February 17, 2008

75 years ago
1933

Journalism
Newsweek magazine (then known as News-Week) was founded by Thomas J.C. Martyn.

50 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (disc jockey chart): Sugartime--The McGuire Sisters

40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A.: Love is Blue--Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)
#1 single in the U.K.: The Mighty Quinn--Manfred Mann

30 years ago
1978

Football
Jim Finks, general manager of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League, announced the hiring of Neill Armstrong as head coach. Mr. Armstrong had been a great receiver with the Philadelphia Eagles and Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the early 1950s, and had been head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos from 1964-1969. Mr. Armstrong's teams in Edmonton were known for strong defensive play, but inadequate quarterbacking. When he left the Eskimos in November 1969, Mr. Armstrong was immediately hired by Mr. Finks, then general manager of the Minnesota Vikings, to be an assistant coach under Bud Grant, where he had considerable success.

25 years ago
1983

Hockey
At the Spectrum in Philadelphia, the hometown Flyers defeated the Edmonton Oilers 7-3.

20 years ago
1988

Olympics
In men's hockey, the U.S.S.R. defeated the United States 7-5 at the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary.

Hockey
At the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, a late goal by Mark Messier gave the Edmonton Oilers a 4-4 tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Oilers had jumped out to a 3-0 lead, only to have the Maple Leafs come back with four straight goals. The tie gave the Maple Leafs their first point in Edmonton since a 6-6 tie on January 26, 1983.

10 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Bob Merrill, 77. U. S. songwriter. Mr. Merrill wrote 18 U.S. top 10 hits from 1949 to 1956, including If I Knew You Were Coming I'd Have Baked a Cake; How Much is that Doggie in the Window?; and Mambo Italiano. Barbra Streisand's signature song, People, was also written by Mr. Merrill. Mr. Merrill also achieved success on Broadway, writing the lyrics for Funny Girl and Carnival among many others. He also wrote screenplays, including Mahogany.