Today's Trivia and What Happened on June 27

In a one-story pink house where everything was pink, there was a pink chair, a pink table, a pink telephone, a pink shower, a pink fish, and even a pink cat. What color were the stairs?

In a one-story pink house where everything was pink, there was a pink chair, a pink table, a pink telephone, a pink shower, a pink fish, and even a pink cat. What color were the stairs? Close Large View

There were no stairs. It was a one-story house.

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Quote: Nothing's beautiful from every point of view. - Horace, Roman poet

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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

CIA Director Allen Dulles, who had ties to United Fruit Company CIA Director Allen Dulles, who had ties to United Fruit Company
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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.

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First American Sci-Fi TV Show go to Video for First American Sci-Fi TV Show

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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.

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First Assassination of a U.S. Presidential Candidate

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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.

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Anna Nicole Smith Marries 89-Year-Old Billionaire

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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."

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Dave Beats Dan

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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.

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Thurgood Marshall

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Thurgood Marshall

June 27, 1991

The first African-American U.S. Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall, announces his resignation.

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Hubble Space Telescope

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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.

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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.

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Affirmative Action

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Affirmative Action

June 27, 1979

U.S. Supreme Court rules that private businesses can give special preference to minorities and women.

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First Erasable-Ink Pen

June 27, 1978

The Eraser Mate is patented.

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Flight 139 - Raid on Entebbe

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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.

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Live and Let Die

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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.

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Jonathan Frid as Barnabus go to Video for Dark Shadows
Jonathan Frid as Barnabus

Jonathan Frid as Barnabus Jonathan Frid as Barnabus
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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.

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First Nuclear Power Plant

June 27, 1954

The Soviet Union begins operating a 5,000-Kilowatt plant in Obninsk.

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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.

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Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation

June 27, 1934

Agency to insure investors up to $5,000 (later increased to $10,000) is created.

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First U.S. Public Demonstration of Color TV

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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.

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First Around-the-World Bicycle Trip by a Woman

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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.

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Birthdays

Bob Keeshan

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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."

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8-year-old Helen Keller (left) with tutor Anne Sullivan 8-year-old Helen Keller (left) with tutor Anne Sullivan

8-year-old Helen Keller (left) with tutor Anne Sullivan 8-year-old Helen Keller (left) with tutor Anne Sullivan
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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.

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Mildred J. Hill

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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.

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Julia Duffy

Born June 27, 1951

American actress. TV: Newhart (Stephanie).

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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).

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H. Ross Perot

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H. Ross Perot

Born June 27, 1930 d. 2019

American billionaire. He gave George H. W. Bush a run for his money in 1992.

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Crystal Bird Fauset

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Crystal Bird Fauset

Born June 27, 1893 d. 1965

American politician. First African American woman U.S. state legislator (1939, Pennsylvania House of Representatives).

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Antoinette Perry

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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.

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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.

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Louis XII

Born June 27, 1462 d. 1515

King of France (1498-1515).

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Deaths

Mary Anderson

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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.

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Elmo Lincoln go to Video for Elmo Lincoln

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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).

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Joseph Smith

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Joseph Smith

Died June 27, 1844 b. 1805

American Mormon prophet. 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.

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Martin Mull (left) as Barth Gimble Martin Mull (left) as Barth Gimble

Martin Mull (left) as Barth Gimble Martin Mull (left) as Barth Gimble
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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).

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Gale Storm (Josephine Owaissa Cottle)

Died June 27, 2009 b. 1922

American actress. TV: My Little Margie (1952-55, title role).

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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).

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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).

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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.

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Sandy AmorĂłs

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Sandy AmorĂłs (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 AmorĂłs 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.

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Oswald Jacoby

Died June 27, 1984 b. 1902

American actuary, bridge expert, author of numerous books on card playing.

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Wanda Gag

Died June 27, 1946 b. 1893

American author, artist. She is known for her translation and illustration of Grimms' Fairy Tales.

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Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg

Died June 27, 1876 b. 1795

German biologist, founder of micropaleontology - the study of fossil microorganisms.

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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.

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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.

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