April 9, 2017

150 years ago
1867

Born on this date
Chris Watson. Prime Minister of Australia, 1904. Mr. Watson, born John Christian Tanck in Valparaiso, Chile, moved to Australia at the age of 13, and took the surname of his stepfather. He led the Australian Labour Party from 1901-1907. The Labour Party held the balance of power in minority governments after the 1901 and 1903 general elections, and Mr. Watson led a minority government from April 27-August 18, 1904. He resigned as Prime Minister when Governor General Lord Northcote refused to grant a dissolution of Parliament. Mr. Watson led his party through the 1906 election and resigned his seat in the House of Representatives shortly before the 1910 election. He died on November 18, 1941 at the age of 74.

Americana
The United States Senate confirmed the treaty for the purchase of Alaska from Russia.

130 years ago
1887

Born on this date
Florence Price. U.S. composer. Mrs. Price was a pianist, organist, and music teacher who wrote four symphonies, four concertos, and numerous other orchestral, chamber, and vocal works. She became the first Negro American female composer to have a work played by a major orchestra when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed her Symphony No. 1 in E minor in 1933. Mrs. Price died of a stroke on June 3, 1953 at the age of 66.

110 years ago
1907

Society
Henri Bourassa and Armand Lavergne, Liberal Members of Parliament from Quebec, spoke in the House of Commons against the immigration policy favoured by the federal government of Liberal Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier. The policy favoured the entry of immigrants whose language of use was English, and Messrs. Bourassa and Lavergne perceived the federal policy as an attempt to assimilate French-speaking Canadians.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Brad Dexter. U.S. actor. Mr. Dexter, born Boris Milanovich, was known for playing tough guys. His movies included The Asphalt Jungle (1950); Run Silent, Run Deep (1958); and The Magnificent Seven (1960). He died of emphysema on December 11, 2002 at the age of 85.

War
The Battle of Arras began with the Canadian Corps executing a tremendous assault on Vimy Ridge.

90 years ago
1927

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Ottawa 3 @ Boston 1 (Ottawa led best-of-three series 1-0)

King Clancy and Cy Denneny scored for the Senators in the 1st period at Boston Arena, but Harry Oliver scored in the 3rd period to make the score 2-1. Mr. Denneny scored his second goal of the game in the last minute.

80 years ago
1937

Aviation
The Mitsubishi Ki-15 Karigane plane Kamikaze-go, the first Japanese-built aircraft to fly to Europe, arrived at Croydon Airport in London after a flight of 51 hours, 17 minutes and 23 seconds from Tokyo.

75 years ago
1942

War
United States forces surrendered to Japanese forces on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines at 5:15 A.M. An estimated 35,000 American and Filipino combat troops, 16 generals, and about 25,000 civilians were left on Bataan. The Japanese Navy launched an air raid on Trincomalee in Ceylon (Sri Lanka); the British Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Hermes and Royal Australian Navy Destroyer HMAS Vampire were sunk off the island's east coast.

Protest
A report from Stockholm said that the Norwegian people observed a complete "silence" strike as German soldiers and Quisling storm troopers marched in observance of the second anniversary of the German invasion of Norway.

Diplomacy
Indian Hindu leader Jawaharlal Nehru said in New Delhi that U.S. news stories about U.K.-Indian relations could only be understood "on the basis of American ignorance of India."

Defense
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Sam Rayburn (Democrat--Texas) said that airplane production exceeded 3,300 per month, as compared with 1,914 per month in September 1941.

Oil
The U.S. War Production Board ordered a reduction in deliveries of gasoline to filling stations and bulk consumers from 80% to 66 2/3% in 17 Eastern states, the District of Columbia, Oregon, and Washington.

Music
In a lawsuit filed in U.S. federal court in New York, 157 operators of 235 movie theatres in the United States accused the American Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) of misusing its control of almost 100% of the copyrighted musical compositions in movies.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Toronto 2 @ Detroit 5 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 3-0)

The Red Wings overcame a 2-0 1st-period deficit to defeat the Maple Leafs at Olympia Stadium. Pat McReavy scored the winning goal early in the 2nd period.

70 years ago
1947

Diplomacy
At the Moscow conference of foreign ministers, U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall and U.K. Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin demanded that some Polish-occupied territory be returned to Germany. U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov reiterated the Soviet position that the existing Polish-German boundary was final and awaited only formal confirmation.

The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 22, concerning the 1946 Corfu Channel incident along the coasts of Albania and Greece, recommending that the United Kingdom and Albania take their dispute to the International Court of Justice.

Beginning a speaking tour of western Europe, former U.S. Vice President Henry Wallace told a London press conference that U.S. President Harry Truman's interventionist foreign policy was establishing "a pattern which...will lead to war."

