington eased Japan's reparations schedule to help the Japanese government combat inflation.

U.S. military authorities in Berlin banned the use of cigarettes for trading in the officially approved barter markets.

A bill to nationalize all of Britain's transport was approved by the House of Commons on its second reading.

60 years ago
1956

War
Israeli troops in the Sinai Peninsula withdrew to a line 47 miles east of the Suez Canal.

Diplomacy
Japan was admitted to the United Nations.

Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ended three days of talks with U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower in Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon, acting as President Eisenhower's personal representative, flew to Austria to investigate the Hungarian refugee problem.

Crime
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested four men in New York and charged them with transporting across state lines several million dollars' worth of oilfield maps stolen from the Pittsburgh office of Gulf Oil Corporation.

Oil
With many industrial plants cutting back to a three-day work week, the United Kingdom resumed gasoline rationing for the first time since 1950.

50 years ago
1966

On television tonight
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, narrated by Boris Karloff, on CBS

This was the first U.S. telecast of the animated version of the story by Dr. Seuss, which had first been published in 1957.

Space
Saturn's moon Epimetheus was discovered by astronomer Richard Walker, three days after its co-orbital moon Janus had been identified by Audouin Dollfus.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Sei forte papà--Gianni Morandi (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): If You Leave Me Now--Chicago (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K (New Musical Express): Under the Moon of Love--Showaddywaddy (3rd week at #1)

Rhodesia's Top 10 (Lyons Maid)
1 Don't Go Breaking My Heart--Elton John and Kiki Dee (10th week at #1)
2 In Zaire--Johnny Wakelin
3 Dancing Queen--ABBA
4 You to Me are Everything--The Real Thing
5 (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty--K C & the Sunshine Band
6 Arms of Mary--Sutherland Brothers & Quiver
7 Dr. Kiss Kiss--5000 Volts
8 Dance Little Lady Dance--Tina Charles
9 Why Did You Do It--Stretch
10 (What a) Wonderful World--Johnny Nash

Singles entering the chart were I Only Want to Be with You by the Bay City Rollers (#17); and Venus by the Stockley Sisters (#20).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)--Rod Stewart (6th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)--Rod Stewart (5th week at #1)
2 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing--Leo Sayer
3 The Rubberband Man--The Spinners
4 You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)--Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
5 Love So Right--Bee Gees
6 Stand Tall--Burton Cummings
7 Muskrat Love--Captain and Tennille
8 After the Lovin'--Engelbert Humperdinck
9 Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word--Elton John
10 Nights are Forever Without You--England Dan & John Ford Coley

Singles entering the chart were Fly Like an Eagle by the Steve Miller Band (#72); Hard Luck Woman by Kiss (#78); I Like to Do It by K.C. and the Sunshine Band (#81); Moody Blue by Elvis Presley (#90); Prisoner (Captured By Your Eyes) by the L.A. Jets (#91); Caledonia by Robin Trower (#93); Hey Baby by Ringo Starr (#95); and Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love) by the O'Jays (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)--Rod Stewart (4th week at #1)
2 Love So Right--Bee Gees
3 Muskrat Love--Captain and Tennille
4 Stand Tall--Burton Cummings
5 I Never Cry--Alice Cooper
6 Nadia's Theme (The Young and the Restless)--Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin, Jr.
7 Do You Feel Like We Do--Peter Frampton
8 Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word--Elton John
9 The Rubberband Man--The Spinners
10 You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)--Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.

Singles entering the chart were Dance Little Lady Dance by Tina Charles (#75); It's a Long Way There by Little River Band (#88); I Like Dreamin' by Kenny Nolan (#89); Blinded by the Light by Manfred Mann's Earth Band (#90); Weekend in New England by Barry Manilow (#91); Someone to Lay Down Beside Me by Linda Ronstadt (#92); Night Moves by Bob Seger (#93); Baby, Baby I Love You by Terry Cashman (#94); Slow Dancing by the Funky Kings (#95); Lucky Man by Starbuck (#96); Back Into Your Arms by Dancer (#97); Do it to My Mind by Johnny Bristol (#98); If Not You by Dr. Hook (#99); and Heart on My Sleeve by Gallagher and Lyle (#100).

Hockey
NHL
Colorado 2 @ Toronto 4
Montreal 2 @ Los Angeles 0

As part of the celebration of the 25th season of Hockey Night in Canada on television, Foster Hewitt came out of retirement to call the play-by-play of the 2nd period of the Maple Leafs' win over the Rockies before 16,485 fans at Maple Leaf Gardens in the national telecast. It was Mr. Hewitt's last such appearance.

