Tuesday 28 February 2017

February 8, 2017

430 years ago
1587


Died on this date
Mary, Queen of Scots, 44
. Queen of Scots, 1542-1567; Queen Consort of France, 1559-1560. Mary, a Roman Catholic, had been forced to abdicate the Scottish throne in favour of her 1-year-old son, King James I, and had fled to England to seek the protection of her cousin, once removed, Queen Elizabeth I. However, Queen Elizabeth, a Protestant, regarded Mary as a threat, and after more than 18 years of imprisonment, Mary was beheaded at Fotheringay Castle, Northamptonshire.

210 years ago
1807


War
French forces commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte won a tactical victory over Russian forces commanded by Count von Benningsen in the Battle of Eylau in East Prussia.

200 years ago
1817


War
Juan Gregorio de las Heras crossed the Andes with an army to join José de San Martín and liberate Chile from Spain.

180 years ago
1837


Politics and government
Democratic Party candidate and current Vice President Martin Van Buren was confirmed as 8th President of the United States of America, receiving 170 electoral votes as a result of the 1836 election. Mr. Van Buren's running mate, Richard Johnson, received only 147 electoral votes, one short of the required majority, because Virginia's 23 "faithless" electors refused to vote for him. The vote was immediately referred to the Senate, which voted along party lines. Mr. Johnson received 36 votes to 16 for Whig Party candidate Francis Granger, becoming the first Vice President to be chosen by the Senate.

130 years ago
1887


Law
U.S. President Grover Cleveland signed the Dawes Act, which authorized the President of the United States to survey Native American tribal land and divide it into individual allotments.

75 years ago
1942


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

Died on this date
Fritz Todt, 50
. German engineer and politician. Mr. Todt was a civil engineer who joined the Nazi Party in 1922 and the SA in 1931, achieving the rank of SA-Obergruppenführer in 1938. He was appointed Inspector General of German Roadways in July 1933, a position he held for the rest of his life, directing the construction of the German autobahns. Mr. Todt was appointed as General Plenipotentiary for Regulation of the Construction Industry in 1938; Reichsminister for Armaments and Munitions in 1940; and Inspector General for Water and Energy in 1941. In May 1938, he initiated Organisation Todt, a military-engineering company that supplied industry with forced labour and administered construction of Nazi concentration camps. Mr. Todt was killed in a plane crash after departing the "Wolf's Lair," Fuehrer Adolf Hitler's residence in Rastenburg, East Prussia. Mr. Todt had recently inspected the Eastern Front and concluded that Germany couldn't win the war there. He had visited Mr. Hitler to recommend that he sue for peace with the U.S.S.R. Mr. Hitler rejected his proposal, leading to suspicion that the plane crash was an assassination ordered by Mr. Hitler; that has never been confirmed. Mr. Todt was succeeded as Reichsminister for Armaments and Munitions by Albert Speer.

War
Japanese forces invaded Singapore. The Dutch Colonial Army General Destruction Unit (AVC, Algemene Vernielings Corps) burned Banjarmasin, South Borneo to avoid Japanese capture.

70 years ago
1947


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Old Lamp-Lighter--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra (8th week at #1)

60 years ago
1957


Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Será, Será)--Doris Day (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): The Garden of Eden--Frankie Vaughan (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Walther Bothe, 66
. German physicist. Professor Bothe wan a share of the 1954 Nobel Prize in Physics "for the coincidence method and his discoveries made therewith."

John von Neumann, 53. Austro-Hungarian born U.S. mathematician and physicist. Dr. von Neumann was a polymath who worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II, and whose accomplishments in other areas are too numerous to mention here. He died of cancer.

50 years ago
1967


Hit parade
Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Green, Green Grass of Home--Tom Jones (3rd week at #1)
2 It's Not Easy--Normie Rowe
3 Ooh La La--Normie Rowe
4 Knight in Rusty Armour--Peter and Gordon
5 Single Girl--Sandy Posey
6 Friday on My Mind--The Easybeats
7 Good Vibrations--The Beach Boys
8 When Will I Be Loved?/Kiss Me Now--Johnny Young
9 I'm a Believer--The Monkees
10 Coalman--Ronnie Burns

Singles entering the chart were River Deep - Mountain High by Ike and Tina Turner (#38); Save Me by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich (#39); and A Love Like Yours by Ike and Tina Turner (#40).

Died on this date
Victor Gollancz, 73
. U.K. publisher. Sir Victor founded Victor Gollancz Ltd in 1927, using his publishing house chiefly to promote pacifist and socialist non-fiction.

Music
The Beatles were in studio two at Abbey Road in London, where they began recording the song Good Morning Good Morning.

War
A four-day truce began in the Vietnam War.

40 years ago
1977


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Daddy Cool--Boney M. (11th week at #1)

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Someone's Watching

Died on this date
Einar Groven, 75
. Norwegian composer. Mr. Groven wrote two symphonies, a piano concerto, songs and choral music. He played the hardanger fiddle, and collected 2,000 fiddle tunes throught Norway, becoming the country's leader collector of folk music. Mr. Groven was afficted with Parkinson's disease in 1964, and the effects of medicines eventually caused his death from heart problems.

30 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Good Times--Jimmy Barnes featuring INXS (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil

#1 single in France: T'en va pas--Elsa (6th week at #1)

25 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Let's Talk About Sex--Salt-n-Pepa (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kanashimi hayuki no yoni--Shogo Hamada

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Black or White--Michael Jackson (12th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Song of Ocarina--Jean-Philippe Audin & Diego Modena (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Goodnight Girl--Wet Wet Wet (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'm Too Sexy--Right Said Fred

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Diamonds and Pearls--Prince and the New Power Generation
2 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John
3 Mysterious Ways--U2
4 I Love Your Smile--Shanice
5 The Way I Feel About You--Karyn White
6 Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana
7 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
8 I Can't Make You Love Me--Bonnie Raitt
9 To Be with You--Mr. Big
10 There Will Never Be Another Tonight--Bryan Adams

Singles entering the chart were Save the Best for Last by Vanessa Williams (#80); Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton (#83); Hazard by Richard Marx (#85); and Mama, I'm Coming Home by Ozzy Osbourne (#86). Tears in Heaven was from the movie Rush (1991).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Mysterious Ways--U2 (2nd week at #1)
2 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me-George Michael/Elton John
3 There Will Never Be Another Tonight--Bryan Adams
4 No Regrets--Tom Cochrane
5 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
6 Black or White--Michael Jackson
7 Diamonds and Pearls--Prince and the New Power Generation
8 Rescued (By the Arms of Love)--Glass Tiger
9 Go Back to Your Woods--Robbie Robertson
10 Change--Lisa Stansfield

Singles entering the chart were Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton (#58); Peace of Mind (Love Goes On) by One 2 One (#61); Missing You Now by Michael Bolton (#63); The Bug by Dire Straits (#64); Diamonds by Joel Feeney (#74); Shake Your Spirit by Frozen Ghost (#79); Paper Doll by PM Dawn (#80); Every Road Leads Back to You by Bette Midler (#82); She Takes my Breath Away by Eddie Money (#90); Ghost of a Chance by Rush (#92); International Bright Young Thing by Jesus Jones (#96); and What Becomes of the Brokenhearted by Paul Young (#97).

20 years ago
1997


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Let a Boy Cry--Gala

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Madonna (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Madonna (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Freed from Desire--Gala (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Freed from Desire--Gala (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Discothèque--U2

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Ain't Nobody--LL Cool J

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton (10th week at #1)

Died on this date
Corey Scott, 28
. U.S. motorcyclist. Mr. Scott was a stunt rider who was killed while attempting a jump at the Orange Bowl in Miami. He was supposed to grab onto a net after letting go of his motorcycle, but failed to get a good grip on the net, and fell 60 feet to his death.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 4 Vancouver 2

10 years ago
2007


Died on this date
Anna Nicole Smith, 39
. U.S. model. Miss Smith, born Vickie Lynn Hogan, appeared in Playboy and modeled for several companies, but was better known for her marriage in 1994 to Texas oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall, when she was 26, and he was 89. Mr. Marshall died a year later, and disputes over his will dragged on for a decade. Miss Smith was a frequent subject of tabloid magazines and television programs; she was addicted to prescription drugs, an overdose of which caused her death.

