January 4, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Angela Ieriti, Agness Nyambe, and Aydee Ramirez!

300 years ago
1717

Diplomacy
The Netherlands, Great Britain, and France signed the Triple Alliance.

75 years ago
1942

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Second Stain

Football
NFL
All-Star Game @ Polo Grounds, New York
Chicago Bears 35 All-Stars 24

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Old Lamp-Lighter--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra (3rd week at #1)

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

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Je vais revoir ma blonde--Dario Moreno

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Singing the Blues--Guy Mitchell

Journalism
Collier's magazine, which had been published in the United States since 1888, ceased publication with the issue of January 4, 1957. Go here for an archive of the magazine from November 6, 1926-January 4, 1957.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
Australia's top 10 (Go-Set):
1 Friday on My Mind--The Easybeats
2 Good Vibrations--The Beach Boys
3 Ooh La La--Normie Rowe
4 Let it Be Me (EP)--Johnny Young
5 No Milk Today--Herman's Hermits
6 Green, Green Grass of Home--Tom Jones
7 Sorry--The Easybeats
8 Winchester Cathedral--The New Vaudeville Band
9 Mellow Yellow--Donovan
10 Spicks and Specks--The Bee Gees

No new singles entered the chart.

Died on this date
Donald Campbell, 45. U.K. auto racing and speedboat driver. Mr. Campbell set eight world speed records on land and water during the 1950s and '60s. He was killed while attempting to break his own record in his speedboat Bluebird K7.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Daddy Cool--Boney M. (6th week at #1)

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: An Eye to the Future

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Walk This Way--Run DMC featuring Aerosmith (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: In the Army Now--Status Quo (7th week at #1)

#1 single in France: T'en va pas--Elsa

Died on this date
Tony Rensa, 85. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Rensa was a catcher with the Detroit Tigers (1930); Philadelphia Athletics (1930-1931); New York Yankees (1933); and Chicago White Sox (1937-1939), batting .261 with 7 home runs and 65 runs batted in in 200 games. He played 1,706 games in 21 seasons in the minor leagues (1925-1949), hitting at least 51 homers.

Disasters
An Amtrak train en route to Boston from Washington, D.C., collided with Conrail engines in Chase, Maryland, killing 16 people.

Football
NFL
NFC Divisional Playoff
San Francisco 3 @ New York Giants 49

AFC Divisional Playoff
New England 17 @ Denver 22

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Black or White--Michael Jackson (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Piece of My Wish--Miki Imai (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Black or White--Michael Jackson (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Black or White--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Qui a le droit...--Patrick Bruel (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Love Your Smile--Shanice

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Bohemian Rhapsody/These Are the Days of Our Lives--Queen (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Canada (RPM): No Son of Mine--Genesis (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Black or White--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): Black or White--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
Algerian President Chadli Benjedid dissolved the National Popular Assembly and turned power over to a Constitutional Council. That council and the Algerian Supreme Court appointed a five-member High Committee of State to assume responsibility for the state.

Football
NFL
NFC Divisional Playoff
Atlanta 7 @ Washington 24

AFC Divisional Playoff
Houston 24 @ Denver 26

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): One and One--Robert Miles and Maria Nayler (7th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Freed from Desire--Gala (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): One and One--Robert Miles and Maria Nayler (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Freed from Desire--Gala (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): 2 Become 1--Spice Girls (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): 2 Become 1--Spice Girls (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton (5th week at #1)

Personal
The C.P.R. Stockholders of Edmonton, the local Sherlock Holmes society, held its annual Blue Carbuncle dinner, with this blogger in attendance. In 1997 it was held at the Dining Car.

Football
NFL
NFC Divisional Playoff
San Francisco 14 @ Green Bay 35

AFC Divisional Playoff
Jacksonville 30 @ Denver 27

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Marais Viljoen, 91. 5th State President of South Africa, 1979-1984. Mr. Viljoen, a member of the National Party, was the last ceremonial State President of South Africa; in 1984, P.W. Botha combined the offices of Prime Minister and President in an executive presidency.

Politics and government
The 110th United States Congress convened, electing Nancy Pelosi (Democrat--California) as the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives in U.S. history.