Sunday 24 January 2016

January 24, 2016

1,975 years ago
41


Died on this date
Caligula (Caius Caesar), 28. Roman Emperor, 37-41. A nut case who made his horse a priest and consul and attempted to erect a statue of himself in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, Caligula was assassinated by a tribune of the Praetorian Guard and replaced by Claudius I.

125 years ago
1891


Born on this date
Walter Model
. German military officer. Generalfeldmarschall Model was known as the Third Reich's best defensive commander, achieving relative success with the Ninth Army in the eastern Front retreats of 1941-1942. His forces experienced failure during the Battle of Bulge (1944-1945), and Fuehrer Adolf Hitler then limited Generalfeldmarschall Model's operational freedom. In early April 1945, with his forces surrounded in the Ruhr pocket by the U.S. 1st and 9th Armies, Generalfeldmarschall Model disobeyed Mr. Hitler's order to keep fighting, and dissolved Army Group B, discharging the oldest and youngest soldiers from service and giving the others the option of surrendering to the Allies or attempting to break out at their discretion. Generalfeldmarschall Model committed suicide at the age of 54 on April 21, 1945 by shooting himself in the head in a forest, after finding out that the Soviets were going to try him for war crimes, and the day after he was denounced by the German Propaganda Ministry as a traitor.

100 years ago
1916


Born on this date
Jack Brickhouse
. U.S. sportscaster. Mr. Brickhouse covered many sports in a career that spanned more than 40 years, but he was primarily known as the television voice of the Chicago Cubs (1948-1981) and White Sox (1948-1967) on WGN. He was inducted into the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame in 1985. Mr. Brickhouse died on August 6, 1998 at the age of 82.

Rafael Caldera Rodriguez. 65th President of Venezuela, 1969-1974; 1994-1999. Mr. Caldera was a member of Comité de Organización Política Electoral Independiente (COPEI) (Independent Political Electoral Organization Committee) from 1946-1993, before starting the National Convergence Party in 1993. During his second term, Mr. Caldera pardoned Hugo Chávez, who succeeded him as President in 1999. Mr. Caldera died on December 24, 2009 at the age of 93.

Law
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled 8-0 in Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad Co. to uphold the Revenue Act of 1913, and declared the federal income tax constitutional (see full text of the judgement).

75 years ago
1941


Music
Philadelphia Orchestra director Leopold Stokowski announced that he would train an 85-piece U.S. Army band in California in an experiment to develop more "typically American music," and "modernize" Army bands.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt broke diplomatic precedent when he welcomed Viscount Halifax, the new British Ambassador to the United States, when he arrived aboard the new battleship King George V in Chesapeake Bay.

Politics and government
Vichy French Prime Minister Marshal Philippe Petain created a 188-man advisory National Council.

Argentine Foreign Minister Julio Roca tendered his resignation to acting President Ramon Castillo.

Protest
Romanian President Ion Antonescu blamed Vice President Horia Sima, chief of the Iron Guard, for the four-day revolt in Romania, and said that the German army had lend "moral support" in crushing the rebellion.

Labour
U.S. Labor Secretary Frances Perkins reported the largest employment increase in 11 years, bringing the total number of workers to 37.1 million in December 1940.

70 years ago
1946


Movies
The New York State Board of Censors lifted its ban on Scarlet Street (1945) after reviewing the film and persuading producer Walter Wanger to revise and delete some portions.

War
At the trial of accused Nazi war criminals in Nuremberg, the French prosecution charged that at least 29,660 French hostages had been executed by the Nazis during World War II. The first war crimes trial in China held by Americans began with 18 Japanese charged with the torture and execution of U.S. airmen.

Defense
The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that airborne atomic bomb tests against warships would be held in May and July at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

General Carl Spaatz was named head of the United States Army Air Forces by President Harry Truman, and called for a peacetime air force of 400,000 men and 6,000 planes.

Politics and government
National Democratic Front leader Julio Ernesto Portugal headed a new Peruvian government which, for the first time, included three members of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA).

Diplomacy
The U.S. State Department reported that Siam had agreed to respect treaties made with the United States before World War II.

Energy
The United Nations General Assembly passed its first resolution, establishing the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission.

