September 8, 2016

220 years ago
1796

War
French forces defeated Austrian troops in the Battle of Bassano at Bassano del Grappa in what is now part of Italy.

190 years ago
1826

Born on this date
James Corry, 1st Baronet Corry. U.K. politician. Sir James, a native of Ireland, was a Conservative when he represented Belfast in the House of Commons (1874-1885). He was elected in a by-election in Mid Armagh in February 1886; five months later, he joined the Unionist Alliance, and continued to represent Mid Armagh in the House of Commons until his death on November 28, 1891 at the age of 65.

175 years ago
1841

Born on this date
Antonín Dvořák, 62. Czech composer. Mr. Dvořák was known for many compositions, including his nine symphonies, especially Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, From the New World, aka New World Symphony, which he wrote in 1893 while in New York. He died on May 1, 1904 at the age of 62.

120 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Howard Dietz. U.S. publicist and songwriter. Mr. Dietz was Vice President in Charge of Publicity at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios from 1942-1957, but his association with the company went back further. He has been credited with creating Leo the Lion as the studio's mascot and Ars Gratia Artis as its slogan. Mr. Dietz and Arthur Schwartz were a songwriting team, with Mr. Dietz writing lyrics for more than a dozen Broadway musicals, including The Band Wagon (1931), with songs such as Dancing in the Dark and That's Entertainment. Mr. Dietz was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972, and died on July 30, 1983 at the age of 86, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

110 years ago
1906

Horse racing
Dan Patch, the greatest pacer in history, set a world record by turning a mile in 1 minute 55 seconds at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds in Hamline. His 1:55.0 mark stood for 54 years until Adios Butler broke it in 1:54.3.

90 years ago
1926

Diplomacy
Germany was admitted to the League of Nations.

75 years ago
1941

War
The Siege of Leningrad began as German forces captured Schlusselberg, cutting off the last land connection to the Russian city. Canadian, British, and Norwegian forces raided Spitsbergen, setting fire to coal stocks and destroying mines to prevent the Germans from using them. A large force of U.K. Royal Air Force bombers pounded Berlin during the night.

Movies
Chilean Interior Minister Arturo Olavarria approved the banning of the U.K. anti-Nazi film Pastor Hall (1940) by the Governor of Santiago.

Space
Dr. Roy K. Marshall of the Fels Planetarium in Philadelphia told the American Astronomical Society that the craters on the moon were caused by volcanic action and not the impact of great meteors.

70 years ago
1946

Terrorism
Explosives planted by the Irgun Zvai organization cut the Palestine railway in 50 places. Irgun leaders said that the action was a protest against the upcoming Palestine conference in London.

Politics and government
95.6% of voters in a referendum in Bulgaria supported abolishing the country's monarchy.

Chinese Communist leader Chou En-lai said that his party would not seek any Soviet aid in order to preserve its own independence.

Protest
Protesting a statement by U.S. Secretary of State James Byrnes that the Polish-German frontier was not final, Polish Communists demonstrated before the U.S. ambassador's residence in Warsaw.

Crime
Communist-organized "squatters," protesting an acute housing shortage in the United Kingdom, seized the Duchess of Bedford's house and nine other luxury buildings in London.

Scandal
The U.S. Senate War Investigating Committee disclosed Henry Garsson's testimony that Representative Andrew May (Democrat--Kentucky) had received no pay from Garsson armaments firms.

Labour
Congress of Industrial Organizations President William Murray withdrewd the CIO from the International Labor Organization after a U.S. Labor Department decision making the American Federation of Labor the sole U.S. representative at the upcoming ILO conference in Montreal.

Tennis
Jack Kramer defeated Tom Brown 9-7, 6-3, 6-0 in the men's singles final of the U.S. National Championships at Forest Hills, New York, while Pauline Betz defeated Doris Hart 11-9, 6-3 in the women's singles final.

