Given that today marks my 73rd birthday, I thought it might be fun and interesting to examine a few “On this Day…” lists to take note of the significant historical events that I had assumed would coincide with it. Unfortunately, unless one has a special interest in the esoteric, say, for example, the numerous minor skirmishes waged by a host of ruthless, ambitious, and largely forgotten rulers on this date, there is not much to commend it. Today, the tyrants and would-be kings have faded into the mists of time; it is mostly left to the professional historians to recall for us the names of these battles and to explain their causes or goals.
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Based on my admittedly cursory research, it appears to me a rare calendar day, indeed, that is not designated to commemorate one “special” occasion or another. June 27 itself features quite a lengthy list of these largely meaningless celebratory days, marketing gimmicks, really, most of which are not well known. To mention but two of the more important, June 27 is honored worldwide as International Pineapple Day, while, closer to home, today also marks National Bingo Day. Free space, anyone?
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Naturally, I searched for other notable birthdays that fall on June 27. At least one of my sources must have been compiled by a Brit, whose list of notables was peppered with the names English, Australian, and Indian cricketers. Overall, the lists I gathered struck me as quite subjective. In other words, there are few people who unanimously could be deemed famous, or even noteworthy, born on June 27. However, this observation is not meant to imply there are not many fine folks celebrating birthdays today.
Of course, there are always a few exceptions to the rule. For example, did you know that on this day in 1927, the American actor Bob Keeshan was born? For four years, at the dawn of television, he played Clarabell the Clown on the Howdy Doody Show. Needless to say, however, his greatest role, the one for which he is immortalized, was to play the captain in Captain Kangaroo.
On a more personal note, a favorite of mine, Jim Fuller, the so-called “Godfather of surf guitar,” was born on this day back in 1947. He is credited with writing the Safaris’ big hit, “Wipe Out,” which, interestingly, is more famous for its drum solo than for its surf guitar riff. (By the way, who was the father of surf guitar?)
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Among the few truly noteworthy events that occurred on this day, in 1967, the world’s first ATM was installed in Enfield, London. A labor-saving convenience, to be sure, yet how many bank tellers were put out of work over the past half-century or so in consequence?
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Also on this day, in 1844, a mob stormed the jail where Joseph Smith, the leader of the Latter-Day Saint movement, his brother, and several other members of the movement were incarcerated while awaiting trial in Illinois. Smith and his brother were killed. Following their deaths, a succession battle ensued within the movement. Ultimately, most Latter-Day Saints elected to follow Brigham Young. Shortly after, they emigrated with him to the Utah Territory. As they say, the rest is history.
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On a more hopeful note, on this day in 2018, it was reported that the Cassini spacecraft had detected carbon-based molecules on the Saturn moon Enceladus. Previously, such molecules were only seen on Earth or in some meteorites. This exciting discovery implies the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.
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Finally, on this day in 1920, my mother was born. Throughout her life she would regale me with the story of how she had managed to squeeze me out with scant moments to spare before the calendar shifted to June 28th. My birth certificate stands as proof that she was successful in this effort.
Happy birthday to us, mom.
