I LOVE this, Katie! Thank you, and thank Susan! Bernardine Fritz was another household name in my family, though I never really knew why. But 1929-1937 were the years when my father and aunt were turning 20 in Shanghai, and I'm sure Bernardine was instrumental in both their theater careers. I'll go back into the archives and see if I can connect some dots! Wonderful interview! Eager for the book!
I shouldn't be surprised, but this is rather incredible! I love how we keep discovering more connections! I wonder if Susan ever stumbled upon your father or aunt's names in her research?
Hi Aimee!! We've been in touch on Twitter and I have been a huge fan since I came across "Face" at the old bookstore in the Star Ferry terminal in Kong Kong almost 30 years ago! I can still remember where I was when I read it! And when I left HK, pregnant with my first child, a dear friend gave me "Cloud Mountain" as a going away present. This is so incredible that your father and aunt knew Bernardine! Do you know the plays they acted in in Shanghai? Lady Precious Stream was the big one she produced, but there were many others. Emily Hahn starred in Lysistrata!
Hi Susan! How great is this! I nearly fell over when I read "Lady Precious Stream"!! My aunt MUST have been part of that production (was it before 1932 or between 34-36? That's when she was still in Shanghai) because she and my father STARRED in the Clarence Derwent productions here in LA, SF, and Phoenix in 1937-38. To avoid disrepute, my father took the name Byron Lee (or Lee Byron) and his sister kept Lotus Liu as her billing. I have a slew of clippings but the only one I can find online now is this: https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=VPN19371223.2.81&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-------- Of course the photo is of the only white actress in the show. HOW I wish I'd listened and my father talked more about all this lore. Can't wait for your book!
Hi Aimee, Thank you so so much! The Shanghai production of Lady Precious Stream was in 1935! Have you heard of Da Zheng? He's a scholar and has written about that production and I think he has a program. The Shanghai production only ran three nights, but it was a huge hit! I will go back to my files to see if I can find your aunt's name. I would be so honored to send you a copy of my book. I'll DM you through your website!
Hola , Como Siempre Es Un Placer Leer Estos Fascinantes Artículos , Creo Que Ya Tengo 2 Libros Más Para Leer Este Otoño , Aunque Mí Ingles No Es Muy Bueno , Haré Un Esfuerzo. Y Comentar Que El Libro De Vicki Baum , Shangai 1937 Es Una Delicia , Es Una Pena Que La Gente Joven No Conozca Está Gran Escritora. Un Saludo Y Gracias Por Compartir.
Bernadine was a journalist in Russia as the Soviet Revolution of 1917. So, she met other Americans there, including John Reed, who wrote "10 Days That Shook the World".
She is one of the filmed "witnesses" in Warren Beatty's movie, "Reds".
Chester may get an undeserved bad rap. Whatever the reason or reasons for Bernadine's return to the US in 1936, it was a good call.
Chet was a fabulously rich fellow, known as "Mr. Silver"-the market maker for the metal when China was on the Silver Standard.
And so, directly or indirectly, he subsidized the Salon. Good it was that Shanghailanders, White Russia refugees, German Jews, [many, not all, rather new arrivals from Nazi Germany].
Chester has often been generous with his money and time. The photo of the two on the yacht is one of the most, if not the most, casually happy photo I have ever seen of Anna May.
This contrasts with the photo of her in front of a peasant farmer's house in the mountains of Shandong, in the article. Anna May looks frail, even fragile.
This would have been a few days after the May 9, 1936 "Incident"-an invitation for, a reception, as I see it, for an ambush, of Anna May in Nanking by the Kuomintang government.
From the very first substantial bio of Anna May on, I don't see this as a pleasant encounter; perhaps much, much worse for her.
The fact that, as reported in several places, that one of the participants was an underling of Dai Li, "China's Himmler" did not bode well for Anna May.
Chester was a country boy from North Dakota who had to quit college for financial reasons. Bright and very hard working, he lucked into a series of ever more important and lucrative jobs, leading to his position in commodities trading in Shanghai.
Some called the marriage odd or mismatched. Chet apparently did not know Bernadine was divorced 3 times prior to their marriage.
The decision for Bernadine's return turned out fortuitous. Chester bought her a mansion in the Hollywood Hills. He returned to California a year or two later. His memoir Ever Westward to the Far East: The Story of Chester Fritz. Chester mentions AMW cordially as Anna "Mae" Wong.
So, Chester, from everything I've read, had his own take on the failure of the marriage in 1944. He certainly had his grievances, which is typical of such things.
So, let's hear it for the lovely candid of Chet and Anna May in the yacht outside Shanghai. They do look as if they're having a great day!