Football
AAFC
Brooklyn (1-0) 27 @ Buffalo (0-1) 14
New York (1-0) 27 @ San Francisco (0-1) 14

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Portuguese Washerwomen--Joe "Fingers" Carr (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Heimweh--Freddy Quinn (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)--Doris Day (5th week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel--Elvis Presley (Best Seller--4th week at #1; Jukebox--2nd week at #1); Don't Be Cruel--Elvis Presley (Disc Jockey--1st week at #1); My Prayer--The Platters (Top 100--4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Hound Dog--Elvis Presley (4th week at #1)
2 My Prayer--The Platters
3 Don't Be Cruel--Elvis Presley
4 Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)--Doris Day
5 Canadian Sunset--Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra with Eddie Heywood
--Andy Williams
6 The Flying Saucer (Parts 1 and 2)--Buchanan and Goodman
7 Honky Tonk (Parts 1 and 2)--Bill Doggett
8 Tonight You Belong to Me--Patience and Prudence
9 The Fool--Sanford Clark
--The Gallahads
10 Allegheny Moon--Patti Page

Singles entering the chart were the versions of Ka-Ding Dong by the Diamonds and the Hilltoppers (#20, charting with the version by the G-Clefs); Just Walking in the Rain by Johnnie Ray (#42); Miracle of Love by Eileen Rodgers (#46); and True Love, with versions by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly, and Jane Powell (#47). The version of True Love by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly was from the movie High Society (1956).

On television tonight
The Honeymooners, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Bensonhurst Bomber



Died on this date
Jeanne Brola, 85. U.S. singer. Mme. Brola, born Jeanne Brooks Harrison, was the first American opera singer to star at La Scala in Milan.

Americana
Marian McKnight, 19, Miss South Carolina, was named Miss America 1957 at the annual pageant in Atlantic City.

Archaeology
Dr. James B. Pritchard of Church Divinity School of the Pacific announced the discovery of the site of Gibeon, where the Sun stood still for a day to help the Israelites, led by Joshua, defeat the Amorites in battle (see Joshua 10:1-14).

Politics and government
Chaudri Mohammed Ali resigned as Prime Minister of Pakistan and as a member of the Muslim League in protest against internal party strife and the rival interests of West and East Pakistan.

The first Gallup Poll taken after the major party nominating conventions showed that American preferred the Republican Party ticket of President Dwight Eisenhower and Vice President Richard Nixon over the Democratic Party ticket of Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson and U.S. Senator (Tennessee) Estes Kefauver by a margin of 52%-41%.

Football
CRU
IRFU
Hamilton (3-1) 21 @ Ottawa (1-3) 0
Montreal (3-1) 28 @ Toronto (1-3) 51

WIFU
Edmonton (4-1) 4 @ Saskatchewan (3-3) 31
Calgary (1-4) 15 @ British Columbia (3-3) 45

Frank Tripucka passed the Roughriders to their rout of the Eskimos at Taylor Field in Regina.

Recently-acquired quarterback Jerry Gustafson led the Lions over the Stampeders at Empire Stadium in Vancouver.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby--The Beatles (4th week at #1)

At the movies
Kaleidoscope, starring Warren Beatty and Susannah York, received its premiere screening at the Warner Theatre in London.



On television tonight
Tarzan, starring Ron Ely, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Eyes of the Lion

This was the first episode of the series.

Star Trek, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Man Trap

This was the first episode of the series.

The Tammy Grimes Show, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Officer's Mess

This was the first episode of the situation comedy, which proved to be one of the biggest flops of its time; it was cancelled after just four episodes had aired, and before the season's first ratings had been published. The program aired opposite the final half hour of Star Trek.



Diplomacy
Burmese Chief of State Ne Win arrived in Washington to begin two days of talks with U.S. President Lyndon Johnson.

40 years ago
1976

Baseball
Relief pitcher Joe Kerrigan (2-4) was the winning pitcher in both games as the Montreal Expos swept a doubleheader from the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5 and 8-7 before 6,945 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. In the first game, the Expos fell behind 4-0 after 2 innings, but scored 3 runs in the 9th to win, with pinch hitter Barry Foote singling home 2 runs and coming around to score on a wild pitch by relief pitcher Al Hrabosky. Gerald Hannahs made his major league debut as the Montreal starting pitcher in the second game, which was the Wednesday night Expos Baseball telecast on CBC. The Cardinals scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st ining and 2 more in the 3rd to take a 7-1 lead, and Mr. Hannahs left after allowing 5 hits, 5 bases on balls, and 7 earned runs in 2.2 innings. The Expos rallied again, scoring 5 runs in the 6th inning and 2 in the 8th, with Mike Jorgensen doubling home Tim Foli with the tying run and scoring the winning run on a double by pinch hitter Jose Morales.

