February 1, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Snejka!

225 years ago
1790

Law
The Supreme Court of the United States convened for the first time, in New York City.

180 years ago
1835

Society
Slavery was abolished in the British colony of Mauritius.

150 years ago
1865

Law
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States into law, the day after it had been passed by the House of Representatives. The amendment reads:

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Conn Smythe. Canadian hockey executive and military officer. Mr. Smythe served with the Canadian Army in both word wars, winning the Military Cross in World War I and rising to the rank of acting major in World War II. He bought the Toronto St. Patricks of the National Hockey League in 1927, changed their name to Maple Leafs, and coached the team for the next three seasons and a few games afterward, compiling a regular season record of 58-57-20 and a playoff record of 2-2. The Maple Leafs won eight Stanley Cup championships during his years as owner. After selling his shares in the Maple Leafs to his son Stafford, Harold Ballard, and John Bassett, Mr. Smythe served as chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame until 1971, and was inducted into the Hall in 1958. He was a successful owner of racehorses, including two Queen's Plate winners, and was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1977. Mr. Smythe died on November 18, 1980 at the age of 85, after several years of declining health.

Frank Lane. U.S. football player and sports official and executive. "Trader" Lane played guard with the Cincinnati Celts with the professional Ohio League in the 1910s, and umpired baseball and refereed college basketball and football games before entering professional baseball with the Cincinnati Reds in 1933 as business manager, running their farm system by 1937. After serving with the U.S. Navy in World War II, he managed the Kansas City Blues of American Association and supervised the New York Yankees' farm system in 1946, and was President of the American Association from November 1946 until becoming the general manager of the Chicago White Sox after the 1948 season. Mr. Lane was general manager of the White Sox (1948-1955); St. Louis Cardinals (1956-1957); Cleveland Indians (1958-1960); Kansas City Athletics (1961); and Milwaukee Brewers (1971-1972), trading almost 700 players in more than 400 transactions. He made more than 200 trades during his years with the White Sox, building the team into a contender and laying the foundation for the team that won the American League pennant in 1959. Mr. Lane had less success with his trades in his later GM positions, often seeming to make trades for the sake of making trades. He was fired in Kansas City after less than eight months on the job, and his dispute with Athletics' owner Charlie Finley over his compensation dragged on for several yers, and he eventually won. While in forced inactivity from baseball during his dispute with Mr. Finley, Mr. Lane was general manager of the Chicago Zephyrs of the National Basketball Association (1962-63), but stayed behind when the team moved to Baltimore to become the Bullets. He served as a scout with the Baltimore Orioles from the mid-1960s until joining the Brewers. After two years as general manager, Mr. Lane was demoted to a scouting job with the Brewers; he then served as a scout with the Texas Rangers and California Angels, and was a consultant for the San Diego Padres in 1980 before he fell and broke his hip. He died on March 19, 1981 at the age of 86.

Environment
Fountains Valley, Pretoria, the oldest nature reserve in Africa, was proclaimed by President Paul Kruger.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Stanley Matthews. U.K. soccer player. Sir Stanley, an outside right, was one of the greatest players in history in a career spanning more than 30 years. He played with Stoke City (1932-1947, 1961-1965) and Blackpool (1947-1961), scoring 71 goals in 697 games. Sir Stanley played with the English national team from 1934-1957, scoring 11 goals in 54 matches. He served as general manager (1965-1968) and manager (1967-1968) with Port Vale, without success. Sir Stanley died on February 23, 2000, 22 days after his 85th birthday; he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame as a charter member in 2002.

Literature
The February 1915 issue of The Strand Magazine contained the sixth segment of The Valley of Fear, the fourth and last Sherlock Holmes novel by A. Conan Doyle.
In this issue: Part II: The Scowrers: Chapter II. The Bodymaster.

75 years ago
1940

Died on this date
Philip Francis Nowlan, 51. U.S. author. Mr. Nowlan was a science fiction writer who created the character Buck Rogers in his novella Armageddon 2419 A.D. (1928). The Buck Rogers comic strip ran from 1929-1967. Mr. Nowlan died from a stroke.

War
Soviet forces launched a large assault against Finnish defenses along the Mannerheim Line. Kyosti Kollio, Finnish parliament President, stated his country's willingness to reach a peace agreement with the U.S.S.R. United Mine Workers of American President John L. Lewis claimed that American labour would oppose any U.S. war participation.

