April 8, 2017

1,800 years ago
217

Died on this date
Caracalla, 29. Roman Emperor, 198-217. Caracalla, born Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus, was a member of the Severan Dynasty, and reigned jointly with his father Septimius Severus until his father's death in 211. Caracalla then reigned jointly with his brother Geta, but had Geta murdered later in 211. Under Caracalla's reign the Constitutio Antoniniana was proclaimed, granting Roman citizenship to nearly all freemen throughout the Roman Empire. Caracalla was and is regarded as one of the most tyrannical of Roman Emperors. Four days after his 29th birthday, Caracalla was travelling in southern Turkey when he stopped to urinate at a roadside and was stabbed to death by Justin Martialis, a soldier who was angry at being refused an appointment as a centurion. Justin Martialis was immediately killed; three days later, Macrinus, with the support of the Roman army, declared himself Emperor.

525 years ago
1492

Died on this date
Lorenzo de' Medici, 43. Italian politician. Mr. Medici was Lord of Florence from 1469-1492 and one of the most important patrons of the arts during the Renaissance. His family suffered financial reversals during his later years, and he died in office of natural causes.

325 years ago
1692

Born on this date
Giuseppe Tartini. Italian composer. Mr. Tartini was a violinist who wrote at least 135 concerti for the instrument. His best-known composition is the Devil's Trill Sonata. Mr. Tartini died on February 26, 1770 at the age of 77.

150 years ago
1867

Society
The Brazilian government announced that slavery would be abolished, to take full effect within 20 years.

125 years ago
1892

Born on this date
Mary Pickford. Canadian-born U.S. actress. Miss Pickford, born Gladys Smith, was a native of Toronto who began her career there on stage as a child actress. She moved to the United States and began acting in movies in 1909, and became known as "America's Sweetheart," usually playing ingenues in films such as Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917) and Pollyanna (1920). Miss Pickford's career waned with the coming of sound to movies in the late 1920, although she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Coquette (1929). Miss Pickford was married to actor Douglas Fairbanks from 1920-1936, and they, with Charlie Chaplin and D.W. Griffith, founded United Artists in 1919. Miss Pickford and Mr. Fairbanks divorced in 1936, and she was married to actor Charles "Buddy" Rogers from 1937 until her death from a cerebral hemorrhage on May 29, 1979 at the age of 87.

80 years ago
1937

Labour
Ontario Premier Mitchell Hepburn sent in police--called Hepburn's Hussars--to deal with an illegal sit-down strike of more than 4,000 workers at the General Motors plant in Oshawa. The strike ended on April 26; General Motors accepted many union demands, without recognizing them as a bargaining unit.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
New York Rangers 2 @ Detroit 4 (Best-of-five series tied 1-1)

75 years ago
1942

War
Soviet forces opened a much-needed railway link to Leningrad. Two or three columns of reinforced German troops commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel began moving eastward in the Tmini-Mekili area of Libya. Japanese bombers attacked the rear of U.S. Army Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright's position on Bataan in the Philippines in an effort to cut supplies, while the Japanese Army continued its assault on defense lines, making progress while suffering heavy casualties.

World events
Aly Maher Pasha, Prime Minister of Egypt at the beginning of World War II, was arrested in Cairo "for reasons referring to the security of the state."

Religion
The Norwegian government-in-exile in London reported that Church of Norway Primate Eivind Berggrav and Bishops Indreboe, I.B. Carlsen, and H.E. Wisloeff had been arrested and placed in Bretvedt concentration camp near Oslo in reprisal for the action of most of the Church's clergy who had declared on April 5 that they were resigning as civil servants, although they would continue to serve their congregations as pastors.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order authorizing War Production Board Chairman Donald Nelson to delegate to Price Administrator Leon Henderson such powers with respect to priorities or rationing as he may deem necessary for effective prosecution of the war. The WPB issued an order restricting the use of wool in women's apparel and restricting gaments of rayon, cotton, and other materials. The WPB also banned all new non-essential construction in order to conserve iron, steel, and copper.

