Monday 24 December 2012

January 1, 2013

1,820 years ago
193


Politics and government
The Roman Senate chose Pertinax to succeed Commodus as Roman Emperor.

575 years ago
1438


Europeana
Albert II of Habsburg was crowned King of Hungary.

180 years ago
1833


Britannica
The United Kingdom claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

150 years ago
1863


Born on this date
Pierre de Coubertin
. French aristocrat. Baron de Coubertin was the founder of the modern Olympic games and the International Olympic Committee, serving as the IOC's president from 1896-1925. He died on September 2, 1937 at the age of 74.

Law
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring free all those enslaved in the Confederate States of America.

Americana
A farmer named Daniel Freeman filed the first claim under the Homestead Act for a piece of land near Beatrice, Nebraska.

140 years ago
1873


Japanica
Japan began using the Gregorian calendar.

120 years ago
1893


Literature
The January 1893 issue of The Strand Magazine contained the short story The Adventure of the Cardboard Box, second in a series that was published in book form in 1894 as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

110 years ago
1903


Born on this date
Dwight Taylor
. U.S. screenwriter and playwright. Mr. Taylor, the son of actress Laurette Taylor, wrote several plays, but was better known for his screenplays, which included The Gay Divorcee (1934); Top Hat (1935); I Wake Up Screaming (1941); Conflict (1945); The Thin Man Goes Home (1947); and Pickup on South Street (1953). He died on December 31, 1986, the day before his 84th birthday, being born on New Year's Day and dying on New Year's Eve.

75 years ago
1938


Basketball
NCAA
Stanford 92 Duquesne 27 @ Cleveland

Hank Luisetti became the first college player to score 50 points in a game as he led the Indians to victory.

60 years ago
1953


Died on this date
Hank Williams, 29
. U.S. musician. One of the greatest figures in the history of country music, Mr. Williams died of apparent heart failre caused by a combination of chloral hydrate and alcohol near Oak Hill, West Virginia, while being driven to Canton, Ohio, where he was supposed to perform on New Year's Day.

50 years ago
1963


On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Search for a Dead Man

40 years ago
1973


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Ben--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Le lac majeur--Mort Shuman

Died on this date
Roseann Quinn, 27
. U.S. murder victim. Ms. Quinn was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death by John Wayne Wilson, who had picked her up in a bar in New York. The crime inspired Judith Rossner's novel Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1975) and the 1977 movie of the same name starring Diane Keaton.

Economics and finance
The United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark joined the European Economic Community, bringing the number of member nations to nine.

30 years ago
1983


Hit parade
#1 single in France: Hou! La menteuse--Dorothée (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Save Your Love--Renée and Renato (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Save Your Love--Renée and Renato (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Maneater--Daryl Hall & John Oates (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): Maneater--Daryl Hall & John Oates (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Canada (RPM): Mickey--Toni Basil (2nd week at #1)

Communications
The ARPANET officially switched from using the Network Conrol Program to the Internet Protocol, creating the Internet.

25 years ago
1988


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Whenever You Need Somebody--Rick Astley (5th week at #1)

Religion
The American Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church in America, and Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches officially merged to become the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

20 years ago
1993


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): More and More--Captain Hollywood Project (3rd week at #1)

Europeana
Czechoslovakia was peacefully dissolved, resulting in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Economics and finance
A single market within the European Community was announced.

10 years ago
2003


Died on this date
Joe Foss, 87
. U.S. military figure, politician, and football executive. Mr. Foss was the United States Marine Corps' leading air ace during World War II and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics during the Guadalcanal campaign. A Republican, he served as Governor of South Dakota from 1955-1959 and as the first President of the American Football League from 1959-1966.

December 31, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Mike Matson!

1,820 years ago
192


Died on this date
Commodus, 31
. Roman Emperor, 177-192. Lucius Aurelius Commodus was co-Emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177-180, and reigned alone until his assassination. An attempt at poisoning Commodus was unsuccessful, so his wrestling partner Narcissus strangled him in his bath. Pertinax was named Emperor the next day. Commodus turned his reign as Emperor into a cult of personality, and was not mourned.

150 years ago
1862


Americana
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed an act dividing Virginia into two states and admitting West Virginia to the Union.

75 years ago
1937


Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Anthony Hopkins! The Academy Award-winning actor was born in Margam, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan, Wales.

60 years ago
1952


On the radio
I Was a Communist for the FBI, starring Dana Andrews
Tonight’s episode: Hate Song

50 years ago
1962


Died on this date
Patricia Bissette, 23
. U.S. murder victim. Miss Bissette was sexually assaulted and strangled with her nylon stockings in Boston, becoming the eighth victim of the Boston Strangler.

Music
Luiz Bonfa concluded two days of recording an album that was released in 1963 under the title Luiz Bonfa Plays and Sings Bossa Nova.

Basketball
ABL
The 8-team American Basketball League, founded in 1961 as a rival to the National Basketball Association, folded part way through its second season. The Kansas City Steers, who were in first place at the time, were declared ABL champions for the 1962-63 season. One of the franchise owners was George Steinbrenner, whose Cleveland Pipers had defeated the Steers 3 games to 2 in a playoff series to win the league championship. The ABL was the first professional league to introduce a 3-point shot for successful shots over a certain length.

40 years ago
1972


Died on this date
Roberto Clemente, 38
. U.S. baseball player. The greatest player ever to come from Puerto Rico, Mr. Clemente was the right fielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955-1972, batting .317 with 240 home runs and 1,305 runs batted in in 2,433 games. He was the National League batting champion in 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1967, and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1966. He won a Gold Glove for outstanding fielding in each of his last 12 seasons. Mr. Clemente played for World Series championship teams in 1960 and 1971; in the 1971 Word Series he batted .414 with 2 home runs and 7 RBIs and was deservedly named the series’ Most Valuable Player. He made exactly 3,000 hits in regular season play, doubling off Jon Matlack of the New York Mets on September 29, 1972 to reach the milestone. Mr. Clemente was killed in the crash of a small plane while on his way to deliver relief supplies to victims of a major earthquake in Nicaragua. The Pirates immediately retired his uniform number 21; the Baseball Hall of Fame waived the usual requirement of being retired for five years, and inducted Mr. Clemente in 1973.

Football
NFL
AFC Championship
Miami 21 @ Pittsburgh 17

Bob Griese, out since October with a broken leg, went in to quarterback the Dolphins in the 2nd half, and he handed off to Jim Kiick for 2 touchdown runs as Miami held on to defeat the Steelers before 50,845 fans at Three Rivers Stadium. Pittsburgh opened the scoring in the 1st quarter when quarterback Terry Bradshaw fumbled on the Miami 3-yard line and offensive lineman Gerry Mullins recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Roy Gerela converted to give the Steelers a 7-0 lead, but Mr. Bradshaw was injured and didn’t return to action until the last 7 minutes of the game. A 37-yard rush by Miami punter Larry Seiple on a fake punt in the 2nd quarter led to a 9-yard touchdown pass from starting quarterback Earl Morrall to Larry Csonka. Garo Yepremian converted and the game was tied 7-7 at halftime. Roy Gerela kicked a 14-yard field goal to give the Steelers a 10-7 lead in the 3rd quarter, but Mr. Griese connected with Paul Warfield for 52 yards, setting up a 2-yard touchdown run by Mr. Kiick. Mr. Yepremian’s convert made the score 14-10 in favour of Miami, and it became 21-10 in the 4th quarter when Mr. Kiick scored from 3 yards, converted by Mr. Yepremian. Al Young, who had never scored a touchdown in his 2 years in the NFL, caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Mr. Bradshaw, and Mr. Gerela’s convert reduced Miami’s lead to 21-17. However, Mr. Bradshaw threw interceptions to Nick Buoniconti and Mike Kolen in his last 3 passes, and the Dolphins extended their season-long perfect record to 16 games and advanced to the Super Bowl for the second straight year. Pittsburgh’s Franco Harris gained 76 yards on 16 carries, as did Miami’s Mercury Morris. Mr. Young, who had recorded only 6 pass receptions in 2 seasons prior to catching 1 pass in the divisional playoff, caught 4 passes for 54 yards. Mr. Warfield caught 2 passes for 63 yards and teammate Marv Fleming caught 5 for 50. Mr. Morrall completed 7 of 11 passes for 51 yards and an interception, while Mr. Griese was 3 for 5 for 70 yards. Mr. Bradshaw was 5 for 10 for 80 yards and 2 interceptions, while backup Terry anratty was 5 for 10 for 57 yards.

