March 19, 2018

100 years ago
1918

Economics and finance
The United States Congress established time zones and approved daylight saving time, the day after the Canadian Parliament had done the same.

90 years ago
1928

On the radio
CHNS in Halifax broadcast an experimental two-hour school music broadcast, with the Harmonica Band of St. Patrick's Boys' School; later that year, CHNS started a two-hour weekly show, Canada's first regular school broadcast series.

Americana
Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh was presented with the Woodrow Wilson medal and the Woodrow Wilson Foundation’s $25,000 peace award at a dinner in New York City.

80 years ago
1938

Hockey
NHL
New York Americans 5 @ Toronto 8

The Maple Leafs (5) and Americans (3) combined for 8 goals in a span of 4 minutes 52 seconds in the 3rd period at Maple Leaf Gardens.

75 years ago
1943

Died on this date
Frank Nitti, 57. U.S. gangster. A native of Italy, Mr. Nitti, born Francesco Nitto, moved to the United States at the age of 7, eventually living in Chicago. He ran Al Capone's liquor smuggling and distribution operation, and took over the organization after Mr. Capone was sentenced to prison for income tax evasion. He was one of a number of gangsters indicted in 1943 for trying to extort money out of Hollywood movie studios. The day before he was to appear before a grand jury, Mr. Nitti got drunk and went for a walk, taking a loaded revolver with him. He shot himself to death in a railroad yard in North Riverside, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The character of Mr. Nitti made frequent appearances in the television series The Untouchables (1959-1963), where he was portrayed by Bruce Gordon.

War
German Elite Guards captured Belgorod, 46 miles northeast of Kharkov, which Soviet forces had taken on February 9. Completing a 10-day cruise in the Mediterranean Sea, two U.K. submarines claimed the sinking of six Axis supply ships. Japanese reinforcements were sent south of the Yangtze River in the Hupeh-Hunan border region of China to aid in counterattacks at Hwajung, Owchihkow, and Mitoushih.

Economics and finance
U.S. Commerce Secretary Jesse H. Jones reported that the national income had risen 26% in 1942 to $119.8 billion.

70 years ago
1948

Diplomacy
Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, U.S. delegate Warren Austin announced a shift in American policy on Palestine, urging that partition be abandoned in favour of a UN trusteeship under which Jews and Arabs could negotiate a compromise settlement.

Politics and government
Former Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Clementis, a Communist, replaced the late Jan Masaryk, the last remaining non-Communist in the cabinet, as Czechoslovakian Foreign Minister.

The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology ended a four-day convention in Atlantic City after passing a resolution against the "actions and procedures" of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities.

Protest
The French National Assembly passed a bill giving the Army special powers to help the Interior Ministry curb disorders.

Economics and finance
U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall threatened to end European Recovery Program aid to Italy if Communists won the upcoming elections.

Labour
The U.S. Justice Department obtained a court order preventing a strike by 800 technicians of the Oak Ridge nuclear laboratory in a contract dispute with the Carbon and Carbide Corporation, operator of the facility.

Disasters
A series of tornadoes striking nine U.S. states from Texas to central New York caused 42 deaths and at least 300 injuries.

Tennis
Doris Hart and Barbara Scofield won the U.S. indoor women's doubles championship in New York.

60 years ago
1958

At the movies
South Pacific, directed by Joshua Logan and starring Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr, and France Nuyen, opened in theatres.



Asiatica
The Arab Federation of Iraq and Jordan was formally proclaimed, with King Faisal of Iraq as head of the new state and commander of its united armed forces.

Politics and government
Representatives of six European nations met in Strasbourg for the opening session of the European Parliamentary Assembly, governing organ of the European Economic Community and Euratom.

Law
General Hernando Hernandez, criticized for dealing too softly with rebels, was replaced as Cuba's national police chief by General Pilar Garcia.

Economics and finance
The Nationalist Chinese government broke off trade relations with Japan and cancelled all Japanese contracts in protest against the recent Japanese trade agreement with the People's Republic of China.

Disasters
A blaze at the Monarch Underwear Company, an old loft building in New York City, left 24 dead and 15 injured.

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Division Finals
Philadelphia 98 @ Boston 107 (Boston led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Western Division Finals
Detroit 111 @ St. Louis 114 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 1-0)

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Words--The Bee Gees (2nd week at #1)

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

Diplomacy
Paraguayan President Alfredo Stroessner began a four-day visit to the United States by conferring with U.S. President Lyndon Johnson in Washington.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Johnson signed legislation ending the backing of U.S. currency with gold.

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Emotion--Samantha Sang

Died on this date
M. A. Ayyangar, 87. Indian politician. Mr. Ayyangar, a member of the Indian National Congress Party, represented Tirupathi in the Lok Sabha from 1951-1962, and was Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1956-1962. He was Governor of Bihar from 1962-1967.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council voted 12-0 to adopt a United States-sponsored resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, and establishing a 4,000-man U.N. force to enforce a ceasefire in the area.

Terrorism
The Italian government decided to continue the trial in Turin of 15 Red Brigade terrorists, despite the vow of the kidnappers of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro to kill him if the guerrillas weren't freed.

Politics and government
The government centre-right coalition defeated the socialists and Communists in national elections in France. The government emerged with an 89-seat majority in the 491-seat Chamber of Deputies.