70 years ago
1947

Diplomacy
At the Moscow conference of foreign ministers, U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov dropped Soviet demands for the creation of a central German police force, and agreed with a Western proposal to leave police and security matters to the individual German states. Discussion on the Austrian treaty ended without agreement on German assets, frontiers, or Yugoslavian reparations demands.

Defense
A U.S. War Department study warned that U.S. atomic superiority would be gone in six years, and urged the creation of a worldwide intelligence network to prevent an "atomic Pearl Harbor."

Protest
After a series of killings due to labour strife, the Cuban interior ministry banned all political meetings that may promote disorders.

Politics and government
A Gallup Poll reported that 60% of Americans approved of President Harry Truman's conduct in office. His popularity was rising mainly because of his coal and foreign policies.

Labour
Texas Governor Beauford Jester signed a state law prohibiting employment discrimination because of union membership or non-membership.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Toronto 0 @ Montreal 6 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 1-0)

60 years ago
1957

Diplomacy
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Theodore Green (Democrat--Rhode Island) expressed "deepest sorrow" that the sucide of Canadian Ambassador to Egypt Herbert Norman had resulted from "unfortunate publicity in connection with the work of the Senate." Dr. Norman, 49, had committed suicide on April 4 in Cairo; Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs Lester Pearson had then told Parliament that Mr. Norman's death was the result of renewal "by one or two persons in Washington" of "old charges affecting his loyalty." The accusations were that Dr. Norman was an agent of the U.S.S.R.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of the United Kingdom arrived in Paris to begin a four-day state visit to France.

Defense
U.S. disarmament adviser Harold Stassen proposed an international agreement providing for a 25% reduction in non-nuclear forces in two stages. U.S.S.R. Deputy Foreign Minister Valerian Zorin said that the American initiative was "very important" and could open the door to a disarmament agreement.

Society
U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy (Republican--Wisconsin) said that he would sponsor a bill allowing 75,000 Hungarian refugees to enter the United States.

Transportation
U.S. salvage crews completed clearance of major obstacles from the Suez Canal with removal of the sunken Egyptian frigate Abukir near Suez.

Medicine
Drs. Vladimir Zworykin of the Radio Corporation of America and John Farrar of the New York Veterans Administration Hospital exhibited the "radio pill," a capsule designed to be swallowed and send out radio impulses indicating digestive processes.

Crime
The U.S. Supreme Court granted convicted kidnapper and rapist Caryl Chessman a hearing on whether he had been denied due process of law under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Hey Joe--Johnny Hallyday (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Cuore matto--Little Tony (7th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Let's Spend the Night Together--The Rolling Stones (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): This is My Song--Petula Clark; Harry Secombe (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)--Engelbert Humperdinck (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)--Engelbert Humperdinck (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Happy Together--The Turtles (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Happy Together--The Turtles (2nd week at #1)
2 Dedicated to the One I Love--The Mamas and the Papas
3 Somethin' Stupid-- Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra
4 A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You--The Monkees
5 I Think We're Alone Now--Tommy James and the Shondells
6 There's a Kind of Hush--Herman's Hermits
7 This is My Song--Petula Clark
8 Bernadette--Four Tops
9 For What it's Worth--Buffalo Springfield
10 Penny Lane--The Beatles

