April 28, 2017

275 years ago
1742

Born on this date
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, 69. U.K. politician. Mr. Dundas, an "independent Whig," was the trusted lieutenant of Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, and was the most powerful politician in Scotland in the latter decades of the 18th century. He held several cabinet posts, including Secretary of State for War (1794-1801) and First Lord of the Admiralty (1804-1805). Mr. Dundas was elevated to the House of Lords in 1802 as 1st Viscount Melville. He died on May 28, 1811, a month after his 69th birthday.

225 years ago
1792

War
French forces invaded the Austrian Netherlands (present day Belgium and Luxembourg).

140 years ago
1877

Politics and government
The North West Territories Act was amended to provide for a Council.

125 years ago
1892

Disasters
12 people perished in a fire at Grand Central Theatre in Philadelphia.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Robert Cornthwaite. U.S. actor. Mr. Cornthwaite was a character actor in numerous films and television programs, often playing scientists or lawyers. His movies included The Thing from Another World (1951) and The War of the Worlds (1953). Mr. Cornthwaite died on July 20, 2006 at the age of 89.

75 years ago
1942

Movies
Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation paid a record price of $300,000 for the film rights to the play The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck.

War
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in a radio broadcast that since the December 7, 1941 attack by Japanese bombers on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, U.S. troops had been dispersed worldwide; that United Nations forces would take necessary action to prevent the Axis from using French territory anywhere as bases; and that the Japanese advance toward New Zealand was being checked. A strong force of U.K. Royal Air Force bombers raided the new German naval base at Trondheim, Norway. U.S. Army Lieutenant General Joe Stilwell's Chinese troops and supporting British forces were driven back on all fronts in Burma, while machanized Japanese columns drove closer to Burma Road.

Politics and government
The U.S. House of Representatives voted to grant the Committee on Un-American Activities an additional $110,000 to carry on its work.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Office of Price Administration issued the most drastic price control regulations in the nation's history in an effort to combat inflation, which had sent the cost of living up 15% since September 1939.

70 years ago
1947

Hit parade
U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Heartaches--Ted Weems and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)
--Harry James and his Orchestra
2 Linda--Ray Noble and his Orchestra with Buddy Clark
--Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra
3 Anniversary Song--Al Jolson
--Dinah Shore
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
--Tex Beneke with the Glenn Miller Orchestra
--Andy Russell
4 Managua, Nicaragua--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
5 Mam'selle--Art Lund
--Dick Haymes
--Dennis Day
--Pied Pipers
--Frank Sinatra
6 Guilty--Margaret Whiting
--Johnny Desmond
7 How are Things in Glocca Morra--Dick Haymes
--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
--Buddy Clark
--Martha Tilton
8 I'll Close My Eyes--Andy Russell
--Johnny Desmond
9 My Adobe Hacienda--Eddy Howard and his Orchestra
10 Santa Catalina (Island of Romance)--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
--Eddy Howard and his Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were the versions of Mam'selle by Dick Haymes, the Pied Pipers, and Frank Sinatra; A Sunday Kind of Love, with versions by Jo Stafford; Claude Thornhill and his Orchestra; and Frankie Laine (#15); Sunrise Serenade by Frankie Carle and his Orchestra (#19); Peg o' My Heart, with versions by the Harmonicats, and Clark Dennis (#22); and There is No Greater Love, with versions by Stan Kenton and his Orchestra, and Woody Herman (#24).

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

The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Elliott Lewis and Howard McNear, on MBS
Tonight`s episode: The Mile-High Murder

Exploration
Thor Heyerdahl and five crew mates set out from Peru on the balsa wood raft Kon-Tiki to prove that Peruvian natives could have settled Polynesia.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry Truman issued an executive order creating a U.S. Mission to the United Nations, headed by Warren Austin.

The first special session of the United Nations General Assembly met in Flushing Meadows, New York to consider the Palestine question. Oswaldo Aranha of Brazil was chosen chairman of the session.

Politics and government
The third session of the Indian Constitutional Assembly opened in New Delhi as Indian National Congress Party leaders admitted that partition of India into Hindu and Muslim sections may be the only solution to the country's civil strife.

Labour
Shipping in London was paralyzed by an unauthorized strike of 10,000 dockworkers who were supporting striking harbour workers in Glasgow.

60 years ago
1957

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Night the World Ended, starring Russell Collins and Harold J. Stone

Edmontonia
Premier Ernest Manning was on hand for the dedication of the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium; construction on that and the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary had begun in 1955. The buildings were built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Alberta becoming a province.

