1927

1927 was the 56th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

• January 14: The Town of Hollywood was incorporated with Clarence Lloyd as its mayor.
• Oak Mountain State Park was established.
• December 26: The Alabama Theatre opened with a screening of "The Spotlight".

Business

• Sid Lee's Alabama Grocery Company dropped its other activities and became the Buffalo Rock Company.
• Birmingham News publisher Victor Hanson acquired the rival Birmingham Age-Herald and began publishing a joint Sunday edition as The Birmingham News Age-Herald.
• The predecessor to West End's Alley's Drugs opened.
• April 22: The first C. F. Penn Hamburgers opened in Hartselle.
• May: The Oxmoor Furnaces ceased operation.
• The hoist at Woodward Iron Company's Redding Shaft on Red Mountain was removed, but the opening continued to serve as ventilation for the Songo No. 1 Mine.
• August: The Luquire Insurance Company was founded.

Sports

• Alabama Power Company and the Birmingham Post claimed silver loving cups at the conclusion of the 1927 Indoor Baseball League of Birmingham season.

Works

• Alabama State Land Act of 1927
• November 10: Jimmie Tarlton and Tom Darby recorded "Birmingham Jail" for Columbia Records.

Buildings

• Anderson Electric built a new plant at 44th Street and 7th Avenue North.
• The Avon Building in Lakeview was constructed for the Avon Theatre and the Exclusive Furniture Shop.
• Birmingham Fire Station No. 3 was constructed on Highland Avenue.
• Birmingham Fire Station No. 22 was constructed on Clairmont Avenue.
• The new Birmingham Public Library opened in Woodrow Wilson Park.
• The Country Club of Birmingham built a sprawling new clubhouse in Mountain Brook.
• Ensley First United Methodist Church completed an education building.
• The Mediterranean-styled Ensley Theatre opened.
• The Famous Theater opened on 4th Avenue North.
• The elaborately ornamented Florentine Building on 2nd Avenue North was completed.
• Greater Shiloh Baptist Church began worshiping in the basement of their church building, still under construction.
• The 6-story Kenilworth Arms apartment building on Highland Avenue opened.
• The Little Theatre opened at Caldwell Park.
• Lloyd Hall was built for the University of Alabama's chemistry department.
• The Thomas Martin residence on Stratford Road was built for Alabama Power Company president Thomas Martin.
• Minor High School was rebuilt after a fire.
• The landmark Quinlan Castle apartment building on 21st Street South opened.
• The project to roof over the infield bleachers at Rickwood Field was completed.
• The Venetian Village Building on 11th Street South was completed.
• The 17-story Art Deco Watts Building was completed on 20th Street North.
• The George Wofford residence was built on Salisbury Road.
• November 19: The 21,000 seat Legion Field opened with a game between Howard College and Birmingham-Southern.
• December 25: The Alabama Theatre opened its doors for a private preview party.

Demolitions

• The Jefferson County Bank Building was torn down to make way for the Florentine Building.

Individuals

Births

• Restaurateur Jack Caddell was born in Birmingham.
• Radio host, educator and jazz vocalist Jesse Champion was born in Dolomite.
• Grocer, restaurateur and Civil Rights guard Joe Hendricks was born in Boligee, Green County.
• Illustrator Phil Neel was born.
• Music critic Oliver Roosevelt was born.
• Toy store owner Herman Spivey was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Sculptor and educator Hannah Stewart was born.
• Attorney and publisher Asa Rountree III was born in Birmingham.
• Wrestler Tojo Yamamoto was born Harold Watanabe in Hawai'i.
• Alabama State Hornets football coach George James was born.
• Birmingham Zoo director Jack Throp was born in Arizona.
• April 12: University of Alabama School of Medicine dean James Pittman was born in Orlando, Florida.
• April 27: Civil Rights activist Coretta Scott King was born Coretta Scott in Heiberger, Perry County.
• April 27: Champion shot-putter and attorney Charlie Fonville was born in Birmingham.
• May 6: Singer, songwriter, Miss Alabama and Mrs. Mickey Rooney B. J. Baker was born Betty Jane Phillips in Birmingham.
• May 25: Gynecologist and BJCC board member Gil Wideman was born in Walker County.
• May 27: Mathematics professor Abdulalim Shabazz was born Lonnie Cross in Bessemer.
• July 29: Actress and educator Betty Caldwell was born Alice Elizabeth Caldwell in Birmingham.
• August 17: City planner and Auburn University professor Robert Juster was born in London, England.
• September 30: Novelist Cecil Dawkins was born in Birmingham.
• October 6: Alabama Power Company president Joe Farley was born in Birmingham.
• October 14: Grocer Dominic Lusco was born.
• November 13: Actor Hal Lynch was born in Birmingham.
• November 18: R&B singer Hank Ballard was born John Henry Kendricks in Detroit, Michigan.
• November 26: UAB administrator Gloria Howton was born Gloria Sterman in Reform, Pickens County.
• December 6: Formal wear dealer J. O. Tant, Jr was born.
• December 31: Dancer, choreographer and Birmingham Civic Ballet founder Lola Mae Jones Coates was born Lola Mae Jones.

Deaths

• Architect Daniel Reamer died.
• March 7: Birmingham Ice & Cold Storage Co. president Franklin Rushton died in Birmingham.
• April 8: Convicted murderer Horace DeVaughan was executed at Kilby State Prison in Atmore.
• August 15: Avondale Mills founder and former Governor of Alabama B. B. Comer died in Birmingham.

Context

1920s

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