June 20, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Dale Hein!

180 years ago
1837

Died on this date
William IV, 71. King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; King of Hanover, 1830-1837. The last king and penultimate monarch from the House of Hanover, William IV was the younger brother of King George IV, and succeeded him on the throne. He fathered 10 illegitimate children by actress Dorothea Jordan, but no legitimate children, and was succeeded by his niece Victoria.

160 years ago
1857

Born on this date
Thomas "Dude" Esterbrook. Mr. Esterbrook was an infielder who played with seven major league teams from 1880-1891, batting .261 with 6 home runs and 210 runs batted in. He was being transported by train to a mental hospital in Middletown, New York on April 30, 1901 when he squeezed through a washroom window and fell to the rail bed below, dying at the age of 43.

150 years ago
1867

War
Mexico City surrendered to liberal forces.

140 years ago
1877

Canadiana
The census of Manitoba reported 1,050 homesteaders in the Red River Valley.

Academia
The first classes were held at the University of Manitoba, chartered February 28, 1877.

Communications
Hugh Cossart Baker, Jr. installed the world's first commercial telephone service for the fire department in Hamilton, Ontario. Mr. Baker had learned of Alexander Graham Bell's invention in 1877 at the Philadelphia International Exposition and decided to test the device.

Disasters
Fire raged through Saint John, New Brunswick for over nine hours, wiping out the entire business district and burning down 1,612 houses (over two-thirds of the housing stock), leaving 15,000 homeless, killing 19 people, razing over 80 hectares of land, and causing $27 million worth of damage. The Great Fire began when a spark fell into a bundle of hay at a downtown store. Most of the city's buildings were made of wood that had dried out during a particularly dry spring, and the flames, driven by a strong breeze, soon became unmanageable. Eight churches, six banks, 14 hotels, 11 schooners, and four wooden boats were destroyed.

130 years ago
1887

Transportation
Victoria Terminus, the busiest railway station in India, opened in Bombay.

120 years ago
1897

Britannica
Celebrations of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee began in the United Kingdom and throughout the British Empire. Canadian Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier was in London for the occasion, and was knighted while there.

75 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Sleepy Lagoon--Harry James and his Orchestra

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Brian Wilson!
The leader of the Beach Boys was born in Inglewood, California, and grew up in nearby Hawthorne. He's the first singer whose voice I was able to do an impression of.

War
A Japanese submarine surfaced and fires around thirty 5.5" naval shells at the wireless station and lighthouse on isolated Estevan Point on Vancouver Island, British Columbia with little damage. It was the only time that Canadian territory was under fire in World War II. Kazimierz Piechowski and three other prisoners, dressed as members of the SS-Totenkopfverbände, stole an SS staff car and escaped from the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. The German high command said that 20,000 prisoners had been taken in Libya, where British forces had been driven back to the Egyptian border or surrounded at Tobruk. German troops smashed through Soviet defense lines north of Sevastopol and reached Syevernaya Harbour north opposite the naval base after 12 days of heavy fighting.

Technology
The Armour Research Foundation in Chicago announced the development and patenting of a device about the size of a portable radio which recorded sound magnetically on steel wires as thin as a human hair.

70 years ago
1947

Died on this date
Bugsy Siegel, 41. U.S. gangster. Benjamin Siegel was a founder and leader of Murder, Inc.--the enforcement arm of organized crime--but was one of the developers of the Las Vegas Strip. He was gunned down at the home of his girlfriend Virginia Hill in Beverly Hills, California.

Defense
Iran and the United States signed an agreement in Washington giving Iran a $25-million loan over 15 years to buy surplus U.S. military equipment.

Politics and government
Hindu and Muslim delegates to the Bengal Provincial Assembly in Calcutta voted to partition the area between India and Pakistan.

Economics and government
U.S. Ambassador to Greece Lincoln MacVeigh and Greek Foreign Minister Constantin Tsaldaris signed an agreement in Athens formally transferring $300 million in U.S. aid to Greece and allowing the United States to supervise the use to which the money was put.

The French cabinet approved Prime Minister Paul Ramadier's emergency fiscal program, which abolished bread, milk, and farm subsidies; increased rates on government services; and raised taxes in an effort to eliminate a growing budget deficit.

Labour
U.S. President Harry Truman vetoed the Taft-Hartley bill, which imposed restrictions on union activity, but the House of Representatives immediately voted to override the veto.

60 years ago
1957

Defense
U.S. disarmament negotiator Harold Stassen presented in London a U.S. proposal to reduce U.S. and U.S.S.R. armed forces below the 2.5-million-man level.

50 years ago
1967

At the movies
Don't Make Waves, directed by Alexander Mackendrick, and starring Tony Curtis, Claudia Cardinale, and Sharon Tate, opened in theatres.

Canadiana
Prime Minister Lester Pearson opened the new National Library and Archives Building on Wellington Street in Ottawa, next to the Supreme Court of Canada, costing $13 million to build, and housing over 400,000 volumes of information.

