April 29, 2016

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, April Stevens and Ira Zabelina!

925 years ago
1091

War
The combined forces of Byzantine Emperor Alexios I and his Cuman allies defeated an invading force of Pechenegs in the Battle of Levounion in what is now part of Turkey.

125 years ago
1891

Transportation
The Canadian Pacific steamship Empress of India arrived in Vancouver from Yokohama to open regular service to the Far East, breaking the Pacific Ocean crossing record by two days. Mail arrived in New York via the Canadian Pacific Railway three and a half days later.

100 years ago
1916

War
The British 6th Indian Division surrendered to Ottoman Forces at the Siege of Kut in one of the largest surrenders of British forces to date.

Protest
After six days of fighting, Irish rebel leaders surrendered to British forces in Dublin, bringing the Easter Rising to an end.

90 years ago
1926

Baseball
The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Reading Keystones 6-5 in an International League game which was the inaugural baseball game at Fleet Street Baseball Stadium, later renamed Maple Leaf Stadium.

80 years ago
1936

Politics and government
E.W. Hamber was named Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.

Baseball
Nagoya defeated Daitokyo 8-5 in the first professional game played in Japan.

Both starting pitchers went the distance, with Roy Parmelee winning the duel over Carl Hubbell, as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the New York Giants 2-1 in 17 innings at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis.

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored a run in the bottom of the 11th inning to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-9 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

In a 7-3 loss to the Washington Nationals at Griffith Stadium in Washington, the Detroit Tigers lost first baseman Hank Greenberg for the rest of the season when he broke his left wrist in a collision with Washington outfielder Jake Powell. Mr. Powell was largely suspected of deliberately inflicting the injury out of a dislike for Jews.

75 years ago
1941

War
Berlin sources claimed that German troops had reached the southern end of the Peloponnesus peninsula. Reports from Cairo stated that British Imperial troops aided by a furious sandstorm had halted an Axis advance from Libya just inside Egypt. The Japan Times Advertiser published exploratory peace terms to end the present war and establish a new world order with Germany dominating Europe; Germany and Italy controlling Africa; The U.S.A. dominating the Western Hemisphere; Japan ruling Asia; and the British Empire continuing in restricted form. The Mexican government revealed that Italy had seized three Mexican-owned, Italian-built tankers in reprisal for the Mexican seizure of 10 Italian ships.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said that he had full authority to send the U.S. Navy on neutrality patrol into any war zone, including that around Britain if he deemed it necessary for the defense of the Western Hemisphere. U.S. Senator Gerald Nye (Republican--North Dakota) introduced a resolution requiring the President to obtain congressional permission before using the Navy to convoy ships to Britain. U.S. War Secretary Henry Stimson accepted without comment the resignation of Colonel Charles Lindbergh from the United States Army; Col. Lindbergh was an outspoken opponent of possible U.S. entry into the European war.

Diplomacy
Costa Rica expelled Karl Bayer as the first move of a government campaign to end Nazi propaganda.

Medicine
Dr. Ernest Witebsky of the University of Buffalo Medical School reported a new test for diagnosing trichinosis in human beings.

Law
Québec law was reformed to admit women to the Bar (Barreau du Québec).

Economics and finance
Canadian Finance Minister J. L. Ilsley called special taxes "a temporary wartime expedient" in his budget speech to the House of Commons; he warned of a probable $500-million deficit.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Jesse Jones predicted a national debt of at least $90 million.

Baseball
The National League’s Boston team changed its name from Bees back to Braves, the name it had had prior to 1936.

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Oh! What it Seemed to Be--Frankie Carle and his Orchestra (7th week at #1)
--Frank Sinatra
--Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra
--Dick Haymes and Helen Forrest
2 One-zy, Two-zy (I Love You-zy)--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
--Phil Harris and his Orchestra
3 You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)--Les Brown and his Orchestra
--Perry Como
4 Prisoner of Love--Perry Como
5 Personality--Johnny Mercer
--Bing Crosby
6 Shoo Fly Pie (And Apple Pan Dowdy)--Stan Kenton and his Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
7 Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside)--Dinah Shore
--Andy Russell
8 I'm a Big Girl Now--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
9 Day by Day--Frank Sinatra
10 Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief--Betty Hutton
--Les Brown and his Orchestra

No new singles entered the chart.

