ON THIS DAY
FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE NOVEMBER 18, 1943
MAJoR Lloyd George, Minister of Fuel and Power, last night threatened drastic action to force people to use less gas and electricity. He has in mind a reduction in gas pressure and power cuts. The current cold snap has sent up consumption so high that the war effort is being imperilled.
NOVEMBER 18, 1966
THE Prince of Wales, who already plays the trumpet, is learning the cello at his school, Gordonstoun. His teacher said yesterday: ‘He is one of the very few who have what can be called perfect pitch.’
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MICKEY MoUSE, 89. Walt Disney’s world-famous mouse made his first appearance in the short film Steamboat Willie in 1928. He was meant to be a mischievous antihero, though he evolved into a more heroic figure. Disney originally planned to call him Mortimer Mouse but his wife, Lillian, persuaded him to change his mind. STEVEN MoFFAT, 56. The Paisley-born TV writer and producer was previously an English teacher, which provided the inspiration for the 1997 TV sitcom, Chalk, set in a school. He is a lifelong Doctor Who fan and created many episodes when the series was revived in 2005. He also co-created the BBC’s Sherlock, with Benedict Cumberbatch, and co-wrote Steven Spielberg’s 2011 film, The Adventures of Tintin.
BORN ON THIS DAY
JoHNNY MERCER (1909-1976). The U.S. composer and founder of Capitol Records wrote more than 1,500 songs, including the lyrics of Moon River for 1961 film Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Though married to dancer Ginger Meehan from the age of 20 until his death, he was said to love Judy Garland, for whom he wrote one For My Baby. JoCELYN BRANDo (1919-2005). The U.S. actress, Marlon Brando’s older sister, starred in the 1953 movie The Big Heat. She once revealed: ‘I asked him [Marlon] for a tip about pictures and he answered: “oh, I just say the words. That’s all I know about picture acting.” ’
ON NOVEMBER 18…
IN 1987 31 people died at London’s King’s Cross station when a wooden escalator caught fire. A dropped match was blamed.
IN 2000 Michael Douglas, then 56, married Welsh actress Catherine Zeta Jones, 31, in a £1.5 million New York ceremony (pictured). His ring came from a jeweller in Aberystwyth.
WORD WIZARDRY
GUESS THE DEFINITION Shunch (coined 1225) A) To terrify, frighten away. B) Reluctant. C) Walk with shoes half-off. Answer below.
PHRASE EXPLAINED
Life is just a bowl of cherries: Meaning life is very pleasant. Comes from a song of the same name in the 1931 musical Scandals.
QUOTE FOR TODAY
IF I HAD been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush. Dawn French, English actress, writer and comedian
JOKE OF THE DAY
THE bank won’t return calls about a 0per cent credit card . . . They’ve lost all interest. Guess The Definition answer: A.