What Happened On
CIA Director Allen Dulles, who had ties to United Fruit Company
CIA Director Allen Dulles, who had ties to United Fruit Company
War For Profit
June 27, 1954
The CIA director overthrows the democratically elected government of Guatemala to protect the profits of a company that he was on the board of directors of.
The Guatemalan Revolution (1944-54) ends on June 27, 1954 when democratically elected Guatemalan President Jacobo Árbenz is overthrown by a CIA covert operation and a military dictator is installed. The Guatemalan Revolution, a popular uprising that began in 1944, ended authoritarian rule and brought to power Guatemala's first democratically elected president. The new president instituted voting rights, a minimum wage, and land reforms which granted land to the peasants. This hurt the profits of the United Fruit Company, which benefited from the exploitative labor practices in Guatemala. United Fruit then began lobbying the U.S. to overthrow the new Guatemalan government. The CIA, commanded by Allen Dulles who was on the United Fruit board of directors, began covert operations that overthrew their government. Dulles' brother, John Foster Dulles the U.S. Secretary of State, had been a lawyer for United Fruit. The former CEO of United Fruit, Thomas Dudley Cabot, was the director of International Security Affairs in the State Department.
First American Sci-Fi TV Show
June 27, 1949
Captain Video and His Video Rangers debuts on DuMont, starring Richard Coogan as the Captain. The popular series ran until 1955.
It was set in Earth's distant future and followed the adventures of a group of fighters for truth and justice, known as The Video Rangers, led by Captain Video and his teenage companion The Video Ranger. In the episode titled "I TOBOR" the robot was supposed to be named "ROBOT 1", but the stencil was inadvertently applied backwards.
First Assassination of a U.S. Presidential Candidate
June 27, 1844
Mormon founder Joseph Smith and his brother are killed by a mob while they were held in jail. Smith was shot several times, eventually falling dead out of the jail window. He was currently running as a Presidential candidate as an independent. His platform included the closure of prisons; the annexation of Texas, Oregon, and parts of Canada; free trade; and the re-establishment of a national bank. He and his brother were in jail charged with treason.
Anna Nicole Smith Marries 89-Year-Old Billionaire
June 27, 1994
The 26 year-old topless dancer/playmate Anna Nicole Smith marries 89-year-old billionaire J. Howard Marshall. He died a little more than a year later, leading to an extended legal battle over his estate.
Quote: "I'm sick of being accused of gold-digging. It just so happens I get turned on by liver spots."
Dave Beats Dan
June 27, 1992
"Who will be the world's greatest athlete - Dan or Dave? To be settled this summer in Barcelona." Reebok's $30 million advertising campaign hits a snag when Dan O'Brien fails to make the Olympic track team. Dan was leading the meet by over 500 points when it came to the pole vault. All he had to do was clear the bar and he could almost sleep through the rest of the events. He could have started at a lower height, but chose 4.8m as his opening attempt - and missed it three times and was out. He had been considered a cinch to win gold at the Summer Olympics.
Dave Johnson went on without him and won a bronze medal. Reebok reworked their ads to have Dan cheering Dave on. Both men became household names and went on to endorse other products.
Dan went on to win gold at the World Championships in 1993 and 1995 and then took home the gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Thurgood Marshall
June 27, 1991
The first African-American U.S. Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall, announces his resignation.
Hubble Space Telescope
June 27, 1990
NASA announces that the $1.5 billion Hubble Space Telescope intended to view farther into space than any telescope on Earth, has a flawed lens which greatly reduces it capabilities.
First Black Woman Judge On the U.S. Court of Appeals
June 27, 1979
Amalya Lyle Kearse is sworn in at the U.S. Court of Appeals, New York City.
Affirmative Action
June 27, 1979
U.S. Supreme Court rules that private businesses can give special preference to minorities and women.
First Erasable-Ink Pen
June 27, 1978
The Eraser Mate is patented.
Flight 139 - Raid on Entebbe
June 27, 1976
The PLO hijacks Air France Flight 139 to Uganda.
After diverting to Entebbe Airport in Uganda, the hijackers demanded US$5 million and the release of 53 Palestinian and Pro-Palestinian militants, 40 of whom were prisoners in Israel. They threatened to begin killing hostages if the demands were not met by July 1st. On June 30th, 48 non-Israeli hostages were released. On July 1st, after the Israeli government agreed to negotiations, the deadline was extended to 4 July and another 100 non-Israeli hostages were released. About midnight of July 3rd, Israeli commandos, led by Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu flew into Entebbe airport undetected carrying a black Mercedes and Land Rovers to look like Ugandan President Idi Amin's entourage. Yonatan Netanyahu was the older brother of Benjamin Netanyahu, future Prime Minister of Israel. Upon approach to the terminal, one of the guards, aware that Idi Amin had recently changed to a white Mercedes, ordered the commandos to halt. The commandos opened fire killing the guards and alerting the hijackers. The commandos then hurriedly proceeded to where the hostages were held, killing one hijacker and two hostages in the initial gunfight. They then located and killed the other seven hijackers. Ugandan forces assaulted the commandos as they were evacuating the hostages. In the ensuing battle, Yonatan Netanyahu and about 40 Ugandan soldiers were killed.
