December 11, 2016

775 years ago
1241

Died on this date
Ögedei Khan, 55 (?). Emperor of the Mongol Empire, 1229-1241. Ögedei Khan, the third son of Genghis Khan, acceded to the throne upon the death of his father. He continued his father's expansion of the empire, which reached its farthest extent west and south during the Mongol invasions of Europe and conquests of China. Ögedei Khan's wife Töregene Khatun succeeded him as regent until the election of their son Güyük Khan in 1246.

260 years ago
1756

Died on this date
Maria Amalia, 55. Holy Roman Empress, 1742-1745. Maria Amalia, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Joseph I and Empress Wilhelmina Amalia, married Prince-Elector Charles Albert of Bavaria in 1722. She became Electress of Bavaria in 1726 and queen consort of Bohemia (1741) and Holy Roman Empress consort (1742) upon her husband's coronation as Emperor Charles VII. He died on January 20, 1745, and was succeeded by Francis I. Dowager Empress Maria Amalia resided at Fuerstenried Palace in Munich until her death.

200 years ago
1816

Americana
Indiana entered the Union as the 19th state.

140 years ago
1876

Born on this date
Mieczysław Karłowicz. Polish composer and conductor. Mr. Karłowicz was a late Romantic composer whose works included Symphony in E minor "Rebirth"; a violin concerto; six tone poems; and numerous songs for voice and piano. He founded and conducted the Warsaw Music Society's string orchestra in 1903, and conducted performances of his own works. Mr. Karłowicz enjoyed skiing and hiking in the Tatra Mountains near his home in southern Poland, and he was skiing alone in the Tatras when he was killed in an avalanche on February 8, 1909 at the age of 32. Many of his works were lost during World War II.

125 years ago
1891

Diplomacy
Two months after the brawl between American sailors and Chilean nationals outside the True Blue Saloon in Valparaiso, Chilean Foreign Minister Manuel Matta declared that the U.S. government was insincere, wrong, and bellicose.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Perez Prado.. Cuban-born Mexican bandleader. Known as "The Mambo King," Mr. Prado's recording of Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White topped the Billboard Best Seller chart for 10 weeks in the spring of 1955. The song also hit #1 on the Disc Jockey (6 weeks) and Juke Box (8 weeks) charts. Mr. Prado hit #1 again in 1958 when Patricia spent a week at #1 on the Disc Jockey and Top 100 charts. Mr. Prado died on September 14, 1989 at the age of 72.

Society
A Saskatchewan plebiscite resulted in a vote of 95,000-23,000 in favour of prohibition, and closing government liquor stores.

80 years ago
1936

Died on this date
Myron Grimshaw, 61. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Grimshaw played right field with the Boston Americans from 1905-1907, batting .256 with 4 home runs and 116 runs batted in in 259 games. He died 11 days after his 61st birthday.

Britannica
Edward VIII, who had been king for only 11 months, abdicated the British throne in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Edward was succeeded by his younger brother, who became King George VI.



75 years ago
1941

Died on this date
John Gillespie Magee, Jr., 19. U.K. military aviator and poet. Pilot Officer Magee, born in Shanghai to Anglican missionary parents, grew up in England, and was visiting the United States when World War II began. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, and was sent to England after training in Ontario. P.O. Magee took part in four convoy patrols in November and December 1941 before being killed in an accidental collision with an Airspeed Oxford trainer flying out of RAF Cranwell, piloted by Leading Aircraftman/Pilot Under-Training Ernest Aubrey Griffin, 19, who was also killed in the collision. P.O. Magee is best known for his poem High Flight (1941), which has been frequently quoted on the occasion of disasters; U.S. President Ronald Reagan recited the poem after the explosion of the U.S. space shuttle Challenger in 1986.

War
Germany and Italy declared war on the United States (hear audio here, here, and here), while Italian Duce Benito Mussolini told a crowd of 150,000 at the Piazza Venezia in Rome that Italy was at war with the United States. The text of the Axis pact among Germany, Italy, and Japan was disclosed by German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler; it committed the three Axis powers to a joint war against the United States and United Kingdom, and precluded a separate peace. The U.S. Congress responded in kind, unanimously declaring war on Germany and Italy. The U.S. Congress amended the Selective Service Act to permit sending troops outside the Western Hemisphere and to extend the terms of all soldiers until six months after the end of the war. U.S. Senator Charles Tobey (Republican--New Hampshire) demanded that Navy Secretary Frank Knox be removed from office after the "unspeakable disaster" at Pearl Harbor. The America First Committee announced that it was dissolving and urged its supporters "to give their full support to the war effort...until peace is attained." Poland declared war on the Empire of Japan, while Cuba, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic declared war on Germany and Italy. Australian Prime Minister John Curtin announced in Melbourne that all single men aged 18-45 and married men aged 18-35 would be required to register for military service under the new draft laws. In the Battle of Hong Kong, D Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers was dispatched to the mainland to strengthen the Gin Drinkers' Line against the Japanese invaders and saw some action, thus becoming the First Canadian Army unit to fight in the Far East. At midday, General Maltby ordered the mainland troops to withdraw to the island; the Winnipeg Grenadiers covered the Royal Scots' withdrawal down the Kowloon Peninsula. The Imperial Japanese Navy suffered its first loss of surface vessels during the Battle of Wake Island.

