Monday 27 April 2015

April 28, 2015

275 years ago
1740


Died on this date
Baji Rao I, 39
. Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, 1720-1740. Baji Rao I, a Brahmin, was trained as a diplomat and warrior. He served as Peshwa (Prime Minister) to Chhatrapati (Emperor) Shahu I, and was credited with the expansion of the Maratha Empire in India, never losing a battle in 20 years. Baji Rao I died five days after contracting a fever.

210 years ago
1805


Died on this date
Peter Pelham, 83
. U.K.-born American musician. Mr. Pelham, a native of London, moved to Boston with his family at the age of 9. He was organist at Trinity Church in Boston from 1744 until about 1750, when he moved to Williamsburg, Virginia. Mr. Pelham was organist for Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg from 1755 until blindness forced his retirement in 1802. He was also a harpsichord teacher, supervisor for the printing of currency (1758-1775), and superintendent of the Public Gaol (1770-1780). Mr. Pelham's compositions have disappeared except for a short harpsichord minuet.

150 years ago
1865


Died on this date
Samuel Cunard, 77
. Nova Scotia-born U.K. shipping magnate. Sir Samuel, a native of Halifax, co-founded British and North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company in 1840, which became known as Cunard Steamship Company, Ltd. in 1879.

80 years ago
1935


On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Leigh Lovell, on NBC

75 years ago
1940


War
In response to Germany's recent invasion of Norway, a Gallup Poll reported that 93% of Americans thought the invasion unjustified, but 96% did not favour a U.S. declaration of war on Germany. The town of Namsos, the Allied troop landing area in central Norway, was levelled by German air attacks. Allied commanders were ordered to withdraw from Namsos and Andalsnes, thus abandoning the attempt to take Trondheim. Conflicting reports of success were issued from Tokyo and Chungking concerning the heavy fighting in the Chinese province of Shansi.

Law
The United States Justice Department announced the establishment of a Neutrality Laws Unit to centralize control of all alleged violations.

Tennis
Don Budge defeated Bruce Barnes in the men's final of the U.S. Open championship at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Baseball
Hal Trosky hit a 2-run home run with 2 out in the 10th inning to give the Cleveland Indians an 11-9 win over the Detroit Tigers before 30,200 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Indians had led 9-3, but the Tigers scored 6 runs in the 9th to tie the game.

70 years ago
1945


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day) (Best Seller--4th week at #1; Juke Box--2nd week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--5th week at #1); I'm Beginning to See the Light--Harry James and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Kitty Kallen) (Airplay--2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Benito Mussolini, 61
. Prime Minister of Italy, 1922-1943. Mr. Mussolini, known as Il Duce (The Leader), was leader of the Italian Fascist Party from 1921 until his death. He governed constitutionally as Prime Minister for his first three years in office before establishing a legal dictatorship. Mr. Mussolini's alliance with the German Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler turned out rather badly after initial successes during World War II. Mr. Mussolini was driven from power in 1943, but was restored by the Nazis as a puppet ruler. In the final days of the war, Mr. Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci, 33, were stopped by Communist partisans near Dongo (Lake Como) in northern Italy while attempting to board a plane bound for Switzerland and then Spain. The couple and most of their entourage were shot to death, and their bodies were moved to Milan, where, the next day, they were publicly hung upside down from meat hooks.



Roberto Farinacci, 52. Italian politician. Mr. Farinacci was Secretary of Italy's National Fascist Party from 1925-1926 and Mayor of Cremona from 1922-1931. He was known as one of the Fascist regime's most prominent anti-Semites. Mr. Farinacci was executed in Vimercate by Communist partisans.

Hermann Fegelein, 38. German SS officer. General Fegelein was part of the entourage of Fuehrer Adolf Hitler and was married to Gretl Braun, sister of Mr. Hitler's mistress Eva Braun. He was shot to death in the garden of the Reich Chancellery in Berlin the day after escaping the Fuehrerbunker and being arrested in his apartment while preparing to flee to Sweden or Switzerland. Gen. Fegelein was reportedly drunk at the time of his arrest and all through his court martial in the Fuehrerbunker, which resulted in a conviction for desertion.

War
An Associated Press report quoting U.S. Senator Tom Connally (Democrat--Texas) said that Germany had surrendered unconditionally, but U.S. President Harry Truman denied the report. A truce was arranged between Canadian and German forces in Holland. Soviet forces drove the remaining German forces in Berlin into a 25-square-mile area of the city's centre.

Abominations
29 people were killed when the U.S. hospital ship Comfort was damaged by attacks from Japanese planes 50 miles south of Okinawa. The ship was properly designated as a hospital ship.

U.S. Army Brigadier General Eric Wood called Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany an "extermination factory" which had deprived Europe of its best democratic personnel.

Diplomacy
At the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov demanded that White Russia and Ukraine be given their seats at once, before working committees began deliberations.

Politics and government
The United States Senate Agriculture Committee voted to remove the Rural Electrification Administration from the Agriculture Department.

Economics and finance
The U.S. War Production Board revoked 40 lesser controls over industry covering a variety of consumer goods.

Track and field
Michigan captured the team title at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, while Illinois won the team title at the Drake Relays.

50 years ago
1965


War
U.S. Marines landed in the Dominican Republic to "forestall establishment of a Communist dictatorship" and protect and evacuate Americans and citizens of 30 other countries. Civil war continued as rebel forces that had overthrown the junta led by President Donald Reid Cabral Huberto three days earlier refused to recognize a new junta led by Air Force General Elias Wessin y Wessin.

40 years ago
1975


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Newcastle Song--Bob Hudson (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Showa Kare Susuki--Sakura & Ichiro

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): El Bimbó--Bimbo Jet

Died on this date
Tom Donahue, 46
. U.S. disc jockey and music executive. Mr. Donahue, born Thomas Coman, began his career in West Virginia in 1949 before moving to Philadelphia and Maryland, but achieved his greatest influence after moving to San Francisco in 1961. He was a successful DJ with the AM station KYA, but moved to the FM band with KMPX, pioneering the format of "progressive rock" radio in the United States. Mr. Donahue also managed and discovered various acts, and co-founded the Autumn label. The most prominent artist discovered by Mr. Donahue was the group the Beau Brummels, who had some success in the mid-1960s. Mr. Donahue died of a heart attack.

War
General Cao Văn Viên, chief of the South Vietnamese military, departed for the United States as the North Vietnamese Army closed in on victory.

Politics and government
Greek and Turkish leaders in Cyprus agreed to form a group to study proposals for a new government.

Basketball
ABA
Semi-Finals
St. Louis 103 @ Kentucky 123 (Kentucky won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Artis Gilmore scored 29 points and Dan Issel added 28 as the Colonels eliminated the Spirits before 8,726 fans at Freedom Hall in Louisville. Marvin Barnes of the Spirits led all scorers with 35 points.

Baseball
The San Diego Padres purchased catcher Jerry Moses from the New York Mets and released third baseman Glenn Beckert. Mr. Moses had yet to play in 1975, while Mr. Beckert, a second baseman for most of his 11-year major league career, was batting .375 with no home runs or runs batted in in 9 games in 1975. Mr. Beckert had started the season as the Padres' regular third baseman but had injured his throwing arm in the third game of the season.

The Chicago Cubs traded infielder-outfielder Matt Alexander to the Oakland Athletics for pitcher Howell Copeland. Mr. Alexander was currently on the roster of the Wichita Aeros of the AAA American Association, batting .250 with 2 home runs, 8 runs batted in, and 4 stolen bases in 7 games. Mr. Copeland was currently with the Tucson Toros of the AAA Pacific Coast League, and had a record of 0-4 with an earned run average of 8.53. Mr. Alexander joined the Athletics immediately, while Mr. Copeland was assigned to Wichita.

30 years ago
1985


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): We are the World--USA for Africa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Johnny, Johnny--Jeanne Mas (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)--Dead or Alive (3rd week at #1)

On the radio
The Stories of Sherlock Holmes, starring Graham Armitage and Kerry Jordan, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: The Sarussi Pearls

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
New York Islanders 0 @ Philadelphia 1 (Philadelphia won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Minnesota 5 @ Chicago 4 (OT) (Chicago led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Ilkka Sinisalo's goal at 6:43 of the 2nd period held up as the winner as the Flyers eliminated the Islanders at the Spectrum. Pelle Lindbergh stopped 25 shots to get the shutout in goal, while New York goalie Kelly Hrudey made 37 saves.

Dennis Maruk scored at 1:14 of the 1st overtime period to enable the North Stars to avert elimination by the Black Hawks at Chicago Stadium. Mr. Maruk's goal completed a comeback from a 4-0 deficit in the 2nd period.

Baseball
A bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 9th inning gave the Chicago White Sox a 4-3 win over the New York Yankees before 27,367 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The loss dropped the Yankees’ record to 6-10, and Yogi Berra was fired as manager, to be replaced by Billy Martin. Mr. Berra was so furious that he vowed never to set foot in Yankee Stadium again as long as George Steinbrenner owned the Yankees.

Darryl Strawberry hit a grand slam in the 1st inning, but the New York Mets didn’t score another run until the bottom of the 18th as they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 in 18 innings before 36,423 fans at Shea Stadium in New York in a game that lasted 5 hours and 21 minutes. 41-year-old Rusty Staub was pressed into service in the outfield in the 12th inning when the Mets ran short of players. It was his last game in the field, and the only time he put the glove on all year. Mr. Staub and Clint Hurdle switched back and forth between left field and right field, depending on the handedness of the batter.

Mickey Hatcher, who had batted 5 for 5 the day before, hit safely his first 4 times up and finished 4 for 5 to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 10-1 win over the Oakland Athletics before 17,797 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis for their 8th straight win. Mr. Hatcher’s 9 straight hits were a club record.

