Lucky Cat Podcast - 7 Singing Stars of Shanghai 2 - S4 Ep 9 (18/3/2010)

7 Singing Stars of Shanghai - Part 2

Lucky Cat

Part 2 looks at: Chinese cinema’s ultimate bad girl ‘White Light’ Bai Guang, ‘White Rainbow’ Bai Hong (pictured), ‘Big Sister’ Gong Qiu Xia and the controversial star with an identity.
Playlist below.

Playlist - Lucky Cat 25th March 2010

• i-Society - Madtone (http://www.myspace.com/onedeckmadtone)
  
• Media Control - Cha Cha (CD EP Bass Shelter now available to buy from Jahtari shop!)
  
• Drinking Song - Hanggai (Introducing Hanggai CD)
  
• Kargashai - Mamer (Eagle CD)
  
• Rain in London - Michio Miyagi (Masterpieces in Koto LP)
  
• The Love Eterne (aka The Butterfly Lovers opera) soundtrack extract - Betty Loh Ti (pictured) & Ivy Ling Po (from vinyl 10" LP, Shaw Brothers)
  
• Sunny Spring - Chinese Qin Master Wu Jinglue (CD on Silverfox label)
  
• Pussy, Pussy, Pussy - Lighcrust Doughboys
  
• Chinese Soldiers Song - Paul Robeson
  
• The soldier's Sweetheart - Jimmy Rodgers
  
• Wrong Impressions of A Soldier
  
• Moonlight on the Ching Yang River - Chinese Classical Instrumental Music by Chinese Cultural Theatre Group
  
• Buddhist Chanting - as above
  
  

Ann Chen on BBC Radio 4

Check out this recent R4 programme presented by Anna Chen:

China, Britain and the Nunzilla Conundrum

Novelty, humorous, kitsch 'stocking filler' plastic toys and gifts made in China. What does the production of these trinkets and our desire for them say about our culture and our relationship with China?

Chinagrass - Xinjiang musician Mamer on tour in UK

Mamer, whose wonderful debut album Eagle came out on Real World records last year, is in the UK for some gigs. The Chinagrass musician will play in London this Tuesday at The Lumiere in Kilburn. For the other tour dates and venues, check the schedule.
I did a programme on Chinagrass (music from the grasslands of China) for Resonance FM last year when Mamer and Mongolian band Hanggai were over performing at the Union Chapel in London. Mamer sings in his native Kazakh and plays beautifully on the dombra (a lute/banjo like instrument).
A taster of Mamer's music is on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-7hl4Q6IH4

Lucky Cat Podcast - 7 Singing Stars of Shanghai - S4 Ep 8 (11/3/2010)

The Seven Singing Stars of Shanghai Part 1

7 Singing Stars of Shanghai - Part 1

Lucky Cat

Featuring music from Zhou Xuan (pictured), Yao Lee and Woo Ing Ing. Playlist is below.

The 7 Singing Stars of Shanghai - Part 2

Tonight's programme looks at:
Chinese cinema’s ultimate bad girl ‘White Light’ Bai Guang (pictured, thanks to Durian Dave), ‘White Rainbow’ Bai Hong, ‘Big Sister’ Gong Qiu Xia and the controversial star with an identity crisis Li Xianglan
Playlist:

• If Only - Li Xiang Lan
  
• Candy Peddling Song - Li Xiang Lan
  
• Shina No Yoru (from the film 'Chinese Nights') - Li Xiang Lan
  
• Mei Hua, Plum Blossom - Li Xiang Lan
  
• Sunset - Bai Guang
  
• I'm a Female Bodhisattva (from the film 'Courage in the Spy World') - Bai Guang
  
• Listen Up - Bai Hong
  
• Spring Love song - Gong Qiu Xia
  
• Longing for You - Gong Qiu Xia
  
• The Flavour of Yearning - Zhou Xuan
  

Listen live 7pm Resonance 104.4FM

Further reading:
Beautiful Girls by Lisa See. A historical novel about two sisters who are models (beautiful girls) for the calendars and adverts in Shanghai in the late 1920s/early 30's. The sisters flee to America when the Japanese invade Shanghai. the first part of the book paints a vivid and insightful portrait of Shanghai and its inhabitants.

China Modern by Ou-Fan Lee (Harvard University Press). Contains chapters on early Chinese cinema, novelist Eileen Chang and Hong Kong films set in the Shanghai of the 1920s and 30s.

