May 12, 2016

825 years ago
1191

Married on this date
King Richard I of England married Berengaria of Navarre, who was crowned Queen consort of England the same day.

520 years ago
1496

Born on this date
Gustav I. King of Sweden, 1523-1560. Gustav I came from a noble family and was elected King after the Swedish War of Liberation against King Christian II of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. He was known for his ruthlessness, abolishing Sweden's elective monarchy in favour of a hereditary monarchy and establishing the Lutheran Church of Sweden as he became known as the "father of the nation." King Gustav I suffered from chronic infections of the leg and jaw in the years leading up to his death on September 19, 1550 at the age of 64. He was succeeded on the throne by his son Erik XIV.

170 years ago
1846

Americana
The Donner Party of pioneers departed Independence, Missouri for California, on what would become a year-long journey of hardship and cannibalism.

110 years ago
1906

Albertana
Pincher Creek was incorporated as a town.

90 years ago
1926

Aviation
The Italian-built airship Norge became the first vessel to fly over the North Pole.

Labour
A nine-day general strike by trade unions in the United Kingdom ended.

Baseball
Walter Johnson of the Washington Nationals joined Cy Young as the only 400-game winners in baseball history when he defeated the St. Louis Browns 7-4 at Griffith Stadium in Washington to improve his record for the season to 6-1. Mr. Young won 511 games, and Mr. Johnson finished his career in 1927 with 417 wins.

75 years ago
1941

Married on this date
U.S. bandleader Phil Harris and U.S. actress Alice Faye were married by a justice of the peace in Ensenada, Mexico.

War
The British convoy Tiger reached Alexandria with 238 tanks needed for the defense of Egypt after running an Axis bomber gauntlet in the Mediterranean Sea.

Diplomacy
German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler met Vichy French Vice-Premier François Darlan at Berchtesgaden and presented German demands. South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts said in a radio broadcast from Cape Town that the United States had helped to pave the way for the European war by abandoning the League of Nations.

World events
A military tribunal in Bucharest sentenced 206 Iron Guardists to prison terms for attempting to overthrow the Romanian government.

Defense
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee approved the alien ship seizure bill after defeating an amendment to prohibit the transfer of seized ships to belligerents. U.S. Army Brigadier General Lewis Hershey, acting draft chief, urged Congress to revise the Selective Service Act so that the President could defer older men. The Philippine National Assembly passed a bill requiring the registration and fingerprinting of all aliens in the islands.

Technology
Konrad Zuse unveiled in Berlin the Z3, the world's first working programmable, fully automatic computer.

Economics and finance
British economist John Maynard Keynes said in Washington that the best way to block inflation was to withhold personal salaries at the source, as the British government of Prime Minister Winston Churchill was doing.

70 years ago
1946

Politics and government
A seven-day conference in Simla, India of British, Muslim, and Indian Congress Party representatives ended without agreement on the composition of an independent Indian government.

The Venezuelan Democratic Action Party turned down a Communist proposal for a common front against possible counter-revolutionary moves by former President Eleazar Lopez Contreras.

Protest
Three Jewish workmen in Budapest were lynched by mobs who had been aroused by rumours that Jews were kidnapping and killing Hungarians.

Journalism
The Newfoundland Herald newspaper was founded in St. John's.

Communications
American Telephone & Telegraph began service in St. Louis between regular telephone outlets and vehicles equipped with radiophone installations.

Golf
Byron Nelson won the Houston Open, finishing two strokes ahead of Ben Hogan.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Memories are Made of This--Dean Martin (5th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Tiritomba--Margot Eskens (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): No Other Love--Ronnie Hilton

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Heartbreak Hotel--Elvis Presley (Best Seller--4th week at #1; Disc Jockey--1st week at #1; Jukebox--2nd week at #1; Top 100--2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Heartbreak Hotel--Elvis Presley (4th week at #1)
2 Moonglow and Theme from "Picnic"--Morris Stoloff and the Columbia Pictures Orchestra
--George Cates and his Orchestra
3 Blue Suede Shoes--Carl Perkins
4 Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)--Perry Como
5 (You've Got) The Magic Touch--The Platters
6 The Poor People of Paris--Les Baxter, his Chorus and Orchestra
7 Why Do Fools Fall in Love--The Teenagers
--Gale Storm
--The Diamonds
8 A Tear Fell--Teresa Brewer
9 Ivory Tower--Cathy Carr
--Otis Williams and the Charms
10 Rock Island Line--Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group

Singles entering the chart were Picnic (#32)/Delilah Jones (#45) by the McGuire Sisters; It Only Hurts for a Little While by the Ames Brothers (#35); Graduation Day, with versions by the Rover Boys and the Four Freshmen (#37); Tango of the Drums by Les Baxter and his Orchestra (#38); and Kiss Me Another by Georgia Gibbs (#40). Picnic was a vocal version of the theme from the movie Picnic (1955).

