August 16, 2016

175 years ago
1841

Economics and finance
U.S. President John Tyler vetoed a bill which called for the re-establishment of the Second Bank of the United States. Enraged members of Mr. Tyler's Whig Party rioted outside the White House in the most violent demonstration on White House grounds in history.

120 years ago
1896

Canadiana
Skookum Jim Mason, George Carmack and Dawson Charlie discovered gold in a tributary of the Klondike River in Yukon, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush.

110 years ago
1906

Disasters
An estimated 8.2-MW earthquake hit Valparaíso, Chile, killing 3,886 people.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Henry Gregor Felsen. U.S. author. Mr. Felsen wrote numerous books and stories, but was best known for novels such as Hot Rod (1950); Street Rod (1953); Crash Club (1958); and Boy Gets Car (1960), as well as humourous novels featuring the character Bertie Poddle. Mr. Felsen died on March 2, 1995 at the age of 78.

Environment
The Migratory Bird Treaty was signed by the United States and United Kingdom (representing Canada), to take effect on December 6, 1916.

80 years ago
1936

Olympics
The Summer Olympics closed in Berlin. Canada won one gold medal, three silver, and five bronze medals.

75 years ago
1941

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Daddy--Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye (vocal refrain by the Kaye Choir) (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
William Z. Ripley, 73. U.S. economist, sociologist, and anthropologist. Dr. Ripley was known for his criticisms of American railroad economics and American business practices in the 1920s and 1930s, and later for his tripartite racial theory of Europe, which was popular with eugenicists. His books included The Races of Europe: A Sociological Study (1899) and Main Street and Wall Street (1927). Dr. Ripley retired in 1933 after a couple of nervous breakdowns.

War
The government of Ecuador claimed that Peruvian troops had again attacked in the disputed border zone.

Diplomacy
The Cuban government revealed that Germany had ordered Cuban consular officials in occupied European countries to leave by September 1. Japanese military authorities announced that foreigners in Manchukuo must leave before August 18, and that all Manchurians in northern China must return by the same date.

Defense
The U.S.S.R. and U.K. signed a trade treaty under which Britain would give the Soviet Union a credit of £10 million with which to buy strategic British materials. The New York State American Legion convention adopted a resolution opposing any U.S. aid to the U.S.S.R. The Congress of Industrial Organizations United Auto Workers convention adopted a resolution urging American aid to those who fought German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler, but opposing U.S. entry into foreign wars.

Politics and government
Philippine President Manuel Quezon and Vice President Sergio Osmena were renominated by the Nacionalista Party as its sole candidates for the November 1941 elections, assuring them of another two-year term.

70 years ago
1946

At the movies
The Time of Their Lives, starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, opened in theatres.





Protest
A protest called by the Muslim League Council in Calcutta produced mass rioting, resulting in as many as 8,000 deaths in 72 hours.

War
At the Tokyo trial of accused Japanese war criminals, former Chinese Emperor Pu Yi testified that he had become the puppet rulier of Manchuria because of Japanese threats against his life.

Diplomacy
The U.S.S.R. demanded that France be denied the right to vote on commissions of the Paris Peace Conference dealing with the Romanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, and Finnish treaties.

Politics and government
Democratic candidate Dumarsais Estime was elected President of Haiti by the General Constituent Assembly.

U.S. President Harry Truman said that he may ask Congress to pass legislation admitting more Jewish refugees and European displaced persons as permanent U.S. residents; he also emphasized that the United States had no solution of its own to the Palestine problem.

Economics and finance
The U.S.A. and U.K. rejected a French proposal to create special offices under the Allied Control Council in Berlin for coordination of economic activities in the four zones of Germany.

Labour
The All Hyderabad Trade Union Congress was founded in Secunderabad, India.

Disasters
The heaviest rainfall recorded in St. Louis in 109 years flooded the city, causing two deaths, making 2,000 families homeless, and causing an estimated $2 million in property damage.

60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): La Ballade de Davy Crockett--Annie Cordy (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Bela Lugosi, 73. Hungarian-born U.S. actor. Mr. Lugosi, born Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó, was a distinguished performer in plays and silent films in Hungary, but ran afoul of political authorities, and moved to the United States late in 1920. He became famous on Broadway for playing the title role in Dracula (1927), and starred in the movie (1931). Mr. Lugosi became typecast as a horror movie actor is such films as White Zombie (1932), The Black Cat (1934), and The Raven (1935), and addiction to painkillers eventually ruined his life and career. Mr. Lugosi worked with notoriously awful director Ed Wood in his last few years, co-starring in the movies Glen or Glenda (1953) and Bride of the Monster (1955). A few minutes of silent footage of Mr. Lugosi had been shot for Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) when he died of a heart attack; this footage appeared in the finished film, and he was replaced for newly-filmed scenes by an "actor" who looked nothing like him and always kept the lower part of his face covered on screen.