Monday 27 February 2017

February 7, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Meisy!

175 years ago
1842


War
Ras Ali Alula, Regent of the Emperor of Ethiopia, defeated warlord Wube Haile Maryam of Semien in the Battle of Debre Tabor in Ethiopia.

150 years ago
1867


Born on this date
Laura Ingalls Wilder
. U.S. authoress. Mrs. Wilder was known for the Little House on the Prairie series of memoirs (1932-1943). She died on February 10, 1957, three days after her 90th birthday.

125 years ago
1892


Disasters
28 people were killed in a fire at the Hotel Royal in New York City.

120 years ago
1897


War
The Greek expeditionary force in Crete defeated a 4,000-strong Ottoman force in the Battle of Livadeia, the first full-scale battle of the Greco-Turkish War.

80 years ago
1937


Died on this date
Elihu Root, 91
. U.S. politician. Mr. Root, a Republican, was United States Secretary of War under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt (1899-1904) and Secretary of State under President Roosevelt from 1905-1909. He then represented New York in the United States Senate from 1909-1915. Mr. Root was awarded the 1912 Nobel Peace Prize "[F]or his strong interest in international arbitration and for his plan for a world court." He died eight days before his 92nd birthday.

75 years ago
1942


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): A String of Pearls--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra

50 years ago
1967


On television tonight
The Fugitive, starring David Janssen, on ABC
Tonight's episode: There Goes the Ball Game, with guest stars Gabriel Dell, Lynda Day, Martin Balsam, and Vincent Gardenia



The Invaders, starring Roy Thinnes, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Genesis



40 years ago
1977


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Way You Do It--Pussyfoot (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Seishun Jidai--Koichi Morita and the Top Gallants (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Don't Go Breaking My Heart--Elton John and Kiki Dee (2nd week at #1)

30 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: The Final Countdown--Europe (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Final Countdown--Europe (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)--Mel and Kim (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)--Mel and Kim (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)--George Michael and Aretha Franklin

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)--George Michael and Aretha Franklin

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)--George Michael and Aretha Franklin

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Open Your Heart--Madonna

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Open Your Heart--Madonna
2 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters
3 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
4 Change of Heart--Cyndi Lauper
5 Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi
6 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
7 Will You Still Love Me?--Chicago
8 Someday--Glass Tiger
9 Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox
10 Keep Your Hands to Yourself--Georgia Satellites

Singles entering the chart were What You Get is What You See by Tina Turner (#70); My Baby by the Pretenders (#85); The Finer Things by Steve Winwood (#86); Have You Ever Loved Somebody by Freddie Jackson (#87); Make it Mean Something by Rob Jungklas (#88); Hold Me by Sheila E. (#89); and Summertime, Summertime by Nocera (#90).

Canada’s top 10 (RPM)
1 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
2 Can't Help Falling in Love--Corey Hart
3 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
4 Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles
5 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters
6 Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox
7 Everybody Have Fun Tonight--Wang Chung
8 You Give Love a Bad Name--Bon Jovi
9 Stand by Me--Ben E. King
10 Land of Confusion--Genesis

Singles entering the chart were Don't Need a Gun by Billy Idol (#90); Let's Wait Awhile by Janet Jackson (#93); Make a Move on Me by Veronique (#94); One More Time by Tom Cochrane (#95); and Just One Night by the Trumps (#97).

25 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Das Boot--U96 (3rd week at #1)

Abominations
European Community members signed the Maastricht Treaty, which led to creation of the euro and the European Union.

20 years ago
1997


Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Time to Say Goodbye--Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton (4th week at #1)

Business
NeXT merged with Apple Computer.

February 6, 2017

100 years ago
1917


Born on this date
Zsa Zsa Gabor
. Austro-Hungarian-born U.S. actress. Miss Gabor, born Sári Gabor, was Miss Hungary of 1936, and emigrated to the United States in 1941. She appeared in movies such as Moulin Rouge (1952) and Queen of Outer Space (1958), but was better known for her active social life, nine marriages, and frequent appearances on television talk shows. Miss Gabor was the sister of actresses Eva and Magda Gabor, and died on December 18, 2016 at the age of 99.

90 years ago
1927


Football
AFL-NFL
Exhibition
New York Yankees (4-3-1) (AFL) 6 Los Angeles Buccaneers (2-2) (NFL) 7 @ San Francisco

8,500 fans at Ewing Field saw the Buccaneers edge the Yankees in the last game ever played by either team, and the last game ever played by an American Football League team. The league folded after its only (1926) season.

75 years ago
1942


War
The United Kingdom declared war on Thailand.

60 years ago
1957


At the movies
The Night Runner, directed by Abner Biberman, and starring Ray Danton and Colleen Miller, received its premiere screening in Los Angeles.



50 years ago
1967


Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Reach Out I'll Be There--Four Tops

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I'm a Believer--The Monkees (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Martine Carol, 46
. French actress. Miss Carol, born Marie-Louise Mourer, was a leading sex symbol of French cinema in the 1950s, in movies such as Madame du Barry (1954) and Lola Montès (1955). Her unhappy personal life included four marriages and a suicide attempt, and she died of a heart attack in a hotel bathroom in Monte Carlo while filming Hell is Empty (1967).

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. Premier Aleksei Kosygin began a week-long visit to the United Kingdom, which included talks with British Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

Boxing
Muhammad Ali (28-0) unified the world heavyweight championship by winning a 15-round unanimous decision over World Boxing Association champion Ernie Terrell (39-5) at the Astrodome in Houston.



40 years ago
1977


On television tonight
Tail Gunner Joe, starring Peter Boyle, Burgess Meredith, and John Forsythe, on NBC

This made-for-television movie was a fictional biography of the late U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy.



Died on this date
Gustave Gilbert, 65
. U.S. psychologist. Dr. Gilbert was a translator for the International Military Tribunal for the trials of accused Nazi war criminals in Nuremberg. His work led him to write the books Nuremberg Diary (1947) and The Psychology of Dictatorship (1950), the latter of which was an attempt to create a profile of Adolf Hitler on the basis of testimony provided by his closest military leaders. Dr. Gilbert later served as chairman of the psychology department at Long Island University.

Hockey
WHA
Calgary 4 @ Winnipeg 6

30 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Reality--Richard Sanderson

At the movies
Light of Day, written and directed by Paul Schrader, and starring Michael J. Fox, Gena Rowlands, and Joan Jett, opened in theatres.



Law
Justice Mary Gaudron became the first woman to be appointed to the High Court of Australia.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate had held steady at 6.6% in January, continuing at a six-year low.

25 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Goodnight Girl--Wet Wet Wet (2nd week at #1)

20 years ago
1997


Hit parade
#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Don't Speak--No Doubt (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Breathe--The Prodigy (8th week at #1)

Law
The U.K. Court of Appeal ruled in favour of Diane Blood, 32, a widow who was being inseminated with her late husband's sperm.

10 years ago
2007


Died on this date
Frankie Laine, 93
. U.S. singer. Mr. Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio, was one of the most popular recording artists from 1947-1957, with hit singles such as That's My Desire (1947); Mule Train (1949); and Jezebel (1951). He was equally popular in the United Kingdom. Mr. Laine often sang rhythm and blues songs, and has been regarded as a precursor to rock and roll artists. In the 1950s, he became known for singing theme songs to Western movies and television programs, such as Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) and Rawhide (1959). Mr. Laine recorded his last song at the age of 88.

Lou Burdette, 80. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Burdette, who signed his name "Lou," but is usually referred to as "Lew," played with the New York Yankees (1950); Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1951-1963); St. Louis Cardinals (1963-1964); Chicago Cubs (1964-1965); Philadelphia Phillies (1965); and California Angels (1966-1967), posting a record of 203-144 with an earned run average of 3.66 in 626 games. He was known for his tremendous control, issuing only 1.84 bases on balls per 9 innings. The highlight of Mr. Burdette's career was the 1957 World Series, when he pitched 3 complete game victories to help the Braves defeat the Yankees 4 games to 3, and was named the series' Most Valuable Player. He lost 2 of 3 starts against the Yankees in the 1958 World Series, in which the Yankees came back from a 3-1 deficit in games to win 4-3. Mr. Burdette won the second game of the series, hitting a 3-run home run in a 13-5 Milwaukee win.

