November 23, 2016

140 years ago
1876

Born on this date
Manuel de Falla. Spanish composer. Mr. Falla was best known for ballets such as El amor brujo (The Bewitched Love) (1915)--which includes the Danza Ritual Del Fuego (Ritual Fire Dance)--and El sombrero de tres picos (The Three-Cornered Hat) (1917). He died on November 14, 1946, nine days short of his 70th birthday.

120 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Klement Gottwald. Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia, 1946-1948; President of Czechoslovakia, 1948-1953. Mr. Gottwald became involved in Communist Party activities in the early 1920s, and was elected general secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia in 1929. He went into exile in the Soviet Union in 1938, but returned to Czechoslovakia in 1945, and became Prime Minister in a minority government resulting from the 1946 general election, Two years later, the Communists executed a coup d'état, turning the country into a Soviet-dominated dictatorship. Mr. Gottwald was a long-time drunkard, and suffered from heart disease caused by syphilis. He attended the funeral of U.S.S.R. dictator Josef Stalin on March 9, 1953, but suffered a burst artery shortly thereafter, and died on March 14, 1953 at the age of 56.

Ruth Etting. U.S. singer and actress. Miss Etting recorded about 60 top-10 hit singles from 1926-1935, including Love Me or Leave Me (1928) and Ten Cents a Dance (1930). She appeared on Broadway beginning with the Ziegfeld Follies in 1927, and starred in a series of comedy short films from 1929-1936. Miss Etting was primarily known for her tumultuous private life; she was married to Chicago gangster Moe "the Gimp" Snyder from 1922 until their divorce in 1937. He controlled her career, and when in 1938 she began a relationship with her pianist, Myrl Alderman, who was married, Mr. Snyder shot and wounded him in the presence of Miss Etting. Mr. Snyder ended up going to prison, Mr. Alderman ended up getting divorced, and Miss Etting married Mr. Alderman in December 1938. The couple settled near Colorado Springs, where she died on September 24, 1978 at the age of 81.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Michael Gough. Malaysian-born U.K. actor. Mr. Gough was a character actor who appeared in plays and in more than 150 movies and television programs in Britain and the United States. He won a Tony Award for his starring performance in Bedroom Farce (1979), and won a BAFTA television award in 1957. Mr. Gough appeared in Hammer Films horror movies from 1958 through the 1970s, and played Alfred Pennyworth in four Batman movies (1989-1997). He died of pneumonia on March 17, 2011 at the age of 94.

Politics and government
Harlan Brewster was sworn in as Premier of British Columbia, replacing William Bowser.

90 years ago
1926

Disasters
An explosion in the McGillivray Coal and Coke mine at Coleman, Alberta killed 10.

80 years ago
1936

Journalism
The first issue of Life magazine appeared at newsstands.

Two Toronto newspapers, The Globe and The Mail and Empire, began publishing under the name The Globe and Mail.

75 years ago
1941

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Hindoo in the Wicker Basket

War
U.S.S.R. dispatches conceded that Soviet troops were giving ground at Tula, Mozhaisk, and Kiln before the German offensive. The United Kingdom announced the capture of Barda and Sidi Omar Nuovo, Libya. Cuban President Fulgencio Batista predicted in Havana that the United States would declare war by the following spring, and that "Cuba will be the first nation to enter the war on her side."

Defense
A German news agency announced that 13 powers would attend a conference in Berlin beginning November 25 to discuss the renewal and extension of the Anti-Comintern Pact.

Zionist leader Emanuel Neumann charged that "conspiring and intriguing British bureaucrats" had "sabotaged" plans to create a Jewish army in Palestine.

Football
NFL
Washington (5-4) 13 @ New York (8-2) 20
Chicago Cardinals (3-5-1) 7 @ Cleveland (2-9) 0
Chicago Bears (8-1) 24 @ Detroit (3-6-1) 7
Green Bay (9-1) 54 @ Pittsburgh (1-8-1) 7

The Giants defeated the Redskins at the Polo Grounds to clinch their sixth East Division title in nine years.

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Rumors are Flying--Frankie Carle and his Orchestra with Marjorie Hughes (Best Seller--6th week at #1; Juke Box--5th week at #1; Airplay--5th week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--4th week at #1)

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Tom Conway and Nigel Bruce, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Sally Martin

Died on this date
Fawzi Husseini. Palestinian politician. Mr. Husseini, a cousin of Arab Higher Committee Chairman Jamal al-Husayni, was assassinated in Jerusalem, reportedly for selling land to Jews. Mr. Husseini advocated dialogue with the Jewish Agency, and his cousin was quoted as saying that Mr. Husseini had "strayed."

War
6,000 civilians were killed when the French naval cruiser Suffren shelled Hai Phong, Vietnam, in continued fighting between French forces and Vietnamese nationalists. The incident led to the First Indochina War.