World events
South Arabian troops mutinied in Aden, killing 11 Britons and 2 Arab policemen.

Protest
Two days of race riots in Atlanta concluded with the death of one Negro.

Boxing
Muhammad Ali, recently stripped of his world heavyweight title, was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted into the United States Army. The conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1971.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Julie Covington (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Katte ni Shiyagare--Kenji Sawada

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Linda--Miguel Bosé (2nd week at #1)

On television today
The Edge of Night, on ABC

Adam Drake (played by Donald May), the main character of this soap opera (the only soap opera this blogger watched), was killed in this day's episode.

Died on this date
Abner Biberman, 68. U.S. actor and director. Mr. Biberman played small roles in movies such as Gunga Din (1939) and The Roaring Twenties (1939). He directed several films, but was more active in television, where his work included four episodes of The Twilight Zone (1962-1964).

Diplomacy
French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing and U.S.S.R. Leonid Brezhnev began three says of talks at Mr. Giscard d'Estaing's official residence outside Paris.

Society
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that state and local governments need not spend Medicaid funds on elective abortions for women who could not afford them. The court also ruled 6-3 that public hospitals in cities and towns may refuse to permit or fund such abortions

Oil
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System opened; oil began flowing from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.

The Canadian government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau ended a five-year exploration freeze, opening over 400 million hectares offshore, effective August 1, 1977.

Baseball
Mark "The Bird" Fidrych pitched a 3-hitter and struck out 9 batters to win the pitchers' duel over Don Gullett as the Detroit Tigers edged the New York Yankees 2-1 before 47,236 fans at Tiger Stadium in the Monday Night Baseball telecast on ABC. Mr. Gullett also pitched a complete game, allowing just 5 hits.



Ray Fosse tripled home 3 runs with 2 out in the top of the 11th inning to break a 5-5 tie as the Cleveland Indians beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-5 before 24,568 fans at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Jeff Byrd made his major league debut as Toronto's starting pitcher, allowing 5 hits, 5 bases on balls, and 3 runs--all earned--in 5+ innings, with 4 strikeouts.

Rick Wise pitched a 2-hitter and struck out 10 as the Boston Red Sox shut out the Baltimore Orioles 4-0 before 23,815 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

Leadoff hitter Rodney Scott and ninth-place hitter Rob Picciolo each had 3 hits to help the Oakland Athletics beat the Chicago White Sox 7-1 before 13,933 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago.

J.R. Richard pitched an 8-hit complete game, striking out 9, and hit his first home run of the season to help the Houston Astros defeat the Montreal Expos 6-3 before 15,949 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Losing pitcher Jackie Brown also pitched a complete game.

Joe Wallis drew a base on balls with 2 out in the top of the 12th inning and scored on a triple by Mick Kelleher to break a 9-9 tie as the Chicago Cubs edged the San Francisco Giants 10-9 before 4,344 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Former Giant Bobby Murcer had doubled home 3 unearned runs in the 9th to give the Cubs a 9-8 lead, only to have the Giants tie the game on an unearned run in the bottom of the 9th.

Rick Monday hit home runs in the 4th and 5th innings, and Steve Garvey and Dusty Baker also homered, as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the St.Louis Cardinals 9-3 before 39,614 fans at Dodger Stadium. Rick Rhoden pitched an 8-hit complete game to improve his record for the season to 10-3. The Cardinals scored all their runs in the 9th inning.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Let it Be--Ferry Aid (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Multimix--The Communards (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Hold Me Now--Johnny Logan (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Want Your Sex--George Michael

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Star Trekkin'--The Firm

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Head to Toe--Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Head to Toe--Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
2 Always--Atlantic Starr
3 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston
4 In Too Deep--Genesis
5 You Keep Me Hangin' On--Kim Wilde
6 The Lady in Red--Chris DeBurgh
7 Songbird--Kenny G
8 Diamonds--Herb Alpert (vocals by Lisa Keith and Janet Jackson)
9 Alone--Heart
10 Meet Me Half Way--Kenny Loggins

Singles entering the chart were These Times are Hard for Lovers by John Waite (#85); That's Freedom by Tom Kimmel (#86); Still a Thrill by Jody Watley (#87); Rock-A-Lott by Aretha Franklin (#88); Under the Boardwalk by Bruce Willis (#89); and Good Times by INXS and Jimmy Barnes (#90).

Canada’s top 10 (RPM)
1 Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You--Glenn Medeiros
2 You Keep Me Hangin' On--Kim Wilde
3 (I Just) Died in Your Arms--Cutting Crew
4 Boom Boom--Paul Lekakis
5 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)--Whitney Houston
6 Looking for a New Love--Jody Watley
7 Always--Atlantic Starr
8 La Isla Bonita--Madonna
9 With or Without You--U2
10 Talk Dirty to Me--Poison

Singles entering the chart were I Want Your Sex by George Michael (#83); Awake the Giant by Gowan (#91); Seven Wonders by Fleetwood Mac (#94); Teenland by the Northern Pikes (#96); One for the Mockingbird by Cutting Crew (#98); and Vanna Pick Me a Letter by Dr. Dave (#99).

