March 24, 2016

240 years ago
1776

War
Continental Army General George Washington wrote a letter to the Continental Congress describing the situation a week after British troops had evacuated Boston.

120 years ago
1896

Radio
At the Physical and Chemical Society in St. Petersburg, A. S. Popov allegedly used radio waves to transmit the Morse code message "GENRICH GERC" ("HEINRICH HERTZ" in Russian) to another building 250 metres away.

100 years ago
1916

Died on this date
Enrique Granados Campiña, 48. Spanish composer. Mr. Granados wrote operas and theatrical pieces, as well as orchestral and chamber works, and works for piano. He and his wife Amparo visited the United States in 1916 and were on their way back to Europe aboard the British passenger ferry SS Sussex, when the ship was struck by a torpedo from a German submarine. Mr. Granados jumped from a lifeboat in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue his wife from the water, and they both drowned.

War
The U.K. passenger ferry SS Sussex was struck by a torpedo from German submarine SM UB-29 while en route from Folkestone, England to Dieppe, France, after starting from New York. Of the 53 crew mambers and 325 passengers, 50-100 were killed.

80 years ago
1936

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Toronto 0 @ Boston 3 (First game of 2-game total goals series)
Chicago 0 @ New York Americans 3 (First game of 2-game total goals series)

Semi-Finals
Detroit 1 @ Montreal Maroons 0 (6 OT) (Detroit led best-of-five series 1-0)

In the longest game in National Hockey League and Stanley Cup history (through 2015), Mud Bruneteau scored on an assist from Hec Kilrea at 16:30 of the 6th overtime period at the Montreal Forum. The game started at 8:34 P.M. and ended at 2:25 A.M. the following day, 5 hours and 51 minutes later. Total playing time was 2 hours, 56 minutes, 30 seconds. Norm Smith won the goaltending duel over Lorne Chabot of the defending Stanley Cup champion Maroons.

75 years ago
1941

War
London suffered its heaviest air attack of the year when German bombers pounded the city for six hours. German forces commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel attacked and captured El Aghella, Libya. Japan claimed to have occupied Swabue on Honghai Bay near Hong Kong, while other Japanese forces crossed the Tathow Channel and captured Chaoyang in moves designed to close the remaining coastal route into free China. Chinese and Japanese reports announced bitter fighting on the island of Hainan, with China claiming a victory.

Defense
The United States Senate voted 67-9 to pass the $7-billion Lend-Lease appropriation bill after less than two hours of debate. Publication of correspondence between the U.S. State Department and Canada revealed that for the first time since 1817, the two countries would construct naval vessels on the Great Lakes for ocean use.

Journalism
U.S. Navy Secretary Frank Knox urged the press to refrain from reporting on or photographing damaged British warships coming to the United States for repairs.

Labour
The Congress of Industrial Organizations Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) called a strike at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation's plant in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to protest against a company union. U.S. Representative Martin Dies (Democrat--Texas) told the House of Representatives that he had "indisputable evidence" that the Communist Party, through its members in the SWOC, "is working toward a complete tie-up in the steel industry."

Basketball
NCAA
NIT @ Madison Square Garden, New York
Final
Long Island 56 Ohio 42

70 years ago
1946

Died on this date
Carl Schuhmann, 66. German athlete. Mr. Schuhmann competed in numerous events at the first modern Summer Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, winning three gold medals in men's artistic gymnastics and another in Greco-Roman wrestling, while finishing fourth in the clean and jerk weightlifting event, fifth in triple jump, and competing in shot put and long jump. When the Olympics were held in Berlin in 1936, he participated in a gymnastics exhibition at Olympic Stadium.

Aleksandr Alekhine, 53. Russian-born French chess player. Mr. Alekhine was a Grandmaster who emigrated to France in 1921. He defeated José Raúl Capablanca to win the world championship in 1927, and dominated tournament play until losing his title to Max Euwe in 1935. Mr. Alekhine regained the championship in the rematch against Mr. Euwe in 1937, and cooperated with occupying Nazi authorities in France during World War II in order to protect his French wife's assets. Mr. Alekhine's wartime activities resulted in his not being invited to tournaments outside the Iberian peninsula. He was preparing to defend his title in Estoril, Portugal when he was found dead in his hotel room; his death was attributed to a heart attack, although one reported witness to the autopsy said that Mr. Alekhine had choked on a piece of meat. Mr. Alekhine was opposed to Communism and the Soviet government, and conspiracy theories assert that he was murdered and the evidence altered.