25 years ago
1990


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair) (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Vattene Amore--Amedeo Minghi; Mietta (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Vogue--Madonna

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton

#1 single in France (SNEP): Le temps des Yéyés--Les Vagabonds (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Vogue--Madonna (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 The Power--Snap! (3rd week at #1)
2 Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International
3 Infinity (1990's... Time for the Guru)--Guru Josh
4 Vogue--Madonna
5 Oh Pretty Woman--Gary Moore featuring Albert King
6 Kingston Town--UB40
7 What "U" Waitin'....."4"?--Jungle Brothers
8 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor
9 This Beat is Technotronic--Technotronic featuring MC Eric
10 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles

Singles entering the chart were Something Happened on the Way to Heaven by Phil Collins (#25); Fame 90 by David Bowie (#26); Moments in Soul by J.T. and the Big Family (#30); I Might by Shakin' Stevens (#31); Pressure by Angela & the Rude (#34); and The Sex of It by Kid Creole and the Coconuts (#35).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (2nd week at #1)
2 Don't Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
3 I Wanna Be Rich--Calloway
4 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
5 How Can We Be Lovers--Michael Bolton
6 Whip Appeal--Babyface
7 Here and Now--Luther Vandross
8 Without You--Motley Crue
9 Whole Wide World--A'me Lorain
10 All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You--Heart

Singles entering the chart were U Can't Touch This by M.C. Hammer (#27); Do You Remember? by Phil Collins (#51); Children of the Night by Richard Marx (#55); Notice Me by Nikki (#73); Dare to Fall in Love by Brent Bourgeois (#75); That's the Way of the World by D-Mob with Cathy Dennis (#78); Club at the End of the Street by Elton John (#86); Girls Nite Out by Tyler Collins (#89); This and That by Michael Penn (#90); Only My Heart Talkin' by Alice Cooper (#91); Try to Find Me by Gorky Park (#92); Sittin' in the Lap of Luxury by Louie Louie (#97); and Up All Night by Slaughter (#98).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Nothing Compares to U--Sinead O’Connor
2 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
3 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
4 I Wanna Be Rich--Calloway
5 I’ll Be Your Everything--Tommy Page
6 How Can We Be Lovers--Michael Bolton
7 Here and Now--Luther Vandross
8 Forever--Kiss
9 Without You--Motley Crue
10 Whip Appeal--Babyface

Singles entering the chart were Children of the Night by Richard Marx (#54); Do You Remember? by Phil Collins (#61); Coming of Age by Damn Yankees (#68); Turtle Power by Partners in Kryme (#74); Pictures of You by the Cure (#80); This and That by Michael Penn (#86); and That's the Way of the World by D Mob With Cathy Dennis (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins (6th week at #1)
2 Nothing Compares to U--Sinead O’Connor
3 Lover of Mine--Alannah Myles
4 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
5 Love Will Lead You Back--Taylor Dayne
6 I’ll Be Your Everything--Tommy Page
7 Blue Sky Mine--Midnight Oil
8 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love--Jane Child
9 The Heart of the Matter--Don Henley
10 This Old Heart of Mine--Rod Stewart with Ronald Isley

Singles entering the chart were It Must Have Been Love by Roxette (#69); Book of Dreams by Suzanne Vega (#71); Dangerous Times by Sue Medley (#74); Heaven is a 4 Letter Word by Bad English (#79); 38 Years Ago by the Tragically Hip (#81); Club at the End of the Street by Elton John (#84); This is Love by Regatta (#87); Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice) by Gloria Estefan (#89); Texas Twister by Little Feat (#91); and I Come Off by Young MC (#93).

Theatre
The musical A Chorus Line closed after 6,137 performances at the Shubert Theatre in New York, the longest Broadway run in history to that time.

Protest
200,000-700,000 people came to Washington, D.C. to protest against the continuing abomination of abortion. U.S. President George Bush addressed the rally by telephone and said that the "widespread prevalence of abortion is a tragedy." Vice-President Dan Quayle, who attended the rally, said, "The pro-life movement is the humanitarian movement of our time."

Hockey
IIHF
Men's World Championship
Czechoslovakia 3 Canada 2

NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Chicago 2 @ St. Louis 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

Baseball
The Detroit Tigers scored 4 runs in the 5th inning, 5 in the 7th, and 4 in the 8th as they beat the Milwaukee Brewers 13-5 before 15,829 fans at Tiger Stadium, with starting pitcher Frank Tanana picking up his 200th career major league win.

20 years ago
1995


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Se på mej--Jan Johansen (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Key to My Life--Boyzone (2nd week at #1)

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average closed at 4,321.27, a record high.

April 27, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Rod Crossley!

1,620 years ago
395


Married on this date
Eastern Roman Emperor Arcadius married Aelia Eudoxia, daughter of the Frankish general Flavius Bauto; she became one of the more powerful Roman empresses of Late Antiquity.

210 years ago
1805


War
United States Marines and Berbers attacked the Tripolitan city of Derna in the First Barbary War.

150 years ago
1865


Academia
The New York State Senate created Cornell University as the state's land grant institution.

Disasters
The steamboat Sultana, carrying 2,400 passengers, exploded and sank in the Mississippi River, killing 1,800, most of whom were Union Army survivors of the Andersonville and Cahaba prisoner of war camps in the U.S. Civil War.

100 years ago
1915


Died on this date
John Labatt, 76
. Canadian brewer. Mr. Labatt, a native of Westminster Township, Upper Canada (near present-day London, Ontario) inherited the Labatt Brewing Company upon the death of his father in 1866. Under his leadership, the company became the largest brewery in Canada.

Aleksandr Scriabin, 43. Russian composer. Mr. Scriabin is known as the main Russian Symbolist composer, representing a movement that believed that art should represent absolute truths that could only be described indirectly. Mr. Scriabin is perhaps best known for his 10 piano sonatas. He died from poisoning as the result of a sore on his upper lip.

75 years ago
1940


War
German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop revealed allegedly captured British documents indicating British and French military designs on Norway prior to the recent German invasion.

Defense
The Inter-American Neutrality Committee announced in Rio de Janeiro that it had agreed upon a 300-mile-wide security belt around the Americas.

Politics and government
The Missouri Republican Party convention left its 30 national convention votes uninstructed, while endorsing the state's only Republican Congressman, Rep. Dewey Short, as its nominee for the 1940 nomination for Vice President of the United States.

Academia
Harvard University said that its appointment of British philosopher Bertrand Russell to a lectureship would not be affected by the dispute over his appointment at New York University.

Economics and finance
British economic adviser Frank Ashton-Gwatkim said that Allied purchases of U.S. goods would increase enormously during the next year.

An Associated Press survey indicated that the top 250 U.S. corporations showed a 50% profit increase for the first quarter of 1940 over the same period in 1939.

Baseball
Rookie shortstop Lou Boudreau hit his first 2 major league home runs and added a single to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers before 20,133 fans at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Mr. Boudreau’s hits came against losing pitcher Hal Newhouser.

70 years ago
1945


At the movies
The Unseen, directed by Lewis Allen, and starring Joel McCrea, Gail Russell, and Herbert Marshall, received its premiere screening in Montreal.



War
The U.S. House of Representatives accepted the Senate bill to prevent 18-year-olds from going to battle without six months training, and sent it to President Harry Truman. Count Bernadotte of Sweden delivered the Allied reply to the German offer of capitulation on the western front to German S.S. leader Heinrich Himmler at Flensburg. Soviet troops overwhelmed the southern half of Berlin, capturing four city districts, including Tempelhof airport. German troops were finally expelled from Finnish Lapland. U.S. troops entered Genoa, Italy's largest port. U.S. troops in the Philippines captured the summer capital of Baguio. The U.S. aircraft carrier Franklin, hit by Japanese bombs on March 19, arrived at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for repairs. It was described as the most damaged ship ever to make port.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco agreed to give one vote each to White Russia and Ukraine, but denied representation to the provisional government of Poland.

U.S. President Harry Truman named Edwin Pauley as the U.S. member of the Allied Reparation Commission.

60 years ago
1955


Boxing
Johnny Holman (23-10-1) scored a technical knockout over former world heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles (85-13-1) at 2:48 of the 9th round at Miami Beach Auditorium.



50 years ago
1965


Died on this date
Edward R. Murrow, 57
. U.S. journalist. Mr. Murrow, born Egbert Roscoe Murrow, was a reporter with the Columbia Broadcasting System from 1935-1960. He became famous for his phrase, "This is London," as he delivered radio reports from Great Britain during the early years of World War II. Back in the U.S.A. after the war, he hosted the radio program Hear it Now, and the television programs See it Now (1951-1958) and Person to Person (1953-1959). Mr. Murrow left CBS at the beginning of 1961 to become head of the United States Information Agency; he left that position in 1964 when he developed lung cancer as the result of a three-pack-per-day smoking habit, and died two days after his 57th birthday.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Chicago 0 @ Montreal 6 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-2)

40 years ago
1975


At the movies
Death Race 2000, starring David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone, opened in theatres.





Society
The Alberta Conference of Physically Disabled Persons, with 40-60 delegates in attendance, concluded at the Edmonton Plaza Hotel. The conference was characterized by considerable criticism of Alberta's Progressive Conservative government of Premier Peter Lougheed because of the way people with disabilities were being treated or neglected.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Montreal 5 @ Buffalo 6 (OT) (Buffalo led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Danny Gare scored at 4:42 of the 1st overtime period to give the Sabres their win over the Canadiens at War Memorial Auditorium. Veteran centre Henri Richard returned to the Montreal lineup for the first time since breaking his ankle in November 1974.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
Semi-Finals
Quebec 2 @ Minnesota 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Houston 2 @ San Diego 1 (Houston led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Basketball
NBA
Conference Finals
Washington 100 @ Boston 95 (Washington led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Chicago 89 @ Golden State 107 (Golden State led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Elvin Hayes scored 34 points and Phil Chenier added 24 as the Bullets, trailing 55-43 at halftime, outscored the Celtics 57-40 in the 2nd half to win before 15,320 fans at Boston Garden. Jo Jo White led Boston with 27 points.

Rick Barry scored 38 points and Keith Wilkes added 26 as the Warriors defeated the Bulls before 12,787 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena. Bob Love led Chicago with 37 points.

