April 26, 2016

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Lynn!

1,120 years ago
896

Died on this date
Boniface VI, 89-90 (?). Roman Catholic Pope, 896. Boniface VI was degraded and excommunicated twice by Pope John VIII, perhaps for dissolute moral conduct or for political reasons. He was made a cardinal by Pope Formosus, and succeeded him as pope. However, Pope Boniface VI died just 15 days after his installation, perhaps from gout, or perhaps at the hands of the faction that promoted his successor, Stephen VI.

175 years ago
1841

Politics and government
The opening of the amalgamated Newfoundland Legislature took place in St. John's as the Newfoundland Constitution was suspended.

130 years ago
1886

Politics and government
Andrew Blair's ministry was re-elected in the New Brunswick provincial election. The election was held before the adoption of party labels; in the 26th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, 33 of the 41 elected MLAs supported the government, and 8 formed the opposition.

120 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Ernst Udet. German military aviator. Generaloberst Udet was an air ace during World War I and recorded 62 combat victories, second to Baron Manfred von Richtofen's 80 among German aces. He joined the Nazi Partyin 1933 and helped to develop the Luftwaffe, becoming Director-General of Equipment in 1939. Generaloberst Udet became a heavy drinker, which combined with the strain of the war and personal relationships to lead him to commit suicide by shooting himself on November 17, 1941 at the age of 45.

Ruut Tarmo. Estonian actor. Mr. Tarmo, born Harald Rudolf Klein, appeared in plays and films for three decades until the Soviets invaded and occupied Estonia during World War II; he was imprisoned and, after his release, was banned from performing until after the death of U.S.S.R. dictator Josef Stalin. Mr. Tarmo returned to acting in the mid-1950s, and continued his career until his death on January 28, 1967 at the age of 70.

110 years ago
1906

Boxing
Jack Johnson (37-8-5-3) retained his world "colored" heavyweight title with a 15-round decision over Sam Langford (32-5-15) at Lincoln Athletic Club in Chelsea, Massachusetts.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Sir Barton. Canadian-born U.S. racehorse. Sir Barton was raised in Kentucky and raced from 1918-1920; he became the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 1919. Sir Barton died of colic on October 30, 1937 at the age of 21.

Vic Perrin. U.S. actor. Mr. Perrin appeared in numerous radio and television programs, but was best known as the "Control Voice" on the television series The Outer Limits (1963-1965). He died of cancer on July 4, 1989 at the age of 73.

Morris West. Australian author. Mr. West was best known for his novels The Devil's Advocate (1959); The Shoes of the Fisherman (1963); and The Clowns of God (1981). He died on October 9, 1999 at the age of 83.

80 years ago
1936

Died on this date
Tammany Young, 49. U.S. actor. Mr. Young was considered a "good luck" actor, and was often cast in bit parts in plays to bring luck to the productions. He played the stooge to W.C. Fields in six movies. Mr. Young died in his sleep.

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 (5th week at #1)

War
German troops took Thebes and advanced southward to within 25 miles of Athens. An Axis advance began south of Solum on the Egyptian-Libyan frontier. British troops occupied Dessye, Ethiopia. A Gallup Poll reported 68% of Americans questioned in a recent survey said they would favour U.S. entrance into the European war if there were no other way to defeat the Axis.

Defense
The Inter-American Economic Advisory Committee, representing the 21 American republics, passed a resolution in Washington stating that they had a right to seize immobilized foreign ships with compensation. U.S. Civil Aeronautics Authority experts demonstrated an automatic loop-antennae direction finder that enabled a pilot to fly on a straight line by tuning in simultaneously on broadcasting stations at two points.

Politics and government
Mohandas Gandhi said in Bombay that his All-India Congress party had dropped demands for the independence of India for the time being and wanted only "freedom of speech and pen."

70 years ago
1946

Music
The Hart House String Quartet gave its final concert at Hart House at the University of Toronto.

War
At the Nuremberg trial of accused Nazi war criminals, former Gestapo agent Hans Bernd Gisevius, after implicating most of the Nazi defendants in war crimes, testified that he had been in contact with the U.S. Office of Strategic Services in Switzerland and Germany since 1943. The foreign ministers of the U.S.A., U.S.S.R., U.K. and France agreed in Paris on the preamble to the Italian peace treaty and on a committee to discuss Italian reparations.

Defense
A conference of Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador in Caracas agreed on an initial investment of $20 million in a joint merchant marine.

The U.S. Navy revealed development of an aircraft rocket engine which generated 6,000 pounds of thrust but weighed only 210 pounds.