Of the 106 hostages, three were killed in the gun battle, 10 were wounded, and a 74-year-old woman was left in Uganda for medical treatment after choking on a chicken bone. She was later killed in the hospital along with several medical staff by Ugandan forces under orders by Idi Amin. Amin also ordered the killing of hundreds of Kenyans living in Uganda in retaliation for Kenya's assistance to Israel in the raid.
The 1977 TV movie, Raid on Entebbe, was based on these events.
Live and Let Die
June 27, 1973
Live and Let Die, the 8th film in the James Bond series, premieres in the U.S. It starred Roger Moore as 007.
Jonathan Frid as Barnabus
Jonathan Frid as Barnabus
Dark Shadows
June 27, 1966
This unusual daytime soap opera debuts on ABC. Dark Shadows was an American Gothic soap opera depicting the wealthy Collins family, where a number of supernatural occurrences take place, including ghosts, werewolves, zombies, witches, time travel, and a parallel universe. The series became hugely popular when vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) appeared ten months into its run.
First Nuclear Power Plant
June 27, 1954
The Soviet Union begins operating a 5,000-Kilowatt plant in Obninsk.
Korean War - First U.S. Combat Mission Involving Gunfire
June 27, 1950
An American pilot shoots down a North Korean fighter. The Korean War had begun two days earlier.
Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation
June 27, 1934
Agency to insure investors up to $5,000 (later increased to $10,000) is created.
First U.S. Public Demonstration of Color TV
June 27, 1929
Bell Laboratories demonstrates their low-definition mechanically-scanned TV system. It used three complete systems of photoelectric cells, amplifiers, glow-tubes, and color filters, with a series of mirrors to superimpose the red, green, and blue images into one full color image. The first images were of a bouquet of roses and an American flag.
Inventor John Logie Baird had demonstrated his mechanical color television in London the previous year.
First Around-the-World Bicycle Trip by a Woman
June 27, 1894
Annie Londonderry departs from Boston. She completed her journey in September of 1895, receiving a $10,000 prize.
Until a few days prior to starting her journey, she had never ridden a bicycle.
Her real name was Annie Cohen Kopchovsky, but New Hampshire's Londonderry Lithia Spring Water Company paid her $100 to carry their advertisement on her bike and go by the name "Annie Londonderry" for the duration of her trip.
Birthdays
Bob Keeshan
Born June 27, 1927 d. 2004
American Emmy-winning actor. TV: Howdy Doody (1947-53, Clarabell the Clown) and Captain Kangaroo (1955-84, title role). Quote: "If you want more time in your life, don't watch TV."
8-year-old Helen Keller (left) with tutor Anne Sullivan
8-year-old Helen Keller (left) with tutor Anne Sullivan
Helen Keller
Born June 27, 1880 d. 1968
American author, lecturer. At 19 months old Keller contracted an unknown illness that left her both deaf and blind. At age 6, she began working with Anne Sullivan who would spell the names of objects into her hand. She went on to earn her bachelors degree and became a prolific lecturer and writer. She could "hear" people's speech by reading their lips with her hand. The play and film The Miracle Worker tells the story of Keller being tutored by Anne Sullivan.
Happy Birthday to You
Mildred J. Hill
Born June 27, 1859 d. 1916
American schoolteacher. She composed Happy Birthday to You (1893). Originally called Good Morning to All, the lyrics - written by her sister Patty Hill - were changed in 1924 to the now familiar words. It has become the most sung song in the world.
Julia Duffy
Born June 27, 1951
American actress. TV: Newhart (Stephanie).
America's First Woman Rabbi
Sally Jane Priesand
Born June 27, 1946
American clergywoman. She was America's first female Rabbi ordained by a rabbinical seminary (1972), and the second formally ordained female rabbi in Jewish history, after Regina Jonas (1935).
H. Ross Perot
Born June 27, 1930 d. 2019
American billionaire. He gave George H. W. Bush a run for his money in 1992.
Crystal Bird Fauset
Born June 27, 1893 d. 1965
American politician. First African American woman U.S. state legislator (1939, Pennsylvania House of Representatives).
Antoinette Perry (Mary Antoinette "Tony" Perry)
Born June 27, 1888 d. 1946
American actress, director. She is whom the "Tony Awards" are named (Tony was her nickname). She served as director of the wartime board of the American Theater Wing.