Diplomacy
Negotiations in the United Nations Security Council on the great power veto ended unsuccessfully when the U.K., U.S.A., China, and France rejected a resolution proposed by U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov opposing any modification of veto rights.

U.S. President Harry Truman directed Myron Taylor, his personal representative to the Vatican, to return to Rome after a three-month absence.

Politics and government
Oscar Ewing of New York was named interim chairman of the Democratic National Committee, succeeding Robert Hannegan, who was reportedly on leave "for reasons of health."

Religion
Polish President Boleslaw Bierut said in Warsaw that the Roman Catholic Church must "accept the new state of affairs" in Poland if it was to continue to enjoy its present privileges.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Just Walking in the Rain--Johnnie Ray (2nd week at #1)

World events
Western and Hungarian sources reported that Soviet security police in Budapest had arrested former Premier Imre Nagy and 51 colleagues and deported them to Romania.

Diplomacy
Israeli Foreign Minister Golda Meir, asking for United Nations action against Egypt's expulsion of its Jews, said in a letter to the General Assembly that 30,000 Jews had been affected by the deportation orders. Arab-Asian-African bloc nations introduced a resolution in the UN General Assembly repeating demands for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of foreign troops from Egypt.

Politics and government
U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower appointed Robert Cutler, board chairman of Old Colony Trust Company of Boston, to succeed William Jackson as his special assistant for National Security Council affairs.

Olympics
Vladimir Kuts of the U.S.S.R. won the men's 10,000-metre run in an Olympic record time of 28 minutes 45.6 seconds in Melbourne.

Disasters
The worst railway disaster in Indian history resulted in 143 deaths in a train wreck in southern India.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set):
1 If I Were a Carpenter--Bobby Darin
2 Sorry--The Easybeats
3 Winchester Cathedral--The New Vaudeville Band
4 Lady Godiva--Peter and Gordon
5 Spicks and Specks--The Bee Gees
6 Born a Woman--Sandy Posey
--Judy Stone
7 Last Train to Clarksville--The Monkees
8 See See Rider--Eric Burdon & the Animals
9 The Loved One--The Loved Ones
10 I'm a Boy--The Who

No singles entered the chart.

On television tonight
Fame is the Name of the Game, starring Tony Franciosa, Jack Klugman, and Susan Saint James, on CTV

This made-for-television movie was first broadcast in the United States on NBC three days later; it was the pilot for the subsequent series The Name of the Game (1968-1971).

Died on this date
Seán T. O'Kelly, 84. 2nd President of Ireland, 1945-1959. Mr. O'Kelly, born John T. O'Kelly, was active with Sinn Féin in the 1916 Easter Rising, and was first elected to the Dáil Éireann in 1918, holding various positions before being elected President, succeeding the retiring Douglas Hyde. Mr. O'Kelly was re-elected without opposition in 1952; he retired in 1959 and was succeeded by Éamon de Valera.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Dancing Queen--ABBA (14th week at #1)

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Jury Duty: Part 2

Died on this date
André Malraux, 75. French author and politician. Mr. Malraux explored foreign continents and fought in the Spanish Civil War and World War II, but was best known for novels such as La condition humaine (published in English as Man's Fate) (1933). He served in the cabinet of President Charles de Gaulle as Minister of Information (1945-1946) and Minister of Cultural Affairs (1959-1969). Mr. Malraux died 20 days after his 75th birthday.

Adventure
Apneist Jacques Mayol became the first man to reach a depth of 100 metres undersea without breathing equipment.

30 years ago
1986

Football
CFL
East Finals
Hamilton 42 @ Toronto 25 (Hamilton won 2-game total points series 59-56)

West Final
British Columbia 5 @ Edmonton 41

The Argonauts had won the first game 31-17, and took a 15-3 lead in the game--46-20 in the series--in the 1st quarter, but were unable to maintain it. Hamilton quarterback Mike Kerrigan completed 35 of 47 passes for 364 yards and touchdowns to Steve Stapler, Walter Bender, and Ron Ingram. Mr. Ingram's touchdown, covering 6 yards, came with 1:42 remaining in regulation time, and gave the Tiger-Cats their third straight eastern title. Mr. Bender, who rushed 16 times for 89 yards and caught 6 passes for 67, rushed for a Tiger-Cat touchdown, as did backup quarterback Ken Hobart. Paul Osbaldiston converted all 5 touchdowns and added 2 field goals and a single. Toronto quarterback J.C. Watts completed 18 of 30 passes for 279 yards and 3 touchdowns--2 to Keith Baker and the other to Darrell K. Smith. Lance Chomyc converted all 3 and added a field goal, and Hank Ilesic punted for a single. The game, played before 32,041 fans at Exhibition Stadium, was the last appearance in an Argonaut uniform for a number of players, including quarterbacks J.C. Watts, Condredge Holloway, and Tim Cowan; receivers Keith Baker and Chris Woods; running back William Miller, who rushed 14 times for 50 yards; centre Mark Napolitan; and safety Darrell Moir.