Willye White, 67. U.S. runner and long jumper. Miss White was the first American athlete to participate in five Summer Olympic Games--1956 through 1972. She won a silver medal in the long jump at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, and another silver medal as a member of the women's 4 x 100-metre relay team in Tokyo in 1964. Miss White won 13 indoor and outdoor national titles, and set seven American records in the long jump. Away from the track, Miss White was a nurse who had a long career in health care; she died of pancreatic cancer.

Sunday 26 February 2017

February 5, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Hank Aaron and Don Cherry!

150 years ago
1867


Born on this date
James Douglas
. Canadian politician. Mr. Douglas, a native of Middleville, Ontario, grew up in Winnipeg and moved to Strathcona, Alberta in 1894, and served on the Strathcona city council. He entered federal politics in 1909 as a Liberal, and represented Strathcona in the House of Commons (1909-1921); he was one of the Liberals who joined the Unionist Party with Conservatives prior to the 1917 federal election. Mr. Douglas lost his seat in the 1921 election, and moved back to municipal politics, as a member of Edmonton City Council (1923-1926, 1941-1949) and Mayor (1929-1931). He died on March 16, 1950 at the age of 83.

100 years ago
1917


Born on this date
W.G. Morrow
. Canadian lawyer and judge. Mr. Morrow, the son of an Edmonton lawyer, graduated from the University of Alberta Law School in 1939, served as a lieutenant with the Royal Canadian Navy in World War II, and was on a minesweeper in the D-Day invasion. As a lawyer, he argued the last Canadian case before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council at 3 Downing Street in London in 1959. As Judge of the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories (1966-1976) he ruled in Regina v. Drybones (1967) that the Canadian Bill of Rights superseded a portion of the Indian Act of Canada. This ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1969, and remains the only case in which the Bill of Rights was held to take precedence over another act of Parliament. In 1973 he stood his ground when Prime Minister (and former law professor) Pierre Trudeau and "Justice" Minister (and former University of Saskatchewan Dean of Law) Otto Lang, along with Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (and thug) Jean Chretien illegally attempted to fire him by challenging his jurisdiction in the case of Indians attempting to file a caveat concerning Crown land in the Mackenzie River Valley that would be affected by a proposed oil pipeline. Justice Morrow died in Edmonton of a heart attack on August 13, 1980 at the age of 63; as the father of this blogger, he’s greatly missed. His autobiography, Northern Justice, was published in 1995.

Isuzu Yamada. Japanese actress. Miss Yemada was a stage and screen actress whose career spanned eight decades. She died on July 9, 2012 at the age of 95.

Died on this date
Jaber II, 57 (?)
. Sheikh of Kuwait, 1915-1917. Jaber II, of the House of Sabah, succeeded his father Mubarak, and was succeeded in turn by his brother Salim.

Politics and government
The current Constitution of Mexico was adopted, establishing a federal republic with powers separated into independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Law
The United States Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917 over President Woodrow Wilson's veto, greatly restricting immigration from Asian countries.

80 years ago
1937


Law
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed increasing the number of justices on the Supreme Court of the United States in order to overcome resistance to his New deal legislation. Mr. Roosevelt's detractors referred to this as a plan for "packing" the Court.

50 years ago
1967


Died on this date
L.L. Bean, 94
. U.S. businessman. Leon Leonwood Bean founded the outdoor clothing company L.L. Bean, Inc. in 1912.

Violeta Parra, 49. Chilean musician. Miss Parra was a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and folklorist who became known as "The Mother of Latin American Folk Music" in a career spanning almost 30 years from the late 1930s until she shot herself to death.

Economics and finance
The Tanzanian government of President Julius Nyerere announced new socialist policies, resulting from a political conference in Arusha from January 26-29. The Arusha Declaration provided for the end of "feudalism and capitalism" by government control of banks, food factories, insurance companies, and several export-import companies, and other means of production. The policies were implemented on February 11.

40 years ago
1977


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Sei forte papà--Gianni Morandi (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Anita--Costa Cordalis (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Living Next Door to Alice--Smokie

#1 single in Ireland: Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Julie Covington

#1 single in the U.K (BMRB): Don't Give Up on Us--David Soul (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Torn Between Two Lovers--Mary MacGregor

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Blinded by the Light--Manfred Mann's Earth Band
2 Torn Between Two Lovers--Mary MacGregor
3 I Wish--Stevie Wonder
4 Hot Line--Sylvers
5 New Kid in Town--Eagles
6 Enjoy Yourself--The Jacksons
7 Dazz--Brick
8 Fly Like an Eagle--Steve Miller Band
9 I Like Dreamin'--Kenny Nolan
10 Weekend in New England--Barry Manilow

Singles entering the chart were Winter Melody by Donna Summer (#73); I've Got Love on My Mind by Natalie Cole (#78); Do Ya by Electric Light Orchestra (#80); At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up) by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan (#85); You + Me = Love by the Undisputed Truth (#93); Right Time of the Night by Jennifer Warnes (#98); and I'll Always Call Your Name by Little River Band (#100).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 I Wish--Stevie Wonder
2 Hot Line--Sylvers
3 Car Wash--Rose Royce
4 Torn Between Two Lovers--Mary MacGregor
5 Blinded by the Light--Manfred Mann's Earth Band
6 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing--Leo Sayer
7 Walk This Way--Aerosmith
8 Somebody to Love--Queen
9 New Kid in Town--Eagles
10 You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)--Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.

Singles entering the chart were Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas (#93); Don't Give Up on Us by David Soul (#95); Crackerbox Palace by George Harrison (#96); I'm Ready by Hometown Band (#97); Here Come Those Tears Again by Jackson Browne (#98); Sam by Olivia Newton-John (#99); and No Hurt by Charity Brown (#100).

30 years ago
1987


Hit parade
Edmonton's top 14 (CHED)
1 Can't Help Falling in Love--Corey Hart
2 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
3 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters
4 Land of Confusion--Genesis
5 Open Your Heart--Madonna
6 Control--Janet Jackson
7 Kiss You (When it's Dangerous)--Eight Seconds
8 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
9 Change of Heart--Cyndi Lauper
10 You're What I Look For--Glass Tiger
11 Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi
12 Will You Still Love Me?--Chicago
13 Jacob's Ladder--Huey Lewis and the News
14 Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox

On television tonight
Our World, hosted by Linda Ellerbee and Ray Gandolf, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Winds of Change: Winter 1968



Died on this date
William Collier, Jr., 84
. U.S. actor. Mr. Collier, born Charles Gall, Jr., appeared in 89 movies from the 1910s through the 1930s. He died a week before his 85th birthday.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate in January had declined 0.3%, to 8.5%.

25 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Justified & Ancient--The KLF (featuring Tammy Wynette)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Private Butthead

20 years ago
1997


Died on this date
Pamela Harriman, 76
. U.K.-born socialite and diplomat. Mrs. Harriman, born Pamela Digby, was known for her many affairs with rich and famous men, and was married to British journalist Randolph Churchill from 1939-1946; to American theatrical producer Leland Hayward from 1960-1971; and to American politician and diplomat Averell Harriman from 1971 until his death in 1986. She was U.S. Ambassador to France from 1993 until her death from a cerebral hemorrhage.

Business
U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley announced a $10 billion merger with Dean Witter.

10 years ago
2007


Died on this date
Leo McCarthy, 76
. N.Z.-born U.S. politician. Mr. McCarthy moved with his family to the United States at the age of 4. A Democrat, he served in the California State Assembly from 1969-1983, serving as Speaker from 1974-1980. He was Lieutenant Governor of California from 1983-1995.

February 4, 2017

230 years ago
1787


War
Shays' Rebellion, an uprising of Massachusetts farmers, was defeated when the state militia captured many of the rebels at Petersham.

220 years ago
1797


Disasters
An earthquake struck the Ecuadorian city of Riobambma, causing up to 40,000 casualties.

130 years ago
1887


Born on this date
Anna Hedvig Büll
. Estonian-born German missionary. Miss Büll was a Lutheran missionary to the Armenian people during the last years of the Ottoman Empire, and helped to save about 2,000 women and children from the Armenian genocide during World War I. She worked with Armenians for about 40 years, and became a refugee herself after her native Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union and she was denied permission to return. Miss Büll worked in France, Switzerland, and finally West Germany, where she died on October 3, 1981 at the age of 94.

