December 28, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Heather Pick!

150 years ago
1867

Americana
The United States claimed Midway Atoll, the first territory annexed outside continental limits.

125 years ago
1892

Boxing
Billy Plimmer (16-1-1) of England scored a technical knockout of Joe McGrath (8-1-1) of Ireland in the 8th round at Seaside Athletic Club in Brooklyn, New York to win the world 110-pound title. Mr. McGrath was knocked down 4 times in round 6 and numerous times in round 7, and his second eventually threw up the sponge.

120 years ago
1897

Theatre
Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, starring Constant Coquelin, received its premiere performance at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin in Paris.

100 years ago
1917

Died on this date
Eddie McKay, 25. Canadian military aviator. Captain McKay, a native of Brussels, Ontario, was a flying ace with the U.K. Royal Flying Corps in World War I. He recorded 10 combat victories before being fatally shot down over Belgium on December 28, 1917, the day after his 25th birthday.

80 years ago
1937

Died on this date
Maurice Ravel, 62. French composer. One of the greatest of French composers, Mr. Ravel's works included Pavane pour une infante défunte (1899); Daphnis et Chloé (1909-1912); Boléro (1928) and Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (1929-1930).

75 years ago
1942

Died on this date
Nevile Henderson, 60. U.K. diplomat. Sir Nevile was Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1929-1935) and Ambassador to Argentina (1935-1937), but was best known for serving as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Germany (1937-1939). Sir Nevile supported the policy of appeasement, and believed that German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler could be moved toward peace and cooperation with Western powers; he was mistaken. Sir Nevile's service ended on September 7, 1939, four days after Britain and Germany entered into a state of war; he was not given another ambassadorial post, and died after a four-year battle with cancer.

War
Vichy radio broadcast a speech by French Prime Minister Marshal Philippe Petain in which he denounced French African leaders "who have betrayed French Africa to the British and Americans." Advancing nearly 16 miles, Soviet forces took towns on both sides of the southern anchor of the Germans' Stalingrad line. In a night attack on Rabaul, New Britain, Allied bombers sank or set fire to four Japanese ships.

Economics and finance
U.S. Rubber Director William Jeffers said that the first four government butadiene rubber factories would begin production in January 1943 with a potential annual output of 80,000 tons.

70 years ago
1947

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and Alfred Shirley, on MBS
Tonight's episode:  New Year's Eve Off the Scilly Isles

Died on this date
Victor Emmanuel III, 78. King of Italy, 1900-1946. Victor Emmanuel III came to the throne upon the assassination of his father Umberto I, and promoted constitutional government until the 1920s, when Benito Mussolini became leader of a Fascist dictatorship. King Victor Emmanuel's decisions to assume the titles Emperor of Ethiopia (1936-1941) and King of the Albanians (1939-1943) weren't recognized abroad, and proved unpopular at home. After World War II, a referendum was to be held in Italy on whether to abolish the monarchy; Victor Emmanuel III abdicated the throne in favour of his son Umberto II in an attempt to regain popular support for the monarchy. The move failed, and the royal family was forced to leave the country when the monarchy was abolished. Victor Emmanuel was welcomed into Egypt, and died in Alexandria of pulmonary edema. The remains of King Victor Emmanuel III were repatriated to Italy on December 17, 2017 and interred in sanctuary of Vicoforte, near Turin, next to the remains of his consort, Queen Elena, whose remains had been transferred from France two days earlier.

Diplomacy
Jewish Agency for Palestine leader Moshe Sneh resigned from the organization's executive board, complaining of undue emphasis on relations with the Western powers and insufficient attention to the U.S.S.R.

Football
NFL
Championship
Philadelphia 21 @ Chicago Cardinals 28

Before 30,759 fans at Comiskey Park, the hometown Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 28-21 for the National Football League championship. The Cardinals were led by the Dream Backfield of quarterback Paul Christman, fullback Pat Harder, and halfbacks Charlie Trippi and Elmer Angsman. It was the latter two whose big plays proved to be the difference in the championship game. Trippi rushed 44 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, and returned a punt 75 yards for another TD in the third quarter. Mr. Angsman scored on a 10-yard rush in the second quarter, and on a 70-yard rush midway through the fourth quarter. Eagle touchdowns were scored by Pat McHugh (on a 70-yard pass from quarterback Tommy Thompson), Steve Van Buren, and Russ Craft. Jimmy Conzelman was the victorious coach. One of his players, defensive end Pop Ivy, went on to coach the Edmonton Eskimos to consecutive Grey Cup championships in 1954-55-56 before returning to coach the Cardinals from 1958-61, and the Houston Oilers in 1962-63. The 1947 title remains the second and last won by the Cardinals, who moved to St. Louis in 1960 and then to Phoenix in 1988. The Eagles recovered from their 1947 defeat to win the championship in 1948 and 1949.