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Take it from Me--Girlfriend (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Blowin'--B'z (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Please Don't Go--Double You (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap!

#1 single in France (SNEP): Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap! (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Abba-esque (EP)--Erasure (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'll Be There--Mariah Carey

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers
2 Baby Got Back--Sir Mix-a-Lot
3 Jump--Kris Kross
4 I'll Be There--Mariah Carey
5 My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)--En Vogue
6 Damn I Wish I was Your Lover--Sophie B. Hawkins
7 If You Asked Me To--Celine Dion
8 Achy Breaky Heart--Billy Ray Cyrus
9 Just Take My Heart--Mr. Big
10 Slow Motion--Color Me Badd

Singles entering the chart were Remedy by the Black Crowes (#62); Too Funky by George Michael (#67) Good Stuff by the B-52's (#82); Keep on Walkin' by Ce Ce Peniston (#85); and November Rain by Guns N' Roses (#89).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Hold on My Heart--Genesis
2 If You Asked Me To--Celine Dion
3 Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers
4 You Won't See Me Cry--Wilson Phillips
5 Sinking Like a Sunset--Tom Cochrane
6 Damn I Wish I was Your Lover--Sophie B. Hawkins
7 Do it to Me--Lionel Richie
8 Why--Annie Lennox
9 I Will Remember You--Amy Grant
10 America--Kim Mitchell

Singles entering the chart were Slow Motion by Color Me Badd (#68); Anything at All by Mitch Malloy (#73); Innocent Child by Colourhaus (#74); Cry (If You Want To) by Frozen Ghost (#77); Don't Tell Me by Lava Hay (#78); Driving the Last Spike by Genesis (#90); Deep in My Soul by Acosta/Russell (#92); Fly Like an Eagle by the Neville Brothers (#93); and Even Flow by Pearl Jam (#97).

Personal
This blogger cut his Quebec vacation short, leaving rainy Montreal for a five-hour train ride to Toronto.

Weather
It was the coldest June 20 in Toronto in 52 years.

World events
The Bosnian government claimed that 40,000 people, mostly civilians, had been massacred by Serbs since Bosnia-Herzegovina had voted for independence from Yugoslavia in February.

Politics and government
Czechoslovakian Premier-designate Vaclav Klaus and Slovak nationalist leader Vladimir Meciar agreed to prepare for the transition of Czechoslovakia into two separate countries.

Dartmouth Mayor John Savage was elected leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Pary; 7,000 Liberals cast ballots from their homes, punching their personal identification numbers into telephones.

Labour
Toronto Star printers went on strike, forcing the newspaper to stop the presses for the First time in 99 years; 56 pages of features printed earlier were distributed free.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): MMMBop--Hanson

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Bailando--Paradisio (8th week at #1)

Died on this date
Lawrence Payton, 59. U.S. singer. Mr. Payton was a member of the Four Tops, who were formed in 1953, and remained together until Mr. Payton's death from liver cancer. The Four Tops had numerous hit singles, but achieved most of their success while recording with the Motown Corporation from 1964-1972. Mr. Payton sang lead on few songs, but was credited with arranging the vocal harmonies.

At the movies
Batman & Robin, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Uma Thurman, and Alicia Silverstone, opened in theatres.

Politics and government
Reform Party of Canada leader Preston Manning announced that he would move into Stornaway as official Opposition leader; during the recent federal election campaign he had suggested turning the 34-room mansion, official residence of the Leader of the Opposition, into a bingo parlour or bowling alley.

Business
U.S. tobacco firms agreed to a large legal settlement in exchange for relief from mounting lawsuits and legal bills.

10 years ago
2007

Baseball
Sammy Sosa of the Texas Rangers became the fifth major leaguer to hit 600 career home runs, connecting against his former team as the Rangers beat the Chicago Cubs 7-3 before 37,564 fans at Rangers Ballpark. Mr. Sosa hit 545 home runs with the Cubs from 1992-2004.

Frank Thomas doubled to lead off the bottom of the 2nd inning, came around to score, and then hit a grand slam later in the inning as the Toronto Blue Jays scored 8 runs on their way to a 12-1 rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers before 24,413 fans at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Winning pitcher Roy Halladay allowed 6 hits and 1 earned run in 8 innings to improve his record for the season to 8-2.

Ryan Ludwick led off the bottom of the 14th inning with a home run to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 7-6 win over the Kansas City Royals before 42,623 fans at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. St. Louis infielder Aaron Miles batted 5 for 7 with 3 runs.

J.D. Drew led off the game with a home run to begin a 5-run 1st inning as the Boston Red Sox routed the Atlanta Braves 11-0 before 49,585 fans at Turner Field in Atlanta. Coco Crisp, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Eric Hinske also homered.