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Waltz of Death

Died on this date
Teddy Brown, 45. U.S.-born U.K. musician. Mr. Brown, born Abraham Himmelbrand, was a percussionist--especially known for his skill on the xylophone--and saxophonist who began his career with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, but switched to popular music in the late 1910s. He moved to London in 1926, and formed his own band a year later. Mr. Brown weighed almost 400 pounds, and his appearance and flashy performing style made a distinct impression in several short films in the 1930s. He died from a heart attack, 26 days before his 46th birthday, the morning after appearing in a concert at the Wolverhampton Hippodrome in Birmingham, England.

Married on this date
Father Divine, approximately 65 years of age, married his secretary, Edna Rose Ritchings, 21, in a secret ceremony in Washington, D.C. Father Divine, who claimed to be God, led the International Peace Mission Movement; he claimed that Miss Ritchings was the reincarnation of his first wife, Penniniah, who had died in 1943. The IPMM celebrates the anniversary of the marriage every year on April 29.

War
The International Military Tribunal for the Far East convened and indicted former Prime Minister of Japan Hideki Tojo and 28 former Japanese leaders on 55 counts of crimes against peace, "conventional war crimes," and "crimes against humanity." Italian Prime Minister Alcide de Gaspari telegraphed the conference in Paris of the foreign ministers of the U.S.A., U.S.S.R., U.K., and France that Italy be heard before any final decision was made on the Italian peace treaty.

Chinese Nationalist leader Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek rejected U.S. Army General George Marshall's proposal that the Chinese Communists keep the city of Changchun and almost 90% of Manchuria, ending talks between the factions.

Diplomacy
With the U.S.S.R. abstaining, the United Nations Security Council adopted an Australian resolution to investigate whether Spain was a menace to world peace. Former U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was elected to lead the UN Commission on Human Rights, with Mrs. Bodil Begtrup chairman of the Subcommission on the Status of Women.

Defense
U.S. Secretary of State James Byrnes urged the Paris foreign ministers' conference to consider an American proposal for a four-power treaty to keep Germany disarmed for 25 years, but he gained no support from British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin or Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov.

The British government reported that nearly two million soldiers had been demobilized since the end of World War II.

Politics and government
General Manuel Acuna Roxas' election as President of the Philippines was conceded by President Sergio Osmena.

The Argentine Chamber of Deputies met for the first time since it dissolution after the 1943 revolution.

Jouett Ross Todd resigned as treasurer of the U.S. Republican National Committee.

Agriculture
The U.S. Agriculture Department reported that as of April 15, 1946, prices received by farmers were at their highest level since July 1920, and that U.S. corn supplies were 19% above the 1945 level.

Labour
United Mine Workers of American President John L. Lewis and operators of soft coal mines met in Washington at the request of U.S. Labor Secretary Lewis Schwellenbach as the nation's coal reserves dropped to 31 million tons.

60 years ago
1956

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Gentleman from America, starring Biff McGuire, Ralph Clanton, John Irving, and Eric Snowden

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Homeward Bound--Simon & Garfunkel

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Lovedrops--Barry Allen (5th week at #1)
2 Leaning on the Lamp Post--Herman's Hermits
3 Good Lovin'--The Young Rascals
4 Monday, Monday--The Mamas and the Papas
5 Time--The Pozo-Seco Singers
6 Time Won't Let Me--The Outsiders
7 Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)--Cher
8 How Does That Grab You, Darlin'?--Nancy Sinatra
9 Try Too Hard--The Dave Clark Five
10 I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry--B.J. Thomas and the Triumphs
Pick hit of the week: Tie Me Down--Dino, Desi and Billy
New this week: What I Am--Stu Mitchell
Would You Believe It--Baker Knight
Friends and Mirrors--Bobby Russell
I Am a Rock--Simon and Garfunkel

40 years ago
1976

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
New York Islanders 3 @ Montreal 4 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Boston 1 @ Philadelphia 2 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Reg Leach scored 13:38 into the 1st overtime period to give the Flyers their win over the Bruins before 17,007 fans at the Spectrum. Wayne Stephenson was in goal for the Flyers for the first time in the 1976 playoffs; Bernie Parent played the first 8 games, but was replaced after the Flyers' 4-2 loss to the Bruins in the first game of the semi-finals.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
U.S. Championship Quarter-Finals
New England 6 @ Indianapolis 0 (New England won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Cap Raeder posted his second shutout of the series in goal for the Whalers as they eliminated the Racers at Market Square Arena.