Politics and government
Indonesian army leaders and civilian governors meeting in Jakarta called for autonomy for outlying islands; economic stimulation; migration from overpopulated sections; and anti-corruption measures.

Golf
Billy Casper won the Kentucky Derby Open in Louisville; first prize money was $4,300.

Auto racing
Peter Collins, driving a Ferrari, won the Grand Prix of Naples.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Georgy Girl--The Seekers

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 For What it's Worth--Buffalo Springfield
2 Western Union--The Five Americans
3 A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You--The Monkees
4 Happy Together--The Turtles
5 Somethin' Stupid--Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra
6 Diamonds and Gold--Willie and the Walkers
7 No Milk Today--Herman's Hermits
8 The Girls in Paris--Lee Hazlewood
9 Rovin' Heart--The Lords
10 Love Eyes--Nancy Sinatra
Pick hit of the week: Him or Me - What's it Gonna Be?--Paul Revere and the Raiders
New this week: Don't Blame the Children--Sammy Davis, Jr.
Holiday for Clowns--Brian Hyland
Speak for Me--Gordon Waller
With this Ring--The Platters
Somebody to Love--Jefferson Airplane

Space
The United States launched five satellites atop a Titan 3-C rocket from Cape Kennedy, Florida.

Canadiana
The Expo 67 world's fair in Montreal opened to the public at 9:30 am for its first full day of business after the official opening the previous day (go here, here, and here for more on Expo 67).

Boxing
In Houston, Muhammad Ali refused his induction into the United States Army, and was stripped of his world heavyweight championship and boxing license the next day.

Former world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston (39-3) scored a technical knockout of Elmer Rush (15-4-2) in the 6th round at Johanneshov in Stockholm. Mr. Rush was knocked down twice in the 4th round, three times in the 5th, and four times in the 6th.





40 years ago
1977

Died on this date
Ricardo Cortez, 76. U.S. actor. Mr. Cortez, born Jacob Krantz, appeared in more than 100 movies, usually playing Latin lovers. His most famous role was probably that of Sam Spade in the original film version of The Maltese Falcon (1931).

Terrorism
The Red Army Faction trial ended, with Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin, and Jan-Carl Raspe being found guilty of four counts of murder and more than 30 counts of attempted murder. They were sentenced to life imprisonment after the longest trial in West German history, lasting two years.

Crime
Christopher Boyce, 23, was convicted in Los Angeles of eight counts of espionage and conspiracy to commit espionage. Mr. Boyse, a former employee of defense contractor TRW Systems, passed on or sold to U.S.S.R. agents the contents of thousands of documents containing data about Central Intelligence Agency cryptographic ciphers and information about U.S. spy satellites. Mr. Boyce admitted passing the information through an intermediary, Andrew Daulton Lee, over a two-year period. Mr. Boyce claimed that he had been blackmailed by Mr. Lee after he had voluntarily disclosed to Mr. Lee secret data indicating that the CIA had withheld or distorted satellite data it was required by agreement to supply to Australia.

Law
The Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure was signed; it came into force on August 9, 1980.

U.S. Health, Education and Welfare Secretary Joseph Califano signed regulations barring discrimination against the disabled by federally-aided schools, hospitals, and other facilities. The rules would protect 35 million disabled people, 10 million drunkards, and 1.5 million recovered drug addicts. People with hearrt disease or cancer were also covered.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Philadelphia 1 @ Boston 2 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-0)
Montreal 3 @ New York Islanders 5 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Mike Milbury's goal 7:51 into the 3rd period was the winner as the Bruins edged the Flyers at Boston Garden.

Andre St. Laurent scored the winning goal with 8:51 remaining in the 3rd period as the Islanders defeated the Canadiens at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, handing the Canadiens their first loss of the playoffs.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
Semi-Finals
Quebec 6 @ Indianapolis 5 (OT) (Quebec led best-of-seven series 3-0)
Winnipeg 2 @ Houston 7 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

30 years ago
1987

Died on this date
Gus Johnson, 48. U.S. basketball player. One of the first players to make slam-dunk shots, Mr. Johnson played in the NBA from 1963-1972 with the Baltimore Bullets. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns before the 1972-73 season, but was released in mid-season and joined the Indiana Pacers of the ABA, helping them to the league championship in his final season as a professional. Mr. Johnson died of brain cancer; he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