ABA
Semi-Finals
Kentucky 117 @ St. Louis 98 (Kentucky led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Indiana 109 @ Denver 90 (Indiana led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Artis Gilmore scored 33 points to lead the Colonels over the Spirits before 11,688 fans at St. Louis Arena. Marvin Barnes led the Spirits with 24 points.

George McGinnis scored 33 points and Billy Knight added 22 as the Pacers defeated the Nuggets before 7,483 fans at Denver Auditorium Arena. Mike Green led the Nuggets with 20 points.

Baseball
The Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees split a doubleheader before 41,493 fans at Shea Stadium in New York. In the first game, Milwaukee designated hitter Hank Aaron doubled in 2 runs in the 7th inning as the Brewers won 7-0. The RBIs gave Mr. Aaron a career major league total of 2,209, tying the record held by Babe Ruth. Pete Broberg pitched a 3-hitter for the shutout. In the second game, Elliott Maddox batted 4 for 5 with a double, home run, 3 runs, and 3 runs batted in, and Ed Herrmann batted 3 for 4 with a double, homer, and 3 RBIs as the Yankees won 10-1. Catfish Hunter pitched a 3-hit complete game for his first win as a Yankee; he had a no-hitter until Sixto Lezcano and Tim Johnson hit consecutive singles with 2 out in the 8th inning. Robin Yount's home run with 1 out in the 9th accounted for the Milwaukee run.

The Chicago White Sox amassed 17 hits--15 of them singles--and held on to defeat the Kansas City Royals 8-6 before 9,803 fans at Royals Stadium. Ken Henderson had 2 singles and a double for Chicago, while Brian Downing had 3 singles. Harmon Killebrew, normally a designated hitter with the Royals, played his first game of the season at first base, batting 2 for 3 with a double, home run, base on balls, 2 runs, and 3 runs batted in, while making 8 putouts in the field.

The Atlanta Braves swept a doubleheader from the San Diego Padres 12-8 and 4-1 before 25,996 fans at San Diego Stadium. The first game was tied 3-3 after 7 innings, but Atlanta erupted for 9 runs in the top of the 8th, only to have San Diego respond with 5 in the bottom of the 8th. Atlanta's Rowland Office scored as a pinch runner in the top of the 8th, and then came to bat later in the inning, tripled home 3 runs, and scored again. San Diego center fielder Johnny Grubb had 4 singles in 5 at bats, with 3 runs batted in. In the second game, winning pitcher Roric Harrison pitched a 5-hit complete game, and doubled and scored a run.

30 years ago
1985


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): We are the World--USA for Africa (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): We are the World--USA for Africa

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): We are the World--USA for Africa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): We are the World--USA for Africa (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: We are the World--USA for Africa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): We are the World--USA for Africa (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 We are the World--USA for Africa (3rd week at #1)
2 Crazy for You--Madonna
3 Rhythm of the Night--DeBarge
4 Nightshift--Commodores
5 One More Night--Phil Collins
6 Obsession--Animotion
7 Don't You (Forget About Me)--Simple Minds
8 I’m on Fire--Bruce Springsteen
9 One Night in Bangkok--Murray Head
10 That was Yesterday--Foreigner

Singles entering the chart were Angel by Madonna (#48); Would I Lie to You? by Eurythmics (#70); Lucky in Love by Mick Jagger (#73); Oo-Ee-Diddley-Bop! by Peter Wolf (#84); Through the Fire by Chaka Khan (#85); I'm Through with Love by Eric Carmen (#87); I was Born to Love You by Freddie Mercury (#88); Mathematics by Melissa Manchester (#89); and Only Lonely by Bon Jovi (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Tears are Not Enough--Northern Lights (2nd week at #1)
2 Shout--Tears for Fears
3 One Night in Bangkok--Murray Head
4 Crazy for You--Madonna
5 A Criminal Mind--Gowan
6 We are the World--USA for Africa
7 Nightshift--Commodores
8 Rhythm of the Night--DeBarge
9 One More Night--Phil Collins
10 Material Girl--Madonna

Singles entering the chart were Little Sheila by Slade (#73); Show Some Respect by Tina Turner (#86); When You were Mine by Cyndi Lauper (#91); and You're the Only Love by Paul Hyde and the Payola$ (#97).

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Quebec 5 @ Montreal 1 (Quebec led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Baseball
Pinch hitter Willie Aikens hit a 2-run home run in his last major league at bat to tie the game in the 9th inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays added a run in the 10th to defeat the Texas Rangers 9-8 before 13,769 fans at Arlington Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Blue Jays sent Mr. Aikens down to their International League farm team in Syracuse three days later, and he never returned to the major leagues.

25 years ago
1990


Died on this date
Charles Woodward, 66
. Canadian businessman. "Chunky" Woodward, a native of Vancouver, was Chief Executive Officer of the Woodward's department store chain for 31 years, during which 21 stores were added in British Columbia and Alberta. He resigned in June 1988 before giving up family control of Woodward's to the Hudson's Bay Company. Mr. Woodward died in Vancouver.

Terrorism
Colombian drug lords issued a statement condemning the previous day’s assassination of Carlos Pizarro Leongomez, the third candidate for the presidency of Colombia to be killed during the current campaign.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the gross national product had grown at an annual rate of 2.1% in the first quarter of the year.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Montreal 1 @ Boston 3 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Washington 2 @ New York Rangers 1 (OT) (Washington won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Baseball
Wally Backman batted 6 for 6 and Barry Bonds hit 2 home runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates as they defeated the San Diego Padres 9-4 before 23,376 fans at San Diego-Jack Murphy Stadium.

20 years ago
1995


Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Fly Away--Haddaway

Died on this date
Katherine DeMille, 83
. Canadian-born U.S. actress. Miss DeMille, born Katherine Lester in Vancouver, was orphaned in childhood and adopted by movie producer and director Cecil B. DeMille. She appeared, often uncredited, in 30 movies from 1930-1956, including Madame Satan (1930); Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937); and Unconquered (1947). Miss DeMille was married to actor Anthony Quinn from 1937-1965.

Terrorism
According to officials in Oklahoma City, the April 19 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building had caused structural damage to 200 buildings, while overall damage was estimated at $500 million.

10 years ago
2005


Died on this date
Red Horner, 95
. Canadian hockey player. George Reginald Horner was a defenceman with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1928-1940, and was the team's captain in his last two seasons. He scored 42 goals and 110 assists in 490 regular season NHL games and 7 goals and 17 assists in 71 playoff games. His 1,264 minutes in penalties was the NHL career record at the time of Mr. Horner's retirement. Mr. Horner was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1965; he was the last surviving member of the Maple Leafs' 1932 Stanley Cup championship team.

Aviation
The superjumbo jet aircraft Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger airliner, made its first flight from Toulouse, France.

Sunday 26 April 2015

April 26, 2015

150 years ago
1865


Died on this date
John Wilkes Booth, 26
. U.S. actor and assassin. Mr. Booth, the son of actor Junius Booth and brother of actors Junius Booth, Jr. and Edwin Booth, became a popular actor in his own right in the late 1850s and 1860s. His sympathies with the Confederacy during the U.S. Civil War eventually led to his involvement in a conspiracy to assassinate U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. He fled Washington for Maryland and then Virginia after fatally shooting Mr. Lincoln on April 14, 1865, where he was cornered in a barn and shot to death by Union soldier Boston Corbett. Mr. Booth died two weeks before his 27th birthday.

War
In the U.S. Civil War, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered his army to Union General William Tecumseh Sherman at the Bennett Place near Durham, North Carolina.

100 years ago
1915


Diplomacy
China rejected Japan's Twenty-One Demands.

90 years ago
1925


Politics and government
Paul von Hindenburg defeated Wilhelm Marx in the second round of the German presidential election to become the first directly elected head of state of the Weimar Republic.

80 years ago
1935


Hockey
NHL
Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers was given permanent possession of the Lady Byng Trophy for the most sportsmanlike player in the National Hockey League, having won it for 7 of its 11-year history. The NHL purchased a new trophy to be awarded the following year.

75 years ago
1940


Died on this date
Carl Bosch, 65
. German chemist. Dr. Bosch shared the 1931 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Friedrich Bergius for their contributions to the invention and development of chemical high pressure methods." Dr. Bosch helped to found the chemical company IG Farben in 1925. IG Farben became infamous for making the poison gas used in Nazi death camps during World War II, but Dr. Bosch was an opponent of the Nazis, and reportedly turned to drink after he was relieved of various positions after the Nazis came to power in Germany.

Literature
Dodd, Mead & Company and Redbook magazine named Hildreth--Her Story by Mrs. Harlow Estes as the winner of the $10,000 prize as the best first novel by any author in 1939.

War
German forces broke Allied defenses at Roeros, Norway. British sources in Hong Kong reported that Japan had taken full control of Lappa Island, a Portuguese possession.

Diplomacy
The United Kingdom and France acceded to U.S. pressure to keep the inconveniences of their blockade to a minimum.

The Allies and Switzerland agreed that the latter could obtain supplies for her own use under a guarantee that they would not go to Germany.

Terrorism
Terrorists bombed the office of the American-owned Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury.

World events
64 people received prison sentences in Brazil for being Communist propagandists.

70 years ago
1945


At the movies
Blood on the Sun, starring James Cagney and Sylvia Sidney, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
Pavlo Skoropadskyi, 71
. Hetman of Ukraine, 1918. General Skoropadskyi became Hetman (head of state) of Ukraine on April 29, 1918 as the result of a coup. he was removed from power in November 1918 in a subsequent uprising. General Skoropadskyi died a week before his 72nd birthday.

Sigmund Rascher, 36. German physician. Dr. Rascher was a member of the SS who conducted inhumane medical experiments at Dachau concentration camp during World War II. When a claim that his wife had become pregnant after the age of 48 was proven false, SS leader Heinrich Himmler felt betrayed, and had Dr. Rascher and his wife imprisoned in Buchenwald concentration camp. When Buchenwald was evacuated in April 1945, Dr. Rascher was moved with other prisoners to Dachau, where he was executed by firing squad, three days before the camp was liberated by Allied forces.