NFC Championship
Dallas 3 @ Washington 26

Billy Kilmer threw 2 touchdown passes to Charlie Taylor and Curt Knight kicked 4 field goals and 2 converts as the Redskins beat the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys before 53,129 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in their history. Mr. Knight opened the scoring with an 18-yard field goal in the 2nd quarter, and Mr. Kilmer connected with Mr. Taylor for a 51-yard gain and then a 15-yard touchdown. Toni Fritsch kicked a 35-yard field goal for the Cowboys, and Washington led 10-3 at halftime. Mr. Taylor caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Mr. Kilmer early in the 4th quarter; Mr. Knight converted and kicked field goals of 39, 46, and 45 yards to put the game away. Mr. Taylor caught 7 passes for 146 yards to lead all receivers, while teammate Larry Brown rushed 30 times for 88 yards. Mr. Kilmer completed 14 of 18 passes for 194 yards. Mr. Staubach completed just 9 of 20 passes for 98 yards, but led the Cowboys in rushing with 5 carries for 59 yards.

30 years ago
1982


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club (4th week at #1)

On the Radio
The CBS Radio Mystery Theater signed off after almost 9 years and 1399 episodes. The last show was a rebroadcast of Resident Killer, starring Mason Adams, which had originally aired on October 25.

Music
Doug and the Slugs performed at a New Year's Eve dance at the Holiday Inn Harbourside in Vancouver. This blogger was at another function on the floor below, but could hear the band very clearly.

At the movies
The God Makers, produced by Jeremiah Films, premiered at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. The film is a hard-hitting expose of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, better known as the Mormons. Ed Decker and Dick Baer, former members of the Mormon Melchizededk priesthood, attempted to persuade a Los Angeles law firm to launch a class-action suit against the LDS on behalf of people like themselves who had seen their marriages and families destroyed. The film is centred around a reenactment of Mr. Decker and Mr. Baer's presentation to the law firm, which paints a very different picture of the Mormon Church from that which the church presents to the public. Despite overwhelming evidence to support the complaints against the church, the law firm decided against pursuing the matter because they didn't believe that the complainants had enough money to offset the deep pockets of the Mormon Church. According to Grace Community Church pastor John MacArthur, "This film is dynamite, the most powerful thing I've seen! Get your Mormon friends to view it!" The film was followed in 1984 by a book of the same title authored by Ed Decker and Dave Hunt, and by a subsequent documentary and book (written by Ed Decker and Caryl Matrisciana) titled The God Makers II in 1988.

25 years ago
1987


Politics and government
Robert Mugabe was sworn in as President of Zimbabwe, replacing Canaan Banana as head of state.

20 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (5th week at #1)

December 30, 2012

160 years ago
1852


Married on this date
Rutherford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb
.
The future President of the United States of America (1877-1881) and Miss Webb were married in her mother's home in Chillicothe, Ohio.

150 years ago
1862


War
The ironclad warship USS Monitor sank in a storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

120 years ago
1892


Religion
The New York Presbytery of the U.S. Presbyterian Church, by majorities ranging from 7 to 21, voted to dismiss charges of heresy against Professor Briggs.

90 years ago
1922


World events
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics--a confederation of Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine, and the Transcaucasian Federation--was established.

70 years ago
1942


Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Michael Nesmith!
Best known as a member of the Monkees, the musician, songwriter and Grammy Award-winning music video pioneer was born in Houston, Texas.

60 years ago
1952


On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Invisible Killer, starring Jackie Cooper, John Dall, Anne Sargent, and Roy Roberts



50 years ago
1962


Space
The mission of the Soviet satellite Cosmos 12 ended, eight days after launch.

Football
NFL
Championship
Green Bay 16 @ New York 7

Jim Taylor rushed 31 times for 85 yards and a touchdown and caught 3 passes for 20 yards on a cold day as the Packers disappointed 64,892 fans at Yankee Stadium by defeating the Giants in the title game for the second straight year. The Packers opened the scoring in the 1st quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Jerry Kramer. After Green Bay recovered a New York fumble on the Giants’ 28-yard line late in the 2nd quarter, halfback Paul Hornung passed 21 yards to Boyd Dowler, and Mr. Taylor rushed 7 yards for his touchdown on the next play. Mr. Kramer’s convert gave the Packers a 10-0 halftime lead. The Giants scored their only points midway through the 3rd quarter when Erich Barnes blocked a Max McGee punt and Jim Collier fell on the ball in the Green Bay end zone for a touchdown, converted by Don Chandler. Mr. Kramer kicked a 29-yard field goal 3½ minutes later to increase Green Bay’s lead to 13-7, and he put the game away with a 30-yard field goal with 1:50 remaining in regulation time. New York quarterback Y.A. Tittle completed just 18 of 41 passes for 197 yards, while Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr completed just 9 of 21 for 85 yards.





40 years ago
1972


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Long Haired Lover from Liverpool--Little Jimmy Osmond (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul (3rd week at #1)

U.S. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul (2nd week at #1)
2 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
3 You Ought to Be with Me--Al Green
4 Clair--Gilbert O'Sullivan
5 You're So Vain--Carly Simon
6 Rockin' Pneumonia-Boogie Woogie Flu--Johnny Rivers
7 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy
8 Superstition--Stevie Wonder
9 Funny Face--Donna Fargo
10 Something's Wrong with Me--Austin Roberts

Singles entering the chart were Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend by Lobo (#65); Could it Be I'm Falling in Love by the Spinners (#66); Peaceful Easy Feeling by the Eagles (#77); Control of Me by Les Emmerson (#88); Give Me Your Love by Barbara Mason (#92); Tweedlee Dee by Little Jimmy Osmond (#93); I Can't Move No Mountains by Blood, Sweat & Tears (#95); Oh No, Not My Baby by Merry Clayton (#98); and How Can I Tell You by Travis Wammack (#100).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy (3rd week at #1)
2 Clair--Gilbert O'Sullivan
3 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
4 Sweet Surrender--Bread
5 Rockin' Pneumonia-Boogie Woogie Flu--Johnny Rivers
6 Something's Wrong with Me--Austin Roberts
7 Daytime Night Time--Keith Hampshire
8 Ventura Highway--America
9 Sunny Days--Lighthouse
10 Walk on Water--Neil Diamond

Singles entering the chart were Superstition by Stevie Wonder (#73); Sound of Peace by Bobby G. Griffith (#91); The Relay by the Who (#93); Always Be Thinking of You by Fludd (#95); Dreidel by Don McLean (#96); Do You Want to Dance? by Bette Midler (#98); Remember by Nilsson (#99); and Let Us Love by Bill Withers (#100).

Calgary’s top 10
1 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
2 Ben--Michael Jackson
3 Last Song--Edward Bear
4 I'm Gonna Love You Too--Terry Jacks
5 Something's Wrong with Me--Austin Roberts
6 Clair--Gilbert O'Sullivan
7 Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul
8 I'm Stone in Love with You--The Stylistics
9 Crazy Horses--The Osmonds
10 Can't You Hear the Song--Wayne Newton
Pick hit of the week: Come and Join Us--Dublin Corporation

War
With North Vietnam agreeing to return to peace talks in Paris, the United States halted Operation Linebacker II, better known as the "Christmas bombing" of North Vietnam.

30 years ago
1982


Died on this date
Bruce Gamble, 44
. Canadian hockey goaltender. Mr. Gamble played with the New York Rangers (1958-59); Boston Bruins (1960-62); Toronto Maple Leafs (1965-71); and Philadelphia Flyers (1971-72), posting a record of 110-150-46, with 22 shutouts, in 327 NHL games. The high point of his career was when he posted 4 shoutouts in a span of 8 games late in the 1965-66 season with the Maple Leafs, playing in place of injured regulars Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk. Mr. Gamble saw most of his action in the NHL from 1967-70, when the Maple Leafs were in a rebuilding mode. On February 1, 1971, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in a deal that saw Bernie Parent go to Toronto. On February 8, 1972, Mr. Gamble played an outstanding game for the Flyer as they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, coming within 2 minutes of a shutout. Late in the game, he fell to the ice without being hit. He got up and finished the game, but wasn't feeling well on the team's flight to Oakland the next day, and an examination revealed that he'd suffered a heart attack. Mr. Gamble immediately retired as a player and scouted briefly for the Flyers. Reportedly going against doctor's orders, Mr. Gamble resumed playing in a recreational league, and suffered a fatal heart attack hours after a practice. Oddly, his grave lists 1984 as the year of his death. Mr. Gamble holds the distinction of being the last Toronto Maple Leafs' goalie to play without a mask; he didn't start wearing one until the 1970-71 season.

