March 24, 2021

340 years ago
1681

Born on this date
George Philipp Telemann. German musician and composer. Mr. Telemann, who played almost every instrument available, was the most prolific composer of his time. Over 3,000 of his works survive, and it seems as though CKUA radio in Edmonton has played them all. He died on June 25, 1767 at the age of 86.

300 years ago
1721

Music
Johann Sebastian Bach dedicated six concertos to Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg-Schwedt, now commonly called the Brandenburg Concertos.

125 years ago
1896

Radio
At the Physical and Chemical Society in St. Petersburg, A. S. Popov allegedly used radio waves to transmit the Morse code message "GENRICH GERC" ("HEINRICH HERTZ" in Russian) to another building 250 metres away.

120 years ago
1901

Born on this date
Ub Iwerks. U.S. animator. Mr. Iwerks met Walt Disney in 1919, and eventually became Mr. Disney's chief animator, co-creating Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse. Mr. Iwerks left to start his own studio in 1930, creating the characters Flip the Frog and Willie Whopper. The studio went out of business in 1936, and Mr. Iwerks returned to the Disney studio in 1940; his work there included the combination of live action and animation in Song of the South (1946). He won two Academy Awards, and died of a heart attack on July 7, 1971 at the age of 70.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Joseph Barbera. U.S. animator. Mr. Barbera worked at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1937-1957; he and colleague William Hanna produced the Tom & Jerry cartoons. In 1957 Messrs. Hanna and Barbera founded Hanna-Barbera, the most successful animation studio in television. Hanna-Barbera produced such programs as The Flintstones (1960-1966) and The Jetsons (1962-1963, 1985, 1987), and won seven Academy Awards and eight Emmy Awards. Mr. Barbera died on December 18, 2006 at the age of 95.

100 years ago
1921

Born on this date
Vasily Smyslov. U.S.S.R. chess player. Mr. Smyslov was a Grandmaster who was a Candidate for the World Chess Championship on eight occasions from 1948-1985; he defeated defending champion Mikhail Botvinnik 12½–9½ to win the world championship in 1957, but lost the rematch to Mr. Botvinnik 12½–10½ a year later. Mr. Smyslov's total of 17 Chess Olympiad medals remains the record. He died from congestive heart failure on March 27, 2010, three days after his 89th birthday.

Died on this date
Larry McLean, 39. Canadian-born U.S. baseball player. Mr. McLean, a native of Fredericton, New Brunswick, grew up in the Boston area. He was a catcher with the Boston Americans (1901); Chicago Cubs (1903); St. Louis Cardinals (1904, 1913); Cincinnati Reds (1906-1912); and New York Giants (1913-1915), batting .262 with 6 home runs and 298 runs batted in in 862 games. Mr. McLean batted .500 (6 for 12) with 2 runs batted in the Giants' 5-game loss to the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1913 World Series. He was a heavy drinker, and his career ended in a mid-season hotel brawl with Giants' manager John McGraw and scout Dick Kinsella. Mr. McLean was fatally shot in a speakeasy in Boston by a bartender who claimed that Mr. McLean was attempting to attack him. Mr. McLean was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Sport
The 1921 Women's Olympiad, the first international women's sports event, began in Monte Carlo.

Hockey
NHL/PCHA
Stanley Cup
Finals

Ottawa Senators (NHL) 4 @ Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA) 3 (Best-of-five series tied 1-1)

80 years ago
1941

War
London suffered its heaviest air attack of the year when German bombers pounded the city for six hours. German forces commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel attacked and captured El Aghella, Libya. Japan claimed to have occupied Swabue on Honghai Bay near Hong Kong, while other Japanese forces crossed the Tathow Channel and captured Chaoyang in moves designed to close the remaining coastal route into free China. Chinese and Japanese reports announced bitter fighting on the island of Hainan, with China claiming a victory.

Defense
The United States Senate voted 67-9 to pass the $7-billion Lend-Lease appropriation bill after less than two hours of debate. Publication of correspondence between the U.S. State Department and Canada revealed that for the first time since 1817, the two countries would construct naval vessels on the Great Lakes for ocean use.

Journalism
U.S. Navy Secretary Frank Knox urged the press to refrain from reporting on or photographing damaged British warships coming to the United States for repairs.

Labour
The Congress of Industrial Organizations Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) called a strike at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation's plant in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to protest against a company union. U.S. Representative Martin Dies (Democrat--Texas) told the House of Representatives that he had "indisputable evidence" that the Communist Party, through its members in the SWOC, "is working toward a complete tie-up in the steel industry."