Websites:
Mirror Cities, Fascination & Nostalgia
Ambuscade from Ten Sides
Shanghai exhibit at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco
The Golden Age of Chinese language Cinema
Soft Film: Vintage Chinese Cinema

Drunken Chicken

For last week's Dim Sum Lunch Box I cooked a Shanghainese recipe - Drunken Chicken. I'd never made it before and was pleased with how well it turned out. The chicken was slightly gelatinous and was infused with a subtle sweet,salty and boozey flavour. A perfect dish for a summer picnic I'll definitely be making this one again. I got the recipe from the blog Rasa Malaysia. It was a guest blog by Amy from Nook and Pantry. I thoroughly recommend this one. If you can be patient leave it for 2 days in the fridge, the flavour is even better.

Taiwanese Film Festival

Taiwan Cinefest is at Riverside Studios in London 17th -21st March. (poster for the film Step by Step is pictured). Apologies for not posting about this earlier but I just found out about it.

DJing at MESSY this Friday (19th March)

I'll be DJing some of my 80's and 90's Ragga/Reggae records this Friday at the lovely Arts Bar in Camberwell. I will also be doing a Lucky Cat night at the bar on the 30th April.

25 years ago the King Jammy's Sleng Teng rhythm was created so expect a bit of that, a bit of Bam Bam and a bit of butterfly-ing and bogling on the dancefloor. Don't forget your beer mat sweat rags! Nice.

7 Singing Stars of Shanghai (Part 1) Playlist

• Ye Shanghai – Zhou Xuan (Shanghai Divas Lounge CD)
• Clip from the film Street Angel, the song Four Seasons is sung by Zhou Xuan.
• The Wandering Songstress – Zhou Xuan (Shanghai Divas Lounge CD)
• When Will We Meet Again – Zhou Xuan (Pathe 100 CD)
• Tell Me – Zhou Xuan (Pathe 100 CD)
• Picking Betel Nuts - Zhou Xuan (Pathe 100 CD)
• This Love is Not For Me - Yao Lee (Shanghai Divas Lounge CD)
• Who Does Not Care – Yao Lee (Miss Yao Lee Sings, vinyl LP)
• Kiss of Spring – Yao Lee (Miss Yao Lee Sings, vinyl LP)
• 3 tracks from the Woo Ing Ing Pathe 100 CD
• Jin Xi He Xi - Bai Guang
• Forgotten Woman - Bai Guang

Youtube resources:
Hsiamoon’s Channel
Durian Dave’s Channel
Clip of Tang Wei singing the Zhou Xuan song Four Seasons to Tony Leung in Lust, Caution.

Modern Chinese films set in Shanghai:
Shanghai Triad dir by Zhang Yimou

In the Mood for Love dir by Wong Kar Wai

*Lust, Caution dir by Ang Lee
*Eighteen Springs dir by Ann Hui(Anita Mui’s last film role)

* These films are adaptations of novels by Eileen Chang. Eileen is a 1920s Shanghainese novelist. Translated versions of her books are available. Find out more about her here.

The Seven Singing Stars of Shanghai Part 1

Tonight's episode of Lucky Cat looks at the music of the Seven Singing Stars of Shanghai. Chinese chanteuses from the early 20th century.
Part 1 starts with Zhou Xuan, Yao Lee and Wu Ying Ing.
Listen live on 104.4FM or via www.resonancefm.com 7pm Thursday 11/3/2010.

Anna May Wong tribute by Chinatown Arts Space

I missed the outdoor screening last year on the Southbank, hoping to go to this performance at the Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House on 30th March.

More info @: www.chinatownartsspace.com

Lucky Cat Podcast Series 4 Ep 7 (4/3/2010)

Lucky Cat Series 4 Ep 7 (4/3/2010)

Lucky Cat

Playlist:

• Everybody Wants to be a Cat - Phil Harris from The Aristocats Disney film
  
• Wu Tang Kung fu sample - RZA Liquid Swords album
  
• Hung Tsai Girl - Stephen Cheng (Traditional Chinese Folk Music cassette)
  
• Wet Look Crazy - Macka B(Reggae Steady Go LP)
  
• Anita Mui Yim-Fong medley: (taken from her greatest hits 2xCD):
  
