This day in history - November 18
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 3:22 pm
1883 - The United States adopted standard time zones.
Before then, each town set its clocks by the sun. The railroads needed a standard time system so that they could publish schedules.
1928 - Mickey Mouse was "born" with the premiere of the cartoon film "Steamboat Willie."
He was initially ratlike and not all that endearing.
1959 - The movie Ben Hur, starring Charlton Heston, had its premiere.
1978 - U.S. Representative Leo Ryan was killed at the Jonestown cult settlement in Guyana. The cult leader, Jim Jones, had been "losing it" for a while, and he initiated a series of murders and suicides that killed 909 people and gave Kool-Aid a black eye.
1991 - British diplomat Terry Waite was freed after having been held hostage by terrorists in Lebanon for over four years.
- Jim
Before then, each town set its clocks by the sun. The railroads needed a standard time system so that they could publish schedules.
1928 - Mickey Mouse was "born" with the premiere of the cartoon film "Steamboat Willie."
He was initially ratlike and not all that endearing.
1959 - The movie Ben Hur, starring Charlton Heston, had its premiere.
1978 - U.S. Representative Leo Ryan was killed at the Jonestown cult settlement in Guyana. The cult leader, Jim Jones, had been "losing it" for a while, and he initiated a series of murders and suicides that killed 909 people and gave Kool-Aid a black eye.
1991 - British diplomat Terry Waite was freed after having been held hostage by terrorists in Lebanon for over four years.
- Jim