60 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Diana--Paul Anka (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Wo meine Sonne scheint--Caterina Valente (2nd week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Raunchy--Bill Justis and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)
--Ernie Freeman
2 At the Hop--Danny and the Juniors
3 You Send Me--Sam Cooke
4 Great Balls of Fire--Jerry Lee Lewis
5 April Love--Pat Boone
6 Peggy Sue--Buddy Holly
7 Kisses Sweeter than Wine--Jimmie Rodgers
8 Jailhouse Rock--Elvis Presley
9 All the Way--Frank Sinatra
10 Chances Are--Johnny Mathis

Singles entering the chart were Stood Up (#36)/Waitin' in School (#40) by Ricky Nelson; The Stroll by the Diamonds (#39); Sugartime by the McGuire Sisters (#45); Uh-Huh--mmm by Sonny James (#47); La Dee Dah by Billy and Lillie (#48); You're the Greatest by Billy Scott (#54); Don't Let Go by Roy Hamilton (#55); and Oh Julie by the Crescendos (#57).

Defense
U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon indicated that he felt that bombers rather than missiles would be the decisive strategic weapon for an appreciable time.

Economics and finance
The U.S. National Planning Association estimated that the U.S. economy could take a $10-billion annual increase in defense spending by 1960 without a tax increase.

Health
The Stanley abattoir in Liverpool, one of the largest in the United Kingdom, was closed after eight suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease were found in carcasses and 10 more were found in cattle waiting to be slaughtered.

Tennis
Australia retained the Davis Cup when the team of Mal Anderson, Ashley Cooper, and Mervyn Rose defeated the U.S. team of Vic Seixas and Barry MacKay 3 matches to 2 in Melbourne.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Love You Tokyo--Los Primos (7th week at #1)

On television tonight
Dragnet 1968, starring Jack Webb and Harry Morgan, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Big Shipment



40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Mull of Kintyre--Wings (5th week at #1)

Politics and government
U.S. President Jimmy Carter appointed James T. McIntyre as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Mr. McIntyre had been deputy to Bert Lance, who had resigned on September 21 amid allegations of improprieties in holdings of stock in the National Bank of Georgia. Mr. McIntyre has served as acting OMB Director since Mr. Lance's resignation.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Carter announced that he would replace Federal Reserve Board Chairman Arthur Burns with G. William Miller, chairman of Rhode Island-based manufacturer Textron, Inc. Dr. Burns, whose seven-year term as Chairman expired on January 31, 1978, was a fiscal conservative and vocal critic of the Carter administration's economic policies, and had recently clashed with the White House over the Board's policies of tightening interest rates.

Hockey
NHL
Super Series '78
Spartak 0 @ Vancouver 2

The Canucks defeated Spartak 2-0 at the Pacific Coliseum as part of an exhibition series between National Hocley League clubs and the Czechoslovakian clubs Pardubice and Kladno, and the Soviet club Spartak.

World Junior Championships
U.S.S.R. 3 Canada 2

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley (5th week at #1)

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Help Us Back Home Sarajevo--Colours (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Pudlo Pudlat, 76. Canadian artist. Mr. Pudlat, from Cape Dorset, Nunavut, was the first Inuit artist to have a one-person show at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

Sal Maglie, 75. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Maglie pitched in the major leagues with the New York Giants (1945, 1950-1955); Cleveland Indians (1955-1956); Brooklyn Dodgers (1956-1957); New York Yankees (1957-1958); and St. Louis Cardinals (1958), compiling a record of 119 wins and 62 losses for a winning percentage of .657. After his rookie year, he jumped to the Mexican League in 1946 and was one of several players who was banned from returning to the major leagues. The ban was lifted in 1949, and he returned to the Giants in 1950; Mr. Maglie led the National League that year in earned run average and winning percentage. In 1951 Mr. Maglie and teammate Larry Jansen tied for the NL lead in wins with 23 as the Giants made a late charge to defeat the Dodgers in a 3-game playoff to win the NL pennant. He was known as "The Barber" for giving "close shaves," i.e., pitching inside to hitters, often close to their chins. Mr. Maglie was born and died in Niagara Falls, New York.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Doctor Jones--Aqua

#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): As Long as You Love Me--Backstreet Boys (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind 1997--Elton John (14th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Barbie Girl--Aqua (5th week at #1)

Football
NFL
AFC Wild Card Playoff
Miami 3 @ New England 17





NFC Wild Card Playoff
Detroit 10 @ Tampa Bay 20