December 28, 2011

360 years ago
1651

Born on this date
Johann Krieger. German musician and composer. Mr. Krieger, the younger brother of organist and composer Johann Philipp Krieger, was also an organist, and was one of the most important keyboard composers of his day, publishing collections containing harpsichord suites, organ toccatas, fugues, and ricercars. He also composed sacred and secular vocal music, as well as works for the stage. Mr. Krieger died at the age of 83 on July 18, 1735, the day after playing the organ at a church service.

90 years ago
1921

At the movies
Orphans of the Storm, directed by D.W. Griffith, and starring Lillian and Dorothy Gish, opened in theatres in Boston.



70 years ago
1941

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Gloria Scott

War
Operation Anthropoid, the plot to assassinate high-ranking Nazi officer Reinhard Heydrich, commenced. Reports stated that German troops were retreating in Serbia following a series of defeats by guerrillas. Japanese planes, unchallenged by anti-aircraft batteries or pursuit craft, bombed Manila for two hours in the afternoon. Japanese pressure increased southeast of Manila. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt pledged that "the entire resources, in men and in material, of the United States stand behind" the Philippines.

Diplomacy
The British government announced that U.K. Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden had been in Moscow since mid-December conferring with U.S.S.R. dictator Josef Stalin regarding conduct of the war.

Academia
The American Association of University Professors issued a formal statement assailing Georgia Governor Eugene Talmadge for "political interference" in ousting Dean Walter D. Cocking of the University of Georgia on charges of advocating racial equality in education.

Economics and finance
The Brookings Institution issued a report urging the reduction of federal non-defense expenditures by $2.085 billion without curtailing essential social services.

60 years ago
1951

On television today
The last episode of the soap opera Miss Susan, starring Susan Peters, aired on NBC after a run of 9½ months.

World events
Two hours after the U.S. legation in Budapest paid $120,000 in fines, Hungary released four American fliers imprisoned at the Austro-Hungarian border since being forced down and captured on November 19.

Diplomacy
The U.S. State Department banned travel in Hungary by U.S. citizens, and ordered immediate closure of the Hungarian consulates in New York and Cleveland.

War
The French National Assembly rejected a proposal by former Prime Minister Edouard Daladier that the United Nations be asked to arrange a truce in the Indochinese war.

Defense
The U.S. Army announced the development of a submachine gun that could shoot around corners.

Economics and finance
Yugoslavian Finance Minister Milentije Popovic announced plans to devalue the dinar from 50 to 300 to the American dollar.

Tennis
Australia retained the Davis Cup in Sydney as Frank Sedgman, Mervyn Rose, and Ken McGregor defeated Vic Seixas, Ted Schroeder, and Tony Trabert of the United States 3-2 in men's finals competition.

50 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): Moon River--Jerry Butler (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Moon River--Danny Williams

At the movies
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, directed by José Quintero, and starring Vivien Leigh and Warren Beatty, opened in theatres.



Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Heather Pick!

Defense
Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron No.446, at North Bay, Ontario, formed Canada's first BOMARC Surface to Air Missile Squadron for defence against Soviet ICBMs.

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Mamy Blue--Pop-Tops (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Akropolis adieu--Mireille Mathieu (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Max Steiner, 83. Austrian-born composer and conductor. Mr. Steiner, a native of Vienna, was a child prodigy as a pianist and composer, and conducted an operetta when he was 12. He worked in theatrical productions in continental Europe and Britain in the years leading to World War I, but was interned in England as an enemy alien when World War I began in 1914. Mr. Steiner was allowed to emigrate to the United States, and spent 15 years on Broadway in New York before going to Hollywood in 1929, and sound was coming into motion pictures. He composed over 300 film scores for RKO Pictures and Warner Brothers Pictures from 1929-1965 and received 24 Academy Award nominations, winning for The Informer (1935); Now, Voyager (1942); and Since You Went Away (1944). Mr. Steiner's most famous scores included Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Summer Place (1959). He died of congestive heart failure after years of declining health and poor eyesight.

Football
NCAA
Blue-Gray Game @ Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama
Gray 27 Blue 15

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Down Under--Men at Work (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Sailor Fuku to Kikanjū--Hiroko Yakushimaru (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Ma Quale Idea--Pino D'Angio (14th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Polonäse Blankenese--Gottlieb Wendehals (a.k.a. Werner Böhm) (4th week at #1)

Born on this date
Elizabeth Jordan Carr. U.S. woman. Miss Carr, America's first "test-tube baby," was born in Norfolk, Virginia.

Died on this date
Allan Dwan, 96. Canadian-born U.S. movie director. Mr. Dwan, a native of Toronto, moved to the United States with his family at the age of 7. He began working in the motion picture industry in Chicago and New York; he spent his winters in California and, like many others, moved there to work full-time. Mr. Dwan directed 125 movies from 1911-1961; he directed Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks in several silent films, and directed eight movies starring Gloria Swanson. Mr. Dwan's movies included Robin Hood (1922); The Iron Mask (1929); and Sands of Iwo Jima (1949).

25 years ago
1986

Died on this date
John D. MacDonald, 70. U.S. author. Mr. MacDonald was known for crime and suspense novels, especially those set in Florida and involving the character Travis McGee.

Football
NFL
AFC Wild Card Game
Kansas City 15 @ New York Jets 35

See video.

NFC Wild Card Game
Los Angeles Rams 7 @ Washington 19



20 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Black or White--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Black or White--Michael Jackson (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Black or White--Michael Jackson (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Black or White--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Black or White--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Qui a le droit...--Patrick Bruel (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Kon ik maar even bij je zijn--Gordon (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Bohemian Rhapsody/These Are the Days of Our Lives--Queen (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Black or White--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Black or White--Michael Jackson
2 All 4 Love--Color Me Badd
3 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
4 It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday--Boyz II Men
5 Keep Coming Back--Richard Marx
6 No Son of Mine--Genesis
7 Set Adrift on Memory Bliss--P.M. Dawn
8 Blowing Kisses in the Wind--Paula Abdul
9 Broken Arrow--Rod Stewart
10 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John

Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, originally a hit for Elton John in 1974, was recorded live in London in March 1991.
Singles entering the chart were Forever My Lady by Jodeci (#75); Blinded by Love by Rythm Syndicate (#77); There's No Other Way by Blur (#78); The Rush by Luther Vandross (#83); and I Want You by Jody Watley (#89); and The Unforgiven by Metallica (#90).

Football
NFL
AFC Wild Card Playoff
Los Angeles Raiders 6 @ Kansas City 10



NFC Wild Card Playoff
Atlanta 27 @ New Orleans 20

See video.