Today in History

Today is Tuesday, Oct. 27, the 301st day of 2020. There are 65 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:On Oct. 27, 1904, the first rapid transit subway, the IRT, was inaugurated in New York City.

On this date:

In 1954, Walt Disney’s first television program, titled “Disneyland” after the yet-to-be completed theme park, premiered on ABC.

In 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft was shot down while flying over Cuba, killing the pilot, U.S. Air Force Maj. Rudolf Anderson Jr.

In 1978, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin were named winners of the Nobel Peace Prize for their progress toward achieving a Middle East accord.

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

In 2004, the Boston Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918, sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4, 3-0.

In 2018, a gunman shot and killed 11 congregants and wounded six others at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history; authorities said the suspect, Robert Bowers, raged against Jews during and after the rampage. (Bowers, who is awaiting trial, has pleaded not guilty; prosecutors are seeking a death sentence.)

Today’s Birthdays: Actor-comedian John Cleese is 81. Author Fran Lebowitz is 70. World Golf Hall of Famer Patty Sheehan is 64. Actor Sean Holland is 52. Violinist Vanessa-Mae is 42. Actor-singer Kelly Osbourne is 36.