February 9, 2016

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Heather Blacklock!

150 years ago
1866

Born on this date
George Ade. U.S. humourist. Mr. Ade, a native of Indiana who worked as a journalist in Chicago, was known for his short stories and plays about ordinary Americans, and often pointed out the ironies of those who grew up with traditional rural values and ended up in cities such as Chicago where the values weren't practiced. Mr. Ade died on May 16, 1944 at the age of 75.

125 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Ronald Colman. U.K.-born U.S. actor. Mr. Colman was a popular leading man in films such as Bulldog Drummond (1929); A Tale of Two Cities (1935); Lost Horizon (1937); The Prisoner of Zenda (1937); and Random Harvest (1942). He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for A Double Life (1947). Mr. Colman died on May 19, 1958 at the age of 67.

Opera
The Canadian Pacific Railway opened its $200,000 Vancouver Opera House on Granville Street with the Emma Juch English Opera's performance of Lohengrin by Richard Wagner.

110 years ago
1906

Died on this date
Paul Laurence Dunbar, 33. U.S. poet and author. Mr. Dunbar was the first American Negro poet to win wide acceptance; he wrote a dozen books of poetry, as well as novels and short stories. Mr. Dunbar died of tuberculosis.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Tex Hughson. U.S. baseball pitcher. Cecil Carlton Hughson, a native of Kyle, Texas, played with the Boston Red Sox from 1941-1944 and 1946-1949, compiling a record of 96-54 with an earned run average of 2.94 in 225 games before arm and shoulder injuries shortened his career. His best season was 1942, when he was 22-6, leading the American League in wins; strikeouts (113); complete games (22); and innings pitched (281). He was 20-11 in 1946 as he helped the Red Sox win the AL pennant. Mr. Hughson died on August 6, 1993 at the age of 77.

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 5

Literature
The Book of the Month Club critics' poll selected the novel For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway as the outstanding book of 1940.

War
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said in a broadcast from London that the United Kingdom didn't need American armies: "Give us the tools, and we will finish the job." The Canadian Army converted the Vancouver-based Fifth Canadian Motorcycle Regiment, CASF, redesignating it as the British Columbia Dragoons. The American Youth Congress denounced the European war as an "imperialist exploitation of the masses."

Politics and government
The Vichy French regime appointed Admiral Jean Darian as Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister.

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--3rd week at #1; Airplay--4th week at #1; Juke Box--1st week at #1); Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief--Betty Hutton with Paul Weston and his Orchestra (Airplay--1st week at #1); Symphony--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra with Clyde Rogers (Honor Roll of Hits--6th week at #1)

Defense
Speaking at a Communist Party conference, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin predicted a future conflict with the West, and announced a new five-year plan to put the U.S.S.R. on a war footing.

Diplomacy
Argentine presidential candidate Juan Peron released a 4,000-word document calling for closer relations with the United States, and invited U.S. capital investments in Argentina.

Politics and government
The Japanese cabinet, acting on orders from Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan General Douglas MacArthur, barred nearly nine-tenths of the current Diet members from the March 31, 1946 elections.

Space
Astronomers at Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin announced that they had observed the explosion of a nova at the western edge of Corona Borealis, trillions of miles from Earth.

Religion
Dr. Ludwig Schoop announced that 72 scholars under his direction were preparing a 72-volume edition of the writings of the Roman Catholic Church fathers.

Labour
The Congress of Industrial Organizations Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers settled with General Motors for an 18½c hourly wage increase.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): L'Homme et l'Enfant--Eddie & Tania Constantine (10th week at #1)

50 years ago
1966

Died on this date
Sophie Tucker, 79. Ukrainian-born U.S. singer. Miss Tucker, the "Last of the Red Hot Mamas", born Sonya Kalish, was popular in vaudeville, recordings, radio, and television in a career that spanned more than 60 years.

Energy
British Minister for Technology Frank Cousins announcemed in Parliament that a Protype Fast Reactor would be built at the Dounreay power station in a remote part of Scotland.

Hockey
NHL
The National Hockey League announced that it was doubling in size with a new West Division and six new teams: the California Seals; Los Angeles Kings; Minnesota North Stars; Philadelphia Flyers; Pittsburgh Penguins; and St. Louis Blues. The original teams - Toronto, Montréal, New York, Detroit, Chicago and Boston - would make up the East Division. The expansion was to take effect for the 1967-1968 season.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Jump in My Car--Ted Mulry Gang (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun--Masato Shimon (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Amor, amor--Lolita (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I'm on Fire--5000 Volts (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Percy Faith, 67. Canadian-born U.S. orchestra conductor, arranger, and composer. Mr. Faith, a native of Toronto, helped to popularize "easy listening" music with hit singles such as Delicado (1952); Song from Moulin Rouge (1953); and The Theme from "A Summer Place" (1960), the latter of which won a Grammy Award as Record of the Year. He arranged recordings for singers such as Guy Mitchell and Johnny Mathis, and composed and adapted scores for films such as Love Me or Leave Me (1955).

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Nikita--Elton John (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Jeanny--Falco (4th week at #1)

Space
Halley's Comet last appeared in the inner Solar System.

