February 2, 2016

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sandy Ting and Simon O’Byrne!

875 years ago
1141

War
Angevin forces, loyal to former Holy Roman Empress Matilda, defeated the Blesevins, the forces of King Stephen, in the Battle of Lincoln. King Stephen was captured and taken to Bristol, where he was imprisoned.

480 years ago
1536

South Americana
Spanish conquistador Pedro de Mendoza founded the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

140 years ago
1876

Baseball
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs was founded in New York.

90 years ago
1926

Theatre
The Great Gatsby by Owen Davis, based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, directed by George Cukor, and starring James Rennie, Florence Eldridge, Edward H. Wever, and Elliot Cabot, opened at the Ambassador Theatre on Broadway in New York City.

Scandal
Member of Parliament H.H. Stevens (Conservative--Vancouver Centre) released damaging information about Canadian Customs officials accepting bribes; the customs scandals led to Prime Minister Mackenzie King's resignation on June 28, 1926.

80 years ago
1936

Baseball
Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson were the first players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

75 years ago
1941

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 4

War
Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced that Canada would double her overseas armed forces.

Protest
Peace was restored in Johannesburg after three days of rioting between soldiers and anti-British civilians.

Labour
American Federation of Labor President William Green claimed that the majority of workers at the Ford Motor Company plants in River Rouge and Lincoln wanted to join the AFL. The Congress of Industrial Organizations disputed the claim, and appealed to the National Labor Relations Board.

Sport
Ken Bartholomew won the 1941 North American men's speed skating championship.

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!--Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra with Vaughn Monroe and the Norton Sisters (Best Seller--2nd week at #1; Airplay--3rd week at #1); I Can't Begin to Tell You--Bing Crosby with Carmen Cavallaro (Juke Box--6th week at #1); Symphony--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra with Clyde Rogers (Honor Roll of Hits--5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Rondo Hatton, 51. U.S. actor. Mr. Hatton was a handsome teenager who became afflicted with acromegaly as a young man, leading to severe pain and facial disfigurement. He was working as a newspaper reporter in Tampa, Florida when he was discovered, and accepted the invitation to move to Hollywood, California, where he was cast in bit parts in movies. Mr. Hatton played "The Creeper" in the Sherlock Holmes movie The Pearl of Death (1944), in which his face wasn't seen until near the end of the movie, in a scene that this blogger considers the scariest he's ever seen. Mr. Hatton signed a contract with Universal Studios to star in more "Creeper" movies, but died of a heart attack after completing The Spider Woman Strikes Back (1946); House of Horrors (1946); and The Brute Man (1946), all of which were then sold by Universal to a "poverty row" studio for release after his death.

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly installed Trygve Lie of Norway as the UN's first Secretary-General. The UN site subcommittee chose the North Stamford-North Greenwich area comprising 42 square miles in Westchester County, New York and Fairfield County, Connecticut as its first choice for the permanent headquarters of the United Nations.

Politics and government
The Venezuelan government granted all political parties the right to hold public meetings, and announced that a constitutional assembly would soon be called to draw up new election laws.

The Republican Party chairmen of 14 Midwestern states issued a 14-point "declaration of principles" to be included in the party platform, calling for a drastic change in the foreign and domestic policies of U.S. President Harry Truman.

Economics and finance
The Allied Control Council ordered the elimination of nine key German industries, including aluminum; synthetic gasoline; rubber; magnesium; and heavy machine tools.

Defense
German physicists Otto Hahn and Werner Heisenberg claimed that they had completed an "atomic energy machine" in Leipzig at the end of 1941, but had been unable to produce a bomb because of a lack of money and facilities.

Communications
A magnetic storm on the Sun covering 3.5 billion square miles disrupted shortwave communications between the United States and Europe.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): L'Homme et l'Enfant--Eddie & Tania Constantine (9th week at #1)

Theatre
Long Day's Journey Into Night by Eugene O'Neill received its world premiere, in Swedish, at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. The production was directed by Bengt Ekerot and starred Lars Hanson, Inga Tidblad, Ulf Palme, Jarl Kulle, and Catrin Westerlund.

At the movies
The Conqueror, produced by Howard Hughes and Dick Powell, directed by Mr. Powell, and starring John Wayne and Susan Hayward, received its world premiere screening in London.



Died on this date
Charley Grapewin, 86. U.S. actor. Mr. Grapewin had a lengthy carer on stage and screen, but was best known for playing Uncle Henry in The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Grandpa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940).

Canadiana
The Wiarton Willie Groundhog Day festival in Wiarton, Ontario--a town on Georgian Bay, 3 hours northwest of Toronto--began when Mac Mackenzie of Wiarton sent out a press release inviting people to Wiarton for a Groundhog Day party. When a Toronto Star reporter arrived and asked where the groundhog was, Mr. Mackenzie threw his wife's fur hat into the snow and the reporter took a picture.

Olympics
Tenley Albright of the United States became the first American woman to win a Winter Olympics gold medal when she captured the women's figure skating title at Cortina, Italy. Two weeks earlier, Miss Albright had fallen on the ice and severed a vein in her right ankle with her other skate blade; her father flew to Italy, performed surgery on her and she recovered to win the gold medal.

50 years ago
1966

Theatre
Wait Until Dark, written by Frederick Knott, directed by Arthur Penn, and starring Lee Remick, Robert Duvall, and Mitchell Ryan, opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Broadway in New York.

