Today in History: November 18, more than 900 die at Jonestown

Today is Monday, Nov. 18, the 323rd time of 2024. There are 43 days near successful the year.

Today successful history:

On Nov. 18, 1978, U.S. Rep. Leo J. Ryan of California and 4 others were killed connected an airstrip successful Jonestown, Guyana, by members of the Peoples Temple; the killings were followed by a nighttime of wide execution and termination resulting successful the deaths of much than 900 cult members.

Also connected this date:

In 1928, “Steamboat Willie,” the archetypal cartoon with synchronized dependable arsenic good arsenic the archetypal merchandise of the quality Mickey Mouse, debuted connected surface astatine the Colony Theater successful New York.

In 1987, an underground occurrence broke retired successful the King’s Cross St Pancras subway presumption successful London, causing 31 deaths.

In 1991, Shiite Muslim kidnappers successful Lebanon freed Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite and Thomas Sutherland, the American dean of agriculture astatine the American University of Beirut.

In 1999, 12 radical were killed and 27 injured erstwhile a bonfire nether operation astatine Texas A&M University collapsed.

In 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the authorities constitution guaranteed cheery couples the close to marry, the archetypal authorities ultimate tribunal to bash so.

In 2005, 8 months aft Robert Blake was acquitted of murdering his woman astatine a transgression trial, a civilian assemblage decided the histrion was down the sidesplitting and ordered him to wage Bonny Lee Bakley’s children $30 million.

In 2021, much than fractional a period aft the assassination of Malcolm X, 2 of his convicted killers were exonerated; a New York justice dismissed the convictions of Muhammad Aziz and the precocious Khalil Islam aft prosecutors and the men’s lawyers said a renewed probe had recovered caller grounds that undermined the lawsuit against them.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Author Margaret Atwood is 85.
• Actor Linda Evans is 82.
• Actor Delroy Lindo is 72.
• Comedian Kevin Nealon is 71.
• Football Hall of Famer Warren Moon is 68.
• Actor Oscar Nunez is 66.
• Actor Elizabeth Perkins is 64.
• Rock instrumentalist Kirk Hammett (Metallica) is 62.
• Author and lecturer Brené Brown is 59.
• Actor Romany Malco is 56.
• Actor Owen Wilson is 56.
• Commentator Megan Kelly is 54.
• Actor Chloe Sevigny (SEH’-ven-ee) is 50.
• Baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz is 49.
• Rapper Fabolous is 47.
• NASCAR operator Denny Hamlin is 44.
• Actor-comedian Nasim Pedrad (nah-SEEM’ peh-DRAHD’) is 43.
• Actor Damon Wayans Jr. is 42.
• Olympic way and tract golden medalist Allyson Felix is 39.
• Fashion decorator Christian Siriano is 39.
• Actor Nathan Kress is 32.
• NFL backmost Caleb Williams is 23.