March 11, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Tim Sproule and Aurora B.G.!

150 years ago
1867

Opera
Don Carlos, by Guisepe Verdi with libretto by Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle, received its premiere performance at Salle Le Peletier in Paris.

130 years ago
1887

Born on this date
Raoul Walsh. U.S. actor and director. Mr. Walsh, born Albert Edward Walsh, acted in silent movies in the 1910s and '20s, and began his directing career while still acting. His best-known performance was as John Wilkes Booth in The Birth of a Nation (1915). Mr. Walsh directed The Thief of Bagdad (1924) and other silent films, and was supposed to direct and act in In Old Arizona (1928), but lost his right eye in a car accident while driving on location, ending his acting career. He continued his career as a director with movies such as The Big Trail (1930), and numerous films for Warner Brothers Pictures starring Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and Errol Flynn, such as The Roaring Twenties (1939); They Died with Their Boots On (1941); and White Heat (1949). Mr. Walsh died of a heart attack on December 31, 1980 at the age of 93.

110 years ago
1907

Died on this date
Jean Casimir-Perier, 59. Prime Minister of France, 1893-1894; 6th President of France, 1894-1895. Mr. Casimir-Perier, a member of the Left Republican Party, was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1876. His presidency lasted just 6 1/2 months, from June 27, 1894-January 16, 1895. Mr. Casimir-Perier resigned as President because he claimed that his ministers ignored him and failed to keep him informed on issues; he then permanently withdrew from politics.

100 years ago
1917

War
Anglo-Indian forces commanded by General Stanley Maude captured Baghdad from Ottoman forces led by Khalil Pasha.

80 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Joseph S. Cullinan, 66. U.S. oil magnate. Mr. Cullinan worked with Standard Oil for 13 years before founding the J.S. Cullinan Company in Texas in 1900. He co-founded The Texas Company in 1902, serving until 1913 as president of the company, which became Texaco Incorporated in 1959.

70 years ago
1947

Boxing
Manuel Ortiz (76-13-3) won a 15-round unanimous decision over Harold Dade (18-2-3) at Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles to regain the world bantamweight title that he had lost to Mr. Dade on January 6, 1947.

60 years ago
1957

Died on this date
Richard E. Byrd, 68. U.S. explorer. Mr. Byrd, who rose to the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, was an aviator (as a navigator) and leader of expeditions to both the North Pole (1926) and South Pole (five expeditions from 1928-1956). He also led a four-man crew in a flight across the Atlantic Ocean, shortly after Charles Lindbergh's solo flight in 1927. Among his many honours was the Medal of Honor, which he was awarded in 1926 after his attempt to fly over the North Pole (controversy continues as to whether he actually reached the Pole).

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Snoopy vs. the Red Baron--The Royal Guardsmen (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Hey Joe--Johnny Hallyday (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Cuore matto--Little Tony (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): I'm a Believer--The Monkees (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): This is My Song--Petula Clark (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)--Engelbert Humperdinck (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Love is Here and Now You're Gone--The Supremes

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Ruby Tuesday--The Rolling Stones (2nd week at #1)
2 Love is Here and Now You're Gone--The Supremes
3 Penny Lane--The Beatles
4 Sock it To Me--Baby!--Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
5 Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye--The Casinos
6 Baby I Need Your Lovin'--Johnny Rivers
7 Kind of a Drag--The Buckinghams
8 There's a Kind of Hush--Herman's Hermits
9 Happy Together--The Turtles
10 Epistle to Dippy--Donovan

Singles entering the chart were Bernadette by the Four Tops (#59); Kansas City by James Brown and the Famous Flames (#67); Because of You by Chris Montez (#68); Detroit City by Tom Jones (#69); Wade in the Water by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (#70); Sweet Soul Music by Arthur Conley (#73); She's Looking Good by Rodger Collins (#80); Laudy Miss Claudy by the Buckinghams (#83); Tell Me to My Face by Keith (#84); For He's a Jolly Good Fellow by Bobby Vinton (#86); What a Woman in Love Won't Do by Sandy Posey (#87); Don't Do It by Micky Dolenz (#89); Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Marlena Shaw (#92); You Always Hurt Me by the Impressions (#93); There's a Chance We Can Make It by the Blues Magoos (#95); On a Carousel by the Hollies (#96); Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Larry Williams and Johnny Watson (#98); At the Zoo by Simon and Garfunkel (#99); and Sing Along with Me by Tommy Roe (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Love is Here and Now You're Gone--The Supremes
2 Ruby Tuesday--The Rolling Stones
3 The Beat Goes On--Sonny and Cher
4 Pretty Ballerina--The Left Banke
5 Gimme Some Lovin'--The Spencer Davis Group
6 Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye--The Casinos
7 Kind of a Drag--The Buckinghams
8 I've Been Lonely Too Long--The Young Rascals
9 Epistle to Dippy--Donovan
10 For What it's Worth--Buffalo Springfield

