Historical clue formulations

• "___ all a dream!" — 2022-12-19
• Opening words of "A Tale of Two Cities" — 2013-06-25
• "___ my pleasure" — 2010-02-19
• "___ an accident!" — 2008-06-11
• "That really happened!" — 2004-08-13
• "___ a dark and stormy night..." — 2000-08-21
• "_____ a dark and stormy .. ." — 1994-10-14