Politics and government
Democratic National Committee Chairman Edward J. Flynn and Republican National Committee Chairman Joseph Martin pledged to call off politics in the United States for the duration of the war.

Religion
A plan to merge eight of the largest Protestant interdenominational agencies in the United States and Canada was presented at the Conference on the Cooperation of Interdenominational Agencies.

Economics and finance
Trading in German, Italian, and Japanese securities on the New York Stock Exchange was suspended "until further notice."

70 years ago
1946

War
Iranian forces occupied Mianeh in Azerbaijan, ending the province's autonomy. Azerbaijani nationalist leader Jaafar Pishevari ordered his forces to surrender, and fled to Russia.

World events
Venezuelan President Romulo Betancourt announced that a day-old military revolt against the government had been crushed and that there would be no executions.

Diplomacy
Speaking at the World Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, Vice President Emanuel Neumann of the Zionist Organization of America rejected negotiations with the United Kingdom and said that Zionists must depend on American influence and the armed strength of Palestinian Jews.

A four-day All-Slav Congress ended in Belgrade after adopting a resolution to create a cultural alliance of five Slavic nations: Russia; Bulgaria; Czechoslovakia; Poland; and Yugoslavia.

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was established.

Law
The United States Army in Germany announced a lifting of the ban against marriage of American soldiers to German girls.

Economics and finance
The U.S. House of Representatives Special Committee on Post-War Economic Policy and Planning issued its final report, recommending lower income taxes, continued rent controls, and "constructive, but not punitive" labour legislation. Former U.S. Office of Price Administration head Paul Porter was named leader of a State Department economic mission to Greece.

Labour
The U.S. Congress of Industrial Organizations released a market analysis report stating that "total corporate business can support a 25% increase in wages" without raising prices. CIO President Philip Murray said that unions would use the report as a "guidepost" in wage talks.

60 years ago
1956

Movies
The Motion Picture Association of America revised its censorship code to permit filming "within the limits of good taste" of scenes dealing with illicit sale and use of narcotics; abortion; prostitution; and the kidnapping of children.

Diplomacy
Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent visited U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower in Atlanta.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Imre Horvath led his delegation out of the United Nations General Assembly after protesting that Hungary had been "rudely and disgracefully offended" by delegates denouncing suppression of the Hungarian revolution.

The United States expressed "deep concern" to Egypt over the reported mistreatment of Egypt's Jewish population.

Protest
Hungarian authorities arrested Budapest Central Workers Council chairman Sandor Racz and aide Sandor Bari for organizing strikes and urging the overthrow of the government of Premier Janos Kadar.

Energy
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Lewis Strauss, addressing a meeting of the American Nuclear Society in Washington, proposed a program to expand private and government atomic energy development.

Economics and finance
Predicting that a drop in interest rates would increase the money supply and speed up inflation, U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman William M. Martin defended the Eisenhower Administration' tight money policy.

50 years ago
1966

On television tonight
Stanley Burke officially took over as anchorman of the CBC National News, replacing Earl Cameron, who had been reassigned to early evening CBC Metro News after seven years in the anchor chair. Mr. Burke anchored the newscast from Sunday-Thursday, with Lloyd Robertson serving as anchorman on Friday and Saturday.

Died on this date
Augusta Fox Bronner, 85. U.S. psychologist. Dr. Bronner was a pioneer in the field of juvenile psychology; she emphasized environmental factors over inherited traits, and co-directed the first child guidance clinic. Dr. Bronner met neurologist William Healy in 1913; they worked together, and married in 1932, two years after the death of Dr. Healy's first wife. The couple retired in 1946, and Dr. Bronner destroyed most of her own research and unpublished papers, preferring the attention to be on her husband's work.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Sei forte papà--Gianni Morandi (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): If You Leave Me Now--Chicago

#1 single in the U.K (New Musical Express): Under the Moon of Love--Showaddywaddy (2nd week at #1)

Rhodesia's Top 10 (Lyons Maid)
1 Don't Go Breaking My Heart--Elton John and Kiki Dee (9th week at #1)
2 In Zaire--Johnny Wakelin
3 Arms of Mary--Sutherland Brothers & Quiver
4 (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty--K C & the Sunshine Band
5 You to Me are Everything--The Real Thing
6 Why Did You Do It--Stretch
7 Heart on My Sleeve--Gallagher & Lyle
8 Dancing Queen--ABBA
9 (What a) Wonderful World--Johnny Nash
10 Wild One--Thin Lizzy

