May 4, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, John Dea!

150 years ago
1867

Politics and government
General Sylvain Salnave, leader of the military coup that had toppled President Fabre Geffrard on March 13, 1867, was named Protector of the Republic.

125 years ago
1892

Technology
Canadian inventor Thomas "Carbide" Willson developed the first manufacturing process to create acetylene gas.

110 years ago
1907

Weather
Ottawa was hit by 7 1/2 inches of snow, the city's greatest one-day snowfall in May.

90 years ago
1927

Movies
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded in Los Angeles, with Douglas Fairbanks as President.

75 years ago
1942

Literature
In This Our Life by Ellen Glasgow was awarded the 1942 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Other winners included: History--Reveille in Washington by Margaret Leach; Biography--Crusader in Crinoline by Forrest Wilson; Poetry--The Dust Which is God by William Rose Binet. No award was given for drama.

War
U.K. Royal Air Force bombers attacked Hamburg and German submarine bases at St. Nazaire, France and Kristiansand, southern Norway. German-controlled Dutch radio announced the execution of 72 Netherlanders and the sentencing of 7 to prison on charges of espionage and possession of arms. The Battle of the Coral Sea began with an attack by aircraft from the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Yorktown on Japanese naval forces at Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands.

Diplomacy
The U.S. State Department informed French Ambassador Gaston Henry-Haye that the U.S. endorsed British occupation of Madagascar, and that the island would be returned to France after the war.

Economics and finance
The U.S. War Production Board issued an order barring use of iron and steel in more than 400 common items ranging from bathtubs to pie plates. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the Office of Defense Transportation wartime control of all motor transport in an effort to conserve gasoline. Mr. Roosevelt sent Congress a message asking for $102 million to continue the Civilian Conservation Corps and National Youth Administration through 1943.

Journalism
Second class mailing privileges of Father Charles Coughlin's weekly newspaper Social Justice were revoked when its representatives failed to appear in Washington to show cause why it should not be barred from the mails.

70 years ago
1947

Died on this date
Manuel Fernandez. Cuban politician. Mr. Fernandez, the Mayor of Havana, committed suicide after failing to obtain a new waterworks system for the city.

Asiatica
A Sundanese separatist group in Indonesia proclaimed the independence of West Java and offered to return Dutch property in return for military protection.

Terrorism
An Irgun Zvai bomb squad breached the walls of Acre prison, allowing 251 Jewish and Arab prisoners to escape.

Politics and government
French Prime Minister Paul Ramadier ousted four Communist members of his cabinet, including Deputy Prime Minister Maurice Thorez, after the Communists voted in the National Assembly against the government's wage-freeze program.

Labour
Italian Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi granted a 15% wage increase to one million civil servants who were threatening a half-day strike fthe next day.

60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Young Love--Tab Hunter; Sonny James

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Cindy, Oh Cindy--Margot Eskens (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Cumberland Gap--Lonnie Donegan (4th week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 All Shook Up--Elvis Presley (4th week at #1)
2 Little Darlin'--The Diamonds
3 Come Go with Me--The Dell-Vikings
4 Round and Round--Perry Como
5 Party Doll--Buddy Knox with the Rhythm Orchids
--Steve Lawrence
6 School Day--Chuck Berry
7 Gone--Ferlin Husky
8 I'm Walkin'--Fats Domino
9 Why Baby Why--Pat Boone
10 Butterfly--Andy Williams
--Charlie Gracie

Singles entering the chart were Four Walls, with versions by Jim Reeves, and Jim Lowe (#38); Just to Hold My Hand by Clyde McPhatter (#46); Rosie Lee by the Mello-Tones (#48); Don't Cry My Love (The Faithful Hussar) by Vera Lynn (#54); Rock Your Little Baby to Sleep by Buddy Knox with the Rhythm Orchids (#56); I Need Your Lovin' by Conway Twitty (#57); and Little White Lies by Betty Johnson (#58).

On television tonight
Disc jockey Alan Freed hosted the first of two specials on ABC from 7:30-8:00 P.M. to bring rock and roll "into the living room," to "show everyone in the family that this is healthy, normal music." This week's show featured live performances by the Dell Vikings; the Clovers; Screamin' Jay Hawkins; Sal Mineo; Guy Mitchell; Martha Carson; and June Valli.

War
Nicaragua charged that Honduras had violated their cease-fire by renewed strafing of Mocoron and Laymon.

Politics and government
In elections boycotted by 70% of Syrian voters, Communist-backed Ba'ath Party nationalists won three of four contested parliamentary seats.

Diplomacy
The High Court of West Pakistan forbade the extradition of Iranian bandit Ahmed Shah, sought for his role in the murder of two U.S. aid officials.

Protest
Colombian troops occupied Bogota in the wake of large-scale rioting by university students.

Scandal
A grand jury in Portland, Oregon ended nine weeks of work by returning the last of 69 indictments in connection with the city's racketeering scandal involving the Teamsters union and public officials.

Horse racing
Iron Liege, with Bill Hartack up, won the 83rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:02 1/5, nosing out Gallant Man when Gallant Man's jockey, Bill Shoemaker, misjudged the 1/16 pole and stood up in the stirrups too soon. Round Table finished third.



50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Puppet on a String--Sandie Shaw (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
Dragnet 1967, starring Jack Webb and Harry Morgan, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Big Kids



Space
The United States launched the probe Lunar Orbiter 4 from Cape Kennedy, Florida.

Crime
The Supreme Court of Canada rejected Steven Truscott's appeal of his murder conviction. Mr. Truscott was 14 when he murdered 12-year-old Lynne Harper in 1959.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Free--Deniece Williams

On television tonight
The first of five broadcasts of interviews of former U.S. President Richard Nixon by British broadcaster David Frost aired in North America, and was watched by 45 million viewers in the United States (see video).

Music
The album The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl was released on Capitol Records.

Diplomacy
The United States and Vietnam concluded two days of talks in Paris toward normalizing relations between them. The U.S. pledged not to vote against Vietnam's admission to the United Nations and that it would lift a trade embargo against Vietnam once diplomatic relations were established. Vietnam promised to intensify efforts to provide more information about American servicemen still listed as missing in action from the Vietnam War.

Baseball
Ron Fairly had 3 hits, 2 runs and 2 runs batted in, while Dave McKay added 2 hits, a run, and 3 runs batted in as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Milwaukee Brewers 10-3 before 25,699 fans at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto in the Wednesday night telecast on CBC.

Julio Gonzalez singled home a run with 2 out in the top of the 9th to tie the game and singled in the winning run with 2 out in the 11th as the Houston Astros overcame a 4-0 deficit to defeat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 before 3,044 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Bob Watson got the Astros on the scoreboard with a 3-run home run with 2 out in the 8th. Ken Forsch pitched 2 innings of relief and was credited with the win.

Tony Scott, Garry Templeton, and Lou Brock hit home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals as they routed the Cincinnati Reds 8-1 before 20,719 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Bob Forsch pitched a 4-hit complete game victory, giving both Forsch brothers wins on the day. Jerry DaVanon played the last 2 innings at second base for St. Louis, and had an assist on the final out of the game, which was the 262nd and last game of Mr. DaVanon's 8-year major league career.

Larry Demery allowed 5 hits in 7 1/3 innings, tripled, and scored a run as the Pittsburgh Pirates blanked the Atlanta Braves 8-0 before 3,890 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The Pirates scored 5 runs in the first 2 innings, with Dave Parker doubling home 2 in the 1st to open the scoring. Barry Bonnell made his major league debut in left field for Atlanta, batting 0 for 3 and making 1 putout, while teammate Don Collins also played his first major league game, allowing 3 hits and 1 run--unearned--in 4 1/3 innings of relief, walking 2 batters and striking out 1, while batting 0 for 1.