• Marriage Fat is Detained
  
• Don't Envy Goddess, envy Mandarin Ducks
  
• Love You 1100 Times All through Life
  
• The Season of Wind
  
• All will Love
  
• Ital Stew - Augustus Pablo(Meets Rockers Uptown CD)
  
• White Snow in Early Spring - Wong Ching (CD of same name)
  
• Baby, Shame on You - Wynonie Harris
  
• Howling at the Moon - Hank Williams
  
• Ye-Ye - Eiko Shuri (Nippon Girls CD)
  
• Wa Do Dem - Eeek-A-Mouse
  
• Women - Zhou Xuan (Pathe 100 CD)
  

Lucky Cat Podcast Series 4 Ep 6 (25/2/2010)

Lucky Cat - Series 4 Episode 6 25th February 2010

Lucky Cat

Here's the podcast of the Park Chan-Wook special. Not much music this episode but lots of interesting discussion of the Korean film maker's work from Mira Stout and Alex Fitch.
The lunch box contains Korean vegetable and crab stick sushi rolls, baby anchovies in a malt syrup and some rather strange looking chilli pickled vegetables (rhinzomes, carrots etc). All food was purchased from the Centre Point Korean supermarket.

Mira Stout's best selling novel One Thousand Chestnut Trees in soon to be republished.
The film that Mira mentions at the end of the programme is Treeless Mountain, by female director So Yong Kim, find out more here.

Alex Fitch interviewed Park Chan-wook for Wheel Me Out magazine, now available online.

Playlist:

• Chang'gu Dance (Dance Solo) - Chung Woong ('Traditional Music From Korea' CD)
  
• Vampire - Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra ('Ska Para Toujou' CD)
  
• Korean folk song from a vinyl LP of a trio of female Korean singers.
  
• Jesus Gave Me Water - Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers ('Gospel 1939-1952' CD)
  
• While The Blood Runs In Your Veins - Josh White ('Les Triomphes du Blues' CD)
  

Park Chan-Wook Week

Lucky Cat radio programme
Thursday 25th Feb 2010
7-8pm 104.4FM (London) www.resonancefm.com (anywhere)

Tomorrow's programme is a Park Chan-Wook special to coincide with the UK DVD release of the Korean auteur's vampire film Thirst. I will be joined in the studio by Mira Stout (author of bestselling novel One Thousand Chestnut Trees, playwright, and film critic) and Alex Fitch (broadcaster and assistant editor of Electric Sheep film magazine) to discuss Thirst and Chan-Wook's oeuvre.
Korean tea and snacks will be sampled for the Dim Sum Lunchbox.

There will also be a competition to win some film posters of I'm A Cyborg But That's OK, details to follow. . . .

New Year New Logo

Thanks to Milo.

Me Name Tiger

Now that's a grrrrrrrrrreat suit! I knew this LP would come in handy one day. Happy Year of the Tiger!

Playlist & Podcast S4 Ep5 - 18th Feb 2010

Lucky Cat - Series 4 Episode 5 18th February 2010

Lucky Cat

Good Luck to You - Tsui Ping (Chinese New Year songs 7" EP, EMI)

Take A Tiger by The Tail - Eddie Arnold (RCA Camden vinyl LP)

Me Name Tiger - Tiger (Me Name Tiger vinyl LP)

The Wonderful Thing about Tiggers - Paul Winchell (Disney compilation LP)

Tiger Man (King of the Jungle) - Rufus Thomas (The Legendary Sun Classics Vol 1 CD)

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon - Tan Dan & Yo-Yo Ma (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon soundtrack CD)

Wild Like A Tiger - Eek-A-Mouse (Most Wanted CD)

New Year Song - Rita & Sakura (7" vinyl, EMI)

Movie Stars - The Tiger(Roosevelt In Trinidad: Calypsos Of Events, Places & Personalities 1933-1939 CD)

Happy New Year - Tsui Ping (Chinese New Year songs 7" vinyl EP, EMI)

Tiger Phone Card - Dengue Fever (album of same name)

Tiger by the Tail - Buck Ownens (Buck Owens & The Buckaroos Live @Carnegie Hall vinyl LP)

Hong Kong Tiger Lantern

A tiger lantern in Shatin Central Park, Hong Kong.
(Copyright Mark Wu, taken from his excellent East Asian travel blog MangoVine.)