Matt Dunigan threw 3 touchdown passes and rushed 10 times for 73 yards to lead the Eskimos to their first western title in 4 years. The Eskimos scored 17 points in the 1st quarter, and the defending Grey Cup champion Lions were unable to get back in the game. Tom Dixon opened the scoring for Edmonton with a 37-yard field goal, and then Mr. Dunigan connected with Tom Richards for a 39-yard touchdown and Marco Cyncar for a 25-yard major, both converted by Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon added 2 field goals in the 2nd quarter, while B.C. kicker Lui Passaglia managed a single on a missed field goal, making the halftime score 23-1. Jan Carinci scored a single for the Lions when his 2nd-half kickoff went into the Edmonton end zone, and Mr. Passaglia kicked a 36-yard field goal a few minutes later to make the score 23-5. Mr. Dixon then countered with a 29-yard field goal and a single on a wide field goal attempt--his only miss in 5 attempts--to give the Eskimos a 27-5 lead after 3 quarters. Mr. Dunigan connected with Doug Allen for a 98-yard touchdown 7:01 into the 4th quarter, and Mr. Dixon's convert made the score 34-5. Mr. Allen, playing his first CFL game, finished with 132 yards on 3 receptions. The touchdown was the only one of his CFL career and remains the longest completion in playoff competition in Eskimo history. Damon Allen relieved Mr. Dunigan in the 4th quarter and drove the Eskimos to the B.C. 3-yard line, from where he handed off to Chris Johnstone, who fumbled into the B.C. end zone, only to have guard Dave Sparenberg recover for the game's final touchdown, converted by Mr. Dixon. 32,490, including this blogger, were in attendance at Commonwealth Stadium on a day when the temperature warmed up to around the freezing mark, making for an enjoyable Sunday afternoon.



25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): I'm Too Sexy--Right Said Fred (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Black or White--Michael Jackson

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Black or White--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Good Vibrations--Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch featuring Loleatta Holloway

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): James Brown is Dead (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): (Everything I Do) I Do it for You--Bryan Adams (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Black or White--Michael Jackson

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Let's Talk About Sex!--Salt-N-Pepa (3rd week at #1)
2 Kon Ik Maar Even Bij Je Zijn--Gordon
3 Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)--Rozalla
4 The Fly--U2
5 James Brown is Dead--L.A. Style
6 Roodkapje--Pater Moeskroen
7 Change--Lisa Stansfield
8 No Son of Mine--Genesis
9 James Brown is Still Alive!!--Holy Noise featuring the Global Insert Project
10 Hail Hail Rock 'n Roll--Garland Jeffreys

Singles entering the chart were Black or White by Michael Jackson (#13); Ring My Bell by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (#26); I Love Your Smile by Shanice (#31); Go by Moby (#34); Turn Da Music Up by 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor featuring Da Smooth Baron MC introducing Gale Robinson (#36); and Stro-Race by Mannenkoor Karrespoor (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 When a Man Loves a Woman--Michael Bolton
2 Cream--Prince and the New Power Generation
3 Set Adrift on Memory Bliss--P.M. Dawn
4 It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday--Boyz II Men
5 Can't Stop this Thing We Started--Bryan Adams
6 Set the Night to Music--Roberta Flack with Maxi Priest
7 That's What Love is For--Amy Grant
8 Blowing Kisses in the Wind--Paula Abdul
9 I Wonder Why--Curtis Stigers
10 Don't Cry--Guns N' Roses

Singles entering the chart were Black or White by Michael Jackson (#35); Mysterious Ways by U2 (#77); Is it Good to You by Heavy D & the Boyz (#78); I Can't Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt (#87); I Love Your Smile by Shanice (#93); Love Crazy by Atlantic Starr (#95); Just Another Girlfriend by Hi-Five (#97); and Groovin' by UB40 (#98).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Cream--Prince and the New Power Generation (2nd week at #1)
2 When a Man Loves a Woman--Michael Bolton
3 Can't Stop this Thing We Started--Bryan Adams
4 That's What Love is For--Amy Grant
5 Set the Night to Music--Roberta Flack with Maxi Priest
6 Blowing Kisses in the Wind--Paula Abdul
7 Don't Cry--Guns 'N' Roses
8 Romantic--Karyn White
9 It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday--Boyz II Men
10 I Wonder Why--Curtis Stigers

