The text of our Charlie Chan Family Chat for December 26, 2023
Feature: The Return of Charlie Chan
Chat Number: 1,235
Extras:
(Two scheduled: A Tribute to Ross Martin – Artemus Gordon on TV’s “The Wild Wild West” and Ross Martin: The Man Of 1001 Faces; neither viewed)
Participants:
Godwinshelley
Mike n Rachel in DC
Rush
tenman
12-26 18:28
Rush:
12-26 18:57
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Hello Rush!
12-26 18:57
Rush:
Well! Good evening, Mike/Rachel!!
12-26 18:58
Rush:
I was beginning to think I would be watching our film alone tonight!
How are you both tonight?
12-26 18:58
Mike n Rachel in DC:
We’re here…might be a bit in and out with family doings, but happy to be here
12-26 18:59
Rush:
Happy that you were able to be here!
12-26 18:59
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Doing very well…having a wonderful holiday time together (for a couple more days)!
Hope your holidays are festive!
12-26 18:59
Rush:
yes, thank uou!
12-26 19:00
Rush:
Our older daughter is here from california, and so our family is together thrhrough the New Year!
Wow1 Typos! Sorry!
12-26 19:00
Mike n Rachel in DC:
That’s great! “Our” Rachel has to go back to Ann Arbor on Thursday. She’s headed to the Rose Bowl with the band…
12-26 19:00
Rush:
Pecking fingers are faster than the brain!
12-26 19:01
Rush:
That’s right! Will Rachel be in the parade with the band?
12-26 19:02
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Yes, both the parade and the Rose Bowl game. Look for the woman band director with short hair if you get a glimpse of the band. 
12-26 19:02
Rush:
I will definitely be looking for her!
That’s GREAT!
12-26 19:03
Mike n Rachel in DC:
It should be quite an experience but it really cuts into our time together. Boo.
12-26 19:03
Rush:
yes…the down side.
12-26 19:04
Mike n Rachel in DC:
We’ll make up for it in the next few weeks, though.
12-26 19:04
Rush:
Very good!
12-26 19:05
Rush:
Hopefully more will start dropping in.
I guess that this has been a very busy Holiday Season for most!
12-26 19:06
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Looks like a light holiday turn out (sort of normal, right?)…but hopefully we’ll have a bit more action.
12-26 19:07
Rush:
Yes…pretty normal, but this is sparcer than normal with 8 minutes to go!
This really recalls the “old days” here, when we were starting off!
12-26 19:07
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Gee. And I took a bath today and everything! 
12-26 19:07
Rush:
Me too!
12-26 19:08
Rush:
6 1/2 minutes…
12-26 19:08
Mike n Rachel in DC:
My mom’s family was very large (14 kids!), so it was always difficult to have everyone together at holidays. Grandma would often say, “Well, all the important people are here.”
12-26 19:09
Rush:
YES!
I have heard that one before as well!
12-26 19:10
Rush:
With rachel that makes three!
5 minutes…
12-26 19:10
tenman:
Hola!
12-26 19:10
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Hello tenman!
12-26 19:11
Rush:
Tenman!
You make four of us thus far!
WELCOME!
12-26 19:11
tenman:
Hope everyone had a good christmas!
12-26 19:11
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Santa had a good visit here!
12-26 19:11
Rush:
We sure DID! I hope that the same was true for you and yours!
12-26 19:12
Rush:
Iff needed…there’s the link to tonight’s movie!
THREE MINUTES to go!
12-26 19:12
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Needed and appreciated…
12-26 19:12
Godwinshelley:
Welcome to the timeless space between Christmas and New Years
12-26 19:12
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Hello GS!
12-26 19:12
Godwinshelley:
Hello
12-26 19:13
Rush:
TWO minutes…
GS!
WELCOME!
12-26 19:13
Rush:
The crowd is growing!
90 seconds…
WELCOME!
12-26 19:13
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Almost 100% increase in two minutes!
12-26 19:13
Rush:
75 seconds…
12-26 19:13
Godwinshelley:
So did I increase the population by 33% or 25%
12-26 19:14
Rush:
60 seconds…
25% with Rachel!
12-26 19:14
Rush:
50…
40 seconds…
30 seconds…
25…
20…
12-26 19:14
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Never was too good at math
12-26 19:14
Rush:
15…
12-26 19:15
Rush:
10…
5…
GO!!!
Universal Logo….
Here we go!
