Swinging Chinatown: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs Exhibition Opens

The San Francisco Museum & Historical Society rolled out the red carpet last night with an opening night gala to relive the Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs.

Last night's gala kicks off the not-to-be-missed SWINGING CHINATOWN exhibit open now through February 15, and from February 19 through 21.

Our very own Ben Fong-Torres was the master of ceremonies.

SAN FRANCISCO -

From the late 1930s to the early 1960s nightclubs in San Francisco Chinatown thrived. Cabarets such as The Forbidden City, the Chinese Skyroom and the Shangri-La entertained crowds with its glamorous Asian American singers, musicians, and dance troupes. These were the first - and in those days - the only venues to showcase Asian American performers.

Last night, the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society, in collaboration with the Chinese Historical Society of America relived that era with a glittering gala opening reception to kick off its SWINGING CHINATOWN exhibit at The Old Mint.

The gala featured entertainment by the Grant Avenue Follies, a troupe of former nightclub dancers, and appearances by many of the famous entertainers. Author Trina Robbins signed her new book Forbidden City: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs.

The evenings master of ceremonies was our very own renaissance man, Ben Fong-Torres, who brought on former Chinatown nightclub singers Jimmy Borges and Ellie Chui, who came from Hawaii to participate in the event. Backed by George Yamasaki on piano, Ben also did a song, along with an off-the-cuff duet with Jimmy on "All of Me."

The event co-chairs were The Honorable Harry Low and Ink Mendelsohn. The host committee included The Honorable David Chu, President, San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Sue Lee, Executive Director of the Chinese Historical Society of America, Claudine Cheng and John Lum.

SWINGING CHINATOWN brings back to life a long-neglected slice of Asian-American history. The exhibit features over 100 vintage photographs, nightclub mementos, dancer Ellen Chin's costumes and gold dancing shoes, Tony Wing's tap shoes, and menus, napkins and other mementos from several famous nightclubs. In this bygone era, celebrities and visitors of all stripes were entertained by Larry Ching, "the Chinese Frank Sinatra;" Noel Toy Young, "the Chinese Sally Rand;" and Paul Wing, the "Chinese Fred Astaire."

SWINGING CHINATOWN is co-curated by SFMHS associate curator Kristin Morris and historian Trina Robbins, author of Forbidden City: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs.

Not to be missed, the SWINGING CHINATOWN Exhibit is open now through February 15, and February 19 through 21, 2010.

For more information visit the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society website.

SWINGING CHINATOWN EXHIBIT

Friday February 12 through Monday February 15, 2010
Friday February 19 through Sunday February 21, 2010

Exhibit Tickets: $5 SFMHS and CHSA members, $10 non-members

THE OLD MINT
88 Fifth Street
San Francisco