December 23, 2019

1,340 years ago
679

Died on this date
Dagobert II. King of Austrasia, 675 or 676-679. Dagobert II, the son of Sigebert III, was a king of the Merovingian dynasty. He spent some time in exile as a monk in Ireland, but acceded to the throne after the assassination of his cousin Clovis III. Little is known of Dagobert II's reign. He signed a peace with the Lombards, but was assassinated, either by "treacherous dukes" or by his godson John. King Dagobert II was succeeded by Theuderic III.

450 years ago
1569

Died on this date
Philip II, 62. Russian religious leader. Philip II, born Feodor Stepanovich Kolychev, was a Russian Orthodox monk who was appointed Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia by Czar Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible in 1566). Metropolitan Philip publicly opposed Czar Ivan's policy of Oprichnina--the massacre of boyars--and refused to bless the Czar. Ivan had Philip deposed in 1568, and had his minion Malyuta Skuratov strangle Philip.

330 years ago
1689

Born on this date
Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. French composer. Mr. Boismortier wrote more than 100 instrumental and vocal works, and was the first French composer to use the Italian concerto form. He obtained a royal license for engraving music in 1724, and was able to become wealthy by publishing his music for sale to the public. Mr. Boismortier died on October 28, 1755 at the age of 85.

100 years ago
1919

Law
The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act received royal assent, lifting most of the existing common-law restrictions on women in the United Kingdom.

80 years ago
1939

Died on this date
Anthony Fokker, 49. Indonesian-born Dutch aircraft manufacturer. Mr. Fokker designed the Fokker Dr.I and Fokker D.VII, which were used by the German Luftstreitkräfte to great effect during World War I. He died of meningitis.

75 years ago
1944

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Don't Fence Me In--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen and his Orchestra (Best Seller--1st week at #1; Juke Box--2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Charles Dana Gibson, 77. U.S. artist. Mr. Gibson created the "Gibson Girl" the iconic representation of American womanhood at the beginning of the 20th century.

War
German submarine U-806 torpedoed Royal Canadian Navy minesweeper HMCS Clayoquot by the Halifax lightship; the minesweeper sank on the 24th. U.S. Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion James F. Byrnes said that he found it difficult to understand how men could be physically unfit for military service yet still participate in professional sports. Fighting between left-wing ELAS and right-wing EDES guerrillas broke out in northwestern Greece. U.S. land-based plans attacked Grace Park Field in the area of Manila and destroyed about 25 enemy aircraft.

Politics and government
The U.S.S.R. announced that Premier General Bela Mikos had formed a Hungarian provisional government in Debrecen.

Exiled Basque, Castilian, and Galician leaders signed a pact of solidarity in Mexico City, pledging to overthrow the Spanish regime of Generalissimo Francisco Franco.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill providing for postwar flood control projects estimated at $1 billion and authorizing a $400,000 multipurpose project in the Missouri River Valley.

Horse racing
United States Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion James F. Byrnes ordered that all horse racing operations cease effective January 3, 1945 because of the sport's drain on manpower, tires and gasoline that could better be used in the war effort. The ban wasn't lifted until V-E Day, May 8, 1945.

70 years ago
1949

Television
Hooperatings listed the most popular programs in the United States in November as Texaco Star Theater; Toast of the Town; and Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts.

War
The U.S. State Department openly supported the Nationalist blockade of Communist-controlled Chinese ports, warning U.S. shippers that they faced revocation of their licenses if they permitted their vessels to enter Shanghai.

World events
A Polish military court in Wroclaw convicted four French citizens, one German, and one Pole of spying for French intelligence. All received prison terms.

Religion
The Hungarian Catholic Church permitted its priests to take an oath of allegiance to the state.

Economics and finance
New York Stock Exchange prices rose to the highest levels since August 1946, with The New York Times price average edging up 0.3 of a point.

60 years ago
1959

Politics and government
A special committee appointed by Ugandan Governor Sir Frederick Crawford recommended that Africans be given a greater role in the Ugandan government.

Labour
Representatives of the U.S. National Maritime Union and of 36 Atlantic and Gulf Coast steamship companies agreed in New York on a 4½% raise for 25,000 union members after over a month of negotiations.

Football
NFL
An Associated Press poll of sportswriters and sportscasters named Green Bay Packers' head coach Vince Lombardi as the NFL's coach of the year. Mr. Lombardi, formerly an assistant coach with the New York Giants, was in his first year with the Packers in 1959, and led them to a 7-5 record, tied for third in the Western Conference, and a considerable improvement over their 1-10-1 record in 1958.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Grüezi wohl, Frau Stirnimaa--Die Minstrels (9th week at #1)

Diplomacy
The three-day Arab summit meeting in Rabat, Morocco ended when Egyptian President Gamal Nasser walked out after Kuwait and Saudi Arabia refused to hike war funds for Arab forces fighting Israel. Although Mr. Nasser returned for closing ceremonies, Syrian, Iraqi, and Southern Yemeni delegates boycotted it.

40 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Jezebel--Jon Stevens (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Todesengel--Frank Duval

War
U.S.S.R. forces occupied the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Disasters
About 100 were reported killed when a bus went over a cliff near Yerevan, Soviet Armenia.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 4 @ Montreal 8
Boston 4 @ New York Rangers 3

At the end of the Bruins' win at Madison Square Garden, a spectator named John Kaptain hit Boston captain Terry O'Reilly with a rolled-up program and grabbed Mr. O'Reilly's stick and hit him with it, prompting the entire Boston team except for goalie Gerry Cheevers to go into the stands after Mr. Kaptain.



Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
Chicago 17 @ Philadelphia 27





AFC Wild Card Playoff
Denver 7 @ Houston 13



30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Lambada--Kaoma (13th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins

#1 single in France (SNEP): Hélène--Roch Voisine (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Do They Know it's Christmas?--Band Aid II

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Lily was Here--David A. Stewart and featuring Candy Dulfer (5th week at #1)
2 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
3 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
4 Homely Girl--UB40
5 Listen to Your Heart--Roxette
6 Dançando Lambada--Kaoma
7 Get Busy--Mr. Lee
8 The Message is Love--Arthur Baker and the Backbeat Disciples
9 Sit and Wait--Sydney Youngblood
10 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville

Singles entering the chart were Eleni by Cees Tol & Thomas Tol (#19); Got to Get by Rob 'n' Raz featuring Leila K (#20); Get a Life by Soul II Soul (#22); Sign o' the Times (EP track) by Simple Minds (#25); Do They Know it's Christmas? by Band Aid II (#32); and Dear Jessie by Madonna (#34).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
2 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
3 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
4 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson
5 With Every Beat of My Heart--Taylor Dayne
6 Back to Life--Soul II Soul
7 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
8 Just Like Jesse James--Cher
9 This One's for the Children--New Kids on the Block
10 Living in Sin--Bon Jovi

Singles entering the chart were Price of Love by Bad English (#68); Here and Now by Luther Vandross (#78); Room by the B-52's (#88); Too Hot by Loverboy (#90); and Right and Hype by Abstrac' (#93).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)
2 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
3 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
4 Rhythm Nation--Janet Jackson
5 With Every Beat of My Heart--Taylor Dayne
6 Back to Life--Soul II Soul
7 Just Like Jesse James--Cher
8 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
9 Living in Sin--Bon Jovi
10 (It's Just) The Way that You Love Me--Paula Abdul

Singles entering the chart were Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair) (#70); Price of Love by Bad English (#72); Everything You Do (You’re Sexing Me) by Fiona with Kip Winger (#80); Going Home by Kenny G (#82); I Will Survive by Safire (#85); Roam by the B-52's (#88); Foolish Heart by Sharon Bryant (#90); and A Girl Like You by the Smithereens (#92).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)
2 We Didn't Start the Fire--Billy Joel
3 Blame it on the Rain--Milli Vanilli
4 Angelia--Richard Marx
5 The Last Worthless Evening--Don Henley
6 When I See You Smile--Bad English
7 With Every Beat of My Heart--Taylor Dayne
8 Leave a Light On--Belinda Carlisle
9 Love Shack--The B-52's
10 Rock and a Hard Place--Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were Expedition Sailor by Kim Mitchell (#80); Principal's Office by Young M.C. (#82); Move to Move by Kon Kan (#84); Here is Christmas by Ann and Nancy Wilson (#86); Dangerous by Roxette (#88); So Far Away by Mystery Romance (#90); and Hide Your Heart by Kiss (#92).

War
The U.S. Defense Department announced that secret radar-evading F-117A Stealth bombers had been used in combat for the first time in Panama, and had dropped two bombs near a barracks.

Football
NFL
Buffalo (9-7) 37 @ New York Jets (4-12) 0
Washington (10-6) 29 @ Seattle (7-9) 0

Only 21,148 fans were in attendance at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey to see the Bills rout the Jets.

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Old Pop in an Oak--Rednex (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Stay Another Day--East 17 (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Sebastian Shaw, 89. U.K. actor. Mr. Shaw appeared in numerous plays, films, and television programs in a career spanning 65 years. His movies included The Squeaker (1937); The Spy in Black (1939); and Return of the Jedi (1983).

20 years ago
1999

Weather
It was warm enough in Edmonton for this blogger to wear shorts outside.

10 years ago
2009

Died on this date
Robert L. Howard, 70. U.S. military officer. Colonel Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions performed in Cambodia on December 30, 1968, during the Vietnam War, when he risked his life during a mission to rescue a soldier. He was probably the U.S.A.'s most decorated soldier of the post-World War II era, earning eight Purple Hearts, seven Army Commendation Medals, and numerous other awards. Col. Howard died of pancreatic cancer.

Scandal
Richard and Mayumi Heene, the parents who pulled the "balloon boy" hoax in hopes of landing a reality television show, were sentenced to jail by a judge in Fort Collins, Colorado.