1982 Automaker John DeLorean Arrested

“Back to the Future” might have forever immortalized the winged DeLorean car as one of the coolest ever, but its creator has a more infamous reputation. On Oct. 19, 1982, automaker John Z. DeLorean was arrested in a multimillion-dollar cocaine deal. He was acquitted of the drug charges in 1984, but was later charged with fraud and had to pay a hefty fine. John DeLorean died in 2005.  The DeLorean auto company, based in Texas, still custom-makes a limited number of cars each year based on the original design. DeLorean could be poised for a 21st-century comeback with its planned 2013 electric DeLorean car.

1985 First Blockbuster Store Opens

The first Blockbuster video rental store opened in Dallas, Texas, offering a vast selection of movie titles from which to choose.  The video giant grew rapidly, about 400 Blockbuster stores could be found across the nation by 1988.  Blockbuster faced serious competition from the DVD mail service Netflix and on-demand rental services available through cable boxes.  The company filed for bankruptcy in 2010.

1987 ‘Black Monday’ for Stock Market

In the largest drop at the time, panic selling pummeled the NYSE and world markets.

2003 Mother Teresa Beatified by Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa, making her one step away from sainthood.

2005 Saddam Hussein on Trial

The former dictator of Iraq stood trial for charges of murder and torture.

2008 Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama

Republican Colin Powell decided to back Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, instead of the republican candidate John McCain.  Powell served as secretary of state under President George W. Bush.

Famous Birthdays

1945 Divine

1945 John Lithgow

1946 Phillip Pullman

1958 Michael Steele

1962 Evander Holyfield

1965 Ty Pennington

1969 John Edward

1969 Trey Parker

Travel back to the past (and you don’t even need a DeLorean to do it):

Oct. 18: Day in History.

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