December 30, 2007

50 years ago
1957

Hit parade
#1 in the U.S.A. (Billboard): April Love--Pat Boone

40 years ago
1967

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Hello Goodbye--The Beatles

#1 single in the U.K.: Hello Goodbye--The Beatles

Died on this date
Vincent Massey, 80. Canada's first Canadian-born Governor General (1952-1959).

Charlie Conacher, 58. Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Conacher, Joe Primeau, and Harvey "Busher" Jackson comprised the "Kid Line" with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the early 1930s.

Both Mr. Conacher and Mr. Massey had famous brothers. Lionel Conacher was voted Canada's Athlete of the Half-Century in 1950. Raymond Massey had a long and distinguished acting career; although he didn't become Governor-General, he played a future president of the United States when he starred in Abe Lincoln in Illinois.

25 years ago
1982

Died on this date
Bruce Gamble, 44. NHL goaltender from 1958-1972, best remembered for his years with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the late 1960s. He was a member of the 1966-67 Stanley Cup champions, splitting the goaltending with Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk. On Feb. 1, 1971 he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in a deal that saw Bernie Parent go to the Maple Leafs. On Feb. 9, 1972, Gamble came within two minutes of a shutout in a 3-1 win over the Canucks in Vancouver. He experienced chest pains during the game, which was diagnosed as a heart attack, immediately ending his career.