January 4, 2018

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Angela Ieriti and Aydee Ramirez!

175 years ago
1843

Died on this date
Stevens T. Mason, 31. U.S. politician. Mr. Mason, a Democrat, was a member of a politically powerful family, and was only 19 when he was appointed as acting territorial secretary of Michigan Territory, and was 22 when he was appointed as acting territorial Governor in 1834. He was elected Governor of Michigan in 1835, and was instrumental in guiding the territory into statehood in 1837. Mr. Mason remains the youngest governor of a state in American history. Early in 1838, he aided the state militia in suppressing the Patriot War, an attempt by irregulars to invade and annex parts of Canada. An attempt by Mr. Mason to fund internal improvements through the sale of $5 million in bonds fell through in 1837, and he neglected to run for re-election in 183, leaving office at the expiraton of his term in January 1840. Mr. Mason attempted to establish a private law practice, but had difficulty building a clientele, and died of pneumonia.

160 years ago
1858

Born on this date
Carter Glass. U.S. politician. Mr. Glass, a Democrat, represented Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1899-1918 and in the Senate from 1920 until his death on May 28, 1946 at the age of 88. He was Secretary of the Treasury in the administration of President Woodrow Wilson from 1918-1920.

90 years ago
1928

On the radio
The Dodge Victory Hour, on NBC

This variety special to promote the Dodge Victory Six automobile was broadcast over a network of 47 stations across the United States, going on the air at 10:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time. It cost $67,000 to produce, and was hosted by Paul Whiteman in New York, Fred Stone in Chicago, and Al Jolson in New Orleans.

75 years ago
1943

Died on this date
Jerzy Iwanow-Szajnowicz, 31. Polish-born Greek athlete and saboteur. Mr. Iwanow-Szajnowicz, a native of Warsaw, moved to Greece with his mother and stepfather in 1926. He was a swimmer who won the national championship in the 100-metre freestyle competition, but moved back to Warsaw, becoming a Polish citizen in 1935 and the top player on the Polish national water polo team. Mr. Iwanow-Szajnowicz aided Polish and Greek resistance fighters in World War II, and was effective in sabotaging German aircraft and U-boats. He was eventually betrayed, captured, escaped, recaptured, and executed by a firing squad in Athens.

War
Russian forces recaptured the German airbase of Chernishkovsky and the railway station of Chernishkov, 100 miles west of Stalingrad. U.S. troops attacked Japanese forces on Guadalcanal and gained high ground near Mount Aesten. Australian and American forces completed the destruction of Japanese forces in the Buna Mission area of New Guinea.

Politics and government
The Panamanian National Assembly voted to continue President Ricardo Adolfo de la Guardia in office for the next two years.

Crime
A District of Columbia grand jury indicted 33 people and the New York Evening Enquirer for sedition, charging them with conspiring to impair the morale and loyalty of the armed forces.

Law
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the three-year statute of limitations nullified the 1941 conviction of former Kansas City Democratic Party boss Tom Pendergast for contempt because of bribes he had received in 1936.

Oil
U.S. Petroleum Administrator Harold Ickes said that only 1 million barrels could be delivered to the East Coast of the United States daily, despite a demand for 1.5 million barrels per day.

Economics and finance
Chase Manhattan Bank of New York reported assets of over $4.5 billion, the first time a bank had listed assets above $4 billion.

70 years ago
1948

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and Alfred Shirley, on MBS
Tonight's episode:  The Mazarin Stone

Asiatica
Burma gained its independence from the United Kingdom, becoming an independent republic named the Union of Burma, with Sao Shwe Thaik as its first President and U Nu its first Prime Minister.

Terrorism
Stern Gang terrorists bombed the Arab National Committee headquarters in Jaffa, killing 14 people and injuring 100 more.

Technology
The University of California announced the development of the world's first supersonic wind tunnel, capable of duplicating pressure conditions up to an altitude of 250,000 feet.

60 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Diana--Paul Anka (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Wo meine Sonne scheint--Caterina Valente (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Only You (And You Alone)--The Platters (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Ma He's Making Eyes at Me--Johnny Otis Show

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 At the Hop--Danny and the Juniors
2 Raunchy--Bill Justis and his Orchestra
--Ernie Freeman
3 April Love--Pat Boone
4 Great Balls of Fire--Jerry Lee Lewis
5 You Send Me--Sam Cooke
6 Peggy Sue--Buddy Holly
7 Kisses Sweeter than Wine--Jimmie Rodgers
8 Jailhouse Rock--Elvis Presley
9 Why Don't They Understand--George Hamilton IV
10 All the Way--Frank Sinatra

Singles entering the chart were March from The River Kwai and Colonel Bogey, with versions by Mitch Miller and his Orchestra; Edmundo Ros and his Orchestra; and Art Mooney and his Orchestra (#58). March from The River Kwai and Colonel Bogey were originally from the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957).

Space
The Soviet satellite Sputnik 1 burned up in the denser layers of the atmosphere after completing 1,400 Earth orbits since its launch on October 4, 1957, becoming the first artificial satellite.

Adventure
Sir Edmund Hillary and four companions, travelling in a three-tractor train, reached the South Pole.

Politics and government
In a reversal of past criticism of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's role in World War II, the U.S.S.R. Defense Ministry newspaper Red Star called him a "faithful Marxist-Leninist" who ably conducted the war and maintained the morale of Soviet forces.

Economics and finance
Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Czechoslovakian Premier Viliam Siroky signed an agreement in New Delhi pledging a $63-million Czech loan for construction of a foundry at Ranchi in Bihar State, India.

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Love You Tokyo--Los Primos (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Treat Me Daughter Kindly--Pat Lynch (4th week at #1)

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



Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Agness Nyambe!

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Mull of Kintyre--Wings (6th week at #1)

Diplomacy
U.S. President Jimmy Carter visited Egyptian President Anwar Sadat at Aswan, where Mr. Carter read a prepared statement in which he referred to the participation of the Palestinians "in the determination of their own future." In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin expressed satisfaction that the words "Palestinian state" were not mentioned in the statement.

Hockey
NHL
Vancouver 3 @ Pittsburgh 8

Super Series '78
Pardubice 3 @ New York Islanders 8

Former Swedish national team goalie Goran Hogosta played for the Islanders as they defeated the Czechoslovakian club Pardubice at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale. It was the only complete game Mr. Hogosta ever played for the Islanders. The game was televised across Canada on Radio-Canada.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley (6th week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Borje Salming of the Toronto Maple Leafs became the first player born and trained in Europe to play 1,000 games in the National Hockey League.

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): More and More--Captain Hollywood Project (3rd week at #1)

Business
Toronto-based Manufacturers Life opened 14 Manulife Bank branches, converted out of smaller trust companies. They were the first banks owned by insurance and trust companies under new financial rules in Canada.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 4 Detroit 2

20 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Mae Questel, 89. U.S. actress. Miss Questel, born May Kwestel, was best known for providing the voices for the cartoon characters Betty Boop and Olive Oyl.

Nirmal Singh Gill, 65. Canadian crime victim. Mr. Gill was found beaten and bleeding in the parking lot of a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, near Vancouver, and died shortly after. Five young men linked to the white supremacist group White Power were later jailed on charges of murder.

Abominations
Members of the terrorist group GIA were blamed for the massacre of over 170 people in three remote villages in Algeria.

Weather
A large ice storm hit eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, continuing through January 10 and causing widespread destruction.

Football
NFL
NFC Divisional Playoff
Tampa Bay 7 @ Green Bay 21

AFC Divisional Playoff
Denver 14 @ Kansas City 10