Pinch hitter Lee Mazzilli's first major league home run climaxed a 6-run 9th inning as the New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs 11-6 before 3,947 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. New York catcher John Stearns batted 4 for 5 with 2 runs and 3 runs batted in, and hit his first homer of the year in the 3rd inning. Jerry Tabb made his major league debut as a pinch hitter for the Cubs, striking out in the 5th inning.

Gary Thomasson led off the top of the 11th inning with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Darrell Evans to give the San Francisco Giants a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers before 19,272 fans at Dodger Stadium. Winning pitcher Ed Halicki allowed just 3 hits in 10 innings and was relieved by Gary Lavelle, who allowed singles by Lee Lacy and Dusty Baker before retiring Dave Lopes on a ground ball for the final out. Al Downing started on the mound for Los Angeles and allowed just 3 hits in 8 innings before being relieved by Charlie Hough (11-6), who allowed just 1 hit--Mr. Thomasson's double--in 3 innings in taking the loss.

The Atlanta Braves scored 2 runs in the top of the 10th inning to break a 1-1 tie and defeat the San Diego Padres 3-1 before 4,649 fans at San Diego Stadium.

Jim Palmer (20-12) pitched a 7-hit complete game to win the pitchers' duel over Dennis Eckersley (10-12) as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Cleveland Indians 3-1 before 4,547 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Reggie Jackson led off the bottom of the 6th inning with a home run for the game's final run.

Ed Figueroa (17-8) pitched a 3-hitter for the New York Yankees as they shut out the Milwaukee Brewers 8-0 before 12,965 fans at Yankee Stadium. Jerry Augustine (8-10) started on the mound for Milwaukee and allowed 8 hits and 5 runs--all earned--in 4 innings to take the loss before being relieved by Moose Haas, who allowed 3 hits and 1 run--earned--in 3 innings in his major league debut. Ron Blomberg, who had been out with a knee injury since spring training, pinch hit for Cesar Tovar in the 6th inning and remained in the game as New York's designated hitter, grounding out twice in what turned out to be his only game of the season.

Dick Drago (6-7) relieved Gary Ross and pitched 6 innings of scoreless relief against his former team as the California Angels blanked the Kansas City Royals 2-0 before 11,939 fans at Royals Stadium. Mr. Ross started and pitched 3 shutout innings, but walked Tom Poquette to start the 4th, and had to leave the game when the next batter, George Brett, lined the ball off his foot for a single. Al Fitzmorris (15-11) allowed 7 hits and 2 earned runs in 4.2 innings to take the loss; he was relieved by Larry Gura, who pitched 4.1 scoreless innings.

The Chicago White Sox fell behind 5-0 after the 1st inning, but rallied for 3 runs in the 5th and 3 in the 8th to defeat the Oakland Athletics 6-5 before 5,328 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Goose Gossage started on the mound for Chicago and allowed 3, hits, 4 bases on balls, and 5 earned runs in 1/3 inning before being relieved by Chris Knapp (2-1), who allowed 4 hits and 4 bases on balls in 8.2 innings of scoreless relief to get the win. Rollie Fingers (11-10) allowed 2 hits and 2 runs--both earned--in 2 innings to take the loss.

Lyman Bostock batted 4 for 4 with a double, triple, 2 runs, and a run batted in as he helped the Minnesota Twins defeat the Texas Rangers 3-1 before 3,777 fans at Arlington Stadium in a game that was called because of rain with Twins on first and third bases with none out in the top of the 8th inning. Steve Luebber (4-4) pitched a 7-hit complete game victory to win the pitchers' duel over Tommy Boggs (1-5), who allowed 8 hits and 3 earned runs in 7+ innings. Mr. Boggs was relieved by Craig Skok, who was announced into the game, but didn't get to face a batter before the game was called. The game's start was delayed by rain for 1 hour 17 minutes, and Texas pitching coach Sid Hudson was ejected by home plate umpire Rich Garcia in the 1st inning.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Papa Don't Preach--Madonna (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Right Between the Eyes--Wax

World events
Chilean President Augusto Pinochet escaped an assassination attempt that killed five of his bodyguards and wounded 11 more.

Protest
Inmates at Archambault Penitentiary in Montréal went on a hunger strike.

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (6th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Bacardi Feeling (Summer Dreamin')--Kate Yanai
2 Wind of Change--Scorpions
3 (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams
4 Do the Limbo Dance--David Hasselhoff
5 Sailing on the Seven Seas--OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)
6 Bobby Brown--Frank Zappa
7 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
8 You Could Be Mine--Guns N' Roses
9 Any Dream Will Do--Jason Donovan
10 Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee La Da Da)--Crystal Waters

Singles entering the chart were It Ain't Over 'til it's Over by Lenny Kravitz (#25); Baila me by Gipsy Kings (#27); and Now that We Found Love by Heavy D & the Boyz (#28).

Died on this date
Alex North, 80. U.S. composer. Mr. North, born Isadore Soifer, was known for his scores to movies such as A Streetcar Named Desire (1951); Spartacus (1960); and The Misfits (1961). He was nominated for 15 Academy Awards, but never won, and was finally given an Honorary Academy Award in 1986.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (6-4) 56 @ Ottawa (4-6) 29

Doug Flutie passed for 293 yards and rushed for 51 more as he led the Lions over the Rough Riders before 24,171 fans at Lansdowne Park. The 56 points were a B.C. club record for a single game, 1 more than the previous record set in 1987.



Saskatchewan (3-7) 41 @ Winnipeg (6-4) 49 (OT)

Robert Mimbs rushed 1 yard for a touchdown in overtime to provide the winning margin as the Blue Bombers beat the Roughriders before 28,323 fans at Winnipeg Stadium. Winnipeg kicker Trevor Kennerd, in his 12th season with the Blue Bombers, suffered a career-ending injury and was replaced for the duration of the game by punter Bob Cameron, who kicked 4 converts.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Twisted--Keith Sweat

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Break My Stride--Unique II

#1 single in Switzerland: Killing Me Softly--The Fugees (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Scotland (OCC): Flava--Peter Andre

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (3-8) 13 @ Toronto (10-1) 31

The Argonauts set a team single-game record with 9 sacks as they beat the Roughriders before 17,576 fans at SkyDome.



Hamilton (4-7) 15 @ Winnipeg (6-5) 33

Reggie Slack completed 19 of 31 passes for 287 yards and 2 touchdowns as he led the Blue Bombers over the Tiger-Cats before 25,690 fans at Winnipeg Stadium.

10 years ago
2006

War
A U.S. Senate report faulted intelligence gathering in the lead-up to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Football
CFL
Calgary (7-5) 26 @ Edmonton (4-7) 35

The Eskimos scored 2 touchdowns in the last 6 seconds of regulation time to defeat the Stampeders before 47,965 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Trailing 26-19, the Eskimos got a 26-yard field goal from Sean Fleming with 7:03 remaining, and took the lead on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Ricky Ray to Jason Tucker with 6 seconds remaining, converted by Mr. Fleming. A Calgary fumble in the final seconds was recovered by Edmonton defensive end Adam Braidwood, who returned it 5 yards for a TD on the final play. It was the second such touchdown for the Eskimos, as defensive lineman Charles Alston had retured a fumble 20 yards for the first Edmonton touchdown in the second quarter, giving the Eskimos a 16-0 lead after Mr. Fleming's convert. It was shortly after Mr. Alston's TD that Edmonton head coach Danny Maciocia decided to completely take control of the game from his players. The Eskimos were in possession of the ball deep in their own end, and instead of punting, Mr. Maciocia elected to have Mr. Fleming concede a safety touch. It wasn't enough for Mr. Maciocia to order his punter to concede a safety touch: first he had Mr. Fleming take a time count violation penalty, then he had Mr. Fleming run around in his end zone before conceding the 2 points. It used up about a minute of game time, and several minutes of real time, and wasn't the least bit entertaining to watch. The Eskimos were forced to kick off, and J.R. Ruffin returned the kick 90 yards for a touchdown. Shortly thereafter, the Eskimos were deep in their own end again, and Mr. Maciocia repeated the procedure with Mr. Fleming. Within a few minutes, a 16-0 game became a 16-11 game. I left at halftime--the only time I've ever done that in the several hundred CFL games I've attended--and missed seeing Calgary quarterback Henry Burris throw touchdown passes to Nik Lewis in the 3rd quarter and Elijah Thurmon in the 4th to give the Stampeders the lead.



CIS
Regina (0-2) 14 @ Saskatchewan (2-0) 38