May 23, 2021

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Chrisie Bell!

Married on this date
Happy Anniversary, Polly & Maurice Pratt!

430 years ago
1591

Died on this date
John Blitheman, 65-66 (?). English musician and composer. Mr. Blitheman succeeded Thomas Tallis as the organist at the Chapel Royal. His compositions were mainly for keyboard.

320 years ago
1701

Died on this date
William Kidd, 45-46 (?). Scottish-born privateer. Captain Kidd settled in New York as a young man and achieved success as a privateer from 1689 through the 1690s. While on an expedition to the Cape of Good Hope in 1697, Captain Kidd killed William Moore, one of his crewmen. Capt. Kidd returned to America, was arrested in Boston in 1699, and was returned to England for trial. He was convicted of murder and five counts of piracy, and was publicly hanged in London. Recently-discovered evidence has supported Capt. Kidd's account of events.

280 years ago
1741

Born on this date
Andrea Luchesi. Italian-born composer. Mr. Luchesi was an organist whose compositions included five symphonies, works for organ, and choral works. He moved to Bonn in 1771, and remained there until his death on March 21, 1801 at the age of 59.

175 years ago
1846

War
Mexican President Mariano Paredes unofficially declared war on the United States.

160 years ago
1861

Economics and finance
The first major gold rush in Otago, New Zealand began when Gabriel Read found gold near the Tuapeka River, a tributary of the Clutha River.

130 years ago
1891

Born on this date
Pär Lagerkvist. Swedish author. Mr. Lagerkvist was awarded the 1951 Nobel Prize in Literature "for the artistic vigour and true independence of mind with which he endeavours in his poetry to find answers to the eternal questions confronting mankind." He examined issues of good and evil, and frequently used religious motifs, although he was not a believer himself. Mr. Lagerkvist was best known for the novel Barabbas (1950); he died on July 11, 1974 at the age of 83.

120 years ago
1901

Canadiana
The eastern border of the Yukon Territory was adjusted to the Peel River--so its borders would not cross a watershed--and also adding some islands.

Economics and finance
The Mint Act received royal assent; it established a Canadian branch of the British Royal Mint.

Baseball
The Cleveland Blues were trailing the Washington Senators 13-5 with 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 9th inning, and Cleveland left fielder Jack McCarthy had 2 strikes on him. Mr. McCarthy then singled to begin a rally that saw the Blues score 9 runs to win the game 14-13 before 1,250 fans at League Park in Cleveland.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Lou Brouillard. Canadian boxer. Mr. Brouillard, a native of Saint-Eugène, Quebec, compiled a record of 100-31-2 in a professional career from 1928-1940. He held the National Boxing Association world welterweight title from October 1931-January 1932, and was recognized by the New York State Athletic Commission as world middleweight champion from August-October 1933. Mr. Brouillard died on September 14, 1984 at the age of 73.

Americana
After 16 years of construction, the New York Public Library, the largest marble structure in the United States at the time, was dedicated by U.S. President William Howard Taft.

80 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Herbert Austin, 74. U.K. automobile executive. Sir Herbert founded the Austin Motor Company in 1905. A Conservative, he represented Birmingham King's Norton in the House of Commons from 1918-1922. Sir Herbert, who was created the first Baron Austin in 1937, died of a heart attack.

War
A Japanese spokesman admitted that Chinese troops had recaptured Chuki, a railhead in the northern part of the province of Chekiang. At an America First Committee rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, Charles Lindbergh delivered a speech in opposition to U.S. involvement in the European war. U.S. Senator Burton K. Wheeler (Democrat--Montana) also addressed the crowd of 22,000. The Royal Air Force reported that British bombers had broken up an Iraqi counterattack at Falluja, 30 miles west of Baghdad, after native troops had gained positions in the town's outskirts.

Diplomacy
In a broadcast from Vichy, French Vice Premier François Darlan said that collaboration with Germany was a matter of "life or death" for France, but added that German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler had not demanded the French fleet or colonial territory.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Major General George Brett chief of the Army Air Corps; Brigadier General Courtney Hodges chief of infantry; and Colonel William Porter chief of the Chemical Warfare Service. A conference report on a bill empowering the U.S. government to impose priorities on industry to aid defense was passed by the Senate and sent to President Roosevelt.

