Happy Birthday, Hilary Hahn!
875 years ago
1144
War
The capital of the crusader County of Edessa fell to Imad ad-Din Zengi, the atabeg of Mosul and Aleppo.
725 years ago
1294
Religion
The day after the Roman Catholic papal conclave began, Benedetto Caetani was elected and installed as Pope Boniface VIII, succeeding Celestine V, who had resigned on December 13.
340 years ago
1679
Born on this date
Domenico Sarro. Italian composer. Mr. Sarro wrote cantatas and more than 30 operas in a career spanning more than 35 years. His best-known work was the opera Achille in Sciro (1737). Mr. Sarro died on January 25, 1744 at the age of 64.
210 years ago
1809
Born on this date
Kit Carson. U.S. frontiersman and military officer. Christopher Carson was one of the most famous people in the history of the American West. He was a mountain man in the 1830s, a guide for John C. Frémont in the 1840s, and a U.S. Army officer during the American Civil War in the 1860s, rising to the rank of brevet brigadier general. Mr. Carson was the subject of numerous dime novels and newspaper accounts, often fictitious. He died of an aortic aneurysm on May 23, 1868 at the age of 58, shortly after the death of his third wife.
125 years ago
1894
Born on this date
Georges Guynemer. French military aviator. Capitaine Guynemer was a pilot in the French Air Service during World War I, and had 54 combat victories before being fatally shot down on September 11, 1917 at the age of 22.
Jack Thayer. U.S. bureaucrat. Mr. Thayer, a member of a prominent Philadelphia family, was aboard RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage in 1912, and was one of the few who survived jumping into the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. He and several others survived on top of a collapsible lifeboat for hours before being taken aboard another lifeboat. Mr. Thayer served with the U.S. Army in World War I, and became financial vice president of the University of Pennsylvania. His son Edward served as a bomber pilot in World War II and was shot down and presumed dead in 1943, which sent Mr. Thayer into a depression. He became further depressed after the death of his mother, also a Titanic survivor, on April 14, 1944, the 32nd anniversary of the disaster. Mr. Thayer committed suicide at the age of 50 on September 19, 1945 by slashing his throat and wrists.
110 years ago
1909
Born on this date
Mitchell Ayres. U.S. bandleader and composer. Mr. Ayres, born Mitchell Agress, led an orchestra that backed Perry Como on his television show and recordings. He was musical conductor for the television variety program The Hollywood Palace from 1964 until his death. Among Mr. Ayres’ best-known recordings was Number 7 Theme, the theme from a television commercial for Number 7 cigarettes that was released as a single in 1964. Mr. Ayres was killed on September 5, 1969 at the age of 59 when he and a female companion were run over while crossing a street in Las Vegas.
75 years ago
1944
War
With the largest tactical air assault to date in World War II, involving 6,500 planes, the Allies momentarily checked the German advance into Belgium. The U.S. 9th Army's V Corps repelled a German attack on Butgenbach. American troops captured La Gleize. Fierce fighting continued in Bastogne. ELAS forces attacking EDES guerrillas in northeastern Greece forced the latter to evacuate Yanina and Arta.
Religion
In his Christmas message, Pope Pius XII expressed support for an international organization to keep world peace.
Economics and finance
The U.S. Office of Price Administration announced new ration quotas, putting all beef back on the list.
70 years ago
1949
Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)--Burl Ives; Dinah Shore
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): Mule Train--Frankie Laine and the Muleskinners (5th week at #1)
U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Mule Train--Frankie Laine and the Muleskinners (4th week at #1)
--Bing Crosby
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Tennessee Ernie
2 I Can Dream, Can't I?--The Andrews Sisters
3 Slipping Around--Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely
4 That Lucky Old Sun--Frankie Laine
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
5 Don't Cry, Joe (Let Her Go, Let Her Go, Let Her Go)--Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
6 A Dreamer's Holiday--Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters
--Buddy Clark with the Girl Friends
7 Dear Hearts and Gentle People--Dinah Shore
--Bing Crosby
8 Jealous Heart--Al Morgan
9 Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer--Gene Autry and the Pinafores
10 I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts--Freddie Martin and his Orchestra
Singles entering the chart were Echoes by Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (#31); Marta (Rambling Rose Of The Wildwood) (#33)/Bye Bye Baby (#38) by Tony Martin and the Aristokats; A Game of Broken Hearts, with versions by Kay Starr; and Doris Day and the Country Cousins (#36); (It Happened at The) Festival of Roses, with versions by Doris Day; and Bill Lawrence (#37); Bye Bye Baby by Frank Sinatra (#38, charting with the version by Tony Martin and the Aristokats); and Wunderbar by Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (#40).
Defense
The U.S.A. and Yugoslavia signed an air agreement permitting U.S. airlines the use of Yugoslavian air space and landing facilities. Yugoslavian airlines received similar rights in the U.S. zones of Germany and Austria.
Politics and government
The Greek government lifted martial law in Athens, the Peloponnesus, and Aegean Islands.
The French cabinet of Prime Minister Georges Bidault narrowly won a vote of confidence in the National Assembly during the debate over the 1950 budget.
Economics and finance
India suspended coal deliveries to Pakistan, charging that Pakistan had fallen behind in scheduled to jute shipments to Calcutta.
60 years ago
1959
Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?--Emile Ford and the Checkmates
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: You Can't Pick the Number, with guest stars Jay C. Flippen and Darryl Hickman
Died on this date
Slaheddine Baccouche, 76. Grand Vizier of Tunisia, 1943-1947, 1952-1954. Mr. Baccouche was Grand Vizier under King Muhammad VIII, and was regarded as one of the leading opponents of the Tunisian national movement.
Shah Mahmud Khan, 69. Prime Minister of Afghanistan, 1946-1953. Sardar Khan, an independent, permitted relatively free elections in 1949, but reverted to a policy of strict control by the time of the 1952 elections. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by his nephew Sardar Mohammed Daoud Khan.
Politics and government
A congress called by five leading nationalist parties demanded "complete, immediate and unconditional independence" for the Belgian Congo.
Economics and finance
The U.S. State Department announced that the U.S.S.R. had agreed to reopen talks on settling its World War II Lend-Lease debt.
The U.S. Veterans Administration allocated an additional $60 million in direct loan funds for veterans' housing.
50 years ago
1969
On television tonight
Then Came Bronson, starring Michael Parks, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Against a Blank Cold Wall
Died on this date
Clarence Pitt, 73. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Pitt was an outfielder who played 11 seasons (1918-1928) in the minor leagues, batting approximately .320 with 8 home runs in at least 811 games. He was with the Baltimore Orioles when they won the International League pennant in 1923.
War
Nigerian troops captured the Biafran capital of Umuahia.
World events
Two weeks after a military coup in Dahomey, all political prisoners in the country were freed.
Baseball
Center fielder Curt Flood wrote a letter to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn saying that his trade from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies should be voided and that he should be made a free agent. "After 12 years in the major leagues," he said, "I do not feel I am a piece of property to be bought and sold irrespective of my wishes."
40 years ago
1979
Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Video Killed the Radio Star--The Buggles (4th week at #1)
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Ihōjin--Sayuri Kume (3rd week at #1)
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sin Amor (Dghingis Khan)--Iván (2nd week at #1)
On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: 'Tis the Season
Space
The first European-built rocket, Ariane 1, successfully completed its maiden flight. The space launcher finally took off from the Kourou Space Centre in French Guiana on its third attempt.
Diplomacy
The hostages in the U.S. embassy in Iran had endured 50 days of captivity, and Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini allowed three
Hockey
NHL
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded centre and right wing Pat Boutette to the Hartford Whalers for right wing Bob Stephenson. Mr. Boutette, in his fifth season with the Maple Leafs, had no goals and 4 assists in 32 games with Toronto in 1979-80, while Mr. Stephenson had no goals and 1 assist in 4 games with Hartford and 10 goals and 18 assists in 28 games with the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League.
30 years ago
1989
Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Escaping--Margaret Urlich (4th week at #1)
#1 single in Switzerland: Girl I'm Gonna Miss You--Milli Vanilli (4th week at #1)
World events
Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega took refuge in the Vatican’s diplomatic refuge in Panama City. When this news came, most of the remaining resistance to the U.S. invasion collapsed. The mission had the right to grant Gen. Noriega asylum, and negotiations began among American, Vatican, and Panamanian diplomats as to his future. U.S. officials argued that because Gen. Noriega had been indicted in the United States for drug trafficking, he was not eligible for asylum.
Economics and finance
The Canadian House of Commons approved the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) after a bitter two-week debate and closure.
Football
NFL
Detroit (7-9) 31 @ Atlanta (3-13) 24
Chicago (6-10) 0 @ San Francisco (14-2) 26
Green Bay (10-6) 20 @ Dallas (1-15) 10
Denver (11-5) 16 @ San Diego (6-10) 19
Indianapolis (8-8) 6 @ New Orleans (9-7) 41
Kansas City (8-7-1) 27 @ Miami (8-8) 24
Los Angeles Raiders (8-8) 17 @ New York Giants (12-4) 34
Los Angeles Rams (11-5) 24 @ New England (5-11) 20
Phoenix (5-11) 14 @ Philadelphia (11-5) 31
Pittsburgh (9-7) 31 @ Tampa Bay (5-11) 22
Cleveland (9-6-1) 24 @ Houston (9-7) 20
Only 7,092 fans showed up at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium to see the Falcons lose to the Lions.
25 years ago
1994
Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Zombie--The Cranberries (2nd week at #1)
#1 single in Italy: Strange Love--Kina
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Hyper Hyper--Scooter
#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Cotton-Eyed Joe--Rednex (12th week at #1)
#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Always--Bon Jovi (3rd week at #1)
#1 single in France (SNEP): Can You Feel the Love Tonight--Elton John (4th week at #1)
#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Will Survive--Hermes House Band
#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Stay Another Day--East 17 (3rd week at #1)
U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Here Comes the Hotstepper--Ini Kamoze (2nd week at #1)
2 On Bended Knee--Boyz II Men
3 Another Night--Real McCoy
4 Always--Bon Jovi
5 Creep--TLC
6 I'll Make Love to You--Boyz II Men
7 I Wanna Be Down--Brandy
8 You Want This/'70s Love Groove--Janet Jackson
9 Secret--Madonna
10 Before I Let You Go--BLACKstreet
Singles entering the chart were Pickup Man by Joe Diffie (#83); Pimp of the Year by Dru Down (#91); Promise Me by Lil Suzy (#93); Bad Reputation by Freedy Johnston (#95); and Whutcha Want? by Nine (#97).
U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 On Bended Knee--Boyz II Men (4th week at #1)
2 Another Night--Real McCoy
3 Here Comes the Hotstepper--Ini Kamoze
4 Always--Bon Jovi
5 I'm the Only One--Melissa Etheridge
6 You Want This/70's Love Groove--Janet Jackson
7 Secret--Madonna
8 Creep--TLC
9 I Wanna Be Down--Brandy
10 I'll Make Love to You--Boyz II Men
Singles entering the chart were If You Love Me by Brownstone (#68); Don't Say Goodbye Girl by Tevin Campbell (#79); She Don't Use Jelly by Flaming Lips (#82); You Suck by the Murmurs (#86); and All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey (#88).
Died on this date
Rossano Brazzi, 78. Italian actor. Mr. Brazzi was known for movies such as Three Coins in the Fountain (1954); The Barefoot Contessa (1954); Summertime (1955); and South Pacific (1958).
Terrorism
Air France Flight 8969 was hijacked on the ground at Houari Boumediene Airport in Algiers. Over the course of three days, three passengers were killed, as were all four terrorists.
20 years ago
1999
Died on this date
Maurice Couve de Murville, 92. Prime Minister of France, 1968-1969. Mr. Couve de Murville, a member of Union pour la défense de la République (Union for the Defense of the Republic), was Minister of Foreign Affairs (1958-1968) and Minister of Economy and Finances (May 31-July 10, 1968) before succeeding Georges Pompidou as Prime Minister, serving under President Charles de Gaulle. He then represented Paris's 6th Constituency in the National Assembly (1973-1986) and sat as Senator for Paris (1986-1995).
Bill Bowerman, 88. U.S. running coach and businessman. Mr. Bowerman, a son of Oregon Governor Jay Bowerman, was track coach at the University of Oregon from 1948-1973, and trained numerous distance runners who won national championships and competed in the Olympic Games. He manufactured his first pair of running shoes in 1960, and four years later, co-founded the running shoe company that became known as Nike. Mr. Bowerman wrote the book Jogging (1966), which helped to inspire running as a national craze.
João Figueiredo, 81. 30th President of Brazil, 1979-1985. General Figueiredo was the last President of Brazil to hold the office during the period of military rule following the 1964 coup d'état. He was Chief Minister of the Military Cabinet from 1969-1974 and head of the National Intelligence Service from 1974-1978. Gen. Figueiredo continued the process of redemocratization that his predecessor, General Ernesto Geisel, had pursued, but opposed a direct election for the presidency, in favour of an indirect election by Congress. Opposition candidate Tancredo Neves won the election, and Gen. Figueiredo finished his term and retired.
William C. Schneider, 76. U.S. aerospace engineer. Dr. Schneider joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1963, and served as mission director for Projects Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab. He was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 1969. Dr. Schneider died the day after his 76th birthday.
Terrorism
Indian Airlines Flight 814, a jet with 189 people aboard, was hijacked after it took off from Katmandu, Nepal, and was held for seven days. The five hijackers, whose nationalities were unknown, were armed with rifles, grenades, and knives. The plane, originally bound for New Delhi, landed at Amritsar, India; Lahore, Pakistan; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for refuelling, then at Kandahar, Afghanistan. In Dubai, 27 hostages, mostly women and children, were released, and the body of a man killed by the hijackers (a newlywed whose wife was another passenger on the plane) was taken away. In Kandahar, the plane was surrounded by soldiers of the Taliban, the Islamic militia in control of Afghanistan.
Football
NFL
Dallas (7-8) 24 @ New Orleans (2-13) 31
10 years ago
2009
Died on this date
Rafael Caldera Rodriguez, 93. 65th President of Venezuela, 1969-1974; 1994-1999. Mr. Caldera was a member of Comité de Organización Política Electoral Independiente (COPEI) (Independent Political Electoral Organization Committee) from 1946-1993, before starting the National Convergence Party in 1993. During his second term, Mr. Caldera pardoned Hugo Chávez, who succeeded him as President in 1999.
George Michael, 70. U.S. broadcaster. George Michael Gimpel was a successful radio disc jockey in several cities in the 1960s and 1970s before settling in Washington, D.C., where he became known as a sportscaster. He began hosting the local program George Michael's Sports Final in 1980; the program was renamed The George Michael Sports Machine, and was broadcast nationally on NBC from 1984-2007. Mr. Michael died after a two-year battle with leukemia.
World events
A woman jumped barriers in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and knocked down Pope Benedict XVI as he was walking down the main aisle to begin Christmas Eve Mass; the pope was unhurt.
Politics and government
The U.S. Senate voted 60-39 to pass health care legislation in the chamber's first Christmas Eve vote since 1895.
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