December 22, 2017

250 years ago
1767

Died on this date
John Newbery, 54. U.K. publisher. Mr. Newbery was known as the "The Father of Children's Literature," for his pioneering role in publishing children's books. The John Newbery Medal, awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children for the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children," is named in his honour.

210 years ago
1807

Economics and finance
The Embargo Act, forbidding trade with all foreign countries, was passed by the U.S. Congress, at the urging of President Thomas Jefferson.

110 years ago
1907

Born on this date
Peggy Ashcroft. U.K. actress. Dame Peggy, born Edith Margaret Emily Ashcroft, had a career that spanned more than 60 years, mainly on stage. She appeared in television programs and movies in later years, and won an Academy Award for her supporting performance in A Passage to India (1984). Dame Peggy died on June 14, 1991 at the age of 83.

100 years ago
1917

Born on this date
Gene Rayburn. U.S. television game show host. Mr. Rayburn, born Eugene Jelyevich, was a successful actor and radio personality before becoming best known for hosting television game shows, particularly Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1982, 1983). He died on November 29, 1999, 23 days before his 82nd birthday.

90 years ago
1927

Business
The London Daily Telegraph was sold by Lord Burnham to Sir William Berry, James Gower Berry, and Sir Edward Iliffe.

80 years ago
1937

Transportation
The Lincoln Tunnel opened to traffic in New York City.

75 years ago
1942

Died on this date
Franz Boas, 84. German-born U.S. anthropologist and linguist. Dr. Boas earned a doctorate in physics in Germany before moving to northern Canada and then to the United States, where he became known as the "Father of American Anthropology." He opposed the then-popular idea that race is a biological concept and that societies progressed through evolutionary stages, with Western European culture as the most advanced. Dr. Boas instead promoted cultural relativism, the idea that cultures can't be objectively rated as higher or lower.

War
German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler signed the order to develop the V-2 rocket as a weapon. Russian forces continued to pursue German forces in the middle of the Don River sector, liberating several towns, including Kamensky, Popovka, Morozovsk, Nikolskoe, and Fyodorovka. French forces in Tunisia, with Allied air support, attacked toward the Tunisian coast, southeast of Pont du Fahs.

Economics and finance
The United States and Brazil signed an agreement setting up travel bases for workers being sent to the Amazon Valley to increase rubber production.

70 years ago
1947

War
German industrialist Friedrich Flick received a seven-year prison sentence, and five associates drew lesser terms in Nuremberg, for using slave labour in their munitions factories during World War II.

Defense
The Greek Army called up new troops and formed a 50,000-man home guard to prevent new guerrilla offensive.

The Panamanian National Assembly voted unanimously against ratifying the December 10 agreement allowing continued American use of defense bases in Panama.

Politics and government
The Italian Constituent Assembly approved a new constitution for the Republic, with provision for a seven-year presidency; universal suffrage; compulsory military service; equal rights for women in industry; and prohibition of the Fascist Party.

Ibrahim Hakimi Al-Molk was named to succeed Ahmad Ghavam as Prime Minister of Iran.

Physicist Daryl Froman was named scientific director of the Eniwetok atomic proving ground.

Education
The United States and Burma agreed to a 15-year educational exchange program, to be financed by a $3-million U.S. grant.

Economics and finance
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Clinton Anderson released to Congress the names of 711 individuals and firms listed as "big" traders on the commodity markets. The list included only one U.S. government official, Edwin Pauley.

Labour
Canada's American Federation of Labor Seafarers International Union won a basic monthly raise of $15.79 from three West Coast shipping lines.

60 years ago
1957

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Miss Paisley's Cat, starring Dorothy Stickney, Fred Graham, and Raymond Bailey

At the movies
The Enemy Below, produced and directed by Dick Powell and starring Robert Mitchum and Curt Jürgens, received its premiere screening in Orlando (see video).



Died on this date
Frank Woollard, 72. U.K. engineer. Mr. Woollard was a mechanical engineer who spent nearly three decades in the British automotive industry, where he pioneered "lean management."

Economics and finance
The U.S. Commerce Department estimated that U.S. consumer assets had decreased at a record annual amount of $26.5 billion during 1957.

Disasters
All 28 crewmen of the Scottish freighter SS Narva were lost when it sank in a North Sea gale between Stavanger, Norway and Aberdeen, Scotland while going to the aid of another ship in distress.

