June 24, 2018

140 years ago
1878

Tennis
Canada's first recorded tennis tournament was held at Montréal Lacrosse Club.

125 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Roy Disney. U.S. motion picture executive. Mr. Disney was the older brother of motion picture producer Walt Disney, and the two co-founded Walt Disney Productions. While Walt was the creative genius of the company, Roy looked after the financial interests of the studio. Roy Disney retired shortly after the opening of Walt Disney World, and died on December 20, 1971 at the age of 78.

110 years ago
1908

Died on this date
Grover Cleveland, 71. 22nd President of the United States of America, 1885-1889; 24th President of the United States of America, 1893-1897. Mr. Cleveland, a Democrat, was Mayor of Buffalo (January-November 1882) and Governor of New York (1883-1885) before winning a narrow victory over Republican Party nominee James G. Blaine in 1884 in a campaign characterized more by personal insults than differences over issues. Mr. Cleveland lost a close election to Republican candidate Benjamin Harrison in 1888, although Mr. Cleveland won the popular vote. Mr. Cleveland defeated Mr. Harrison in another close election in 1892. He was known for his opposition to public corruption and his support for business, and attracted many votes from men of conservative views. The Panic of 1893 led to a depression shortly after the beginning of Mr. Cleveland's second term, and he was unable to do anything about it. Also in 1893, Mr. Cleveland had surgery to remove part of the upper left side of his jaw and hard palate because of a tumour; a rubber prosthesis was inserted, and the details of the operation weren't revealed until 1917. Mr. Cleveland died of a heart attack.

100 years ago
1918

Communications
Royal Flying Corps Captain Brian Peck and mechanic Corporal C.W. Mathers inaugurated the first airmail service in Canada, taking off from the Bois Franc Polo Grounds in Montreal at 10:12 A.M. in a JN-4 Curtiss two-seater biplane loaded with mail sacks for Toronto. Wind and rain forced them to make refuelling stops at Kingston and Deseronto; at 4:55 P.M., Capt. Peck and Cpl. Mathers landed at the Leaside Aerodrome in Toronto.

90 years ago
1928

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Frank Kellogg made public the draft of the proposed treaty for the outlawing of war, and also his note inviting 14 nations to join the United States in signing the covenant. The text of the draft was identical with that proposed by the U.S.A. on April 13, 1923, except that the preamble now provided that the British dominions, India, and all parties to the treaties of Locarno were included among the powers called upon to sign the treaty in the first instance.

Economics and finance
The French Chamber of Deputies voted 450-22 and the Senate then voted 256-3 to approve Prime Minister Raymond Poincare's bill for the creation of a new standard franc having a value equal to 25.52 to the dollar, or 3.93 cents, and 124.21 to the pound sterling. A new law stipulated that henceforth theFrench monetary unit would be a franc worth 65.5 millegrams of gold.

Golf
Johnny Farrell shot a 1-over-par 143 to finish 1 stroke ahead of Bobby Jones in a 36-hole playoff to win the U.S. Open at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois. The two had in a tie after 4 rounds with 10-over-par totals of 294. First prize money was $500.

80 years ago
1938

Space
Pieces of a meteor, estimated to have weighed 450 metric tons when it hit the Earth's atmosphere and exploded, landed near Chicora, Pennsylvania.

75 years ago
1943

Music
Ralph Vaughan Williams conducted the premiere performance of his Symphony No. 5 in a Promenade Concert at Royal Albert Hall in London.

War
Nearly 500 Allied planes bombed oil depots and airfields in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Defense
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel William Lovelace set an American record with a 40,200-foot parachute jump near Euphrata, Washington to test oxygen equipment.

Crime
An attempt by white U.S. Army military police to arrest Negro servicemen at a pub in Bamber Bridge, England, turned into a firefight, leaving one dead and seven injured.

Politics and government
Australian Prime Minister John Curtin's Labour Party government survived a non-confidence vote in Parliament.

Economics and finance
The U.S. State Department created an Office of Foreign Economic Cooperation, headed by Assistant Secretary Dean Acheson, to coordinate economic activities of civilian economic agencies in liberated areas.

Labour
U.S. Interior Secretary Harold Ickes warned that coal rationing may be necessary, as about 40% of 530,000 striking coal miners remained off the job.