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 4 - 11th Feb 2010

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 4 - 11th Feb 2010

Lucky Cat

Here's the podcast of last week's show, playlist is below. On the programme I say that the track Valorian is by Hong Kong in the 60s when in fact it is a remix by them and the track is by Arthur & Martha. I got a lot of good feedback about this track, love that bossa nova beat! The original tune is on Athur & Martha's debut album Navigation (pictured).
The Chinese Reggae on the podcast is by Cha Cha, I have the lyrics translated for both tracks if you would like them please let me know: luckycatzoe@gmail.com

Chinese New Year events in London 2010

Films, Lion Dance, and Family Activities at Museum of London in Docklands.
A chance to see the brilliant Arthur Dong documentary Hollywood Chinese


Sunday 14th Feb at V&A Museum
10.30-17.00
Drop-in Design: Chinese New Year
Join us in celebrating Chinese new Year by designing a fabulous headdress, mask or badge inspired by tigers, dragons and zodiacs you find in the China Gallery.

Make puppets and Lanterns at the Horniman Museum

Free Tigers Photographic Exhibition @ National Geographic London

Family Events at the National Maritime Museum
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/visit/events/calendar/?by=4&keyword=chinese-new-year

Hong Kong Women's Film Making at Riverside Studios 25th Feb

Saturday 13 February 2010 @ National Portrait Gallery, Ondaatje Theatre & St Martin's Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields Church
The Confucius Institute for TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) would like to invite you to join in a great, big family celebration of the Chinese New Year. We will be bringing in the year of the tiger with a sensational Chinese dance and martial arts performances, storytelling of ancient Chinese legends, as well as a few crafts and games for those who like to get a bit messy. Times: 11:30 – 5:00, shows start at 12pm, 2pm,4pm.

http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/events#event154

Playlist 11th Feburary 2010

• Media Control – Cha Cha (Jahtari production)
  
• Put it In Your Pocket – Soom T (another Jahtari production)
  
• Money Slaves – Cha Cha (pics of Cha Cha with Clive Chin in Shanghai above, courtesy of Steve Barker)
  
• Where is the Lady - Lim Ling & The Silvertones (Singapore A-Go-Go CD, Sublime Frequencies)
  
• I Love Boh Boh Cha Cha - The Stylers feat. Johnny Teo (7” 45 EP)
  
• Four Seasons of Heartahce Part 1 - Zhou Hsuan (Pathe 100 CD)
  
• Good Luck in the New Year - Linda Yong & The Silvertones (Singapore A-Go-Go CD, Sublime Frequencies)
  
• Valorian - Hong Kong in the 60s remix (the original is on Arthur & Martha's album Navigation (on Happy Robots). This remix should hopefully be released as part of a download EP on Shelflife records).
  
• Soon You’ll Be Gone – The Blues Busters (And This is a Ska Explosion CD, Debutante)
  
• Rukumbine - Shenley Duffus (And This is a Ska Explosion CD, Debutante)
  
• Dragon (Wood) – Shanghai Traditional Chinese Orchestra (Chinese Feng Shui Music CD)
  

Gong Xi Fa Cai Cupcakes

www.cookieheaven.com.my

The Princetones After the Rain soundtrack

I've just stumbled across this great Rocksteady soundtrack, really enjoying it. The CD was released by John John Records a couple of years ago. The lead singer is Zoe Devlin (Devlin Love)of Alabama 3.
It accompanies the film After the Rain by Gaelle Denis which you can see here:

The New Yuen Wo Ping Movie

Now I'm excited, this looks pretty fantastic. Forget all the disappointments, all the times you've seen Yuen Wo Ping's name attached to a film and it has turned out to be yet another epic martial arts bag of blah. Beautiful but boring and worthy (The Banquet), given the Hollywood schmaltz treatment (The Forbidden Kingdom) or maybe you're just tired of slo-mo action shots, billowing costumes, wire fighting, lame story lines and CGI phonieness. Perhaps you have epic martial arts film fatigue? It is a common condition these days.

Those were projects that Yuen Wo Ping merely action-directed, he is directing this film. Let us not forget the legacy:
Drunken Master, The Buddhist Fist, Iron Monkey, The Tai-Chi Master and Wing Chun.

Yuen Wo Ping has also been action director on some great films Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (I know some will argue with this one but it's my list and I love Michelle Yeoh!), Fearless, Kung Fu Hustle and Kill Bill 1&2.

