Holidays
Joachim and Ann Memorial Day
Commemorating the parents of the Virgin Mary.
Feast Day of St. Pantaleon
Patron saint of physicians.
What Happened On
Adam Walsh Murdered
July 27, 1981
Six-year-old Adam Walsh is abducted from a Sears department store in Florida. His severed head was found two weeks later in a drainage canal alongside Florida's Turnpike in rural St. Lucie County, Florida. His story was made into the 1983 TV movie Adam, seen by 38 million people in its original airing. His father, John Walsh, became an advocate for victims of violent crimes and hosted TV's America's Most Wanted (1988-2012).
His mother had left him playing video games with other boys while she shopped. A fight broke out and the security guard made the boys leave the building. After the other boys left, Adam was alone and was abducted.
In 1981, serial killer Ottis Toole, while in prison on unrelated murders, confessed to Adam's murder, but later recanted. Police had lost the impounded car with bloodstained carpets and machete that Toole claimed he used in Adam's murder, hindering their ability to validate his claim. In 2008, police announced the case was closed and they were satisfied that Toole had committed the murder, although Toole was never charged for the crime. Toole had died in prison of liver failure in 1996.
The "Code Adam" missing-child alert safety program is named after Adam Walsh.
U.S. soldier comforting a grief stricken infantryman
U.S. soldier comforting a grief stricken infantryman
Korean War Ends
July 27, 1953
The three-year war officially ends with the signing of an armistice between the U.S. and Korea. Both sides claimed victory. The agreement created the Korean Demilitarized Zone to separate North and South Korea, and allowed the return of prisoners. However, no peace treaty has been signed, with some arguing they are still technically at war.
Vincent van Gogh Commits Suicide
July 27, 1890
After years of mental illness and poverty, the Dutch ear-cutting (actually only the lobe) postimpressionist painter shoots himself in the chest. The bullet was deflected by a rib and passed through his chest, but did little damage to his internal organs. He was able to walk back home where he was attended by two doctors. However, the wound became infected and he died on the morning of the 29th. His final words were, "The sadness will last forever."
He had suffered from mental illness for years, and in 1888, during a fit of dementia after an argument with fellow artist Paul Gauguin, he chopped off part of his ear and gave it to a prostitute.
Although he created over 900 paintings, which now sell for millions, he sold only one during his lifetime.
A modern stick of chewing gum
Photo Credit: Lusheeta
A modern stick of chewing gumPhoto Credit: Lusheeta
Chewing Gum
July 27, 1869
Amos Tyler of Toledo, Ohio receives the first patent for chewing gum. Tyler's gum consisted of white rosin and olive oil.
Tyler's patent pertained to the production of gum in slices and packaging for sale.
Chewing gum in various forms has existed since the Neolithic period. A 5,000-year-old piece of chewing gum made from birch bark tar, with tooth imprints, was found in Kierikki in Finland.
The Dance of Death
The Dance of Death
First Quarantine Legislation
July 27, 1377
The Adriatic port city of Ragusa (now Dubronvnik) passes the first legislation requiring the mandatory quarantine of all incoming ships and caravans. It required that all those coming from plague-infested areas had to spend 30 days in isolation on the islet of Mrkan or in the town of Cavtat, for the purpose of disinfection.
This was during the time of the bubonic plague, or Black Death, which devastated Europe and Asia in the mid-1300s. Many cities had been implementing isolation of incoming sailors on their ships for 30 days, known as a "trentine". In 1448, this was extended to 40 days, or a "quarantena", which is the origin of the modern-day term "quarantine". The Black Death was the most fatal pandemic in recorded human history, resulting in the deaths of between 75 and 200 million people.
Centennial Olympic Park Bombing
July 27, 1996
Right-wing extremist Eric Robert Rudolph commits the first of his four bombings. Two people were killed and 111 were injured. He later set off bombs at two abortion clinics and a lesbian night club.
Windows NT
July 27, 1993
Windows NT is officially released. The first version was designated Windows NT 3.1.
"NT" originally stood for "New Technology" but no longer carries any specific meaning. It was the first purely 32-bit version of Windows.
Titanic by Willy Stöwer
Titanic by Willy Stöwer
The Titanic
July 27, 1987
The first artifacts from the "unsinkable" RMS Titanic are recovered by French explorers. The RMS Titanic sank in 1912 after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic during her maiden voyage from Southampton, UK, to New York City.
First Non-European to Win the Tour de France
July 27, 1986
American cyclist Greg LeMond wins the Tour de France bicycle race. It is considered the most important event in bike racing.
John Lennon Gets His Green Card
July 27, 1976
Ex-Beatle John Lennon is issued his green card, allowing him to live in the U.S., where he had been living illegally since a 1972 deportation order.
Billboard Music Popularity Chart
July 27, 1940
Billboard magazine publishes it first music popularity charts. It was for the week beginning July 20. Among the lists were the top 10 "Best Selling Retail Records", with Frank Sinatra topping the list with I'll Never Smile Again.
Previous Billboard lists were based on sales as reported by record companies, whereas these lists were based on actual sales from record stores.
Chicago Race Riot
July 27, 1919
Four days of rioting begins in which 23 blacks and 15 whites are killed, with more than 500 people injured.
Atlantic Telegraph Cable
July 27, 1866
Laying of the 1,686-mile cable from Ireland to Newfoundland is completed.
12th Amendment Ratified
July 27, 1804
Defined the electing of the President and Vice-President by electoral vote.
Birthdays
Co-Inventor of Dungeons & Dragons
Gary Gygax
Born July 27, 1938 d. 2008
American gamer. Co-inventor, with Dave Arneson, of the game Dungeons & Dragons (1974).