WHA
Quebec 2 @ Calgary 4

Football
NFL
NFC Divisional Playoff
Washington 20 @ Minnesota 35

See video.

AFC Divisional Playoff
New England 21 @ Oakland 24

See video.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CKRA)
1 The Next Time I Fall--Peter Cetera with Amy Grant
2 Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles
3 Amanda--Boston
4 The Way it Is--Bruce Hornsby and the Range
5 Human--Human League
6 The Lady in Red--Chris de Burgh
7 Hip to Be Square--Huey Lewis and the News
8 Don't Stand So Close to Me '86--The Police
9 Stand by Me--Ben E. King
10 I'll Be Over You--Toto

On television tonight
Our World, hosted by Linda Ellerbee and Ray Gandolf, on ABC
Tonight's episode: All Shook Up: Autumn 1957



The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Road Less Traveled, starring Cliff DeYoung and Margaret Klenck

Law
The Supreme Court of Canada upheld Ontario's restrictions on Sunday shopping.

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Black or White--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Pfeiffer's Choice

Law
Québec completed a major overhaul of the Civil Code, governing all non-criminal law, after 35 years of reform.

Education
Daniel Johnson, president of Quebec's Permanent Ministerial Committee for Montreal Development, announced, during the presentation of Montreal's recovery plan, the creation of a graphic communications technology resource centre. The institution would provide businesses with services as well as training for their workforce; it was post-college training but not university.

20 years ago
1996

Died on this date
Irving Caesar, 101. U.S. songwriter. Mr. Caesar, born Isidor Keiser, wrote lyrics for such songs as Swanee; Crazy Rhythm; and Tea for Two. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.

Television
U.S. television industry executives agreed to adopt a content ratings system, which remains in effect to this day.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Joseph Barbera, 95. U.S. animator. Mr. Barbera worked at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1937-1957; he and colleague William Hanna produced the Tom & Jerry cartoons. In 1957 Messrs. Hanna and Barbera founded Hanna-Barbera, the most successful animation studio in television. Hanna-Barbera produced such programs as The Flintstones (1960-1966) and The Jetsons (1962-1963, 1985, 1987), and won seven Academy Awards and eight Emmy Awards.

Disasters
The first of a series of floods struck Malaysia; the death toll of all flooding was at least 118, with over 400,000 people displaced.

December 17, 2016

1,470 years ago
546

War
The Ostrogoths, led by Totila, sacked Rome after a nearly year-long siege, by bribing the Byzantine garrison.

150 years ago
1866

Born on this date
Mario García Menocal. President of Cuba, 1913-1921. Mr. García Menocal, a member of the Conservative Party, was elected in 1912 and re-elected in 1916, but failed in an attempt at re-election in 1924. He fled to the United States after an unsuccessful attempt at a revolution in 1931, and died on September 7, 1941 at the age of 74.

Kazys Grinius. Prime Minister of Lithuania, 1920-1922; 3rd President of Lithuania, 1926. Dr. Grinius was a physician before entering politics in 1896 as one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP). He was a member of the Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union when he was elected to the National Assembly in 1918. Dr. Grinius was elected President by the Third Seimas, but served from just June 7-December 17, 1926, being deposed on his 60th birthday in a coup led by Antanas Smetona. Dr. Grinius fled to the west when German forces invaded Lithuania in 1941, and emigrated to the United States in 1947; he died in Chicago on June 4, 1950 at the age of 83, and his remains were returned to his native land after Lithuania regained her independence in 1990.

125 years ago
1891

Died on this date
José María Iglesias, 68. President of Mexico, 1876-1877. Mr. Iglesias, a lawyer and law professor by profession, was first elected to Congress in 1852, and held several posts, including Secretary of Justice in the Liberal cabinet of President Benito Juárez. He served on the Mexican Supreme Court in the late 1850s, and was President of the Chamber of Deputies in the late 1860s, retiring for health reasons in 1871. Mr. Iglesias was elected President of the Supreme Court in 1873, and ruled the election of Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada as President in 1876 illegal because of fraud. Mr. Iglesias claimed the presidency under the constitution, holding the office from October 31, 1876-January 2, 1877. His presidency was disputed by General Porfirio Díaz, whose forces defeated those of Mr. Iglesias and forced him to flee to the United States on January 16, 1877. He returned to Mexico without incident and declined all invitations for public office, choosing to edit various journals. Mr. Iglesias died 19 days before his 69th birthday.

Economics and finance
The Canadian Bankers Association was founded in Ottawa.