Not sure when True Legend (aka Beggar Su - I prefer that title, too many films with 'Legend' in the title already) will get a UK release but I'll keep you posted. Talking of UK releases, Ponyo is coming.......

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 3 - 4th Feb 2010

Lucky Cat

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 3 - 4th Feb 2010

In this episode I am joined in the studio by special guests Hong Kong in the 60s.
Playlist:

• Stop the Wedding - Etta James (Argo 7" 45)
  
• Shuang Shuang Yan - Deng Bai Ying (In the Mood For Love soundtrack)
  
• Footsteps - Hong Kong in the 60s (Willow Pattern Songs EP)
  
• Love Me Well - Feng Fei Fei
  
• Will the Orange Blossom Smile - Rebecca Pan
  
• When You Were Dreaming - Hong Kong in the 60s (new track from forthcoming album)
  

Spring onion and sesame seed buns are in the lunch box, I got the recipe here.

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 2 - 28th Jan 2010

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 2 -

Lucky Cat

Listen to my interview with Jo Ho, creator of the new CBBC drama series Spirit Warriors. Chinese chicken livers and mooli & pork dumplings are frying in the pan for the Dim Sum Lunch Box. Rocksteady legend Lynn Taitt recently passed away so hear some of his Reggae guitar tunes too.

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 1 - 21st Jan 2010

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 1 - 21st Jan 2010

Lucky Cat

Here's Episode 1 of the new series, dried shrimp pancakes are in the lunch box and lots of music from Chang Loo.

Hong Kong in the 60s

Tomorrow night my special guests will be London band Hong Kong in the 60s. I'll be chatting with the band about their influences and their style (love this photo of them, very Wong Kar Wai!). I have asked them to bring in some vintage Chinese sounds from their record and tape collections.
Food will also be tasted and discussed. Probably some kind of bun.
Listen live on Resonance 104.4FM in London or via www.resonancefm.com anywhere, 7-8pm.

If you're on Facebook you can listen via the player there, and why not join the Lucky Cat Radio Group?

Mooli and Pork Dumplings

Blimey dumpling crimping is hard, as I found out when I attempted for the first time ever to make my own dumplings. Well, I did cheat a little by using ready bought frozen dumpling skins but they were almost from scratch.

First I peeled and grated half a mooli (smallish one, about 20cm in length)
Then I salted the mooli and left it aside in a bowl for 10mins or so

Next I chopped some ginger and garlic (2 teaspoons each, roughly)
I then took 230g of pork sausage meat (or you can use minced pork) out the fridge.

Wok time. I heated the veg oil up and threw in the garlic and ginger, followed swiftly by the sausage meat. Seasoning: a pinch of five spice powder, dash of soya sauce, dash of mirin, dash of white wine vinegar (I was out of rice wine) and a sprinkle of sugar.

Remember the mooli? I got it and squeezed it in my hands to get the water out before adding it to the wok.

When everything looked ready I transferred the dumpling filling to a bowl and let it cool. When it was cool enough to handle I got my little dumpling flour rounds and put a teaspoon or so of the filling in and folded them in half. Then came the tricky bit, crimping the edges to seal the deal. Must practice!

You can steam, boil or fry. Best served with chilli dip and/or Chinese sweet black vinegar.

Learn to Drive with Grace Chang

Korean Film Breathless (Ddonpari) out now in selected cinemas

The debut film from Yang Ik-Joon is out now in selected cinemas. The film has won international acclaim and awards and is about a loan shark who befriends a schoolgirl. Time Out has called it "an extra-strength cinema experience".
I hope to see the film shortly and give you my review.
Breathless is showing at the ICA in London and at other independent cinemas. Distributed by Terracotta.

Playlist 28th January 2010

Reggae Rocksteady guitarist Lynn Taitt sadly passed away last week. I shall be playing tracks from his career in music over the series. RIP.
Jamaica Observer Obituary.

