January 29, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Ken Dies!

110 years ago
1907

Politics and government
Charles Curtis (Republican--Kansas) took his seat in the United States Senate, becoming the first American Indian to do so. Mr. Curtis's father was white, but his mother was an Indian, and Mr. Curtis grew up on the Kaw Reservation in Kansas Territory.

90 years ago
1927

Hockey
NHL
George Boucher of the Ottawa Senators received 7 penalties--all minors--in a game against the Montreal Maroons at the Montreal Forum. His total of 7 penalties stood as a league record for a single game until Jim Dorey of the Toronto Maple Leafs received 8 on October 16, 1968.

70 years ago
1947

Theatre
All My Sons, written by Arthur Miller, directed by Elia Kazan, and starring Ed Begley, Arthur Kennedy, Lois Wheeler, Beth Merrill, and Karl Malden, opened at the Coronet Theatre on Broadway in New York.

50 years ago
1967

Music
The Grateful Dead, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Moby Grape were among the artists who performed at the Mantra-Rock Dance at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco. The dance was a fund-raising event for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

Boxing
Vicente Saldivar (32-1) retained his world featherweight title with a technical knockout of Misunori Seki (55-10-1) at 1:58 of the 7th round at El Toreo de Cuatro Caminos in Mexico City. Mr. Saldivar had won a 15-round unanimous decision over Mr. Seki five months earlier.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Sei forte papà--Gianni Morandi (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Anita--Costa Cordalis (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Sunny--Boney M.

#1 single in Ireland: Living Next Door to Alice--Smokie (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K (BMRB): Don't Give Up on Us--David Soul (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Car Wash--Rose Royce

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Wish--Stevie Wonder
2 Blinded by the Light--Manfred Mann's Earth Band
3 Torn Between Two Lovers--Mary MacGregor
4 Hot Line--Sylvers
5 Dazz--Brick
6 Car Wash--Rose Royce
7 Walk This Way--Aerosmith
8 New Kid in Town--Eagles
9 Enjoy Yourself--The Jacksons
10 I Like Dreamin'--Kenny Nolan

Singles entering the chart were Don't Give Up on Us by David Soul (#71); Crackerbox Palace by George Harrison (#76); Here is Where Your Love Belongs by the Sons of Champlin (#81); Here Come Those Tears Again by Jackson Browne (#87); Kong by Dickie Goodman (#89); Sam by Olivia Newton-John (#91); and Somethin' 'Bout 'Cha by Latimore (#99).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Hot Line--Sylvers
2 I Wish--Stevie Wonder
3 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing--Leo Sayer
4 Car Wash--Rose Royce
5 Somebody to Love--Queen
6 You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)--Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
7 Torn Between Two Lovers--Mary MacGregor
8 Walk This Way--Aerosmith
9 After the Lovin'--Engelbert Humperdinck
10 Blinded by the Light--Manfred Mann's Earth Band

Singles entering the chart were Dazz by John Ellison with the Soul Brothers Six (#79); Are You Ready for Love by Patsy Gallant (#93); In the Mood by Henhouse Five Plus Two (#94); Boogie Child by the Bee Gees (#95); Long Time by Boston (#96); Reach by Orleans (#97); Rich Girl by Daryl Hall and John Oates (#98); You Know Like I Know by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (#99); and Forever for Now by April Wine (#100).

On television tonight
Roots, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Part VII

Died on this date
Freddie Prinze, 22. U.S. comedian and actor. Mr. Prinze, born Frederick Karl Pruetzel, was of mixed Hungarian-Puerto-Rican ancestry. He had success as a standup comedian before achieving fame as co-star of the television comedy series Chico and the Man (1974-1977). Mr. Prinze suffered from depression, which was exacerbated by his wife's filing for divorce. After talking with her on the telephone on the night of January 28, Mr. Prinze received a visit from his business manager, Marvin "Dusty" Snyder. Mr. Prinze then picked up a gun and shot himself in the head, and he died the following day. His death was ruled a suicide, although a jury years later ruled the death accidental.

Weather
Federal officials in the United States reported that more than 1.5 million workers in 17 states were idled by fuel shortages resulting from blizzards in the Midwest and East.

Hockey
NHL
Buffalo 3 @ Montreal 3

WHA
Houston 6 @ Calgary 4

This blogger and his father were in attendance at the Stampede Corral to see the Aeros defeat the Cowboys. Gordie Howe scored the last Houston goal in his last appearance in Calgary as a player.

30 years ago
1987

World events
Philippine President Corazon Aquino suppressed an attempted insurrection.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Black or White--Michael Jackson (11th week at #1)

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

Died on this date
Willie Dixon, 76. U.S. musician. Mr. Dixon played guitar and double bass, but was best known as a blues singer and songwriter, with a career that spanned more than 50 years. His songs included Little Red Rooster and My Babe.