February 23, 2012

130 years ago
1882

Born on this date
Max Hainle. German swimmer. Mr. Hainle was a member of the German team that won the gold medal in the men's 200-metre team event at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, and finished fourth in the 1000-metre freestyle competition, while also being a member of the German water polo team, which failed to win a medal. He died on April 19, 1961 at the age of 79.

70 years ago
1942

War
The first Axis shelling of American soil took place near Santa Barbara, California.

60 years ago
1952

Hit parade
#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Cry--Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads (Best Seller--8th week at #1, Disc Jockey--7th week at #1, Juke Box--5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Cry--Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads (4th week at #1)
2 Tell Me Why--The Four Aces
--Eddie Fisher
3 Slow Poke--Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys
--Arthur Godfrey
--Helen O'Connell
4 The Little White Cloud that Cried--Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads
5 Any Time--Eddie Fisher
6 Shrimp Boats--Jo Stafford
7 Charmaine--Mantovani and his Orchestra
8 Dance Me Loose--Arthur Godfrey
9 Please, Mr. Sun--Johnnie Ray
10 Tiger Rag--Les Paul and Mary Ford

Singles entering the chart were Wheel of Fortune, with versions by Kay Starr, Bobby Wayne, and the Eddie Wilcox Orchestra with Sunny Gale (#26); Stolen Love by Eddy Howard (#28); At Last, at Last, with versions by Bing Crosby and Tony Martin (#32); and Temptation by Mario Lanza (#38).

50 years ago
1962

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank, starring James Best and Sherry Jackson

40 years ago
1972

On television tonight
Rod Serling's Night Gallery, on NBC
Tonight's episode: You Can't Get Help Like That Anymore, starring Cloris Leachman, Broderick Crawford, and Lana Wood; The Sins of the Fathers, starring Geraldine Page, Richard Thomas, and Michael Dunn

Terrorism
Five Palestinian hijackers released all 172 passengers from a Lufthansa jet they had commandeered over India two days earlier and taken to Yemen.

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Die Fogel-Song--Kvack Kvack

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles (2nd week at #1)

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Stay--Shakespears Sister (2nd week at #1)

Olympics
Men's hockey
Final
United Team (Commonwealth of Independent States) 3 Canada 1