Football
NFL
Pittsburgh (6-6) 27 @ Chicago Cardinals (3-9) 2

Western Conference playoff
Detroit 31 @ San Francisco 27

After hearing the 49ers celebrating their 27-7 halftime lead through the thin walls of Kezar Stadium, the Lions scored 24 unanswered points behind the passing of Tobin Rote and the running of Tom Tracy to win the Western Conference title. The teams had finished tied for first place with records of 8-4; the winners were to play the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Browns (9-2-1) for the National Football League championship one week hence.





50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Snoopy's Christmas--The Royal Guardsmen

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Hello Goodbye--The Beatles
2 Daydream Believer--The Monkees
3 (Alone) In My Room--Willie & the Walkers
4 Next Plane to London--The Rose Garden
5 (The Lights Went Out In) Massachusetts--The Bee Gees
6 Bottle of Wine--The Fireballs
7 Ten Little Indians--The Yardbirds
8 Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)--John Fred and his Playboy Band
9 Incense and Peppermints--Strawberry Alarm Clock
10 Child of Clay--Jimmie Rodgers
Pick hit of the week: Deep in the Night--The Candymen
New this week: Who Will Answer?--Ed Ames
Soul Man--Ramsey Lewis
Spooky--The Classics IV
Baby, Now that I've Found You--The Foundations
Some Velvet Morning--Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood

At the movies
The Graduate, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Dustin Hoffman, Katharine Ross, and Anne Bancroft, opened in theatres.



Abominations
Canadian Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau, in presenting his omnibus bill reforming the Criminal Code, told the House of Commons that "There is no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation." His bill called for decriminalization of "homosexual acts" performed in private; making it legal for women to get an abortion if a committee of three doctors felt the pregnancy endangered the mental, emotional or physical well-being of the mother; legalization of lotteries; further controls on gun ownership; and breathalyzer tests on suspected drunk drivers if police had reasonable and probable cause.

40 years ago
1977

On television tonight
James at 15, starring Lance Kerwin, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Fast and Loose



Class of '65, starring Tony Bill, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Class Dreamers

Defense
The Canadian Defense Department started building the first six new naval frigates as part of a $1.5-billion naval program.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter approved a budget of $126 billion for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year 1979, a 2% increase over 1978 but $4 billion less than requested by Defense Secretary Harold Brown.

30 years ago
1987

Died on this date
Luca Prodan, 34. Italian-born Argentine musician. Mr. Prodan went to school in Scotland and spent most of the 1970s in London before moving to Argentina in 1981 and leading the alternative rock group Suma, one of Argentina's most influential acts. He recorded with Sumo and as a solo act until his death from a heart attack or cirrhosis of the liver.

Politics and government
In Zimbabwe, the political parties ZANU and ZAPU reached an agreement to merge, ending the Gukurahundi, the suppression of predominantly Ndebele civilians in the Matabeleland region by the 5th Brigade.

Hockey
Canada defeated Finland 4-1 to win its first-ever gold medal at the annual Izvestia tournament in Moscow.

25 years ago
1992

Died on this date
Frederick W. Franz, 99. U.S. religious leader. Mr. Franz was President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania--better known as Jehovah's Witnesses--from 1977 until his death. He converted to the movement at the age of 20, played a major role in the New World Translation (1950-1961) of the Bible, and became Vice President in 1945, succeeding Nathan Knorr as President upon Mr. Knorr's death. Mr. Franz was succeeded as President by Milton Henschel.

Communications
Canadian Communications Minister Perrin Beatty licensed four companies to provide digital Personal Communication Services (PSA) phone services: Telezone; Rogers Cantel; Mobility Canada (Bell); and Canada Popfone (MH).

20 years ago
1997

Abominations
45 members of the Roman Catholic pacifist group Las Abejas ("The Bees") were massacred by members of the paramilitary group Mascara Roja (Red Mask) while at a prayer meeting in the small village of Acteal in the Mexican state of Chiapas.

Politics and government
Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquished the disputed title of President of Somalia by signing the Cairo Declaration. It was the first major step toward reconciliation in Somalia since 1991.

Health
An independent inquiry into the BSE "disaster" and the devastation it had wreaked on British farming was announced by the British government of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Charles Court, 96. Australian politician. Sir Charles, a Liberal, represented Nedlands in the Western Australia Legislative Assembly from 1953-1982. He became leader of the party in 1972, and served as Premier of Western Australia from 1974-1982. Sir Charles was known for supporting states' rights and opposing Aboriginal land rights and labour unions.