Singles entering the chart were The Happening by the Supremes (#48); When I was Young by Eric Burdon & the Animals (#65); Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon by Neil Diamond (#68); I Got Rhythm by the Happenings (#69); Somebody to Love by Jefferson Airplane (#71); Casino Royale by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (#72); No Time Like the Right Time by the Blues Project (#73); Here Comes My Baby by the Tremeloes (#77); Making Memories by Frankie Laine (#80); Happy Jack by the Who (#82); One Hurt Deserves Another by the Raelets (#83); It's So Hard Being a Loser by the Contours (#84); The Lady Came from Baltimore by Bobby Darin (#85); Yellow Balloon by the Yellow Balloon (#87); In the Midnight Hour by Wanted (#88); Release Me (And Let Me Love Again) by Engelbert Humperdinck (#89); Born to Be by Your Side by Brenda Lee (#93); She Took You for a Ride by Aaron Neville (#94); Speak Her Name by Walter Jackson (#95); My Girl Josephine by Jerry Jaye (#99); Girl I Need You by the Artistics (#100); and Why? (Am I Treated So Bad) by the "Cannonball" Adderley Qunitet (also #100). The Happening was the title song of the movie. Casino Royale was the title theme of the movie.

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You--The Monkees (2nd week at #1)
2 There's a Kind of Hush--Herman's Hermits
3 Canada--The Young Canada Singers
4 Dedicated to the One I Love--The Mamas and the Papas
5 For What it's Worth--Buffalo Springfield
6 I Think We're Alone Now--Tommy James and the Shondells
7 Happy Together--The Turtles
8 Darling Be Home Soon--The Lovin' Spoonful
9 Sock it To Me--Baby!--Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
10 Penny Lane--The Beatles

Singles entering the chart were Happy Jack by the Who (#38); You Got What it Takes by the Dave Clark Five (#89); I Found Love by Wilson Pickett (#92); You Always Hurt Me by the Impressions (#93); When I was Young by Eric Burdon & the Animals (#94); Don't Make Promises by Susan Young (#95); Friday on My Mind by the Easybeats (#97); Cry to Me by Freddie Scott (#99); and Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon by Neil Diamond (#100).

Vancouver's top 10 (CFUN)
1 A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You--The Monkees
2 Ups and Downs--Paul Revere and the Raiders
3 No Milk Today/There's a Kind of Hush--Herman's Hermits
4 Bernadette--Four Tops
5 She's Looking Good--Rodger Collins
6 His Girl--The Guess Who?
7 Blue's Theme--The Arrows
8 This is My Song--Petula Clark
9 Happy Together--The Turtles
10 The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)--Harpers Bizarre

Singles entering the chart were You Got What it Takes by the Dave Clark Five (#32); The Happening by the Supremes (#36); Sunday for Tea by Peter and Gordon (#39); Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon by Neil Diamond (#41); Release Me (And Let Me Love Again) by Engelbert Humperdinck (#43); At the Zoo by Simon and Garfunkel (#45); The Love I Saw in You was Just a Mirage by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (#49); and Buy for Me the Rain by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (#50).

Vancouver's top 10 (CKLG)
1 No Milk Today/There's a Kind of Hush--Herman's Hermits (2nd week at #1)
2 Somethin' Stupid--Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra
3 On a Carousel--The Hollies
4 Bernadette--Four Tops
5 Western Union--The Five Americans
6 Somebody to Love--Jefferson Airplane
7 I Feel Free--Cream
8 Blue's Theme--The Arrows
9 Animal Crackers (In Cellophane Boxes)--Gene Pitney
10 The Love I Saw in You was Just a Mirage--Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

Singles entering the chart were The Happening by the Supremes (#16); At the Zoo by Simon and Garfunkel (#20); Get Me to the World on Time by the Electric Prunes (#27); You Got What it Takes by the Dave Clark Five (#29); and I Got Rhythm by the Happenings (#30).

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

John Ferguson and Ralph Backstrom scored in the 3rd period for the Canadiens as they beat the Rangers at the Montreal Forum.

CPHL
Adams Cup
Semi-Finals
Omaha 3 @ Memphis 0 (Omaha led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Houston 4 @ Oklahoma City 1 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Shenandoah--Jan Lindblad (7th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Knowing Me, Knowing You--ABBA

#1 single in France: Les chansons françaises--La Bande à Basile (3rd week at #1)

At the movies
Demon Seed, starring Julie Christie and Fritz Weaver, opened in theatres.

