October 27

Scott Winters October 27, 2025 0 Comments

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1858 – Roland Macy opened Macy’s Department Store on 6th Avenue in New York, NY. It was Macy’s eighth business adventure (the other seven failed).

1904 – The New York subway system, the IRT, officially opened. It was the first rapid-transit subway system in the United States. It would become the biggest system in the United States and one of the biggest in the world.

1925 – Fred Waller received a patent for his water skis.

1927 – The first newsreel featuring sound was released in New York, NY.

1938 – DuPont announced “nylon” was the new name for its new synthetic fiber.

1947 – “You Bet Your Life,” the radio show starring Grouch Marx, premiered on ABC. It was later shown on NBC television.

1954 – The first Walt Disney television show, “Disneyland”, premiered on ABC.

1955 – The movie “Rebel Without a Cause”, starring James Dean, premiered in theaters.

1961 – NASA tested the first Saturn I rocket in Mission Saturn-Apollo 1.

1966 – The animated Halloween classic “It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” debuted on TV.

1967 – The heaviest October snowstorm on record across Michigan occurred. On October 26, 1967, the snow began falling and by the next day, Grand Rapids had 8.4 inches, Lansing 7.5 inches and Muskegon had 4.9 inches. In the Upper Peninsula, Ironwood had a whopping 26.7 inches of new snow.

1975 – Bruce Springsteen was simultaneously on the cover of “Time” and “Newsweek.” This was the first time this happened for a rock star.

1989 – Tom Petty released “Free Fallin” from his debut solo album “Full Moon Fever”.

1994 – The U.S. Justice Department announced that the U.S. prison population had exceeded one million for the first time in American history.

1996 – VH1 added fun facts to music videos with “pop-up” bubbles — officially called “info nuggets” — and called the program “Pop-Up Video”.

1997 – Stock markets around the world crashed because of fears of a global economic meltdown. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 554.26 points to 7,161.15. The stock market was shut down for the first time since the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

2001 – In Washington, DC, the search for anthrax widened to thousands of businesses and 30 mail distribution centers.

2003 – Bank of America Corp. announced it had agreed to buy FleetBoston Financial Corp. The deal created the second largest banking company in the U.S.

2004 – The Boston Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first World Series in 86 years.

2014 – The new Grand Rapids passenger train station (named for Vernon Ehlers) opened for service.

BIRTHDAYS:

Maxine Hong Kingston – 85 years old (1940) – Author and academic

Lee Greenwood – 83 years old (1942) – Singer-songwriter

J. A. Jance – 81 years old (1944) – Author and poet

Garry Tallent – 76 years old (1949) – Bass player and record producer

Fran Lebowitz – 75 years old (1950) – Author

Nancy Jacobs – 74 years old (1951) – Politician

Jayne Kennedy – 74 years old (1951) – Model, actress, and sportscaster

Francis Fukuyama – 73 years old (1952) – Political scientist, economist, and author

Robert Picardo – 72 years old (1953) – Actor, director, and screenwriter

Jan Duursema – 71 years old (1954) – Illustrator

Debra Bowen – 70 years old (1955) – Lawyer and politician, 31st Secretary of State of California

Patty Sheehan – 69 years old (1956) – Golfer

Peter Marc Jacobson – 68 years old (1957) – Actor, director, and producer

David Hazeltine – 67 years old (1958) – Pianist and composer

Rick Carlisle – 66 years old (1959) – Basketball player and coach

Tom Nieto – 65 years old (1960) – Baseball player, coach, and manager

Marla Maples – 62 years old (1963) – Model and actress

Mary T. Meagher – 61 years old (1964) – Swimmer

Steve Almond – 59 years old (1966) – Author and educator

Evan Coyne Maloney – 53 years old (1972) – Director, producer, and screenwriter

Brad Radke – 53 years old (1972) – Baseball player

Jason Johnson – 52 years old (1973) – Baseball player

Aron Ralston – 50 years old (1975) – Mountaineer and engineer

Bobby Fish – 49 years old (1976) – Professional wrestler

Maneet Chauhan – 49 years old (1976) – Indian-American chef and author

Sheeri Rappaport – 48 years old (1977) – Actress

Patrick Fugit – 43 years old (1982) – Actor and producer

Brent Clevlen – 42 years old (1983) – Baseball player

Brady Quinn – 41 years old (1984) – Football player

Alex Soros – 40 years old (1985) – Investor and philanthropist

Chris Butler – 39 years old (1986) – Ice hockey player

Christine Evangelista – 39 years old (1986) – Actress

Crystal Langhorne – 39 years old (1986) – Basketball player

Jon Niese – 39 years old (1986) – Baseball player

Lou Williams – 39 years old (1986) – Basketball player

Andrew Bynum – 38 years old (1987) – Basketball player

Brady Ellison – 37 years old (1988) – Archer

Evan Turner – 37 years old (1988) – Basketball player

Mark Barron – 36 years old (1989) – Football player

Alex Bentley – 35 years old (1990) – American-Belarusian basketball player

Emily Hagins – 33 years old (1992) – Director, producer, and screenwriter

Brandon Saad – 33 years old (1992) – Ice hockey player

Troy Gentile – 32 years old (1993) – Actor

Lonzo Ball – 28 years old (1997) – Basketball player

TODAY IS:

National Black Cat Day: A perfect companion for those who appreciate a little bit of edge in their lives, these feline friends are sleek and stylish, with a touch of mystery.
National Mentoring Day: Most everyone has someone they look up to! And when that person is willing to invest some time and energy into helping them along on their own journey, the relationship is that much more important. National Mentoring Day celebrates and raises awareness for the importance of having mentors and role...
National American Beer Day: Brewed with passion, American beer is a frothy concoction of hoppy goodness that tantalizes taste buds and leaves us thirsting for more.
National Parmigiano Reggiano Day: Discover the king of cheeses! With its nutty notes and irresistible texture, this Italian delight adds a delicious touch to any dish.
Navy Day: Honoring the brave sailors who protect the seas, safeguard freedoms, and ensure national security is a testament to their unwavering dedication and sacrifice.
Cranky Co-Workers Day: In every office, there's that one person who brings the grumpy charm with their unique quirks by adding some spice to the workday!
Labour Day in New Zealand: Labour Day in New Zealand is a public holiday that celebrates workers' efforts to secure fair working conditions. It highlights the successful push for an eight-hour workday, symbolizing a balanced division of time for labor, rest, and personal activities. This achievement reflects the dedication of early trade unions and labor...
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage: A vibrant celebration of recorded sound and moving images starts with this day. It spotlights films, radio clips, music tracks, and videos that shape how we understand our communities. Archivists, scholars, and fans unite to honor these treasures. The focus lies on how fragile these works can be when left...
National Civics Day: Step into any school or community center on National Civics Day, and you’ll feel the buzz. Students talk about voting, neighbors discuss laws, and everywhere, people explore what it means to be part of a democracy. The day sparks real conversations. It’s not about memorizing facts or dates. It’s about...
Shampoo Week: Shampoo Week is a lively celebration of hair care, happening annually from the last week of October into November. It highlights the importance of keeping our hair clean, healthy, and shiny. Haircare enthusiasts come together to raise awareness about good shampoo habits and promote products that nourish different hair types. Celebrated...
Global Media and Information Literacy Week: Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the vast amount of information available online? Media and Information Literacy (MIL) equips you with the skills to navigate and evaluate this information effectively. It helps you distinguish between credible news and misleading content, enhancing your ability to make informed decisions. Therefore, every year, from...
Chhath Puja: Chhath Puja is a vibrant festival that celebrates and honors the Sun, which is seen as the source of all life. Families gather near rivers or other water bodies, creating a beautiful scene of offerings and rituals. Brightly colored fruits, vegetables, and sweets are arranged in baskets while the setting...
Red Ribbon Week: Touching millions of people around the world since its inception, Red Ribbon Week encourages everyone, particularly high school and college students, to celebrate a lifestyle that is drug-free! History of Red Ribbon Week Red Ribbon Week is an initiative that started back in 1985 when it was launched in California. Eventually...
Bat Appreciation Week: Did you know that bats are not just Halloween symbols but fascinating creatures that play a crucial role in our ecosystem? Bat Appreciation Week, celebrated annually from October 24th to 31st, highlights bats' importance and promotes their conservation. Bats are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems. They help control insect populations, pollinate...