December 12, 2017

230 years ago
1787

Americana
Pennsylvania became the 2nd state to ratify the United States Constitution.

200 years ago
1817

Died on this date
Tekle Giyorgis I, 66 (?). Emperor of Ethiopia, 1779-1784; 1788-1789; 1794-1795; 1795-1796; 1798-1799; 1800. Tekle Giyorigs I, the youngest son of Emperor Yohannes II, was deposed five times; his last term as Emperor lasted three months, and he spent the rest of his life in the provinces of Waldebba and Tigré.

180 years ago
1837

War
In the Upper Canada Rebellion, Colonel Allan MacNab's militia troops skirmished with the first of Dr. Charles Duncombe's rebel force at Sodom; the news had spread of William Lyon Mackenzie's defeat at Toronto, and Dr. Duncombe's body of 300 rebels prepared to disperse. In the Lower Canada Rebellion, Dr. Wolfred Nelson was captured and jailed after leading the rebels at the Battle of St-Denis.

125 years ago
1892

Politics and government
Joseph-Adolphe Chapeau was installed as Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, serving until January 29, 1898.

120 years ago
1897

Popular culture
The Katzenjammer Kids, the pioneering comic strip by Rudolph Dirks, made its first appearance, in the New York Journal Sunday supplement American Humorist.

Braziliana
Belo Horizonte, the first planned city in Brazil, was founded.

100 years ago
1917

Society
Father Edward J. Flanagan founded Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska as a farm village for wayward boys.

90 years ago
1927

Politics and government
In Oklahoma City, troops called out by Oklahoma Governor H.S. Johnston held the state Capitol under arms and barred from its halls the State legislators called to hear impeachment charges against Mr. Johnston. The Assembly meeting outside the Capitol voted charges against the Governor.

80 years ago
1937

War
During the Sino-Japanese War, the gunboat USS Panay was sunk by Japanese warplanes in Chinese waters.

Football
NFL
Championship @ Wrigley Field, Chicago
Washington 28 @ Chicago Bears 21

Rookie quarterback Sammy Baugh completed threw touchdown passes of 55 and 78 yards to Wayne Millner and 35 yards to Ed Justice in the 3rd quarter as the Redskins won their first NFL title before 15,878 fans. Cliff Battles of the Redskins opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown rush in the 1st quarter, but Chicago’s Jack Manders scored 2 touchdowns in 3 minutes and 13 seconds later in the quarter, on a 10-yard rush and a 37-yard pass from Bernie Masterson. Riley Smith converted all Washington touchdowns, while Mr. Manders did the same for the Bears. There was no scoring in the 2nd and 4th quarters. Mr. Baugh completed 17 of 34 passes for 358 yards; Mr. Masterson and Ray Buivid shared the Bears’ quarterbacking and combined to complete just 7 of 28 passes for 172 yards and 3 interceptions. Mr. Manders led all rushers with 64 yards on 10 carries, while Mr. Millner led all receivers with 181 yards on 8 receptions.



75 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): White Christmas--Bing Crosby (7th week at #1)

War
German troops began Operation Winter Storm, an attempt to relieve encircled Axis forces during the Battle of Stalingrad. Soviet authorities claimed that 169,000 German soldiers had been killed and 74,500 taken prisoner in the Russian offensive around Stalingrad.

Crime
An arsonist, reputedly a German agent, set a fire in the Knights of Columbus hostel in St. John's, Newfoundland during the live radio broadcast of Uncle Tim's Barn Dance, killing 99 people and seriously injuring another 109, mostly military personnel and their dates. The hall was a firetrap with doors that opened inward; while the fire station was just 180 metres away, the fire did its damage in just nine minutes.

Labour
For the second time, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt directed Montgomery Ward and Company of Chicago to obey a National War Labor Board order and sign a maintenance-of-member contract with the Congress of Industrial Organizations.

Horse racing
Whirlaway, with Wendell Eads up, won the Louisiana Handicap in New Orleans.

Tennis
The United States Lawn Tennis Association ranked Frederick Schroeder and Pauline Betz as the top male and female players, respectively, in the annual rankings.

70 years ago
1947

Politics and government
The United Nations Trusteeship Council on Jerusalem reached agreement on a police force for the city and a balance of power between Jewish and Arab factions.