Defense
The British Supply Ministry disclosed that the U.K. had sold 350 fighter planes to Turkey and would sell another 150 under a new accord.

The French cabinet authorized a 220,000-man increase in the Army due to disorders in French overseas possessions.

Politics and government
Elections to Berlin's Constituent Assembly resulted in a majority for the centrist Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League.

Protest
The Journey of Reconciliation, the first interracial Freedom Ride, began through the upper southern United States in violation of Jim Crow laws. The riders wanted enforcement of the United States Supreme Court's 1946 Irene Morgan decision that banned racial segregation in interstate travel.

Aviation
The U.S. Civil Aeronautics Administration approved the use of the Army's wartime GCA radar device in commercial planes.

Energy
The U.S. Senate confirmed David Lilienthal as chairman of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

Disasters
The Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornadoes killed 181 and injured 970 in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

Baseball
Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler suspended Brooklyn Dodgers' manager Leo Durocher for the 1947 season because of "an accumulation of unpleasant incidents...detrimental to baseball," including association with gamblers. Mr. Durocher claimed that he was never told exactly why he was suspended, and critics of the action complained that New York Yankees' President Larry MacPhail had associated with gamblers without being suspended. Burt Shotton replaced Mr. Durocher as manager of the Dodgers.

60 years ago
1957

Diplomacy
The Hungarian government charged Captain Thomas Gleason, U.S. military attache in Budapest, with "open espionage" and ordered his expulsion.

Politics and government
Indonesian President Sukarno installed a 23-member "emergency cabinet of experts" to deal with the growing revolt against the central government and guide the country toward his concept of guided democracy.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Donald Quarles as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense; James Douglas as Secretary of the Air Force; and General Nathan Twining as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

New Mexico Lieutenant Governor Joseph Montoya (Democrat) defeated State Representative Thomas Bolack (Republican) in an election to fill the U.S. House of Representatives seat vacated by the death of Rep. Antonio Fernandez (Democrat).

Crime
A jury in London acquitted Dr. John Adams of charges that he murdered Mrs. Edith Morrell, a wealthy widow, in 1950 to benefit from her will.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Boston 0 @ Montreal 1 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Jean Beliveau scored in the 2nd period and Jacques Plante won the goaltending duel over Don Simmons as the Canadiens edged the Bruins at the Montreal Forum.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
St. Louis 109 @ Boston 124 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Bill Sharman scored 32 points and Tom Heinsohn added 23 to help the Celtics beat the Hawks at Boston Garden. Bob Pettit of the Hawks led all scorers with 33 points.

50 years ago
1967

Aviation
The first Boeing 737 (a 100 series) made its maiden flight, piloted by Brien Wygle and Lew Wallick.

Golf
Gay Brewer shot a 5-under par 67 to win the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, finishing with an 8-under-par total of 280, one stroke ahead of Bobby Nichols. First prize money was $20,000.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Toronto 3 @ Chicago 1 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Honky Tonky Train Blues--Keith Emerson (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Swiss Lady--Pepe Lienhard Band (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Go Your Own Way--Fleetwood Mac (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Knowing Me, Knowing You--ABBA

#1 single in the U.K (BMRB): Knowing Me, Knowing You--ABBA (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Dancing Queen--ABBA

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Rich Girl--Daryl Hall and John Oates (2nd week at #1)
2 Don't Give Up on Us--David Soul
3 Don't Leave Me this Way--Thelma Houston
4 The Things We Do for Love--10 C.C.
5 Dancing Queen--ABBA
6 I've Got Love on My Mind--Natalie Cole
7 So In to You--Atlanta Rhythm Section
8 Southern Nights--Glen Campbell
9 Hotel California--Eagles
10 Love Theme from "A Star is Born" (Evergreen)--Barbra Streisand

Singles entering the chart were The Whistler by Jethro Tull (#77); Sub-Rosa Subway by Klaatu (#81); Love's Grown Deep by Kenny Nolan (#82); Ariel by Dean Friedman (#83); Disco Inferno by the Trammps (#85); Show You the Way to Go by the Jacksons (#86); Sad Girl by Carl Graves (#87); Dancin' by Crown Heights Affair (#89); You're Throwing a Good Love Away by the Spinners (#92); Whatcha Gonna Do? by Pablo Cruise (#94); You Take My Heart Away by James Darren (#98); Dance and Shake Your Tambourine by the Universal Robot Band (#99); and Everybody Be Dancin' by Starbuck (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Dancing Queen--ABBA (2nd week at #1)
2 Love Theme from "A Star is Born" (Evergreen)--Barbra Streisand
3 The Things We Do for Love--10 C.C.
4 Don't Give Up on Us--David Soul
5 Rich Girl--Daryl Hall and John Oates
6 Don't Leave Me this Way--Thelma Houston
7 I Like Dreamin'--Kenny Nolan
8 Carry On Wayward Son--Kansas
9 Maybe I'm Amazed--Wings
10 So In to You--Atlanta Rhythm Section

