January 27, 2018

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Irina!

675 years ago
1343

Religion
Pope Clement VI issued his papal bull Unigenitus Dei Filius, in which he elaborated for the first time the power of the pope in the use of indulgences. This document was used by Cardinal Cajetan in the examination of Martin Luther and his 95 Theses in his trial at Augsburg in 1518.

425 years ago
1593

Religion
The Vatican opened the heresy trial of mathematician and astronomer Giordano Bruno. The trial lasted seven years, and ended with Mr. Bruno being burned at the stake.

150 years ago
1868

War
The Battle of Toba–Fushimi between forces of the Tokugawa shogunate and pro-Imperial factions began in Japan; it ended four days later in defeat for the shogunate, and was a pivotal point in the Meiji Restoration.

130 years ago
1888

Science
The National Geographic Society was founded in Washington, D.C.

100 years ago
1918

Born on this date
Elmore James. U.S. musician. Mr. James was a blues musician and singer who was known for playing slide guitar, as a session musician or leading his own band. His best-known song was Dust My Broom (1951). He died of a heart attack in Chicago on May 24, 1963 at the age of 45.

Died on this date
Skitch Henderson. U.S. musician. Lyle Russel Henderson served as music director for various NBC radio and television programs, most notably Tonight in the 1950s and '60s. He founded the New York Pops Orchestra in 1983 and conducted it until his death on November 1, 2005 at the age of 87.

80 years ago
1938

Disasters
An ice dam crushed the foundations of the Honeymoon Bridge across the Niagara River at Niagara Falls, Ontario, causing the bridge to collapse.

75 years ago
1943

War
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt flew from Casablanca to Liberia as Soviet dictator Josef Stalin received a joint note from Mr. Roosevelt and U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill on the results of the Casablanca Conference, pledging maintenance and extension of the initiative won late in 1942 and all possible aid to the U.S.S.R. and assistance for the Chinese armies. The 8th U.S. Army Air Force bombers, flying from England, conducted the first American bombing raid on Germany, against the port of Wilmshaven. 53 of 64 planes reached their target, and they shot down 22 German planes while losing only 3. Soviet troops recaptured 15 points on the south Russian and Caucasian fronts, and took 3,350 German prisoners on the Stalingrad front.

Diplomacy
The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 13-10 to confirm Edward J. Flynn as U.S. minister to Australia.

Health
The U.S. Office of War Information announced that 13 hospitals had been established by U.S. Public Health Services to treat women for venereal disease and to reduce infection among military men.

Football
NFL
Green Bay Packers' end Don Hutson was voted by Chicago sportswriters as the National Football League's most valuable player. Mr. Hutson had set league single-season records in 1942 for pass receptions (74); yards receiving (1,211); touchdowns receiving (17); and points (138), in an 11-game season.

70 years ago
1948

Aviation
A Trans-World Airlines Constellation flew from Chicago to New York in 1 hour 40 minutes at a cruising speed of 482 miles per hour, a commercial record.

World events
The Bolivian government of President Enrique Hertzog imposed a state of siege to frustrate an alleged military coup plot.

The Soviet Council of Ministers decreed criminal penalties for U.S.S.R. citizens attempting to communicate with foreigners without official authorization.

Politics and government
The Iraqi cabinet of Prime Minister Sayyid Salih Jabr resigned in the face of protests over the recently-concluded defense pact with the United Kingdom.

Alabama Governor Jim Folsom announced that he would challenge U.S. President Harry Truman's renomination by the Deomcratic Party as its presidential candidate for 1948, claiming that Mr. Truman was dominated by "monopolists."

Economics and finance
U.S. President Truman nominated Thomas McCabe as chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board, succeeding Marriner Eccles, who was demoted to vice-chairman. Observers viewed the move as a victory for the conservative monetary views of Treasury Secretary John Snyder.

Labour
Detroit automobile plants laid off 200,000 workers due to gas shortages as a severe cold wave struck the midwestern United States.

60 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): At the Hop--Danny and the Juniors (Best Seller--4th week at #1; Disc Jockey--1st week at #1; Top 100--4th week at #1)

War
200 Cuban guerrillas attacked small military outposts in the mountains between Trinidad and Sancti Spiritus, opening a second front against government forces.

Diplomacy
The U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. signed a compromise agreement in Washington calling for the establishment of a program of increased cultural, educational, technical, and sports exchanges.

Politics and government
Janos Kadar resigned as Prime Minister of Hungary, but told the Hungarian Parliament that he would retain his post as Communist Party First Secretary.

