January 30, 2017

170 years ago
1847

Americana
Yerba Buena, California was renamed San Francisco.

150 years ago
1867

Died on this date
Kōmei, 35. Emperor of Japan, 1846-1867. Kōmei, born Osahito, succeeded his father Ninkō, and was on the throne when Japan began its transformation into a modern industrial power after the arrival of U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853. Kōmei died of smallpox and was succeeded by his son Meiji.

90 years ago
1927

Football
AFL-NFL
Exhibition
New York Yankees (4-2-1) (AFL) 14 @ Los Angeles Buccaneers (1-2) (NFL) 0

10,000 fans at Wrigley Field saw the Yankees shut out the Buccaneers.

75 years ago
1942

War
Japanese forces invaded the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies; 300 captured Allied troops were massacred at Laha airfield.

60 years ago
1957

Football
WIFU
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers named offensive end and defensive halfback Bud Grant, 29, as their head coach, succeeding the departed Allie Sherman. Mr. Grant, who retired upon assuming the coaching duties, led the Western Interprovincial Football Union in 1956 with 63 pass receptions for 970 yards. Mr. Grant joined the Blue Bombers in 1953 after two years with the Philadelphia Eagles; he also played forward with the Minneapolis Laker of the National Basketball Association from 1949-51, and was a member of the Lakers' NBA championship team in 1950.

50 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Lady Pepa--Los Pekenikes

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I'm a Believer--The Monkees (2nd week at #1)

40 years ago
1977

On television tonight
Roots, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Part VIII

This was the final episode of the miniseries.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)--Mel and Kim (3rd week at #1)

At the movies
Radio Days, one of director Woody Allen's best movies, opened in theatres. This is the Woody Allen film for people who don't like Woody Allen films.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Goodnight Girl--Wet Wet Wet

Space
The U.S. space shuttle Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California to conclude the eight-day mission STS-42. The seven member crew, which included Canadian payload specialist Roberta Bondar, was commanded by Ronald Grabe.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Don't Speak--No Doubt

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Breathe--The Prodigy (7th week at #1)

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Sidney Sheldon, 89. U.S. writer. Mr. Sheldon, born Sidney Schechtel, was a screenwriter from the 1940s through the 1970s, and won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947). He later became a novelist, with bestsellers that included The Other Side of Midnight (1973) and Bloodline (1977). Mr. Sheldon died 12 days before his 90th birthday.

Technology
Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system was released.