greater significance as time passed, but not for the reasons many nonacademic commentators believe. Richard was in danger of being forgotten in the years immediately after his retirement, so he promoted himself, and his nascent myth, excessively: There were Maurice Richard skates and jackets, but there were also Rocket ashtrays, Rocket transistor radios, and Rocket Richard Condensed Tomato Soup. Moreover, these products changed throughout history. "The principal impact of the trade in Richard … has been the transformation of Maurice Richard into a product, then into a label, and ultimately into a myth." He concludes by suggesting that the riot is now something it was not: "The riot has become the key event in turning Richard from a mere hockey player to a symbol of political resistance (even if Richard himself was publicly apolitical and, according to this book, definitely not for an independent Quebec) … According to this popular narrative, for the first time the people of Quebec stood up for themselves; especially English Canada delights in anachronistically announcing that this was the beginning of the 1960s Quiet Revolution." Perhaps the best way to explain how the interpretation of the riot changed is by looking at the change in the public perceptions of its antagonist: "It was necessary to overlook some of [Richard's] character traits and to rewrite several episodes of his career" in order to elevate him into a mythical figure. See also Bruins–Canadiens rivalry The Rocket (Maurice Richard) (film) 1954–55 Montreal Canadiens season References Bibliography External links Video footage of the brawl, and the riot, inside and outside the Forum 1954–55 Montreal Canadiens season 1954–55 NHL season 1954–55 in Canadian ice hockey 1955 riots History of the Montreal Canadiens Riots and civil disorder in Canada Sports riots Violence in ice hockey Ice hockey controversies 1954 1954 1950s in Montreal 1955 in Quebec March 1955 sports events in Canada