Singles entering the chart were Dancing Man by Q (#85); Cherry Baby by Starz (#89); Sing by Tony Orlando and Dawn (#90); Fly at Night by Chilliwack (#91); There Will Come a Day by Smokey Robinson (#92); My Sweet Lady by John Denver (#93); Sleepwalker by the Kinks (#94); Theme from "Rocky" by Rhythm Heritage (#95); Right Before Your Eyes by Ian Thomas (#96); The Blue Jays by Paul's People (#97); Theme from "Charlie's Angels" by Henry Mancini and his Orchestra (#98); Romeo by Mr. Big (#99); and Feels Like the First Time by Foreigner (#100).

World events
The U.S. Coast Guard seized the U.S.S.R. fishing trawler Taras Shevchenko after it violated the 200-mile U.S. fishing zone that had gone into effect on March 1, 1977.

Politics and government
The Spanish government announced that the Communist Party had been enrolled on the register of parties eligible to run in upcoming parliamentary elections, ruling that the party was not "subject to an international discipline" or "totalitarian" in aims. There were now 125 parties that were legally recognized.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Preliminary Round
Toronto 5 @ Pittsburgh 2 (Toronto won best-of-three series 2-1)
Atlanta 2 @ Los Angeles 4 (Los Angeles won best-of-three series 2-1)

Lanny McDonald scored 3 goals for the Maple Leafs as they eliminated the Penguins at Civic Arena.

Butch Goring scored 3 goals for the Kings as they eliminated the Flames at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
Quarter-Finals
New England 2 @ Quebec 5 (Quebec led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Indianapolis 4 @ Cincinnati 3 (OT) (Indianapolis led best-of-seven series 1-0)

CHL
Adams Cup
Semi-Finals
Kansas City 3 @ Fort Worth 4 (Fort Worth led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Tulsa 4 @ Dallas 1 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

30 years ago
1987

On television tonight
Our World, hosted by Linda Ellerbee and Ray Gandolf, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Liberation Summer: 1944



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Semi-Finals
Boston 3 @ Montreal 4 (OT) (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Quebec 4 @ Hartford 5 (Hartford led best-of-seven series 2-0)
New York Rangers 3 @ Philadelphia 8 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
New York Islanders 3 @ Washington 1 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Chicago 1 @ Detroit 5 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Toronto 3 @ St. Louis 2 (OT) (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Winnipeg 3 @ Calgary 2 (Winnipeg led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Los Angeles 3 @ Edmonton 13 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Stay--Shakespears Sister (4th week at #1)

Music
This blogger was in attendance as the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Uri Mayer, performed at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. The featured soloist was pianist Dang Thai Son.

Politics and government
The Conservative Party, under Prime Minister John Major, won a reduced majority in the House of Commons in the British general election. The Conservatives captured 336 seats to 271 for the Labour Party, 20 for the Liberal Democrats, and 24 for other parties. It was the first U.K. election since 1987, and the first since Mr. Major had succeeded Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister in November 1990. The Conservatives; total of seats was a reduction of 40 since 1987. The Labour Party, led by Neil Kinnock, gained 42 seats, but the result came as a disappointment to Labour, as polls had indicated that the Labour Party would form the government.

Crime
Former Panamanian President General Manuel Noriega was convicted by United States District Court in Miami of racketeering, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Gen. Noriega had been seized by U.S. forces after their invasion of Panama early in 1990.

20 years ago
1997

Died on this date
Mae Axton, 82. U.S. songwriter. Mrs. Axton wrote or co-wrote about 200 songs, the best-known of which was Heartbreak Hotel, written with Tommy Durden. She drowned in her hot tub after an apparent heart attack.

Helene Hanff, 80. U.S. authoress. Miss Hanff was best known for the book 84, Charing Cross Road (1970), a chronicle of her correspondence with London book buyer Frank Doel. Miss Hanff died six days before her 81st birthday.

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Dorrit Hoffleit, 100. U.S. astronomer. Dr. Hoffleit worked at Harvard University from 1948-1956 and at Yale University from 1956-1975. She was best known for her work in variable stars, astrometry, spectroscopy, meteors, and as author of the Bright Star Catalogue. Dr. Hoffleit died of cancer, four weeks after her 100th birthday.