War
A Bangkok high court ordered the release of Luang Pibul Songgram--Prime Minister of Thailand during the World War II Japanese occupation--and all other prisoners being held on war crimes charges.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman threatened to send American naval forces to the Mediterranean Sea if the U.S.S.R. did not remove her troops from Iran as agreed at the Potsdam Conference in 1945. Moscow radio announced that the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Meshed, Shanrud, and Semnan was complete, and that remaining troops woul be evacuated from Iran in five or six weeks.

Politics and government
The British Cabinet Mission, consisting of Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander, arrived in India to discuss and plan for the transfer of power from the British Raj to Indian leadership.

Science
The Soviet newspaper Izvestia reported that the U.S.S.R. would spend hundreds of millions of rubles in a five-year scientific program, including the study of atomic energy and cosmic rays.

Economics and finance
A committee of 39 Democratic and 4 Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives was formed to press for passage of the minimum wage bill.

Golf
Sam Snead won the Greensboro Open with a record-tying total score of 270.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Sixteen Tons--"Tennessee" Ernie Ford; Frankie Laine (6th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Eventuell, eventuell--Peter Alexander & Caterina Valente (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): It's Almost Tomorrow--The Dream Weavers (2nd week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Poor People of Paris--Les Baxter, his Chorus and Orchestra (Best Seller--1st week at #1; Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1; Top 100--1st week at #1); Rock and Roll Waltz--Kay Starr (Jukebox--4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Poor People of Paris--Les Baxter, his Chorus and Orchestra
2 Lisbon Antigua--Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra
3 No, Not Much!--The Four Lads
4 Rock and Roll Waltz--Kay Starr
5 Why Do Fools Fall in Love--The Teenagers
--Gale Storm
--The Diamonds
6 I'll Be Home--Pat Boone
--The Flamingos
7 The Great Pretender--The Platters
8 See You Later, Alligator--Bill Haley and his Comets
9 Juke Box Baby--Perry Como
10 Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)--Perry Como

Singles entering the chart were Port au Prince by Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra (#38); (You’ve Got) The Magic Touch by the Platters (#41); Chinese Rock and Egg Roll by Buddy Hackett (#44); Too Young to Go Steady by Nat "King" Cole (#46); Our Love Affair by Tommy Charles (#47); and A Crazy Little Palace (That’s My Home) by the Billy Williams Quartet (#50).

On television tonight
Stage Show, hosted by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, on CBS

Elvis Presley was the guest on this night's program, making his sixth and last appearance on the show in recent weeks. The program was produced by Jackie Gleason, and aired immediately prior to The Honeymooners.



The Honeymooners, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Young Man with a Horn

Basketball
NCAA
Men's Championship Final @ McGaw Hall, Evanston, Illinois
San Francisco 83 Iowa 71

Senior Bill Russell led the Dons to their second straight title, scoring 26 points and pulling down 27 rebounds. For USF, it was their 55th straight win, the collegiate record at the time. The current record is 88 straight by UCLA from 1971-74.



50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore--The Walker Brothers (2nd week at #1)

At the movies
Alfie, starring Michael Caine, received its premiere screening at the Plaza Theatre in London.



Religion
Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI concluded their two-day summit at the Vatican by signing The Common Declaration thanking God for "a new spirit of Christian fellowship between the Roman Catholic Church and the churches of the Anglican Communion." They expressed their intention of "inaugurating a serious dialogue which, founded on the Gospels and on the ancient common tradition, may lead to that unity in truth, for which Christ prayed."

Curling
Scotch Cup @ PNE Forum, Vancouver, British Columbia
Final
Canada 12 Scotland 5

Ron Northcott's rink from Calgary Curling Club, representing Canada, took a 4-0 lead after 3 ends, and coasted to victory over Chuck Hay's Scottish rink. Canada had posted a 6-0 record in round robin play before defeating Lars Dracke's Swedish rink in the semi-finals, while Mr. Hay's rink had been 4-2 in the round robin and had defeated Bruce Roberts' rink from the United States 14-7 in the semi-finals.

40 years ago
1976

Died on this date
Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, 88. U.K. military officer. Field Marshal Montgomery was known for commanding the British Eighth Army during World War II, leading his troops to victory over German forces in the Second Battle of El Alamein, and commanding all Allied ground forces during Operation Overlord.

