March 22, 2017

150 years ago
1867

Politics and government
Queen Victoria gave royal assent to the British North America Act.

140 years ago
1877

Environment
The Territorial Council of the Northwest Territories passed the Ordinance For the Protection of the Buffalo in a failed attempt to slow the wanton destruction of the bison herds, because they moved back and forth across the U.S. border. The ordinance outlawed buffalo jumps and hunting bison for sport, and provided for closed season on cows from November 15-August 14.

130 years ago
1887

Born on this date
Chico Marx. U.S. comedian and actor. Leonard Marx, the oldest of the Marx brothers, actually was nicknamed "Chicko" because of his success with the ladies, but it was misspelled, and the misspelling stuck. On stage and screen he played a con man of Italian origin, who was also a skilled pianist. Mr. Marx served as the brothers' unofficial manager after the death of their mother Minnie in 1929, and led a big band in the 1930s and '40s. His private life was marked by womanizing and gambling, and he died of arteriosclerosis on October 11, 1961 at the age of 74.

110 years ago
1907

Labour
Canadian Labour Minister Rodolphe Lemieux's Industrial Disputes Act, written by Deputy Minister Mackenzie King, received royal assent. The intention of the "Lemieux Act" was to prevent serious strikes and lockouts until disputes had been sent to a government arbitration board.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Virginia Grey. U.S. actress. Miss Grey appeared in more than 100 films and numerous television programs in a career spanning almost 50 years. Her movies included Another Thin Man (1939); House of Horrors (1946); and Airport (1970). Miss Grey died on July 31, 2004 at the age of 87.

Paul Rogers. U.K. actor. Mr. Rogers was primarily a stage actor, but also appeared in movies and television programs. He won a Tony Award as Best Actor for The Homecoming (1967), and reprised his role in the movie (1973). Mr. Rogers died on October 6, 2013 at the age of 96.

75 years ago
1942

War
Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita demanded that U.S. Army General Jonathan Wainwright surrender his troops on Battaan by noon today or "suffer the consequences." Warships escorting a British convoy to Malta frustrated a much more powerful Regia Marina (Italian Navy) squadron in the Second Battle of Sirte in the Mediterranean Sea. Swiss sources reported that Germany had offered Turkey the following in exchange for bases for military operations against the southern Caucasus: 50% of Mosul oil output; a 15-year mandate over Syria; cession of Lemnos, Mytilene, and Chios islands; and rectification of Turkey's western frontier in Europe.

Diplomacy
U.K. Lord Privy Seal Sir Stafford Cripps arrived in Karachi, India with a British plan for Indian independence from British rule. Sir Stafford had been sent to India by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Secretary of State for India Leo Amery to secure India's full cooperation in the war effort.

Politics and government
Most of Norwegian Minister-President Vidkun Quisling's cabinet announced their decision to resign unless the Quisling regime stopped trying to control youth.

Labour
The Canadian Department of Labour brought in the National Selective Service Mobilization Regulations, a program for industry to meet wartime manpower shortage by directing people to jobs.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Boston 2 @ Chicago 1 (OT)

Des Smith scored at 9:51 of the 1st overtime period to give the Bruins their win over the Black Hawks at Chicago Stadium.

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Heartaches--Ted Weems and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)

War
Philippine government troops reported capture of the secret Hukbalahap headquarters in central Luzon.

Politics and government
U.S. President Harry Truman issued an executive order barring from federal employment anyone belonging to or sympathising with Communist, fascist, or other organizations that advocated the overthrow of the United States government.

The French National Assembly gave Prime Minister Paul Ramadier a unanimous vote of confidence on the government's Indochina policy.

The Kuomintang Central Executive Committee called for the dismissal of Taiwanese Governor General Chen Yi, who was blamed for unrest and repression on the island.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Truman signed a bill ending the Office of Price Administration as of June 30, 1947, but urged quick congressional action to save sugar and rent controls.

Disasters
Spring floods burst the fenland dikes in Norfolk, England, damaging 25,000 acres of farmland.

Tennis
Bobby Riggs won the men's singles title, and with Don Budge, won the men's doubles title in the world professional indoor championships in Philadelphia.

Basketball
AAU
The Phillips Oilers defeated the Oakland Bittners 62-41 to win the championship final in Denver.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Será, Será)--Doris Day (11th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Young Love--Tab Hunter (5th week at #1)

Defense
West German Defense Minister Franz Josef Strauss refused to deny reports that France and West Germany had agreed to joint production of atomic weapons, permissible under 1954 treaties on West German rearmament.

The United States offered "to participate actively in the work of the Military Command of the Baghdad Pact" under the congressional Eisenhower Doctrine resolution.

Politics and government
The Algerian National Liberation Front announced plans to establish a provisional Algerian government to negotiate with France on condition that France recognize Algeria's right to independence.