120 years ago
1896

Disasters
Schenley Park Casino in Pittsburgh, the first multi-purpose arena with the technology to create an artificial ice surface in North America, was destroyed by a fire.

90 years ago
1926

World events
A military coup led by Antanas Smetona toppled the democratically-elected Lithuanian government of President Kazys Grinius, bringing the Lithuanian Nationalist Union to power. The coup took place on Dr. Grinius' 60th birthday.

80 years ago
1936

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Harry West, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 5

75 years ago
1941

Movies
The U.S. Roman Catholic National Legion of Decency announced in New York its approval of Two-Faced Woman, starring Greta Garbo, after the elimination of "objectionable scenes."

War
In the Battle of Hong Kong, Japan repeated her demand for surrender of the colony, but it was summarily refused by Governor Mark Young. The garrison, which included 450 Canadians, had no hope of relief, with the sinking of two British battleships off Singapore, and the crippling of the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; invasion came the following day. Chinese troops attacked at Tamshui, Shawan, and Shumchun, to the rear of the Japanese forces besieging Hong Kong. Japanese forces landed in the state of Sarawak in northern Borneo. A Soviet communique reported that Alexin and Zukino, south of Moscow, had been recaptured. The U.S. Army and Navy commanders in Hawaii who were in charge at the time of the December 7 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor were ousted. U.S. Navy Admiral Husband Kimmel was replaced by Admiral Chester Nimitz, while U.S. Army Lieutenant General Walter Short was replaced by Lt. Gen. Delos Emmons. The U.S. House of Representatives amended the Selective Service Act by voice vote to provide for the registration of all men aged 18-64 and to make those aged 21-44 subject to military service. Dr. Fritz Hansgirg, German-born inventor of a new method of manufacturing metallic magnesium, was arrested as an enemy in the offices of Permanente Corporation in Los Altos, California, despite company protests that he was needed for defense work.

Diplomacy
The governing board of the Pan American Union set January 15, 1942 as the date of the Pan American Conference in Rio de Janeiro, at which hemispheric defense would be discussed.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Spruille Braden as Ambassador to Cuba to succeed George Messersmith.

Defense
U.S. President Roosevelt wrote a letter "to the President of the United States in 1956," urging an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for Colin Kelly III, the 18-month-old son of Colin Kelly, Jr., the U.S. Navy pilot who had been killed at the age of 26 in the successful bombing on December 10 of the Japanese battleship Haruna.

Americana
The U.S. Census Bureau revealed that the foreign-born population of New York City on April 1, 1940 totalled 2,080,020, of whom 62.4% were naturalized citizens.

Technology
Eastman Kodak announced a new film process called Kodacolor, enabling anyone to get full-colour prints from negatives in the shades of the original object. The film was to be offered to the public in six sizes in January 1947.

Economics and finance
U.S. Price Administrator Leon Henderson placed all tire sales under a consumer coupon rationing system, effective January 4, 1942.

Labour
U.S. President Roosevelt told 24 labour and management representatives that "you must reach an agreement" on war labour policy under which all work stoppages would be eliminated.

Disasters
Japan announced that 319 people had been killed and 437 injured in an earthquake in southern Formosa.

Baseball
The Associated Press poll of sportswriters named New York Yankees' center fielder Joe DiMaggio as the U.S.A.'s outstanding athlete of 1941. Mr. DiMaggio batted .357 with 30 home runs and 125 home runs in leading the Yankees to the World Series championship, and thrilled the nation by hitting safely in 56 straight games, a major league record that still stands.

70 years ago
1946

Space
A German V-2 rocket set a record altitude of 114 miles at 5,450 feet per second above the White Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico.

War
Fighting between French troops and Vietnamese nationalists spread from Tonkin to Annam, as French Minister for Overseas Territories Marious Moutet left Paris for Hanoi to investigate the situation.

Defense
The U.S. House of Representatives Military Affairs Committee recommended the creation of an intelligence corps for continuous military espionage abroad, the first such organization in American history.

World events
The Turkish government arrested 44 "Marxists" and suspended two socialist parties--the Union of Istanbul Workers Syndicates and the Istanbul Workers Club--charging them with activities aimed at "reversing the economic and social order."

Politics and government
The Japanese House of Representatives defeated a Socialist motion for immediate dissolution of the Diet, while 150,000 demonstrators in Tokyo demanded the resignation of the cabinet of Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida.

Venezuela's new Constituent Assembly officially assumed power.

An electoral commission in Warsaw approved the candidacy of 110 conservative Peasant Party members in upcoming parliamentary elections.

