Golden Gate Bridge
May 27, 1937
The Golden Gate Bridge connecting San Francisco, California to Marin County (the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula) opens. At that time, San Francisco was the largest American city still served primarily by ferry boats. Many experts believed that a bridge could not be built across the 6,700 ft (2,042 m) strait, because of strong swirling tides, heavy currents, high winds, and blinding fogs that would prevent construction.
Phil Hartman Killed in Murder-Suicide
May 28, 1998
Comedian Phil Hartman is murdered by his wife. During a heated argument earlier that evening, he had threatened to leave her if she began using drugs again. After he went to bed, she shot him while he slept at about 3 am, killing herself later that morning as police were removing the children from the home.
Hartman was known for his extensive television and film work, such as: Saturday Night Live, Pee-wee’s Playhouse (Captin’ Carl. He and Paul Reubens co-created the Pee-wee Herman character), and The Simpsons (voice of Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz). He also designed album covers for bands such as Poco.
Bing Crosby Records White Christmas
May 29, 1942
Bing Crosby records the song White Christmas. This recording of White Christmas has sold over 50,000,000 copies and is the world’s best-selling single of all time. It took only 18 minutes to record and was recorded with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers and for Decca Records.
This recording is the only single to top of the U.S. charts three times (1942, 1945, 1946).
Crosby would also sing the song in the movies Holiday Inn (1942) and White Christmas (1954).
The song was written by Irving Berlin, who was Jewish. The various versions of the song have sold over 100,000,000 copies.