Transportation
The U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board authorized Pan-Am Grace Airways, Inc. to establish commercial air service to and from Oruro, Bolivia. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt allocated $8 million in defense funds to aid airline service in Latin America in competition with Axis-controlled companies.

Crime
William Bioff and George E. Browne were indicted by a grand jury in New York on charges of extorting $550,000 during the past six years from 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation, Loew's Inc., Paramount Pictures, Inc., and Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc.

Labour
American Federation of Labor strikers reached an agreement to end a walkout at an ammunition loading plant in Ravenna, Ohio.

Boxing
Joe Louis (49-1) retained his world heavyweight title when challenger Buddy Baer (51-6) was disqualified by referee Arthur Donovan at the start of the 7th round of the bout at Griffith Stadium in Washington. Mr. Baer had been knocked down three times in the 6th round, but Mr. Baer's manager claimed that the last knockdown had occurred after the bell, and went into the ring to complain. Mr. Baer was disqualified when his manager refused to leave the ring. Buddy Baer, who knocked the champion down in the 1st round, was the younger brother of former world heavyweight champion Max Baer, whom Mr. Louis had knocked out in 1935.



75 years ago
1946

War
The United States Senate committee on the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii closed its inquiry.

Nationalist Chinese forces recaptured the Manchurian city of Changchun from the Communists, as Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek left Nanking for Mukden in U.S. Army General George Marshall's plane.

Defense
Former Spanish Republican Prime Minister Jose Giral y Pereira warned the United Nations Security Council subcommittee on Spain that Spanish dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco had authorized all Spanish citizens to bear arms on the pretext of a possible Soviet attack.

Politics and government
Argentine President-elect Juan Peron announced the merger of all parties supporting him into a single National Revolutionary Party.

Economics and finance
U.S. government officials disclosed that only 10% of relief food sent to China was reaching famine zones.

U.S. President Harry Truman asked the Senate to extend the Office of Price Administration for a year without crippling amemdments, and signed a bill continuing government export controls until July 1947.

Labour
Transportation across the United States was paralyzed, as 250,000 members of the Railroad Trainmen and Locomotive Engineers Brotherhoods went on strike, rejecting U.S. President Harry Truman's proposal for an 18½c hourly wage increase. In response, Mr. Truman placed all transportation under the Office of Defense Transportation and Insterstate Commerce Commission, which would determine freight priorities.

70 years ago
1951

At the movies
La corona negra (The Black Crown), directed by Luis Saslavsky, and starring María Félix, Rossano Brazzi, and Vittorio Gassman, opened in theatres in Barcelona.

The Prowler, directed by Joseph Losey, and starring Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes, received its premiere screening in Philadelphia.





War
Jordanian and Israeli troops clashed along their armistice line near Edna in the Hebron district.

U.S. Representative Overton Brooks (Democrat--Louisiana) demanded that recently-perfected atomic artillery shells be used in Korea to save "thousands" of U.S. troops and "relieve the strain at home."

Politics and government
Tibet signed a 17-point agreement with the People's Republic of China in Peking, accepting Chinese suzerainty and control over its foreign affairs.

Author and screenwriter Budd Schulberg admitted before the U.S. House of Representatives un-American Activities Committee that he was a Communist Party member from 1936-1939, and listed the names of three alleged fellow Communists in the entertainment industry.

Economics and finance
Chinese Nationalists charged that Macao had replaced Hong Kong as the main funnel of strategic goods into Communist China.

Dissatisfied with the federal government's proposals, Quebec Premier Maurice Duplessis threatened to establish his own legislation on old age pensions.

Business
The American Broadcasting Company and United Paramount Theatres announced a merger agreement in New York.

