CANADA: Future Unlimited

Monday,January 2,1956

Said Albert Clifford Ashforth, president of the Toronto-Dominion Bank: “Canadians never had it so good. In 1955, they produced more, imported more, exported more, earned more, spent more, consumed more, borrowed more, saved more and invested more than in any previous year.”

If Ashforth sounded a little more like a barker making a midway spiel than a banker making a year-end report, he had good reason. Any Canadian taking stock of the nation’s economy at the close of 1955 was bound to be buoyant. The year had begun with some 500,000 unemployed, and with spreading fears that Canada’s postwar boom might be collapsing. Not only did such fears turn out to be unfounded, but 1955 turned out to be the best year Canada ever had. In Ottawa last week, the chief watchman of the country’s economy, Trade and Commerce Minister C.D. Howe, cited these indicators:

¶ Canada’s gross national product is now running 11% above the record set in 1953. Even at its present high rate, the output does not meet the demand. There are shortages of steel and cement for domestic use, and of newsprint, chemicals and metals for eager foreign customers.

¶ Personal income went up 8%, and corporation profits before taxes 22%. With the cost-of-living index holding steady, every extra dollar of dividends or take-home pay bought a full dollar’s worth of goods.

¶ Exports increased 12%, even though wheat, a major export in past years, was hard to sell in 1955. Such new export items as uranium, iron ore and oil more than made up for the grain decline.

¶ Imports rose 15% during the year, with nearly all of the increase in U.S. manufactured goods to satisfy the rapidly improving Canadian standard of living.

Unfilled Orders. In almost every part of the country, there was tangible evidence of industrial and business activity to back up Howe’s statistics. In the Quebec wilderness, 325 miles north of Montreal, Canadian National Railways is building a $35 million line to Chibougamau, a newly developed copper field. At Hamilton, Ont., the big Steel Co. of Canada, which has spent $100 million on new mills since 1950, reported with rueful pride that it was a full year behind on some orders —and promptly laid on an additional $70 million expansion program. Western oil production increased nearly one-third during the year, and great new developments for Canada’s petroleum industry lay right ahead: a $350 million pipeline eastward and a $120 million line southward to carry natural gas to Eastern Canada and the Pacific Northwest. In British Columbia, the Aluminum Co. of Canada decided that the new $300 million Kitimat plant was already outgrown and launched a $200 million expansion.

As could be expected, such capital growth called for heavy investment. Canada’s busiest stock market, the Toronto Exchange, doubled its turnover of shares and share values during the year. About 85% of all the new investment was made by Canadians themselves, but foreign capital continued to flow into the country at a healthy rate, with full encouragement from the government. Said Minister Howe: “I have never believed in examining the nationality of a dollar bill.”

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Cinema: The New Pictures: Feb. 15, 1932

The Hatchet Man (First National). So convincingly did Edward G. Robinson perform in Little Caesar and Smart Money that he, rather than Alphonse Capone or the late John (“Legs”) Diamond, has become the prototype of the U. S. gangster. When cinemaddicts read of the doings in the underworld, they form an immediate picture of Edward G. Robinson operating a machine gun in Chicago, a distillery in Manhattan or a poker game in a Florida casino. Actually, however, the countenance of Edward G. Robinson is less wicked than Mongolian. Shrewdly cast in this old (David Belasco-Achmed Abdullah) melodrama of San Francisco’s Chinatown, he needs no make-up to assure you that he is the heathen executioner of the Lem Sing Tong.

The oriental face of Edward G. Robinson contains all the most convincing features of the entertainment. He is forced, by the rules of his tong, to bury his hatchet in the neck of his best friend who, aware that no personal enmity is involved, wills his daughter to his murderer. Complications occur when the daughter (Loretta Young, with braces for her eyes) grows up. She marries the hatchetman but falls in love with a worthless Oriental who takes her to China and sells her into slavery. Robinson with his axe retrieves her. The narrative, sensational and gory, unlikely and over deliberate, resembles a Sunday feature story in a cheap newssheet. Typical shot: an old Tongster (Dudley Digges) registering Chinese imperturbability by blinking when Robinson asks him a question.

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February 8th 1952

1952: New Queen proclaimed for UK

Princess Elizabeth has formally proclaimed herself Queen and Head of the Commonwealth and Defender of the Faith.

Lords of the Council – numbering 150 – representatives from the Commonwealth, officials from the City of London – including the Lord Mayor – and other dignitaries witnessed the accession of the deceased king’s eldest daughter this morning.

The new monarch read an official Proclamation – also ordered to be published – declaring her reign as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.

I shall always work to advance the happiness and prosperity of my peoples Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II read: “By the sudden death of my dear father I am called to assume the duties and responsibilities of sovereignty.”

“My heart is too full for me to say more to you today than I shall always work, as my father did throughout his reign, to advance the happiness and prosperity of my peoples, spread as they are all the world over.”

Her husband, Prince Philip of Greece, the Duke of Edinburgh, was also present at the 20 minute meeting at St James’s Palace.

The couple returned to the UK yesterday after cutting short a tour of the Commonwealth – beginning in Kenya a week ago – because of King George VI’s sudden death on 6 February.

After the Accession Declaration, at 1000 GMT, the new Queen held her first Privy Council meeting and her Proclamation was signed by the Lord Chancellor, the prime minister, and many other privy counsellors along with representatives of the Commonwealth and the City and the Lord Mayor of London.

During the ceremonies the 25-year-old Queen also took an oath to assure the security of the Church of Scotland and approved several other Orders in Council.

Other dignitaries formally announced the new sovereign across the UK and Commonwealth.

In a statement this evening the Home Secretary, Sir David Fyfe, asked the nation for two minutes’ silence on 15 February when the late King will be buried at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

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February 5th 1974

1974: Newspaper heiress kidnapped

The daughter of the millionaire American publisher, Randolph Hearst, has been kidnapped.

Patty Hearst, aged 19, was with her fiancé, Steven Weed, in her flat in Berkeley, California, at 2100 local time yesterday (0500 GMT) when there was a knock on the door.

When Miss Hearst answered it, two men and a woman burst in to the room.

Violent exchange

In a violent exchange, Mr Weed was forced to lie on the floor, and then hit on the head repeatedly with a wine bottle and tied up.

A neighbour who heard the commotion and tried to help was also tied up and beaten.

The kidnappers carried Miss Hearst off, kicking and screaming, and put her in the boot of a white car.

Another car was also used, and as they sped off down the street they fired several shots at people in the street, although nobody was injured.

No ransom demand

Police said no ransom demand had yet been made, although this is thought the most likely motive for the kidnapping.

Miss Hearst is an heiress to the multi-million dollar Hearst publishing empire, founded by her grandfather, William Randolph Hearst.

Mr Hearst senior was a flamboyant newspaper proprietor whose career inspired Orson Welles in making his film, Citizen Kane.

He built the spectacular and whimsical castle on the 127-acre family estate in San Simeon, California, from the proceeds of his empire, which includes popular magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping and Harper’s Bazaar.

The company also publishes newspapers in a number of major American cities, including the San Francisco Examiner. Its president is Patty Hearst’s father, Randolph Hearst.

Mr Hearst was in Washington when the kidnap took place, but left immediately for California on hearing the news.

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John and Yoko Meet Trudeau

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From march 12 1969

Buddy Holly killed in Air crash

February 3rd 1959

Three young rock ‘n’ roll stars have been killed in a plane crash in the United States.

Buddy Holly, 22, Jiles P Richardson – known as the Big Bopper – 28, and Ritchie Valens, 17, died in a crash shortly after take-off from Clear Lake, Iowa at 0100 local time.

The pilot of the single-engined Beechcraft Bonanza plane was also killed.

Early reports from the scene suggest the aircraft spun out of control during a light snowstorm.

Only the pilot’s body was found inside the wreckage as the performers were thrown clear on impact.

Holly hired the plane after heating problems developed on his tourbus.

