1927 was a year of significant developments across various fields, marking advancements in technology, culture, and political landscapes. This article highlights key events of the year, with a particular focus on those impacting the United States.
Politics and Diplomacy
May 20-21: The Treaty of Jeddah is signed, recognizing the full independence of the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia) by the United Kingdom.
August 27: The Kellogg-Briand Pact is proposed by France to the United States, initially as a bilateral agreement renouncing war as an instrument of national policy. It would later be opened to other nations. This paved the way for its formal signing in 1928.
October 21: The Republican Party holds its first national radio broadcast.
Science and Technology
January 7: The first transatlantic telephone call is made between New York City and London.
April 7: Philo Farnsworth makes the first successful electronic television transmission in San Francisco, marking a major milestone in the development of television technology.
May 20-21: Charles Lindbergh makes the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean in his aircraft The Spirit of St. Louis, flying from New York to Paris. This feat captured global attention and significantly advanced the field of aviation.
December 2: The Ford Model A is introduced as the replacement for the Model T.
Culture and Society
January 1: The Rose Bowl, the oldest college football bowl game in the United States, is broadcast on network radio for the first time.
May: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is founded in Los Angeles, California.
October 6: The Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson, is released. It is the first feature-length motion picture with synchronized dialogue sequences, marking a revolutionary transition to "talking pictures" and dramatically impacting the film industry. This event holds particular significance for the United States due to its role in shaping American popular culture.
November 18: The Columbine Mine Massacre occurs in Colorado, in which six striking coal miners are shot dead by state police.
Disasters
May 17: The Bath School disaster occurs in Bath Township, Michigan. A disgruntled school board member dynamites Bath Consolidated School, killing 38 children and six adults, and injuring dozens more. It remains the deadliest school massacre in United States history.