Scandal
Former United States Budget Director Bert Lance made a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding charges that he and nine others, including four wealthy Arabs, had violated federal law in failing to disclose their attempted takeover of Financial Bankshares, Inc., Washington's second-largest bank-holding company.

Golf
Jack Nicklaus won the Tournament Players Championship in Pointe Vedra Beach, Florida with a score of 289. First prize money was $60,000.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 4 @ Boston 6

Six different players scored for the Bruins as they defeated the Maple Leafs at Boston Garden.



CIAU
Men's Championship
Final @ Varsity Arena, Edmonton
Alberta 6 Toronto 5

The Golden Bears took an early 3-0 lead as they avenged their loss to the Varsity Blues in the 1977 championship final.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Perdere l'Amore--Massimo Ranieri (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): (I've Had) The Time of My Life--Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): (I've Had) The Time of My Life--Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (9th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Feet on the Ground--Hothouse Flowers

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Together Forever--Rick Astley

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): I Should Be So Lucky--Kylie Minogue (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
2 Father Figure--George Michael
3 I Get Weak--Belinda Carlisle
4 Man in the Mirror--Michael Jackson
5 Endless Summer Nights--Richard Marx
6 Out of the Blue--Debbie Gibson
7 Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean
8 Just Like Paradise--David Lee Roth
9 I Want Her--Keith Sweat
10 What Have I Done to Deserve This?--Pet Shop Boys (with Dusty Springfield)

Singles entering the chart were Shattered Dreams by Johnny Hates Jazz (#70); I Don't Want to Live Without You by Foreigner (#76); Say it Again by Jermaine Stewart (#83); One Good Reason by Paul Carrack (#85); Ritual by the Dan Reed Network (#86); Hot Hot Hot!!! by the Cure (#87); Play that Funky Music by Roxanne (#88); and My Girl by Suave (#89).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
2 Father Figure--George Michael
3 Pump Up the Volume--M/A/R/R/S
4 She's Like the Wind--Patrick Swayze (featuring Wendy Fraser)
5 Hungry Eyes--Eric Carmen
6 What Have I Done to Deserve This?--Pet Shop Boys (with Dusty Springfield)
7 I Get Weak--Belinda Carlisle
8 Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)--Sway
9 Could've Been--Tiffany
10 Just Like Paradise--David Lee Roth

Singles entering the chart were Rocket 2 U by the Jets (#73); Love Overboard by Gladys Knight and the Pips (#86); You Don't Know by Scarlet and Black (#89); Walk on the Wire by Diamond in the Rough (#93); I Want You So Bad by Heart (#94); Say This to Me by NEO A4 (#96); and Lake of Fire by Jale (#97).

Died on this date
Bun Cook, 83. Canadian hockey player. Mr. Cook was a left wing with the Saskatoon Crescents of the Western Canada Hockey League (1924-25); Saskatoon Sheiks of the Western Hockey League (1925-26); New York Rangers (1926-36) and Boston Bruins (1936-37) of the National Hockey League; and Providence Reds of the International-American (later American) Hockey League (1937-43). In 473 NHL games, he scored 158 goals and 144 assists. Mr. Cook, his brother Bill, and Frank Boucher comprised the "Bread Line" with the Rangers, leading the team to their first two Stanley Cup championships in 1927-28 and 1932-33. In the AHL, Mr. Cook coached the Reds for 6 seasons and then coached the Cleveland Barons through 1955-56, winning a record seven Calder Cup championships--2 with the Reds and 5 with the Barons. His 636 wins as a head coach remains the AHL record. Mr. Cook was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995.

Politics and government
Jacques Parizeau was elected to replace former Quebec Premier Pierre-Marc Johnson as leader of the Parti Québécois.

In the race for the 1988 Democratic Party U.S. presidential nomination, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis won the Kansas caucuses.

Hockey
NHL
New York Rangers 4 @ Toronto 3

25 years ago
1993

Law
Byron White, 75, who had been an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States since being appointed by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, announced his intention to retire.

Figure Skating
Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler of Canada won the gold medal in ice pairs at the World Championships in Prague.

Hockey
CIAU
Men's Championships
Semi-Finals
Acadia 9 Alberta 4

20 years ago
1998

Died on this date
E. M. S. Namboodiripad, 88. Indian politician. Mr. Namboodiripad, a Communist, was the first Chief Minister of Kerala (1957-1959, 1967-1969). In 1964, he led a faction of the Communist Party of India (CPI) that broke away to form the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM).

10 years ago
2008

Died on this date
Arthur C. Clarke, 90. U.K. author. Sir Arthur was one of the most prominent science fiction writers of the 20th century, and was perhaps best known as the co-author of the screenplay for the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), and author of various sequel novels. He was also an advocate of space travel, and wrote non-fiction books on the subject, such as The Promise of Space (1968). Sir Arthur moved to Sri Lanka in 1956, most likely because it allowed him sexual access to boys.

Paul Scofield, 86. U.K. actor. Mr. Scofield was regarded as one of the greateast Shakespearean actors ever, in a career on stage, screen, and television spanning more than 60 years. He starred as Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons in London (1960) and on Broadway (1961), winning a Tony Award. He reprised the role in the movie (1966), winning an Academy Award. Mr. Scofield was nominated for an Oscar for his supporting performance in Quiz Show (1994).

Space
The gamma ray burst GRB 080319B, the farthest object visible to the naked eye, was briefly observed.