100 years ago
1917


Born on this date
Yahya Khan
. 3rd President of Pakistan, 1969-1971. General Khan was Commander in Chief of the Pakistan Army from 1966-1971, while leading a military government from 1969-1971. He resigned and handed over the presidency to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after civil strife led to East Pakistan becoming the independent nation of Bangladesh. Gen. Khan was under house arrest from 1971-1979, and died on August 10, 1980 at the age of 63.

50 years ago
1967


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Green, Green Grass of Home--Tom Jones (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Inch Allah--Salvatore Adamo (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Se perdo anche te--Gianni Morandi

Se perdo anche te was the other side of C'era un ragazzo che come me amava i Beatles e i Rolling Stones, which had been the #1 single for the previous two weeks.

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): I'm a Believer--The Monkees

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I'm a Believer--The Monkees (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): I'm a Believer--The Monkees (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I'm a Believer--The Monkees (6th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I'm a Believer--The Monkees (7th week at #1)
2 Georgy Girl--The Seekers
3 Tell it Like it Is--Aaron Neville
4 Snoopy vs. the Red Baron--The Royal Guardsmen
5 Kind of a Drag--The Buckinghams
6 Words of Love--The Mamas and the Papas
7 Good Thing--Paul Revere and the Raiders
8 Standing in the Shadows of Love--Four Tops
9 (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet--The Blues Magoos
10 Nashville Cats--The Lovin' Spoonful

Singles entering the chart were Epistle to Dippy (#59); Sock it to Me--Baby! by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels (#64); Spooky by Mike Sharpe (#73); Pucker Up Buttercup by Jr. Walker & the All-Stars (#75); Niki Hoeky by P.J. Proby (#86); Raise Your Hand by Eddie Floyd (#87); The Dis-Advantages of You by the Brass Ring (#88); Baby I Need Your Lovin' by Johnny Rivers (#89); Everybody Needs Somebody to Love by Wilson Pickett (#90); Don't Go Home (My Little Darlin') by the Shirelles (#92); My Best Friend by Jefferson Airplane (#95); and No Fair at All by the Association (#96).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Georgy Girl--The Seekers
2 Nashville Cats--The Lovin' Spoonful
3 I'm a Believer--The Monkees
4 Snoopy vs. the Red Baron--The Royal Guardsmen
5 Words of Love--The Mamas and the Papas
6 Tell it to the Rain--The 4 Seasons
7 (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet--The Blues Magoos
8 Where Will the Words Come From--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
9 Tell it Like it Is--Aaron Neville
10 Knight in Rusty Armour--Peter and Gordon

Singles entering the chart were It Takes Two by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston (#65); Pushin' Too Hard by the Seeds (#70); I'm a Boy by the Who (#73); For What it's Worth by Buffalo Springfield (#78); I Wish You Could Be Here by the Cyrkle (#79); I've Been Lonely Too Long by the Young Rascals (#80); Got to Get You Into My Life by Stitch In Tyme (#81); Love is Here and Now You're Gone by the Supremes (#83); Indescribably Blue by Elvis Presley (#84); Full Measure by the Lovin' Spoonful (#85); All by James Darren (#86); You Got to Me by Neil Diamond (#87); So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star by the Byrds (#89); Go Where You Wanna Go by the 5th Dimension (#92); Look at Granny Run, Run by Howard Tate (#93); My Cup Runneth Over by Ed Ames (#94); Ten Commandments by Prince Buster (#95); Lovin' You by Bobby Darin (#96); Lady by Jack Jones (#99); and If You Go Away by Damita Jo (#100).

Space
The U.S. probe Lunar Orbiter 3 lifted off from Cape Kennedy's Launch Complex 13 on its mission to identify possible landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo spacecraft.

40 years ago
1977


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Living Next Door to Alice--Smokie

#1 single in France: Voici les clefs--Gérard Lenorman (5th week at #1)

Music
The album Rumours by Fleetwood Mac was released on Warner Brothers Records.

Politics and government
The United States Senate approved a plan to reorganize itself, reducing the number of committees from 31 to 25.

Disasters
A Chicago Transit Authority elevated train rear-ended another and derailed, killing 11 and injuring 180 in the worst accident in the agency's history.

30 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden: One Love to Give--Stéphanie (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Carl Rogers, 85
. U.S. psychologist. Dr. Rogers, who professed Christianity early in his life, but later became a professing atheist, was one of the founders of humanistic psychology, pioneering a method known as "client-centred" therapy. He was known for practicing "unconditional positive regard," defined as accepting a person "without negative judgment of .... [a person's] basic worth."

Wladziu "Lee" Liberace, 67. U.S. musician. Liberace was a pianist who was known for his flamboyant performances and lifestyle. He hosted his own television show from 1952-1957, when he was the world's highest-paid performer. The legendary entertainer won libel suits against publications that accused him of homosexuality, but he died of AIDS at his home in Palm Springs, California.

Sport
Stars and Stripes, helmed by Dennis Conner, defeated defending champion Kookaburra III at Fremantle, Australia to complete a 4-0 sweep and regain the America's Cup.

25 years ago
1992


Died on this date
Lisa Fonssagrives, 80
. Swedish-born model. Mrs. Fonssagrives was an aspiring ballerina who moved to Paris in 1936 and became a fashion model. She moved to the United States in 1939, and continued to appear on magazine covers through the 1950s, earning recognition as the world's first supermodel. Mrs. Fonssagrives died in New York.

John Dehner, 76. U.S. actor. Mr. Dehner, born John Forkum, appeared in numerous radio and television programs and movies, especially Westerns. He starred in the radio series Frontier Gentleman (1958) and Have Gun, Will Travel (1958-1960).

World events
Hugo Chávez led a coup d'état attempt in Venezuela against President Carlos Andrés Pérez.

20 years ago
1997


Disasters
En route to Lebanon, two Israeli Sikorsky CH-53 troop-transport helicopters collided in mid-air over northern Galilee, Israel killing 73.

Football
NFL
Unable to make a deal with the New England Patriots for the right to hire Bill Parcells as their head coach, the New York Jets pulled an end-around, hiring Mr. Parcells' top New England assistant, Bill Belichick, as "interim" head coach, and naming Mr. Parcells a "consultant." The strategem worked, and Mr. Parcells soon took over as coach, much to the chagrin of New England owner Robert Kraft.

10 years ago
2007


Died on this date
Barbara McNair, 72
. U.S. singer and actress. Miss McNair was a popular singer in nightclubs and on television programs, and hosted her own variety show on CTV from 1969-1972. She died of throat cancer.

Football
NFL
Super Bowl XLI @ Dolphin Stadium, Miami
Indianapolis 29 Chicago 17

See video.

Thursday 23 February 2017

February 3, 2017

230 years ago
1787


War
Militia led by General Benjamin Lincoln crushed the remnants of Shays' Rebellion in Petersham, Massachusetts.

210 years ago
1807


Born on this date
Joseph E. Johnston
. U.S. and C.S. military officer and politician. General Johnson joined the U.S. Army in 1829, and served with distinction in the Mexican-American War and the Seminole Wars. A native and resident of Virginia, he was one of the most senior officers in the Confederate States Army in the American Civil War. Gen . Johnson was a railroad and insurance executive after the war; a Democrat, he represented Virginia's 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1879-1881). He maintained friendly relations with former Union Army General William Tecumseh Sherman, and was an honourary pallbearer at Gen. Sherman's funeral in February 1991, doffing his hat out of respect despite it being a rainy day. Gen. Johnson developed a cold which turned into pneumonia, causing his death on March 21, 1891 at the age of 84.

War
A British military force under Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty captured the Spanish Empire city of Montevideo.

100 years ago
1917


Diplomacy
The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, which had announced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.

90 years ago
1927


At the movies
When a Man Loves, starring John Barrymore, Dolores Costello, and Warner Oland, received its premiere screening at the Selwyn Theatre in New York City.