War
U.K. forces in Germany captured Bremen, while to the south Allied forces advanced toward the German redoubt in Bavaria. Allied forces in Italy captured Verona and Parma. German forces recaptured the German city of Bautzen from Soviet and Polish forces in the last noteworthy success of the Wehrmacht. Filipino troops of the 66th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFIP-NL and the American troops of the 33rd and 37th Infantry Division, United States Army, were liberated in Baguio City and fought against Japanese forces under General Tomoyuki Yamashita.

World events
French Marshal Henri-Philippe Petain was arrested at the Franco-Swiss border and taken to Paris to await trial on charges of treason.

Diplomacy
At the first plenary session of the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, U.S. Secretary of State Edward Stettinius said that the world body should work out only a charter. U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov said that the lessons of the League of Nations must be remembered. U.K. Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden asked that a charter be drafted my May 24, 1945.

Politics and government
Communist Luis Prestes said that he would be a candidate in the forthcoming Brazilian presidential election.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Harry Truman asked Commerce Secretary Henry Wallace to investigate alege misuse of patents to support monopolies.

Labour
U.S. Stabilization Director William Davis granted the National War Labor Board discretionary authorization to set rigid standards on "fringe" wage adjustments.

50 years ago
1965


Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): La Luna y el Toro--Mikaela

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Ticket to Ride--The Beatles

On television tonight
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Second Wife, starring June Lockhart, John Anderson, and Alice Backes

Londonia
A concert by the Rolling Stones at London Gardens in London, Ontario was shut down by police after 15 minutes due to rioting. It remains the group's only appearance in London.

Economics and finance
The Canadian federal budget of Finance Minister Walter Gordon included a 10% cut in personal income tax.

40 years ago
1975


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Piange il telefono--Domenico Modugno

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Paloma Blanca--George Baker Selection (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Bye Bye Baby--Bay City Rollers (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song--B.J. Thomas

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song--B.J. Thomas
2 Philadelphia Freedom--The Elton John Band
3 He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)--Tony Orlando and Dawn
4 Jackie Blue--The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
5 Chevy Van--Sammy Johns
6 Emma--Hot Chocolate
7 Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)--Leo Sayer
8 What am I Gonna Do with You--Barry White
9 Supernatural Thing (Part I)--Ben E. King
10 L-O-V-E (Love)--Al Green

Singles entering the chart were Old Days by Chicago (#72); The Way We Were/Try to Remember by Gladys Knight and the Pips (#73); Give the People What They Want by the O'Jays (#78); Thank You Baby by the Stylistics (#79); Baby That's Backatcha by Smokey Robinson (#82); The Hustle by Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony (#91); Let There Be Music by Orleans (#92); One More Tomorrow by Henry Gross (#94); Anytime (I'll Be There) by Frank Sinatra (#96); (Just Like) Romeo and Juliet by Sha Na Na (#97); Love Will Keep Us Together by the Captain & Tennille (#98); Dynomite (Part 1) by Bazuka (#99); and Me and Mrs. Jones by Ron Banks and the Dramatics (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Philadelphia Freedom--The Elton John Band (2nd week at #1)
2 I Don't Like to Sleep Alone--Paul Anka
3 Lady Marmalade--LaBelle
4 Lovin' You--Minnie Riperton
5 Poetry Man--Phoebe Snow
6 It's a Miracle--Barry Manilow
7 (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song--B.J. Thomas
8 Emma--Hot Chocolate
9 Chevy Van--Sammy Johns
10 He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)--Tony Orlando and Dawn

Singles entering the chart were Anytime (I'll Be There) by Frank Sinatra (#84); Where is the Love by Betty Wright (#85); Watching the World Go By by Les Emmerson (#86); Julie by Ian Thomas (#87); Rescue Me by Cher (#88); Bloody Well Right by Supertramp (#90); Touch Me Baby by Tamiko Jones (#91); Remember What I Told You by Tavares (#92); Come on Over by Chilliwack (#93); Black Superman (Muhammad Ali) by Johnny Wakelin and the Kinshasa Band (#94); Misty by Ray Stevens (#95); A Hurricane is Coming Tonight by Carol Douglas (#96); Spirit of the Boogie by Kool & The Gang (#97); Love Won't Let Me Wait by Major Harris (#98); Sandy by the Hollies (#99); and Magic by Pilot (#100).

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CFRW)
1 I Don't Like to Sleep Alone--Paul Anka (2nd week at #1)
2 Lovin' You--Minnie Riperton
3 Philadelphia Freedom--The Elton John Band
4 Shame, Shame, Shame--Shirley (And Company)
5 No No Song--Ringo Starr
6 You are So Beautiful--Joe Cocker
7 Chevy Van--Sammy Johns
8 (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song--B.J. Thomas
9 Don't Call Us, We'll Call You--Sugarloaf/Jerry Corbetta
10 Jackie Blue--The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
11 Stand by Me--John Lennon
12 Lady Marmalade--LaBelle
13 Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)--Leo Sayer
14 In the Mood--Rush
15 The Immigrant--Neil Sedaka
16 Black Water--The Doobie Brothers
17 How Long--Ace
18 Autobahn--Kraftwerk
19 Loves Me Like a Brother--The Guess Who
20 Have You Never Been Mellow--Olivia Newton-John
21 Poetry Man--Phoebe Snow
22 Pinball Wizard--Elton John (LP track)
23 Essence of Joan--Andy Kim
24 (Make Me Do) Anything You Want--A Foot in Coldwater
25 Roll on Down the Highway--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
26 It's a Miracle--Barry Manilow
27 Sister Golden Hair--America
28 Julie--Ian Thomas
29 Killer Queen--Queen
30 Lady--Styx

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CKRC)
1 I Don't Like to Sleep Alone--Paul Anka
2 Philadelphia Freedom--The Elton John Band
3 Jackie Blue--The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
4 (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song--B.J. Thomas
5 Lovin' You--Minnie Riperton
6 Emma--Hot Chocolate
7 He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)--Tony Orlando and Dawn
8 Shame, Shame, Shame--Shirley (And Company)
9 I Can Dance--Shooter
10 You are So Beautiful--Joe Cocker
11 Stand by Me--John Lennon
12 No No Song--Ringo Starr
13 Killer Queen--Queen
14 Lady Marmalade--LaBelle
15 Bad Time--Grand Funk
16 Black Water--The Doobie Brothers
17 What am I Gonna Do with You--Barry White
18 Pinball Wizard--Elton John (LP track)
19 Have You Never Been Mellow--Olivia Newton-John
20 In the Mood--Rush
21 Back Up (Against Your Persuasion)--Black & Ward
22 Let the Phone Ring--Jim Mancel
23 Misty--Ray Stevens
24 Don't Call Us, We'll Call You--Sugarloaf/Jerry Corbetta
25 Rainy Day People--Gordon Lightfoot
26 Sail on Sailor--The Beach Boys
27 Only Yesterday--Carpenters
28 Poetry Man--Phoebe Snow
29 How Long--Ace
30 Cum Hear the Band--April Wine

Died on this date
Cedric J. Lowe, 45
. U.K.-born Canadian historian. Professor Lowe was chairman of the history department at the University of Alberta. He was killed in a car accident near Sherwood Park, Alberta, when his car was hit by a Fire Department station wagon that was on its way to a fire. The station wagon, driven by Wayne Stanyer, had its siren and lights on.

Music
9,000 people paid $8-$10 for tickets to attend the Kinsmen Club's Night of Solid Gold at Edmonton Coliseum, with the Diamonds, the Angels, the Shirelles, the Drifters, the Original Coasters, Chubby Checker, and Chuck Berry as the artists. According to Joe Sornberger of the Edmonton Journal, the calibre of entertainment was rather mediocre until Mr. Berry closed the show, and he was easily the best performer on the bill.

Politics and government
A one-day conference held by the British Labour Party to debate Britain's membership in the European Economic Community resulted in a vote by almost a 2-1 margin to leave the EEC. A national referendum on the issue was scheduled for June 5, 1975.

Diplomacy
North Korean dictator Kim Il-sung concluded his week-long visit to China.

Boxing
Clyde Gray (49-3-1) scored a technical knockout of Sammy Rookard (13-12) at 2:16 of the 3rd round of a scheduled 10-round welterweight bout at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. On the undercard, Larry Holmes (13-0) knocked out Robert Yarborough (8-8-3) at 2:58 of the 4th round of a heavyweight bout.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
New York Islanders 1 @ Pittsburgh 0 (New York won best-of-seven series 4-3)

Ed Westfall scored the game's only goal with 4:17 remaining in regulation time at Pittsburgh Civic Arena as the Islanders became only the second team to lose the first three games of a Stanley Cup series and win the next four (the Toronto Maple Leafs accomplished the feat against the Detroit Red Wings in the 1942 finals). Glenn Resch won the goaltending duel over Gary Inness in a game that was broadcast across Canada on CBC radio. This blogger was rooting for the Penguins.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
Semi-Finals
Quebec 6 @ Minnesota 1 (Quebec led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Baseball
Frank Tanana and Don Kirkwood combined to pitch a 1-hit shutout as the California Angels edged the Oakland Athletics 1-0 before 26,188 fans at Anaheim Stadium. Mr. Tanana pitched 6 1/3 innings for the win and allowed the only Oakland hit, a single by Ray Fosse in the 6th inning. Mickey Rivers singled home Orlando Ramirez in the 3rd inning for the game' only run. Losing pitcher Ken Holtzman allowed just 6 hits in pitching a complete game.

The Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles split a twi-night doubleheader before 18,603 fans at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. In the first game, Gaylord Perry pitched a 5-hit shutout as the Indians won 3-0. In the second game, the Indians scored a run in the top of the 9th inning to take a 2-1 lead, and Cleveland starting pitcher Dick Bosman retired the first two Baltimore batters in the bottom of the 9th, but when Ken Singleton singled and went to third base on a single by Elrod Hendricks, Tom Buskey came in to relieve Mr. Bosman. Pinch hitter Jim Northrup then singled home Mr. Singleton, with Mr. Hendricks stopping at second base. Designated hitter Al Bumbry then singled home Mr. Hendricks to give the Orioles a 3-2 win. Mike Torrez allowed 7 hits in pitching a complete game for the win.