World events
In Argentina, the armed forces overthrew the constitutional government of President Isabel Perón and started a seven-year dictatorial period self-styled the National Reorganization Process. Since 2006, a public holiday known as Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice is held on March 24.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going--Billy Ocean (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Say You, Say Me--Lionel Richie (5th week at #1)

Movies
The Academy Awards for 1985 were presented at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. The winners included: Best Picture--Out of Africa; Best Director--Sydney Pollack (Out of Africa); Best Actor--William Hurt (Kiss of the Spider Woman); Best Actress--Geraldine Page (The Trip to Bountiful); Best Supporting Actor--Don Ameche (Cocoon); and Best Supporting Actress--Anjelica Huston (Prizzi's Honor).

War
U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger said that the previous day’s assembly of three U.S. aircraft carriers and 27 warships in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya was intended to demonstrate U.S. support for freedom of the seas and was not linked to U.S. displeasure with Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s involvement in international terrorism. Libya fired two missiles from a battery in the coastal base near Syrte. It was reported that Libya had subsequently fired four more missiles. None of the Libyan missiles hit their targets. In response, an American plane fired an anti-ship missile and cluster bombs that destroyed a Libyan patrol boat. Two other planes fired missiles that knocked out the radar of the battery near Syrte. Later, attacks on two more Libyan boats were reported.

Environment
An explosion of landfill gas (consisting of a 3:2 mixture of methane and carbon dioxide) in the English village of Loscoe killed one person and injured three, leading to new U.K. laws on landfill gas migration and gas protection on landfill sites.

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Crazy--Seal (3rd week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C & C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
2 Hello Afrika--Dr. Alban featuring Leila K.
3 Kränk di net--Jazz Gitti & her Disco Killers
4 Sister Soul & Mr. Beat--Beat 4 Feet featuring Kim Cooper
5 Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers
6 Joyride--Roxette
7 Crazy--Seal
8 3 A.M. Eternal (Live at the S.S.L.)--The KLF 9 Fantasy--Black Box
10 To Love Somebody--Jimmy Somerville

Singles entering the chart were Blue Hotel by Chris Isaak (#15); G.L.A.D. by Kim Appleby (#27); Solid Gold by Ashley & Jackson (#28); and No Coke by Dr. Alban (#29).

Died on this date
John Kerr, 76. Governor-General of Australia, 1974-1977. Sir John, who took office as Governor-General after serving as Chief Justice of New South Wales, was in office during a constitutional crisis in 1975 that resulted in his dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and asking Malcolm Fraser to form a government.

Religion
It was the last Sunday for Rev. Albert Runge as senior pastor at Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton. Pastor Runge had been at Beulah for 9½ years, and thought it was a good time to step down. He moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia to become senior pastor at Seven Oaks Alliance Church, while Keith Taylor replaced him at Beulah Alliance.

Hockey
NHL
Los Angeles 4 @ Edmonton 3 (OT)

CIAU
Men’s championship final
Quebec at Trois Rivieres 7 Alberta 2

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Mysterious Girl--Peter Andre featuring Bubbler Ranx (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Macarena--Los Del Rio

#1 single in Switzerland: Children--Robert Miles (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Scotland (OCC): Children--Robert Miles (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Mark Goodkey, 22. Canadian hockey player. Mr. Goodkey was a defenceman with the University of Alberta (1993-96), scoring 11 points in 50 games. He was playing in a recreational game in Stettler, Alberta, and dropped to block a shot with 4 minutes remaining in the game. The puck struck him in the neck, breaking his neck and causing an artery to explode, killing him instantly. The Golden Bears instituted a scholarship in Mr. Goodkey's honour.

Space
As part of mission STS-76, Mission Specialist Shannon Lucid transferred from the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis to the Russian space station Mir to begin a 4½-month stay, becoming the first American woman to go aboard the station.



Basketball
NBA
Cleveland 90 @ Vancouver 85

The Grizzlies' loss to the Cavaliers at Pacific Coliseum was their 18th straight, making them the first team to have two losing streaks of at least 18 games in the same season.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Lynne Perrie, 74. U.K. actress and singer. Miss Perrie, born Jean Dudley, was best known for playing Ivy Tilsley on the television program Coronation Street from 1971-1994. As a singer, she performed as a supporting act for the Beatles on a tour of British coastal resorts in 1964. Miss Perrie died two weeks before her 75th birthday.