70 years ago
1947


Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Old Lamp-Lighter--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra (6th week at #1)
--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
--Hal Derwin
2 (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons--King Cole Trio
--Eddy Howard and his Orchestra
--Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
3 Ole Buttermilk Sky--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
--Hoagy Carmichael
--Helen Carroll and the Satisfiers
--Paul Weston and his Orchestra with Matt Dennis
4 Huggin' and Chalkin'--Hoagy Carmichael
--Johnny Mercer
--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
5 A Gal in Calico--Tex Beneke with the Glenn Miller Orchestra
--Bing Crosby with the Calico Kids
--Johnny Mercer
6 Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
--Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers
7 Sonata--Perry Como
--Jo Stafford
8 The Whole World is Singing My Song--Les Brown and his Orchestra
9 Oh, But I Do--Margaret Whiting
--Tex Beneke with the Glenn Miller Orchestra
--Harry James and his Orchestra
10 September Song--Frank Sinatra
--Dardanelle Trio

The only single entering the chart was I'll Close My Eyes, with versions by Andy Russell, and Johnny Desmond.

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Tom Conway and Nigel Bruce, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Dying Detective

The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Elliott Lewis and Howard McNear, on MBS
Tonight`s episode: Vengeance in Vegas

60 years ago
1957


On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: A Bottle of Wine, starring Herbert Marshall, Robert Horton, and Jarma Lewis

Baseball
Sam Crawford and Joe McCarthy were named to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Mr. Crawford was an outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds (1899-1902) and Detroit Tigers (1903-1917), batting .309 with 2,961 hits, 97 home runs and 1,525 runs batted in in 2,517 games. Mr. McCarthy managed the Chicago Cubs (1926-1930); New York Yankees (1931-1946); and Boston Red Sox (1946-1950), compiling a record of 2,125-1,333, for a record-high winning percentage of .615. He led the Yankees to World Series championships in 1932, 1936-1939, 1941, and 1943.

50 years ago
1967


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Hooray for Hazel--Tommy Roe

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 Snoopy vs. the Red Baron--The Royal Guardsmen (3rd week at #1)
2 I'm a Believer/(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone--The Monkees
3 Knight in Rusty Armour--Peter and Gordon
4 Georgy Girl--The Seekers
5 Pretty Ballerina--The Left Banke
6 Go Go Round--Gordon Lightfoot
7 Armful of Teddy Bears--Barry Allen
8 Summer Wine--Nancy Sinatra with Lee Hazlewood
9 Cry Baby--Lennie Richards and the Nomads
10 Green, Green Grass of Home--Tom Jones
Pick hit of the week: So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star--The Byrds
New this week: One More Mountain to Climb--Ronnie Dove
Peek-A-Boo--The New Vaudeville Band
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy--The Buckinghams
Lonely Again--Eddy Arnold
You Tell Her, I Stutter--The New Happiness

Died on this date
Joe Meek, 37
. U.K. songwriter and record producer. Mr. Meek was known for his innovative recording techniques such as overdubbing, sampling and reverb. Among the recordings he wrote and produced was the 1962 instrumental single Telstar by the Tornados, which was the biggest-selling single from Britain prior to the Beatles, and one of this blogger's favourite tunes. Mr. Meek was reportedly paranoid, suffering from financial problems, and was also a sodomite and necromancer. Mr. Meek shot his landlady Violet Shenton to death and then turned the gun on himself.

40 years ago
1977


Died on this date
Gil Dodds, 58
. U.S. runner. Mr. Dodds, nicknamed "The Flying Parson," was the best miler in the United States from 1940-1944, setting American and world records at that distance, and winning the James E. Sullivan Award as the most outstanding amateur athlete in the U.S.A. in 1943. He retired at the height of his career to train for the ministry, but came out of retirement to try to qualify for the 1948 Summer Olympic Games. Mr. Dodds caught the mumps and injured his achilles tendon a week before the qualifying meet, and retired from competitive athletics permanently. He worked with Youth for Christ, and coached track and cross-country running at Wheaton College from 1945-1959.

Diplomacy
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young began a one-week visit to Africa on behalf of the administration of U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Protest
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat imposed harsh political curbs to prevent renewed riots over increases in food prices.

25 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Justified & Ancient--The KLF (3rd week at #1)

20 years ago
1997


Hit parade
Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Just Another Day--John Mellencamp (2nd week at #1)
2 Don't Speak--No Doubt
3 Someone Who's Cool--The Odds
4 A Long December--Counting Crows
5 How Bizarre--OMC
6 Just Between You and Me--dc talk
7 Swallowed--Bush X
8 Do to You--Bryan Adams
9 Fly Like an Eagle--Seal
10 Mouth--Merril Bainbridge

Singles entering the chart included Don't Cry for Me Argentina by Madonna (#82); Superman's Dead by Our Lady Peace (#83); Saving Face by the Boomers (#92); Change the Locks by Tom Petty (#93); Night Train by Bruce Cockburn (#94); Electrolite by R.E.M. (#95); Good Day for the Blues by Storeyville (#96); The Lines You Amend by Sloan (#97); Believer by Chantal Kreviazuk (#98); Dancin' by Chris Isaak (#99); and I Believe in You and Me by Whitney Houston (#100).

10 years ago
2007


Terrorism
A market bombing in Baghdad killed at least 135 people and injured a further 339.

February 2, 2017

150 years ago
1867


Died on this date
Washington Hunt, 55
. U.S. politician. Mr. Hunt, a Whig, represented New York's 34th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1843-1849, and was Governor of New York from 1851-1852.

130 years ago
1887


Americana
The first gathering of people at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to see the groundhog's shadow occurred.

125 years ago
1892


Crime
Six days after being convicted in New York of murdering his wife with poison, Carlyle W. Harris was sentenced to death.

110 years ago
1907


Died on this date
Dmitri Mendeleev, 72
. Russian chemist. Dr. Mendeleev formulated the Periodic Law and created an early version of the periodic table of the elements. He died of influenza, six days before his 73rd birthday; element 101--mendelevium--is named in his honour, as is the lunar crater Mendeleev.

75 years ago
1942


Died on this date
Ado Birk, 58
. Prime Minister of Estonia, 1920. Mr. Birk, a veteran politician and diplomat, was Prime Minister for just two days--July 28-30, 1920. After the 1940 Soviet invasion and occupation of Estonia, he was put in a prison camp in Russia and sentenced to death, but died before the sentence could be carried out.

War
The Osvald Group was responsible for the first, active event of anti-Nazi resistance in Norway, to protest the previous day's inauguration of Vidkun Quisling as Minister President of Norway.

60 years ago
1957


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Just Walking in the Rain--Johnnie Ray (9th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Sei zufrieden--Lukas-Trio

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): The Garden of Eden--Frankie Vaughan

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Singing the Blues--Guy Mitchell (Best Seller--9th week at #1; Disc Jockey--9th week at #1; Jukebox--8th week at #1; Top 100--9th week at #1);

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Young Love--Sonny James
--Tab Hunter
2 Singing the Blues--Guy Mitchell
3 Don't Forbid Me--Pat Boone
4 Too Much--Elvis Presley
5 The Banana Boat Song--The Tarriers
6 Moonlight Gambler--Frankie Laine
7 Banana Boat (Day-O)--Harry Belafonte
8 Blue Monday--Fats Domino
9 The Green Door--Jim Lowe
10 Love Me Tender--Elvis Presley

Singles entering the chart were Marianne by Terry Gilkyson and the Easy Riders (#34); The Party's Over by Doris Day (#47); Bad Boy by the Jive Bombers (#49); Stashu Pandowski (She’s Not Very Much Good for Pretty), with versions by Russ Carlyle and the Coachmen, and Julius LaRosa (#50); and Roman Guitar (Chitarra Romana) by Lou Monte (also #50).

Died on this date
Grigory Landsberg, 67
. U.S.S.R. physicist. Professor Landsberg was a co-discoverer of inelastic combinatorial scattering of light used now in Raman spectroscopy. He died 11 days after his 67th birthday.

50 years ago
1967


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): I'm a Believer--The Monkees (3rd week at #1)

40 years ago
1977


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K (New Musical Express): Don't Give Up on Us--David Soul (3rd week at #1)

Diplomacy
United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim began a 10-day tour of the Middle East.

Politics and government
U.S. President Jimmy Carter, in a fireside chat, urged Americans to solve common problems through "joint efforts and mutual sacrifices."

30 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Funkytown--Pseudo Echo (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Alistair MacLean, 64
. U.K. author. Mr. MacLean, a native of Scotland, was known for adventure and suspense novels such as The Guns of Navarone (1957); Ice Station Zebra (1963); and Where Eagles Dare (1967). He also used the pseudonym Ian Stuart. Mr. MacLean reportedly drank himself to death.

Terrorism
Church of England envoy Terry Waite was kidnapped in Beirut by members of the group Islamic Jihad.

Politics and government
After the 1986 People Power Revolution, the Philippines enacted a new constitution.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the index of leading economic indicators had risen 2.1% in December 1986.

25 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Live and Let Die--Guns N' Roses (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Let's Talk About Sex--Salt-n-Pepa (12th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Bert Parks, 77. U.S. radio and television announcer. Born Bertram Jacobson, Mr. Parks hosted several radio and television game shows, but was best known for hosting the annual Miss America telecast from 1955-1979.

Football
NFL
Pro Bowl @ Aloha Stadium, Honolulu
NFC 21 AFC 15

20 years ago
1997


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Freak--Silverchair (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): I Believe I Can Fly--R. Kelly

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò)--Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò)--Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli (3rd week at #1)

Football
NFL
Pro Bowl @ Aloha Stadium, Honolulu
AFC 26 NFC 23

Died on this date
Sanford Meisner, 91
. U.S. acting teacher. Mr. Meisner was known for teaching the "Meisner technique," in which the actor "gets out of their head," and behaves instinctively toward the surrounding environment.

10 years ago
2007


Died on this date
Johnny Scruggs, 66
. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Scruggs was an outfielder who played 1,136 games in 11 seasons in the minor leagues (1961-1971) with the organizations of the Baltimore Orioles (1961-1967); Cleveland Indians (1968-1971); and Atlanta Braves (1971). He hit at least 118 home runs and batted in at least 496 runs. Mr. Scruggs played at the AAA level for 5 seasons (1966-1970), with his best season being 1969, when he hit .263 with 16 homers and 66 RBIs in 127 games with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League.

February 1, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Snejka!

310 years ago
1707


Born on this date
Frederick, Prince of Wales
. U.K. royal family member. Frederick, the eldest but estranged son of King George II, was born in Hanover and was left there at the age of 7 in the care of his grand-uncle when his grandfather King George I and the future George II went to England upon George I's accession to the throne in 1714. Frederick didn't see his parents again until 1728, when he went to England the year after his father acceded to the throne; Frederick was created Prince of Wales in 1729. He was a patron of the arts and sciences, and was Chancellor of the University of Dublin from 1728 until his death. Prince Frederick married Augusta of Saxe-Gotha in 1736; the couple had nine children, the last of whom was born after Prince Frederick died of what may have been a pulmonary embolism on March 31, 1751 at the age of 44. Prince Frederick was heir apparent to the throne, but when he died, that distinction was passed on to his eldest son, who acceded to the throne in 1760 as King George III.

120 years ago
1897


Economics and finance
Shinhan Bank, the oldest bank in South Korea, opened in Seoul.

100 years ago
1917


Born on this date
Eiji Sawamura
. Japanese baseball pitcher. Mr. Sawamura played with the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Baseball League from 1936-1943, compiling a record of 63-22 with an earned run average of 1.74. He pitched 3 no-hitters, including the first in JBL history in 1936. Mr. Sawamura's best season was 1937, when he was 33-10 with an ERA of 1.38. He enlisted in the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, and was killed at the age of 27 in battle near Yakushima when his ship was torpedoed on December 2, 1944. The Sawamura Award, first presented in 1947, is given to the outstanding pitcher in Japanese baseball each season. Mr. Sawamura was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1959.

75 years ago
1942


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

Radio
Voice of America, the official external radio and television service of the United States government, begins broadcasting with programs aimed at areas controlled by the Axis powers.

War
The U.S. Navy conducted the Marshalls–Gilberts raids, the first offensive action by the United States against Japanese forces in the Pacific Theatre.

Politics and government
Josef Terboven, Reichskommissar of German-occupied Norway, appointed Vidkun Quisling as Minister President of the National Government.

70 years ago
1947


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Old Lamp-Lighter--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra (7th week at #1)

60 years ago
1957


Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Será, Será)--Doris Day (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): The Garden of Eden--Frankie Vaughan (2nd week at #1); Singing the Blues--Guy Mitchell (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Friedrich Paulus, 66
. German military officer. Generalfeldmarschall Paulus commanded the Sixth Army in the Battle of Stalingrad from August 1942-February 1943. He was captured by Soviet forces on January 31, 1943, and later turned against the German Nazi regime. Generalfeldmarschall Paulus moved to East Germany in 1943, and died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

50 years ago
1967


Hit parade
Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Green, Green Grass of Home--Tom Jones (2nd week at #1)
2 Ooh La La--Normie Rowe
3 It's Not Easy--Normie Rowe
4 Good Vibrations--The Beach Boys
5 Friday on My Mind--The Easybeats
6 Single Girl--Sandy Posey
7 Knight in Rusty Armour--Peter and Gordon
8 Let it Be Me (EP)--Johnny Young
9 Mellow Yellow--Donovan
10 I'm a Believer--The Monkees

Singles entering the chart were Georgy Girl by the Seekers (#27); Gimme Some Lovin' by the Spencer Davis Group (#28); and Happy Jack by the Who (#39).

Music
The Beatles were in studio two at Abbey Road in London, where they began recording the song Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

40 years ago
1977


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Daddy Cool--Boney M. (10th week at #1)

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

Diplomacy
U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale returned from a 10-day mission to Europe and Japan.

Environment
Marin County, California began rationing water following severe drought in western states.

30 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Good Times--Jimmy Barnes featuring INXS

#1 single in Switzerland: Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)--Mel & Kim (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France: T'en va pas--Elsa (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Alessandro Blasetti, 86
. Italian movie director. Mr. Blasetti had a career that spanned more than four decades, and was the leading Italian director during the country's Fascist regime. His first film, Sun (1929), was described by Duce Benito Mussolini as "the dawn of the Fascist film."

Law
Ethiopian voters gave overwhelming approval to a new constitution establishing a civilian Communist government.

Football
NFL
Pro Bowl @ Aloha Stadium, Honolulu
AFC 10 NFC 6

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Let's Talk About Sex--Salt-N-Pepa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Garagara hebi ga yattekuru--Ton'neruzu

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Black or White--Michael Jackson (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John

#1 single in France (SNEP): Black or White--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Goodnight Girl--Wet Wet Wet (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me-George Michael/Elton John

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John
2 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
3 Diamonds and Pearls--Prince and the New Power Generation
4 All 4 Love--Color Me Badd
5 Mysterious Ways--U2
6 The Way I Feel About You--Karyn White
7 Finally--Ce Ce Peniston
8 I Love Your Smile--Shanice
9 Black or White--Michael Jackson
10 Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana

Singles entering the chart were I Can't Dance by Genesis (#62); Too Much Passion by the Smithereens (#70); The Time Alone with You by Bad English (#74); Can't Cry Hard Enough by the Williams Brothers (#78); You are the One by Chris Cuevas (#79); Thinkin' Back by Color Me Badd (#81); You're All that Matters to Me by Curtis Stigers (#83); Uhh Ahh by Boyz II Men (#86); Masterpiece by Atlantic Starr (#87); The Globe by Big Audio Dynamite II (#89); and You Think You Know Her by Cause and Effect (#90)..

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Mysterious Ways--U2
2 Black or White--Michael Jackson
3 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
4 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me-George Michael/Elton John
5 There Will Never Be Another Tonight--Bryan Adams
6 No Regrets--Tom Cochrane
7 No Son of Mine--Genesis
8 Keep Coming Back--Richard Marx
9 All 4 Love--Color Me Badd
10 Change--Lisa Stansfield

Singles entering the chart were I Can't Dance by Genesis (#34); Remember the Time by Michael Jackson (#40); I'll Get By by Eddie Money (#49); Good for Me by Amy Grant (#52); King of the Heap by the Odds (#53); Hearts Don't Think (They Feel) by Natural Selection (#56); Love Me All Up by Stacy Earl (#57); To Be with You by Mr. Big (#65); Levon by Jon Bon Jovi (#68); Hazard by Richard Marx (#72); Give it All Up by Darby Mills and the Unsung Heroes (#75); I Love Your Smile by Shanice (#76); Again Tonight by John Mellencamp (#83); Vibeology by Paula Abdul (#84); and Make You a Believer by Sass Jordan (#87).

Law
Former Union Carbide Chief Executive Officer Warren Anderson was declared by the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Bhopal a fugitive under Indian law for failing to appear in the case of the 1984 gas leak in Bhopal, which had resulted in thousands of deaths. Mr. Anderson was the chief defendant facing a charge of culpable homicide.

20 years ago
1997


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): One and One--Robert Miles and Maria Nayler (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Madonna (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Freed from Desire--Gala (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Freed from Desire--Gala (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Finally Found Someone--Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Beetlebum--Blur

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton (9th week at #1)

Died on this date
Herb Caen, 80
. U.S. journalist. Mr. Caen wrote a column of local interest and events for the San Francisco Chronicle for most of the period from 1938 until his death on February 1, 1997 at the age of 80. He wrote his column for the San Francisco Examiner from 1950-1958.

Hockey
NHL
Ottawa 2 Toronto 1

10 years ago
2007


Died on this date
Gian Carlo Menotti, 95
. Italian composer. Mr. Menotti wrote music and libretto for more than two dozen operas, winning Pulitzer Prizes for The Consul (1950) and The Saint of Bleecker Street (1955).

January 31, 2017

125 years ago
1892


Died on this date
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 57
. U.K. clergyman. Mr. Spurgeon, the "Prince of Preachers," had been pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle in London since 1861. For more about and by C.H. Spurgeon, see the sites Charles Spurgeon Quotes and The Spurgeon Archive. I particularly recommend the section from the latter site on the Down-Grade controversy, which not only remains relevant, but more so with each day.

110 years ago
1907


Died on this date
Timothy Eaton, 72. U.K.-born- Canadian businessman. Mr. Eaton, a native of Ireland, moved to Ontario at the age of 20. He founded T. Eaton Company in Toronto in 1869; the store grew into one of Canada's largest department store chains until Mr. Eaton's descendants neglected the business, and it went bankrupt in 1999, with the Eaton name disappearing completely from the stores in 2002. Timothy Eaton died of pneumonia.

100 years ago
1917


War
Germany announced that its U-boats would resume unrestricted submarine warfare after a two-year hiatus.

75 years ago
1942


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): In the Mood--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra; Joe Loss and his Orchestra (1st month at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Chattanooga Choo Choo--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (9th week at #1)

Died on this date
Henry Larkin, 82
. U.S. baseball player and manager. Mr. Larkin was a first baseman and outfielder with the Philadelphia Athletics (1884-1889, 1891); Cleveland Infants (1890); and Washington Senators (1892-1893), batting .303 with 53 home runs and 836 runs batted in in 1,184 games. He tied for the American Association lead in doubles in 1885 (37) and led the AA in doubles in 1886 (36). Mr. Larkin hit for the cycle on June 16, 1885, and hit 4 doubles in a game later that season. He managed the Infants in 1890, the only year of the Players League.

War
Allied forces were defeated by the Japanese at the Battle of Malaya, and retreated to the island of Singapore.

70 years ago
1947


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside)--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra; The Merry Macs (1st month at #1)

60 years ago
1957


Disasters
Eight people on the ground in Pacoima, California were killed following the mid-air collision between a Douglas DC-7 airliner and a Northrop F-89 Scorpion fighter jet.

50 years ago
1967


On television tonight
The Fugitive, starring David Janssen, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Breaking of the Habit, with guest stars Eileen Heckart, Linden Chiles, and Antoinette Bower

The Invaders, starring Roy Thinnes, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Leeches

Died on this date
Eddie Tolan, 58
. U.S. runner. Mr. Tolan, nicknamed the "Midnight Express," won gold medals in the men's 100- and 200-metre runs at the 1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, becoming the first non-European to be regarded as the world's fastest man. He died of kidney failure.

Football
CFL
The Edmonton Eskimos traded offensive end Tommy-Joe Coffey, quarterback Bill Redell, and defensive halfbacks Marshall Starks and Ed Turek to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for quarterback Frank Cosentino, offensive halfback Gerry McDougall, and defensive halfbacks Don Sutherin and Billy Wayte. Mr. Coffey had led the Canadian Football League in pass receptions in 1964 and 1965, and had caught 60 passes for 902 yards and 2 touchdowns in 1966, while leading the Eskimos in scoring with 58 points, and being named to the All-Canadian All-Star team. Mr. Redell began the 1966 season as the Eskimos' starting quarterback, but was unsuccessful and was moved to defensive halfback, where he made 6 interceptions and was named to the All-Western All-Star team. Mr. Cosentino, a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, had been sharing the Hamilton quarterbacking duties with Bernie Faloney and then Joe Zuger since joining the team in 1960; in 1966 he completed 57 of 123 passes for 913 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Mr. Sutherin, in his eighth season with the Tiger-Cats, led the team in scoring in 1966 with 67 points. Mr. Wayte went to Hamilton in 1965 from the Montreal Alouettes in an eight-player trade. The trade between the Eskimos and the Tiger-Cats turned out to be a disaster for the Eskimos and general manager Norm Kimball. Mr. Coffey, already regarded as one of the CFL's greatest receivers ever, played six seasons for Hamilton, helping them to two Grey Cup championships, while Mr. Redell became a starting defensive halfback for two seasons in Hamilton, and Mr. Turek played five seasons as a backup. Mr. Starks was cut by the Tiger-Cats at the end of the 1967 pre-season and left the CFL. Mr. Cosentino played two mediocre seasons in Edmonton, while Mr. McDougall was moved to flanker and was cut after just one regular season game, without catching a pass. Messrs. Sutherin and Wayte were reluctant to move west, and refused to report to Edmonton, necessitating further deals between the two clubs.

40 years ago
1977


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): The Way You Do It--Pussyfoot

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Seishun Jidai--Koichi Morita and the Top Gallants (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Don't Go Breaking My Heart--Elton John and Kiki Dee

30 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: The Final Countdown--Europe (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Final Countdown--Europe

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)--Mel and Kim (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)--Mel and Kim (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Jack Your Body--Steve "Silk" Hurley

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Jack Your Body--Steve "Silk" Hurley (2nd week at #1)

Jack Your Body was released as a 12-inch single, and at 25 minutes, was apparently too long to be properly classified as a single. Otherwise, Reet Petite by Jackie Wilson would have been #1 for the 5th straight week.

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters
2 Open Your Heart--Madonna
3 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
4 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
5 Land of Confusion--Genesis
6 Control--Janet Jackson
7 Change of Heart--Cyndi Lauper
8 Someday--Glass Tiger
9 Will You Still Love Me?--Chicago
10 Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi

Singles entering the chart were Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship (#66); That Ain't Love by REO Speedwagon (#70); Skin Trade by Duran Duran (#77); Fire by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (#79); Don't Leave Me this Way by the Communards (#84); Midnight Blue by Lou Gramm (#85); Ain't So Easy by David and David (#87); Kiss You (When it's Dangerous) by Eight Seconds (#89); and Hooked on You by Sweet Sensation (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Can't Help Falling in Love--Corey Hart
2 Everybody Have Fun Tonight--Wang Chung
3 Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles
4 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
5 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
6 You Give Love a Bad Name--Bon Jovi
7 Stand by Me--Ben E. King
8 The Way it Is--Bruce Hornsby and the Range
9 The Lady in Red--Chris de Burgh
10 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters

Singles entering the chart were Brand New Lover by Dead or Alive (#85); Mandolin Rain by Bruce Hornsby and the Range (#88); Don't Dream it's Over by Crowded House (#92); Let's Go by Wang Chung (#94); Big Mistake by Peter Cetera (#96); Midnight Blue by Lou Gramm (#97); Stop to Love by Luther Vandross (#98); Too Much or Nothing by General Public (#99); and Every Beat of My Heart by Rod Stewart (#100).

25 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Das Boot--U96 (2nd week at #1)

20 years ago
1997


Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Time to Say Goodbye--Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton (3rd week at #1)

At the movies
Shadow Conspiracy, starring Charlie Sheen, Donald Sutherland, and Linda Hamilton, opened in theatres. It received terrible reviews, which led this blogger to see it four days later, on cheap Tuesday. As a bad movie buff, I wasn't disappointed.





Waiting for Guffman, directed by, co-written by, and starring Christopher Guest, opened in theatres.



10 years ago
2007


Died on this date
Molly Ivins, 62
. U.S. journalist. Ms. Ivins was a syndicated columnist with the Dallas Times-Herald, and later the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where she was known for her humourous expression of liberal social views and criticism of politicians such as President George W. Bush. She died after a long battle with breast cancer.

World events
Suspects were arrested in Birmingham, England and accused of plotting the kidnap, holding and murder by beheading of a serving Muslim British soldier in Iraq.

Wednesday 22 February 2017

January 30, 2017

170 years ago
1847


Americana
Yerba Buena, California was renamed San Francisco.

150 years ago
1867


Died on this date
Kōmei, 35
. Emperor of Japan, 1846-1867. Kōmei, born Osahito, succeeded his father Ninkō, and was on the throne when Japan began its transformation into a modern industrial power after the arrival of U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853. Kōmei died of smallpox and was succeeded by his son Meiji.

90 years ago
1927


Football
AFL-NFL
Exhibition
New York Yankees (4-2-1) (AFL) 14 @ Los Angeles Buccaneers (1-2) (NFL) 0

10,000 fans at Wrigley Field saw the Yankees shut out the Buccaneers.

75 years ago
1942


War
Japanese forces invaded the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies; 300 captured Allied troops were massacred at Laha airfield.

60 years ago
1957


Football
WIFU
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers named offensive end and defensive halfback Bud Grant, 29, as their head coach, succeeding the departed Allie Sherman. Mr. Grant, who retired upon assuming the coaching duties, led the Western Interprovincial Football Union in 1956 with 63 pass receptions for 970 yards. Mr. Grant joined the Blue Bombers in 1953 after two years with the Philadelphia Eagles; he also played forward with the Minneapolis Laker of the National Basketball Association from 1949-51, and was a member of the Lakers' NBA championship team in 1950.

50 years ago
1967


Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Lady Pepa--Los Pekenikes

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I'm a Believer--The Monkees (2nd week at #1)

40 years ago
1977


On television tonight
Roots, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Part VIII

This was the final episode of the miniseries.

25 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)--Mel and Kim (3rd week at #1)

At the movies
Radio Days, one of director Woody Allen's best movies, opened in theatres. This is the Woody Allen film for people who don't like Woody Allen films.

25 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Goodnight Girl--Wet Wet Wet

Space
The U.S. space shuttle Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California to conclude the eight-day mission STS-42. The seven member crew, which included Canadian payload specialist Roberta Bondar, was commanded by Ronald Grabe.

20 years ago
1997


Hit parade
#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Don't Speak--No Doubt

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Breathe--The Prodigy (7th week at #1)

10 years ago
2007


Died on this date
Sidney Sheldon, 89
. U.S. writer. Mr. Sheldon, born Sidney Schechtel, was a screenwriter from the 1940s through the 1970s, and won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947). He later became a novelist, with bestsellers that included The Other Side of Midnight (1973) and Bloodline (1977). Mr. Sheldon died 12 days before his 90th birthday.

Technology
Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system was released.

January 29, 2017

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Ken Dies!

110 years ago
1907


Politics and government
Charles Curtis (Republican--Kansas) took his seat in the United States Senate, becoming the first American Indian to do so. Mr. Curtis's father was white, but his mother was an Indian, and Mr. Curtis grew up on the Kaw Reservation in Kansas Territory.

90 years ago
1927


Hockey
NHL
George Boucher of the Ottawa Senators received 7 penalties--all minors--in a game against the Montreal Maroons at the Montreal Forum. His total of 7 penalties stood as a league record for a single game until Jim Dorey of the Toronto Maple Leafs received 8 on October 16, 1968.

70 years ago
1947


Theatre
All My Sons, written by Arthur Miller, directed by Elia Kazan, and starring Ed Begley, Arthur Kennedy, Lois Wheeler, Beth Merrill, and Karl Malden, opened at the Coronet Theatre on Broadway in New York.

50 years ago
1967


Music
The Grateful Dead, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Moby Grape were among the artists who performed at the Mantra-Rock Dance at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco. The dance was a fund-raising event for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

Boxing
Vicente Saldivar (32-1) retained his world featherweight title with a technical knockout of Misunori Seki (55-10-1) at 1:58 of the 7th round at El Toreo de Cuatro Caminos in Mexico City. Mr. Saldivar had won a 15-round unanimous decision over Mr. Seki five months earlier.

40 years ago
1977


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Sei forte papà--Gianni Morandi (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Anita--Costa Cordalis (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Sunny--Boney M.

#1 single in Ireland: Living Next Door to Alice--Smokie (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K (BMRB): Don't Give Up on Us--David Soul (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Car Wash--Rose Royce

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Wish--Stevie Wonder
2 Blinded by the Light--Manfred Mann's Earth Band
3 Torn Between Two Lovers--Mary MacGregor
4 Hot Line--Sylvers
5 Dazz--Brick
6 Car Wash--Rose Royce
7 Walk This Way--Aerosmith
8 New Kid in Town--Eagles
9 Enjoy Yourself--The Jacksons
10 I Like Dreamin'--Kenny Nolan

Singles entering the chart were Don't Give Up on Us by David Soul (#71); Crackerbox Palace by George Harrison (#76); Here is Where Your Love Belongs by the Sons of Champlin (#81); Here Come Those Tears Again by Jackson Browne (#87); Kong by Dickie Goodman (#89); Sam by Olivia Newton-John (#91); and Somethin' 'Bout 'Cha by Latimore (#99).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Hot Line--Sylvers
2 I Wish--Stevie Wonder
3 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing--Leo Sayer
4 Car Wash--Rose Royce
5 Somebody to Love--Queen
6 You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)--Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
7 Torn Between Two Lovers--Mary MacGregor
8 Walk This Way--Aerosmith
9 After the Lovin'--Engelbert Humperdinck
10 Blinded by the Light--Manfred Mann's Earth Band

Singles entering the chart were Dazz by John Ellison with the Soul Brothers Six (#79); Are You Ready for Love by Patsy Gallant (#93); In the Mood by Henhouse Five Plus Two (#94); Boogie Child by the Bee Gees (#95); Long Time by Boston (#96); Reach by Orleans (#97); Rich Girl by Daryl Hall and John Oates (#98); You Know Like I Know by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (#99); and Forever for Now by April Wine (#100).

On television tonight
Roots, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Part VII

Died on this date
Freddie Prinze, 22
. U.S. comedian and actor. Mr. Prinze, born Frederick Karl Pruetzel, was of mixed Hungarian-Puerto-Rican ancestry. He had success as a standup comedian before achieving fame as co-star of the television comedy series Chico and the Man (1974-1977). Mr. Prinze suffered from depression, which was exacerbated by his wife's filing for divorce. After talking with her on the telephone on the night of January 28, Mr. Prinze received a visit from his business manager, Marvin "Dusty" Snyder. Mr. Prinze then picked up a gun and shot himself in the head, and he died the following day. His death was ruled a suicide, although a jury years later ruled the death accidental.

Weather
Federal officials in the United States reported that more than 1.5 million workers in 17 states were idled by fuel shortages resulting from blizzards in the Midwest and East.

Hockey
NHL
Buffalo 3 @ Montreal 3

WHA
Houston 6 @ Calgary 4

This blogger and his father were in attendance at the Stampede Corral to see the Aeros defeat the Cowboys. Gordie Howe scored the last Houston goal in his last appearance in Calgary as a player.

30 years ago
1987


World events
Philippine President Corazon Aquino suppressed an attempted insurrection.

25 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Black or White--Michael Jackson (11th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Kodachrome

Died on this date
Willie Dixon, 76
. U.S. musician. Mr. Dixon played guitar and double bass, but was best known as a blues singer and songwriter, with a career that spanned more than 50 years. His songs included Little Red Rooster and My Babe.