On This Day - April 27, 2026

The worst maritime disaster in United States history occurred on the Mississippi River just north of Marion, Arkansas. Greater than the Titanic disaster, the Sultana steamboat exploded just weeks after the end of the Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln. Overloaded with POWs returning to the North, over 1800 passengers perished.

After premieres in Los Angeles and New York, A Star is Born opens across the United States. Starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, the film follows a young woman's dream of Hollywood stardom. The film's popularity lends itself to four remakes. The first, a television adaptation, starred Kathleen Crowley and Conrad Nagel. Then in 1954, crooner Judy Garland and James Mason put on performances that many consider to be unstoppable. Some even suggest that Garland's performance is the best of her career. Then in 1976, Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson take up the challenge. Garland, Mason, Streisand, and Kristofferson all won Golden Globes for their performances. The most recent version of a Star is Born came out in 2018 starring Grammy winner Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The film won the Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.

In the House that Ruth Built, 58,339 fans turn out to honor an ailing Babe Ruth.