Singles entering the chart were Beggin' by the 4 Seasons (#71); Mairzy Doats by Innocence (#73); Half Past Midnight by the Staccatos (#79); Ship of Dreams by Quiet Jungle (#80); Western Union by the Five Americans (#84); This is My Song by Petula Clark (#85); Travelin' Man by Stevie Wonder (#87); What a Woman in Love Won't Do by Sandy Posey (#88); Opportunity by the Mandala (#89); Kansas City by James Brown and the Famous Flames (#69); Don't Do It by Micky Dolenz (#92); I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) by Aretha Franklin (#93); Show Me by Joe Tex (#97); Summer Wine by Nancy Sinatra with Lee Hazlewood (#99); and Excuse Me, Dear Martha by the Pozo-Seco Singers (#100).

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Shenandoah--Jan Lindblad (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Living Next Door to Alice--Smokie (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Les chansons françaises--La Bande à Basile

Terrorism
More than 130 hostages held for 39 hours in Washington, D.C., by 12 Hanafi Muslims were set free after ambassadors from three Islamic nations joined negotiations.

Defense
Brazil cancelled a treaty with the United States for military aid, after criticism from the United States of alleged human rights violations by the Brazilian military government of President Ernesto Geisel.

Crime
French-born film director Roman Polanski, 43, was charged in Hollywood with the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl.

Baseball
The expansion Toronto Blue Jays played their first spring training game ever, defeating the New York Mets 3-1 in Dunedin, Florida.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Caravan of Love--The Housemartins (5th week at #1)

Edmonton’s Top 30 (CHED)
1 Livin’ on a Prayer—Bon Jovi
2 Jacob’s Ladder—Huey Lewis and the News
3 Respect Yourself—Bruce Willis
4 The Final Countdown—Europe
5 Big Time—Peter Gabriel
6 Mandolin Rain—Bruce Hornsby and the Range
7 Will You Still Love Me?—Chicago
8 Let’s Wait Awhile—Janet Jackson
9 Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now—Starship
10 Brand New Lover—Dead or Alive
11 I Wanna Go Back—Eddie Money
12 C’est la Vie—Robbie Nevil
13 Don’t Dream it’s Over—Crowded House
14 Keep Your Hands to Yourself—Georgia Satellites
15 I’ll Be All Right Without You—Journey
16 Tonight, Tonight, Tonight—Genesis
17 You Got it All—The Jets
18 At this Moment—Billy Vera and the Beaters
19 Somewhere Out There—Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
20 Fight for Your Right (To Party)—The Beastie Boys
21 Ain’t No Cure for Love—Jennifer Warnes
22 Nothing Could Stand in Your Way—Alfie Zappacosta
23 Ballerina Girl—Lionel Richie
24 Lean on Me—Club Nouveau
25 I Knew You were Waiting (For Me)—Aretha Franklin and George Michael
26 Love You Down—Ready for the World
27 Let’s Go—Wang Chung
28 Dancing with My Mirror—Corey Hart
29 You’re What I Look For—Glass Tiger
30 With or Without You—U2

Died on this date
Joe Gladwin, 81. U.K. actor. Mr. Gladwin was known for his roles in the television comedy series Nearest and Dearest (1968-1973) and Last of the Summer Wine (1975, 1976-1987).

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): You--Ten Sharp (2nd week at #1)

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

Died on this date
Richard Brooks, 79. U.S. film director and screenwriter. Mr. Brooks, born Reuben Sax, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958); The Professionals (1966); and In Cold Blood (1967). He was nominated for Best Writing, Screenplay for Blackboard Jungle (1955), and for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Elmer Gantry (1960); The Professionals; and In Cold Blood, winning for Elmer Gantry.

Politics and government
British Prime Minister John Major asked Queen Elizabeth II to dissolve parliament and announced April 9 as the date of the general election.

Environment
Environment Canada began adding ozone warnings to weather report data.

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Betty Hutton, 86. U.S. actress and singer. Miss Hutton, born Elizabeth Thornburg, was known for her brassy personality in movies such as The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944); The Perils of Pauline (1947); and Annie Get Your Gun (1950). She had a string of hit singles in the 1940s and '50s, with Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief reaching #1 on the Billboard and Cash Box singles charts in 1946. Her career declined in the 1950s; she suffered from depression and addiction to pills in the late 1960s, and converted to Roman Catholicism in the early 1970s, dropping out of the public eye.

War
Georgia claimed that Russian helicopters had attacked the Kodori Valley in Abkhazia, an accusation that Russia categorically denied later.