January 3, 2008

75 years ago
1933

Died on this date
Wilhelm Cuno, 56. Chancellor of Germany, 1922-1923. Mr. Cuno was Chancellor for 264 days, during which his government allowed France to occupy the Ruhr area.

Jack Pickford, 36. Canadian-born U.S. movie producer and actor. Mary Pickford's younger brother, born John Charles Smith in Toronto, used his family's influence to become an adolescent actor, and later, producer. He joined the U.S. Navy in World War I, but was accused of accepting bribes from wealthy recruits to help keep them out of combat. He was reportedly given a general, instead of dishonourable, discharge, because of his family's influence. Mr. Pickford's first wife, Hollywood star and former Ziegfeld girl Olive Thomas, died in 1920 from swallowing a whole bottle of mercury biochloride (then commonly used as a treatment for syphilis)while the couple was visiting Paris. It was never clearly established whether her death was an accident or a suicide. Mr. Pickford's two subsequent marriages were unsuccessful, and bouts of syphilis, drug use, and drinking ultimately led to his death.

50 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Mary's Boy Child--Harry Belafonte (7th week at #1)

30 years ago
1978

Health
The Canadian federal government released a report by three scientists concerning the amount of arsenic in the water supply of Yellowknife. Almost three years earlier, reports of high levels of arsenic (coming from the Giant and Con gold mines) in Yellowknife's water had prompted then-minister of health and welfare, Marc Lalonde, to commission the report. The scientists concluded that there were few possibilities of Yellowknifers acquiring arsenic through the city's main water supply, but offered no assurances for the native population who obtained their water directly from natural sources. This blogger was one of the Yellowknife residents to be tested for arsenic in 1975 as part of the federal government's research. I'd drunk plenty of Yellowknife's great-tasting water for 6 1/2 years at the time of testing, and received a clean bill of health. I was a New Town resident, and the highest arsenic levels were reported in those living in Old Town, especially near Back Bay.

Basketball
The Boston Celtics, with an 11-23 record, fired head coach Tom Heinsohn. Mr. Heinsohn, whose career NBA coaching record was 427 wins and 263 losses, was in his ninth season as Celtics' coach, and had led his team to NBA championships in 1974 and 1976. His win total was second in league history to Red Auerbach, one of his predecessors as Celtics' head coach, and the general manager who hired--and fired--him. Mr. Heinsohn's replacement was one of his assistants, Tom Sanders.

10 years ago
1998

Died on this date
George Shaw, 64. U.S. football player. Mr. Shaw was a quarterback with the University of Oregon Ducks in the early 1950s, and was a first team All-American in both football and baseball. The Baltimore Colts made him the first overall selection in the 1955 college draft, and he played with them from 1955-1958. Mr. Shaw suffered a season-ending fractured kneecap in the fifth game of the 1956 season and lost his starting job to rookie Johnny Unitas. He regained the starting quarterback position for a few games in 1958 when Mr. Unitas was injured, and helped them to the NFL championship. Mr. Shaw was traded to the New York Giants in 1959, backing up Chuck Conerly and seeing a fair amount of playing time in 1960 when Mr. Conerly was injured. Mr. Shaw went to the expansion Minnesota Vikings in 1961 and started their first game, but was replaced at halftime by rookie Fran Tarkenton, and started just 3 games the rest of the season. Mr. Shaw finished his career with the Denver Broncos of the American Football League in 1962, backing up Frank Tripucka. In 8 seasons, Mr. Shaw completed 405 of 802 passes (50.5%) for 5,829 yards, with 41 touchdowns and 63 interceptions in 71 games, while rushing 130 times for 431 yards (3.3 average per carry) and 6 touchdowns. He died after a long illness.