October 8, 2019 ON THIS DAY
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE october 8, 1945
ToyS of slightly better quality than the war-time models will be in the shops this Christmas, but supplies are not likely to be much better than last year’s.
Members of the trade thus summed up the outlook at the weekend. ‘exports first’ is a slogan that reaches the nursery, too.
For adults, there is a spot of better news. Genuine champagne, ten years old, will be on sale for Christmas at 35s a bottle (18s a half-bottle).
october 8, 1973
WoMeN will definitely have equal rights when Britain’s first commercial radio station goes on the air this morning.
London Broadcasting [LBC] will have men reading news bulletins on the hour and women on the half hour throughout its 24-hour news and current affairs service.
John Clare, London Broadcasting’s deputy editor, said last night: ‘We’ve never been able to understand why the BBC has virtually banned women from reading news. The legend is that women lack authority, but that is rubbish.’
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
SIGoUrNey WeAVer, 70, pictured. The American star of Alien, Gorillas In The Mist and Working Girl, the daughter of english actress elizabeth Inglis, was born Susan but aged 14 changed to Sigourney, after a character in the novel The Great Gatsby. BeTTy BooThroyD, 90. The only woman to serve as Speaker of the house of Commons (1992-2000) was a chorus girl before being elected an MP on her fifth attempt. Described as headmistress, nanny and pub landlady all rolled into one, Boothroyd said she did her best to encourage ‘a virile, argumentative, adversarial house’, adding: ‘Let me put it to you like this, I have been in many parliaments all over the world and they are all like mortuaries.’
BORN ON THIS DAY
FrANk herBerT ( 1920- 1986). The American novelist is best known for his novel Dune. It was rejected by 20 publishers, so herbert made a living writing adverts for stores until it was accepted. BILL MAyNArD (19282018), pictured. The actor from Surrey started in a junior comedy turn, later appeared in five Carry on films and earned £400,000 a year playing Claude Greengrass in ITV’s heartbeat. he was born Walter Williams and took his stage surname from Maynard’s wine gums.
ON OCTOBER 8...
IN 1945, American radar expert Percy Spencer patented the first microwave oven. IN 1967, former prime minister Clement Attlee died, aged 84.
WORD WIZARDRY
GUESS THE DEFINITION: dixie (c1895) A) an elf B) a street brawl C) a large metal pot for soldiers and campers Answer below.
PHRASE EXPLAINED
Bring the house down – originally an 18th century phrase where ‘house’ describes a room full of an audience, it alludes to so much noise being created by the applause that the building’s structure is in jeopardy.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
Shakespeare — the nearest thing in incarnation to the eye of God. Sir Laurence Olivier, English actor and director (1907-1989)
JOKE OF THE DAY
how do pickles enjoy a day out? they relish it. Guess the Definition answer: c. Compiled by ETAN SMALLMAN and ADAM JACOT DE BOINOD