January 11, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Kristi!

210 years ago
1805

Americana
The Michigan Territory was created.

200 years ago
1815

Born on this date
John A. Macdonald. Prime Minister of Canada, 1867-1873; 1878-1891. Sir John A., a Conservative, was Deputy Premier of the United Province of Canada from 1856-1857; 1858-1862; and 1864-1865, and Premier from 1857-1858. Upon Confederation on July 1, 1867, he became the first Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada. He resigned his government in 1873 and served as Leader of the Opposition until regaining power in 1878. During his time in office, Canada expanded from its original four provinces to include the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island, and the Canadian Pacific Railway was built. Sir John A. died on June 6, 1891 at the age of 76, three months after leading the Conservatives to another majority government in the federal election. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by Sir John Abbott.

150 years ago
1865

Journalism
Joseph Howe published the first of his "Botheration Letters" in the Halifax Morning Chronicle; his series attacking Confederation continued until March 2.

125 years ago
1890

Born on this date
Mickey Keliher. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Keliher was a first baseman with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1911-1912), batting 0 for 7 in 2 games. He played over 1,600 games in 18 seasons in the minor leagues (1910-1929), and died on September 7, 1930 at the age of 40.

Max Carey. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Carey, born Maximillian George Carnarius, was an outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1910-1926) and Brooklyn Robins (1926-1929), batting .285 with 70 home runs and 802 runs batted in and 738 stolen bases in 2,476 games. He led or tied for the National League lead in stolen bases in 11 seasons, and his career total stood as the NL record until it was broken by Lou Brock in the 1970s. Mr. Carey was with the Pirates when they won the World Series in 1925, and batted .458 as they came back from a 3-1 deficit in games to defeat the Washington Nationals 4 games to 3. Mr. Carey managed the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932-1933, compiling a record of 146-161-4. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961, and died on May 30, 1976 at the age of 86.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Laurens Hammond. U.S. engineer. Mr. Hammond invented such things as the Hammond organ, Hammond clock, and the Teleview system of glasses for watching 3-D movies. He died on July 1, 1973 at the age of 78.

80 years ago
1935

At the movies
The Lives of a Bengal Lancer, starring Gary Cooper, Franchot Tone, and Richard Cromwell, received its premiere screening in New York City. It opened in Germany the following month, and reportedly became Fuehrer Adolf Hitler's favourite movie.

Aviation
Amelia Earhart became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California.

Boxing
Joe Louis (14-0) scored a technical knockout of Hans Birkie (31-29-8) at 1:47 of the 10th round of a heavyweight bout at Duquesne Gardens in Pittsburgh.

75 years ago
1940

War
Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry L. Stimson urged the United States to halt the shipment of arms and raw materials to Japan. Japanese officials claimed a major aerial victory over Kweilin, capital of the Chinese province of Kwangsi.

Politics and government
The United States Senate confirmed Charles Edison as Secretary of the Navy in the cabinet of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Economics and finance
A French government decree established Friday as a meatless day and prohibited the sale of beef, veal, and mutton on Monday and Tuesday.

70 years ago
1945

Died on this date
Warren G. Hooper, 40. U.S. politician. Mr. Hooper, a Republican was a member of Michigan's state House of Representatives. During a grand jury investigation, he admitted to taking bribes and was given immunity from prosecution in return for his testimony against three other men charged with conspiracy to bribe legislators. However, four days before the hearing, he was shot and killed in his car, alongside highway M-99, near Springport, Jackson County, Michigan.

War
U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson instructed the Selective Service to raise its March quotas from 80,000-100,000 to meet replacement needs. Allied troops further reduced the German bulge in Belgium, and U.S. forces destroyed German units on the Luxembourg border. Hill positions overlooking the Kall River and the Haies-de-Tillet woods were cleared, and Bonnerue, Pironpre, Vesqueville, and St. Hubert were occupied. German forces withdrew from the pocket southeast of Bastogne. U.S. forces in the Philippines extended their line on Luzon to 22 miles and pushed inland up to 9 miles. U.S. carrier aircraft attacked Japanese positions along the French Indochina coast, destroying ships and aircraft. U.K. forces in Burma took Shwebo, 54 miles north of Mandalay. It was the last day of the Dekemvriana (December) clashes in Athens between Greek left-wing resistance forces (EAM-ELAS, KKE) and the British Army, supported by the Greek government.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The House Of The Rising Sun--The Animals (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Feel Fine--The Beatles (4th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Come See About Me--The Supremes
2 Goin' Out of My Head--Little Anthony and the Imperials
3 I Feel Fine--The Beatles
4 As Tears Go By--Marianne Faithfull
5 (There's) Always Something There to Remind Me--Sandie Shaw
6 The Jerk--The Larks
7 Dance, Dance, Dance--The Beach Boys
8 The Wedding--Julie Rogers
9 So Many Other Boys--The Esquires
10 Amen--The Impressions

Singles entering the chart were Maybe by the Shangri-Las (#27); This Diamond Ring by Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#29); Laugh, Laugh by the Beau Brummels (#31); Runaround by Ann Marie (#35); Give Him a Great Big Kiss by the Shangri-Las (#36); Whenever a Teenager Cries by Reparata and the Delrons (#37); Have You Looked Into Your Heart by Jerry Vale (#39); and Talk to Me Baby by Barry Mann (#40).