30 years ago
1985


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Live is Life--Opus (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): We are the World--USA For Africa (4th week at #1)

25 years ago
1990


Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Oi beibi/Tuhansien sulojen maa--Raptori (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The By-road to Glenroe--Mick Lally (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Carlos Pizarro Leongómez, 38
. Colombian politician. Mr. Pizarro, a candidate for the presidency of Colombia who was affiliated with the leftist movement M-19, was shot while travelling aboard an Avianca Airlines flight that had just left Bogota. The gunman was immediately shot by Mr. Pizarro's bodyguards. Mr. Pizarro was the third presidential candidate to be killed during the current campaign. Colombian drug lords issued a statement the next day condemning the killing, which they had been suspected of.

Politics and government
British Columbia Premier Bill Vander Zalm told a Canadian House of Commons committee that the best solution to the impasse over the Meech Lake constitutional accord might be to start the discussions again from scratch.

Disasters
An earthquake in the central Chinese province of Qinghai killed 115 people.

Hockey
IIHF
Men’s World Championship
Canada 3 U.S.S.R. 3

NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Chicago 3 @ St. Louis 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

20 years ago
1995


Crime
It was learned that the Unabomber (Ted Kaczynski) had sent four letters from the Oakland, California area. One was to The New York Times, in which the writer claimed to be an anarchist and said, "The people we are out to get are the scientists and engineers," adding that his goal was the destruction of the "worldwide industrial system."

10 years ago
2005


Died on this date
Mason Adams, 86
. U.S. actor. Mr. Adams was a prolific actor in radio programs and as the voice-over on television commercials, but was perhaps best known for portraying managing editor Charlie Hume in the television series Lou Grant (1977-1982).

Maria Schell, 79. Austrian actress. Miss Schell appeared in such movies as Gervaise (1956); The Brothers Karamazov (1958); The Hanging Tree (1959); The Mark (1961); and The Odessa File (1974).

World events
Under international pressure, Syria withdrew the last of its 14,000-man military garrison in Lebanon, ending its 29-year military occupation of that country.

Friday 24 April 2015

April 25, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Suzie Martin!

720 years ago
1295


Died on this date
Sancho IV, 36
. King of Castile, León and Galicia, 1284-1295. Sancho "the Brave" acceded to the throne upon the death of his father Alfonso X. He suppressed opposition from the nobility and imprisoned his brother Juan, whom he later pardoned and released. King Sancho IV died from an illness--possibly tuberculosis--and died 17 days before his 37th birthday. He was succeeded by his 9-year-old son Ferdinand IV.

200 years ago
1815


Politics and government
George Murray was appointed provisional Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, serving until July 1, 1815.

170 years ago
1845


Canadiana
Queen Victoria declared Fredericton, New Brunswick a city; despite a population of only 4,000, ancient ecclesiastic law required that the centre of any new Church of England diocese be a city.

125 years ago
1890


Died on this date
Crowfoot, 59 or 60
. Canadian Indian chief. Crowfoot, aka Isapo-Muxika, was chief of the Siksika (Blackfoot) First Nation in the part of the Northwest Territories that is now in southern Alberta. He played a key role in the negotiations with the government of Canada that produced Treaty 7.

100 years ago
1915


War
The Battle of Gallipoli began with the invasion of the Turkish Gallipoli Peninsula by Australian, British, French and New Zealand troops, landing at Anzac Cove and Cape Helles.

75 years ago
1940


War
Two Canadian Army battalions were held back in Scotland, on the way to join British force bound for Norway. Japan was reportedly sending 60,000 men into the southern part of the Chinese province of Shansi to halt a Chinese advance.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared Norway a belligerent, making Norwegian purchases in the U.S.A. subject to the cash and carry provisions of the Neutrality Law, and prohibiting Americans from travelling on Norwegian ships.

The U.S. State Department announced that Bertel Kuniholm would be the next U.S. representative to Iceland.

Abominations
Women were allowed to vote and run for office in Quebec provincial elections, 22 years after women were granted the federal vote, and after Premier Adélard Godbout succeeded in getting the Roman Catholic clergy to drop their opposition.

Europeana
Merkið, the flag of the Faroe Islands, was approved by the British occupation government.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 0.5% increase in the wholesale price index for the first time in 1940.

70 years ago
1945


Died on this date
Huldreich Georg Früh, 41
. Swiss composer. Mr. Früh's compositions included a concerto grosso (1935); Maori-Lieder für Singstimme und Kammerorchester (Maori songs for song voice and chamber orchestra) (1938); the ballet music Promenade (1939); the festival performance music Der neue Columbus (New Columbus) (1939) and the oratorio Der junge David (Young David) (1944).

War
The Royal Canadian Air Force's No. 6 Group made its last bombing raid over Germany. U.S. President Harry Truman conferred with his military leaders, cabled U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and informed Soviet dictator Josef Stalin of German S.S. leader Heinrich Himmler's offer of capitulation on the entire western front; all agreed that only unconditional surrender would be accepted. Elements of the U.S. 1st Army and the 1st Ukrainian Army made contact at Torgau on the Elbe River, 75 miles south of Berlin, cutting the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany in two, a milestone in the approaching end of World War II in Europe. The German occupation army surrendered and left northern Italy after a general partisan insurrection by the Italian resistance movement; the puppet fascist regime dissolved, and Duce Benito Mussolini was captured after trying to escape to Switzerland. The last German troops retreated from Finland's soil in Lapland, ending the Lapland War.

Abominations
American Congressmen who visited the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany reported that the daily death quota was 80 and that Soviet officers had been burned alive.

Diplomacy
Representatives of 50 nations gathered in San Francisco to begin the United Nations Conference on International Organization. Via a telephone hookup, U.S. President Harry Truman appealed to delegates to achieve a just and lasting peace. French President Charles de Gaulle said that the UN conference could not deal with world problems until it dealt with France.

Economics and finance
U.S. War Production Board Chairman Krug said that the board was ready to end controls as soon as possible and that probably one-third of them would be removed over the next four months.

Labour
Labour delegates from the U.S.A., U.K., U.S.S.R., and France met at the opening of the World Trade Union Conference in Oakland, California to make relevant suggestions to the nearby United Nations conference in San Francisco.

60 years ago
1955


On television tonight
Sherlock Holmes, starring Ronald Howard and H. Marion Crawford
Tonight's episode: The Case of the Baker Street Nursemaids



50 years ago
1965


Crime
Michael Andrew Clark, 16, killed three and wounded six others, shooting from a hilltop along Highway 101 just south of Orcutt, California, before shooting and killing himself as police arrived.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Montreal 1 @ Chicago 5 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

The Black Hawks took advantage of rusty Montreal goalie Charlie Hodge as they beat the Canadiens before 20,000 fans at Chicago Stadium. Mr. Hodge was suddenly pressed into action when regular goalie Gump Worsley pulled a leg muscle in the pre-game warmup. Montreal coach Toe Blake was incensed at the work of referee Vern Buffey, who assessed 14 minor penalties and a misconduct to the Canadiens while handing out only 9 minors to the Black Hawks. Mr. Blake stepped onto the ice at the end of the game and would have gone after Mr. Buffey had not two Montreal trainers restrained him.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Los Angeles 96 @ Boston 129 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Sam Jones and Bill Russell each scored 22 points and K.C. Jones added 20 as the Celtics routed the Lakers before 13,909 fans at Boston Garden to win their seventh straight NBA championship. Mr. Russell also grabbed 30 rebounds. Jerry West of Los Angeles led all scorers with 33 points. The Celtics scored 20 straight points at the start of the 4th quarter.

40 years ago
1975


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Free and Easy--Helen Reddy (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Shame, Shame, Shame--Shirley (And Company) (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Ding-A-Dong--Teach-In (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Mike Brant, 28
. Cypriot-born Israeli singer. Mr. Brant, born Moshé Michaël Brand, spoke only Hebrew but sung in French and English, and became popular in France in the early 1970s, as well as in Israel. He suffered from periodic bouts of depression, and jumped to his death from the window of his Paris apartment.

Yellowknifiana
School was out for everyone in Yellowknife that Friday afternoon, as Prince Charles was visiting the city. Local air cadet Ken Powless was mong those who met His Royal Highness.

World events
As North Vietnamese forces closed in on the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon, the Australian Embassy was closed and evacuated, almost 10 years to the day since the first Australian troop commitment to South Vietnam.

Politics and government
Prince Norodom Sihanouk was named President for life by the new government of the Khmer Republic, formerly Cambodia.

The Socialist Party, led by Mario Soares, won 115 of 247 seats in the General Assembly in the first free elections in Portugal in 50 years. The Socialist total was considerably more than the other two main non-Communist parties. The Communist Party captured 12.5% of the vote, winning 30 seats.

Society
The Alberta Conference of Physically Disabled Persons, with 40-60 delegates in attendance, opened at the Edmonton Plaza Hotel.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
Semi-Finals
Houston 4 @ San Diego 0 (Houston led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Basketball
NBA
Conference Semi-Finals
Buffalo 96 @ Washington 115 (Washington won best-of-seven series 4-2)

The Bullets led 28-13 and coasted to victory over the Braves at Capital Center in Landover, Maryland. Phil Chenier led Washington with 39 points, while Bob McAdoo led Buffalo with 36 points. Mendy Rudolph suffered a blot clot in his lung and had to be carried off the court, ending his 22-year career as an NBA referee.