Crime
Charlie Starkweather and Caril Fugate left Lincoln, Nebraska, six days after Mr. Starkweather had murdered Caril’s mother, stepfather, and sister. A note taped to the front door of the house where the murders took place warned visitors that the residents had the flu, but Caril’s grandmother got suspicious and called police. By the time they arrived, Charlie and Caril were heading for Bennet in Charlie’s rebuilt 1949 Ford, carrying a .38, a .22 rifle, and a .410-gauge shotgun. Arriving early in the evening at the farmhouse of 70-year-old August Meyer, a Starkweather family friend, Charlie shot Meyer (ostensibly for his guns and ammunition), but the couple abandoned their car when it got stuck in the mud on the way out. Robert Jensen and Carol King, two local teenagers out on a date, picked them up, but Charlie forced them to drive to an abandoned storm cellar. Robert and Carol were shot to death; Mr. Starkweather later admitted shooting Mr. Jensen, but claimed that Caril had shot King. The killers then made off with their victims’ car, a more recent model Ford. Charlie and Caril returned to Lincoln, and drove to the wealthy residential area on the southeast side of the city. They entered the home of C. Lauer Ward, 48-year-old president of Capital Steel Works, who at that moment was downtown in conference with Nebraska governor Victor Anderson. Mr. Ward’s wife Clara and maid Lillian Fencl were stabbed to death. When Ward arrived home, Charlie shot him, and he and Caril filled Mr. Ward’s black 1956 Packard with loot from the house and hit the highway, in the direction of Wyoming.

Defense
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Lewis Strauss, in a letter to the Joint Congressional Atomic Energy Committee, asked for revision of the 1954 Atomic Energy Act to permit President Dwight D. Eisenhower to make nuclear weapons available to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Education
U.S. President Eisenhower sent Congress a special message urging enactment of an "emergency" four-year program to improve education, particularly in science and engineering.

Disasters
Seven ships were lost, with 271 deaths, in storms along the southern and eastern coasts of Japan.

Tennis
Ashley Cooper of Australia and Angela Mortimer of England won the Australian men's and women's singles titles, respectively, in Sydney.

Football
CFL
Sam Lyle was named to succeed the departed Pop Ivy as head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos. Lyle, like Ivy, was an assistant to Bud Wilkinson at the University of Oklahoma when approached by the Eskimos. Perry Moss was also interviewed for the Eskimo job, and impressed the directors, but they wished to continue their "Oklahoma Connection."

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)--Johnny Farnham (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: La Dernière Valse--Mireille Mathieu (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): L'ora dell'amore--I Camaleonti (7th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Der letzte Walzer--Peter Alexander (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Hello Goodbye--The Beatles (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)--John Fred and his Playboy Band (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 World--The Bee Gees (3rd week at #1)
2 Nights in White Satin--The Moody Blues
3 2000 Light Years from Home/She's a Rainbow--The Rolling Stones
4 Hello Goodbye--The Beatles
5 Mien Waar Is M'n Feestneus?--Toon
6 Daydream Believer--The Monkees
7 Magical Mystery Tour (EP)--The Beatles
8 Dear Eloise--The Hollies
9 Tin Soldier--Small Faces
10 Little Bird--Tielman Brothers

Singles entering the chart were Walk Away Renee by the Four Tops (#32); The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde by Georgie Fame (#34); Celestial Dreams by Dragonfly (#36); Bend Me, Shape Me by the American Breed (#38); and Sleep, Sleep, Sleep by Ro-d-Ys (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)--John Fred and his Playboy Band
2 Green Tambourine--The Lemon Pipers
3 Bend Me, Shape Me--The American Breed
4 Chain of Fools--Aretha Franklin
5 Woman, Woman--The Union Gap
6 I Heard it Through the Grapevine--Gladys Knight & the Pips
7 Hello Goodbye--The Beatles
8 Susan--The Buckinghams
9 Spooky--The Classics IV
10 Darlin'--The Beach Boys

Singles entering the chart were I Thank You by Sam & Dave (#61); (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding (#63); Simon Says by 1910 Fruitgum Company (#67); Guitar Man by Elvis Presley (#76); Everything that Touches You by the Association (#79); Get Out Now by Tommy James and the Shondells (#82); (You’ve Got) Personality & Chantilly Lace by Mitch Ryder (#86); Carpet Man by the 5th Dimension (#88); Stop by Howard Tate (#92); Try It by the Ohio Express (#93); Birds of a Feather by Joe South (#94); Toyland by Alan Bown (#97); and Love Explosion by Troy Keyes (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Itchycoo Park--Small Faces
2 Baby, Now that I've Found You--The Foundations
3 Next Plane to London--The Rose Garden
4 Chain of Fools--Aretha Franklin
5 Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)--John Fred and his Playboy Band
6 Who Will Answer?--Ed Ames
7 Susan--The Buckinghams
8 Woman, Woman--The Union Gap
9 I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite--Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart
10 Bend Me, Shape Me--The American Breed