The only single entering the chart was Jeans On by David Dundas (#15).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)--Rod Stewart (5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)--Rod Stewart (4th week at #1)
2 Muskrat Love--Captain and Tennille
3 Love So Right--Bee Gees
4 The Rubberband Man--The Spinners
5 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing--Leo Sayer
6 You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)--Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
7 Nadia's Theme (The Young and the Restless)--Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin, Jr.
8 Stand Tall--Burton Cummings
9 I Never Cry--Alice Cooper
10 Nights are Forever Without You--England Dan & John Ford Coley

Singles entering the chart were New Kid in Town by the Eagles (#57); Dreamboat Annie by Heart (#74); Love Theme from "A Star is Born" (Evergreen) by Barbra Streisand (#78); Dancing Queen by ABBA (#79); Year of the Cat by Al Stewart (#85); C.B. Savage by Rod Hart (#90); Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas (#91); Silver Heels by Blaze (#94); Open Sesame (Part 1) by Kool and The Gang (#97); White Bird by David LaFlamme (#99); and Down to Love Town by the Originals (#100). Love Theme from "A Star is Born" (Evergreen) was, as the title states, from the movie A Star is Born (1976), and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)--Rod Stewart (3rd week at #1)
2 Love So Right--Bee Gees
3 Muskrat Love--Captain and Tennille
4 Stand Tall--Burton Cummings
5 I Never Cry--Alice Cooper
6 Nadia's Theme (The Young and the Restless)--Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin, Jr.
7 Do You Feel Like We Do--Peter Frampton
8 You are the Woman--Firefall
9 The Rubberband Man--The Spinners
10 Nights are Forever Without You--England Dan & John Ford Coley

Singles entering the chart were Happier by Paul Anka (#77); I Wish by Stevie Wonder (#95); Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd (#96); Drivin' Wheel by Foghat (#97); Saturday Nite by Earth, Wind & Fire (#98); Yesterday's Hero by the Bay City Rollers (#99); and What Can I Say by Boz Scaggs (#100).

Boxing
Earnie Shavers (53-5-1) scored a technical knockout of Roy "Tiger" Williams (23-6) with 14 seconds remaining in the 10th and final round of a heavyweight bout at the Aladdin Theater in Las Vegas.



Hockey
NHL
Detroit 0 @ Montreal 5
New York Rangers 1 @ Toronto 4

WHA
Calgary 3 Edmonton 0

Football
NFL
Minnesota (11-2-1) 29 @ Miami (6-8) 7
Pittsburgh (10-4) 27 @ Houston (5-9) 0
Los Angeles (10-3-1) 20 @ Detroit (6-8) 17

The Rams' win over the Lions at Pontiac Silverdome marked the last appearance for Alex Karras as a colour commentator on ABC telecasts; he had joined the cast of Monday Night Football early in the 1974 season, after Don Meredith had moved to NBC and Fred Williamson had been dropped after three pre-season telecasts. Mr. Meredith returned to ABC in 1977.

NCAA
Pioneer Bowl
Montana State 24 Akron 13

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CKRA)
1 The Next Time I Fall--Peter Cetera with Amy Grant
2 Human--Human League
3 The Lady in Red--Chris de Burgh
4 Amanda--Boston
5 Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles
6 I'll Be Over You--Toto
7 Love Will Conquer All--Lionel Richie
8 The Way it Is--Bruce Hornsby and the Range
9 Hip to Be Square--Huey Lewis and the News
10 Two of Hearts--Stacey Q

On television tonight
Our World, hosted by Linda Ellerbee and Ray Gandolf, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Pursuit of Power: Autumn 1973



The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Convict's Piano, starring Joe Penny and Norman Fell

Society
British church leaders condemned the "Play Safe" British Broadcasting Corporation radio campaign about AIDS as "condoning promiscuity."

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Black or White--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Christmas Party

Died on this date
Robert Q. Lewis, 70. U.S. radio and television personality. Mr. Lewis, born Robert Goldberg, was known for his many appearances on radio and television quiz and game shows from the 1950s through the 1970s, sometimes as host, often as panelist. He died from emphysema.

Business
Miller Ayre announced the closing of the 60-store St. John's, Newfoundland-based Ayres retail chain, blaming the Goods and Services Tax imposed at the beginning of 1991 by the Progressive Conservative government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. The company was 142 years old.

20 years ago
1996

Died on this date
Willie Rushton, 59. U.K. humourist. Mr. Rushton was a cartoonist and satirist who co-founded the magazine Private Eye in 1961. He was part of the cast of the satirical television program That Was the Week That Was (1962-1963), and was a panelist on the radio game show I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (1974-1996), among many other credits. Mr. Rushton died of a heart attack.

Labour
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Société Radio-Canada President Perrin Beatty announced new cuts of $5.5 million and 378 employees.

10 years ago
2006

Abominations
The International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust was opened in Tehran, by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; nations such as Israel and the United States expressed concern.

War
Mexican President Felipe Calderón launched a military-led offensive to put down the drug cartel violence in the state of Michoacán. This effort is often regarded as the first event in the Mexican Drug War.

Sport
Speed skater Cindy Klassen was named the winner of the Lou Marsh Award for 2006; the award is given annually to Canada's top athlete, professional or amateur, chosen by a panel of journalists.