Basketball
NCAA
NIT @ Madison Square Garden, New York
Final
Long Island 56 Ohio 42

75 years ago
1946

Died on this date
Carl Schuhmann, 66. German athlete. Mr. Schuhmann competed in numerous events at the first modern Summer Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, winning three gold medals in men's artistic gymnastics and another in Greco-Roman wrestling, while finishing fourth in the clean and jerk weightlifting event, fifth in triple jump, and competing in shot put and long jump. When the Olympics were held in Berlin in 1936, he participated in a gymnastics exhibition at Olympic Stadium.

Aleksandr Alekhine, 53. Russian-born French chess player. Mr. Alekhine was a Grandmaster who emigrated to France in 1921. He defeated José Raúl Capablanca to win the world championship in 1927, and dominated tournament play until losing his title to Max Euwe in 1935. Mr. Alekhine regained the championship in the rematch against Mr. Euwe in 1937, and cooperated with occupying Nazi authorities in France during World War II in order to protect his French wife's assets. Mr. Alekhine's wartime activities resulted in his not being invited to tournaments outside the Iberian peninsula. He was preparing to defend his title in Estoril, Portugal when he was found dead in his hotel room; his death was attributed to a heart attack, although one reported witness to the autopsy said that Mr. Alekhine had choked on a piece of meat. Mr. Alekhine was opposed to Communism and the Soviet government, and conspiracy theories assert that he was murdered and the evidence altered.

War
A Bangkok high court ordered the release of Luang Pibul Songgram--Prime Minister of Thailand during the World War II Japanese occupation--and all other prisoners being held on war crimes charges.

Defense
U.S. President Harry Truman threatened to send American naval forces to the Mediterranean Sea if the U.S.S.R. did not remove her troops from Iran as agreed at the Potsdam Conference in 1945. Moscow radio announced that the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Meshed, Shanrud, and Semnan was complete, and that remaining troops woul be evacuated from Iran in five or six weeks.

Politics and government
The British Cabinet Mission, consisting of Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps and A. V. Alexander, arrived in India to discuss and plan for the transfer of power from the British Raj to Indian leadership.

Science
The Soviet newspaper Izvestia reported that the U.S.S.R. would spend hundreds of millions of rubles in a five-year scientific program, including the study of atomic energy and cosmic rays.

Economics and finance
A committee of 39 Democratic and 4 Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives was formed to press for passage of the minimum wage bill.

Golf
Sam Snead won the Greensboro Open with a record-tying total score of 270.

70 years ago
1951

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Silver Dollar--Art Mooney and his Orchestra

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): If--Perry Como (Best Seller--3rd week at #1; Disc Jockey--4th week at #1); The Tennessee Waltz--Patti Page (Jukebox--12th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Be My Love--Mario Lanza (4th week at #1)
2 If--Perry Como
3 My Heart Cries for You--Guy Mitchell
--Dinah Shore
--Vic Damone
--Jimmy Wakely
4 You’re Just in Love--Perry Como
5 The Tennessee Waltz--Patti Page
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
--Les Paul and Mary Ford
--Jo Stafford
6 Aba Daba Honeymoon--Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter
7 The Roving Kind--Guy Mitchell
--The Weavers
8 So Long (It’s Been Good to Know You)--Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra and the Weavers
9 A Penny a Kiss--Tony Martin and Dinah Shore
10 Mockin’ Bird Hill--Les Paul and Mary Ford
--Patti Page

Singles entering the chart were You and Your Beautiful Eyes by Dean Martin (#32); Oh, What a Face! by Phil Harris (#33); and Vesti la Giubba (On with the Play) by Mario Lanza (#38). You and Your Beautiful Eyes was the other side of his version of Tonda Wonda Hoy, charting at #37. Aba Daba Honeymoon was from the movie Two Weeks with Love (1950).

War
Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Command General Douglas MacArthur reported that South Korea had been "substantially cleared" of Communist troops, and threatened an extension of military operations to Chinese "coastal and interior areas."

Defense
U.S. Defense Secretary George Marshall revealed in his semi-annual report that U.S. defense production was nearing the highest levels of World War II.

Energy
Argentine President Juan Peron claimed that "controlled release of atomic energy" had been produced in Argentina on a "technical" scale.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Wooden Heart--Elvis Presley

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: The Prime Mover, starring Dane Clark and Buddy Ebsen

At the movies
Town Without Pity, directed by Gottfried Reinhardt, and starring Kirk Douglas, Barbara Rütting, Christine Kaufmann, and E. G. Marshall, opened in theatres in West Germany.





Politics and government
The Québec government of Premier Jean Lesage announced the creation of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, and under it, the Office de la langue française (OLF), responsible for promoting the French language in Québec.

Education
The Québec government established the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Education (Parent Commission), chaired by Monsignor Alphonse-Marie Parent, vice-rector of Université Laval. The rest of the members were publicly named a month later, and the commission held its first hearings on December 5, 1961.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Hot Love--T. Rex

War
Operation Lam Song 719, the 44-day U.S.-South Vietnamese invasion of Laos ended when the last South Vietnamese units pulled out under heavy Communist assaults. South Vietnam reported 1,146 killed and 4,235 wounded over the 44 days. The United States lost 66 helicopter crewmen, with 79 wounded. 94 U.S. helicopters and 5 planes were destroyed. South Vietnam claimed that 13,668 North Vietnamese troops had been killed and 167 taken prisoner, along with 6,657 weapons captured, 120 tanks and 297 trucks destroyed, and tons of ammunition, weapons, and food taken. Unreported masses of South Vietnamese equipment, including tanks, artillery, and helicopters were also lost.

Law
The Québec Police Commission recommended forming a contingency plan for emergencies, after examining the Montréal police walkout of October 7, 1969.

Transportation
The U.S. Senate voted to end government sponsorship of the supersonic transport.

40 years ago
1981

Politics and government
Progressive Conservative Members of Parliament filibustered in the Canadian House of Commons in an effort to halt Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's constitutional proposals.

Crime
Britain’s "Great Train Robber," Ronnie Biggs, was rescued by Barbados police after being kidnapped in Rio de Janeiro several days earlier.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department announced that consumer prices had risen 1% during February, probably because of the administration of President Ronald Reagan’s decontrol of oil prices.

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Crazy--Seal (3rd week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)--C & C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams
2 Hello Afrika--Dr. Alban featuring Leila K.
3 Kränk di net--Jazz Gitti & her Disco Killers
4 Sister Soul & Mr. Beat--Beat 4 Feet featuring Kim Cooper
5 Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers
6 Joyride--Roxette
7 Crazy--Seal
8 3 A.M. Eternal (Live at the S.S.L.)--The KLF
9 Fantasy--Black Box
10 To Love Somebody--Jimmy Somerville

Singles entering the chart were Blue Hotel by Chris Isaak (#15); G.L.A.D. by Kim Appleby (#27); Solid Gold by Ashley & Jackson (#28); and No Coke by Dr. Alban (#29).

Died on this date
John Kerr, 76. Governor-General of Australia, 1974-1977. Sir John, who took office as Governor-General after serving as Chief Justice of New South Wales, was in office during a constitutional crisis in 1975 that resulted in his dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and asking Malcolm Fraser to form a government.

Religion
It was the last Sunday for Rev. Albert Runge as senior pastor at Beulah Alliance Church in Edmonton. Pastor Runge had been at Beulah for 9½ years, and thought it was a good time to step down. He moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia to become senior pastor at Seven Oaks Alliance Church, while Keith Taylor replaced him at Beulah Alliance.

Hockey
NHL
Los Angeles 4 @ Edmonton 3 (OT)

CIAU
Men’s championship final
Quebec at Trois Rivieres 7 Alberta 2

25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Mysterious Girl--Peter Andre featuring Bubbler Ranx (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Macarena--Los Del Rio

#1 single in Switzerland: Children--Robert Miles (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Scotland (OCC): Children--Robert Miles (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Mark Goodkey, 22. Canadian hockey player. Mr. Goodkey was a defenceman with the University of Alberta (1993-96), scoring 11 points in 50 games. He was playing in a recreational game in Stettler, Alberta, and dropped to block a shot with 4 minutes remaining in the game. The puck struck him in the neck, breaking his neck and causing an artery to explode, killing him instantly. The Golden Bears instituted a scholarship in Mr. Goodkey's honour.

Space
As part of mission STS-76, Mission Specialist Shannon Lucid transferred from the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis to the Russian space station Mir to begin a 4½-month stay, becoming the first American woman to go aboard the station.



Basketball
NBA
Cleveland 90 @ Vancouver 85

The Grizzlies' loss to the Cavaliers at Pacific Coliseum was their 18th straight, making them the first team to have two losing streaks of at least 18 games in the same season.

20 years ago
2001

Figure skating
At the world championships at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Michelle Kwan of the United States captured her fourth career gold medal in the women’s singles competition. Fellow American Sarah Hughes won the bronze medal.



10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Richard Leacock, 89. U.K. film producer and director. Mr. Leacock produced, directed, and photographed documentaries in a career spanning more than 50 years, and was a pioneer of direct cinema and cinéma vérité. He and fellow documentarian D.A. Pennebaker formed a production company in 1966. Mr. Leacock moved to Paris in 1989, and died there.

War
Canadian F-14 jets helped to enforce the United Nations' no-fly zone over Libya, driving tanks loyal to Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi out of Misrata and destroying an ammunition depot.

Energy
The government of Quebec struck a deal with the government of Canada to allow the province to draw all natural-gas royalties from Old Harry, deposits in a disputed area in the Gulf of St. Lawrence off the Magdalen Islands.