Diplomacy
Pakistan suggested a six-point agenda with Kashmir after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Society
Canadian Senator David Croll (Liberal--Toronto-Spadina) issued the report of his Senate Committee on the Elderly; the report recommended a guaranteed annual income at age 65, and programs to help seniors stay productive.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Jump in My Car--Ted Mulry Gang (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun--Masato Shimon (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Amor, amor--Lolita (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I'm on Fire--5000 Volts (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Rich Little Show, on NBC
Tonight's guest stars: Glenn Ford, Susan Saint James, and John Davidson

This was the first episode of the variety show starring the Canadian impressionist; it lasted for 14 weeks.

Diplomacy
Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau continued a state trade tour of Mexico, Cuba, and Venezuela.

Politics and government
Elliot Richardson was sworn in as Secretary of Commerce in the administration of U.S. President Gerald Ford, replacing the departed Rogers Morton. Mr. Richardson had held three cabinet posts in the administration of Mr. Ford's predecessor, Richard Nixon, but had resigned as Attorney General on October 20, 1973 rather than carry out Mr. Nixon's order to fire Archibald Cox, special prosecutor investigating the June 1972 break-in at the offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C.

Labour
The Canadian federal government signed agreements with Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island to put public employees under the federal Anti-Inflation Board.

Weather
The Groundhog Day gale hit the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Nikita--Elton John (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Jeanny--Falco (3rd week at #1)

Football
NFL
Pro Bowl @ Aloha Stadium, Honolulu
NFC 28 AFC 24

New York Giants' quarterback Phil Simms led the NFC to 2 touchdowns in the 4th quarter to overcome a 24-14 deficit before 50,101 fans, and was named the game's most valuable player.



25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): I Touch Myself--Divinyls

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Sadeness Part I--Enigma

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sadeness Part I--Enigma (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Alle Børnene--2 X Kaj (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Sadeness Part I--Enigma

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): 3 A.M. Eternal--The KLF featuring the Children of the Revolution

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice (7th week at #1)
2 Knockin' Boots--Candyman
3 Maar Vanavond Heb Ik Hoofdpijn--Hanny
4 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C&C Music Factory
5 Mary Had a Little Boy--Snap!
6 To Love Somebody--Jimmy Somerville
7 All Together Now--The Farm
8 Don't Worry--Kim Appleby
9 Go for It! (Heart and Fire)--Joey B. Ellis and Tynetta Hare
10 Crazy--Seal

Singles entering the chart were Love Let Love by Tony Scott (#29); Liefde Voor Muziek by Raymond v/h Groenewoud (#30); Cry for Help by Rick Astley (#31); Gaode Vanaovond Mee Stappe by Gaode Vanaovond Mee Stappe (#33); Someday by Mariah Carey (#34); and Give Peace a Chance by Peace Choir (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 The First Time--Surface (2nd week at #1)
2 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
3 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
4 Sensitivity--Ralph Tresvant
5 Play That Funky Music--Vanilla Ice
6 After the Rain--Nelson
7 I'm Not in Love--Will to Power
8 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston
9 Just Another Dream--Cathy Dennis
10 High Enough--Damn Yankees

Singles entering the chart were I'll Be by Your Side by Stevie B (#81); Who Said I Would by Phil Collins (#83); Mother's Pride by George Michael (#87); My Side of the Bed by Susanna Hoffs (#88); Secret by Heart (#89); Together Forever by Lisette Melendez (#92); Ride the Wind by Poison (#93); and Rico Suave by Gerardo (#96). Mother's Pride was the B-side of Waiting for that Day, charting at #43.

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The First Time--Surface
2 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
3 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
4 Sensitivity--Ralph Tresvant
5 High Enough--Damn Yankees
6 Play That Funky Music--Vanilla Ice
7 I’m Not in Love--Will to Power
8 After the Rain--Nelson
9 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston
10 Just Another Dream--Cathy Dennis

Singles entering the chart were My Side of the Bed by Susanna Hoffs (#72); Ride the Wind by Poison (#89); and I’ll Be by Your Side by Stevie B (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Justify My Love--Madonna
2 You Gotta Love Someone--Elton John
3 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
4 Til I Am Myself Again--Blue Rodeo
5 Disappear--INXS
6 Freedom--George Michael
7 Because I Love You (The Postman Song)--Stevie B
8 After the Rain--Nelson
9 I’m Not in Love--Will to Power
10 For You--The Outfield

Singles entering the chart were King of the Hill by Roger McGuinn (#50); Give it Up by ZZ Top (#57); You're in Love by Wilson Phillips (#64); Headlong by Queen (#65); Cry of Love by Gino Vannelli (#73); Only the Lonely by World on Edge (#75); Crying in the Rain by A-Ha (#84); Rescue Me by Madonna (#95); and Maybe Next Time by Sue Medley (#98).

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Gene Kelly, 83. U.S. dancer and actor. Mr. Kelly was one of the most talented dancers ever to appear in motion pictures, starring in such movies as Anchors Aweigh (1945); An American in Paris (1951); Singin' in the Rain (1952); and Invitation to the Dance (1956). He achieved an honourary Academy Award in 1952 for his career achievements.

Politics and government
Canadian Governor General Roméo LeBlanc signed into law a bill giving five provinces and regions--British Columbia, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada--a veto over major constitutional changes.

Protest
Soldiers in Guinea mutinied, demanding pay raises and improved working conditions.

Labour
500,000 miners in Russia were on strike to protest unpaid wages.

Disasters
120 people were killed and 400 injured when a cache of illegally stored dynamite exploded and destroyed a suburban street in the Chinese city of Shaoyang.

Football
CFL
It was announced that the Grey Cup champion Baltimore Stallions were moving to Montreal to become the Alouettes, ending the Canadian Football League's experiment of expansion to the United States. The CFL's other U.S.-based teams in San Antonio, Shreveport, Memphis, and Birmingham had folded.