Labour
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced an increase in its cost-of-living index, entailing an automatic 3c hourly wage raise for one million auto workers under United Auto Workers of America contracts.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Are You Sure--The Allisons (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, hosted by John Newland, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Sorcerer, starring Christopher Lee, Martin Benson, and Gabrielli Licudi



Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Self Defense, starring George Nader, Audrey Totter, and Bob Paget

Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Prisoner in the Mirror, starring Lloyd Bochner, Marion Ross, and Henry Daniell



At the movies
The Young Savages, directed by John Frankenheimer, and starring Burt Lancaster, Dina Merrill, Shelley Winters, and Telly Savalas, received its premiere screening in New York City.



Died on this date
Joan Davis, 53. U.S. actress. Miss Davis appeared in B-movies in the 1930s and '40s, and starred in several successful radio comedy series, but was best known for co-starring with Jim Backus in the television comedy series I Married Joan (1952-1955). She died of a heart attack.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. called on the United Nations to support the plan of Antoine Gizenga, leader of a dissident regime in Congo recognized by the Communist bloc, for the country’s parliament to reconvene under his auspices at the UN base at Kamina.

50 years ago
1971

Disasters
78 people were killed when Aviogenex Flight 130, a Soviet-built Tupolev Tu-134A jet, crashed on approach to Rijeka Airport in Rijeka, Yugoslavia There were five survivors.

Baseball
In front of a Tiger Stadium crowd of 53,337, the Detroit Tigers swept a doubleheader from the Washington Senators 5-0 and 11-0. Former Detroit ace Denny McLain (4-7) was the starting pitcher for Washington in the first game, his first appearance in Detroit since being traded. Mickey Lolich (7-3) pitched the 4-hit shutout, while Norm Cash and Al Kaline each hit a 2-run home run. Mr. Cash added 2 home runs, including a grand slam, in the second game. Les Cain (1-0) pitched 6 innings to get the win, while Joe Niekro pitched 3 innings of relief to preserve the 6-hit shutout.

Vida Blue (10-1) pitched a 5-hitter and didn't allow an earned run, while Mike Epstein hit a 2-run home run in the 4th inning to provide the necessary scoring for the Oakland Athletics as they beat the Minnesota Twins 3-1 before 28,537 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. It was Mr. Blue's 10th straight win.

Bob Bailey's 3-run home run in the bottom of the 8th inning provided the deciding runs for the Montreal Expos as they held on to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 before 27,216 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Ernie McAnally (1-4) allowed 3 hits and 2 earned runs in 8+ innings to get his first major league win, but he got in trouble in the 9th when the Pirates loaded the bases with none out, and scored 2 runs before relief pitcher Mike Marshall induced Dave Cash to ground into a double play and Vic Davalillo to ground out to second base to end the game.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Sarà perché ti amo--Ricchi e Poveri (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Making Your Mind Up--Bucks Fizz (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: You Drive Me Crazy--Shakin' Stevens

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Stand and Deliver--Adam and the Ants (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Stand and Deliver--Adam and the Ants (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Making Your Mind Up--Bucks Fizz (2nd week at #1)
2 How 'bout Us--Champaign
3 Chanson D'Amour--BZN
4 Can You Feel It--The Jacksons
5 De Verzonken Stad--Frank & Mirella
6 Dance On--Doris D and the Pins
7 This Ole House--Shakin' Stevens
8 Angel of Mine--Frank Duval & Orchestra
9 Double Dutch Bus--Frankie Smith
10 't is Moeilijk Bescheiden te Blijven--Peter Blanker

Singles entering the chart were I've Seen that Face Before by Grace Jones (#24); Discotch by Voyage (#33); Grey Day by Madness (#34); Muscle Bound by Spandau Ballet (#35); and Über sieben Brücken mußt Du gehn by Peter Maffay (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes (2nd week at #1)
2 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
3 Just the Two of Us--Grover Washington, Jr.
4 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
5 Medley--Stars on 45
6 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
7 Living Inside Myself--Gino Vannelli
8 Sukiyaki--A Taste of Honey
9 Too Much Time on My Hands--Styx
10 Watching the Wheels--John Lennon