I LOVE this, Katie! Thank you, and thank Susan! Bernardine Fritz was another household name in my family, though I never really knew why. But 1929-1937 were the years when my father and aunt were turning 20 in Shanghai, and I'm sure Bernardine was instrumental in both their theater careers. I'll go back into the archives and see if I can connect some dots! Wonderful interview! Eager for the book!
I shouldn't be surprised, but this is rather incredible! I love how we keep discovering more connections! I wonder if Susan ever stumbled upon your father or aunt's names in her research?
My father met Emily Hahn in Shanghai, and I'll bet it happened at one of Bernardine's salons...
Not sure, but she gave my last novel an absolutely fabulous review! So I feel like I know her!
Hi Aimee!! We've been in touch on Twitter and I have been a huge fan since I came across "Face" at the old bookstore in the Star Ferry terminal in Kong Kong almost 30 years ago! I can still remember where I was when I read it! And when I left HK, pregnant with my first child, a dear friend gave me "Cloud Mountain" as a going away present. This is so incredible that your father and aunt knew Bernardine! Do you know the plays they acted in in Shanghai? Lady Precious Stream was the big one she produced, but there were many others. Emily Hahn starred in Lysistrata!
Hi Susan! How great is this! I nearly fell over when I read "Lady Precious Stream"!! My aunt MUST have been part of that production (was it before 1932 or between 34-36? That's when she was still in Shanghai) because she and my father STARRED in the Clarence Derwent productions here in LA, SF, and Phoenix in 1937-38. To avoid disrepute, my father took the name Byron Lee (or Lee Byron) and his sister kept Lotus Liu as her billing. I have a slew of clippings but the only one I can find online now is this: https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=VPN19371223.2.81&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-------- Of course the photo is of the only white actress in the show. HOW I wish I'd listened and my father talked more about all this lore. Can't wait for your book!
Huge congratulations!
Hi Aimee, Thank you so so much! The Shanghai production of Lady Precious Stream was in 1935! Have you heard of Da Zheng? He's a scholar and has written about that production and I think he has a program. The Shanghai production only ran three nights, but it was a huge hit! I will go back to my files to see if I can find your aunt's name. I would be so honored to send you a copy of my book. I'll DM you through your website!
Hola , Como Siempre Es Un Placer Leer Estos Fascinantes Artículos , Creo Que Ya Tengo 2 Libros Más Para Leer Este Otoño , Aunque Mí Ingles No Es Muy Bueno , Haré Un Esfuerzo. Y Comentar Que El Libro De Vicki Baum , Shangai 1937 Es Una Delicia , Es Una Pena Que La Gente Joven No Conozca Está Gran Escritora. Un Saludo Y Gracias Por Compartir.
Bernadine was a journalist in Russia as the Soviet Revolution of 1917. So, she met other Americans there, including John Reed, who wrote "10 Days That Shook the World".
She is one of the filmed "witnesses" in Warren Beatty's movie, "Reds".
Chester may get an undeserved bad rap. Whatever the reason or reasons for Bernadine's return to the US in 1936, it was a good call.
Chet was a fabulously rich fellow, known as "Mr. Silver"-the market maker for the metal when China was on the Silver Standard.
And so, directly or indirectly, he subsidized the Salon. Good it was that Shanghailanders, White Russia refugees, German Jews, [many, not all, rather new arrivals from Nazi Germany].
Chester has often been generous with his money and time. The photo of the two on the yacht is one of the most, if not the most, casually happy photo I have ever seen of Anna May.
This contrasts with the photo of her in front of a peasant farmer's house in the mountains of Shandong, in the article. Anna May looks frail, even fragile.
This would have been a few days after the May 9, 1936 "Incident"-an invitation for, a reception, as I see it, for an ambush, of Anna May in Nanking by the Kuomintang government.
From the very first substantial bio of Anna May on, I don't see this as a pleasant encounter; perhaps much, much worse for her.
The fact that, as reported in several places, that one of the participants was an underling of Dai Li, "China's Himmler" did not bode well for Anna May.
Chester was a country boy from North Dakota who had to quit college for financial reasons. Bright and very hard working, he lucked into a series of ever more important and lucrative jobs, leading to his position in commodities trading in Shanghai.
Some called the marriage odd or mismatched. Chet apparently did not know Bernadine was divorced 3 times prior to their marriage.
The decision for Bernadine's return turned out fortuitous. Chester bought her a mansion in the Hollywood Hills. He returned to California a year or two later. His memoir Ever Westward to the Far East: The Story of Chester Fritz. Chester mentions AMW cordially as Anna "Mae" Wong.
So, Chester, from everything I've read, had his own take on the failure of the marriage in 1944. He certainly had his grievances, which is typical of such things.
So, let's hear it for the lovely candid of Chet and Anna May in the yacht outside Shanghai. They do look as if they're having a great day!
several times at parties in LA.