![]() ![]() Arthur Dong with Wally Wong, brother of dancer Jadin Wong at MoCA in New York on July 26, 2015. Ngor which screened at the Asian American International Film Festival, were in the audience. Ngor, the subject of Arthur Dong’s newest film, The Killing Fields of Dr. ![]() Ngor Foundation, and members of the family of Dr. Ngor, joins him at the Forbidden City, USA: Chinese American Nightclubs, 1936-1970 book talk at MoCA in New York on July 26, 2015. Ngor, subject of Arthur Dong’s newest film, The Killing Fields of Dr. Charlie Low #4), Jackie Mei Ling, Jade Ling, Mary Mammon, Noel Toy, Tony Wing, Dorothy Toy and Paul Wing of Toy and Wing singers Frances Chun, Larry Ching and Toy Yat Mar and choreographer and producer Walton Biggerstaff. “Forbidden City, USA: Chinese American Nightclubs, 1936-1970,” co-authored with his sister Lorraine Dong, features excerpts of interviews with Forbidden City owner Charlie Low dancers Jadin Wong, Dottie Sun, Ivy Tam (Mrs. Front: Dottie Sun (Murray), Charlie Low, Frances Chun (Kan), Paul Wing, and Marry Mammon (Amo). Middle: Jackie Mei Ling, Larry Ching, Jade Ling, Arthur Dong, Fay Ying (Mary Watson), and Frank Huie. Back (l-r): Lily Pon, Stanley Toy, Lenna Chan, and Bob Chan. On August 18, 1988, filmmaker and author Arthur Dong gathered Chinese American nightclub veterans for a reunion at the Oakland home of singer Frances Chun. The tome is Dong’s virtual love letter to those who paved the way and made their mark for today’s Asian American performing artists. I first met Arthur when he came to New York to interview dancer turned manager of Asian American talent Jadin Wong (my former manager) for the documentary. “Forbidden City, USA” is the culmination of Arthur Dong’s nearly thirty-year devotion to the topic of Chinese American nightclubs, originally inspired by his research for his documentary of the same name. Together they recreate a forgotten era, treating readers to a dazzling night on the town. Photo by Lia Changįorbidden City, USA reveals the sassy, daring, and sometimes heartbreaking memories of the dancers, singers, and producers who lived this story, and it weaves in a fascinating collection of photos, postcards, menus, programs, and yes, even souvenir chopsticks. Mary “Butchie Ong, Jessie Tai Sing, Kim Wong, and Helen Kim are featured in Beauty Parade magazine (November 1943). ![]() Noel Toy lifts bubble and business for the Forbidden City, as in this article from Carnival Show magazine (March 1941). With a global conflict on the rise, people were out to drink, dine, dance, and see a show to forget their woes-and what a surprise for the world to behold an emerging generation of Chinese American entertainers commanding the stage in their own nightclubs. It was the mid-1930s: Prohibition was repealed and the Great Depression was waning. Jackie Mei Ling and Jadin Wong, dancers from the Chinatown nightclub era. Previously unpublished personal stories, along with over four hundred stunning images and rare artifacts, are presented in this “sexy and insightful chronicle” of Asian American performers who defied racial and cultural barriers to pursue their showbiz dreams. captures the magic and glamour of the Chinese American nightclub scene, which peaked in San Francisco during World War II. 1940’s) Photo by Lia Changįorbidden City, U.S.A. The program, which was followed by a book signing, was part of the 38th Asian American International Film Festival’s two-day tribute to the Oscar®-nominated and three-time Sundance award-winning filmmaker/author. I caught up with Dong last month in New York at the Museum of Chinese in America (MoCA) where he presented an entertaining talk about the subjects of his book, Forbidden City, USA: Chinese American Nightclubs, 1936-1970. Arthur Dong introduces his Forbidden City, USA: Chinese American Nightclubs, 1936-1970 lecture at MoCA in New York on July 26, 2015. at the SF Jazz Center, Joe Henderson Lab, 201 Franklin Street (at Fell), San Francisco, CA. ![]() The 2015 American Book Award winners will be formally recognized on Sunday, October 25th from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Photo by Lia Changīy Lia Chang AsAmNews Arts & Entertainment ReporterĪrthur Dong’s Forbidden City, USA: Chinese American Nightclubs, 1936-1970 is among this year’s winners of the Thirty-Sixth Annual American Book Awards, presented by the Before Columbus Foundation. Author/filmmaker Arthur Dong at MoCA in New York on July 26, 2015. ![]()
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