Charles IX
Born June 27, 1550 d. 1574
King of France (1560-74). Responsible for the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572) in which thousands of Huguenots were killed.
Louis XII
Born June 27, 1462 d. 1515
King of France (1498-1515).
Deaths
Invented the Windshield Wiper
Mary Anderson
Died June 27, 1953 b. 1866
American entrepreneur. She invented the automotive windshield wiper (1903).
In 1902, while visiting New York City on a frosty winter day, Anderson was riding the trolley. She noticed that the trolley driver, in order to see through the sleet on the windshield, had to either lean out of the window to see or stop and go outside to clear the window with his hands. Recognizing an opportunity, she designed a hand-operated device to keep a windshield clear and in 1903 was granted a patent for the windshield wiper.
Anderson's device consisted of a lever inside the vehicle that controlled a rubber blade on the outside of the windshield. The lever could be operated to make a spring-loaded arm move back and forth across the windshield, thus clearing it. A counterweight was used to ensure contact between the wiper and the window.
However she never profited from her invention, because in the early 1900s cars were not very popular and by 1922, when Cadillac became the first car manufacturer to adopt wipers as standard equipment, her patent had already expired.
First Adult Tarzan of Film
Elmo Lincoln (Otto Elmo Linkenhelt)
Died June 27, 1952 b. 1889
American actor. He portrayed Tarzan in the first Tarzan film, Tarzan of the Apes (1918), making him the first to play Tarzan as an adult in film. (Gordon Griffith played Tarzan as a child in the film, making him the first Tarzan). Lincoln was afraid of heights and used a double to do the scenes in trees. He also portrayed Tarzan in The Romance of Tarzan (1918) and in the serial The Adventures of Tarzan (1921).
Founder of Mormonism
Joseph Smith
Died June 27, 1844 b. 1805
American Mormon prophet, founder of Mormonism. He claims to have received a set of golden plates from an Angel (1827). Using a pair of magic glasses he translated these into the Book of Mormon.
While running for president, he and his brother were killed by a mob, making him the first U.S. presidential candidate to be assassinated.
Martin Mull (left) as Barth Gimble
Martin Mull (left) as Barth Gimble
Martin Mull
Died June 27, 2024 b. 1943
American actor. TV: Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976-77, Garth Gimble), Fernwood 2-Night (1977, host - Garth Gimble's brother Barth), and Two and a Half Men (2088-13, Russell, the drug-using pharmacist).
Gale Storm (Josephine Owaissa Cottle)
Died June 27, 2009 b. 1922
American actress. TV: My Little Margie (1952-55, title role).
John Entwistle
Died June 27, 2002 b. 1944
British Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician, with The Who. Music: My Generation (1965) and Pinball Wizard (1969).
Jack Lemmon (John Uhler Lemmon III)
Died June 27, 2001 b. 1925
American Oscar-winning actor. Film: Mister Roberts (1955, Oscar, Ensign Pulver), The Odd Couple (1968), Save the Tiger (1974, Oscar), and Grumpy Old Men (1993).
Albert R. Broccoli
Died June 27, 1996 b. 1909
American movie producer.Broccoli and Harry Saltzman produced the James Bond movie series.
In 1966, while in Japan scouting locations to film the You Only Live Twice, he booked a flight on BOAC Flight 911, but canceled his ticket at the last minute to watch a ninja demonstration. The plane crashed due to clear-air turbulence with all 113 passengers and 11 crew members dying in the crash.
Sandy Amorós (Edmundo Isasi Amoros)
Died June 27, 1992 b. 1930
Cuban-born baseball player. He made one of the greatest catches of World Series history. It was the sixth inning of the decisive Game 7 of the 1955 World Series. The Dodgers were trying to hold a 2-0 lead against the New York Yankees to win their first World Series. The first two batters in the inning reached base and Yogi Berra was up at the plate. Berra hit a shot towards the left field corner that looked to be a sure double when Amorós seemingly came out of nowhere to catch the ball near Yankee Stadium's 301 distance marker. He then threw to the shortstop who in turn threw to first base, making a double play. Hank Bauer grounded out to end the inning.
Oswald Jacoby
Died June 27, 1984 b. 1902
American actuary, bridge expert, author of numerous books on card playing.
Wanda Gag
Died June 27, 1946 b. 1893
American author, artist. She is known for her translation and illustration of Grimms' Fairy Tales.
Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg
Died June 27, 1876 b. 1795
German biologist, founder of micropaleontology - the study of fossil microorganisms.
First Naval Officer Killed in the Civil War
James Harmon Ward
Died June 27, 1861 b. 1806
Union Naval officer. First Naval officer killed in the U.S. Civil War. He was shot by a Confederate sharpshooter while aiming a cannon at Mathias Point, Virginia.
James Smithson
Died June 27, 1829 b. 1765
English scientist. His will funded the creation of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., even though he had never been to America.