30 years ago
1986

Football
NFL
Mike Schad, an offensive tackle from Queen's University, was chosen by the Los Angeles Rams, becoming the first Canadian player to be selected in the first round of the National Football League draft.

Baseball
Roger Clemens set a major league record for strikeouts by a pitcher in a 9-inning game with 20 as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Seattle Mariners 3-1 before 13,414 fans at Fenway Park in Boston.

The New York Yankees scored 9 runs in the 7th inning as they beat the Minnesota Twins 14-11 before 13,213 fans at Yankee Stadium. Ed Whitson (2-1) was the winning pitcher despite allowing 6 hits and 5 runs--all earned--in 3.1 innings. The Twins scored 4 runs in the 9th, the last 3 coming on a home run by Billy Beane, who batted 5 for 5 with 2 runs and 4 runs batted in. The teams combined to hit 7 home runs.

Cincinnati Reds' pitcher Mario Soto tied a dubious major league record by giving up 4 home runs in the same inning--to Andre Dawson, Hubie Brooks, Tim Wallach, and Mike Fitzgerald--as the Expos beat the Reds 7-4 before 13,289 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Lady Navigation--B'z (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Se mustamies--Hausmylly (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Joyride--Roxette (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
Hollywood Detective, on A&E
Tonight's episode: Blind Faith

Sinclair Lewis and Aimee Semple Macpherson appeared as characters in this episode.

Environment
Canadian Environment Minister Jean Charest announced a $100-million program to clean up toxic sites and contaminated waste dumps in the Arctic.

Energy
Denison Mines announced that it would close its uranium plant in Elliot Lake, Ontario, putting 1,000 people out of work. The company blamed high costs and cancellation of the Ontario Hydro supply contract.

Disasters
A cyclone struck the Chittagong district of southeastern Bangladesh with winds of around 155 miles per hour (249 kilometres per hour), killing at least 138,000 people and leaving as many as 10 million homeless.

The 7.0 Mw Racha earthquake affected Georgia with a maximum MSK intensity of IX (Destructive),killing 270 people.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Montreal 1 @ Boston 2 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-3)

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Fastlove--George Michael (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Children--Robert Miles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Children--Robert Miles (6th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Ironic--Alanis Morissette (5th week at #1)
2 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion
3 Birmingham--Amanda Marshall
4 Follow You Down--Gin Blossoms
5 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project
6 Lucky Love--Joan Osborne
7 Only Love (The Ballad of...)--Sophie B. Hawkins
8 I Want to Come Over--Melissa Etheridge
9 1979--Smashing Pumpkins
10 Shoe Box--Barenaked Ladies

Singles entering the chart were Can I Get Close? by Gavin Hope (#80); Humans Being by Van Halen (#83); These are the Days by Soul Attorneys (#91); Fall from Grace by Amanda Marshall (#92); Shamaya by Susan Aglukark (#93); Fastlove by George Michael (#94); and Red by Elton John (#96).

Abominations
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Jean Chretien introduced legislation to outlaw discrimination against sodomites and lesbians.

Health
British officials presented formal plans to cull their herds of cattle, and the European Union promised to lift its ban on British beef once the slaughter had been completed. The EU had imposed the ban six days earlier because of concern about mad cow disease.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
John Kenneth Galbraith, 97. Canadian-born U.S. economist and diplomat. Dr. Galbraith, a native of Iona Station, Ontario, was one of the most famous economists of the 20th century. He taught at Harvard University for half a century, and served in Democratic Party presidential administrations of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson. Dr. Galbraith emphasized the market power of large corporations. Among his many books were The Great Crash, 1929 (1955); The Affluent Society (1958); and The Modern Industrial State (1967). Dr. Galbraith served as U.S. Ambassador to India from 1961-1963.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
Tampa Bay 2 @ Ottawa 3 (Ottawa won best-of-seven series 4-1)
New Jersey 4 @ New York Rangers 2 (New Jersey won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Edmonton 3 @ Detroit 2 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Anaheim 2 @ Calgary 3 (Calgary led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Martin Havlat scored the winning goal with 4:58 remaining in the 2nd period as the Senators eliminated the Lightning at Scotiabank Place.

Dwayne Roloson made 30 saves and Fernando Pisani, Ryan Smith, and Shawn Horcoff scored in the 2nd period as the Oilers held on to edge the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.

Jarome Iginla scored 2 goals for the second straight game as the Flames edged the Mighty Ducks at Pengrowth Saddledome.