20 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): House of Love--East 17 (6th week at #1)

10 years ago
2002


Died on this date
Mary Brian, 96. U.S. actress. Miss Brian, once dubbed "the sweetest girl in pictures," was one of the last surviving stars of silent movies. Her films included Beau Geste (1926); Harold Teen (1928); The Virginian (1929); The Front Page (1931); and Charlie Chan in Paris (1935).

Mary Wesley, 90. U.K. author. Miss Wesley wrote three novels for children and 10 novels for adult readers. Her novels for adults were all published in the last 20 years of her life, and included Jumping the Queue (1983); The Camomile Lawn (1984); Not that Sort of Girl (1987); and Part of the Furniture (1997).

Friday 21 December 2012

December 29, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Christine Gotaas!

200 years ago
1812


War
In the War of 1812, USS Constitution, under the command of Captain William Bainbridge, captured HMS Java off the coast of Brazil after a three-hour battle.

150 years ago
1862


War
In the U.S. Civil War, Union forces under the command of General William T. Sherman were rebuffed in their attempt to capture Vicksburg, Mississippi in the Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs.

75 years ago
1937


Died on this date
Don Marquis, 59
. U.S. writer. Mr. Marquis, an editor and columnist with several newspapers, created the fictional characters "archy and mehitabel."

Politics and government
The Constitution of Ireland went into effect, replacing the Constitution of the Irish Free State that had been in effect since 1922.

60 years ago
1952


Literature
The Adventure of the Seven Clocks by Adrian Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr appeared in the Decamber 29, 1952 issue of Life. It was the first in a series of stories known as The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes.

50 years ago
1962


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Speedy Gonzales--Pat Boone (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Junge, komm bald wieder--Freddy Quinn

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): The Next Time/Bachelor Boy--Cliff Richard and the Shadows

Both songs were included in the movie Summer Holiday (1963).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Telstar--The Tornados (2nd week at #1)

U.S. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Telstar--The Tornados
2 Bobby's Girl--Marcie Blane
3 Limbo Rock--Chubby Checker
4 Return to Sender--Elvis Presley
5 Go Away Little Girl--Steve Lawrence
6 Big Girls Don't Cry--The 4 Seasons
7 The Lonely Bull--The Tijuana Brass
8 Release Me--"Little Esther" Phillips
9 You are My Sunshine--Ray Charles
10 Hotel Happiness--Brook Benton

Singles entering the chart were Walk Right In by the Rooftop Singers (#86); Shake Me I Rattle (Squeeze Me I Cry) by Marion Worth (#89); Java by Floyd Cramer (#94); Proud by Johnny Crawford (#97); Would it Make Any Difference to You by Etta James (#98); and There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight by Adam Wade (#99).

40 years ago
1972


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Ich wünsch' mir 'ne kleine Miezekatze--Wums Gesang (2nd week at #1)

Journalism
This was the date of the last issue of Life after 36 years as a weekly magazine.

Disasters
101 people were killed when an Eastern Air Lines Lockheed Tristar jet crashed on approach to Miami International Airport.

30 years ago
1982


Died on this date
Hugh Gallen, 58
. U.S. politician. Mr. Gallen, a Democrat, was Governor of New Hampshire from 1979-1982. Defeated by Republican candidate John Sununu in the 1982 election, he contracted a rare blood infection and was forced to yield his powers as Governor to Vesta Roy, President of the Senate. Mr. Gallen died eight days before the inauguration of Mr. Sununu.

December 28, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Heather Pick!

400 years ago
1612


Space
Galileo Galilei became the first astronomer to observe the planet Neptune, although he mistook it for a fixed star when it appeared in conjunction with Jupiter in the night sky.

180 years ago
1832


Politics and government
John C. Calhoun, who had been Vice-President of the United States of America under Presidents John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson since 1825, resigned his office because of differences with Mr. Jackson, becoming the first U.S. Vice-President to resign.

110 years ago
1902


Born on this date
Mortimer Adler
. U.S. philosopher. Mr. Adler, one of the best-known American philosophers of the 20th century, wrote such books as How to Read a Book (1940); Great Ideas from the Great Books (1961); and How to Think About the Great Ideas (2000). He died on June 28, 2001 at the age of 98.

Football
The Syracuse Athletic Club blanked the New York Philadelphians 5-0 at Madison Square Garden in New York to win the first game of American professional football to be played indoors.

100 years ago
1912


Transportation
The first municipally-owned streetcars began running in San Francisco.

90 years ago
1922


Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Stan Lee! The creator of Marvel comics was born Stanley Lieber in New York City.

80 years ago
1932


Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Harry Howell! Mr. Howell played 21 seasons (1952-73) in the National Hockey League and another 3 seasons (1973-76) in the World Hockey Association as a defenseman. Mr. Howell's first 17 seasons were spent with the New York Rangers; he won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman fo 1966-67, becoming not only the last player to win the trophy before the league expanded to 12 teams, but the last to win it before Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins began winning it every year. Mr. Howell was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979. His brother Ron played 4 games with the Rangers in the mid-1950s, but was better known for hs 12-year career as a halfback in the Canadian Football League.

Happy Birthday, Nichelle Nichols! Miss Nichols became one of the first Negro actresses to portray a character of authority on a television series when she played Lt. Uhura in Star Trek (1966-1969). She continued to play the role in several movies.

Dorsey Burnette. U.S. musician. Mr. Burnette, along with his brother Johnny, was a rockabilly performer in the 1950s and 1960s. His best known hit singles were Tall Oak Tree and Hey Little One, both from 1960. Mr. Burnette died of a heart attack on August 19, 1979 at the age of 46, the day after performing at a benefit show for the Arthritis Society in Oxnard, California.

75 years ago
1937


Died on this date
Maurice Ravel, 62
. French composer. One of the greatest of French composers, Mr. Ravel's works included Pavane pour une infante défunte (1899); Daphnis et Chloé (1909-1912); Boléro (1928) and Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (1929-1930).

60 years ago
1952


Died on this date
Fletcher Henderson, 55
. U.S. musician. Mr. Henderson was a pianist, bandleader, and composer, but was best known as an arranger in the 1920s and 1930s for bandleaders such as Isham Jones and Benny Goodman.

Football
NFL
Championship
Detroit 17 @ Cleveland 7

Bobby Layne rushed 2 yards for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter and Doak Walker rushed 67 yards for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter as the Lions defeated the Browns before 50,934 fans at Municipal Stadium to win the NFL championship for the first time since 1935. Pat Harder converted both Detroit touchdowns. Down 14-0, the Browns cut the deficit in half when Chick Jagade rushed 7 yards for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter, converted by Lou Groza. The Browns later had a first down on the Detroit 5-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs. In the 4th quarter, Cleveland’s Ken Carpenter fumbled a punt, the Lions recovered, and Mr. Harder kicked a 36-yard field goal to close the scoring. Mr. Layne, the Lions’ quarterback, completed 7 of 9 passes for 68 yards and rushed 9 times for 47 yards. Cleveland quarterback Otto Graham completed 20 of 35 passes for 191 yards. Mr. Jagade rushed for 104 yards on 15 carries, while Mr. Walker led the Lions with 97 yards on 10 carries.

50 years ago
1962


Died on this date
Kathleen Clifford, 75
. U.S. actress. Miss Clifford was a stage actress in vaudeville and on Broadway, as well as cinema. Her movies included When the Clouds Roll By (1919) and Richard the Lion-Hearted (1923). Miss Clifford chose to retire from movie acting when sound was introduced into motion pictures, shortly after she appeared in Excess Baggage (1928).

40 years ago
1972


Died on this date
John Heiskell, 100
. U.S. journalist. Mr. Heiskell edited the Arkansas Gazette daily newspaper from 1902 until his death. A Democrat, he was appointed to fill the United States Senate vacancy in Arkansas caused by the death of Jeff Davis and served from January 6-29, 1913.

War
After 11 days of constant bombing by the United States in Operation Linebacker II, North Vietnam agreed to resume peace talks in Paris.

