The following events occurred in December 1977:
December 1, 1977 (Thursday) In Columbus, Ohio, the first interactive cable television system, QUBE, was launched by Warner Communications. In addition to the standard box to receive cable signals, the system included a remote with five additional buttons to allow viewers to respond to multiple choice questions, including approval or disapproval of programming."Cable TV Experiment Launched— QUBE Comes to Columbus", Los Angeles Times, December 21, 1977, p. IV-1 The heads of state of multiple Arab nations gathered at Tripoli in Libya to discuss moves against Egypt and President Anwar Sadat for his recognition of the Jewish nation of Israel."Anti-Sadat Arabs Gather at Summit", by Joe Alex Morris Jr., Los Angeles Times, December 2, 1977, p. I-1 Born: Brad Delson, American rock guitarist and co-founder of Linkin Park; in Agoura Hills, California
December 2, 1977 (Friday) A jet crash killed 59 of the 159 people aboard a Libyan Arab Airlines flight that was bringing Muslim pilgrims back home from Saudi Arabia."Plane With Moslem Pilgrims From Mecca Crashes; 56 Die", Los Angeles Times, December 3, 1977, p. I-14 The Tupolev Tu-154 ran out of fuel after having to alter its route to avoid Egyptian airspace, and the crew was attempting to find an alternate airport after its destination at Benghazi was hindered by a heavy fog.Aviation Safety Network "World Series Cricket" (WSC), created by Australian TV network owner Kerry Packer after he was unable to secure rights to broadcast international network on his Nine Network, played its first match. Denied the right to use the trademark term "Test match" by the Marylebone Cricket Club, or to identify a national team as "Australia", Packer promoted the five-day international series as a "Supertest" and dubbed the team "WSC Australian XI". In that normal cricket venues in Australia were denied by Marylebone to rival competitors, WSC leased four alternate sites and hired John Maley to develop the "drop-in pitch"."World Series gone, but can't be forgotten", The Age (Melbourne), May 31, 2003 In the inaugural match, WSC Australian XI faced off against WSC West Indies XI at the Australian rules football stadium at Adelaide, in South Australia, playing before only 2,847 spectators."Pascoe Puts Teams Level— WSC West Indians 2-47 v WSC Australians 256", by Brian Mossop, Sydney Morning Herald, December 3, 1977, p. 50"Packer cricket circus flops", Cambridge Evening News, December 2, 1977, p. 1 On the same day, a regular Test series began at Brisbane between Australia and India in front of 9,000 fans."Toohey, 82, shines but spin routs Australia— India 1-13 v Australia 166", by Bill O'Reilly, Sydney Morning Herald, December 3, 1977, p. 50 Convicted murderers Erskine "Buck" Burrows and Larry Tacklyn were hanged at Casemates Prison in Bermuda,"Bermuda Hangs 2 Convicted Killers", Los Angeles Times, December 3, 1977, p. I-2 becoming the last people to be executed under British rule anywhere in the world."Death penalty abolished on all British territory", by Anthony Browne, The Times (London), October 23, 2002 Burrows had been convicted of the 1973 assassination of Bermuda Governor Richard Sharples and four other murders, while Tacklyn was convicted of assisting Burrows on two murders. Rioting broke out the day before the execution of the two men, and at the request of Governor Peter Ramsbotham, the British Defence Ministry sent 150 troops to restore order."Bermuda Calls for British Troops to Quell Riots", Los Angeles Times, December 4, 1977, p. I-1
December 3, 1977 (Saturday) Seamus Twomey, a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army's ruling army council, was recaptured in Ballsbridge more than four years after his escape by helicopter from Dublin's Mountjoy Prison."Police in Dublin Capture Fugitive IRA Commander", Los Angeles Times, December 4, 1977, p. I-23 Police in Ireland had spotted the fugitive near Dublin and arrested him after a high-speed car chase. Fraye Arbeter Shtime, the oldest Yiddish language newspaper in the United States, published its final edition after 87 years of existence. The folding of the Stimme left only five Yiddish newspapers in the U.S., with the most popular one being the 80-year-old Jewish Daily Vorwarts."Oldest Yiddish Paper in U.S. Dies", Los Angeles Times, December 5, 1977, p. I-19 Died: Jack Beresford, 78, British rower gold medal winner in Olympic gold medals (1924, 1932 and 1936), and silver medals in 1920 and 1928
December 4, 1977 (Sunday)
All 100 passengers and crew on board Malaysian Airline System Flight 653 were killed in a crash after the plane was hijacked. MAS 653 had departed Penang toward Kuala Lumpur at 7:54 p.m. local time. Ten minutes later, the crew reported that a terrorist from the Japanese Red Army had entered the cockpit and demanded to be flown to Singapore."Hijacked Airliner Crashes; 100 Die— Malaysia Jet Seized by Red Army, Sources Say", Los Angeles Times, December 5, 1977, p. I-1 The gunman then killed the pilot, the co-pilot and himself, and the autopilot was apparently disconnected, perhaps by another person attempting to fly the aircraft. The Boeing 737 crashed into a swamp near Tanjung Kupang on Johor.Aviation Safety Network The coronation of Emperor Bokassa I took place in the Bangui, capital of the Central African Empire. According to reporters, the lavish ceremony at Bangui's indoor sports stadium was inspired by the 1804 coronation of Bokassa's idol, French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Bokassa, formerly President Jean-Bédel Bokassa, received "a 6-foot diamond-encrusted scepter of office and was then draped by aides in an ermine-trimmed red velvet cloak" that included a train. Emulating Napoleon, Bokassa placed a "diamond-encrusted imperial crown" upon his own head and then crowned his wife as the Empress Catherine, before sitting down on a specially designed "two-ton gold-plated throne, shaped like a 15-foot high eagle with an 18-foot wingspan", designed by French sculptor Olivier Brice, who also designed the crown, the scepter and a ceremonial sword. The event, held in a nation where the average per capita income was only $155, cost US$30,000,000."Emperor Crowns Himself in Poverty-Stricken Land", Los Angeles Times, December 5, 1977, p. I-1
December 5, 1977 (Monday) The U.S. Hells Angels motorcycle club expanded into Canada for the first time, creating a Montreal chapter composed of 35 members of the Popeyes, Canada's second largest motor gang.Jerry Langton, Showdown: How the Outlaws, Hells Angels and Cops Fought for Control of the Streets (John Wiley, 2010) p. 56 The Hells Angels entry into Canada came five months after the Outlaws Motorcycle Club of the U.S. had formed its first Canadian chapter on July 1 from members of the Satan's Choice club, and the Hells Angels and Outlaws would soon fight for domination of Montreal and Quebec."How the Hells Angels Conquered Canada", by Patrick Lejtenyi, VICE Canada Born: Matt Gutman, American TV journalist and author; in Princeton, New Jersey Died: David K. E. Bruce, 79, U.S. diplomat who had served as the U.S. ambassador to France (1949-1952), West Germany (1957-1959) and the United Kingdom (1961-1969) as well as being the first U.S. Liaison to the People's Republic of China (1973-1974) after diplomatic relations were established"Bruce, Adviser to 6 Presidents, Dies— Served in 3 Top Posts, Was Envoy to Peking", Los Angeles Times, December 6, 1977, p. I-1 Marshal Aleksandr Vasilevsky, 82, Chief of the General Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces during World War II"A. N. Vasilevsky, Favorite Stalin Strategist, Dies", Los Angeles Times, December 7, 1977, p. I-8 Katherine Milhous, 83, American author and illustrator
December 6, 1977 (Tuesday)
South Africa granted nominal independence to Bophuthatswana, its newest Bantustan, although the nation was not recognized by any other country."101-Gun Salute Heralds Newest Black Republic", by Jack Foisie, Los Angeles Times, December 6, 1977, p. I-21 In the capital at Mafeking, Lucas Mangope was inaugurated as the first and only president of Bophuthatswana, serving until the area's reincorporation into a black-ruled South Africa in 1994. Members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) walked off away from coal mining jobs at 12:01 a.m. as winter weather began in the United States, beginning a 110-day strike that halted the production of coal. The strike would last for more than three months, ending on March 19 after a new wage agreement would be entered with the larger coal companies within the Bituminous Coal Operators Association. Born: Andrew Flintoff, English cricketer for the England national team with 591 Test matches and 154 ODIs; in Preston, Lancashire
December 7, 1977 (Wednesday) Sweden's parliament, the Riksdag, voted 231 to 57 to outlaw slot machines, beginning in 1979."Sweden Will Outlaw Slot Machines", Los Angeles Times, December 8, 1977, p. I-4 Born: Luke Donald, English professional golfer who was the top money winner in the PGA and European tours in 2011, ranked number one in the world for 10 months 2011 to 2012; in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire Died: David Holden, 53, British journalist and chief foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times, was murdered while on assignment in Egypt."The World", Los Angeles Times, December 11, 1977, p. I-2
December 8, 1977 (Thursday) In Paris, the Réseau Express Régional (RER), described by Reuters at the time as "the world's most advanced urban transport system", was inaugurated by France's president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, who took the controls of the electric high-speed underground train and drove it at speeds up to on its 10 kilometer trip from the new Châtelet–Les Halles station beneath Paris to the Boissy-Saint-Léger station. The system opened to the public the next day, with free rides for its first three days."Giscard Takes Controls to Open Paris Subway", Los Angeles Times, December 9, 1977, p. I-5 Portugal's Socialist Prime Minister Mario Soares and his government lost a vote of confidence in the National Assembly by a margin of 159 against and 100 in favor. Deputies of the Communist Party, Social Democrats and Center Democrats joined in their opposition to Soares."Portugal's Socialist Government Falls", Los Angeles Times, December 8, 1977, p. I-4 Off the coast of the U.S. state of Louisiana, 17 people were killed in the crash of a helicopter, carrying employees of the Pennzoil Producing Company to an offshore oil drilling rig. Only two people survived the accident as the Puma helicopter dropped from a height of while attempting to land at the rig in high winds. The men were preparing to start a seven-day shift at the Pennzoil rig, located in the Gulf of Mexico south of Morgan City, Louisiana."17 Die, 2 Survive as Copter Crashes on Offshore Oil Rig", Los Angeles Times, December 9, 1977, p. I-20 Born: Sébastien Chabal, French rugby union player with 62 caps for the France national team; in Valence, Drôme département Matthias Schoenaerts, Belgian film and TV actor, 2014 winner of the César Award for Most Promising Actor; in Antwerp Elsa Benítez, Mexican model and TV host; in Hermosillo, Sonora state Ryan Newman, (nicknamed "The Rocket-Man") American race car driver
December 9, 1977 (Friday)