ABA
Semi-Finals
Kentucky 97 @ St. Louis 103 (Kentucky led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Denver 126 @ Indiana 109 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

30 years ago
1985

Hockey

IIHF
Men’s World Championship @ Prague
U.S.S.R. 9 Canada 1

NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Montreal 3 @ Quebec 1 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)
Philadelphia 2 @ New York Islanders 6 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Chicago 7 @ Minnesota 6 (2 OT) (Chicago led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Edmonton 8 @ Winnipeg 3 (Edmonton won best-of-seven series 4-0)

Darryl Sutter scored at 1:57 of the 2nd overtime period to give the Black Hawks their win over the North Stars at Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington.

25 years ago
1990


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Vogue--Madonna

Died on this date
Dexter Gordon, 67
. U.S. musician. Mr. Gordon was a jazz tenor saxophonist whose career spanned almost 50 years. He also appeared in a number of movies as musician and/or actor, including Unchained (1955); Round Midnight (1986); and Awakenings (1990). Mr. Gordon died of kidney failure.

Space
The U.S. space shuttle Discovery deployed the 12.5-ton Hubble Space Telescope as part of mission STS-31. The $1.5-billion telescope, which had a 94.5-inch mirror, was put into orbit 381 miles above Earth.

Politics and government
Violeta Barrios de Chamorro was inaugurated as President of Nicaragua. She announced that she would retain General Humberto Ortega Saavedra, brother of outgoing President Daniel Ortega, as chief of the armed forces. A leader of the rebel Contras declared that the Contras would not demobilize as long as Gen. Ortega remained in power.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Boston 1 @ Montreal 4 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-1)
New York Rangers 3 @ Washington 4 (OT) (Washington led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Baseball
The California Angels defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-1 before 19,843 fans at Fenway Park in Boston, behind the pitching of Kirk McCaskill. The only run came on an inside-the-park home run by 41-year-old Bill Buckner, for whom it was his last major league homer.

20 years ago
1995


Died on this date
Alexander Knox, 88
. Canadian-born U.K. actor. Mr. Knox, a native of Strathroy, Ontario and graduate of the University of Western Ontario, was a successful stage actor in North America and the United Kingdom. He appeared in 70 films, but was best known for his starring role as U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in Wilson (1944), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award as Best Actor.

Ginger Rogers, 83. U.S. actress. Miss Rogers, born Virginia Katherine McMath, won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Kitty Foyle (1940), but was probably better known for dancing with Fred Astaire in 10 films, including Flying Down to Rio (1933); Top Hat (1935); Swing Time (1936); and Shall We Dance (1937).

Art Fleming, 70. U.S. actor and television personality. Mr. Fleming, born Arthur Fleming Fazzin, appeared in 48 movies, but was best known as the original host of the television quiz show Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1978-1979). He died of pancreatic cancer, six days before his 71st birthday.

Politics and government
The Progressive Conservatives, led by Premier Gary Filmon, were re-elected in the Manitoba provincial election, capturing 31 of 57 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The New Democratic Party, led by Gary Doer, won 23 seats, and the Liberal Party, led by Paul Edwards, won 3 seats. The PCs received approximately 42.87% of the vote, to 32.81% for the NDP and 23.72% for the Liberals.

Terrorism
Brothers Terry and James Nichols were charged with conspiring with Timothy McVeigh to build explosives in connection with the April 19 bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, which had killed 169 people.

Baseball
The Los Angeles Dodgers withstood a 4-run 9th-inning rally to edge the Florida Marlins 8-7 before 42,125 fans at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami in the first regular season action in the major leagues since the beginning of the players' strike after games of August 11, 1994. Raul Mondesi led the Los Angeles attack with 2 home runs and a double, 2 runs, and 4 runs batted in.

10 years ago
2005


Diplomacy
Bulgaria and Romania signed accession treaties to join the European Union.

Africana
The final piece of the Obelisk of Axum was returned to Ethiopia after being stolen by the invading Italian army in 1937.

Disasters
107 people were killed in the Amagasaki rail crash in Japan.

April 24, 2015

200 years ago
1815


Born on this date
Anthony Trollope
. U.K. author. Mr. Trollope was one of the most popular and prolific novelists of the Victorian era, writing 47 novels. His works included a series of six novels collectively known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, and another six collectively known as the Palliser novels. Mr. Trollope died on December 6, 1882 at the age of 67.

130 years ago
1885


War
Frederick Middleton engaged the Metis troops of Gabriel Dumont at Fish Creek, Northwest Territories. The battle was a stalemate, with Mr. Middleton's forces badly mauled--losing 11 killed and 48 wounded--and his advance to Batoche slowed. William Otter relieved the North West Mounted Police garrison at Battleford.

120 years ago
1895


Exploration
Joshua Slocum, from Briar Island, Nova Scotia, left Boston to begin his solo around-the-world voyage on the 11-metre oystercatcher Spray.

Society
The Canadian Parliament decided not to bring in prohibition after reading the Report of the Royal Commission.

100 years ago
1915


Born on this date
Michael Carver, Baron Carver
. Field Marshal Baron Carver joined the British Army in 1935 and served in World War II in Italy and North Africa. He rose through the ranks during the war and afterward; he was Deputy Chief of Staff at East Africa Command (1954), taking part in the closing stages of the response to the Mau-Mau rebellion, and then being promoted to Chief of Staff in East Africa (1955). Lord Carver had several more commands, and was promoted to Chief of the General Staff (1971) and Chief of Defence Staff (1973), serving until his retirement in 1976. He was appointed resident commissioner designate for Rhodesia in August 1977 with responsibility for ending the dispute over independence there, but resigned in October 1978 after 14 months of deadlock. Baron Carver died on December 9, 2001 at the age of 86.

Died on this date
William Hall, 30
. Canadian military officer. Sergeant-Major Hall, of the 8th Battalion, 90th Winnipeg Rifles, made a second attempt to help a wounded man lying 15 yards from the trench, in the face of very heavy enfilade fire by the enemy, when he is killed by a bullet in the head during the Second Battle Of Ypres at St-Julien, Belgium. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on June 23, 1915.

War
German forces poured shells and mustard gas against Canadian troops in the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium, but their attack was repelled. Near Kerselaere, Lieutenant Edward Donald Bellew of the 7th Battalion, British Columbia Regiment, was in action as battalion machine-gun officer, with two guns in action on high ground, when the enemy's attack broke in full force. With no reinforcements in sight, Lt. Bellew and his Sergeant Peerless decided to fight it out; Sgt. Peerless was killed and Lt. Bellew wounded, yet he kept up his fire until his ammunition failed, and he was taken prisoner. Lt. Bellew was awarded the Victoria Cross on his release from a prisoner of war camp on May 15 1919.

Abominations
The arrest by officials of the Ottoman Empire of 250 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Istanbul marked the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, which resulted in a death toll estimated at between 800,000-1.5 million people.

Baseball
Frank Allen pitched a no-hitter for the Pittsburgh Rebels as they blanked the St. Louis Terriers 2-0 in a Federal League game at Handlan's Park in St. Louis.

75 years ago
1940


War
Germany claimed unrestricted control over areas of occupied Norway and declared war on the Norwegian government. Germany responded in a conciliatory manner to the Swedish protest over the flight of German bombers over Swedish air space, but did not promise to end the practice. Pope Pius XII sent a message to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini urging him to keep Italy out of the European war.

Politics and government
Josef Terboven was named Reichskommissar for Norway, even before the German occupation of Norway had been completed.

Education
New York Governor Herbert Lehman signed the McCaffrey bill, providing for a Bill of Rights Week in the state's public schools.

70 years ago
1945


War
The United States Senate voted in favour of an amendment to prohibit the Army's use of 18-year-old soldiers in combat until they had at least six months' training. Two Soviet armies linked up inside Berlin, giving Soviet forces control over at least 1/4 of the city. German S.S. leader Heinrich Himmler met Sweden's Count Bernadotte in Luebeck, asking the Count to arrange a meeting with Allied Supreme Commander General Dwight Eisenhower for capitulation on the entire western front. Gen. Eisenhower asked the United Nations War Crimes Commission to send investigators to German concentration camps to make an official survey of the situation. U.S. forces made substantial gains on Okinawa, retaking Kakuzu in the centre of the line after days of very strong Japanese resistance. Chinese forces counterattacked against a Japanese drive into the western area of the Chinese province of Hunan in an effort to keep the enemy from reaching the U.S. air base at Chihkiang, 250 miles southwest of Chungking.

World events
French Marshal Henri-Philippe Petain arrived in Switzerland from southern Germany on his way to France to face charges of treason.

Law
The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee asked the government to use arms and ignore treaties if necessary to track down German war criminals.

Baseball
The 16 major league clubs elected U.S. Senator Albert "Happy" Chandler (Democrat--Kentucky) as Commissioner, replacing Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who had died on November 25, 1944 after almost 25 years in office.

60 years ago
1955


On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Empty House

This was the final episode of the series.

Diplomacy
The Bandung Conference ended, as representatives of 29 non-aligned nations of Asia and Africa finished a meeting that condemned colonialism, racism, and the Cold War.

50 years ago
1965


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Rock and Roll Music/Honey Don't--The Beatles (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France: La Nuit--Salvatore Adamo (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Un anno d'amore--Mina (4th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Downtown--Petula Clark (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Rock and Roll Music/No Reply--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Ticket to Ride--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Game of Love--Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Game of Love--Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
2 I Know a Place--Petula Clark
3 Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter--Herman's Hermits
4 I'm Telling You Now--Freddie and the Dreamers
5 Tired of Waiting for You--The Kinks
6 Go Now!--The Moody Blues
7 The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)--Shirley Ellis
8 Stop! In the Name of Love--The Supremes
9 I'll Never Find Another You--The Seekers
10 The Last Time--The Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were Help Me, Rhonda by the Beach Boys (#74); Reelin' and Rockin' by the Dave Clark Five (#77); Crying in the Chapel by Elvis Presley (#82); Come on Over to My Place by the Drifters (#83); Now That You've Gone by Connie Stevens (#85); Concrete and Clay by Unit Four Plus Two (#86, with the version by Eddie Rambeau mentioned but not charted); Peanuts (La Cacahuata) by the Sunglows (#88); Betrayed by the 4 Seasons (#91); Queen of the House by Jody Miller (#93); Something You Got by Chuck Jackson and Maxine Brown (#94); Gotta Have Your Love by the Sapphires (#96); and Talk About Love by Adam Faith (#99). Betrayed was the B-side of Toy Soldier, charting at #69.

