Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 2014)
OPINION Page 6 n THE ASIAN REPORTER October 20, 2014 Volume 24 Number 20 October 20, 2014 ISSN: 1094-9453 The Asian Reporter is published on the first and third Monday each month. Please send all correspondence to: The Asian Reporter 922 N Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97217 Phone: (503) 283-4440, Fax: (503) 283-4445 News Department e-mail: news@asianreporter.com Advertising Department e-mail: ads@asianreporter.com General e-mail: info@asianreporter.com Website: www.asianreporter.com Please send reader feedback, Asian-related press releases, and community interest ideas/stories to the addresses listed above. Please include a contact phone number. Advertising information available upon request. Publisher Jaime Lim Contributing Editors Ronault L.S. Catalani (Polo), Jeff Wenger Correspondents Ian Blazina, Josephine Bridges, Pamela Ellgen, Maileen Hamto, Edward J. Han, A.P. Kryza, Marie Lo, Simeon Mamaril, Julie Stegeman, Toni Tabora-Roberts, Allison Voigts Illustrator Jonathan Hill News Service Associated Press/Newsfinder Copyright 2014. Opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication. Member Associated Press/Newsfinder Asian American Journalists Association Better Business Bureau Pacific Northwest Minority Publishers (PNMP) Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon MY TURN n Dmae Roberts Arthur Dong: Forbidden City, USA Correspondence: SUBSCRIPTION RATES (U.S. rates only) Individual subscription (sent bulk rate): q Half year: $14 q Full year: $24 q Two years: $40 Individual subscription (sent first class mail): q Half year: $24 q Full year: $40 q Two years: $72 Office subscription (5 copies to one address): q Half year: $40 q Full year: $75 q Two years: $145 Institutional subscription (25 copies to one address): q Half year: $100 q Full year: $180 q Two years: $280 NEW SUBSCRIBER / ADDRESS CORRECTION INFORMATION FORM: Subscriber’s name: Company name: Address: City, State, ZIP: Phone: Fax: E-mail: Mail with payment or Fax with credit card information to: The Asian Reporter, Attn: Subscription Dept., 922 N Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97217-2220 Phone: (503) 283-4440 * Fax: (503) 283-4445 q q q For VISA, Mastercard, or American Express payment only: Name (as it appears on the card): Type of card (circle): VISA Mastercard Card number: American Express Security code: Expiration date: Address of card: The last four issues of The Asian Reporter are available for pick up free at our office 24 hours a day at 922 N Killingsworth Street, Portland, Oregon. Back issues of The Asian Reporter may be ordered by mail at the following rates: First copy: $1.50 Additional copies ordered at the same time: $1.00 each Send orders to: Asian Reporter Back Issues, 922 N. Killingsworth St., Portland, OR 97217-2220 The Asian Reporter welcomes reader response and participation. If you have a comment on a story we have printed, or have an Asian-related personal or community focus idea, please contact us. Please include a contact name, address, and phone number on all correspondence. Thank you. first heard about the golden era of Chinese- white performers, and other untruths — were American nightclubs through Arthur Dong’s dispelled in front of a mainstream audience. Dong said they didn’t set out to change history; 1989 documentary Forbidden City, USA. In the hour-long film, Dong focused not only on the most they were just living their lives, not thinking about famous of these nightclubs, the Forbidden City, historical background. They did what they could to which opened in San Francisco in the late 1930s, but survive and follow their dreams. “What they accomplished was so celebratory,” also the time period that gave rise to Asian-Ameri- can performers following their dreams. Dong inter- Dong said. “They didn’t think about fighting a barrier to advance equal cut candid interviews with rights. They fought past performers and archi- because they wanted to val footage of their acts for sing and dance.” more than five years to Dong interviewed more create a celebratory film than 100 people and he that aired on the Public estimates he has at least Broadcasting Service’s 100 hours of audio and film American Experience. interviews. When he began Nearly 30 years after he in 1985, he had to meet first began interviewing them in person, as there nightclub performers, was no Facebook or e-mail, Dong compiled a book, For- Filmmaker Arthur Dong (left photo) has released a new so he flew across the bidden City, USA: Chinese book, Forbidden City, USA: Chinese American Nightclubs 1936-1970, which includes historic interviews and photos. country because a good American Nightclubs 1936-1970. It contains startling photographic gems many of the performers had left San Francisco. The and inspiring interviews that were not included in interviews had a feeling of being among close family the film. Dong has become a scholar of this time because they spent a lot of time together while period and has amassed the largest collection of stories were shared. He said he’s still meeting photos and memorabilia from what otherwise might people and hearing stories despite the fact that not many of these groundbreaking performers are still have become forgotten history. I can’t help being drawn to the celebratory aspect alive. Because the clubs lasted through 1970, he of the stories he gathered. When reviewing the was able to meet many from the latter part of the history, however, there isn’t a great deal of joy that time period. Through the years, Dong stayed in touch with a is readily found. Make no mistake, the people Dong interviewed endured racism, were openly barred lot of the performers, sometimes attending dinners from Hollywood as anything but stereotypes, and and reunion gatherings. Many of them went to his were estranged from their families for pursuing film premieres. He got a little teary eyed admitting their dreams. Yet one can’t help but feel delight that he misses the social interactions since so many upon seeing photos and film footage of performers have passed away. Dorothy (Takahashi) Toy in a Ginger Rogers long When asked about his favorite interviews, Dong gown and Paul Wing in Fred Astaire top hat and paused for a long time. How could he choose? Then tails dancing in harmony with each other. he started talking about Tony Wing, a leading male The new book also contains artistic and still dancer who didn’t care what people thought. Dong risqué photos of Sally-Rand-like bubble dancer Noel especially loved his humor. “He told the funniest Toy. Dong said Toy “performed pretty much in the dirty stories,” he said. “He made me turn off the tape nude.” Because she was so daring during her time, recorder!” he didn’t know what to expect from her, but found Dong debated about how much he wanted to Toy to be “down-to-earth and pragmatic and very reveal about Wing and several other performers proud of her body.” regarding their sexual orientation. Because many of Asian-American nightclub performers broke new the interviewees are deceased, Dong decided he ground that defied stereotyping. Their shows were didn’t want to fully disclose what he had learned, well attended by white audiences and celebrities but he said there are hints in the book about at least such as Ronald Reagan. Clubs like the Forbidden five gay, lesbian, or bisexual performers. City were a place where myths — that Asian girls He also talked about an interview with a Continued on page 7 were bow-legged, that Asians didn’t have talent like I Photo/Zand Gee The Asian Reporter welcomes reader response and participation. Please send all correspondence to: Mail: 922 N Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97217-2220 Phone: (503) 283-4440 ** Fax: (503) 283-4445 News Department e-mail: news@asianreporter.com General e-mail: info@asianreporter.com Opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication.