September 27th
- Today in 1854, the first great disaster involving an Atlantic Ocean liner occurred when the steamship, SS Arctic collided with the SS Vesta. The Arcticsank with 400 people aboard 50 miles off the coast of Newfoundland. In the end, around 80 survived –and they were primarily the crew. All the women and children on board perished.
- Today in 1896, the first book of matcheswas patented.
- Today in 1937, the world's first Santa Claus training schoolopened with a class of six students in Albany, New York.
- Today in1954, “The Tonight Show"debuted on NBC-TV. Steve Allen was the first host; Johnny Carson took over in 1962.
- Today in 1962,Rachel Carson published “Silent Spring”about the deleterious impacts of pesticide use on the environmentin the US.
- Today in1964, the Warren Commissionpublicly announced its conclusionthat Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President John Kennedy. The 888-page report had been presented to President Johnson three days earlier.
- Today in1982, "Square Pegs,” starring Sarah Jessica Parker,debuted on CBS-TV.
- Today in1985, "The New Twilight Zone"debuted on CBS-TV.
- Today in1988, three days after placing first in the men's 100-meter dash at the Seoul Summer Olympics, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnsonleft for home in disgrace. He had been stripped of his Gold medal by officials who said he'd used anabolic steroids.
- Today in 1991,"The Fisher King," starring Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges,opened in theaters nationwide.
- Today in1995, the US governmentunveiled its redesigned $100-bill, featuring a larger, off-center portrait of Benjamin Franklin.
- Today in 1996,"Sabrina, The Teenage Witch"debuted on ABC-TV.
- Today in 1996, Baltimore Oriole Roberto Alomarspit in face of umpire John Hirschbeck. Alomar, who claimed Hirschbeck called him a derogatory name, was suspended five games – and the umps threatened to strike over what was seen as a paltry suspension. Hirschbeck denied Alomar’s claim, saying that if he used any vulgar language it wasafterhe was spit on, not before. At the time, Oriole Davey Johnson never divulged what he heard at home plate, only saying, ''I think they're both guilty." As ugly as that situation was, it had a happy ending: Alomar and Hirschbeck later patched up their differences and actually became friends.
- Today in1996, the Julie N. tanker skipcrashed into the Million Dollar Bridge in Portland, Mainespilling 180,000 gallons of oil into Portland Harbor.
- Today in 1996,Richard Allen Davis, the murderer of 12-year-old Polly Klaas of Petaluma, California,was sentenced to death.
- Today in 1999,Tiger Stadiumclosed in grand fashion after 87 yearsas the Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals, 8-to-2.
- Today in 2003,the Smart 1 satellite – Europe’s first science spacecraft designed to orbit the moon –was launched.
- Today in 2008,Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynoldswere married. After divorcing less than three years later, Reynolds went on to marry Blake Lively (September 2012) and Johansson married French journalist Romain Dauriac. Ryan and Blake have since welcomed two children, while Johansson has clocked another divorce.
- Today in 2008,Greg Maddux won what would be the final start of his 23-year career (#355). As a Los Angeles Dodger, heannounced his retirement the following Decemberand was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.
- Today in 2012,the Mars Curiosity rover discoveredevidence of a once fast-moving streamon the planet surface.
- Today in 2014,more than 60 people were killedafter Mount Ontake erupted in Japan.
- Today in 2015,a "Supermoon"coincided with a lunar eclipse creating a "Blood Moon" over much of the earth.
- Today in 2017,researchersconfirmed the existence of giant tree rat "Vika"in the Solomon Islands that can crack open coconuts.
- Today in 2018,India's Supreme Court overturned a 158-year old rule,and decriminalized adultery because it was discriminatory against women.
- Today in 2018,the US Securities and Exchange Commissionfiled a lawsuit accusing Elon Musk of securities fraud. At issue were Musk's claims that he had secured funding to take the electric carmaker private – the SEC deemed those as "false and misleading.” He later settled –agreeing to pay $20-million in fines and to step downas the Tesla chairman.