Politics and government
North Korean dictator Kim Il-sung, who was already Prime Minister and General Secretary of the Workers' Party, became the first President of North Korea.

30 years ago
1982


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Heartbreaker--Dionne Warwick (2nd week at #1)

25 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley (5th week at #1)

20 years ago
1992


Died on this date
Pudlo Pudlat, 76
. Canadian artist. Mr. Pudlat was the first Inuit artist to have a one-person show at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

Sal Maglie, 75. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Maglie pitched in the major leagues with the New York Giants (1945, 1950-1955); Cleveland Indians (1955-1956); Brooklyn Dodgers (1956-1957); New York Yankees (1957-1958); and St. Louis Cardinals (1958), compiling a record of 119 wins and 62 losses for a winning percentage of .657. After his rookie year, he jumped to the Mexican League in 1946 and was one of several players who was banned from returning to the major leagues. The ban was lifted in 1949, and he returned to the Giants in 1950; Mr. Maglie led the National League that year in earned run average and winning percentage. In 1951 Mr. Maglie and teammate Larry Jansen tied for the NL lead in wins with 23 as the Giants made a late charge to defeat the Dodgers in a 3-game playoff to win the NL pennant. He was known as "The Barber" for giving "close shaves," i.e., pitching inside to hitters, often close to their chins. Mr. Maglie was born and died in Niagara Falls, New York.

Thursday 20 December 2012

December 27, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Marilyn Draper!

500 years ago
1512


Law
The Spanish crown issued the Laws of Burgos governing relationships between Spaniards and Indians in the New World in an attempt to prevent mistreatment of indigenous Americans.

90 years ago
1922


Defense
The Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō was commissioned. It was the first ship in the world to be built for the purpose of being an aircraft carrier.

80 years ago
1932


Americana
Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City.

70 years ago
1942


War
Ther German military formed the "Smolensk Committee," an attempt to persuade Soviet prisoners of war to fight for the Nazis against the Soviets.

60 years ago
1952


Hit Parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart--Vera Lynn; Eddy Howard (6th week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus--Jimmy Boyd (Best seller--1st week at #1); Why Don't You Believe Me--Joni James (Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1, Jukebox--1st week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Why Don't You Believe Me--Joni James (3rd week at #1)
--Patti Page
2 Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes--Perry Como
3 It's in the Book (Parts 1 and 2)--Johnny Standley
4 The Glow-Worm--The Mills Brothers
5 Trying--The Hill Toppers
6 I Went to Your Wedding--Patti Page
7 Takes Two to Tango--Pearl Bailey
8 Keep it a Secret--Jo Stafford
9 Because You're Mine--Mario Lanza
10 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus--Jimmy Boyd
--Spike Jones and his City Slickers

Singles entering the chart were Tell Me You're Mine by the Gaylords (#19); You'll Never Know by Rosemary Clooney-Harry James with Harry James' Orchestra (#20); Have You Heard by Joni James (#23); and I'm Just a Poor Bachelor by Frankie Laine (#33).

50 years ago
1962


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Return to Sender--Elvis Presley (3rd week at #1)

40 years ago
1972


Died on this date
Lester B. Pearson, 75
. Prime Minister of Canada, 1963-1968. A man of several careers, "Mike" Pearson was best known as a diplomat, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for his role in organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to settle the Suez Crisis of 1956. He served as Canada's Secretary of State for External Affairs from 1948-1957 and as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1958-1968. Mr. Pearson died the day after former U.S. President Harry Truman.

30 years ago
1982


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club

Died on this date
Jack Swigert, 51
. U.S. astronaut. Mr. Swigert joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s astronaut corps in 1966. He trained as the command module pilot for the Apollo 13 lunar landing mission, but was suddenly reassigned to the prime crew several days before the scheduled liftoff when Ken Mattingly was scratched because of exposure to the measles. Mr. Swigert performed so well with commander Jim Lovell and lunar module pilot Fred Haise in the short time available that Mr. Lovell gave his approval, and the mission lifted off as scheduled on April 11, 1970. An explosion in the service module two days later aborted the lunar landing and put the astronauts’ lives in peril, but the astronauts returned safely on April 17, as told in Mr. Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger’s book Lost Moon (1994) and the movie Apollo 13 (1995). In 1972 Mr. Swigert was assigned to the prime crew of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Proect mission scheduled for 1975, but soon left the astronaut corps after becoming involved in a commercial deal in violation of NASA rules and initially lying about it. In 1982 Mr. Swigert was a Republican party candidate in Colorado for the United States House of Representatives, and was elected, taking 62.2% of the vote. Unfortunately, the cancer that had appeared during the campaign quickly spread, and he died eight days before he was scheduled to take his seat.

25 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in France: La Bamba--Los Lobos (11th week at #1)

Football
NFL
St. Louis (7-8) 16 @ Dallas (7-8) 21

36,788 fans at Texas Stadium saw the Cardinals play their last game before moving to Phoenix.

20 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Die da--Die Fantastischen Vier (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (5th week at #1)

10 years ago
2002


Died on this date
George Roy Hill, 81
. U.S. film director. Mr. Hill began his directing career in television in the 1950s before moving into films. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for The Sting (1973). Mr. Hill's other movies included The World of Henry Orient (1964); Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967); Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969); The Great Waldo Pepper (1975); Slap Shot (1977); and A Little Romance (1979).

Terrorism
72 people were killed and 200 wounded in the explosions of two truck bombs at the pro-Russia headquarters of the Chechen government in Grozny, Chechnya.

December 26, 2012

175 years ago
1837


Born on this date
George Dewey
. U.S. military officer. Commodore Dewey led the United States Navy to victory over Spain in the Battle of Manila Bay in the Spanish-American War in 1898, which was largely responsible for the U.S.A. gaining recognition as a major naval power. He died on January 16, 1917 at the age of 79.

150 years ago
1862


World events
38 Sioux Indians who had been convicted of murder or rape during the Dakota War of 1862 several months earlier were hanged in Mankato, Minnesota in the largest mass execution in American history.

War
In the U.S. Civil War, the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou began in Warren County, Mississippi.

70 years ago
1942


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): White Christmas--Bing Crosby (9th week at #1)

60 years ago
1952


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Here in My Heart--Al Martino (7th week at #1)

On television tonight
Tales of Tomorrow, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Bitter Storm, starring Arnold Moss, Philip Pine, Ethel Remey, and Joanne Woodward



Died on this date
Lyn Harding, 76
. U.K. actor. Mr. Harding was a stage actor who appeared in several movies, most notably as Dr. Grimesby Roylott in The Speckled Band (1931) and as Professor Moriarty in The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes (1935); and Silver Blaze (aka Murder at the Baskervilles) (1937).

40 years ago
1972


Died on this date
Harry S Truman, 88
. 33rd President of the United States of America, 1945-1953; Vice President of the United States of America, 1945. Mr. Truman represented Missouri in the United States Senate from 1935-1945 and came to national prominence as chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Military Affairs in the early 1940s, exposing waste in military spending. He was named to replace Henry Wallace as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's running mate in 1944, and succeeded to the presidency upon Mr. Roosevelt's death on April 12, 1945. A native of Lamar, Missouri and a longtime resident of Independence, Missouri, he died in hospital in Kansas City.

War
As part of Operation Linebacker II, 120 U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bombers, including 78 launched from Guam, attacked Hanoi in the largest single combat launch in the history of the Strategic Air Command.

25 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: La Bamba--Los Lobos (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Faith--George Michael (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Faith--George Michael (3rd week at #1)
2 Is This Love--Whitesnake
3 Got My Mind Set on You--George Harrison
4 So Emotional--Whitney Houston
5 Don't You Want Me--Jody Watley
6 Shake Your Love--Debbie Gibson
7 The Way You Make Me Feel--Michael Jackson
8 Catch Me (I'm Falling)--Pretty Poison
9 Valerie--Steve Winwood
10 Need You Tonight--INXS

Singles entering the chart were Rhythmm of Love by Yes (#76); Love Overboard by Gladys Knight and the Pips (#86); Twilight World by Swing Out Sister (#87); Live My Life by Boy George (#88); Burning Like a Flame by Dokken (#89); and Rain in the Summertime by Alarm (#90).

Canada’s top 10 (RPM)
1 Faith--George Michael (2nd week at #1)
2 Pop Goes the World--Men Without Hats
3 Heaven is a Place on Earth--Belinda Carlisle
4 I Think We're Alone Now--Tiffany
5 Got My Mind Set on You--George Harrison
6 (I've Had) The Time of My Life--Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
7 When a Man Loves a Woman--Luba
8 Mony Mony (Live)--Billy Idol
9 So Emotional--Whitney Houston
10 Try--Blue Rodeo

Singles entering the chart were What Have I Done to Deserve This by Pet Shop Boys (with Dusty Springfield) (#84); I Live for Your Love by Natalie Cole (#88); Can't Stay Away from You by Gloria Estefan (#92); and True Love Will Find a Way by Patrick Norman (#95).

20 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Dur dur d'être bébé!--Jordy (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Highland--One More Time (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Dur dur d'être bébé!--Jordy (10th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (5th week at #1)

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (4th week at #1)
2 If I Ever Fall in Love--Shai
3 Rump Shaker--Wreckx-N-Effect
4 The (Elvis) Letter--Wayne Newton
5 In the Still of the Nite--Boyz II Men
6 I'd Die Without You--PM Dawn
7 How Do You Talk to an Angel--The Heights
8 Good Enough--Bobby Brown
9 Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap!
10 To Love Somebody--Michael Bolton

Singles entering the chart included Mr. Wendal by Arrested Development (#57); Reminisce by Mary J. Blige (#61); Steam by Peter Gabriel (#83); and Forever in Love by Kenny G (#97).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)
2 To Love Somebody--Michael Bolton
3 Song Instead of a Kiss--Alannah Myles
4 Love Can Move Mountains--Celine Dion
5 Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses--U2
6 Keep the Faith--Bon Jovi
7 The Last Song--Elton John
8 Faithful--Go West
9 How Do You Talk to an Angel--The Heights
10 Never a Time--Genesis

Singles entering the chart included Heading West by Mitsou (#84); No Mistakes by Patty Smyth (#88); If I Ever Fall in Love by Shai (#89); Little Bird by Annie Lennox (#92); N.Y.C. (Can You Believe this City) by Charles & Eddie (#93); Give it Up, Turn it Loose by En Vogue (#95); Behind the Sun by Red Hot Chili Peppers (#96); and Tell the Truth by Jude Cole (#97).

December 25, 2012

175 years ago
1837


War
U.S. Army troops under the command of Colonel Zachary Taylor fought against Seminoles in the Battle of Lake Okeechobee in Florida.

100 years ago
1912


Hockey
NHA
The Torontos hosted the Montreal Canadiens in the first professional regular season game at Arena Gardens in Toronto.

80 years ago
1932


Disasters
An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck Gansu, China, killing 275 people.

70 years ago
1942


At the movies
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon, starring Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, and Lionel Atwill, opened at the Pantages Hollywood and RKO Hillstreet theatres in Los Angeles. It was the second feature, following Once Upon a Honeymoon, starring Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, and Walter Slezak.





Movies
In a poll conducted by Motion Picture Herald, the comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were voted the leading box office attraction of 1942.

War
The British 8th Army occupied Sirte, 225 miles east of Tripoli, and continued to pursue German troops to the west. U.S. Army bombers from Guadalcanal flew 560 miles to Rabaul, New Britain and scored several hits on Japanese cargo ships.

Crime
Bonnier de la Chapelle, who had assassinated French Prime Minister Jean-Francois Darlan the previous day, was convicted by a French military tribunal of murder and sentenced to death.

60 years ago
1952


Britannica
Queen Elizabeth II made her first Christmas broadcast from her study at Sandringham House.

50 years ago
1962


At the movies
To Kill a Mockingbird, starring Gregory Peck, received its premiere screening in Los Angeles.

40 years ago
1972


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Ben--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)

30 years ago
1982


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Save Your Love--Renée and Renato (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Maneater--Daryl Hall & John Oates (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Maneater--Daryl Hall & John Oates (2nd week at #1)
2 Mickey--Toni Basil
3 The Girl is Mine--Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney
4 Truly--Lionel Richie
5 Dirty Laundry--Don Henley
6 Down Under--Men at Work
7 It's Raining Again--Supertramp
8 Sexual Healing--Marvin Gaye
9 The Look of Love--ABC
10 Steppin' Out--Joe Jackson

Singles entering the chart were Stray Cat Strut by the Stray Cats (#78); Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran (#83); Shoot for the Moon by Poco (#86); Forever by Little Stephen and the Disciples of Soul (#87); Eminence Front by the Who (#88); Papa was a Rollin' Stone by Wolf (#90); and Burning Heart by Vandenberg (#96).

Canada’s top 10 (RPM)
1 Mickey--Toni Basil
2 Gloria--Laura Branigan
3 Truly--Lionel Richie
4 Dirty Laundry--Don Henley
5 Maneater--Daryl Hall & John Oates
6 Rock This Town--Stray Cats
7 Nobody--Sylvia
8 The Girl is Mine--Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney
9 It's Raining Again--Supertramp
10 You Can't Hurry Love--Phil Collins

Singles entering the chart were Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant (#37); Start Again by Surrender (#44); Subdivisions by Rush (#46); and The Elvis Medley by Elvis Presley (#48). The Stray Cats had their own version of You Can't Hurry Love, as the B-side of Rock This Town.

Died on this date
Jack Pearl, 88
. U.S. comedian. Mr. Pearl was popular on vaudeville and in the early days of radio. Characters with heavy ethnic accents were popular in the 1930s, and Mr. Pearl created the character Baron Munchausen, whose catch phrase was "Vass you dere, Sharlie?"

25 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Whenever You Need Somebody--Rick Astley (4th week at #1)

20 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): More and More--Captain Hollywood Project (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Monica Dickens, 77
. U.K. author. Miss Dickens, the great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens, wrote fiction and non-fiction. Her books included One Pair of Hands (1939); Mariana (1940); The Winds of Heaven (1955); and One of the Family (1993).

10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
Larry Uteck, 50
. Canadian football player and coach. Mr. Uteck was a defensive back for seven seasons in the Canadian Football League, with the Toronto Argonauts (1974-1976); British Columbia Lions (1977); Montreal Alouettes (1978-1980); and Ottawa Rough Riders (1980). He was voted to the Eastern Football Conference All-Star team in 1975 and 1976. Mr. Uteck was head coach at St. Mary's Univesity from 1983-1997 and was named Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1992. Mr. Uteck's teams played in the Vanier Cup in 1988, 1990, and 1992, but never won. He also served as an alderman in Halifax and deputy mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality in the mid-1990s. Mr. Uteck resigned from his activities when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease). The Atlantic Bowl, one of two Vanier Cup semi-final games, was renamed the Uteck Bowl in 2003.

Football
NCAA
Katie Hnida of the University of New Mexico Lobos became the first woman to play in a Division I game when she attempted to kick an extra point against the University of California at Los Angeles Bruins in the Las Vegas Bowl. The kick came in the 1st quarter after UNM linebacker Desmar Black had returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown. Miss Hnida kicked the ball to low, and it was blocked by Brandon Collier. Miss Hnida didn't see any more playing time in the game, and UCLA went on to win 27-13.

Wednesday 19 December 2012

December 24, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Hilary Hahn!

190 years ago
1822


Literature
Clement Clark Moore is said to have written his poem A Visit from St. Nicholas.

130 years ago
1882


Born on this date
Hans Rebane
. Estonian diplomat, politician, and journalist. Mr. Rebane was editor-in-chief of the newspapers Postimees (1913-1914, 1916-1917) and Eesti Pنevaleht (1918-1927) before being elected to the Riigikogu and serving as Estonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs (1927-1928). He was Estonian Minister in Finland (1931-1937) and Latvia (1937-1940), losing the latter position when Latvia was occupied by Soviet forces. Mr. Rebane was arrested by Soviet authorities, but escaped, and fled to Sweden in 1944. He served as Minister and acting Minister of Foreign Affairs (1945-1949). Mr. Rebane died on December 16, 1961, eight days before his 78th birthday.

120 years ago
1892


Born on this date
Ruth Chatterton
. U.S. actress. Miss Chatterton achieved success on Broadway before starring in movies such as Madame X (1929); Sarah and Son (1930); and Dodsworth (1936). She retired from films in the late 1930s, continuing to act occasionally on stage and television. Miss Chatterton also wrote three novels and became an aviatrix; she died on November 24, 1961, a month before her 69th birthday, and three days after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.

90 years ago
1922


Born on this date
Ava Gardner
. U.S. actress. Miss Gardner was one of the most beautiful actresses in movie history, appearing in such films as The Killers (1946); The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952); Mogambo (1953); The Barefoot Contessa (1954); On the Beach (1959); 55 Days at Peking (1963); Seven Days in May (1964); and The Night of the Iguana (1964). She died on January 25, 1990 at the age of 67.

70 years ago
1942


Died on this date
Jean-Francois Darlan, 61
. Prime Minister of France, 1941-1942. Mr. Darlan was Prime Minister from February 9, 1941-April 18, 1942 of the Vichy regime that collaborated with the Nazis. While visiting Algiers in November, he was arrested in a French resistance raid. Mr. Darlan was permitted to remain head of a French administration in Algeria as part of a deal for the cessation of hostilities between resistance and collaborationist forces. He was shot dead in his headquarters in Algiers by Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle, 20, a member of a resistance group.

60 years ago
1952


On the radio
I Was a Communist for the FBI, starring Dana Andrews
Tonight’s episode: The Flames Burned Red

Law
The Immigration and nationality Act--popularly known as the McCarran-Walter Act--an immigration law aimed at preventing the spread of Communist subversion in the United States--went into effect after being passed over the veto of President Harry Truman.

50 years ago
1962


Diplomacy
The last of more than 1,000 men who had been taken prisoner in Cuba during the failed invasion of the Bay of Pigs in 1961 returned to the United States after the U.S. agreed to pay a ransom of $53 million in food and medical supplies.

40 years ago
1972


On television tonight
Rod Serling's Night Gallery, on NBC
Tonight's episode: She'll Be Company for You, starring Leonard Nimoy and Lorraine Gary

Popular culture
Comedian Bob Hope gave his last performance for American troops in Saigon.

Football
NFL
AFC Divisional Playoff
Cleveland 14 @ Miami 20

Jim Kiick’s 8-yard touchdown rush in the 4th quarter provided the winning margin as the Dolphins defeated the Browns before 78,916 fans at the Orange Bowl to extend their season-long perfect record to 15 games. Miami scored first when Charlie Babb returned a blocked punt 6 yards for a touchdown in the 1st quarter. Garo Yepremian converted and kicked a 40-yard field goal to give the Dolphins a 10-0 lead, which held until the 3rd quarter. Cleveland quarterback Mike Phipps got the Browns on the scoreboard in the 3rd quarter when he rushed 5 yards for a touchdown. Don Cockroft converted to reduce the Browns’ deficit to 10-7. Mr. Yepremian kicked a 46-yard field goal in the 4th quarter to give the Dolphins a 13-7 lead, but Mr. Phipps completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Fair Hooker, and Mr. Cockroft’s convert gave the Browns a short-lived 14-13 lead. The Dolphins rushed the ball 47 times for 198 yards, led by Mercury Morris’s 15 carries for 72 yards. Cleveland’s Bo Scott led all rushers with 16 carries for 94 yards. Miami quarterback Earl Morrall completed 6 of 13 passes for 88 yards, but didn’t turn the ball over. Mr. Phipps completed just 9 of 23 passes
for 131 yards and 5 interceptions.



NFC Divisional Playoff
Green Bay 3 @ Washington 16

Billy Kilmer completed a 32-yard pass to Roy Jefferson in the 2nd quarter and Curt Knight followed with a convert and 3 field goals as the Redskins beat the Packers before 52,321 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium. Chester Marcol kicked a 17-yard field goal for the Packers to open the scoring in the 2nd quarter, but Mr. Jefferson’s TD put the Redskins ahead to stay. Mr. Knight kicked a 42-yard field goal to give Washington a 10-3 halftime lead, and kicked FGs from 35 and 46 yards in the 4th quarter. Washington’s Larry Brown led all rushers with 25 carries for 101 yards, while the Redskins’ defense limited Green Bay’s John Brockington to just 9 yards on 13 carries, although Macarthur Lane managed 56 yards on 14 carries and caught 4 passes for 42 yards to lead the Packers. Mr. Kilmer completed 7 of 14 passes for 100 yards, while Green Bay’s Scott Hunter was 12 for 24 for 150 yards.

30 years ago
1982


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club (3rd week at #1)

20 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Bobby LaKind, 47
. U.S. musician. Mr. LaKind was a roadie, sideman, and eventual member of the Doobie Brothers as a singer, conga player, and backup drummer. He died of cancer.

Scandal
U.S. President George Bush pardoned former U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and five others who had been convicted in the Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages scandal.

December 23, 2012

1,050 years ago
962


War
Byzantine troops under the command of future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas stormed the Syrian city of Aleppo.

120 years ago
1892


Politics and government
French political leaders Georges Clemenceau and M. Deroulede fought a bloodless duel.

110 years ago
1902


Born on this date
Antiochos Evangelatos
. Greek composer and conductor. Mr. Evangelatos taught composition and counterpoint at the Hellenic Conservatory of Athens (1933-1974); chief musician of the National Opera (1940-1972); and music director of the National Radio Foundation (1954-1959). His compositions included symphonic works, chamber music, and stage music for ancient tragedies. Mr. Evangelatos died on December 17, 1981, six days before his 79th birthday.

Died on this date
Frederick Temple, 81
. Greek-born U.K. clergyman. Most Rev. Temple was educated at the University of Oxford and was ordained a priest in the Church of England in 1846. He taught at Rugby School (1858-1869) before serving as Bishop of Exeter (1869-1885); Bishop of London (1885-1896); and Archbishop of Canterbury (1896-1902). He supported the cause of temperance as well as foreign missions, and worked so hard that he eventually went blind from overstraining his eyes. Most Rev. Temple died 23 days after his 81st birthday. His son William was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1942-1944.

60 years ago
1952


On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Deadly Lamb, starring Patricia Breslin and Dick Haymes

50 years ago
1962


Football
AFL
Championship @ Jeppesen Stadium, Houston
Dallas 20 @ Houston 17 (2 OT)

Tommy Brooker’s 25-yard field goal at 2:54 of the 2nd period of overtime ended the longest game in professional football history to that date and gave the Texans their first American Football League championship, ending the Oilers’ two-year reign as AFL champions. Mr. Brooker opened the scoring with a 16-yard field goal in the 1st quarter, and Dallas scored 2 touchdowns in the 2nd quarter and opened up a 17-0 halftime lead on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Len Dawson to Abner Haynes and a 2-yard touchdown rush by Mr. Haynes, both converted by Mr. Brooker. The Oilers hit the scoreboard 3:10 into the 3rd quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from George Blanda to Willard Dewveall, converted by Mr. Blanda. Mr. Blanda kicked a 31-yard field goal at 3:53 of the 4th quarter to make the score 17-10, and handed off to Charley Tolar for a 1-yard touchdown rush at 9:22. Mr. Blanda converted to tie the score 17-17. Mr. Haynes, the Dallas captain, won the coin toss before the beginning of overtime, and elected to kick off, giving the Oilers the advantage of the wind as well as possession of the ball. However, Houston failed to score, and the Texans took possession near the end of the quarter when Bill Hull intercepted a pass by Mr. Blanda. The teams switched ends to begin the 2nd overtime quarter, with Dallas maintaining possession of the ball. The Texans moved to the Houston 19-yard line, and Mr. Brooker’s kick ended the game. It was the first championship for head coach Hank Stram, and the last appearance in a championship game for Pop Ivy, who had won Grey Cups with the Edmonton Eskimos from 1954-1956 and who was in his first season as head coach of the Oilers. The 37,981 fans--the largest crowd yet to attend an AFL game--witnessed not only the end of the Oilers’ championship reign, but the last game ever played by the Dallas Texans. Texans’ owner Lamar Hunt was tired of the small crowds coming to see his team’s home games and moved the team to Kansas City after the season, where they became known as the Chiefs.





40 years ago
1972


Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Long Haired Lover from Liverpool--Little Jimmy Osmond

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Popcorn--Hot Butter (7th week at #1)
2 Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me--Mac Davis
3 Burning Love--Elvis Presley
4 Ben--Michael Jackson
5 I Can See Clearly Now--Johnny Nash
6 Too Young--Donny Osmond
7 Sugar Me--Lynsey De Paul
8 Rock Me Baby--Johnny Farnham
9 The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.--Donna Fargo
10 Kings of the World--Mississippi

The only single entering the chart was Mouldy Old Dough by Lieutenant Pigeon (#33).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul (2nd week at #1)

U.S. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Me and Mrs. Jones--Billy Paul
2 You Ought to Be with Me--Al Green
3 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
4 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy
5 Clair--Gilbert O'Sullivan
6 Papa was a Rollin' Stone--The Temptations
7 Rockin' Pneumonia-Boogie Woogie Flu--Johnny Rivers
8 Ventura Highway--America
9 I'm Stone in Love with You--The Stylistics
10 Something's Wrong with Me--Austin Roberts

Singles entering the chart were I'm Never Gonna Be Alone Anymore by Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose (#79); Jesus is Just Alright by the Doobie Brothers (#81); Dreidel by Don McLean (#82); Danny's Song by Anne Murray (#83); Last Song by Edward Bear (#85); You've Got to Take It (If You Want It) by the Main Ingredient (#87); Do You Want to Dance? by Bette Midler (#89); Big City Miss Ruth Ann by Gallery (#92); Loving You is Just an Old Habit by Jim Weatherly (#97); I've Never Found a Man (To Love Me Like You Do) by Esther Phillips (#99); and Happy by Bobby Darin (#100). Happy was a version of the theme song from the movie Lady Sings the Blues (1972). Michael Jackson sang it for the movie soundtrack. The movie was produced by Motown Corporation, and Mr. Darin was recording for Motown at the time. It was his last charted single.

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy (2nd week at #1)
2 Clair--Gilbert O'Sullivan
3 It Never Rains in Southern California--Albert Hammond
4 Sunny Days--Lighthouse
5 Ventura Highway--America
6 Something's Wrong with Me--Austin Roberts
7 I'd Love You to Want Me--Lobo
8 Summer Breeze--Seals and Crofts
9 Sweet Surrender--Bread
10 Operator--Jim Croce

Singles entering the chart were Hi Hi Hi by Wings (#78); Gypsy by Abraham's Children (#89); Control of Me by Les Emmerson (#97); I Just Want to Make Music by Tobias (#99); and The Jean Genie by David Bowie (#100).

#1 single in Calgary: Ben--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Charles Atlas, 80
. U.S. fitness magnate. Mr. Atlas, born Angelo Siciliano in Acra, Italy, devised a bodybuilding and exercise program that became popular through one of the most successful marketing campaigns of the 20th century. Winner in 1921 of the title of the world's "most perfectly developed man," he posed as a model for many statues.

Disasters
As many as 10,000 people were feared dead after an earthquake struck the Nicaraguan capital of Managua.

Football
NFL
AFC Divisional Playoff
Oakland 7 @ Pittsburgh 13

Terry Bradshaw’s 60-yard touchdown pass to Franco Harris with 5 seconds left in regulation time gave the Steelers their first playoff win in their 40-year history before 50,327 fans at Three Rivers Stadium. The ball bounced off Pittsburgh running back John “Frenchy” Fuqua and was apparently touched by Oakland defensive back Jack Tatum before Mr. Harris scooped it up just before it would have hit the ground. The play became known as the “Immaculate Reception ,” and came just after the Raiders had taken the lead on a 30-yard touchdown run by quarterback Ken Stabler, who had relieved ineffective starter Daryle Lamonica. The game was scoreless until Pittsburgh’s Roy Gerela kicked an 18-yard field goal in the 3rd quarter and a 29-yard FG in the 4th quarter to give the Steelers a 6-0 lead.

NFC Divisional Playoff
Dallas 30 @ San Francisco 28

Roger Staubach, who had relieved Craig Morton at quarterback, threw touchdown passes of 20 yards to Billy Parks and 10 yards to Ron Sellers in the 4th quarter as the Cowboys came back from a 21-3 2nd-quarter deficit to defeat the 49ers before 59,746 fans at Candlestick Park. Vic Washington returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, and Larry Schreiber scored twice on 1-yard runs as San Francisco opened up a
big lead. Toni Fritsch kicked his second field goal of the game to make it 21-6 and converted the Cowboys’ first touchdown, a 28-yard pass from Mr. Morton to Lance Alworth, making the score 21-13 at halftime. Mr. Schreiber rushed 1 yard for his third touchdown of the game, and Bruce Gossett’s fourth convert of the game gave the 49ers a 28-13 lead after 3 quarters. Mr. Fritsch kicked another field goal to make it 28-16 before Mr. Staubach worked his heroics. Calvin Hill of the Cowboys led all
rushers with 125 yards on 18 carries, while Mr. Parks led all receivers with 7 catches for 125 yards. Mr. Staubach completed 12 of 20 passes for 174 yards, while Mr. Morton was 8 for 21 for 96 yards and an interception. San Francisco quarterback John Brodie completed 12 of 22 passes for 150 yards and 2 interceptions.

30 years ago
1982


Died on this date
Jack Webb, 62
. U.S. actor and director. Mr. Webb was best known for starring as Sergeant Joe Friday in the police drama series Dragnet, which ran on NBC radio from 1949-1957 and television from 1951-1959 and 1967-1970. He also starred in the radio series Johnny Madero, Pier 23 (1947); Jeff Regan, Investigator (1948); and Pat Novak for Hire (1946-1947, 1949—one of this blogger’s favourite old radio shows). Mr. Webb appeared in movies such as He Walked by Night (1948); The Men (1950); Sunset Blvd. (1950); Appointment with Danger (1951); and Dragnet (1954). Mr. Webb directed many of the television episodes of Dragnet, and then began directing movies, including Pete Kelly’s Blues (1955); The D.I. (1957); —30— (1959); and The Last Time I Saw Archie (1961), all of which he appeared in. In the 1970s, Mr. Webb specialized in producing television series involving law enforcement authorities or medical personnel, such as Adam-12 (1968-1975); O’Hara: U.S. Treasury (1971-1972); and Emergency! (1972-1979). He also tried his hand as a recording artist, talking his way through a dozen romantic ballads on an album titled You’re My Girl (1958), which has to be heard to be believed. Mr. Webb was preparing another television revival of Dragnet when he died of a heart attack; a lifelong admirer of police officers, he was the first—and maybe only—civilian to receive a police funeral from the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPD also retired badge number 714, which had been worn by Joe Friday in Dragnet.

Environment
The Boots & Coots team from Texas succeeded in capping the sour gas blowout at the Amoco Canada wildcat well near Lodgepole, Alberta, which had been filling the air with a nauseous odor and making people sick since October 17. This blogger was one of many Albertans who got headaches from the gas, but the Alberta government, as is its wont, lied and said that we were just imagining it.

U.S. and Missouri government officials informed residents of Times Beach, Missouri that their town would have to be evacuated and demolished because the chemical dioxin had been sprayed on unpaved roads.

Basketball
U.S. university
Chaminade University, which had only 800-900 students and whose basketball program in the NAIA was only seven years old, upset the NCAA's #1-ranked University of Virginia Cavaliers 77-72 before 3,500 fans at Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu in what may still rank as the biggest upset in college basketball history.

25 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Whenever You Need Somebody--Rick Astley (3rd week at #1)

20 years ago
1992


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): House of Love--East 17 (5th week at #1)

Journalism
Queen Elizabeth II's annual Christmas message was leaked to a newspaper two days in advance, sparking an investigation.

10 years ago
2002


War
A United States Air Force MQ-1 Predator was shot down by an Iraqi MiG-25 in history's first combat between a piloted aircraft and an unmanned drone.

Crime
A pregnant American woman named Laci Peterson, 27, was last known to be alive at her home in Modesto, California. The bodies of Mrs. Peterson and her unborn son Conner were found on the shore of San Francisco Bay four months later. Her husband Scott was convicted of murder in 2005 and is now on death row in San Quentin State Prison.

December 22, 2012

240 years ago
1772


Education
Construction of the first American schoolhouse west of the Allegheny Mountains was begun in Schoenbrunn, Ohio by Moravian missionaries.

150 years ago
1862


Born on this date
Connie Mack
. U.S. baseball player, manager, and owner. Born Cornelius McGillicuddy in East Brookfield, Massachusetts, Mr. Mack was a catcher with the Washington Nationals (1886-1889); Buffalo Bisons (1890); and Pittspurgh Pirates (1891-1896), batting .244 with 5 home runs and 265 runs batted in in 724 games. He managed the Pirates from 1894-1896, then managed the Milwaukee Brewers of the Western League, which became the American League--then a minor league--in 1900. In 1901 the American League began to compete as a major league, and Mr. Mack became manager and part-owner of the Philadelphia Athletics, increasing his share of ownership in future deals. Mr. Mack managed the Athletics for a record 50 seasons, winning 9 pennants and 5 World Series (1910; 1911; 1913; 1929; 1930) while compiling a won-lost record of 3,731-3,948 in 53 seasons as a major league manager. Mr. Mack's teams compiled great records from 1910-1914 and 1929-1932, but they also cost him money, and he sold off many of his star players after each run of excellence, resulting in long interludes of failure. Shibe Park, the home of the Athletics from 1909, was renamed Connie Mack Stadium in 1953. Mr. Mack died on February 8, 1956 at the age of 93.

50 years ago
1962


Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Pregherò--Adriano Celentano (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Return to Sender--Elvis Presley (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Telstar--The Tornados

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Limbo Rock--Chubby Checker
2 Telstar--The Tornados
3 Bobby's Girl--Marcie Blane
4 Return to Sender--Elvis Presley
5 Big Girls Don't Cry--The 4 Seasons
6 The Lonely Bull--The Tijuana Brass
7 Go Away Little Girl--Steve Lawrence
8 Don't Hang Up--The Orlons
9 Release Me--"Little Esther" Phillips
10 You are My Sunshine--Ray Charles

Singles entering the chart were My Coloring Book, with versions by Sandy Stewart; Kitty Kallen; Barbra Streisand; and George Chakiris (#73); Shake Sherry by the Contours (#77); Lovesick Blues by Frank Ifield (#78); The Cinnamon Cinder by the Pastel Six (#79); Loop de Loop by Johnny Thunder (#80); Little Town Flirt by Del Shannon (#88); I Need You by Rick Nelson (#91); Fly Me to the Moon--Bossa Nova by Joe Harnell and his Orchestra (#94); Chicken Feed by Bent Fabric (#97); Molly by Bobby Goldsboro (#98); and Darkest Street in Town by Jimmy Clanton (#100). I Need You was the B-side of It's Up to You, charting at #44.

On the radio
Saturday Night Theatre, on BBC Home Service
Tonight's episode: A Study in Scarlet, starring Carleton Hobbs and Norman Shelley

Go here and here to download the broadcast. This dramatization of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes novel filled a 90-minute time slot, and was not broadcast at the same time as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring and produced by the same people, which was also being broadcast by BBC, and which filled a 30-minute time slot.

Died on this date
Ross McLarty, 71
. Australian politician. Sir Ross was the son of a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council, and represented Murray-Wellington in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly (1930-1962) as a member of the Nationalist and then the Liberal Party, holding several cabinet posts as well as the office of Premier of Western Australia (1947-1953). He resigned his seat in March 1962 because of poor health.

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched the satellite Cosmos 12.

Boxing
Rubin "Hurricane" Carter (14-2) won a 10-round unanimous decision over Holly Mims (59-24-6) in a middleweight bout at Madison Square Garden in New York. Mr. Mims was a late substitute for Gomeo Brennan, who came down with a bad cold the day of the fight, and was excused.



40 years ago
1972


Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Ich wünsch' mir 'ne kleine Miezekatze--Wums Gesang

Disasters
The Chilean Air Force found 14 survivors from a plane carrying members of the Uruguayan rugby team that had crashed two months earlier in the Andes Mountains. The survivors had resorted to cannibalism in order to avoid starvation. The incident inspired the book Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors (1974) by Piers Paul Read, which was adapted into a movie in 1993.

30 years ago
1982


Personal
This blogger finished Christmas exams at the University of Alberta.

10 years ago
2002


Died on this date
Joe Strummer, 50
. U.K. musician. Mr. Strummer was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist with the punk rock group the Clash.

December 21, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Juliette Richard!

180 years ago
1832


War
Egyptian forces defeated Ottoman troops at the Battle of Konya in Turkey.

100 years ago
1912


Hockey
NHA
Arena Gardens in Toronto hosted its first professional game, an exhibition between the Montreal Canadiens and Montreal Wanderers. Sprague Cleghorn of the Wanderers assaulted Newsy Lalonde of the Canadiens and drew a $65 fine and a four-week suspension from the NHA.

80 years ago
1932


On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Blue Carbuncle

75 years ago
1937


At the movies
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length animated colour movie, received its premiere screening at the Cathay Circle Theatre in Hollywood.

Died on this date
Frank B. Kellogg, 80
. U.S. politician. Mr. Kellogg, a Republican, represented Minnesota in the United States Senate from 1917-1923. He was appointed by President Calvin Coolidge as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, serving from 1924-1925. Mr. Kellogg then served in the Coolidge administration as Secretary of State from 1925-1929. He and French Foreign Minister Aristide Briand authored the Pact of Paris (Kellogg-Briand Pact), which outlawed war as a means of resolving disputes among the signatories, and remains in effect. Mr. Kellogg was awarded the 1929 Nobel Peace Prize "[F]or the Kellogg-Briand pact, whose signatories agreed to settle all conflicts by peaceful means and renounced war as an instrument of national policy." He served as an associate judge on the Permanent Court of International Justice from 1930-1935, and died of pneumonia the day before his 81st birthday.

Ted Healy, 41. U.S. comedian and actor. Mr. Healy, born Ernest Lea Nash, performed in vaudeville and later in movies, and was best known for forming the Three Stooges in the 1920s as his supporting act. The Stooges split from Mr. Healy and rejoined him in 1932, making several movies with him before permanently separating from him in 1934. Mr. Healy appeared in several movies on his own before dying under suspicious circumstances. He was at the Trocadero nightclub in Los Angeles, reportedly celebrating the birth of his son, and reports differ as to whether he died of a heart attack or as the result of a beating.

60 years ago
1952


Died on this date
Robert H. Best, 56
. U.S. journalist. Mr. Best was a Vienna-based foreign correpsondent for United Press from 1923-1941, covering events in Central Europe. He fell under Nazi influence following the Anschluss of Austria in March 1938, and was fired by UP three years later for "non-performance." Mr. Best went to Berlin in 1942 and made propaganda broadcasts for Radio Berlin as "Mr. Guess Who," titled Berlin's Best Broadcast. His broadcasts, heard by Allied forces in Europe and transmitted by shortwave to the United States, generally blamed U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and the Jews for World War II. Mr. Best was indicted in absentia by a U.S. federal grand jury in the District of Columbia in 1943 on charges of treason, and was returned to the United States after being arrested by British forces in Austria in January 1946. He was tried in Boston and convicted in April 1948 of 12 counts of treason. Mr. Best's appeal was unsuccessful, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of $10,000. He died in prison of a brain hemorrhage.

50 years ago
1962


At the movies
The Trial, directed by Orson Welles and starring Mr. Welles with Anthony Perkins, Jeanne Moreau, and Akim Tamiroff, received its world premiere screening in Paris.

Defense
U.S. President John F. Kennedy and U.K. Prime Minister Harold Macmillan announced the formation of a multilateral NATO force. As a result, the U.S.A. would sell Polaris missiles to the U.K.

40 years ago
1972


Died on this date
Jimmy Wallington, 65
. U.S. radio announcer. Mr. Wallington was the announcer for several radio and television programs in the 1940s and 1950s, including Texaco Star Theater, Screen Director's Playhouse, and The Life of Riley.

War
The U.S. Defense Department announced that eight B-52 bombers and several fighter-bombers had been lost, and at least 43 U.S. flyers captured or killed since the commencement three days earlier of Operation Linebacker II, better known as the "Christmas bombing" of Vietnam.

30 years ago
1982


Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Heartbreaker--Dionne Warwick

Died on this date
James Kilgallen, 94
. U.S. journalist. Mr. Kilgallen worked for the Hearst newspaper chain's international news service for 38 years, covering 11 executions and many other top stories. He was the father of columnist Dorothy Kilgallen.

25 years ago
1987


Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Ralph Nelson, 71
. U.S. film and television director. Mr. Nelson won an Emmy Award for Best Direction--One Hour or More for the drama Requiem for a Heavyweight (1956) and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for Lilies of the Field (1963). Other movies of his included Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962); Soldier in the Rain (1963); Father Goose (1964); Duel at Diablo (1966); and Charly (1968).

20 years ago
1992


Disasters
56 people were killed in the crash of a Dutch DC-10 at Faro Airport in Portugal.