On television tonight
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Where the Woodbine Twineth, starring Margaret Leighton, Carl Benton Reid, Juanita Moore, and Eileen Baral

Died on this date
Wally Pipp, 71. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Pipp was a first baseman with the Detroit Tigers (1913); New York Yankees (1915-1925); and Cincinnati Reds (1926-1928), batting .281 with 90 home runs and 998 runs batted in in 1,872 games. He led the American League in home runs in 1916 (12) and 1917 (9), becoming the first Yankee to lead the AL in homers. Mr. Pipp was the Yankees' first baseman when they won their first three pennants from 1921-1923, and their first World Series in 1923. In 1925, he was in a slump and was removed from the starting lineup in favour of rookie Lou Gehrig, whom he had scouted. Mr. Pipp was unable to regain his starting position, and was claimed on waivers by the Reds before the following season.

Music
The Beach Boys were at Gold Star Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, where they recorded the song Do You Wanna Dance?.

The Supremes were at Hitsville U.S.A. Studio A in Detroit, where they finished recording the song Stop! In the Name of Love.

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched the satellite Cosmos 52.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): E la vita, la vita--Cochi e Renato (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): I Can Help--Billy Swan

#1 single in the U.K.: Lonely This Christmas--Mud (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 You're the First, the Last, My Everything--Barry White
2 Mandy--Barry Manilow
3 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John
4 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
5 Laughter in the Rain--Neil Sedaka
6 Only You--Ringo Starr
7 Junior's Farm--Paul McCartney & Wings
8 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
9 Cat's in the Cradle--Harry Chapin
10 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas

Singles entering the chart were Ding Dong, Ding Dong by George Harrison (#73); Midnight Sky (Part 1) by the Isley Brothers (#79); Rhyme Tyme People by Kool & The Gang (#83); Thanks for the Smiles by Charlie Ross (#91); Lady Marmalade by LaBelle (#92); I Won't Last a Day Without You/Let Me Be the One by Al Wilson (#94); Poetry Man by Phoebe Snow (#96); It's All Right by Jim Capaldi (#98); What a Man, My Man Is by Lynn Anderson (#99); and Girls (Part 1) by the Moments and the Whatnauts (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John
2 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas
3 Cat's in the Cradle--Harry Chapin
4 One Man Woman/One Woman Man--Paul Anka with Odia Coates
5 Laughter in the Rain--Neil Sedaka
6 Angie Baby--Helen Reddy
7 My Melody of Love--Bobby Vinton
8 You're the First, the Last, My Everything--Barry White
9 Morning Side of the Mountain--Donny and Marie Osmond
10 I Can Help--Billy Swan

Singles entering the chart were Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life) by Mac Davis (#84); When a Child is Born by Michael Holm (#85); Sweet Surrender by John Denver (#89); Happy People by the Temptations (#90); From His Woman to You by Barbara Mason (#91); Black Water by the Doobie Brothers (#92); I Am I Am by Smokey Robinson (#93); Doctor's Orders by Patsy Gallant (#94); Mama Don't Allow No Parkin' by Brownsville Station (#96); Costafine Town by Splinter (#97); Nightingale by Carole King (#98); and In the Bottle by Brother to Brother (#100).

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CFRW)
1 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas
2 Junior's Farm--Paul McCartney & Wings
3 One Man Woman/One Woman Man--Paul Anka with Odia Coates
4 When Will I See You Again--The Three Degrees
5 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John
6 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
7 Laughter in the Rain--Neil Sedaka
8 Angie Baby--Helen Reddy
9 Only You--Ringo Starr
10 Fairytale--The Pointer Sisters
11 I Can Help--Billy Swan
12 Mandy--Barry Manilow
13 Cat's in the Cradle--Harry Chapin
14 Changes--David Bowie
15 My Melody of Love--Bobby Vinton
16 Fire, Baby I'm on Fire--Andy Kim
17 Bungle in the Jungle--Jethro Tull
18 Morning Side of the Mountain--Donny and Marie Osmond
19 Ain't Too Proud to Beg--Rolling Stones
20 Dream On--The Righteous Brothers
21 Back Home Again-John Denver
22 You're the First, the Last, My Everything--Barry White
23 Never Can Say Goodbye--Gloria Gaynor
24 You Beat Me to the Punch--Charity Brown
25 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk
26 Dancin' Fool--The Guess Who
27 Doctor's Orders--Carol Douglas
28 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
29 Longfellow Serenade--Neil Diamond
30 Lonely People--America

