March 26, 2017

320 years ago
1697

War
The Safavid Empire began a four-year occupation of the Ottoman city of Basra on the Persian Gulf.

125 years ago
1892

Died on this date
Walt Whitman, 72. U.S. poet. Mr. Whitman was one of the most influential poets in American history, and has been called the "father of free verse." He was best known for the collection Leaves of Grass, which was published in several editions from 1855-1891. Mr. Whitman died of bronchial pneumonia.

Diplomacy
An extradition treaty between France and the United States was signed in Paris.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Rufus Thomas. U.S. entertainer. Mr. Thomas was a Memphis blues singer, songwriter, dancer, and disc jockey who had a career spanning more than 60 years. He was best known for his novelty dance hits such as Walking the Dog (1963); Do the Funky Chicken (1969); and (Do the) Push and Pull (1970). Mr. Thomas often performed duets with his daughter Carla. He died of heart failure on December 15, 2001 at the age of 84.

War
British troops were halted after 17,000 Turks blocked their advance in the First Battle of Gaza.

Hockey
Stanley Cup
Finals @ Seattle Ice Arena
Montreal Canadiens (NHA) 1 @ Seattle Metropolitans (PCHA) 9 (Seattle won best-of-five series 2-1)

Bernie Morris scored 6 goals for the Metropolitans as they defeated the Canadiens to become the first American team to win the Stanley Cup. Jack Laviolette scored the Montreal goal in the 3rd period to break up Hap Holmes' bid for a shutout. The game was played under National Hockey Association rules, where the teams used six players per side. It was the last game ever for a team from the NHA, as it dissolved and was reconstituted as the National Hockey League later in the year.

90 years ago
1927

At the movies
Mr. Wu, directed by William Nigh, and starring Lon Chaney, Louise Dresser, Renée Adorée, and Ralph Forbes, opened in theatres.



80 years ago
1937

Movies
Producer Alexander Korda announced that the London Films production I, Claudius, directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Charles Laughton, Flora Robson, Emlyn Williams, and Merle Oberon, was being abandoned. Miss Oberon had been injured in a car accident several days earlier, but it was soon reported that there were major differences between Mr. Korda and Mr. Laughton over the latter's interpretation of the title character. Footage of the film still exists, some of which was included in the BBC television documentary The Epic that Never Was (1965).

75 years ago
1942

Died on this date
Jimmy Burke, 67. U.S. baseball player, coach, and manager. Mr. Burke was a third baseman with the Cleveland Spiders (1898); St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals (1899, 1903-1905); Milwaukee Brewers (1901); Chicago White Sox (1901); and Pittsburgh Pirates (1902), batting .244 with 1 home run and 187 runs batted in in 550 games. He was with the Brewers in 1900 when the American League was a minor league, and was a member of the Pirates' National League championship team in 1902. Mr. Burke managed the Cardinals in 1905 and the St. Louis Browns from 1918-1920, compiling a record of 206-236. He coached with the Detroit Tigers (1914-1917); Boston Red Sox (1921-1923); Chicago Cubs (1926-1930); and New York Yankees (1931-1933), and was with the Yankees when they won the World Series in 1932.

War
The British Royal Air Force conducted heavy raids on the Ruhr industrial centre of Germany and on the docks of St. Nazaire, France. German bombers subjected Malta to its heaviest mass raid in a week, losing four planes. Japanese planes subjected Corregidor in Manila Bay to "almost continuous bombardment." Chinese defenders beat back Japanese assault troops attacking Toungoo from all sides.

Abominations
The first female prisoners arrived at Auschwitz concentration camp in German-occupied Poland.

World events
Police in Rio de Janeiro smashed a German spy ring, arresting more than 200 people and capturing four secret radio stations.

Business
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order giving the Army, Navy, and Maritime Commission power to make or guarantee loans to small businesses in order to increase war production.

Labour
American Federation of Labor President William Green and Congress of Industrial Organizations President Philip Murray pledged that they would oppose all strikes for any cause for the duration of World War II.

70 years ago
1947

Religion
The Italian Constituent Assembly approved a constitutional provision making the Roman Catholic Church the tax-supported state religion of the Republic of Italy.

Politics and government
The Paraguayan government ended martial law in order to deny military rebels belligerent status in the eyes of other countries.

U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director J. Edgar Hoover stated before the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities that U.S. Communists are "a fifth column if there ever was one," but advised against outlawing the party.

The United States Senate Rules Committee issued a favourable report on President Harry Truman's request that the Speaker of the House of Representatives follow the Vice President in the presidential succession.

Economics and finance
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Mackenzie King ended meat rationing, but retained price controls on meat products.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Detroit 2 @ Toronto 3 (OT)

Howie Meeker scored 3:05 into the 1st overtime period to give the Maple Leafs their win over the Red Wings at Maple Leaf Gardens.

60 years ago
1957

Died on this date
Édouard Herriot, 84. Prime Minister of France, 1924-1925, 1926, 1932. Mr. Herriot was a member of the Radical Party, and served three terms as Prime Minister, all for less than a year (his second term lasted just from July 20-23, 1926). He also held other offices, including President of the Chamber of Deputies (1925-1926, 1936-1940). While serving in federal politics, Mr. Herriot also served as Mayor of Lyon from 1905-1942 and 1945-1957 (he was exiled from 1942-1945 for opposing the Vichy French regime during World War II).

Max Ophüls, 54. German-born film director. Mr. Ophüls, born Maximillian Oppenheimer, began his career in Germany, but moved to France after the Nazi takeover of Germany in 1933, and worked in Hollywood from 1947-1950. His films, which were known for elaborate camera movements and tracking shots, included Liebelei (1933); Caught (1949); The Reckless Moment (1949); Le Plaisir (1952); and Lola Montès (1955). Mr. Ophüls died from rheumatic heart disease.