Transportation
The British Columbia government of Premier John Hart allocated $6 million to build a road linking Prince George with the Alaska Highway.

70 years ago
1948

War
The Israeli government announced the suppression of the Irgun Zvai Leumi "rebellion" and the arrest of 400 insurgents.

World events
Soviet authorities made overland travel between West Germany and West Berlin impossible, and cut off electric power to the city's western sectors, claiming "technical difficulties," marking the beginning of the Berlin Blockade.

Diplomacy
Representatives of the U.S.S.R. and seven other Eastern European states concluded a two-day conference in Warsaw by issuing a five-point proposal for a German settlement, including withdrawal of all occupation forces from Germany and the creation of a "provisional democratic German government" representing all political parties and trade unions.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman signed the peacetime selective service bill, providing for the induction of 200,000 men during the system's first year of operation.

Politics and government
Premier Tommy Douglas led his Co-operative Commonwealth Federation to a second consecutive majority in the Legislative Assembly in the Saskatchewan provincial election. The CCF won 31 seats, down from 47 in the most recent election in 1944. The Liberal Party, led by Walter Tucker, increased their total from 5 to 19, with one independent and one independent Liberal also elected.

The U.S. Republican National Convention elected New York Governor Thomas Dewey on the third ballot as the party's 1948 U.S. presidential candidate, following the withdrawal of Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen and U.S. Senator Robert Taft (Ohio). Mr. Dewey had also been the Republican presidential nominee in 1944, losing to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.



Law
The Italian Chamber of Deputies passed a 12-month extension of the ban on possession of weapons, aimed primarily at Communist partisans.

Religion
The Hungarian Catholic Church announced the excommunication of all Catholic members of Parliament who had voted to nationalize religious schools.

60 years ago
1958

Married on this date
U.S. actor Jack Webb married Jackie Loughery, Miss America 1952, in Van Nuys, California.

Politics and government
The Pakistani cabinet advised President Iskander Mirza to assume direct control over East Pakistan.

U.S. Passport Office Director Frances Knight said that applicants would no longer be required to answer questions about Communist affiliations.

The U.S. administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced the selection of Office of Defense Mobilization director Gordon Gray to replace Robert Cutler as special assistant for national security affairs.

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Hoshikage no Waltz--Masao Sen (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Delilah--Tom Jones (3rd week at #1)

Music
The album Friends by the Beach Boys was released on Capitol Records.

Protest
Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was showered with rocks and bottles on a reviewing stand in Montréal during the St-Jean Baptiste Day riot. The so-called "Lundi de la matraque"--Nightstick Monday--resulted in 290 arrests and 130 people injured. Mr. Trudeau led his Liberal Party to a majority government in the next day's federal election.



Police in Washington, D.C. closed "Resurrection City, U.S.A," the campsite of the Poor People's Campaign, near the Lincoln Memorial.

Crime
In a message to Congress, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson urged registration of every firearm and licensing of every gun owner, with registrations to go into a computer listing at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Crime Information Center. He said that licensing should be done by the states, but that federal licensing should be required for states not meeting the standards within two years.

Labour
The United Kingdom's rail network was thrown into disarray as the National Union of Railwaymen began its work-to-rule and ban on overtime.

Boxing
Joe Frazier (21-0) retained the recognition of the New York State Athletic Commission and the states of Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Massachusetts as world heavyweight champion with a technical knockout of Manuel Ramos (20-7-2) at the end of the 2nd round at Madison Square Garden in New York. On the undercard, Forrest Ward (3-0-2) and Charley Polite (9-8-3) fought a 6-round draw in another heavyweight bout.



Golf
Sandra Post won the LPGA Championship in Sutton, Massachusetts, beating Kathy Whitworth in an 18-hole playoff. The Oakville, Ontario golfer became the first rookie and first foreign player to take the title. First prize money was $3,000.

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Stayin' Alive--Bee Gees (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Rivers of Babylon--Boney M. (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Shadow Dancing--Andy Gibb (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Rivers of Babylon/Brown Girl in the Ring--Boney M. (9th week at #1)
2 You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
3 Lady McCorey--BZN
4 If You Can't Give Me Love--Suzi Quatro
5 Miss You--The Rolling Stones
6 Golden Years of Rock 'n Roll--Long Tall Ernie and the Shakers
7 Piece of the Rock--Mother's Finest
8 Met de Vlam in de Pijp--Henk Wijngaard
9 Whole Lotta Rosie--AC/DC
10 A Woman in Love--André Van Duin

Singles entering the chart were South of the Border by Octopus (#23); Who's Gonna Love You by the Imperials (#27); Copacabana (At the Copa) by Barry Manilow (#28); Summertime by the Shake Spears (#31); Frankie by Lee Towers (#32); She's Always a Woman by Billy Joel (#35); and Let's All Chant by the Michael Zager Band (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Shadow Dancing--Andy Gibb (4th week at #1)
2 Baker Street--Gerry Rafferty
3 It's a Heartache--Bonnie Tyler
4 You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
5 Too Much, Too Little, Too Late--Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
6 Take a Chance on Me--ABBA
7 Feels So Good--Chuck Mangione
8 Love is Like Oxygen--Sweet
9 Two Out of Three Ain't Bad--Meat Loaf
10 Because the Night--Patti Smith Group

Singles entering the chart were Three Times a Lady by the Commodores (#54); Boogie Oogie Oogie by A Taste of Honey (#56); Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra (#77); Prove it All Night by Bruce Springsteen (#78); Macho Man by the Village People (#84); You by Rita Coolidge (#87); and I Need to Know by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#88).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Shadow Dancing--Andy Gibb (2nd week at #1)
2 You're the One that I Want--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
3 Too Much, Too Little, Too Late--Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
4 Baby Hold On--Eddie Money
5 Feels So Good--Chuck Mangione
6 It's a Heartache--Bonnie Tyler
7 Two Out of Three Ain't Bad--Meat Loaf
8 The Closer I Get to You--Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
9 Love is Like Oxygen--Sweet
10 Disco Inferno--The Trammps

Singles entering the chart were Under the Boardwalk by Billy Joe Royal (#80); Copacabana (At the Copa) by Barry Manilow (#87); Songbird by Barbra Streisand (#89); Rivers of Babylon by Boney M. (#90); I Don't Wanna Go by Joey Travolta (#93); Love or Something Like It by Kenny Rogers (#94); I'm Not Gonna Let it Bother Me Tonight by Atlanta Rhythm Section (#95); You Can't Dance by England Dan & John Ford Coley (#96); So Hard Living Without You by Airwaves (#97); Stay by Jackson Browne (#98); You're a Part of Me by Gene Cotton with Kim Carnes (#99); and Shame by Evelyn "Champagne" King (#100).

Died on this date
Ahmed al-Ghashmi, 42. President of Yemen, 1977-1978. Major General al-Ghashmi took office upon the assassination of his predecessor, Ibrahim al-Hamdi. Maj. Gen. al-Ghashmi was assassinated himself when he was meeting an envoy sent by South Yemeni President Salim Rubai Ali and a briefcase, reportedly containing a secret message, exploded, killing both Maj. Gen. al-Ghashmi and the envoy. South Yemen denied responsibility for the assassination. Abdul Karim Abdullah al-Arashi succeeded Maj. Gen. al-Ghashmi as President.

Golf
John Schroeder was the leader after three rounds in the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Course in Oakville, Ontario.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Edmonton (1-2) 8 @ Hamilton (2-1) 18

Former Ottawa Rough Rider Bill Robinson played the 1st half at quarterback for the Eskimos in their loss to the Tiger-Cats at Ivor Wynne Stadium, but was ineffective in what turned out to be his last game.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Im Nin'Alu--Ofra Haza (2nd week at #1)

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): I Can't Help Falling in Love (With You)--UB40

Terrorism
With the assistance of an informer wearing a wire, U.S. federal agents seized eight alleged Muslim terrorists who were planning a campaign of bombings and political assassinations.

Politics and government
British Minister for Northern Ireland Michael Mates resigned from the Conservative cabinet of Prime Minister John Major because of his links with fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir.

Science
The United States House of Representatives voted to halt support for the $11-billion supercollider proton-smasher in Texas.

20 years ago
1998

Business
American Telephone & Telegraph Corporation struck a deal to buy cable television giant Tele-Communications Inc. for $31.7 billion.

Football
CFL
Pre-season
Toronto (2-0) 22 @ Hamilton (0-2) 14