Singles entering the chart were All Those Years Ago by George Harrison (#33); Boy from New York City by the Manhattan Transfer (#72); Promises by Barbra Streisand (#83); A Life of Illusion by Joe Walsh (#84); Hearts by Marty Balin (#86); Brooklyn Girls by Robbie Dupree (#87); The Break Up Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em) by the Greg Kihn Band (#88); Yearning for Your Love by the Gap Band (#89); and I Can’t Say Goodbye to You by Helen Reddy (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
2 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
3 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
4 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
5 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
6 Sukiyaki--A Taste of Honey
7 Watching the Wheels--John Lennon
8 Medley--Stars on 45
9 Living Inside Myself--Gino Vannelli
10 Too Much Time on My Hands--Styx

Singles entering the chart were All Those Years Ago by George Harrison (#25); Boy from New York City by the Manhattan Transfer (#73); Hearts by Marty Balin (#77); Jones vs. Jones by Kool & The Gang (#83); A Life of Illusion by Joe Walsh (#84); Brooklyn Girls by Robbie Dupree (#85); Sign of the Gypsy Queen by April Wine (#86); Promises by Barbra Streisand (#87); Yearning for Your Love by the Gap Band (#88); The Break Up Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em) by the Greg Kihn Band (#89); Give it to Me Baby by Rick James (#90); Paradise by Change (#95); and I Can’t Say Goodbye to You by Helen Reddy (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
2 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
3 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
4 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
5 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton
6 Medley--Stars on 45
7 Too Much Time on My Hands--Styx
8 Sukiyaki--A Taste of Honey
9 Watching the Wheels--John Lennon
10 Living Inside Myself--Gino Vannelli

Singles entering the chart were All Those Years Ago by George Harrison (#33); Boy from New York City by the Manhattan Transfer (#76); Jones vs. Jones by Kool & The Gang (#80); The Stroke by Billy Squier (#84); Brooklyn Girls by Robbie Dupree (#85); Hearts by Marty Balin (#87); A Life of Illusion by Joe Walsh (#88); Promises by Barbra Streisand (#89); Lovin' the Night Away by the Dillman Band (#90); and Your Love is on the One by Lakeside (#100).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Angel of the Morning--Juice Newton (2nd week at #1)
2 Morning Train (Nine to Five)--Sheena Easton
3 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
4 You Better You Bet--The Who
5 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
6 Stars on 45--Stars on 45
7 While You See a Chance--Steve Winwood
8 Kiss on My List--Daryl Hall & John Oates
9 Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce
10 Watching the Wheels--John Lennon

Singles entering the chart were All Those Years Ago by George Harrison (#43); How 'bout Us by Champaign (#48); Say What by Jesse Winchester (#49); and America by Neil Diamond (#50).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Bette Davis Eyes--Kim Carnes
2 Take it on the Run--REO Speedwagon
3 I Missed Again--Phil Collins
4 Watching the Wheels--John Lennon
5 Her Town Too--James Taylor and J.D. Souther
6 Too Much Time on My Hands--Styx
7 Being with You--Smokey Robinson
8 Living Inside Myself--Gino Vannelli
9 Sweetheart--Franke & the Knockouts
10 Say You'll Be Mine--Christopher Cross

Singles entering the chart were All Those Years Ago by George Harrison (#26); Say What by Jesse Winchester (#28); and Winning by Santana (#30).

Died on this date
George Jessel, 83. U.S. entertainer. Mr. Jessel had a career spanning more than 70 years; he was known for his comic roles on stage and for his ability as a banquet host, earning the nickname "Toastmaster General of the United States." He starred in The Jazz Singer (1925) on Broadway and was the original choice to star in the movie version, but turned down the role when his salary demands weren't met. Mr. Jessel produced 24 movie musicals from the 1940s through the '60s, appeared in small roles in several movies, and hosted several television programs. He died of a heart attack.

