in Washington, D.C. (d. 2021) February 19, 1927 (Saturday) "Dry ice", it was announced by the American Chemical Society in a press conference in New York, would become available worldwide as the result of the perfection, by of a process that "converts solid carbon dioxide into a practical portable 'ice'" "Synthetic 'Dry Ice' Is Invented As Shipment Aid". The mass production of "frozen CO2", which "melted" more slowly than frozen water, was a milestone in transporting perishable foods, because far less of it was required—1,200 pounds of dry ice could replace 17,000 pounds of regular ice and 1,700 pounds of salt, freeing up more space for products. Radio station CFRB began broadcasting in Toronto as the first station in the world to rely on alternating current (AC) rather than direct current (DC). The romantic comedy film It was released, starring Clara Bow in the role that made her a major star. Born: Ernest Trova, American pop art sculptor, in Clayton, Missouri (d. 2009) February 20, 1927 (Sunday) The United States increased the number of troops committed to Nicaragua, as 800 U.S. Marines arrived at Corinto, half of a group of 1,600 that had been mobilized three days earlier. Within the week, the American grew fivefold, from 400 to 2,000. Born: Sidney Poitier, African-American film actor and director; in Miami (d. 2022) Roy Cohn, American prosecutor during McCarthy Era; in New York City (d.1986) Ibrahim Ferrer, Cuban singer; in San Luis, Santiago de Cuba (d. 2005) Hubert de Givenchy, French fashion designer, in Beauvais (d. 2018) February 21, 1927 (Monday) Nicaragua's President Adolfo Díaz asked that his nation become a protectorate of the United States, and proposed to sign a 100-year treaty to allow American troops to occupy the Central American nation. President Coolidge declined to take the offer seriously, but U.S. troops remained in Nicaragua until 1933. In its decision in Farrington v. Tokushige, the United States Supreme Court invalidated, as unconstitutional, a law in Hawaii that required schools to receive a license from the state before they could teach any languages other than English. The city of West Vernon, Texas, was incorporated. It existed until 1944, when it was annexed into Vernon, Texas. Born: Erma Bombeck, American humorist and newspaper columnist (At Wit's End), in Bellbrook, Ohio (d. 1996) February 22, 1927 (Tuesday) The Italian team of Lt. Col. Francesco de Pinedo and Lt. Col. Carlo del Prete, flew