Norman Lear (Norman Milton Lear)
Born July 27, 1922 d. 2023
American producer, writer. TV: All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, The Jeffersons, and the soap opera spoof Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
Maureen McGovern
Born July 27, 1949
American singer. Her 1973 cover of The Morning After (theme to the movie The Poseidon Adventure) hit #1. She also sang the Oscar-winning song We May Never Love Like This Again from The Towering Inferno (1974).
Peggy Fleming
Born July 27, 1948
American figure skater. Three-time world champion (1966-68), 5-time U.S. champion (1964-68), and Olympic gold medal winner (1968).
Betty Thomas
Born July 27, 1947
American Emmy-winning actress. TV: Hill Street Blues (1981-87, Sgt. Lucy Bates).
Bobbie Gentry (Roberta Streeter)
Born July 27, 1944
American Grammy-winning singer. Music: Ode to Billie Joe (1967, #1) and I'll Never Fall In Love Again (1970).
Photo Credit: Alan Light
Photo Credit: Alan Light
Jerry Van Dyke
Born July 27, 1931 d. 2018
American actor. Younger brother of Dick Van Dyke. TV: My Mother the Car (1965-66, David Crabtree - The car's son) and Coach (1989-97, Luther). My Mother the Car is considered by critics to be one of the worst sitcoms of all time.
Adolfo Celi
Born July 27, 1922 d. 1986
Italian actor. Film: Thunderball (1965, one-eyed SPECTRE agent Emilio Largo).
Keenan Wynn (Francis Wynn)
Born July 27, 1916 d. 1986
American actor. TV: Dallas (Digger Barnes). He appeared in over 200 films.
George Foster Peabody
Born July 27, 1852 d. 1938
American banker, director of the Federal Reserve Bank at New York (1914-21). The Peabody broadcasting awards were created in his honor (1940).
Deaths
Tony Dow (Anthony Lee Dow)
Died July 27, 2022 b. 1945
American actor. Best known for playing Wally Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver (1957-63) and in The New Leave It to Beaver (1983-89). He also served in the U.S. National Guard (1965-68).
Bob Hope (Leslie Townes Hope)
Died July 27, 2003 b. 1903
English-born American Emmy-winning comedian, entertainer of the troops. He is often credited with helping create the modern version of American stand-up comedy. Hope was declared an honorary veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces in 1997 by an act of the U.S. Congress in recognition for the 57 USO tours he made between 1941 and 1991. He also won five Oscars for his humanitarian actions and contributions to the industry.
Photo Credit: Myrabella
Photo Credit: Myrabella
Frank Zamboni (Frank Joseph Zamboni Jr.)
Died July 27, 1988 b. 1901
American inventor. Invented the Zamboni ice surfacing machine used in skating and hockey rinks.
Adam Walsh
Died July 27, 1981 b. 1974
American murder victim. When he was six years old he was abducted from a Sears department store in Florida. His severed head was found two weeks later in a drainage canal alongside Florida's Turnpike in rural St. Lucie County, Florida. His story was made into the 1983 TV movie Adam, seen by 38 million people in its original airing. His father, John Walsh, became an advocate for victims of violent crimes and hosted TV's America's Most Wanted (1988-2012).
His mother had left him playing video games with other boys while she shopped. A fight broke out and the security guard made the boys leave the building. After the other boys left, Adam was alone and was abducted.
In 1981, serial killer Ottis Toole, while in prison on unrelated murders, confessed to Adam's murder, but later recanted. Police had lost the impounded car with bloodstained carpets and machete that Toole claimed he used in Adam's murder, hindering their ability to validate his claim. In 2008, police announced the case was closed and they were satisfied that Toole had committed the murder, although Toole was never charged for the crime. Toole had died in prison of liver failure in 1996.
The "Code Adam" missing-child alert safety program is named after Adam Walsh.
Garrett Morgan and his inventions
Garrett Morgan and his inventions
Inventor of the Gas Mask
Garrett Morgan (Garrett Augustus Morgan, Sr.)
Died July 27, 1963 b. 1877
African-American businessman. In 1912, he invented a gas mask that was popular with American fire fighters. It had a hood to protect the eyes from smoke and air tubes that hung near the ground to draw clean air from beneath the rising smoke. Later models also incorporated an airbag that could hold about 15 minutes of fresh air.
Starting in 1905, Morgan developed a successful line of hair care products that included a hair straightening solution.
He was also, reportedly, the first African-American in Cleveland to own an automobile. This led to another successful invention of his: An improved traffic light (1922).
Sam Shepard
Died July 27, 2017 b. 1943
American Obie-Pulitzer-winning playwright, actor. Plays: Curse of the Starving Class (1977, Obie), Fool For Love (1984, Obie), and True West (1985, Obie). Film: The Right Stuff (1983, as Chuck Yeager). Writings: Buried Child (1978, Pulitzer Prize).
Norman Alden
Died July 27, 2012 b. 1924
American actor. TV: Rango (Ranger Rango's boss).
Reggie Lewis
Died July 27, 1993 b. 1965
American basketball player. The Boston Celtics' top scorer, he died of heart failure during practice. After collapsing during a game three months earlier, he was diagnosed by 12 physicians as having a life threatening heart condition. He followed the advice of another doctor who said that he was OK to play.
A Rose is a Rose is a Rose
Gertrude Stein
Died July 27, 1946 b. 1874
American author, poet, famous for her phrase "A rose is a rose is a rose."
John Dalton
Died July 27, 1844 b. 1766
English chemist, physicist. He perfected the atomic theory (1804).
Nicholas II
Died July 27, 1061 b. circa 992
religious leader, 155th Pope (1059-61).