Singles entering the chart included Black or White by Michael Jackson (#38); Mysterious Ways by U2 (#64); and Shining Star by INXS (#89).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Can't Stop this Thing We Started--Bryan Adams (4th week at #1)
2 Life is a Highway--Tom Cochrane
3 Cream--Prince and the New Power Generation
4 Get a Leg Up--John Mellencamp
5 What About Now--Robbie Robertson
6 Emotions--Mariah Carey
7 Broken Arrow--Rod Stewart
8 No Son of Mine--Genesis
9 Set the Night to Music--Roberta Flack with Maxi Priest
10 That's What Love is For--Amy Grant

Singles entering the chart were Black or White by Michael Jackson (#58); Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting by the Who (#77); Walkaway by Alanis (#80); Shot of Poison by Lita Ford (#85); On the Verge by the Tragically Hip (#91); Let's Talk About Sex by Salt-N-Pepa (#93); O.P.P. by Naughty by Nature (#97); Do You Feel Like I Feel? by Belinda Carlisle (#98); and Mysterious Ways by U2 (#100).

Died on this date
Klaus Kinski, 65. German actor. Mr. Kinski, born Klaus Nakszynski, appeared in more than 130 films, but was best known for those directed by Werner Herzog, such as Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972); Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979); and Fitzcarraldo (1982). He was known for his emotional volatility, and died of a heart attack.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Wannabe--Spice Girls (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): One & One--Robert Miles featuring Maria Nayler

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): It's All Coming Back to Me Now--Céline Dion (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Aïcha--Khaled (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Freed from Desire--Gala (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Can't Help Myself--The Kelly Family (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Breathe--The Prodigy

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 No Diggity--BLACKstreet (featuring Dr. Dre) (3rd week at #1)
2 It's All Coming Back to Me Now--Celine Dion
3 Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton
4 Mouth--Merril Bainbridge
5 Nobody--Keith Sweat featuring Athena Cage
6 Pony--Ginuwine
7 I Love You Always Forever--Donna Lewis
8 Where Do You Go--No Mercy
9 Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)--Los Del Rio
10 This is for the Lover in You--Babyface featuring LL Cool J, Howard Hewett, Jody Watley & Jeffrey Daniels

Singles entering the chart were I Finally Found Someone by Barbra Streisand/Bryan Adams (#28); When You're Gone/Free to Decide by the Cranberries (#66); and Every Light in the House by Trace Adkins (#97). I Finally Found Someone was from the movie The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996).

On television tonight
Bob Hope: Laughing with the Presidents, on NBC

With this special, co-hosted by Tony Danza, Mr. Hope ended his 60-year contract with the National Broadcasting Company.



Terrorism
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961, a Boeing 767 jet en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi with several stops in between, was hijacked by three Ethiopians seeking asylum in Australia. The plane crashed into the Indian Ocean off the coast of Comoros after running out of fuel, killing 125 of 175 passengers and crew on board. The hijackers were all killed.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Betty Comden, 89. U.S. songwriter and screenwriter. Miss Comden, born Basya Cohen, and partner Adolph Green combined to write numerous successful Broadway musicals, including On the Town (1944), and the screenplays for movies such as Singin' in the Rain (1952) and The Band Wagon (1953).

Anita O'Day, 87. U.S. singer. Miss O'Day, born Anita Colton, was a jazz singer who peaked in popularity in the 1940s as the vocalist with the big bands of Gene Krupa, Woody Herman, and Stan Kenton. Drinking and drug abuse eventually hurt her career and almost killed her, but she kicked her drug habit by 1970, and resumed performing at festivals and in movies.

Willie Pep, 84. U.S. boxer. Mr. Pep, born Guglielmo Papaleo, was world featherweight champion from 1942-1948 and 1949-1950, compiling a professional record of 229-11-1 from 1940-1966. His four title fights with Sandy Saddler from 1948-1951 comprised a legendary rivalry. Mr. Pep is regarded by many as the greatest featherweight in history, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. He suffered from dementia pugilistica in later years.

Philippe Noiret, 76. French actor. Mr. Noiret won César Awards for Best Actor for Le Vieux Fusil (1976) and La Vie et rien d'autre (Life and Nothing But) (1990), and the British Academy Award for Best Actor for Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988). His other films included Topaz (1969) and Il Postino (The Postman) (1994). Mr. Noiret died of cancer.

Alexander Litvinenko, 44. Russian spy and journalist. Mr. Litvinenko was an officer with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) who was dismissed in 1998 when he publicly accused his superiors of ordering the assassination of oligarch Boris Berezovsky. Mr. Litvinenko fled to England in 2000 and obtained asylum, but died 22 days after falling ill with poisoning by radioactive polonium-210. An inquiry concluded in January 2016 that Mr. Litvinenko's murder was an FSB operation, probably approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Terrorism
A series of bombings in Sadr City, Iraq killed at least 215 people and injures 257, making it the second deadliest sectarian attack since the beginning of the Iraq War in 2003.