Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Oct. 27, according to the Tribune’s archives.
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Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
- High temperature: 83 degrees (1927)
- Low temperature: 24 degrees (1942)
- Precipitation: 1.56 inches (1947)
- Snowfall: 2.7 inches (1967)
More than 50 men lost their lives in the Franklin Coal and Coke Co. mine in downstate Royalton after a pocket of gas was ignited by a miner’s lamp on Oct. 27, 1914. (Chicago Tribune)
1914: An explosion at the Franklin Coal and Coke Co. mine in downstate Royalton (near Carbondale) killed 52 workers. It was determined a miner’s lamp came in contact with a pocket of gas that ignited the blast.
After the opening of the musical “Hair” at the Shubert Theater in Chicago, producer Michael Butler and co-authors Gerome Ragni and James Rado head to a party on Oct. 22, 1969. Editors note: this historic print shows some hand painting in the background. (Chicago Today)
1969: The Chicago production of the musical “Hair” opened at the Shubert Theater in Chicago.
“The whole thing turns into a house party at the finale, with the cast inviting members of the audience to come up on the stage and join them in dancing,” Tribune critic William Leonard wrote. “Sorry, we just can’t hate a show like this!”
It was originally produced by Oak Brook’s Michael Butler.
How the Chicago Tribune exposed city vote fraud in 1972 — and won a Pulitzer Prize
1972: Following the Tribune’s vote fraud investigation, 79 election judges and precinct captains were indicted. The series of articles won a Pulitzer Prize in 1973 for “uncovering flagrant violations of voting procedures in the primary election of March 21, 1972.”
Greg Hernandez separates materials from a pile of rubble during the teardown of the Cabrini-Green high-rises at 1157 and 1159 Cleveland Ave. on Oct. 30, 1995, in Chicago. (José Moré/Chicago Tribune)
1995: Crews began demolition of a Cabrini-Green high-rise, the first in the Near North Side complex to be razed.
Cabrini-Green timeline: From ‘war workers’ to ‘Good Times,’ Jane Byrne and demolition
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