Protest
200,000 workers ended a one-day general strike in Rome after the Italian government agreed to provide an additional $18 million for public works and release 400 strikers who had been arrested for disorder.

Police clashed with students in Panama City who were demonstating against the recent agreement on defense installations concluded between the American and Panamanian governments.

Economics and finance
India and Pakistan reached an agreement on the division of British India's assets, giving Pakistan $227 million of the colony's treasury balance, 17.5% of its liabilities, and one-third of its military supplies.

Labour
United Mine Workers of America President John L. Lewis withdrew the union from the American Federation of Labor in a dispute over observance of the Taft-Hartley Act--which Mr. Lewis opposed--and influence on the AFL board.

60 years ago
1957

Aviation
U.S. Air Force Major Adrian Drew established a world speed record for manned aircraft of 1,207.6 miles per hour, flying an F101A Voodoo fighter-bomber over a 10-mile course at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

Americana
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the U.S. population at 172,327,000.

Politics and government
Labour Party leader Walter Nash took office as Prime Minister of New Zealand following his party's recent victory in the recent general election.

Labour
The American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations convention re-elected George Meany as President and William Schnitzler as Secretary-Treasurer.

50 years ago
1967

On television tonight
The Invaders, starring Roy Thinnes, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Ransom

Politics and government
A month after defeating former movie star Shirley Temple Black for the Republican Party nomination, Paul McCloskey was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in California's 11th District.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Mull of Kintyre--Wings

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Wakareuta--Miyuki Nakajima

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Oxygène (Part 4)--Jean Michel Jarre

Died on this date
Frank Boucher, 76. Canadian hockey player and coach. Mr. Boucher, a native of Ottawa, was one of four brothers who played in the National Hockey League. Frank played centre with the Ottawa Senators in 1921-22 before playing with the Vancouver Maroons of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and then the Western Canada Hockey League from 1922-26. He then returned to the NHL with the New York Rangers (1926-38, 1943-44), where he achieved his greatest success, playing on Stanley Cup championship teams in 1928 and 1933, and centring the "Bread Line" between brothers Bill and Bun Cook. Mr. Boucher won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most gentlemanly player seven times in eight seasons from 1927-35, and the league finally gave him the original trophy to keep. Mr. Boucher played 660 regular season professional games, scoring 513 points on 217 goals and 296 assists, with 17 goals and 21 assists in 59 playoff games. He coached the Rangers from 1939-49 and 1953-54, compiling a regular season record of 181-263-83 in 527 games. Mr. Boucher coached the Rangers to the Stanley Cup championship in 1940, their last championship until 1994. He served as the Rangers' general manager from 1946-55, with diminishing success as the years went on. Mr. Boucher was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958; he died of cancer.

Health
Chicago-based Velsicol Chemical Corporation and six of its present and past employees were indicted on charges of conspiring to hide test data that allegedly showed that two of its pesticides could produce cancer in humans. It was the first time that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had sought action over the alleged failure of a company to report adverse product information.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 1 @ Cleveland 2

The Barons edged the Canadiens before a large crowd at Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio in what was undoubtedly the high point in the 2-year history of the Barons in the National Hockey League.

CHL
The Phoenix Roadrunners, who were in their first season in the Central Hockey League, folded, leaving the league with five teams. The Roadrunners, affiliated with both the Cleveland Barons and Colorado Rockies of the National Hockey League, compiled a record of 4-20-3.

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: La Bamba--Los Lobos (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Faith--George Michael (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Faith--George Michael (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Fairytale of New York--The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): China in Your Hand--T'Pau (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): China in Your Hand--T'Pau (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Faith--George Michael

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Faith--George Michael
2 Heaven is a Place on Earth--Belinda Carlisle
3 (I've Had) The Time of My Life--Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
4 Should've Known Better--Richard Marx
5 Is This Love--Whitesnake
6 Shake Your Love--Debbie Gibson
7 We'll Be Together--Sting
8 So Emotional--Whitney Houston
9 Don't You Want Me--Jody Watley
10 The One I Love--R.E.M.

Singles entering the chart were What Have I Done to Deserve This by Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield (#71); Because of You by Cover Girls (#88); and Reason to Live by Kiss (#89).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 (I've Had) The Time of My Life--Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
2 I Think We're Alone Now--Tiffany
3 Faith--George Michael
4 Heaven is a Place on Earth--Belinda Carlisle
5 Mony Mony (Live)--Billy Idol
6 Got My Mind Set on You--George Harrison
7 Try--Blue Rodeo
8 Pop Goes the World--Men Without Hats
9 We'll Be Together--Sting
10 I've Been in Love Before--Cutting Crew

Singles entering the chart were Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac (#85); In God's Country by U2 (#88); Motortown by the Kane Gang (#91); Once Upon a Long Ago by Paul McCartney (#92); Only the Strong Survive by Bryan Adams (#95); Closer Every Day by the Jitters (#96); and Rain in the Summertime by the Alarm (#97).

Defense
During a visit to Denmark, U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz called on America's North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies to sharply increase their defense spending.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): End of the Road--Boyz II Men (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kurisumas ukyaroru no koroni ha--Junichi Inagaki (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Because the Night--Co.Ro featuring Tarlisa (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Sweat (A La La La La Long)--Inner Circle (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Dur dur d'être bébé!--Jordy (9th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The (Elvis) Letter--Wayne Newton
2 I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston
3 If I Ever Fall in Love--Shai
4 Rump Shaker--Wreckx-N-Effect
5 How Do You Talk to an Angel--The Heights
6 I'd Die Without You--PM Dawn
7 Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap!
8 Good Enough--Bobby Brown
9 Real Love--Mary J. Blige
10 To Love Somebody--Michael Bolton

Singles entering the chart were Deeper and Deeper by Madonna (#35); Give it Up, Turn it Loose by En Vogue (#53); Everything's Gonna Be Alright by Father MC (#77); Baby, I Believe in You by George LaMond (#79); I Love You Period. by Dan Baird (#83); and Quality Time by Hi-Five (#90). The presence of The (Elvis) Letter at #1 should probably be headlined under "Scandal." According to this blog post and this forum post, Cash Box was accused of rigging its country charts in a late-1980s version of payola. A new chart director, Kevin Hughes, who was apparently going to expose and clean up the operation, was murdered by former chart director Richard D'Antonio (see here, and the court record of Mr. D'Antonio's unsuccessful appeal here). As for The (Elvis) Letter, it topped the Cash Box pop and country charts, while not even appearing on the Billboard Hot 100 or Adult Contemporary charts. It also failed to chart in Canada, as far as I've seen. The (Elvis) Letter appeared as a track on an album by Mr. Newton; as a single, it was released as a cassette single that was shipped to media outlets, and was never commercially available. I was still listening to the radio in 1992, and I never heard the song; in fact, I never heard of it until I saw it listed on the Cash Box chart.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Song Instead of a Kiss--Alannah Myles (4th week at #1)
2 How Do You Talk to an Angel--The Heights
3 Layla--Eric Clapton
4 To Love Somebody--Michael Bolton
5 Do You Believe in Us--Jon Secada
6 Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses--U2
7 Drive--R.E.M.
8 Keep the Faith--Bon Jovi
9 I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston
10 Love Can Move Mountains--Celine Dion

Singles entering the chart were Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion) by Def Leppard (#61); Deeper and Deeper by Madonna (#76); 7 by Prince (#82); Paper Doll by Fleetwood Mac (#84); Stop the World by Extreme (#87); Soul Drifter by Lindsey Buckingham (#88); The Mind of Love (Where is...) by k.d. lang (#89); and Ignoreland by R.E.M. (#91).

Married on this date
Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence. The small family ceremony in Scotland was the second marriage for the Princess Royal and the first for the Royal Navy Commander.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Barbie Girl--Aqua (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Will Come to You--Hanson

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Perfect Day--Various Artists (3rd week at #1)

At the movies
Deconstructing Harry, written and directed by, and starring Woody Allen, opened in theatres.

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Ike Turner, 76. U.S. musician. Mr. Turner was a guitarist and pianist who was one of the influential figures of early rock and roll as leader of the Kings of Rhythm; their single Rocket 88 (1951), credited to Jackie Brenston and the Kings of Rhythm, is considered by some to be the first rock and roll record. Mr. Turner achieved his greatest success in the 1960s and early '70s with his wife Tina, performing as the Ike and Tina Turner Revue. The couple broke up in 1976, and Mr. Turner's later years were plagued by drug addiction and legal problems. He died of a cocaine overdose, and he was also suffering from emphysema.