Diplomacy
Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent and U.K. Prime Minister Harold Macmillan issued a communique following two days of talks in Bermuda reaffirming "the close and continuous cooperation" between their countries, and revealing terms of a contract for British purchase of $115 million worth of Canadian uranium during the next five years.

Transportation
The government of Egypt presented to the United States and seven other countries a draft declararation on the operation of the Suez Canal, reasserting demands that the waterway "be operated and managed by the autonomous [Egyptian] Suez Canal Authority."

Defense
U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower nominated Air Force Chief of Staff General Nathan Twining to succeed Admiral Arthur Radford as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a two-year term, while also naming Air Force Secretary Donald Quarles to succeed Reuben Robertson, Jr. as Deputy Defense Secretary.

Economics and finance
U.S. and Tunisian officials signed an agreement in Tunis under which Tunisia would receive a gift of $5 million in American goods and $500,000 to be used for training Tunisian technicians abroad.

Protest
A U.S. federal grand jury in New York indicted folk singer Pete Seeger and actors Elliot Sullivan and George Tyne on contempt of Congress charges for refusing to answer questions before the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities during a 1955 investigation of Communism in entertainment.

50 years ago
1967

Protest
An estimated 10,065 people attended a "Be-In" at Sheep Meadow in Central Park, New York City, to protest against the Vietnam War and whatever else they felt like protesting or supporting.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Honky Tonky Train Blues--Keith Emerson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Living Next Door to Alice--Smokie (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Go Your Own Way--Fleetwood Mac

#1 single in Ireland: Chanson D'Amour--The Manhattan Transfer (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K (BMRB): Chanson D'Amour--The Manhattan Transfer (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Rich Girl--Daryl Hall and John Oates

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Rich Girl--Daryl Hall and John Oates
2 Love Theme from "A Star is Born" (Evergreen)--Barbra Streisand
3 Dancing Queen--ABBA
4 Don't Give Up on Us--David Soul
5 Don't Leave Me this Way--Thelma Houston
6 The Things We Do for Love--10 C.C.
7 Carry On Wayward Son--Kansas
8 Torn Between Two Lovers--Mary MacGregor
9 I Like Dreamin'--Kenny Nolan
10 So In to You--Atlanta Rhythm Section

Singles entering the chart were Feels Like the First Time by Foreigner (#77); Cinderella by Firefall (#85); Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett (#91); Slow Dancin' Don't Turn Me On by the Addrisi Brothers (#92); I'll Be Standing By by Foghat (#95); Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman) by Joe Tex (#96); Six Packs a Day by Billy Lemmons (#99); and It Ain't Easy Comin' Down by Charlene (#100).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Love Theme from "A Star is Born" (Evergreen)--Barbra Streisand (3rd week at #1)
2 Fly Like an Eagle--Steve Miller Band
3 Dancing Queen--ABBA
4 I Like Dreamin'--Kenny Nolan
5 The Things We Do for Love--10 C.C.
6 Carry On Wayward Son--Kansas
7 Rich Girl--Daryl Hall and John Oates
8 Year of the Cat--Al Stewart
9 Don't Leave Me this Way--Thelma Houston
10 Long Time--Boston

Singles entering the chart were Can't Stop Dancin' by Captain and Tennille (#95); Tie Your Mother Down by Queen (#96); Whodunit by Tavares (#97); Cherry Baby by Starz (#98); Old Fashioned Boy (You're the One) by Stallion (#99); and Hello Stranger by Yvonne Elliman (#100).

Hockey
NHL
Boston 7 @ Toronto 5
Detroit 0 @ Montreal 4

30 years ago
1987

Died on this date
Walter Abel, 88. U.S. actor. Mr. Abel was a character actor who appeared in plays, radio and television programs, and more than 200 movies from 1918 through the 1980s, including The Three Musketeers (1935); Fury (1936); and Holiday Inn (1942).

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average posted another record high of 2,372.59.

Hockey
NHL
Boston 4 Edmonton 1

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Stay--Shakespears Sister (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Barbara Frum, 54. Canadian journalist. Mrs. Frum co-hosted the CBC radio show As it Happens from 1971-1982 and then moved to television to host the news program The Journal from 1982-1992 until her death from cancer.

Crime
A judge in Indianapolis sentenced former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson to six years in prison for the July 1991 rape of Desiree Washington, 18, who was representing Rhode Island in the Miss Black America pageant.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the gross domestic product had grown at an annual rate of 0.4% during the fourth quarter of 1991, and that the GDP had declined 0.7% for all of 1991.

20 years ago
1997

Abominations
Police officers in the San Diego–area community of Rancho Santa Fe, California found the bodies of 39 members of the unidentified flying objects cult Heaven's Gate in the mansion which they rented. The dead included the movement's founder and leader, Marshall Herff Applewhite, 65. The people who committed suicide--consuming a combination of phenobarbitol and apple sauce, washed down with vodka, followed by securing plastic bags around their heads in order to cause asphyxiation--did so in order to reach what they believed was an extraterrestrial spacecraft following Comet Hale–Bopp, which was then clearly visible from Earth.



10 years ago
2007

Politics and government
The Liberals, led by Premier Jean Charest, dropped from 76 seats to 48 in the Quebec provincial election, but maintained power, leading Quebec's first minority government in over 125 years. The Parti Action Democratique, led by Mario Dumont, became the official opposition with 41 seats--an increase of 37 from the most recent election in 2003--with the Parti Quebecois, led by André Boisclair, falling to third with 36 seats, a loss of 9.