All three were travelling to Moorhead, Minnesota, the next venue in their Winter Dance Party Tour

Holly had set up the gruelling schedule of concerts – covering 24 cities in three weeks – to make money after the break-up of his band, The Crickets, last year.

Recorded life

Born Charles Hardin Holley – changed to Holly after a misspelling on a contract – he had several hit records, including a number one, in the US and UK with That’ll be the Day in 1957.

A singer and guitarist, he was inspired by Elvis Presley after seeing him at an early concert in his home town of Lubbock, Texas.

With Presley serving in the Army, some critics expected Holly to take over his crown.

Richard Valenzuela was the first Mexican American to break into mainstream music, after being discovered by record producer Bob Keane, who changed his name to Ritchie Valens.

He had made three albums and achieved a number two chart position in the US with his composition Donna – about his girlfriend – in 1958.

His rock ‘n’ roll re-working of the traditional Mexican song La Bamba – on the B-side of Donna – has also received acclaim.

The Big Bopper had been a record-breaking radio DJ – with a 122-hour marathon stint – and reached number six in the American charts with his record Chantilly Lace.

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Rejigging

The NEW Hespeler Herald will return in a few day’s. Problems with the system have prevented me from publishing. Some changes are coming as well.  See You then and thanks for visiting.

Music from January 1970

JANUARY

• “Blowing Away” – The Fifth Dimension (#21)
• “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” – The Delfonics (G) (#10)
• “Hey There Lonely Girl” – Eddie Holman (G) (#2)
• “Jennifer Tomkins” – Street People (#36)
• “Johnny B. Goode” – Johnny Winter (#92)
• “Love Bones” – Johnnie Taylor (#43)
• “Monster” – Steppenwolf (#39)
• “Oh Me Oh My (I’m A Fool For You Baby)” – Lulu (#22)
• “Psychedelic Shack” – The Temptations (#7)
• “Rainy Night In Georgia” – Brook Benton (G) (#4)
• “Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Agin)/Everybody Is A Star” – Sly & the Family Stone (G) (#1)
• “The Thrill Is Gone” – B.B. King (G) (#15)
• “Traces/Memories Melody” – The Lettermen (#47)
• “Walk A Mile In My Shoes” – Joe South (#12)
• “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” – Jimmy Cliff (#25)

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Music notes January 17 1970

17
Chicago R&B singer Billy Stewart and three of his band members are killed when their car goes off a bridge over the River Neuse in North Carolina. Stewart, who also played piano, was best known for his 1966 hit version of George Gershwin’s “Summertime,” replete with his typical yodeling, hiccuping, scatting vocal style. He was thirty-two years old.

The Doors‘ two-night stand at the Felt Forum in New York is recorded for their forthcoming album, Absolutely Live. Several other shows around the country will also be recorded for the album.

According to a Gallup Poll, 61% of Americans approve of President Nixon’s handling of his office.

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John F Kennedy sworn in as US president

January 20 1961

The Democrat John F Kennedy has been sworn in as the youngest ever elected president of the United States.

The 43-year-old Roman Catholic was inaugurated as the 35th president on a snow-covered Capitol Hill in Washington. He takes over from the oldest president in American history, General Dwight Eisenhower, who is bowing out aged 70.

The president’s Republican rival, Richard Nixon, who came a close second in the race for the White House, also attended the inauguration ceremony.

Millions watched the swearing-in of the new president on television. He chose to wear formal dress, including a top hat, for the occasion.

Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country President John F Kennedy

President Kennedy began his speech by addressing “my fellow citizens” – the term first used by President George Washington but rejected by later presidents in favour of the less formal “my fellow Americans”.

His ten-minute address appealed to Americans to unite in the fight against the common enemy of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.

For the people of the world struggling against the “bonds of misery”, the president pledged, “our best efforts to help them help themselves”.

He continued: “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”

He also appealed to the Soviet Union to begin a new quest for peace.

“Let both sides for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations,” he said.

President Kennedy closed his speech with the words: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

His words were greeted with rousing applause.

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