Hello everyone !!!
Sorry I’m a little late today, my precious wife was worried about driving on the slick streets after another light dusting of snow here this morning in Albuquerque, so I cautiously took her to work and then I was off to a doctors appointment. It is yet another blessed and beautiful day here in our work for the Lord here at
For God’s Glory Alone Ministries !!!
Hope everyone is having a blessed day and for those of you in the great storms’ path, I pray for everyone’s safety. It is probably still a good idea to check travel routes should you be headed out on the road and remember to bring those pets in at night during the still freezing temperatures!
So, What Happened Today In 1952:
“The Mousetrap,” a murder mystery written by novelist and playwright Agatha Christie, opens at the Ambassadors Theatre in London. The crowd pleasing who-dun-it would go on to become the longest continuously running play in history, with over 10 million people to date attending its more than 20,000 performances in London’s West End. When “The Mousetrap” premiered in 1952, Winston Churchill was the British prime minister, Joseph Stalin was Soviet ruler and Dwight D. Eisenhower was president elect. Christie, already a hugely successful English mystery novelist, originally wrote the drama for Queen Mary, wife of the late King George V. It was originally called “Three Blind Mice” and it debuted as a 30 minute radio play on the queen’s 80th birthday in 1947. Christie later extended the play and renamed it “The Mousetrap” – a reference to the play-within-a-play performed in William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”.
On November 25, 1952, 453 people took their seats in the Ambassadors Theatre for the London premiere of Christie’s “Mousetrap”. The drama is played out at “Monkswell Manor,” whose hosts and guests are snowed in among radio reports of a murderer on the loose. Soon a detective shows up on skis with the terrifying news that the murderer, and probably the next victim, are likely both among their number. Soon the clues and false leads pile up as high as the snow. At every curtain call, the individual who has been revealed as the murderer steps forward and tells the audience that they are “partners in crime” and should “keep the secret of the whodunit locked in their heart.”
Richard Attenborough and his wife, Sheila Sim, were the first stars of “The Mousetrap”. To date, more than 300 actors and actresses have appeared in the roles of the eight characters. David Raven, who played “Major Metcalf” for 4,575 performances, is in the “Guinness Book of World Records” as the world’s most durable actor, while Nancy Seabrooke is noted as the world’s most patient understudy for 6,240 performances, or 15 years, as the substitute for “Mrs. Boyle.”
“The Mousetrap” is not considered Christie’s best play, and a prominent stage director once declared that “The Mousetrap” should be abolished by an act of Parliament.” Nevertheless, the show’s popularity has not waned. Asked about its enduring appeal, Christie said, “It is the sort of play you can take anyone to. It is not really frightening. It is not really horrible. It is not really a farce, but it has a little bit of all these things, and perhaps that satisfies a lot of different people.” In 1974, after almost 9,000 shows, the play was moved to St. Martin’s Theatre, where it remains today.
Agatha Christie, who wrote scores of best selling mystery novels, died in 1976.
Other Memorable or Interesting Events In History on 11/25:
2348 (B.C.) – According to Archbishop James Ussher’s Old Testament Chronology, the great deluge, (“Noah’s Flood”), began this day;
1034 – King Malcolm III of Scotland dies, Donnchad, son of his second daughter inherits the throne;
1185 – Pope Lucius III dies and is replaced by Pope Urban III;
1357 – Charles IV issues letter of protection of Jews of Strasbourg Alsace;
1667 – A deadly earthquake rocks Shemakha in Caucasus killing an estimated 80,000 people;
1703 – ‘The Great Storm’ hits southern Great Britain which lasts for two days with winds up to 120mph, 9,000 perish;
1744 – Austrian forces pillage and kill Jews of Prague;
1783 – Britain evacuates New York City, their last military post in the U.S.;
1863 – Yankee forces rout Rebel forces at Battle of Missionary Ridge;
1897 – Spain grants Puerto Rico autonomy;
1876 – U.S. army retaliates for the Little Big Horn Massacre;
1918 – German Commander in East Africa surrenders two weeks after armistice ended World War I;
1920 – First Thanksgiving Day Parade is held in Philadelphia PA;
1930 – 690 earthquake shocks recorded in one day in Japan;
1940 – Animated cartoon character Woody Woodpecker has first debut in “Knock-Knock”;
1948 – Cable TV is invented by LeRoy “Ed” Parsons in Astoria Oregon;
1952 – NFL’s ‘Dallas Texans’ win their only game, (11-1), beating the Bears 27-23;
1960 – “Amos ‘n’ Andy” made its last broadcast on CBS Radio;
1963 – John F. Kennedy laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery;
1973 – Maximum speed limit in U.S. cut to 55mph as an energy conservation measure;
1983 – World’s Greatest Robbery occurs at Heathrow England involving 25 million pounds, a large sum even today;
2001 – Afghanistan entered its eighth week of the war when CIA Officer Johnny “Mike” Spann became first combat casualty of the conflict;
2009 – Storm brings three years worth of rain in four hours to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia killing 150 people.
Today’s Silly Question:
Why is ‘Abbreviated’ such a long word?
Today’s Quote:
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. – Henry Ford
Today’s Funny Fact:
An earthquake on December 16, 1811 caused parts of the Mississippi River to flow backwards.
Today’s Silly Sign:
Outside a secondhand shop: “We exchange anything – bicycles, washing machines, etc. Why not bring your wife along and get a wonderful bargain.”
Today’s Thought For Today:
Reject hatred without hating. – Mary Baker Eddy
Until Tomorrow – God Bless To All !!!