Politics and government
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin resigned as Labor Party leader and withdrew as a candidate in the May 17 elections after admitting that he and his wife had lied about the size of their illegal U.S. bank accounts. He admitted that the accounts had contained $18,000 in the period when he was Ambassador to the United States, not $2,000, as his wife had publicly claimed.

Energy
The West German government reported that it had approved export licenses for sales to Brazil of a pilot uranium reprocessing plant and a demonstration uranium enrichment plant, despite American objections that the equipment could be used to produce materials for atomic bombs. The sale, the largest export contract in West German history, was part of a 10-15 year agreement between the countries for the sale of up to eight atomic power plants at a cost of $5 billion.

Hockey
CHL
Adams Cup
Semi-Finals
Kansas City 1 @ Fort Worth 3 (Fort Worth led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Tulsa 2 @ Dallas 3 (Dallas led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Bob Warner scored with 29 seconds remaining in regulation time to give the Black Hawks their win over the Oilers at Fair Park Coliseum.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): You're the Voice--John Farnham

Society
Al Campanis resigned as a vice-president of the Los Angeles Dodgers after appearing on the ABC television program Nightline and telling host Ted Koppel that Negroes "may not have some of the necessities" to be managers or executives in baseball. The broadcast was observing the 40th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut as the first Negro in modern major league baseball. Ironically, Mr. Campanis, a player with the Dodgers, had been one of the first white players to befriend Mr. Robinson when he joined the team, then based in Brooklyn, in 1947.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Boston 2 @ Montreal 6 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Quebec 2 @ Hartford 3 (OT) (Hartford led best-of-seven series 1-0)
New York Rangers 3 @ Philadelphia 0 (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)
New York Islanders 3 @ Washington 4 (Washington led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Chicago 1 @ Detroit 3 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Toronto 1 @ St. Louis 3 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Winnipeg 4 @ Calgary 2 (Winnipeg led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Los Angeles 5 @ Edmonton 2 (Los Angeles led best-of-seven series 1-0)

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): To Be with You--Mr. Big (2nd week at #1)

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

Died on this date
Daniel Bovet, 85. Swiss-born Italian pharmacologist. Dr. Bovet discovered antihistamines in 1937, and was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for his discoveries relating to synthetic compounds that inhibit the action of certain body substances, and especially their action on the vascular system and the skeletal muscles." In 1965 Dr. Bovet led a study team that concluded that smoking cigarettes in small quantities increased users' intelligence. He died 16 days after his 85th birthday.

Tennis
Former U.S. star Arthur Ashe disclosed that he had recently learned that he had the AIDS virus, and said that he believed that he had contracted the virus from a blood transfusion during open-heart surgery in 1983.

20 years ago
1997

Died on this date
Laura Nyro, 49. U.S. musician. Miss Nyro, born Laura Nigro, was a pianist and singer-songwriter whose peak period of activity was the late 1960s and early '70s. She was known for writing songs that became hit singles for artists such as the 5th Dimension (Sweet Blindness, Wedding Bell Blues); Barbra Streisand (Stoney End); and Three Dog Night (Eli's Coming). Miss Nyro died of ovarian cancer.

10 years ago
2007

Golf
Zach Johnson shot a 3-under-par 69 to win the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, finishing with a 1-over-par total of 289, two strokes ahead of Retief Goosen, Rory Sabatini, and Tiger Woods. Mr. Johnson's four-round total tied a tournament record for the highest winning score; the record was shared with Sam Snead (1954) and Jack Burke, Jr. (1956). First prize money was $1,305,000.

Curling
World Men's Championship @ Rexall Place, Edmonton
Final
Canada (Glenn Howard) 8 Germany (Andy Kapp) 3

Mr. Howard had been the third on his brother Russ's rink when they won world championships for Canada in 1987 and 1993; this was Glenn's first world title as a skip.