Friday, November 24, 2017

Combination Platter

Directed by Tony Chan
Screenplay by Edwin Baker and Mr. Chan
Director of photography, Yoshifumi Hosoya
Edited by Mr. Chan and James Y. Kwei
Music by Brian Tibbs
Produced by Judy Moy, Mr. Chan, Ulla Zwicker
and Bluehorse Films Inc.

Cast
Jeff Lau . . . Robert
Colleen O’Brien . . . Claire
Lester (Chit Man) Chan . . . Sam
Colin Mitchell . . . Benny
Kenneth Lu . . . Andy
Thomas K. Hsiung . . . Mr. Lee
With: Jia Fu Liu, Ellen Synn, Nathanael Geng,
Peter Kwong, Eleonora Kihlberg, James DuMont

The New York Times, March 27, 1993, review

































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Friday, November 17, 2017

Flower Drum Song, November 1958

A Broadway musical was based on C.Y. Lee’s
1957 novel, The Flower Drum Song. Before
the Broadway opening there was a tryout run
at Boston’s Shubert Theatre in October 1958.
The run continued into November and, at some
point, Larry Blyden replaced Larry Storch in
the role of Sammy Fong.

On Stage
November 17, 1958

CAST
(In Order of Appearance)
Juanita Hall as Madam Liang
Rose Quong as Liu Ma
Patrick Adiarte as Wang San
Ed Kenney as Wang Ta
Keye Luke as Wang Chi Yang
Larry Blyden as Sammy Fong
Conrad Yama as Dr. Li
Miyoshi Umeki as Mei-Li
Pat Suzuki as Linda Low
Harry Shaw Lowe as Mr. Lung the tailor
Jon Lee as Mr. Huan
Arabella Hong as Helen Chao
Peter Chan as Professor Cheng
Jack Soo as Frankie Wing
Anita Ellis as Night Club Singer
Chao Li as Dr. Lu Fong
Eileen Nakamura as Madam Fong

DANCING ENSEMBLE
Fumi Akimoto
Paula Chin
Helen Funai
Pat Griffith
Mary Huge
Marion Jim
Betty Kawamura
Baayork Lee
Wonci Lui
Jo Anne Miya
Denise Qual
Vicki Racimo
Shawnee Smith
Maureen Tiongco
Mabel Wing
Yuriko

Jose Ahumada
Victor Duntiere
George Li
David Lober
Robert Lorca
George Minami
David Toguri
George Young

CHILDREN
Linda and Yvonne Ribuca
Susan Lynn
Luis Robert Hernandez



















Meanwhile, in New York City, publicity
for Flower Drum Song was underway.

Cue
November 22, 1958





















Related Posts
Flower Drum Song in Boston, October 1958
Flower Drum Song on Broadway, December 1958
Flower Drum Song, 1959

(Next post on Friday: Combination Platter)

Friday, November 3, 2017

Wylog “Ernest” Fong and Mahlon Blaine, 1918


The Oregon Daily Journal
(Portland, Oregon)
January 19, 1918
Artists Too Near Waterfront for Their Own Safety
Mahlon Blaine, an artist, whose home is in Dilley, Or., and Ernest Fong, a Chinese, also an artist, set out this morning to sketch riverfront pictures, contrary to a war law of Uncle Sam, and were taken before United States Marshal Alexander for investigation.

When Marshal Alexander told them the making of pictures of waterfronts might result in aiding the enemy, they declared they would confine their art to scenes which would less likely be of interest to the kaiser.

“I wan’t aware that the law was so strict,” said Blaine. “I didn’t mind being arrested, but would rather jump into the river than have it thought I was making sketches for the kaiser.”

Both were released.

The Oregonian
(Portland, Oregon)
January 20, 1918
“Spy” Artists Halted
Policeman Does his Duty, Medal or No Medal
Mahlon Blaine and Ernest Fong Promise to Make No More Pictures of Portland Waterfront

Visions of German spies, craftily plying their trade in making war sketches of the waterfront of a Pacific port, came before a detective of the police force as he caught sight of a couple busily sketching the Portland skyline near the Steel bridge. With a duty to be performed in sight he stepped forward and accosted the “spies.”

“You’re arrested,” he declared.

“You’re kidding us,” scoffed Mahlon Blaine, artist. Ernest Fong, his associate, grinned his belief in the detective’s attempt at humor.

“Not so you’d notice it,” replied the arm of the law. “Don’t you know its against the law to sketch the waterfront. How do we know you’re not going to send those pictures to Kaiser Bill, so he can see how the Portland harbor looks?’

The two artists looked at one another.

“Hadn’t thought of that,” admitted Blaine.

“Well, that’s the way it might look to Uncle Sam. You’s better come up to see the United States Marshal.”

Marshal Alexander was soon convinced of the innocence of the devotees of art. And the artists promised to seek further for their subjects. So everything turned out satisfactorily except for the detective, who will probably not get a medal for capturing “dangerous German spies.”

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