TODAY IN HISTORY

1883

The United States and Canada adopted a system of Standard Time zones.

1936

Germany and Italy recognized the Spanish government of Francisco Franco.

1963

The Bell System introduced the first commercial touch-tone telephone system in Carnegie and Greensburg, Pa.

1966

U.S. Roman Catholic bishops did away with the rule against eating meat on Fridays outside of Lent.

1976

Spain’s parliament approved a bill to establish a democracy after 37years of dictatorship.

1978

U.S. Rep. Leo J. Ryan of California and four others were killed on an airstrip in Jonestown, Guyana, by members of the Peoples Temple; the killings were followed by a night of mass murder and suicide resulting in the deaths of more than 900 cult members.

1985

The comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes,” created by Bill Watterson, was first published.