On television tonight
The Honeymooners, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Unconventional Behavior



Died on this date
Louis Calhern, 71. U.S. actor. Mr. Calhern, born Carl Henry Vogt, appeared in numerous Broadway plays and in movies such as Notorious (1946); The Asphalt Jungle (1950); The Magnificent Yankee (1950); and Julius Caesar (1953). He died of a sudden heart attack in Japan while filming The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956); his scenes were refilmed, with Paul Ford taking his place.

Baseball
Carl Erskine pitched his second career major league no-hitter and hit a double himself as the Brooklyn Dodgers blanked the New York Giants 3-0 before 17,395 fans at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals combined to hit 8 home runs as the Cubs won 14-10 before 14,556 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Chicago center fielder Pete Whisenant hit 2 homers. Winning pitcher Bob Rush allowed 11 hits and 7 runs--all earned-- in 5 1/3 innings.

Don Ferrarese pitched a 2-hitter and singled home Chuck Diering with the game's only run in the 7th inning as the Baltimore Orioles edged the New York Yankees 1-0 before 9,854 fans at Yankee Stadium. New York pither Bob Turley allowed just 5 hits and 1 earned run in pitching a complete game.

The Washington Nationals scored 8 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning as they outlasted the Boston Red Sox 12-9 before 7,098 fans at Griffith Stadium in Washington. Washington shortstop Jerry Snyder hit a double, triple, and home run, scoring 3 runs and driving in 5. Boston left fielder Dick Gernert was 4 for 5 with 2 homers, 2 runs, and 6 RBIs.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Pretty Flamingo--Manfred Mann (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Felix Steiner, 69. German SS officer. SS Obergruppenführer Steiner contributed significantly to the development and transformation of the Waffen-SS into a military force made up of volunteers and conscripts from both occupied and un-occupied lands. He was imprisoned after World War II, but was released after war crimes charges against him were dropped. Mr. Steiner died 12 days before his 70th birthday.

Canadiana
The flag of Manitoba proclaimed: the red ensign with the provincial crest.

Politics and government
The Canadian Parliament passed the Act to establish the Science Council of Canada.

Baseball
Lou Brock singled home Curt Flood with the bases loaded and none out in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves before 46,048 fans in the first game ever played at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis and the first major league game ever played on artificial turf. Felipe Alou hit 2 solo home runs for Atlanta.

40 years ago
1976

Died on this date
Ed "Butch" Songin, 52. U.S. football player. Mr. Songin was a quarterback with the Boston College football team in the late 1940s, and was also captain of their hockey team. He joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union in mid-season of 1953, and led them to the Grey Cup championship. Mr. Songin was the Tiger-Cats' starting quarterback in 1954, but was out of professional football after that until coming out of retirement to join the Boston Patriots of the new American Football League in 1960. He played in the AFL's first game--a 13-10 loss to the Denver Broncos--and was the Patriots' starting quarterback for that season. He split the Boston quarterbacking duties with Babe Parilli in 1961 and finished his playing career with the New York Titans in 1962. Mr. Songin became a probation officer after his football career, and died of cancer the day after his 52nd birthday.

Baseball
The Montreal Expos scored 4 runs in the 8th inning and 2 in the 9th to defeat the Houston Astros 7-2 before 8,665 fans at the Astrodome in the Wednesday night Expos Baseball telecast on CBC.

Steve Swisher singled home Jerry Morales with 2 out in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 1-0 win over the San Francisco Giants before 5,892 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Mike Garman pitched the 11th inning and got the win in relief of Rick Reuschel, who pitched 10 scoreless innings.

The Kansas City Royals scored 7 runs in the 1st inning, 4 in the 2nd, and 3 in the 3rd as they routed the Minnesota Twins 17-5 before 9,601 fans at Royals Stadium.

Reggie Jackson's grand slam was the big blow as the Baltimore Orioles scored 6 runs in the top of the 6th inning as they came back from a 6-2 deficit and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-6 before 5,657 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Mr. Jackson's homer was his first in a Baltimore uniform after his acquisition from the Oakland Athletics just prior to the start of the season.