Tommy John pitched a 4-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Jon Matlack as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Mets 3-1 before 23,398 fans at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers scored all their runs in the first 2 innings against Mr. Matlack, who allowed 7 hits and 3 earned runs in 7 innings. The game was played in 1 hour 49 minutes.

Randy Jones pitched a 4-hitter and added a single and double of his own to lead the San Diego Padres over the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 before 10,021 fans at San Diego Stadium in a game that was played in just 1 hour 29 minutes. Jim Kaat allowed 8 hits and 4 runs--3 earned--in 6 1/3 innings in taking the loss.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room)--Paul Lekakis (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Cathryn Damon, 56. U.S. actress. Miss Damon was known for her supporting roles in the television comedy series Soap (1977-1981) and Webster (1984-1986), winning an Emmy Award for Soap in 1980. She died of ovarian cancer.

Paul Butterfield, 44. U.S. musician. Mr. Butterfield was a harmonicist and singer who led the Paul Butterfield Blues Band from 1963-1971. He led Paul Butterfield's Better Days in 1972-1973 and performed with other artists and as a solo performer in later years. Mr. Butterfield died of a heroin overdose; he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

Personal
It was this blogger’s first full day in London, Ontario, and I visited the campus of the University of Western Ontario for the first time.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference Finals
Montreal 3 @ Philadelphia 4 (OT) (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 1-0)

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Viva Las Vegas--ZZ Top (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
54% of voters in a plebiscite in the Northwest Territories approved a boundary change making possible the ratification of a land claim agreement between the Government of Canada and the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut, giving the eastern Arctic Inuit $1.15 billion over 14 years and ownership of 350,000 square kilometres. An Inuit territory called Nunavut was to be created out of the Northwest Territories in 1999.

Crime
Nearly 1,000 Negro youths in Toronto, not ones to pass up an opportunity to riot, went on a downtown rampage, smashing windows and looting stores, imitating the riots in Los Angeles after four white police officers were acquitted of the beating of Negro criminal Rodney King.

Business
Hudson's Bay Company bought five Robinsons stores in Ottawa and southern Ontario, to be switched to Bay or Zellers outlets.

Disasters
An airliner en route from Kano, Nigeria to Lagos crashed in a heavily-populated suburb shortly after takeoff, killing at least 148 people, including 76 aboard the plane.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Chicago 3 @ Detroit 1 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Edmonton 0 @ Vancouver 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Truly Madly Deeply--Savage Garden (5th week at #1)

#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Hard to Say I'm Sorry--Az Yet featuring Peter Cetera (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Blond--Rainhard Fendrich

#1 single in Switzerland: I Believe I Can Fly--R. Kelly (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Alvy Moore, 75. U.S. actor. Mr. Moore was a character actor on stage, screen, and television in a career spanning more than 40 years. He was best known for playing county agricultural agent Hank Kimball on the television comedy series Green Acres (1965-1971). Mr. Moore died of heart failure.

Scandal
Strathcona Mineral Services said that Bre-X core samples from Busang, Indonesia had been tampered with, perpetrating a fraud without precedent in the history of Canada's mining industry. Bre-X had reported the discovery of gold in the samples.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
New York Rangers 2 @ New Jersey 0 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Anaheim 2 @ Detroit 3 (3 OT) (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Edmonton 1 @ Colorado 4 (Colorado led best-of-seven series 2-0)

10 years ago
2007

Disasters
Greensburg, Kansas was almost completely destroyed by a 1.7-mile-wide EF5 tornado. It was the first-ever tornado to be rated as such with the new Enhanced Fujita scale.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
New York Rangers 1 @ Buffalo 2 (OT) (Buffalo led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Maxim Afinogenov scored 4:39 into the 2nd overtime period to give the Sabres their win over the Rangers at HSBC Arena.