Former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen declared his candidacy for the 1948 Republican Party nomination for President of the United States.

Exploration
The U.S. Antarctic Expedition discovered a submarine mountain range which apparently connected Easter Island with the South American mainland.

Music
German orchestra conductor Wilhelm Furtwaengler was cleared by a denazification tribunal in Berlin and allowed to resume his career.

60 years ago
1956

War
United Nations Emergency Force Commander E.L.M. Burns said that his forces would follow the returning Israelis "as rapidly as possible up to the armistice line." He denied reports that Egyptian units were entering the Sinai Peninsula behind advancing UN troops.

Protest
The Budapest Central Workers Council called off its general strike as the Hungarian government indicated willingness to grant limited concessions to worker demands.

Society
Perry Young of Orangeburg, South Carolina became the first Negro hired as a flight crewman by any U.S. scheduled airline when he began work for New York Airways, a New York City helicopter line.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Ooh La La/Ain't Nobody Home--Normie Rowe

#1 single in France: Les Playboys--Jacques Dutronc (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Bang Bang--Equipe 84 (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Bend It--Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): No Milk Today--Herman's Hermits (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Green, Green Grass of Home--Tom Jones (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Winchester Cathedral--The New Vaudeville Band (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Winchester Cathedral--The New Vaudeville Band (3rd week at #1)
2 Good Vibrations--The Beach Boys
3 Mellow Yellow--Donovan
4 Devil with a Blue Dress On & Good Golly Miss Molly--Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
5 Lady Godiva--Peter and Gordon
6 You Keep Me Hangin' On--The Supremes
7 Born Free--Roger Williams
8 Stop Stop Stop--The Hollies
9 That's Life--Frank Sinatra
10 I'm a Believer--The Monkees

Singles entering the chart were Standing in the Shadows of Love by the Four Tops (#58); Nashville Cats by the Lovin' Spoonful (#65); Gallant Men by Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen (#81); Mama (When My Dollies Have Babies) by Cher (#82); Look What You've Done by the Pozo-Seco Singers (#85); I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night) by the Electric Prunes (#88); Are You Lonely for Me by Freddie Scott (#89); The Shadow of Your Smile by Boots Randolph (#94); Green, Green Grass of Home by Tom Jones (#95); I'm Your Bread Maker, Baby by Slim Harpo (#100); and Wack Wack by the Young Holt Trio (also #100).

Space
The U.S. satellite Biosatellite 1, launched three days earlier, was lost in space when the capsule and cargo of plants and insects became separated from the main spacecraft.

Swimming
Elaine Tanner, 15, became the youngest winner of the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canada's female athlete of the year. Miss Tanner, nicknamed "Mighty Mouse," won four gold medals and three silver medals in swimming at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica in August, 1966.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Dancing Queen--ABBA (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Money, Money, Money--ABBA

#1 single in Switzerland: Daddy Cool--Boney M (10th week at #1)

Personal
This blogger helped with coat check duties at the Christmas dance at Henry Wise Wood High School in Calgary, thereby gaining free admission.

Oil
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates rejected the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries' recommended 15% oil price increase and chose to impose a lower price rise, opting for a 5% increase, while the other 11 countries chose an increase of 10% in January 1977 and a further 5% in July.

Hockey
WHA
International Series (exhibition)
C.S.S.R. (1-3) 2 @ Minnesota 3

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): The Way You Are--Agnetha Fältskog and Ola Håkansson (5th week at #1)

20 years ago
1996

Abominations
Six Red Cross workers were shot dead as they slept in a hospital in Chechnya, where they were caring for victims of the war between Chechnya and Russia. The dead included Nancy Malloy, 51, from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Diplomacy
Kofi Annan of Ghana took office as Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Politics and government
Rodrigue Biron and Gilles Duceppe announced that they were candidates to lead the Bloc québécois.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Larry Sherry, 71. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Sherry was a relief pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-1963); Detroit Tigers (1965-1967); Houston Astros (1967); and California Angels (1968), compiling a record of 53-44 with an earned run average of 3.67 with 82 saves in 416 games. He was a member of World Series championship teams in 1959 and 1963, and was the Most Valuable Player of the 1959 World Series, with 2 wins, 2 saves, and a 0.71 ERA in 12 2/3 innings. Mr. Sherry and his brother Norm, a catcher, were teammates from 1959-1962, making them the first all-Jewish battery in major league history. Larry Sherry coached in the Dodgers' organization, and was the pitching coach with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1977-1978) and California Angels (1979-1980). He died after a long battle with cancer.