On television tonight
Sherlock Holmes, starring Douglas Wilmer and Nigel Stock, on BBC 1
Tonight's episode: Charles Augustus Milverton

War
Civil war broke out in the Dominican Republic after the U.S.-sponsored government of President Donald Reid Cabral Huberto was overthrown by rebels demanding the return of former President Juan Bosch.

Agriculture
Nepal and India inaugurated the Kosi Barrage, part of a project to irrigate 2.6 million acres in Nepal and the Indian state of Bihar.

Economics and finance
Indonesian President Sukarno signed a decree for the seizure of remaining foreign-owned enterprises.

40 years ago
1975


Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Love is All--Red Hurley

Died on this date
Pete Ham, 27
. U.K. musician. Mr. Ham, a native of Wales, was the leader of the group Badfinger, known for the 1970-1972 string of hit singles Come and Get It; No Matter What; Day After Day; and Baby Blue. He also co-wrote the song Without You, a major hit for Harry Nilsson in 1972. Badfinger became embroiled in legal and business difficulties, and Mr. Ham hanged himself at his home three days before his 28th birthday.

Terrorism
At least 3 people were killed in the 12-hour seizure by five members of the Baader-Meinhof gang of the West German embassy in Stockholm.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-finals
Pittsburgh 1 @ New York Islanders 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

WHA
Avco World Trophy
Semi-Finals
Minnesota 5 @ Quebec 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Basketball
NBA
Conference Semi-Finals
Houston 115 @ Boston 128 (Boston won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Golden State 105 @ Seattle 96 (Golden State won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Jo Jo White scored 29 points, John Havlicek 28, and Don Nelson 25 as the Celtics eliminated the Rockets before 15,320 fans at Boston Garden. Calvin Murphy and Rudy Tomjanovich each scored 27 points for Houston.

Rick Barry scored 31 points to lead the Warriors as they eliminated the SuperSonics before 14,082 fans at Seattle Center Coliseum. Slick Watts led Seattle with 24 points, while Spencer Haywood scored just 8 points.

ABA
Semi-Finals
Denver 112 @ Indiana 118 (Indiana led best-of-seven series 2-1)

George McGinnis scored 33 points and Billy Knight added 26 as the Pacers defeated the Nuggets before 15,496 fans at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. Ralph Simpson led the Nuggets with 30 points.

30 years ago
1985


Law
A Supreme Court of Canada ruling allowed Sunday shopping in most provinces.

25 years ago
1990

On television tonight

The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Goodbye

This episode, the last to feature the character of Kevin Arnold’s math teacher, Mr. Collins, was reported to be series star Fred Savage’s favourite episode.

Space
The U.S. space shuttle Discovery blasted off to begin mission STS-31, with a crew of five and the Hubble Space Telescope aboard.





Diplomacy
U.S. President George Bush announced an indefinite delay in imposing sanctions against the U.S.S.R. for cutting off the flow of oil to Lithuania, saying he did not want to add fuel to "an already volatile situation." Lithuanian President Vytautas Landsbergis called the situation a modern Munich, a reference to European appeasement of German dictator Adolf Hitler in 1938.

Scandal
Michael Milken, the former "junk bond king" at the U.S. securities firm Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc., pled guilty in U.S. District Court in New York to six counts relating to securities fraud, and agreed to pay a total of $600 million in fines and restitution. Under the agreement, more serious charges were dropped, and a case against his brother Lowell Milken was also dropped. Counts to which Michael Milken pled guilty to included conspiracy; aiding and abetting the filing of a false statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and assisting the filing of a false tax return. He still faced the possibility of going to prison.

Health
Gruinard Island, Scotland was officially declared free of the anthrax disease after 48 years of quarantine.

20 years ago
1995


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Baby Baby--Corona (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop)--Scatman John (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Self Esteem--The Offspring (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Conquest of Paradise--Vangelis (11th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Believe--Elton John (2nd week at #1)
2 I Know--Dionne Farris
3 No More "I Love You's"--Annie Lennox
4 O Siem--Susan Aglukark
5 Wonderdrug--Jann Arden
6 Can't Stop Lovin' You--Van Halen
7 You Lose You Gain--John Bottomley
8 The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead--Crash Test Dummies
9 Murder Incorporated--Bruce Springsteen
10 In the House of Stone--Martin Page

Singles entering the chart were Hypnotized by Simple Minds (#84); December by Collective Soul (#86); You Don't Know (Where My Lips Have Been) by Carol Medina (#94); Hey What Can I Do by Hootie & the Blowfish (#95); Can't Stop My Heart by Aaron Neville (#96); Old Pop in an Oak by Rednex (#97); What Would You Say by the Dave Matthews Band (#98); and Dancing Days by Stone Temple Pilots (#99).

Died on this date
Gilbert Murray
. U.S. forestry executive. Mr. Murray, president of the California Forestry Association, was killed by a letter bomb sent by Ted Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber.

10 years ago
2005


Died on this date
Ezer Weizman, 80
. 7th President of Israel, 1993-2000. Mr. Weizman was the nephew of Chaim Weizmann, Israel's first President. He had a distinguished career as a military pilot before entering politics, where he served as Israel's Minister of Defense in the government of Prime Minister Menachem Begin from 1977-1980. Mr. Weizman resigned as President amidst allegations that he had accepted large sums of money from businessmen before becoming President, without reporting this to the proper authorities.

Religion
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was installed as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Benedict XVI.

Science
Snuppy, an Afghan hound from South Korea, became the world's first cloned dog, as the result of experiments at Seoul National University.

Thursday 23 April 2015

April 23, 2015

330 years ago
1685


Britannica
James II was crowned King of England at Westminster.

240 years ago
1775


Born on this date
J.M.W. Turner
. U.K. artist. Joseph Mallord William Turner was known for his landscapes and seascapes, many of the latter showing the violence of nature. He left behind more than 550 oil paintings, 2,000 watercolours, and 30,000 works on paper. Mr. Turner died of cholera on December 19, 1851 at the age of 76, after years of declining health.

200 years ago
1815


War
The Second Serbian Uprising began, shortly after the annexation of the country to the Ottoman Empire.

125 years ago
1890


Canadiana
In New Brunswick, the rapidly-growing railway town of Moncton was re-incorporated as the province's third city, while the town of Grand Falls was incorporated.

110 years ago
1905


Died on this date
Joe Jefferson, 76
. U.S. actor. Mr. Jefferson was best known for his adaptation of Rip Van Winkle, originating the title role on stage and taking the play on the road for 40 years.

100 years ago
1915


Died on this date
Rupert Brooke, 27
. U.K. poet. Mr. Brooke was known for his idealistic sonnets during World War I. He joined the Royal Navy and sailed as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, but died of poisoning from a mosquito bite.

Frederick Fisher, 20. Canadian soldier. During the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium, the Canadian 13th Battalion Quebec Regiment (Royal Highlanders of Canada) moved up reserves to plug a gap in the line. Lance-Corporal Fisher, a native of St. Catharines, Ontario, went forward with his company machine-gun under heavy fire, and covered the retreat of a battery, losing four of his gun team. He then obtained four more men, and moved forward again to the firing line, but was killed while bringing his machine-gun into action under very heavy fire. For his bravery, Cpl. Fisher was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously on June 23, the first Canadian-born man to win the VC while serving in the Canadian Army.

80 years ago
1935


Law
The Polish Constitution of 1935 was adopted.

75 years ago
1940


War
Canadian and French troops in Norway seized the town of Gratangen, 25 miles north of Narvik, from German forces. Egyptian Prime Minister Aly Maher Pasha reaffirmed his country's stand on the Allied side in the European war. Poland and Norway were represented for the first time at the Allied War Council in Paris.

Diplomacy
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Joseph Grew asked the Japanese Foreign Office to alleviate the blockade of Tientsin, China to relieve Americans there.

Defense
The United States and Chile agreed that an American military aviation mission would be sent to Santiago to advise the Chilean air force.

Politics and government
Delegates opposing a third term for Franklin D. Roosevelt as President of the United States gained victories in the Pennsylvania Democratic Party primary.

Law
U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt warned against hasty U.S. defense legislation that would curtail civil liberties.

Disasters
198 people died in a fire at the Rhythm Night Club in Natchez, Mississippi.

70 years ago
1945


Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day) (4th week at #1)
--Johnny Long and his Orchestra and Dick Robertson
--Phil Moore Four
2 Candy--Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
3 I'm Beginning to See the Light--Harry James and his Orchestra
--Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra
--Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots
4 Dream--The Pied Pipers
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
5 A Little on the Lonely Side--Frankie Carle and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
6 Just a Prayer Away--Bing Crosby
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
7 Sentimental Journey--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day)
--Hal McIntyre and his Orchestra
8 Rum and Coca-Cola--The Andrews Sisters
--Abe Lyman and his Orchestra
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
9 Laura--Woody Herman and his Orchestra
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
10 All of My Life--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
--Bing Crosby

Singles entering the chart were The Sad Sack by Artie Shaw and the Gramercy Five (#28); On the Sunny Side of the Street by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra (#34); Ol' Man River by Frank Sinatra (#37); Close as Pages in a Book by Benny Goodman and his Orchestra (#38); Bring Another Drink by the King Cole Trio (#39); and I Hope to Die if I Told a Lie, with versions by the Ink Spots and Erskine Hawkins and his Orchestra (#40).

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Notorious Canary Trainer

War
The U.S.S.R. reported that Soviet troops had driven further into Berlin, swung north to cross the Havel River, and seized Oranlenburg, Frankfort-on-Oder, and Cottbus. The U.S. 3rd Army plunged south toward Regensburg, its columns reaching to points 13 and 25 miles from the city. U.S. troops seized Modena in central Italy and seized the naval base of La Spezia on Italy's west coast. U.S. forces won the high ground west of Ishin in southern Okinawa for their first real gain in four days.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry Truman greeted U.S.S.R. Foreign Commissar Vyacheslav Molotov at Blair House in Washington and expressed a commitment to the policies of the late U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but indicated concern over the Polish question.