David Lewis, 71. Russian-born Canadian politician. Mr. Lewis, born David Losz, moved to Montreal with his family in 1921. He was national secretary of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) (1936--1950), and one of the key architects of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1961. Mr. Lewis was known for his persistent efforts to keep Communists out of the CCF/NDP. After several failed attempts to win election to the Canadian House of Commons, he represented the metropolitan Toronto riding of York South (1962-1963, 1965-1974). Mr. Lewis succeeded Tommy Douglas as federal NDP leader in 1971, and led the party to an electoral breakthrough in 1972, winning 31 seats and propping up the Liberal government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau while holding the balance of power. The NDP was reduced to 16 seats in the 1974 federal election; Mr. Lewis lost his seat, and resigned as party leader a year later. He taught Canadian Studies at Carleton University and completed the first volume of his memoirs before his death after a long battle with leukemia.

Gene Green, 47. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Green was an outfielder and catcher with the St. Louis Cardinals (1957-1959); Baltimore Orioles (1960); Washington Senators (1961); Cleveland Indians (1962-1963); and Cincinnati Reds (1963), batting .267 with 46 home runs and 160 runs batted in in 408 games. He hit .305 with 166 homers in 992 games in 9 seasons in the minor leagues (1952-1960, 1963-1964).

Canadiana
The Canada's Wonderland amusement park opened at Vaughan, Ontario, north of the city of Toronto, just west of Maple; it cost $120 million to build.

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Wilhelm Kempff, 95. German musician and composer. Mr. Kempff was a classical pianist who was particularly known for his interpretations of Beethoven and Schubert in a performing and recording career spanning more than 60 years. Mr. Kempff wrote two symphonies and numerous orchestral, vocal, chamber, and keyboard works.

Jean van Houtte, 84. Prime Minister of Belgium, 1952-1954. A member of the Christian Social Party, Mr. van Houtte was Belgium's Finance Minister from 1950-1952 and again from 1958-1961. He replaced Joseph Pholien as Prime Minister upon Mr. Pholien's resignation, and left office when the Socialist Party, led by Achille Van Acker, came to power.

Fletcher Markle, 70. Canadian-born director, screenwriter, and producer. Mr. Markle, a native of Winnipeg, began his career in radio in Canada before moving to the United States in the mid-1940s, working in radio, television, and cinema as writer, director, or producer in a career spanning 30 years. His movies included Jigsaw (1949) and The Incredible Journey (1963), and he was host and then producer of the Canadian documentary television program Telescope (1963-1973). Mr. Markle and actress Mercedes McCambridge were married from 1950-1962, and they formed Cubano Productions in 1956 to produce feature films and content for independent television; they were intending to produce a series titled Tonight in Havana, starring Ricardo Montalban, but the series doeesn't seem to have been made. Mr. Markle died of heart failure in Pasadena, California.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Minnesota 4 @ Pittsburgh 6 (Pittsburgh led best-of-seven series 3-2)



Baseball
The Baltimore Orioles, with a record of 13-24, fired Frank Robinson as manager and replaced him with first base coach Johnny Oates. Mr. Robinson had managed the Orioles since 1988; his best season was 1989, when the Orioles posted a record of 87-75, second in the American League East Division and just 2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays.

Tommy Greene (3-0) pitched a no-hitter to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-0 win over the Montreal Expos before 8,833 fans at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Mr. Greene walked 7 batters and struck out 10.



Darrin Jackson hit a home run to lead off the 12th inning to give the San Diego Padres an 11-10 win over the Atlanta Braves before 13,780 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The Braves scored a run in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game 6-6, but the Padres scored 4 unearned runs in the top of the 10th, only to have the Braves come back with 4 in the bottom of the 10th--the last 3 on a homer by David Justice--to tie the score 10-10.

The Texas Rangers broke a 5-5 tie with 5 runs in the top of the 11th inning and defeated the Minnesota Twins 10-6 before 16,036 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.

25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Until it Sleeps--Metallica

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): X-Files--DJ Dado (3rd week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Western Conference Finals
Detroit 6 @ Colorado 4 (Colorado led best-of-seven series 2-1)

20 years ago
2001

Scandal
The Canadian Federal Ethics Commissioner's report cleared federal Minister of Public Works and Government Services Alfonso Gagliano of wrongdoing in the sponsorship scandal.