• Red China - Skatalites (King Edwards 7" 45)
  
• 2046 Theme - Shigeru Umebayashi (2046 Soundtrack CD)
  
• Chinese Ghost Story Theme - Leslie Cheung
  
• Duppy Conqueror - Bob Marley and the Wailers (African Herbsman LP)
  
• Zombie Jamboree - Lord Jellicoe (Dip And Fall Back (Classic Jamaican Mento) CD)
  
• Chinese Title - Wong Ching Yian (7" 45 from Singapore)
  
• You Have Caught Me - Lynn Taitt
  
• Mr Dooby - Lynn Taitt (Exclusive Rocksteady 1966-1968 Vol.01 CD)
  
• The Hula Hula Twist - Grace Chang (Pathe 100 CD)
  
• Twistin' Pneumonia - Roy C (Ember 7" 45)
  
• Suddenly - Eric 'Monty' Morris (King Edwards 7" 45, B Side to Red China)
  

Lucky Cat Toilet Paper

From jlist.com

Thanks Morgan for drawing my attention to this product. I wouldn't mind a Lucky Cat slip mat for my turntable, anyone seen one?

Dried Shrimp Pancakes

Economical and Delicious

To make one pancake use...
For the pancake mixture:
2 desert spoons gram flour
A little water
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon Tianjin preserved veg (salty cabbage)
1 spring onion, chopped finely
A few beansprouts
1 desert spoon dried shrimps
A little veg oil

First mix the water and gram flour in a little bowl with a fork and try to make a smooth mixture.
In a small pan heat up the oil and put in the spring onion, dried shrimps, preserved cabbage and beansprouts. Pour the batter mixture over and cook (low heat) until ready to flip over. Serve with some chilli sauce and a few more beansprouts as garnish.

This is an amalgamation of a dried shrimp pancake recipe I found at Rasa Malaysia and an Indian pancake recipe a friend gave me. If you liek extra heat add fresh chilli to the frying pan.

Playlist 21st January 2010

Episode 1 Series 4 of Lucky Cat on Resonance FM

• Duck Soup - The Drumbago Allstars
  
• Who Does Not Care - Yao Lee (Miss Yao Lee Sings LP)
  
• Tonight - Chang Loo (Pathe 100 CD)
  
• Sixty Minute Man - The Dominoes (Risque Rhythm & Blues CD)
  
• Soul Food - Lynn Tait & The Jets
  
• Cabbage Greens - Champion Jack Dupree (Triumph of the Blues Vol 9 CD)
  
• Couples and Pairs - Yao Lee (Miss Yao Lee Sings LP)
  
• Talking About Fighting Skill - Siao Fong Fong & Chan Pao Chu (Steal the Red String Box soundtrack EP)
  
• Chinese Mambo - Chang Loo
  
• Crying in the Chapel (Jamaican Style) - Elvis (7" Remix)
  
• Oh Susannah - Chang Loo & Xiao Loo (Pathe 100 CD)
  
• Hey Good Looking - Hank Williams
  

Lucky Cat Series 4 On Air Tomorrow

Lucky Cat returns to Resonance FM for a fourth series tomorrow night at 7pm on Resonance 104.4FM.
An assortment of vinyl and mp3 treats from Kowloon to Kingston, movie reviews, live music, guests and recipes. Check this blog for details or sign up to the Lucky Cat mailing list by emailing me at luckycatzoe at gmail.com
Alternatively if you're on Facebook then join the Lucky Cat Radio Group.

Listen live on Resonance 104.4FM in London or via www.resonancefm.com anywhere.

Spirit Warriors - CBBC Goes East!

Here's the trailer for the new children's drama series Spirit Warriors created and written by Jo Ho for CBBC. Watch the first episode this Friday 22nd January 5:45pm on CBBC (freeview) or tune in to BBC 2 on Sunday 24th Jan at 9:30am.
Links:
www.missjoho.com
Dimsum.co.uk review

Chinatown London 1947

I've only recently discovered this excellent resource site - Pathe newsreels are archived and available to watch online. Whilst doing a random search for 'calypso' on the site (as you do) I came up with this little gem and what do you know, London's Chinatown is featured straight away! The calypso nightclub is in Reel 2 and well worth checking out (great jiving moves from the customers). It is a little like a round the world tour, designed to show the capital as a multicultural entertainment zone where you can eat chop suey followed by Russian vodka and Calypso Be-Bop dancing.
After the war rationing was still in place and this is mentioned in the film - rice was not available for instance. I love the line about the pandas in the zoo being the only ones who could get real bamboo shoots!
I have searched for further info on the Chinese restaurant Leyons but not come up with anything so far. It looks like it opened in the late 1930s because of its wonderful Art Deco style.

LONDON'S NIGHTWORLD - reel 1