Today's Trivia and What Happened on July 27

Can you figure out the phrase?

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Loch Ness Monster (Lock NES Monster)

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Quote: A Pessimist Sees the Difficulty in Every Opportunity; an Optimist Sees the Opportunity in Every Difficulty. - Anonymous

Quote: A Pessimist Sees the Difficulty in Every Opportunity; an Optimist Sees the Opportunity in Every Difficulty. - Anonymous Close Large View

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Holidays

Joachim and Ann Memorial Day

Commemorating the parents of the Virgin Mary.

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Feast Day of St. Pantaleon

Patron saint of physicians.

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What Happened On

Adam Walsh Murdered

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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.

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U.S. soldier comforting a grief stricken infantryman U.S. soldier comforting a grief stricken infantryman

U.S. soldier comforting a grief stricken infantryman U.S. soldier comforting a grief stricken infantryman
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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.

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Vincent van Gogh Commits Suicide

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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.

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A modern stick of chewing gum A modern stick of chewing gum
Photo Credit: Lusheeta

A modern stick of chewing gum A modern stick of chewing gum
Photo Credit: Lusheeta
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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.

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The Dance of Death The Dance of Death

The Dance of Death The Dance of Death
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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.

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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.

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Windows NT

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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.

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Titanic by Willy Stöwer Titanic by Willy Stöwer

Titanic by Willy Stöwer Titanic by Willy Stöwer
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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.

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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.

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John Lennon Gets His Green Card

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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.

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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.

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Atlantic Telegraph Cable

July 27, 1866

Laying of the 1,686-mile cable from Ireland to Newfoundland is completed.

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12th Amendment Ratified

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12th Amendment Ratified

July 27, 1804

Defined the electing of the President and Vice-President by electoral vote.

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Birthdays

Gary Gygax

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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).

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Norman Lear

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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.

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This is a birthday

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).

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This is a birthday

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).

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This is a birthday

Betty Thomas

Born July 27, 1947

American Emmy-winning actress. TV: Hill Street Blues (1981-87, Sgt. Lucy Bates).

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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).

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Jerry Van Dyke Photo Credit: Alan Light

Jerry Van Dyke Photo Credit: Alan Light
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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.

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This is a birthday

Adolfo Celi

Born July 27, 1922 d. 1986

Italian actor. Film: Thunderball (1965, one-eyed SPECTRE agent Emilio Largo).

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This is a birthday

Keenan Wynn (Francis Wynn)

Born July 27, 1916 d. 1986

American actor. TV: Dallas (Digger Barnes). He appeared in over 200 films.

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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).

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Deaths

Tony Dow

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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).

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Bob Hope

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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.

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Adam Walsh

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This is a death

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.

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Garrett Morgan and his inventions Garrett Morgan and his inventions

Garrett Morgan and his inventions Garrett Morgan and his inventions
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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).

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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).

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Norman Alden

Died July 27, 2012 b. 1924

American actor. TV: Rango (Ranger Rango's boss).

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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.

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Frank J. Zamboni Photo Credit: Myrabella

Frank J. Zamboni Photo Credit: Myrabella
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Frank J. Zamboni

Died July 27, 1988 b. 1901

American inventor. Invented the Zamboni ice surfacing machine used in skating and hockey rinks.

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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."

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John Dalton

Died July 27, 1844 b. 1766

English chemist, physicist. He perfected the atomic theory (1804).

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Nicholas II

Died July 27, 1061 b. circa 992

religious leader, 155th Pope (1059-61).

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