The New York Yankees scored 4 runs inthe 1st inning and 3 in the 4th, and withstood a 5-run rally in the top of the 7th inning as they edged the Detroit Tigers 7-6 before 14,575 fans at Yankee Stadium. New York starting pitcher Dock Ellis allowed 5 hits, 6 bases and balls, and 4 runs--all earned--in 6+ innings, but was credited with the win to improve his record for the season to 4-0.

The Boston Red Sox scored 2 runs in the top of the 12th inning to defeat the Cleveland Indians 6-4 before 4,923 fans at Cleveland Stadium. Ed Crosby entered the game for Cleveland in the 7th inning as a pinch runner for designated hitter Rico Carty, and then made an out in the 10th inning before being removed for a pinch hitter in the 12th; it was the 297th and last game of Mr. Crosby's 6-year major league career.

With 2 out and nobody on base in the top of the 8th inning, Mike Hargrove, Toby Harrah, and Jeff Burroughs hit consecutive singles to produce the game's only run as the Texas Rangers edged the California Angels 1-0 before 8,539 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Bill Singer allowed 9 hits and just 1 base on balls as he pitched the shutout to improve his record for the season to 3-0. Don Kirkwood allowed 8 hits and 1 earned run in 7 2/3 innings in taking the loss, dropping to 0-3.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Living Doll--Cliff Richard featuring the Young Ones

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Si Tú Eres Mi Hombre y Yo Tu Mujer (The Power of Love)--Jennifer Rush (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Elisabeth Bergner, 88. German-born U.K. actress. Miss Bergner, born Elisabeth Ettel, appeared in plays and movies in Germany, but fled to England after the Nazis came to power in Germany. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her starring performance in Escape Me Never (1935). Miss Bergner has been credited as the real-life inspiration for the movie All About Eve (1950).

Scandal
Canadian Industry, Trade and Commerce Minister Sinclair Stevens resigned from the cabinet of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney while an inquiry looked at a $2.6-million loan to one of his holding companies; Mr. Stevens denied breaking conflict of interest guidelines.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
Calgary 5 @ St. Louis 6 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Doug Wickenheiser scored his second goal of the game at 7:30 of the 1st overtime period to complete the Blues' comeback from a 5-2 3rd-period deficit as they edged the Flames at St. Louis Arena. Greg Paslawski scored 2 straight goals for the Blues in the last 4½ minutes of regulation time.



25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): The Joker--Steve Miller Band

#1 single in Switzerland: Joyride--Roxette (6th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Joyride--Roxette (7th week at #1)
2 Secret Love--Bee Gees
3 How to Dance--Bingoboys featuring Princessa
4 No Coke--Dr. Alban
5 Venedig im Regen--Thomas Forstner
6 Should I Stay or Should I Go--The Clash
7 Crazy--Seal
8 Sister Soul & Mr. Beat--Beat 4 Feet featuring Kim Cooper
9 The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher
10 Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)--Pet Shop Boys

Singles entering the chart were Just the Way it Is, Baby by the Rembrandts (#21); and The One and Only by Chesney Hawkes (#23).

Personal
This blogger was in Halifax, and had the pleasure of attending the service at Missionary Bible Church, pastored by Perry F. Rockwood. Mr. Rockwood founded the Peoples Gospel Hour in 1947, which has continued to broadcast his messages since his death in 2008. I enjoyed meeting in person someone I'd enjoyed listening to on the radio for more than a decade.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): California Love--2Pac featuring Dr. Dre (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Children--Robert Miles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Macarena--Los Del Rio

#1 single in Scotland (OCC): Ooh Aah...Just a Little Bit--Gina G (6th week at #1)

Soccer
English FA Cup Final @ Wembley Stadium, London
Manchester United 1 Liverpool 0

Eric Cantona scored the game's only goal with 5 minutes remaining before 79,007 fans.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
Florida 2 @ Philadelphia 1 (2 OT) (Florida led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Western Conference Semi-Finals
St. Louis 3 @ Detroit 2 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 3-2)

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Hussein Maziq, 87 or 88. Prime Minister of Libya, 1965-1967. Mr. Maziq was Governor of Cyrenaica from 1952-1961 and Libyan Foreign Minister from 1964-1965 before succeeding Mahmud al-Muntasir as Prime Minister; he resigned on July 2, 1967, and was succeeded by Abdul Qadir al-Badri.

Protest
Mass unrest by the Primeiro Comando da Capital began in São Paulo, leaving at least 150 dead.

Iranian Azeris interpreted a cartoon published in an Iranian magazine as insulting, resulting in large riots throughout the country.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference Semi-Finals
San Jose 3 @ Edmonton 6 (Best-of-seven seris tied 2-2)