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CKRC)
1 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John
2 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas
3 Mandy--Barry Manilow
4 Cat's in the Cradle--Harry Chapin
5 Laughter in the Rain--Neil Sedaka
6 One Man Woman/One Woman Man--Paul Anka with Odia Coates
7 Angie Baby--Helen Reddy
8 Morning Side of the Mountain--Donny and Marie Osmond
9 Junior's Farm--Paul McCartney & Wings
10 Bungle in the Jungle--Jethro Tull
11 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
12 My Melody of Love--Bobby Vinton
13 When Will I See You Again--The Three Degrees
14 Sha La La (Make Me Happy)--Al Green
15 Dancin' Fool--The Guess Who
16 You're the First, the Last, My Everything--Barry White
17 Only You--Ringo Starr
18 Never Can Say Goodbye--Gloria Gaynor
19 Fairytale--The Pointer Sisters
20 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk
21 Ride 'Em Cowboy--Paul Davis
22 You're No Good--Linda Ronstadt
23 My Eyes Adored You--Frankie Valli
24 I Can Help--Billy Swan
25 You Beat Me to the Punch--Charity Brown
26 Crazy Talk--Chilliwack
27 Lady Ellen--James Leroy
28 Six Feet Under Water--Hans Staymer Band
29 Doctor's Orders--Carol Douglas
30 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder

Calgary's Top 10
1 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas (3rd week at #1)
2 I Can Help--Billy Swan
3 When Will I See You Again--The Three Degrees
4 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John
5 Crazy Talk--Chilliwack
6 Wishing You were Here--Chicago
7 Junior's Farm--Paul McCartney & Wings
8 Longfellow Serenade--Neil Diamond
9 Angie Baby--Helen Reddy
10 Cat's in the Cradle--Harry Chapin
Pick hit of the week: Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder

Space
The Soviet manned mission Soyuz 17, with Commander Aleksei Gubarev and Flight Engineer Georgi Grechko aboard, lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to join the space station Salyut 4, which had been launched on December 26, 1974.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Do They Know it's Christmas?--Band Aid (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Do They Know it's Christmas?--Band Aid

Died on this date
William McKell, 93. Governor General of Australia, 1947-1953. Mr. McKell was a Labour Party Member of Parliament (1917-1920, 1927-1947), serving as Premier of New South Wales (1941-1947), before being named Governor General.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Ryyd-joulu--Bat & Ryyd (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Do They Know it's Christmas?--Band Aid II (5th week at #1)

Law
The end of martial law in Beijing took effect, but had little practical impact because other laws introduced since the June 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square had curtailed unauthorized political activity.

Armenia’s parliament asserted Armenia’s right to override national (i.e., Soviet) laws that affected Armenia. This was in response to the presidium of the national Supreme Soviet declaring Armenia’s vote to integrate the economy of Nagorno-Karabakh into that of Armenia unconstitutional.

Protest
250,000 people demonstrated in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius on behalf of independence as Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev arrived in an attempt to persuade the Lithuanian Communist Party to rescind its break with the national (i.e., Soviet) party. In a walk through the streets of the city, Mr. Gorbachev denounced independence as a dead end, and said the U.S.S.R. could not afford to lose its Baltic ports.

20 years ago
1995

War
Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev said that his forces could not defeat Russia and that a negotiated settlement would be necessary. The U.S. State Department said that Russia had broken an international agreement by making major troop movements without providing notification.

Law
The United States Senate voted 98-1 in favour of its own version of a bill that had passed in the House of Representatives six days earlier by a 429-0 vote, that would require that the two houses of Congress abide by labour and civil rights laws that applied to other Americans.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department announced that the consumer price index had increased 0.2% in December 1994.

Business
Dylex Ltd., Canada's largest clothing retailer, sought court protection from its creditors and said it would shut 200 stores, eliminating 1,800 jobs.

Labour
After a 103-day lockout, representatives of the National Hockey League Players Association accepted the final offer of club owners on the final day by which the owners said an agreement had to be reached in order to save the season. The season was to begin on January 20, with the league playing a 48-game schedule instead of the usual 82.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Spencer Dryden, 66. U.S. musician. Mr. Dryden, a nephew of movie comedian Charlie Chaplin, was a drummer with Jefferson Airplane from 1966-1970 and New Riders of the Purple Sage in the 1970s, as well as with the Peanut Butter Conspiracy and the Dinosaurs.

Jimmy Griffin, 61. U.S. musician. Mr. Griffin was a guitarist, singer, and songwriter with Bread in the early 1970s.