October 27: Today In History

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On October 27th, 1997 trading was halted at the New York Stock Exchange as the DOW jones industrial average suffered the biggest point drop in history.

This image shows activity on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange one minute before trading was halted for the day due to a 553-point drop in the Dow Jones industrial average.

As the drop happened worried investors rushed for the exit door, afraid that the Asian financial crisis may not be over.

In 1999, the dress that Marilyn Monroe wore to sing “Happy birthday, Mr. President” to President John F. Kennedy was sold for $1,267,500 – a record for an item of clothing at auction.

Telephone bids were taken at Christie’s auction of the personal property of Marilyn Monroe in New York. 

A New York memorabilia dealer paid $1,267,000 for the dress, smashing the record price paid for a dress at auction. 

Also in 1999, gunmen opened fire in the armenian parliament, killing eight including the prime minister.

The shooting led to significant changes in the country’s political landscape and it remains a subject of numerous conspiracy theories, mostly involving the next president, whose tenure thereafter was frequently criticized as authoritarian. 

The president and parliament speaker were posthumously honored with national hero of Armenia titles.

2006 saw scuba divers in Sydney, Australia setting the world record for an underwater dance class.

This photo shows seventy-four scuba divers dancing to set the world record at Sydney’s Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. 

The divers were required to dance simultaneously for ten minutes to set the record, with the event also raising money for charity.

And, in 2009 Fisker Automotive announced its intention to manufacture the world’s first production plug-in hybrid car.

In this photo, Fisker Automotive CEO Henrik Fisker made the announcement of its intention to manufacture the Fisker Karma, at the former General Motors Boxwood Road assembly plant in Wilmington, Delaware.