Diplomacy
A 22-nation conference on internationalization of the Suez Canal convened in London. British Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd, chairman of the conference, agreed with India and the U.S.S.R. that no participating nation could be bound to conference decisions by majority vote.

Politics and government
Former Illinois Governor Adlai E. Stevenson was nominated for President of the United States at the Democratic National Convention at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, taking 905½ of the convention's 1,372 votes on the first ballot. New York Governor Averell Harriman was second with 210 votes. Mr. Stevenson had been the Democratic presidential nominee in 1952, losing to Republican candidate Dwight Eisenhower, who was running for re-election in 1956.

World events
The Hungarian government pardoned Endre Marton, an Associated Press correspondent in Budapest who had been jailed in 1955 on espionage charges.

Health
American Medical Association, U.S. Navy, and Public Health Service reported that tests on 4,000 Navy recruits of a new anti-flu vaccine had proved 50-70% effective against Type 4 influenza.

Olympics
The International Olympic Committee disqualified Argentina from the 1956 Summer Olympic Games, to be held in November in Melbourne, Australia. The IOC held that political considerations had caused the Argentine government to oust members of its national Olympic committee who were supporters of former Argentine President Juan Peron.

50 years ago
1966

Music
The Beatles continued their final concert tour with a performance at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia.

Protest
The U.S. House of Representatives Un-American Activities Committee began investigations of Americans who had aided the Viet Cong. The committee intended to introduce legislation making these activities illegal. Anti-war demonstrators disrupted the hearings, and 50 people were arrested.

Economics and finance
U.S. banks increased their lending rates to 6%, the highest rate since 1920. New York's First National Bank was the first to raise its rates.

Boxing
Canadian heavyweight champion George Chuvalo (36-13-2) knocked out Mel Turnbow (6-7) at 2:55 of the 7th round at Paul Sauve Arena in Montreal.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): S-S-S Single Bed--Fox (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Yokosuka Story--Momoe Yamaguchi (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): El Jardín Prohibido--Sandro Giacobbe (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
George Aiton, 85. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Aiton was an outfielder who played 10 games with the St. Louis Browns in 1912, batting .235 (4 for 17) with no home runs and 1 run batted in.

Golf
Dave Stockton won the PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club (Blue Course) in Bethesda, Maryland with a 1-over-par score of 281, 1 stroke ahead of Ray Floyd and Don January. First prize money was $45,000.

Football
CFL
Montreal (1-3-1) 9 @ Ottawa (4-1) 45

Tony Gabriel caught 2 touchdown passes from Tom Clements and another from Condredge Holloway as the Rough Riders routed the Alouettes before 29,779 fans at Lansdowne Park. The Rough Riders amassed 640 yards net offense.

Baseball
This blogger and his parents were among the 30,276 in attendance at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati to see the Atlanta Braves upset the Cincinnati Reds 4-3, with Vic Correll's home run in the 7th inning providing the deciding run.

The San Diego Padres scored 8 runs in the 9th inning to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-7 before 13,330 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. San Diego shortstop Enzo Hernandez batted twice in the 9th, drawing a base on balls and scoring, and then driving in 3 runs with a bases-loaded triple.

Rob Sperring singled home 2 unearned runs with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to break a 3-3 tie and give the Chicago Cubs a 5-3 win over the Houston Astros before 7,371 fans at the Astrodome. With 2 out, Pete LaCock was picked off second base by Houston pitcher Larry Dierker, but second baseman Rob Andrews dropped the ball for an error, allowing Mr. LaCock to go to third and the inning to continue.

The Boston Red Sox scored 6 runs in the 3rd inning and 5 in the 7th as they defeated the Chicago White Sox 12-5 before 7,733 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Luis Tiant (13-10) allowed 9 hits and 4 runs--all earned--in 5 innings, but was still the winning pitcher.

Von Joshua singled home Sixto Lezcano and Tim Johnson with 1 out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics before 9,019 fans at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Oakland designated hitter Billy Williams was ejected from the game in the top of the 8th after arguing with home plate umpire Bill Kunkel over Mr. Kunkel's strike two call. Mr. Kunkel ordered Mr. Williams to get into the batter's box, and when he refused, Mr. Kunkel ordered Milwaukee pitcher Danny Frisella to pitch, ruled the pitch to be strike three, and ejected Mr. Williams.

Amos Otis and Tom Poquette each hit 2-run home runs in the bottom of the 1st inning as the Kansas City Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 6-1 before 18,797 fans at Royals Stadium. Marty Pattin pitched a 3-hit complete game victory.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Papa Don't Preach--Madonna (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Papa Don't Preach--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Holiday Rap--MC Miker G & DJ Sven (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Lady in Red--Chris de Burgh (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: The Lady in Red--Chris de Burgh (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Papa Don't Preach--Madonna

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Papa Don't Preach--Madonna
2 Glory of Love--Peter Cetera
3 Sledgehammer--Peter Gabriel
4 Mad About You--Belinda Carlisle
5 Higher Love--Steve Winwood
6 Invisible Touch--Genesis
7 Love Touch--Rod Stewart
8 Dancing on the Ceiling--Lionel Richie
9 We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off--Jermaine Stewart
10 The Edge of Heaven--Wham!

Singles entering the chart were Throwing it All Away by Genesis (#42); I Didn't Mean to Turn You On by Robert Palmer (#76); It's You by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (#83); Sweet Love by Anita Baker (#84); Paranoimia by The Art of Noise with Max Headroom (#86); Take Me Home Tonight by Eddie Money (#87); Playing with the Boys by Kenny Loggins (#88); Weatherman by Nick Jameson (#89); and Earth Angel by New Edition (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Papa Don't Preach--Madonna (2nd week at #1)
2 Glory of Love--Peter Cetera
3 We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off--Jermaine Stewart
4 Sledgehammer--Peter Gabriel
5 I Can't Wait--Nu Shooz
6 Who's Johnny--El DeBarge
7 Danger Zone--Kenny Loggins
8 Mad About You--Belinda Carlisle
9 Nasty--Janet Jackson
10 Love Touch--Rod Stewart

Singles entering the chart were Venus by Bananarama (#80); Innocent (With an Explanation) by Luba (#94); Someday by Glass Tiger (#96); You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon (#97); and Walk Like a Man by Mary Jane Girls (#98).

Oddities
Dale Holman of the Richmond Braves of the International League became the first player in U.S. professional baseball to play for both teams in the same game. He had been playing for Syracuse when their game against the Braves had been suspended because of rain on June 16. By the time the game resumed, he had been traded to Richmond, and was in the Braves' lineup.

Football
CFL
Saskatchewan (3-5) 21 @ Hamilton (2-5) 23

Bernie Ruoff kicked a 28-yard field goal with 58 seconds remaining in regulation time to give the Tiger-Cats a 23-20 lead over the Roughriders before 14,507 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium, and Saskatchewan kicker Dave Ridgway was wide on a 47-yard FG attempt with 17 seconds left, settling for a single point.

25 years ago
1991

Died on this date
Luigi Zampa, 86. Italian film director. Mr. Zampa wrote and directed almost 40 movies from 1941-1979, including Campane a martello (Alarm Bells) (1949) and its English remake, Children of Chance (1949). He was known for neo-realist films in the 1940s, but achieved success in the Commedia all'italiana genre in the 1950s and '60s.

Disasters
Indian Airlines Flight 257, a Boeing 737-200 en route from Calcutta, crashed during approach to Imphal Municipal Airport, killing all 69 people on board.

Football
CFL
Hamilton (0-6) 24 @ Winnipeg (3-3) 25

Robert Mimbs rushed 2 yards for a touchdown, converted by Trevor Kennerd, to give the Blue Bombers the lead with 5 minutes remaining in regulation time, and Hamilton kicker Paul Osbaldiston was unsuccessful on a 56-yard field goal attempt on the last play before 25,985 fans at Winnipeg Stadium.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): e.p.--Gyllene Tider (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Wannabe--Spice Girls (2nd week at #1)

Canadiana
The port of Lunenberg, Nova Scotia was designated a United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

Football
CFL
Calgary (7-1) 47 @ Hamilton (4-4) 10

Larry Jusdanis, a Canadian, made his first start as a CFL quarterback with Hamilton, but was unsuccessful as the Stampeders routed the Tiger-Cats before 20,072 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Kelvin Anderson rushed for 2 Calgary touchdowns.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, 93. 46th President of Paraguay, 1954-1989. General Stroessner took power in a military coup in 1954 that ousted Federico Chávez. Gen. Stroessner was an arch anti-Communist who had the support of the United States for most of his time in power. His regime committed numerous human rights violations, inculding torture. Gen. Stroessner was ousted in a military coup in February 1989 led by his longtime confidant General Andrés Rodríguez. Gen. Stroessner spent the last 17 years of his life in exile in Brazil.