Update:
Pulled the distributor out and it was the distributor gear. Snapped right in half. Unfortunately, only one half was retrievable. Should I assume , or hope, the other half is in the oil pan? Do i have to drop the pan to find out?
I still don't understand why I got spark for a little while tho. Is it possible that the gear snapped but was still essentially together enough to drive the distributor and create spark, but then eventually gave out and came apart, creating no spark?
Well, at least now I know.