FeedEven Soup Got Into The Act With Upset Fans
September 5, 2009 in Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens Tags: 1955 riot, Campbell's soup, Clarence Campbell, Cliff Thompson, Hal Laycoe, Maurice Richard, Richard Riot
When Clarence Campbell suspended Maurice Richard for the remaining games of the season and all of the playoffs in March of 1955, he was not a popular man. And that’s an understatement to end all understatements. Of course he wasn’t popular. How could you treat Rocket so unfairly when all he did was smash Hal Laycoe over the head with his stick and punch out a linesman?
Richard fans took to the streets, as we all know, and trashed several blocks of Rue Ste. Catherine’s which became widely know as the Richard Riots, or the St. Patrick’s Day Riot. But they did more than just riot, smash and loot. No, only ordinary greaseballs simply riot, smash and loot. A Habs’ fan came up with a much more creative protest – design, print and cover Campbell’s soup cans, which was no relation to Clarence, with Maurice Richard labels, and for a short time, some stores sold their tomato soup this way. That’ll teach that rotten English president bastard.
Yes, Clarence Campbell was not a popular man at this time.
(My Richard soup label isn’t an original, only a copy. Originals turn up rarely and sell for many hundreds of dollars.)
September 5th, 2009 at 4:45 am
i wonder how the Rocket tastes, maybe full of awesome.
September 5th, 2009 at 6:36 am
That’s funny. I come here to get my education, you know so much about the Habs’ history.
September 5th, 2009 at 7:56 am
I wasn’t aware of this part of the Habs history,it’s to bad they didn’t throw a couple of these cans at him,but then he would have needed a “kane” to walk out of the forum.
September 5th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I think Campbell was under pressure from owners around the league to reign Richard in a little, which is pretty bad. I think though, Bettman’s worse.
September 5th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Thanks Moey. I’m just old, that’s all.
September 5th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
I agree Bettman is worse but he makes money for the owners so he stays