Today In History: March 27

Good Morning Historianites! Today was a big, big day in history, so let's take a look into the files and see what happened!

1. 1790 - The shoelace was invented!! Hooray! Instead of being completely satisfied with slip-ons or leather-banded roman sandals, culture came up with the shoelace - a far more complicated way of keeping those soles strapped to your feet. It would be centuries before we created velcro, helping us inch back toward footwear ease. But that wouldn't stop shoelaces, they're still around. There are even people stupid enough to create blogs about it!!!

2. 1973 - Today was the day of the 45th Academy Awards! And the night that Marlon Brando, nominated for Best Actor for his performance in the Godfather, would refuse to accept his Oscar on behalf of the struggling native peoples of America. Apparently, Brando was protesting the depiction and treatment of Indians in Hollywood pictures, which makes a lot of sense considering there were tons of Indians in the Godfather. Good job, Marlon on taking on a cause for a few years.

3. 1982 - Sadly, musical performances of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" ceased today, ending a run of 1577 shows. Really Sad. Everyone loves a good whore, but 1982 was also the year the musical was adapted to film and starred Dolly Parton and her big cans. Everyone rejoiced at the idea they might get a peak at those babies. Then everyone was sad again when they didn't. Now, Dolly isn't much of a whore - although Dollywood really blurs the lines a bit... she might be a commercial whore - but I think a lot of us will agree that if she was a whore, we'd like to take a gander at that tasty set of hers. I mean seriously, those are some big guns. I'm not into prostitution, but I do believe in rewarding excellence and I think maybe she should win a cash prize for those things.

Now, that we've covered the peripheral stuff, let's get down to business. Real business...

4. 1985 - Billy Dee Williams is given his star on the walk of fame. Lando Calrissian, space hustler extraordinare, given the shiny key to Hollywood... which he no doubt lost gambling space credits he couldn't cover in a game of Zinbiddle with Walex Blissex. Easy come, easy go Lando. But the award was meant to honor great performances such as this one.

and finally...

5. 1988 - In what could only be considered the greatest sporting event of the century, Macho Man Randy Savage pins Ted Dibiase for the WWF Title at Wrestlemania IV. Now, Macho Man was tired... Real tired. Anyone would be after having to beat One Man Gang in a qualifying match, and Dibiase took full advantage of it. But Savage battled back, trying to land a Savage Elbow on Dibiase, who moved at the last second and countered with his own Million Dollar Dream, a near flawless manuever guaranteed to drop the most fierce opponents into an asphyxiated sleep. But Savage's old pal, Hulk Hogan hit Dibiase with a chair when the referee wasn't looking, which allowed Savage to escape Dibiase's clutches and attempt another Savage Elbow from the top turnbuckle. This time Savage landed it and after the three count became the World Wrestling Federation's Champion. The two buddies celebrated by holding up posters of Miss Elizabeth, Savage's lady friend and snapping into Slim Jims. Later Hogan and Savage would create the awesome tagteam of "The Mega Powers" which ruled the WWF for 14 months... How 'bout that!!!