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): I Touch Myself--Divinyls (2nd week at #1)

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

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sadeness Part I--Enigma (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Alle Børnene--2 X Kaj (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice (3rd week at #1)

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

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): 3 A.M. Eternal--The KLF featuring the Children of the Revolution (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Knockin' Boots--Candyman
2 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C&C Music Factory
3 Crazy--Seal
4 Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice
5 Innuendo--Queen
6 Go for It! (Heart and Fire)--Joey B. Ellis and Tynetta Hare
7 All Together Now--The Farm
8 Wicked Game--Chris Isaak
9 To Love Somebody--Jimmy Somerville
10 Maar Vanavond Heb Ik Hoofdpijn--Hanny

Singles entering the chart were 3 A.M. Eternal (Live at the S.S.L.) by the KLF (#28); Because I Love You (The Postman Song) by Stevie B. (#30); Moneytalks by AC/DC (#32); Bring Your Daughter...to the Slaughter by Iron Maiden (#33); Can I Kick It? by A Tribe Called Quest (#34); All True Man by Alexander O'Neal (#35); and Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You by Robert Palmer (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
2 The First Time--Surface
3 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston
4 Play That Funky Music--Vanilla Ice
5 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
6 After the Rain--Nelson
7 Sensitivity--Ralph Tresvant
8 I'm Not in Love--Will to Power
9 One More Try--Timmy -T-
10 I'll Give All My Love to You--Keith Sweat

Singles entering the chart were I’ve Been Thinking About You by Londonbeat (#52); You're in Love by Wilson Phillips (#64); Easy Come Easy Go by Winger (#84); Just the Way it is, Baby by the Rembrandts (#89); Give it Up by ZZ Top (#90); What's it Gonna Be by Jellybean featuring Niki Haris (#91); Sadeness Part 1 by Enigma (#93); and Funk Boutique by the Cover Girls (#98).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C + C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
2 The First Time--Surface
3 Sensitivity--Ralph Tresvant
4 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston
5 Play That Funky Music--Vanilla Ice
6 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
7 Where Does My Heart Beat Now--Celine Dion
8 Disappear--INXS
9 After the Rain--Nelson
10 Just Another Dream--Cathy Dennis

Singles entering the chart were I’ve Been Thinking About You by Londonbeat (#76); Just the Way it is, Baby by the Rembrandts (#78); Easy Come Easy Go by Winger (#79); You're in Love by Wilson Phillips (#80); and Iesha by Another Bad Creation (#83).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
2 Disappear--INXS
3 Til I Am Myself Again--Blue Rodeo
4 You Gotta Love Someone--Elton John
5 Justify My Love--Madonna
6 After the Rain--Nelson
7 I’m Not in Love--Will to Power
8 Wicked Game--Chris Isaak
9 Show Me the Way--Styx
10 All the Man that I Need--Whitney Houston

Singles entering the chart were Who Said I Would by Phil Collins (#68); Inside Out by the Traveling Wilburys (#69); My Side of the Bed by Susanna Hoffs (#77); Willy by Astley Cleveland (#78); Never Gonna Change My Mind by Acosta Russell (#84); Rocket O’Love by the Knack (#88); Tomorrow Wendy by Concrete Blonde (#93); Fallen Angel by Zahalan (#94); Give Peace a Chance by Sean Lennon (#95); Night and Day by Bette Midler (#97); and Let Go by Andy Curran (#98).

Died on this date
James Cleveland, 59. U.S. singer. Rev. Cleveland was known as the "King of Gospel Music" during a career in which he won four Grammy Awards.

World events
In a non-binding referendum, Lithuanians voted overwhelmingly in favour of secession from the Soviet Union. Lithuania was the first of the Baltic republics to hold such a vote. In an attempt to avoid antagonizing the Kremlin, Lithuania’s leaders called the vote an unofficial "public opinion poll" on Lithuania’s March 1990 declaration of independence. Nearly 85% of eligible voters to answer the only question on the ballot: "Do you want a democratic, independent Lithuania?" The results, released the next day, showed approximately 90% of the votes in favour of independence.

Politics and government
Donald Cameron defeated Roland Thornhill by 143 votes on the third ballot to become leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia. He took office as Premier of Nova Scotia on February 26, 1991, replacing interim Premier Roger Bacon, who had replaced the retired John Buchanan.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo (4th week at #1)

Terrorism
The Provisional Irish Republican Army declared the end to its 18-month cease-fire and exploded a large bomb in London's Canary Wharf.

Diplomacy
South Korea and Japan renewed their dispute over two islets in the Sea of Japan that were believed to have rich mineral resources and fishing grounds.

Protest
The government of Guinea reasserted control over the armed forces, a week after the beginning of a mutiny by soldiers who were demanding better pay and working conditions.

Track and field
Donovan Bailey of Canada set a world record for the men's 50-metre dash with a time of 5.56 seconds at the Reno Air Games in Reno, Nevada. The old record of 5.61 was set by Manfred Kokot of East Germany in 1973 and was tied by James Sanford of the United States in 1981.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Freddie Laker, 83. U.K. airline executive. Sir Freddie founded the pioneering "no-frills" airline Laker Airways in 1966; the airline went bankrupt in 1982.