Mr. Molotov conferred in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Edward Stettinius, U.K. Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden, and Chinese Ambassador T.V. Soong. The Polish question and other matters related to the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco were discussed inconclusively.

U.S. President Harry Truman and French President Charles de Gaulle met in Washington to discuss the French role in Allied diplomacy; no agreement was reached.

The Polish government-in-exile in London asked the U.K. and U.S.A. again to have it represent Poland at the San Francisco conference.

Politics and government
German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler's designated successor, Hermann Göring, sent him a telegram asking permission to take leadership of the Third Reich. Mr. Hitler then decided to replace Mr. Göring with Joseph Goebbels and Karl Dönitz.

Academia
Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, President of Columbia University for 44 years, submitted his resignation effective October 1, 1945. He would become President Emeritus.

Labour
The U.S. National War Labor Board approved the soft coal wage contract.

60 years ago
1955


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Mr Sandman--The Four Aces; The Chordettes (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Give Me Your Word--Tennessee Ernie Ford (9th week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Ballad of Davy Crockett--Bill Hayes (Best Seller--5th week at #1; Disc Jockey--1st week at #1; Jukebox--1st week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Ballad of Davy Crockett--Bill Hayes (5th week at #1)
2 Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White--Perez Prado and his Orchestra
3 The Crazy Otto--Johnny Maddox and the Rhythmasters
4 Dance with Me Henry (Wallflower)--Georgia Gibbs
5 Unchained Melody--Les Baxter and his Orchestra
--Al Hibbler
--Roy Hamilton
6 Tweedlee Dee--Georgia Gibbs
7 Melody of Love--Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra
--David Carroll and his Orchestra
--The Four Aces
8 How Important Can it Be?--Joni James
--Sarah Vaughan
9 Sincerely--The McGuire Sisters
10 Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup--Nat "King" Cole

Singles entering the chart were Learnin' the Blues by Frank Sinatra (#40); Dixie Danny by the Laurie Sisters (#46); Hey, Mr. Banjo by the Sunnysiders (#48); and Boom Boom Boomerang by the DeCastro Sisters (#50).

Labour
The Canadian Labour Congress was formed by the merger of the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada and the Canadian Congress of Labour.

50 years ago
1965


Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter--Herman's Hermits (4th week at #1)
2 Silhouettes--Herman's Hermits
3 Count Me In--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
4 I Know a Place--Petula Clark
5 I'll Never Find Another You--The Seekers
6 Ticket to Ride--The Beatles
7 Game of Love--Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
8 Can't You Hear My Heartbeat--Herman's Hermits
9 It's Gonna Be All Right--Gerry & the Pacemakers
10 She's About a Mover--Sir Douglas Quintet
Pick hit of the week: Super-Cali-Fragil-Istic-Expi-Ali-Docious--Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and the Pearlies
New this week: Mission Bell--P.J. Proby
Crying in the Chapel--Elvis Presley
It Breaks My Heart--Bobby Goldsboro
Cable Car--The Ackridge Singers
A Lover's Question--Clyde McPhatter
Back in My Arms Again--The Supremes

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched the communications satellite Molniya I, which transmitted a television broadcast from Vladivostok to Moscow.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Boston 112 @ Los Angeles 99 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-1)

Sam Jones scored 37 points to lead the Celtics over the Lakers before 15,217 fans at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. Leroy Ellis scored 24 points for Los Angeles and Jerry West added 22. In the closing minutes of the game, ABC cut away to a previously scheduled television program.

40 years ago
1975


Died on this date
William Hartnell, 67
. U.K. actor. Mr. Hartnell was best known for playing the title role in the television series Doctor Who (1963-1966).

Karen Ewanciw, 11. Canadian murder victim. Miss Ewanciw and a friend were about to deliver flyers after school when they decided to go down into the North Saskatchewan River valley near McNally High School in Edmonton for a walk. Miss Ewanciw was attacked, sexually assaulted, and murdered by a man whose identity was never proven, although her family claims to have a good idea who it was, and it was someone now dead. Miss Ewanciw's body was discovered the following day; her friend was not in the immediate vicinity when the crime took place.

Basketball
NBA
Conference Semi-Finals
Chicago 101 @ Kansas City-Omaha 89 (Chicago won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Bob Love scored 26 points to lead the Bulls as they eliminated the Kings before 12,445 fans at Kemper Arena in Kansas City. This was the Kings' last game as the Kansas City-Omaha Kings; after this, the team no longer represented Omaha.

ABA
Semi-Finals
St. Louis 103 @ Kentucky 108 (Kentucky led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Ted McClain scored 24 points and Artis Gilmore 23 as the Colonels defeated the Spirits before 8,422 fans at Freedom Hall in Louisville. Marvin Barnes of St. Louis led all scorers with 43 points.

30 years ago
1985


Died on this date
Sam Ervin, 88
. U.S. politician. Mr. Ervin, a Democrat, represented North Carolina in the United States Senate from 1954-1974. He was best known for his role as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, better known as the Senate Watergate Committee, which spent most of its time investigating the June 1972 break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. and the subsequent cover-up. The hearings received much television coverage, and Sen. Ervin's folksy manner made him a folk hero.

Popular culture
Coca-Cola introduced the "new" Coke, which had a sweeter taste than the "old" Coke. This blogger tried it for the first time a month later and didn't like it. This opinion was shared by millions, and the old taste was brought back under the name "Coke Classic" in July.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Montreal 6 @ Quebec 7 (OT) (Quebec led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Philadelphia 5 @ New York Islanders 3 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-0)
Chicago 5 @ Minnesota 3 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Edmonton 5 @ Winnipeg 4 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 3-0)

25 years ago
1990


Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Roman Hikō (浪漫飛行)--Kome Kome Club

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (8th week at #1)

Died on this date
Paulette Goddard, 79
. U.S. actress. Miss Goddard, born Marion Levy, was best known for her roles in such movies as Modern Times (1936); The Women (1939); The Great Dictator (1940); and So Proudly We Hail! (1943).

Protest
Heavily-armed Mohawk Warriors, who supported the gambling operations going on at Akwesasne-St. Regis Reserve near Cornwall, Ontario, overran blockades that had been set up by anti-gambling protesters, and destroyed about 25 cars parked nearby. An explosive device was also fired at the Mohawk police station on the Canadian side of the border. Georges Erasmus, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, called on U.S. authorities to restrain the Warriors. New York Governor Mario Cuomo said that he would not order state troopers to intervene in an "internal" Indian dispute.

Politics and government
A spokesman for the government of Manitoba said that New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna’s solution to the impasse over the Meech Lake Canadian constitutional accord did not satisfy his province’s concern about the need for Senate reform.

Abominations
U.S. President George Bush signed into law the Hate Crimes Statistics Act, under which records would be kept of crimes committed by people motivated by racial, ethnic, or sexual prejudice. "Sexual orientation" was included, marking the first time in American history that a federal law included a classification to protect sodomites.

Diplomacy
U.S. President George Bush thanked Syrian President Hafez-al-Assad for his role in helping to secure U.S. hostage Robert Polhill’s release from his Shiite captors in Lebanon the previous day.

20 years ago
1995


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: If You Love Me--Brownstone (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)--Scatman John (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Conquest of Paradise--Vangelis (8th week at #1)

Died on this date
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, 99
. Canadian politician. Mr. Campbell was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in 1922 as a member of the United Farmers of Manitoba. The UFM governed as the Progressive Party of Manitoba, and when the party merged with the Manitoba Liberal Party in 1932, Mr. Campbell ran under the label "Liberal-Progressive." He was Manitoba's Minister of Agriculture from 1936-1948, and became Liberal leader and Premier after the resignation of Stuart Garson. Mr. Campbell was Premier of Manitoba from 1948-1958 and as Leader of the Opposition from 1958-1961. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly for 47 years (1922-1969), which remains a Manitoba record.

John C. Stennis, 93. U.S. politician. Mr. Stennis, a Democrat, represented Mississippi in the United States Senate from 1947-1989. Nicknamed "Mr. Integrity," Sen. Stennis was the first Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics from 1965-1975, and Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services from 1969-1981.

Howard Cosell, 77. U.S. journalist. Mr. Cosell, born Howard Cohen, a lawyer whose "nasal twang" was arguably the "most famous voice in America" in the 1970s, was a longtime radio and television sportscaster with the American Broadcasting Company. He covered boxing for ABC for many years, but was best known for being part of the announcing team during the first 14 seasons of Monday Night Football (1970-1983). He was also part of the team of Monday Night Baseball (1977-1985).

10 years ago
2005


Died on this date
John Mills, 97
. U.K. actor. Sir John, born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills, appeared in more than 120 films in a career that spanned more than 70 years. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Ryan's Daughter (1970). Sir John was the father of actresses Hayley and Juliet Mills.

Earl Wilson, 70. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Wilson played with the Boston Red Sox (1959-1960, 1962-1966); Detroit Tigers (1966-1970) and San Diego Padres (1970), compiling a record of 121-109 with an earned run average of 3.69. His best season was 1967, when he tied Boston's Jim Lonborg for the American League lead in wins with 22. Mr. Wilson, whose Boston scouting report called him "a nice colored boy," became the first Negro in the American League to pitch a no-hitter, when he defeated the Los Angeles Angels 2-0 at Fenway Park in Boston on June 26, 1962, and hit a home run off losing pitcher Bo Belinsky. Mr. Wilson posted a 13-12 record with the Tigers when they won the 1968 World Series, and was the starting and losing pitcher in a 7-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in game 3. Mr. Wilson batted .195 with 35 home runs and 111 runs batted in in his major league career, and was often used as a pinch hitter.

Technology
The first YouTube video, Me at the zoo, was uploaded by YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim.