April 17, 2021

500 years ago
1521

Religion
The trial of Martin Luther over his teachings began during the assembly of the Diet of Worms. Initially intimidated, he asked for time to reflect before answering, and was given a stay of one day.

310 years ago
1711

Died on this date
Joseph I, 32. Holy Roman Emperor, 1705-1711. Joseph I became Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, and King of Croatia upon the death of his father Leopold I. Joseph had earlier become King of Hungary (1687) and King of the Romans (1690). He sanctioned the extermination of the Romani people within the empire, and continued the War of the Spanish Succession; Austrian hegemony over Italy was established during his reign. Emperor Joseph I contracted a sexually transmitted disease--probably syphilis--and failed to produced a legitimate heir who survived him. He died of smallpox during an epidemic, and was succeeded in all his titles by his younger brother Charles VI.

280 years ago
1741

Born on this date
Samuel Chase. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1796-1811. Justice Chase represented Maryland at the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. He was appointed Chief Justice of the District Criminal Court in Baltimore in 1788 and Chief Justice of the Maryland General Court in 1791. Justice Chase was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President George Washington, but when Thomas Jefferson became President in 1801, he wanted to weaken Federalist influence over the courts. Justice Chase was impeached on the grounds that his political biases influenced his decisions, but he was acquitted by the Senate and remained on the Court until his death on June 19, 1811 at the age of 70. His acquittal was regarded as an important precedent upholding the independence of the judiciary.

170 years ago
1851

Transportation
James Smith launched his square-rigged clipper ship Marco Polo at Marsh Creek, Courtenay Bay, near Saint John, New Brunswick. It soon became known as the fastest ship in the world.

160 years ago
1861

Americana
The state of Virginia's secession convention voted to secede from the United States, later becoming the eighth state to join the Confederate States of America.

125 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Señor Wences. Spanish-born U.S. ventriloquist. Señor Wences, born Wenceslao Moreno, moved to the United States in the mid-1930s. He achieved his greatest popularity in the 1950s and '60s, appearing 48 times on The Ed Sullivan Show. Señor Wences died on April 20, 1999, three days after his 103rd birthday.

110 years ago
1911

Born on this date
Lester Rodney. U.S. journalist. Mr. Rodney was a Jewish Communist who wrote for the Communist Party USA organs Daily Worker and Sunday Worker from the mid-1930s through the late '50s, where he became known for his consistent advocacy of racial integration of major league baseball in the years before it became reality. He quit the Communist Party in January 1958 and moved to southern California. Mr. Rodney was religion editor of the Long Beach Press-Telegram for many years, and died on December 20, 2009 at the age of 98.

100 years ago
1921

Baseball
Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis barred New York Giants’ outfielder Benny Kauff for life on the basis of his alleged involvement in his brother’s fraud and automobile theft ring. Mr. Kauff was acquitted when he went on trial in May, but Mr. Landis refused to reinstate him. Mr. Kauff was the Federal League batting champion in both seasons of that league's existence, 1914 and 1915.

80 years ago
1941

Died on this date
Al Bowlly, 43. Mozambican-born U.K. singer. Mr. Bowlly grew up in Johannesburg and lived in several countries before moving to England in 1928. He became one of the most popular crooners of the early 1930s, but his career suffered after he developed problems with his voice because of a wart in his throat. Mr. Bowlly was killed when a German parachute mine landed outside his flat in London, and the explosion propelled his bedroom door into him, causing fatal head injuries.

War
Yugoslavia surrendered to Germany.

75 years ago
1946

Asiatica
Syria obtained its independence from the French occupation.

Politics and government
Quebec's Union Nationale government of Premier Maurice Duplessis restructured the Ministry of Social Welfare; it became the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth.

Education
The Quebec government tabled a bill to establish an education fund from the natural resources of the province. The objective of Bill 48 was to completely erase the debt of school boards, which stood at $90 million.

Business
The Quebec Legislative Assembly passed a law granting an operating license to the Hollinger North Shore Exploration Company on a territory of 300 square miles in New Quebec.

Labour
The Quebec Legislative Assembly passed a law which gave legitimacy to the Corporation of Catholic Teachers of the Province of Quebec (CIC), founded the previous year. At the same time, two English-speaking associations were formed: the Federation of Catholic Teachers and the Provincial Association of Protestant Teachers.

70 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: The Juiceman, starring Cloris Leachman, Edmon Ryan, and Robert H. Harris



At the movies
Circle of Danger, directed by Jacques Tourneur, and starring Ray Milland, Patricia Roc, and Marius Goring, opened in theatres.



War
U.S. Senator Harry Cain (Republican--Washington) introduced alternate resolutions in the Senate to declare war on Communist China or pull U.S. forces out of Korea.

U.S. Republican Party foreign affairs adviser John Foster Dulles said in Tokyo that the dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur would not have any effect on efforts to make peace with Japan.

Politics and government
The Iranian Parliament passed a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Hussein Ali's handling of the oil crisis and his program to nationalize the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.

Environment
The Peak District was designated the first national park in the United Kingdom.

Economics and finance
The United Kingdom granted Yugoslavia an $11.2-million loan for the purchase of British raw materials.

Labour
The U.S. President's Mobilization Policy Advisory Board recommended the establishment of a new Wage Stabilization Board with the authority to consider all labour disputes substantially affecting national defense.

Disasters
The British submarine Affray sank off the south coast of England with the loss of her entire 75-man crew.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Toronto 2 @ Montreal 1 (OT) (Toronto led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Ted Kennedy scored the winning goal for the Maple Leafs at 4:47 of overtime at the Montreal Forum. Al Rollins won the goaltending duel over Gerry McNeil.

Baseball
Mickey Mantle had a hit and scored a run in his first major league game and Vic Raschi (1-0) pitched a 6-hitter as the New York Yankees blanked the Boston Red Sox 5-0 in their season opener before 44,860 fans at Yankee Stadium. Jackie Jensen hit a 2-run home run in the 3rd inning off Boston starter and losing pitcher Bill Wight (0-1). The game also marked the debut for Bob Sheppard as the Yankee Stadium public address announcer.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Quince Años Tiene Mi Amor--Dúo Dinámico (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Non, je ne regrette rien--Édith Piaf (14th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Blue Moon--The Marcels (3rd week at #1)
2 Runaway--Del Shannon
3 Mother-in-Law--Ernie K-Doe
4 On the Rebound--Floyd Cramer
5 But I Do--Clarence "Frogman" Henry
6 Apache--Jorgen Ingmann and his Guitar
7 Dedicated to the One I Love--The Shirelles
8 Asia Minor--Kokomo
9 A Hundred Pounds of Clay--Gene McDaniels
10 Surrender--Elvis Presley

Singles entering the chart were Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart by Connie Francis (#56); Good, Good Lovin' by Chubby Checker (#69); Mama Said by the Shirelles (#78); Girl of My Best Friend by Ral Donner (#82); Flaming Star by Elvis Presley (#85); The Mess Around by Bobby Freeman (#95); Hop Scotch by Santo & Johnny (#96); and Tragedy by the Fleetwoods (#99).

World events
A force of 1,400 exiled Cubans invaded Cuba from the United States in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Cuban regime of dictator Fidel Castro in what quickly became known as the Bay of Pigs fiasco.



Diplomacy
In Leopoldville, Congolese President Joseph Kasavubu signed an agreement accepting the United Nations Security Council resolution of February 21, which authorized the use of force by the UN if necessary to prevent civil war in the Congo. In accepting the resolution, Mr. Kasavubu recognized the need for reorganization of the Congolese army with UN assistance and for the expulsion of "all foreign civil officials, military and paramilitary mercenaries and political advisers...not...engaged under his authority."

Baseball
Only 1,947 fans showed up at Yankee Stadium in freezing rain to watch Whitey Ford (1-1) pitch a 3-hit shutout as the Yankees blanked the Kansas City Athletics 3-0. Mickey Mantle drove in all 3 runs, including a solo home run off losing pitcher Jerry Walker (0-1) in the 1st inning that hit the facade of the upper deck in right field.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Have You Ever Seen the Rain--Creedence Clearwater Revival (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): 4 marzo 1943--Lucio Dalla

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Hot Love--T. Rex (5th week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 The Pushbike Song--The Mixtures (4th week at #1)
2 Rose Garden--Lynn Anderson
3 My Sweet Lord--George Harrison
4 I'll Be Gone--Spectrum
5 Knock Three Times--Dawn
6 Have You Ever Seen the Rain/Hey Tonight--Creedence Clearwater Revival
7 Band of Gold--Freda Payne
8 Eleanor Rigby--Zoot
9 I Hear You Knocking--Dave Edmunds
10 Your Song--Elton John

Singles entering the chart were What is Life/Apple Scruffs by George Harrison (#17); One Bad Apple by the Osmonds (#41); Little Queenie by the Rolling Stones (#54); Bouzouki by Dawn Dixon (#56); and She's a Lady by Tom Jones (#57).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Mozart - First Movement Symphony No. 40--Waldo De Los Rios (2nd week at #1)
2 Du--Peter Maffray
3 What is Life--George Harrison
4 True Love that's a Wonder--Sandy Coast
5 Funny, Funny--The Sweet
6 Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep--Middle of the Road
7 Those Words--Sandra & Andres
8 Waarheen, Waarvoor...--Mieke Telkamp en De Hi-Five
9 Power to the People--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
10 Another Day--Paul McCartney

Singles entering the chart were In Your Eyes (I Can See the Lies) by Tee-Set (#23); Underneath the Blanket Go by Gilbert O'Sullivan (#25); Here Comes that Rainy Day Feeling Again by the Fortunes (#32); Baaie, Baaie, Pootje Baaien by Vader Abraham met Zijn Zeven Zonen (#36); and Mama's Pearl by the Jackson 5 (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
2 What's Going On--Marvin Gaye
3 Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)--The Temptations
4 She's a Lady--Tom Jones
5 Another Day/Oh Woman, Oh Why--Paul McCartney
6 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Ocean
7 Me and Bobby McGee--Janis Joplin
8 Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted--The Partridge Family
9 For All We Know--Carpenters
10 One Toke Over the Line--Brewer and Shipley

Singles entering the chart were Bridge Over Troubled Water/Brand New Me by Aretha Franklin (#57); Albert Flasher/Broken by the Guess Who (#85); Gotta See Jane by R. Dean Taylor (#86); We were Always Sweethearts by Boz Scaggs (#89); Nevada Fighter by Michael Nesmith & the First National Band (#94); That's the Way I've Always Heard it Should Be by Carly Simon (#98); L.A. International Airport by Susan Raye (#99); and I'll Erase Away Your Pain by the Whatnauts (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
2 Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)--The Temptations
3 What’s Going On--Marvin Gaye
4 She’s a Lady--Tom Jones
5 I Am...I Said--Neil Diamond
6 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Ocean
7 Never Can Say Goodbye--The Jackson 5
8 Another Day--Paul McCartney
9 One Toke Over the Line--Brewer and Shipley
10 (Where Do I Begin) Love Story--Andy Williams

Singles entering the chart were Bridge Over Troubled Water by Aretha Franklin (#47); Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley by C Company featuring Terry Nelson (#81); Lonely Feelin’ by War (#85); Superstar by Murray Head with the Trinidad Singers (#86); Nevada Fighter by Michael Nesmith & the First National Band (#87); We Were Always Sweethearts by Boz Scaggs (#89); When You Dance I Can Really Love by Neil Young (#93); Albert Flasher by the Guess Who (#95); Can’t Find the Time by Rose Colored Glass (#97); and I Don’t Know How to Love Him by Yvonne Elliman (#99).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
2 What’s Going On--Marvin Gaye
3 Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)--The Temptations
4 She's a Lady--Tom Jones
5 (Where Do I Begin) Love Story--Andy Williams
6 Another Day/Oh Woman, Oh Why--Paul McCartney
7 Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted--The Partridge Family
8 Help Me Make it Through the Night--Sammi Smith
9 Me and Bobby McGee--Janis Joplin
10 Never Can Say Goodbye--The Jackson 5

Singles entering the chart were Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley by C Company featuring Terry Nelson (#31); Your Love (Means Everything to Me) by Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Band (#79); Superstar by Murray Head with the Trinidad Singers (#86); The Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley by John Deer (#87); I Knew Him by Joe Tex (#89); I Don’t Know How to Love Him by Yvonne Elliman (#91); You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks by Funkadelic (#93); That's the Way I've Always Heard it Should Be by Carly Simon (#94); 1927 Kansas City by Mike Reilly (#95); Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver with Fat City (#96); Lonely Feelin' by War (#98); L.A. Goodbye by the Ides of March (#99); and Help Me Make it Through the Night by Joe Simon (#100).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Stay Awhile--The Bells (2nd week at #1)
2 Carry Me--Stampeders
3 What is Life--George Harrison
4 Help Me Make It Through the Night--Sammi Smith
5 (Where Do I Begin) Love Story--Andy Williams
6 She’s a Lady--Tom Jones
7 Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted--The Partridge Family
8 Another Day--Paul McCartney
9 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
10 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Ocean

Singles entering the chart were Love Her Madly by the Doors (#63); Broken/Albert Flasher by the Guess Who (#65); 13 Questions by Seatrain (#66); Someone Who Cares by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (#69); Oh, Singer by Jeannie C. Riley (#71); Here Comes the Sun by Richie Havens (#72); L.A. Goodbye by the Ides of March (#79); Waldo P. Emerson Jones by Pickettywitch (#89); Uncle Wiggley by Howie Vickers (#95); Try by Pepper Tree (#96); But I Can’t Get Back by Bobbie Gentry (#98); and I'm Lost Without You by Crosstown Bus (#100).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Joy to the World--Three Dog Night
2 Another Day--Paul McCartney
3 She’s a Lady--Tom Jones
4 I Am...I Said--Neil Diamond
5 Put Your Hand in the Hand--Ocean
6 What is Life--George Harrison
7 Snow Blind Friend--Steppenwolf
8 No Love at All--B.J. Thomas
9 Have You Ever Seen the Rain--Creedence Clearwater Revival
10 Dickens--Leigh Ashford
Pick hit of the week: I Play and Sing--Dawn

Politics and government
The Provisional Government of Bangladesh was formed.

Egypt, Syria, and Libya signed an accord agreeing to form a federation subject to approval by plebiscites in the three countries.

Baseball
Willie Horton batted 5 for 6 with a grand slam, a solo home run, and a bases-loaded single to drive in the winning run as the Detroit Tigers overcame a 7-1 deficit to defeat the Boston Red Sox 10-9 in 10 innings before 15,758 fans at Tiger Stadium. Mr. Horton’s second home run was the Tigers’ third in succession in the 7th inning, following homers by Jim Northrup and Norm Cash. Tom Timmerman (2-0) pitched 4 innings of relief and was the winning pitcher.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade #1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): In the Air Tonight--Phil Collins (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (IFOP): Vertige de l'amour--Alain Bashung

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce Music Theatre (7th week at #1)
2 Give Me Back My Love--Maywood
3 I am the Beat--Look
4 Spend the Night in Love--The Four Seasons
5 Gypsy Girl--David Scobie
6 Rapture--Blondie
7 Celebration--Kool & The Gang
8 Woman--John Lennon
9 Here is My Love--Tommy Dee
10 I'll Bide My Time--Linda Williams

Singles entering the chart were Twilight Café by Susan Fassbender (#13); 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton (#18); and Jealous Guy by Roxy Music (#19).

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Edmonton 3 @ New York Islanders 6 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Calgary 5 @ Philadelphia 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)
Minnesota 5 @ Buffalo 2 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 2-0)
New York Rangers 6 @ St. Louis 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Denis Potvin scored 3 goals for the Islanders against Andy Moog in their win over the Oilers at Nassau County Coliseum in Uniondale.