Economics and finance
The United Kingdom and Greece signed an agreement giving Greece a £10-million loan to stabilize the drachma, and £500,000 in direct assistance.

Allied headquarters in Japan ordered the Japanese government to cease deficit financing or printing additional banknotes, and directed the government to try to balance the budget.

Labour
U.S. President Harry Truman ordered the Agriculture Department to seize and operate 134 plants of 17 meat packing companies at midnight January 25 if striking workers did not resume their jobs by then.

50 years ago
1966


Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): La Canción Del Tamborilero (The Little Drummer Boy)--Raphael

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Lovely Leitrim--Larry Cunningham

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 We Can Work it Out--The Beatles
2 Yesterday Man--Chris Andrews
3 A Must to Avoid--Herman's Hermits
4 You Didn't Have to Be So Nice--The Lovin' Spoonful
5 A Young Girl--Noel Harrison
6 The Hoochi Coochi Coo--Wes Dakus
7 Like a Dribblin' Fram--Race Marbles
8 Attack--The Toys
9 As Tears Go By--The Rolling Stones
10 It's Good News Week--Hedgehoppers Anonymous

Singles entering the chart were Get Out of My Life by Lee Dorsey (#34); Call Me by Chris Montez (#35); Who You Gonna Hurt by Beryl Marsden (#36); Andrea by the Sunrays (#37); A Hard Day's Night by the Ramsey Lewis Trio (#39); and Are You There (With Another Girl) by Dionne Warwick (#40).

Weather
Starting on this day, Winnipeg recorded Canada's longest recorded period of skin-freezing windchill, lasting 170 consecutive hours.

Politics and government
Indira Gandhi took office as India's first female Prime Minister, succeeding the late Lal Shastri.

Disasters
106 passengers and 11 crew aboard an Air India Boeing 707 jet were killed when it crashed into Mont Blanc in the Alps while preparing to land in Geneva while flying from Bombay to New York.

40 years ago
1976


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): La tartaruga-- Bruno Lauzi (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Bohemian Rhapsody--Queen (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Bohemian Rhapsody--Queen (9th week at #1); A Glass of Champagne--Sailor

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Do You Know Where You're Going To--Diana Ross

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Convoy--C.W. McCall (2nd week at #1)
2 I Write the Songs--Barry Manilow
3 Love Rollercoaster--Ohio Players
4 You Sexy Thing--Hot Chocolate
5 Fox on the Run--Sweet
6 Fly Away--John Denver
7 I Love Music (Part 1)--O'Jays
8 Walk Away from Love--David Ruffin
9 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover--Paul Simon
10 Sing a Song--Earth, Wind & Fire

Singles entering the chart were Grow Some Funk of Your Own (#51)/I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford) (#70) by Elton John; Lonely Night (Angel Face) by Captain and Tennille (#64); Take Me by Grand Funk (#77); If I Only Knew by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (#85); Can the Can by Suzi Quatro (#87); I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Creedence Clearwater Revival (#94); Young Love by Ray Stevens (#97); Venus by Frankie Avalon (#98); Tell it Like it Is by Andy Williams (#99); and One Fine Day by Julie (#100). Venus was a re-recorded version of Mr. Avalon's hit from 1959.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Convoy--C.W. McCall
2 Fox on the Run--Sweet
3 I Write the Songs--Barry Manilow
4 Do You Know Where You're Going To--Diana Ross
5 Love Rollercoaster--Ohio Players
6 Saturday Night--Bay City Rollers
7 Let's Do it Again--The Staple Singers
8 Fly, Robin, Fly--Silver Convention
9 Over My Head--Fleetwood Mac
10 You Sexy Thing--Hot Chocolate

Singles entering the chart were Honey I by George McCrae (#91); Come and See My Man by C.B. Victoria (#92); The White Knight by Cledus Maggard and the Citizens Band (#93); Love is the Drug by Roxy Music (#95); Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen (#96); Renegade by Michael Murphey (#97); I Need You, You Need Me by Joe Simon (#98); Remember Me by Willie Nelson (#99); and Woman Tonight by America (#100).

Boxing
Former world heavyweight champion George Foreman (41-1), in hs forst official bout since losing the title to Muhammad Ali on October 30, 1974, knocked out Ron Lyle (31-4-1) at 2:28 of the 5th round at the Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas to win the vacant North American title in one of the wildest slugfests in boxing history.



30 years ago
1986


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Jeanny--Falco (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
L. Ron Hubbard, 74
. U.S. author and cult religious leader. Mr. Hubbard was a writer of science fiction whose book Dianetics (1950) served as the foundational text of a new religious movement, which evolved into a criminal organization. He reportedly died at his ranch in California, although a number of books under his name were published after his death.

Gordon MacRae, 64. U.S. actor and singer. Mr. MacRae was best known for his roles in the musical films On Moonlight Bay (1951); By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953); Oklahoma! (1955); and Carousel (1956). He suffered from cancer of the mouth and jaw, and died of pneumonia.

Flo Hyman, 31. U.S. volleyball player. Miss Hyman was a member of the U.S. team that won the silver medal in the women's competition at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She was playing professionally in Japan shen she collapsed on the bench during a game shortly after being removed for a substitute, and she died minutes later. The cause of Miss Hyman's death was a ruptured aortic aneurysm, a consequence of undiagnosed Marfan's syndrome.

Space
The U.S. probe Voyager 2 passed within 50,679 miles of Uranus.

Defense
The United States Navy began a week of maneuvers north of Libya.

Politics and government
U.S. Vice President George Bush praised Moral Majority leader Rev. Jerry Falwell for "the moral vision you have brought to our political life."

Scandal
U.K. Trade and Industry Secretary Leon Brittan became the second cabinet minister to resign over the issue of government financial support for the Westland helicopter manufacturing firm. Defence Secretary Michael Heseltine had resigned from Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's cabinet two weeks earlier, claiming his views were being ignored.

Hockey
NHL
Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders scored his 1,000th career point in a game against the Washington Capitals at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland.

25 years ago
1991


Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Do the Bartman--The Simpsons

Died on this date
Jack Schaefer, 83
. U.S. author. Mr. Schaefer was known for his Western novels, especially Shane (1949) and Monte Walsh (1963).

John M. Kelly, 59. Irish politician. Professor Kelly, a law professor and member of the Fine Gael party, held several cabinet posts in a parliamentary career running from 1973-1989.

War
Canadian warplanes completed their first combat mission of the Gulf War, escorting U.S. fighter bombers over Iraq. Allied forces were able to retake a small Kuwaiti island, the first piece of territory freed from Iraqi occupation. Allied combat missions totalled 8,000, with Allied military casualties--dead and missing--reported at 30.

Health
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control announced that 161,073 people had contracted AIDS in the United States, and that 100,077 had died.

20 years ago
1996


Scandal
Polish Prime Minister Józef Oleksy resigned amid allegations of a close connection with Vladimir Alganov, an official with the Soviet KGB secret police.

Hockey
NHL
Pittsburgh 4 @ Ottawa 3

The game was the first for Jacques Martin as head coach of the Senators; he joined the team that day from the Colorado Avalanche, where he had been an assistant coach. Mr. Martin replaced Dave Allison, who had posted a record of 8-35-1 as head coach of the Senators in 1995-96.

10 years ago
2006


Died on this date
Fayard Nicholas, 91
. U.S. dancer. Mr. Nicholas and his brother Harold were a popular tap-dancing duo for more than 60 years.

Chris Penn, 40. U.S. actor. Mr. Penn, the son of director Leo Penn and brother of actor Sean Penn and musician Michael Penn, appeared in movies such as All the Right Moves (1983); Footloose (1984); and Short Cuts (1993). He gained considerable weight in later years, which apparently contributed to his death from heart disease.

Hockey
NHL
Mario Lemieux announced his second retirement as a centre with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Mr. Lemieux, who joined the Penguins in 1984 as the number one choice in that year's amateur draft, had missed the entire 1994-95 season with Hodgkin's lymphoma, and had retired for the first time in 1997. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame later in 1997, but came out of retirement in 2000. Mr. Lemieux played his last game on December 16, 2005, and retired after being diagnosed with an atrial fibrillation. In 915 regular season games he scored 1,723 points on 690 goals and 1,033 assists, and added 172 points on 76 goals and 96 assists in 107 playoff games.

No comments: