Today is Friday, March 26, the 85th day of 2010. There are 280 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History

On March 26, 1979, a peace treaty was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and witnessed by President Jimmy Carter at the White House.

On this date

In 1827, composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna.

In 1885, the Eastman Dry Plate Co. of Rochester, N.Y., began manufacturing the first commercial photographic film on paper rolls.

In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans became the first U.S. team to win the Stanley Cup as they defeated the Montreal Canadiens.

In 1971, East Pakistan proclaimed its independence, taking the name Bangladesh.

In 1982, groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Washington, D.C., for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

In 1997, the bodies of 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate techno-religious cult who’d committed suicide were found inside a rented mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Ten years ago

“American Beauty” won five Oscars, including best picture; its leading man, Kevin Spacey, won best actor, while Hilary Swank won best actress for “Boys Don’t Cry.” Vladimir Putin was elected Russia’s second democratically chosen president. “Joy of Sex” author Alex Comfort died in Oxfordshire, England, at age 80.

Today’s Birthdays

Jazz musician James Moody is 85. Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is 80. Actor-director Leonard Nimoy is 79. Actor Alan Arkin is 76. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 70. Actor James Caan is 70. Author Erica Jong is 68. Journalist Bob Woodward is 67. Singer Diana Ross is 66. Rock singer Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) is 62. Singer and TV personality Vicki Lawrence is 61. Comedian Martin Short is 60. Country singer Ronnie McDowell is 60. TV personality Leeza Gibbons is 53. Actress Jennifer Grey is 50. College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen is 50. Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton is 48. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 42. Actor T.R. Knight is 37. Actress Amy Smart is 34. Actress Keira Knightley is 25. Rapper J-Kwon is 24.