Singles entering the chart were (You’ve Got) Personality & Chantilly Lace by Mitch Ryder (#81); Malayisha by Miriam Makeba (#83); (Theme From) Valley of the Dolls by Dionne Warwick (#84); Hey Little One by Glen Campbell (#90); Thank U Very Much by the Scaffold (#93); Never Ever by Peter and Gordon (#94); She Says by the 49th Parallel (#96); Guitar Man by Elvis Presley (#97); There was a Time by James Brown and the Famous Flames (#98); Love Never Changes by Brian Foley (#99); and There Is by the Dells (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite--Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart
2 Love is Blue (L'Amour est Bleu)--Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra
3 Green Tambourine--The Lemon Pipers
4 Spooky--The Classics IV
5 Money--The Lovin' Spoonful
6 Tomorrow--Strawberry Alarm Clock
7 Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You--The Lettermen
8 I Can Take or Leave Your Loving--Herman's Hermits
9 Love Me Two Times--The Doors
10 Some Velvet Morning--Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood

Singles entering the chart were Mr. Soul Satisfaction by Timmi Willis (#24); Everything that Touches You by the Association (#25); Sunday Mornin' by Spanky and Our Gang (#28); No Sad Songs by Joe Simon (#29); and Explosion in My Soul by the Soul Survivors (#30).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Bend Me, Shape Me--The American Breed
2 Woman, Woman--The Union Gap
3 Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)--John Fred and his Playboy Band
4 (Alone) In My Room--Willie & the Walkers
5 Different Drum--Stone Poneys
6 She Says--The 49th Parallel
7 Love of the Common People--Wayne Newton
8 Love is Blue (L'Amour est Bleu)--Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra
9 Nobody But Me--The Human Beinz
10 Hello Goodbye--The Beatles
Pick hit of the week: I Can Take or Leave Your Loving--Herman's Hermits

Disasters
The French submarine Minerve, with 52 aboard, was reported missing in the Mediterranean Sea, two days after the Israeli submarine INS Dakar had disappeared in bad weather, 100 miles west of Cyprus.

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): 2-4-6-8 Motorway--Tom Robinson Band

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Mull of Kintyre--Wings (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Belfast--Boney M. (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Monte Pearson, 69. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Pearson played with the Cleveland Indians (1932-1935); New York Yankees (1936-1940); and Cincinnati Reds (1941), compiling a record of 100-61 with an earned run average of 4.00 in 224 games, and batted .228 with 2 home runs and 62 runs batted in in 225 games. He led the American League in earned run average (2.33) as a rookie in 1933, and led the AL in winning percentage (.731) in 1936, when he was 19-7. Mr. Pearson was a member of World Series championship teams from 1936-1939, winning a game in each of those World Series. He pitched just 5 shutouts in the major leagues, but the fourth, on August 27, 1938, was the first no-hitter pitched at the original Yankee Stadium. A shoulder injury in 1940 hastened the end of Mr. Pearson's career.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys (2nd week at #1)

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Ladies and Gentlemen...The Rolling Stones

Died on this date
André Roussimoff (André the Giant), 46. French wrestler. Mr. Roussimoff, who stood 7' 4" and weighed from 475-540 pounds during his career, wrestled as a professional from 1964-1992. He also appeared in several movies and television programs, most notably The Princess Bride (1987). Mr. Roussimoff died of congestive heart failure while in Paris to attend his father's funeral.

10 years ago
2008

Died on this date
Gordon B. Hinckley, 97. U.S. religious leader. Mr. Hinckley, a career official in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served as the Mormon Church's President from 1995 until his death, by which time he was the oldest President in the church's history. During Mr. Hinckley's presidency, the number of Mormon temples worldwide increased from 47 to 124. He was succeeded in office by Thomas Monson.

Suharto, 86. 2nd President of Indonesia, 1968-1998. Muhammad Suharto was a career military officer, rising to the rank of General of the Army. He succeeded in wresting power from President Sukarno in 1967, and was acting President until winning an election a year later. President Suharto was known for his opposition to Communism, but his authoritarian "New Order" administration eventually led to his resignation.