Religion
Pope Pius XII decreed that required fasting by Roman Catholics before receiving Holy Communion be reduced to three hours, with necessary medicines and water excepted.

Health
A report by seven research experts on the effects of cigarette smoking said that 16 independent studies in five countries during the preceding 18 years had shown a "statistical association between smoking and the occurence of lung cancer.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Snoopy vs. the Red Baron--The Royal Guardsmen (5th week at #1)
2 Georgy Girl--The Seekers
3 I'm a Believer--The Monkees
4 Ruby Tuesday/Let's Spend the Night Together--The Rolling Stones
5 Happy Jack--The Who
6 Gimme Some Lovin'--The Spencer Davis Group
7 Colour My World--Petula Clark
8 Green, Green Grass of Home--Tom Jones
9 Words of Love/Dancing in the Street--The Mamas and the Papas
10 Kiss Me Now/When Will I Be Loved?--Johnny Young

Singles entering the chart were Detroit City by Tom Jones (#27); Release Me (And Let Me Love Again) by Engelbert Humperdinck (#29); Roundabout by the Allusions (#39); and Epistle to Dippy by Donovan (#40).

At the movies
Easy Come, Easy Go, starring Elvis Presley, Elsa Lanchester, Pat Priest, Dodie Marshall, Pat Harrington, Jr., and Frank McHugh, opened in theatres.



The movie included this memorable duet:



Principal photography began that day for Clambake, which also starred Mr. Presley.

Music
The Beatles were in studio two at Abbey Road in London, where they began recording the song Within You Without You.

Space
The United States launched the communications satellite Intelsat II F-3, also known as Canary Bird, from Cape Kennedy, Florida.

Politics and government
The day after a military coup led by Brigadier General David Lansana had abducted Prime Minister Siaka Stevens from the State House in Freetown several hours after Mr. Stevens had taken the oath of office as Prime Minister of Sierra Leone, Gen. Lansana met with the country's newly-elected parliament. Gen. Lansana was an ethnic Mende while Mr. Stevens was an ethnic Limba, and the Mendes were unhappy with the results of the March 17 elections.

Boxing
Muhammad Ali (29-0) retained his World Boxing Association world heavyweight title by knocking out Zora Folley (74-8-4) at 1:48 of the 7th round at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was Mr. Ali's last fight for the next 3½ years, as he was soon stripped of the title for refusing induction into the United States Army, and fought his case in the courts. An elimination tournament to fill the vacant title began before the end of 1967.



40 years ago
1977

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Coming and Goings



Politics and government
Indira Gandhi announced her resignation as Prime Minister of India, two after her governing Indian National Congress Party had lost its majority in the country's general election. Morarji Desai, leader of the victorious Janata Party, took office as Prime Minister two days later.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter asked Congress for voter reform measures including universal voter registration and direct popular election of the President and Vice President; he was unsuccessful.

Hockey
WHA
Edmonton 3 @ Winnipeg 8

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Funkytown--Pseudo Echo (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Reality--Richard Sanderson (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France: On se retrouvera--Francis Lalanne (4th week at #1)

War
Chadian forces, armed with French and American antiaircraft and antitank missiles, captured Wadi Doum in northern Chad, site of a Libyan air base. 1,269 Libyans were reported killed in the action.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): To Be with You--Mr. Big

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Das Boot--U 96

#1 single in Switzerland: Das Boot--U 96 (3rd week at #1)

Politics and government
The Democratic Party of Albania won 92 of 140 seats in the Albanian parliamentary election. The Socialist Party came second with 38 seats.

Disasters
27 people, including the captain and one of the cabin crew members, were killed when USAir Flight 405, a Fokker F28-4000 plane, crashed in Flushing Bay shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York, bound for Cleveland. 22 passengers and 2 crew members survived.

Basketball
CIAU men’s championship @ Halifax
Final
Brock 77 St. Mary’s 71

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): From Disco to Disco--Whirlpool Productions

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)--Aerosmith

#1 single in France (SNEP): Con te partirò--Andrea Bocelli (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Don't Speak--No Doubt (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Let a Boy Cry--Gala

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Mama/Who Do You Think You Are--Spice Girls (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Mama/Who Do You Think You Are--Spice Girls (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Can't Nobody Hold Me Down--Puff Daddy featuring Mase

Religion
Five people belonging to the Order of the Solar Temple cult were found dead in a burning house in St-Casimir, Québec.

Figure skating
Tara Lipinski of the United States won the women's world championship at CIG Malley in Lausanne, Switzerland, becoming, at 14 years, 9 months, and 10 days, the youngest person ever to win the event. Michelle Kwan of the U.S.A. finished second, and Vanessa Gusmeroli of France finished third.