Defense
The United States Army tested a new cannon-carrying pursuit plane, travelling up to 400 miles per hour, at Bolling Field, near Anacostia, Maryland.

Economics and finance
The Japanese Diet received a record budget request of 10.282 billion yen, of which 4.460 billion were for the military.

U.S. Senators Robert Wagner (Democrat--New York) and Walter George (Democrat--Georgia) introduced legislation seeking $10 million for rural hospital construction.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jerome Frank urged the creation of a private agency, federally funded, to make loans for small business expansion.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent the nominations of Marriner Eccles and Chester Davis to the Senate for renomination to the Federal Reserve Board.

70 years ago
1945

Literature
The Thurber Carnival by James Thurber was published.

Abominations
A Communist "People's Tribunal" in Bulgaria executed former Prince Regent Kiril, 49; former Prime Minister and Regent Professor Bogdan Filov; General Nikola Mikhov; and 22 former cabinet ministers, 9 royal advisers, and 67 members of parliament.

War
The U.S. House of Representatives passed and sent to the Senate the May-Bailey bill providing "limited national service" for men aged 18-45. U.S. forces in Germany found little resistance on the Siegfried Line, recording advances of up to 2 miles. Soviet troops in eastern Germany gained 12 miles, reaching Liebenow.

Politics and government
The United States Senate passed the George bill separating lending agencies from the Commerce Department.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Qué Me Importa Del Mundo (Che M'Importa Del Mondo)--Rita Pavone

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Hucklebuck--Brendan Bowyer (3rd week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Downtown--Petula Clark
2 You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'--The Righteous Brothers
3 This Diamond Ring--Gary Lewis and the Playboys
4 If You Don't Want My Love--Jack London
5 Bucket "T"--Ronny and the Daytonas
6 The Name Game--Shirley Ellis
7 It's Alright--Adam Faith
8 Paper Tiger--Sue Thompson
9 Let's Lock the Door (And Throw Away the Key)--Jay and the Americans
10 Laugh, Laugh--The Beau Brummels

Singles entering the chart were Little Things by Bobby Goldsboro (#23); Thanks a Lot by Brenda Lee (#24); Give Him a Great Big Kiss by the Shangri-Las (#27); Somewhere in Your Heart by Frank Sinatra (#31); Patch it Up by Linda Scott (#32); Terry by Twinkle (#33); Bye, Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye) by the 4 Seasons (#34); The Jolly Green Giant by the Kingsmen (#35); Put You Down by the Big Town Boys (#37); The Boy From New York City by the Ad Libs (#38); Go Now! by the Moody Blues (#39); and Goldfinger by John Barry and his Orchestra (#40).

On television tonight
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Thanatos Palace Hotel, starring Angie Dickinson, Steven Hill, Barry Atwater, and Bartlett Robinson

Music
The EP 4--By the Beatles was released in North America on Capitol Records. The songs--Honey Don't; I'm a Loser; Mr. Moonlight; and Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby--were all taken from the recent album Beatles '65.

Canadiana
The Hamilton River in Labrador was renamed the Churchill River in honour of Sir Winston Churchill.

Diplomacy
Queen Elizabeth II began a 12-day visit to Africa.

Defense
General Curtis LeMay retired as U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff; he was succeeded by General John P. McConnell, formerly Vice-Chief of Staff.

Boxing
Former world heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson (42-4) won a unanimous 12-round decision over George Chuvalo (29-9-2) at Madison Square Garden in New York in a bout that was chosen by The Ring magazine as its Fight of the Year for 1965.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Un corpo e un'anima--Wess & Dori Ghezzi

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir (Lady Marmalade)--Labelle

#1 single in the U.K.: January--Pilot

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Laughter in the Rain--Neil Sedaka

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Laughter in the Rain--Neil Sedaka
2 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
3 You're No Good--Linda Ronstadt
4 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
5 Mandy--Barry Manilow
6 Fire--Ohio Players
7 Pick Up the Pieces--Average White Band
8 Never Can Say Goodbye--Gloria Gaynor
9 Best of My Love--The Eagles
10 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk

Singles entering the chart were Express by B.T. Express (#66); Emotion by Helen Reddy (#71); I've Been This Way Before by Neil Diamond (#74); Emma by Hot Chocolate (#87); My Elusive Dreams by Charlie Rich (#89); Satin Soul by the Love Unlimited Orchestra (#92); Please, Mr. President by Paula Webb (#93); Butter Boy by Fanny (#94); Devil in the Bottle by T.G. Sheppard (#95); Chevy Van by Sammy Johns (#96); We May Never Love Like This Again by Maureen McGovern (#97); Charmer by Tim Moore (#98); (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song by B.J. Thomas (#99); and You are You by Gilbert O'Sullivan (#100). We May Never Love Like This Again was from the movie The Towering Inferno (1974), and went on to win the 1974 Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John (4th week at #1)
2 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
3 Mandy--Barry Manilow
4 Bungle in the Jungle--Jethro Tull
5 Doctor's Orders--Carol Douglas
6 Angie Baby--Helen Reddy
7 One Man Woman/One Woman Man--Paul Anka with Odia Coates
8 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
9 Morning Side of the Mountain--Donny and Marie Osmond
10 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk

Singles entering the chart were Dancin' (On a Saturday Night) by Bond (#82); In the Mood by Rush (#84); Johnny Get a Gun by Five Man Electrical Band (#85); Judy Played the Juke Box by the Crescent Street Stompers (#86); My Boy by Elvis Presley (#87); To the Door of the Sun by Al Martino (#89); You're Right as Rain by Nancy Wilson (#91); Lady Marmalade by LaBelle (#92); Movin' On by Bad Company (#93); I've Lost My Place by Billand (#95); I am Love by the Jackson 5 (#96); Help Your Brother by Copperpenny (#97); and The South's Gonna Do It by the Charlie Daniels Band (#99).

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CFRW)
1 Mandy--Barry Manilow
2 Changes--David Bowie
3 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
4 Morning Side of the Mountain--Donny and Marie Osmond
5 Dream On--The Righteous Brothers
6 Junior's Farm--Paul McCartney & Wings
7 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John
8 Bungle in the Jungle--Jethro Tull
9 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk
10 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas
11 You're the First, the Last, My Everything--Barry White
12 Only You--Ringo Starr
13 Never Can Say Goodbye--Gloria Gaynor
14 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
15 Doctor's Orders--Carol Douglas
16 You're No Good--Linda Ronstadt
17 One Man Woman/One Woman Man--Paul Anka with Odia Coates
18 Lonely People--America
19 Have You Never Been Mellow--Olivia Newton-John
20 Laughter in the Rain--Neil Sedaka
21 When Will I See You Again--The Three Degrees
22 Black Water--The Doobie Brothers
23 You Beat Me to the Punch--Charity Brown
24 Sally G--Paul McCartney & Wings
25 Roll on Down the Highway--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
26 Get Dancin'--Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes
27 Lady--Styx
28 Fairytale--The Pointer Sisters
29 Best of My Love--The Eagles
30 California Jam--Klaatu

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CKRC)
1 Mandy--Barry Manilow (3rd week at #1)
2 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
3 Morning Side of the Mountain--Donny and Marie Osmond
4 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John
5 Bungle in the Jungle--Jethro Tull
6 Never Can Say Goodbye--Gloria Gaynor
7 You're No Good--Linda Ronstadt
8 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas
9 You're the First, the Last, My Everything--Barry White
10 One Man Woman/One Woman Man--Paul Anka with Odia Coates
11 My Eyes Adored You--Frankie Valli
12 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk
13 You Beat Me to the Punch--Charity Brown
14 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
15 Roll on Down the Highway--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
16 Doctor's Orders--Carol Douglas
17 Best of My Love--The Eagles
18 Laughter in the Rain--Neil Sedaka
19 Junior's Farm--Paul McCartney & Wings
20 Lady--Styx
21 Black Water--The Doobie Brothers
22 Pick Up the Pieces--AWB
23 Lady Ellen--James Leroy
24 Sweet Surrender--John Denver
25 Cat's in the Cradle--Harry Chapin
26 Mother Earth--Ian Thomas
27 Angie Baby--Helen Reddy
28 Fire--Ohip Players
29 Lady Marmalade--LaBelle
30 (Make Me Do) Anything You Want--A Foot in Coldwater

Calgary's Top 10
1 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
2 Mandy--Barry Manilow
3 Bungle in the Jungle--Jethro Tull
4 Ride 'em Cowboy--Paul Davis
5 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John
6 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk
7 Best of My Love--The Eagles
8 Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas
9 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
10 Promised Land--Elvis Presley
Pick hit of the week: Sweet Surrender--John Denver

Died on this date
Nikolai Bulganin, 79. U.S.S.R. politician. Mr. Bulganin joined the Bolshevik wing of the Communist Party in 1917. He was loyal to dictator Josef Stalin, and became a member of the Soviet Communist Party's Central Committee in 1934; Prime Minister of Russia (1937); and Deputy Prime Minister of the Soviet Union and head of the State Bank of the U.S.S.R. in 1938. Mr. Bulganin joined the Politburo in 1947 and served as Minister of Defense (1953-1955) and Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Premier) (1955-1958), succeeding Georgy Malenkov in the latter office. He initially supported Nikita Khrushchev when Mr. Khrushchev became the leader of the Soviet Union, but eventually disagreed with his policies and was forced to resign as Premier, and forced into retirement in 1960.

War
Civil war in Ethiopia pitted government troops against rebels in the province of Eritrea.

Defense
Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko began a five-day visit to Syria and Egypt to discuss defense.

Economics and finance
The European Economic Community pledged $4 billion in aid and trade over five years to 46 backward nations in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Shout--Tears for Fears

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Want To Know What Love Is--Foreigner (2nd week at #1)

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Peter Fricker, 69. U.K. composer. Mr. Fricker composed more than 160 works, including five symphonies, and other instrumental, chamber, and choral pieces. He moved to the United States in 1964 and taught at the University of California, Santa Barbara until his death from throat cancer on February 1, 1990.

World events
East German Premier Hans Modrow, addressing a press conference in East Berlin, outlined a plan for reunifying East and West Germany. He described an approach for integrating economic and governmental institutions into a country that would become militarily neutral. West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl said he would not begin any negotiations until after East German elections in March.

Politics and government
Bulgarian Premier Georgi Atanasov and his cabinet resigned. The Communist Party of Bulgaria ratified a manifesto that endorsed democratic ideals but kept its Marxist-Leninist ideology.

The National Salvation Front agreed to a power-sharing arrangement prior to elections in Romania. It was agreed that the interim legislative body would be increased in size and would include representatives of 30 registered political parties.

Scandal
Albert Hakim was sentenced to two years’ probation and fined $5,000 for illegally supplementing the salary of former U.S. National Security Council staff member Oliver North.

U.S. Attorney General Richard Thornburgh recommended that an independent counsel be appointed to investigate Samuel Pierce, Jr. and other former high officials in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In compliance with procedures established by law, Mr. Thornburgh made his recommendations to a special three-judge panel. He said that the counsel would investigate charges that Mr. Pierce, a former secretary of HUD, and other officials had awarded grants to developers backed by well-known Republicans.

Business
Humanitas publishing house was founded in Bucharest by philosopher Gabriel Liiceanu.

20 years ago
1995

On television today
Front Page Challenge, on CBC

This was the last broadcast of the panel show after 38 seasons; it was officially cancelled on April 13, 1995.

Law
The United States House of Representatives voted 360-74 in favour of a bill making it difficult for Congress to pass laws that required action by states and cities but did not provide federal funds for implementation. The Senate had passed such legislation five days earlier.

Labour
Major league baseball club owners and representatives of major league players met for the first time in 1995, in Washington, D.C. The players had gone on strike on August 11, 1994, ending the season unfinished.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board increased the federal funds rate (the interest rate banks charged each other for overnight loans) by 0.5% to 6%, and increased the discount rate (the interest rate charged by the Federal Reserve on loans to commercial banks) 0.5% to 5.25%. Both rates were at their highest levels in three years. In response to these increases, most major banks raised their prime rate from 8.5%-9.0%.

The United States Commerce Department reported that the index of leading economic indicators had increased 0.1% in December 1994.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
John Vernon, 72. Canadian actor. Mr. Vernon, born Adolphus Raymondus Vernon Agopsowicz in Zehner, Saskatchewan, starred in the CBC television series Wojeck (1966; 1968) and appeared in such movies as Point Blank (1967); Topaz (1969); Dirty Harry (1971); Animal House (1978); and Rat Tales (1986).

Politics and government
King Gyanendra of Nepal carried out a coup d'état to capture the country's democracy as he dismissed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's government for failing to make arrangements for parliamentary elections and being unable to restore peace in the country, then in the midst of a civil war led by Maoist insurgents. King Gyanendra became Chairman of the Councils of ministers.