April 19, 2016

125 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Françoise Rosay. French actress. Miss Rosay, born Françoise Gilberte Bandy de Nalèche, began her career as an opera singer, but was best known for appearing in more than 100 movies in Europe and Hollywood in a career spanning more than 60 years. Her films included Quartet (1948); The Sound and the Fury (1959); and Der Fußgänger (The Pedestrian) (1973). Miss Rosay died on March 28, 1974, 22 days before her 83rd birthday.

100 years ago
1916

Abominations
Alberta adopted the Equal Suffrage Statutory Law Amendment Act giving women the right to vote and hold provincial office, becoming the third Canadian province to do so after Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

90 years ago
1926

Track and field
Johnny Miles of Canada won the 30th Boston Marathon in 2:25:40.4.

80 years ago
1936

Protest
The Arab revolt in Mandatory Palestine began with a general strike.

75 years ago
1941

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)--Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra with Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Johanna Müller-Hermann, 63. Austrian composer. Mrs. Müller-Hermann was known for her vocal works.

War
The German command claimed the capture of Mount Olympus and the Greek town of Larissa. London suffered another heavy bombing raid by German planes.

Defense
The Soviet newspaper Pravda said that the U.S.S.R.-Japan neutrality pact had foiled a U.S.A.-U.K. plan to draw the U.S.S.R. into the war. The U.K. announced that a strong armed force had been landed at Basra, Iraq, presumably to protect the oil regions. The formation of a U.S. Fight For Freedom Committee was announced, with Senator Carter Glass (Democrat--Virginia) as honourary chairman and Bishop Henry Hobson of Cincinnati as active chairman.

Diplomacy
Venezuelan President Eleazar Lopez Contreras told Congress that the United Kingdom and Venezuela would soon sign a convention under which two islands in the Gulf of Paria would be ceded to Venezuela.

The American Palestine Committee headed by U.S. Senator Robert Wagner (Democrat--New York) issued a declaration signed by 68 Senators, urging that the restoration of the Jews to Palestine be adopted as the "declared policy" of the United States.

Medicine
Dr. Albert Claude of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research said that the mitochondria, or extra-nuclear part of the cell, may be the cause of cancer.

Labour
The United Mine Workers of America and northern coal operators rejected a plea by U.S. Labor Secretary Frances Perkins that soft coal mines be reopened on April 22 because of a growing shortage in defense industries.

70 years ago
1946

Died on this date
Rikichi Andō, 62. Japanese military officer and politician. General Andō commanded forces in China in 1939, and led an unauthorized invasion of French Indochina in September 1940, leading to his forced retirement in February 1941. He was soon recalled and put in charge of Japanese forces in Taiwan, and served as the final Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan from December 30, 1944 until formally surrendering to Chinese General Chen Yi on October 25, 1945. Gen. Andō was formally charged with war crimes from his tenure in China, but committed suicide in prison in Shanghai, 16 days after his 62nd birthday, by taking poison before he could go to trial.

Diplomacy
King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia said that Australia, New Zealand, and the two Americas could easily absorb all Jewish refugees, ending the Palestine problem.

Politics and government
The French Constituent Assembly adopted a new constitution establishing the Fourth Republic, subject to approval in a national referendum.

World events
U.S. military headquarters in Frankfurt revealed that 1,900 German prisoners in an American-run camp had been poisoned--none fatally--by arsenic sprinkled on bread in a local bakery.

Economics and finance
In a special radio broadcast, U.S. President Harry Truman urged Americans to eat less so that the United States could help overcome the world food crisis. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Clinton Anderson ordered a 25% cut in production of flour for domestic use.

U.S. Secretary of State James Byrnes confirmed that he United States had sent a new note to Moscow inviting the U.S.S.R. to begin discussions on their request for a $1billion loan.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Sur ma vie--Charles Aznavour (3rd week at #1)

50 years ago
1966

On television tonight
The Fugitive, starring David Janssen, on ABC
Tonight's episode: In a Plain Paper Wrapper, with guest stars Lois Nettleton, Kurt Russell, and Michael Strong

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Chicago 2 @ Detroit 3 (Detroit won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Dean Prentice scored 2 goals for the Red Wings as they eliminated the Black Hawks at Olympia Stadium.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Los Angeles 109 @ Boston 129 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Baseball
The Chicago White Sox scored 2 runs with 2 out in the top of the 8th inning to break a 1-1 tie and defeat the California Angels 3-1 before 31,660 fans in the first major league game ever played at Anaheim Stadium. Tommy John won the pitchers' duel over Marcelino Lopez.

The Baltimore Orioles scored 5 runs in each of the 4th and 8th innings as they defeated the Washington Senators 14-8 before 6,045 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Frank Robinson and Curt Blefary hit homer runs for Baltimore, while Don Lock hit a homer and double for Washington. Alan Closter, the last of seven Washington pitchers, made his major league debut, allowing 1 hit and 2 bases on balls, but no runs, in 1/3 inning.

Fred Whitfield's 3-run home run with none out in the 4th inning off Mel Stottlemyre provided all the scoring necessary as the Cleveland Indians defeated the New York Yankees 3-1 before 6,541 fans at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland to improve their record for the season to 5-0, while the Yankees dropped to 1-6. Sam McDowell struck out 12 batters to win the pitchers' duel, with the only New York run coming on Roy White's first major league home run in the 8th inning.

Willie Mays batted 4 for 5 with a home run, 2 runs and 4 runs batted in, while Jesus Alou was 4 for 5 with 2 doubles and 4 runs, as the San Francisco Giants outslugged the Chicago Cubs 11-10 before 15,396 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Giants used eight pitchers.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Fernando--ABBA (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Beautiful Sunday--Daniel Boone (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Fly, Robin, Fly--Silver Convention (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Vi åkbättre da för da--Swedish Alpine Ski Team (4th week at #1)

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): You Can Leave Your Hat On--Joe Cocker (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): The Promise You Made--Cock Robin (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Living Doll--Cliff Richard and the Young Ones

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Living Doll--Cliff Richard and the Young Ones (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Living Doll--Cliff Richard and the Young Ones (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Kiss--Prince and the Revolution

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Kiss--Prince and the Revolution (2nd week at #1)
2 Addicted to Love--Robert Palmer
3 Manic Monday--Bangles
4 What You Need--INXS
5 Rock Me Amadeus--Falco
6 These Dreams--Heart
7 West End Girls--Pet Shop Boys
8 Harlem Shuffle--Rolling Stones
9 Let’s Go All the Way--Sly Fox
10 Tender Love--Force M.D.’s

Singles entering the chart were There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) by Billy Ocean (#59); Nothin’ at All by Heart (#62); and I Wanna Be a Cowboy by Boys Don’t Cry (#85).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Bop--Dan Seals
2 Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)--Glass Tiger
3 Secret Lovers--Atlantic Starr
4 Nikita--Elton John
5 Harlem Shuffle--Rolling Stones
6 The Power of Love--Jennifer Rush
7 R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.--John Cougar Mellencamp
8 A Good Heart--Feargal Sharkey
9 Let’s Go All the Way--Sly Fox
10 Manic Monday--Bangles

Singles entering the chart were No One is to Blame by Howard Jones (#76); On My Own by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald (#80); Hit That Perfect Beat by Bronski Beat (#92); Be Good to Yourself by Journey (#93); Nothin’ at All by Heart (#95); Pretty in Pink by Psychedelic Furs (#97); and I Like You by Phyllis Nelson (#98).

Religion
George Evans, president of a Bible college whose name I’ve forgotten, was the guest speaker at Abundant Life fellowship, a cult-like charismatic church in Edmonton. The ushers acted more like security guards than ushers, and Mr. Evans’ knowledge of the Bible came across when he quoted the scripture and said, "It’s in Isaiah 6 or 7, I’m not sure."

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Hartford 1 @ Montreal 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
New York Rangers 1 @ Washington 8 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

25 years ago
1991

Defense
The Canadian Ministry of National Defence announced a 5-year renewal of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) agreement with the United States.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Montreal 4 @ Boston 3 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Washington 6 @ Pittsburgh 7 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Children--Robert Miles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Aon Focal Eile--Richie Kavanagh (5th week at #1)

War
A shaky cease-fire in factional fighting in Liberia began to take hold.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
Washington 5 @ Pittsburgh 3 (Washington led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Winnipeg 0 @ Detroit 4 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Calgary 0 @ Chicago 3 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-0)

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Scott Crossfield, 84. U.S. aviator. Mr. Crossfield was a test pilot with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics' (NACA) (1950-1955), flying various experimental aircraft. In 1953 he became the first pilot to fly at Mach 2--twice the speed of sound. Mr. Crossfield joined North American Aviation in 1955, where he became known for flying the X-15 rocket plane. He joined Eastern Air Lines as an executive in 1967, and was a member of the U.S. United States House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology (1977-1993). Mr. Crossfield was killed when the Cessna he was flying broke up in the air during a thunderstorm and crashed in a remote area of Georgia.