Jamie Hislop’s goal with 2:52 remaining in regulation time gave the Flames their win over the Flyers at the Spectrum.

Baseball
After winning their first 8 games on the road, the Oakland Athletics routed the Seattle Mariners 16-1 in their home opener before 50,256 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Tony Armas hit 2 of the Athletics' 5 home runs.

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Joyride--Roxette (6th week at #1)

Music
Daryl Hall and John Oates performed at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton as part of their "unplugged" tour. The concert had been scheduled for April 15, but was postponed when Mr. Oates took ill. He quickly recovered, and the two put on an excellent show, with I Can’t Go for That one of the highlights. I paid $35.25 for my ticket.

World events
U.S. Army Special Forces units arrived in Iraq and began to select sites for refugee camps.

Diplomacy
U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev arrived in Tokyo to begin three days of talks with Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu. Addressing the Japanese Diet, Mr. Gorbachev said that the Soviet Union was reducing its military presence in the Pacific Ocean, and he appealed to the Japanese to invest in the Soviet economy.

Canadian Minister for External Relations Monique Landry promised Iran $6.5 million to help Kurdish refugees; the total Canadian relief of $16.6 million was added to $2 million for Turkish camps.

Health
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney banned the Meme breast implant because of reports that it could break down and release cancer-causing chemicals.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 3004.46, closing above 3,000 for the first time.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 261-163 to approve a $1.46-trillion budget for fiscal 1992, rejecting the budget submitted in January by President George Bush.

Labour
Unions representing 235,000 U.S. railroad workers went on strike, with the main issues being the number of workers needed to run a freight train and the number of miles an employee had to travel to earn a day’s pay. The United States Congress adopted legislation providing for a three-member panel, to be appointed by the president, that would have 65 days to resolve the dispute.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Division Finals
Montreal 1 @ Boston 2 (Boston led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Washington 4 @ Pittsburgh 2 (Washington led best-of-seven series 1-0)

25 years ago
1996

Defense
The last American soldiers left Haiti.

Protest
Police in the Amazon region of Brazil opened fire on protesters demonstrating for land reform; 19 people were killed and 50 wounded.

Politics and government
Bud Olson was installed as Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta.

Crime
A Los Angeles jury recommended that Lyle and Erik Menendez serve life in prison without parole for killing their wealthy parents in 1989.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Quarter-Finals
Boston 3 @ Florida 6 (Florida led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Washington 6 @ Pittsburgh 4 (Washington led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Winnipeg 1 @ Detroit 4 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Calgary 1 @ Chicago 4 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
2001

Americana
Voters in Mississippi, by a 2-1 margin, decided to stick with their state flag that included the Confederate battle cross in the upper-left corner. The alternative design that was rejected featured 20 white stars in a circle, symbolizing Mississippi’s entry into the union as the 20th state.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 399.10, finishing at 10,615.83, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq index closed up 156.22 to finish at 2,079.44.

Baseball
The Arizona Diamondbacks scored 15 runs in the first 4 innings and coasted to a 17-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals before 28,517 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. St. Louis relief pitcher Gene Stechschulte entered the game as a pinch hitter in the 6th inning and hit the first major league pitch he faced for a home run. Jay Bell had 4 hits for the Diamondbacks.

Barry Bonds' 500th career major league home run, a 2-run blast off Terry Adams (0-1) in the bottom of the 8th inning, enabled the San Francisco Giants to edge the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 before 41,059 fans at Pacific Bell Park.



10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Eric Gross, 84. Austrian-born Australian musician and composer. Mr. Gross was a concert pianist who moved to England in 1938 and Australia in 1958. He wrote orchestral, chamber, piano, and vocal works, as well as numerous scores for movies and television programs.

Michael Sarrazin, 70. Canadian actor. Jacques Michel André Sarrazin, a native of Quebec City, appeared in films and television programs in a career spanning more than 45 years. His movies included The Flim-Flam Man (1967); They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969); and The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975). Mr. Sarrazin died of mesothelioma in Montreal.

Politics and government
Adrian Dix was elected leader of British Columbia's New Democratic Party, replacing Carole James.