Politics and government
The Allied Control Council in Berlin failed to agree on recognition of the new Socialist Union Party, as requested by the Soviets.

Agriculture
The U.S. Agriculture Department called all loans on the 1945 corn crop as of May 1 in order to stop hoarding.

Economics and finance
The Canadian Federal-Provincial Conference on Reconstruction resumed, and Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis submitted a brief on a new tax division between Ottawa and the provinces.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Sur ma vie--Charles Aznavour (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Edward Arnold, 66. U.S. actor. Mr. Arnold, born Gunther Edward Arnold Schneider, was a character actor known for playing unscrupulous authority figures. His movies included Diamond Jim (1935); Come and Get It (1936); The Toast of New York (1937); You Can't Take it with You (1938); Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939); and The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941). He died of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Transportation
SS Ideal X, the world's first successful container ship, left Port Newark, New Jersey on its maiden voyage for Houston, Texas.

50 years ago
1966

On television tonight
The Fugitive, starring David Janssen, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Coralee, with guest stars Murray Hamilton and Antoinette Bower

This was the last episode of the season, and the last to be filmed and broadcast in black and white.

Politics and government
A new government was formed in the Republic of the Congo, led by Ambroise Noumazalaye.

Crime
The Supreme Court of Canada was authorized to review Steven Truscott's 1959 murder conviction and life sentence. Mr. Truscott, 14 years old in 1959, was convicted of the murder of 12-year-old Lynne Harper and had originaly been sentenced to death.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Detroit 5 @ Montreal 2 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Bruce MacGregor, Ab McDonald, Floyd Smith, and Dean Prentice scored in the 3rd period for the Red Wings as they defeated the Canadiens at the Montreal Forum.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Boston 115 @ Los Angeles 123 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

The Lakers outscored the Celtics 34-25 in the 4th quarter as they averted elimination before 15,069 fans at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. Jerry West led Los Angeles scorers with 32 points, while John Havlicek led Boston with 27 points and Bill Russell scored 22 points and grabbed 23 rebounds.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Fernando--ABBA (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Beautiful Sunday--Daniel Boone (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Fly, Robin, Fly--Silver Convention (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Vi åkbättre da för da--Swedish Alpine Ski Team (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Sidney James, 62. South African-born U.K. actor. Mr. James, born Solomon Cohen, was a comic actor, known for being part of the cast of the radio and television series Hancock's Half Hour (1954-1960), and as one of the stars of the "Carry On" movies. He also starred in the television comedy series Bless This House (1971-1976). Mr. James was appearing in a revival of the comedy play The Mating Season at the Sunderland Empire Theatre in Sunderland, England when he had a heart attack on stage, and died an hour later.

Politics and government
Vietnam elected its first joint National Assembly in more than 30 years, with 249 seats assigned to the North and 243 to the South. Voters' choices were limited to candidates approved by the Workers' Party.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): You Can Leave Your Hat On--Joe Cocker (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): The Promise You Made--Cock Robin (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Living Doll--Cliff Richard and the Young Ones (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Rock Me Amadeus--Falco

#1 single in the U.K.: A Different Corner--George Michael

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Kiss--Prince and the Revolution (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Addicted to Love--Robert Palmer
2 Kiss--Prince and the Revolution
3 Manic Monday--Bangles
4 West End Girls--Pet Shop Boys
5 What You Need--INXS
6 Harlem Shuffle--Rolling Stones
7 Why Can’t This Be Love--Van Halen
8 Rock Me Amadeus--Falco
9 Let’s Go All the Way--Sly Fox
10 Tender Love--Force M.D.’s

Singles entering the chart were A Different Corner by George Michael (#49); Rain on the Scarecrow by John Cougar Mellencamp (#65); Vienna Calling by Falco (#76); The Love Parade by the Dream Academy (#79); Who's Johnny by El DeBarge (#81); Your Wildest Dreams by the Moody Blues (#83); Out of Mind Out of Sight by the Models (#85); Under the Influence by Vanity (#86); Tuff Enuff by the Fabulous Thunderbirds (#87); Mutual Surrender by Bourgeois Tagg (#88); Lead a Double Life by Loverboy (#89); and Shot in the Dark by Ozzy Osbourne (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 The Power of Love--Jennifer Rush
2 Bop--Dan Seals
3 Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)--Glass Tiger
4 Nikita--Elton John
5 Harlem Shuffle--Rolling Stones
6 Manic Monday--Bangles
7 Let’s Go All the Way--Sly Fox
8 Addicted to Love--Robert Palmer
9 Secret Lovers--Atlantic Starr
10 Kiss--Prince and the Revolution

Singles entering the chart were There’ll Be Sad Songs by Billy Ocean (#90); Song in My Head by M+M (#92); and The Love Parade by the Dream Academy (#93); I Can't Wait by Nu Shooz (#94); and Chains by the Arrows (#96).

Died on this date
Bessie Love, 87. U.S. actress. Miss Love, born Juanita Horton, was popular during the era of silent films, but also achieved success during the early years of sound films, and was nominated for an Academy Award for her starring performance in The Broadway Melody (1929).

Broderick Crawford, 74. U.S. actor. Mr. Crawford had a lengthy career as a character actor, often playing "heavies." He won an Academy Award for his starring performance in All the King's Men (1949). Mr. Crawford starred in the popular television series Highway Patrol (1955-1959) and the less popular series The Interns (1970-1971).

Disasters
Although it didn’t become public knowledge for a couple of days, the world’s worst nuclear disaster occurred at the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Toronto 3 @ St. Louis 4 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Calgary 4 @ Edmonton 1 (Calgary led best-of-seven series 3-2)

25 years ago
1991

Died on this date
A.B. Guthrie, Jr., 90. U.S. author. Mr. Guthrie won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novel The Way West.

Leo Arnaud, 86. French-born U.S. composer. Mr. Arnaud wrote and orchestrated numerous film scores, but was best known for Bugler's Dream, the theme music for telecasts of the Olympic Games on American network television.

Carmine Coppola, 80. U.S. composer and conductor. Mr. Coppola was the father of movie director Francis Ford Coppola, and contributed music to several of his son's films. Carmine Coppola and Nino Rota shared the 1974 Academy Award for the score for The Godfather Part II, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Emily McLaughlin, 62. U.S. actress. Miss McLaughlin played nurse Jessie Brewer on the television soap opera General Hospital from 1963-1991.

Richard Hatfield, 60. Canadian politician. Mr. Hatfield, a Progressive Conservative, was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1961-1987, and Premier from 1970-1987. Mr. Hatfield's reign as Premier, the longest in New Brunswick history, ended when the PCs lost all their seats to the Liberals in the 1987 provincial election. Mr. Hatfield died, reportedly of brain cancer, 17 days after his 60th birthday. He was widely believed to be a sodomite, although he never admitted it.

Defense
Canadian Navy Vice-Admiral Charles Thomas resigned, warning that defense cuts would threaten Canadian sovereignty and endanger the lives of military personnel; Vice-Admiral Thomas was Deputy Commander of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Weather
70 tornadoes broke out in the central United States.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Minnesota 2 @ St. Louis 4 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Edmonton 2 @ Los Angeles 5 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-2)

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Children--Robert Miles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Aon Focal Eile--Richie Kavanagh (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Stirling Silliphant, 78. U.S. screenwriter. Mr. Silliphant won an Academy Award for his screenplay for In the Heat of the Night (1967), but was better known for his work in television, especially the series Naked City (1958-1959, 1960-1963) (which he created) and Route 66 (1960-1964) (which he co-created).

Music
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra performed at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. This blogger was in attendance, with enjoyable female company.

Americana
An auction of items once owned by U.S. President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline concluded with 2,000 bidders and sales totalling more than $34.5 million, much more than originally anticipated.

War
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a cease-fire to end Israel's 16-day bombardment of Lebanese villages.

Economics and finance
The South African rand continued its two-month slide and hit a record low value.

Hockey
IIHF World Men's Championship
Russia 6 Canada 4

NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
Montreal 2 @ New York Rangers 3 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Washington 1 @ Pittsburgh 4 (Pittsburgh led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Winnipeg 3 @ Detroit 1 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 3-2)

The Jets' win over the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena was their last before moving to Phoenix to become the Coyotes.

10 years ago
2006

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
Carolina 2 @ Montreal 1 (OT) (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-1)
New Jersey 3 @ New York Rangers 0 (New Jersey led best-of-seven series 3-0)
Buffalo 2 @ Philadelphia 4 (Buffalo led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Dallas 3 @ Colorado 4 (OT) (Colorado led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Eric Staal scored 3:38 into the 1st overtime period to give the Hurricanes their win over the Canadiens at Bell Centre.

Martin Brodeur made 25 saves to earn his 21st career playoff shutout as the Devils blanked the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Peter Forsberg scored 2 straight goals in the 2nd period to break a 1-1 tie as the Flyers beat the Sabres at Wachovia Center.

Andrew Brunette scored with 57 seconds remaining in regulation time to tie the score for Colorado, and Alex Tanguay scored just 1:09 into overtime to win the game for the Avalanche over the Stars at Pepsi Center.