Scandal
Televangelist Rev. Jerry Falwell, who had replaced Rev. Jim Bakker as chairman of the PTL organization when Mr. Bakker had resigned in March because of a sex scandal, announced that the PTL board of directors had cut off all income to Mr. Bakker and his wife Tammy Faye; had obtained the resignation of Rev. Richard Dortch, PTL president and a longtime associate of Mr. Bakker; and stopped payments from a $265,000 fund established for Jessica Hahn, the church secretary with whom Mr. Bakker had had sex in 1980. Mr. Falwell said that PTL was $50 million in debt.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Quebec 2 @ Montreal 3 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-2)
New York Islanders 2 @ Philadelphia 1 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-2)

25 years ago
1992

Died on this date
Francis Bacon, 82. U.K. artist. Mr. Bacon was a hard-drinking sodomite who was known for abstract paintings showing grotesque depictions of the human condition.

Brian Pockar, 32. Canadian figure skater. Mr. Pockar, a native of Calgary, was the Canadian men's champion from 1978-1980. He placed 12th at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, and compted in six world championships, with his best result coming in his last year, when he finished third in 1982. Mr. Pockar was a sodomite who died of AIDS.

Health
The United States Department of Agriculture unveiled its first food pyramid.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Detroit 1 @ Minnesota 0 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
Chicago 2 @ St. Louis 1 (Chicago won best-of-seven series 4-2)
Vancouver 8 @ Winnipeg 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
Los Angeles 0 @ Edmonton 3 (Edmonton won best-of-seven series 4-2)

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 One Headlight--The Wallflowers (5th week at #1)
2 Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)--Aerosmith
3 Staring at the Sun--U2
4 You were Meant for Me--Jewel
5 Elegantly Wasted--INXS
6 I Want You--Savage Garden
7 Lovefool--The Cardigans
8 Precious Declaration--Collective Soul
9 Dark Horse--Amanda Marshall
10 Make You Mad--The Odds

Singles entering the chart were Gone Away by the Offspring (#84); Sunny Came Home by Shawn Colvin (#85); Driven by Rush (#95); Tangerine by Moist (#96); In a Room by Dodgy (#97); Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind (#98); Cold Contagious by Bush (#99); and Be Inside You by Barney Bentall (#100).

Died on this date
Ann Petry, 88. U.S. authoress. Mrs. Petry was best known for her novel The Street (1946), which was the first novel by a Negro woman to sell one million copies.

Peter Tali Coleman, 77. Samoan politician. Mr. Coleman, a Republican, served as the appointed Governor of American Samoa (1956-1961) and as American Samoa's first elected Governor (1978-1985, 1989-1993). He was deputy high commissioner of the U.S. Trust Territories (1961-1977). Mr. Coleman died after a two-year battle with liver cancer.

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Dabbs Greer, 90. U.S. actor. Mr. Greer was a character actor who appeared in numerous movies and television programs, especially Westerns. He played Rev. Robert Alden in the television series Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983).

Bertha Wilson, 83. Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, 1982-1991. Mrs. Wilson, a native of Scotland, married United Church of Canada minister John Wilson and came to Canada in 1949. She played a major role in the United Church's adoption of a pro-abortion policy; became the first female on the Ontario Court of Appeal (1975) and the first female on the Supreme Court of Canada. Mrs. Wilson said that she was going to bring a feminist slant to the court, and she did. She concurred with the majority in R. v. Morgentaler (1988), which struck down Canada's abortion law; as journalist Ted Byfield said, Mrs. Wilson's "so-called judgment...reads like something you'd be handed on a street corner." It was Mrs. Wilson who came up with the preposterous ruling that foreigners were entitled to the same rights as Canadian citizens the minute they arrived in the country. Mrs. Wilson was a member of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1992-1996), in which witnesses weren't under oath to tell the truth--and many didn't; no cross-examination was allowed; and some of the hearings were conducted in secret, leading former Saskatchewan Premier Allan Blakeney to quit the commission partway through the hearings because he didn't like the way it was going. Mrs. Wilson died of a long illness that some said was Alzheimer's disease, which, if her rulings were any indication, may have been present when she was on the bench. On the basis of the consequences of her actions, Bertha Wilson gets this blogger's vote as the most evil woman in Canadian history.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
Ottawa 2 @ New Jersey 3 (2 OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
San Jose 2 @ Detroit 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Jamie Langenbrunner scored 1:55 into the 2nd overtime period to give the Devils their win over the Senators at Continental Airlines Arena.