12-26 19:15
Godwinshelley:
I didn’t know if it was the beginning number or the end number that made the difference
12-26 19:15
Rush:
12-26 19:16
Rush:
Depends, i guess, GS!
12-26 19:16
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Looks like the Love Boat here
12-26 19:16
Godwinshelley:
I take it that it was the ending number – I was one of 4 so 25%
12-26 19:16
Rush:
The love grows thinner as time moves along in this one!
12-26 19:17
Godwinshelley:
This filming style reminds me of Kolchak – so a Chan/Kolchak mashup would be fun
12-26 19:17
Rush:
YES, GS!
12-26 19:17
Godwinshelley:
A chinese based monster – Kolchak would have to look for an expert –
12-26 19:18
Rush:
That would ad a tiuch of the supernatural for sure!
Yes.
12-26 19:18
Godwinshelley:
Leslie’s contact lenses bother me – too dark
12-26 19:18
Rush:
Title…
12-26 19:19
Rush:
AH!
It’s fun to see him in a dramatic role, though!
Credits….
12-26 19:19
Godwinshelley:
Nice that the Chan family actors get their own page of credits
12-26 19:20
Rush:
Yes!
Too bad this didn’t pan out to become a series.
12-26 19:20
Godwinshelley:
This first part is my favorite of this film
12-26 19:20
Rush:
maybe a one-per-month series?
YES!
I agree, GS!
12-26 19:21
Godwinshelley:
Like when they used to rotate detective stories on NBC
12-26 19:21
Rush:
Yes.
12-26 19:21
Mike n Rachel in DC:
This was a pilot for a potential series?
12-26 19:22
Rush:
Tenman and GS…we need to watch for Rachel in the Rose Parade!
12-26 19:22
Godwinshelley:
So no Mama Chan in this film
12-26 19:22
Rush:
She’s the band leader for Michigan.!
12-26 19:22
Godwinshelley:
Rachel – what a great honor – what part of the parade
12-26 19:22
tenman:
Spectrum commercial
12-26 19:23
Rush:
No, she isn’t, GS.
Yes, Tenman?
12-26 19:23
Mike n Rachel in DC:
The band is in position 44, right in the middle.
12-26 19:23
Godwinshelley:
Ahhhhh – he’s only 60 – I feel so old
12-26 19:23
Rush:
TYSM, Mike!
12-26 19:23
Godwinshelley:
What colors does the band wear for the event?
12-26 19:23
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Parade starts at 8 AM Pacific time, band steps off @ 8:45
12-26 19:24
Rush:
And, the networks always make sure to focus on the two opposing bands!
We will be watching here!
12-26 19:24
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Maize and Blue uniforms, GS. With a big “M” on them.
12-26 19:24
Godwinshelley:
So how does a DC gal get to lead the Michigan band
12-26 19:24
Rush:
I love Chan’s shirt.
12-26 19:24
Godwinshelley:
Maize – so yellow?
12-26 19:25
Rush:
Yes.
12-26 19:25
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Rachel will be on one side or the other of the band in a navy blue suit
12-26 19:25
Godwinshelley:
What kind of hats? Our band had terrible hats like the British Busby tall furred hats ( ours was white)
12-26 19:25
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Yes. Michigan colors are yellow and blue. But they always say “maize”
12-26 19:25
Rush:
Take a shot of the screen with her in the parade, Mike, and share it with us next week, please!
12-26 19:26
Godwinshelley:
Yes please
12-26 19:26
Mike n Rachel in DC:
I’ll see if I can snag one for sure. We might get some selfies to share too.
12-26 19:26
Godwinshelley:
Yes please
12-26 19:26
Rush:
Sadly, Ross Martin passed away far too soon.
12-26 19:26
Godwinshelley:
So we will know someone famous
12-26 19:27
Rush:
Yes we will!
12-26 19:29
Mike n Rachel in DC:
It’s a 5.5 mile parade, so Rach will have her exercise for the day.
12-26 19:29
Rush:
In all the years of watching the Rose Parade, I can say with certainty that I have never known anyone who was a participant!
Yes, she surely will, Mike!
12-26 19:29
Mike n Rachel in DC:
A Chan family first, Rush!
12-26 19:30
Rush:
These days a smoke alarm would sound in the plane’s restroom!
12-26 19:30
Mike n Rachel in DC:
These days the passengers would be in sweat suits and sneakers
12-26 19:31
Godwinshelley:
We’ve got you Pop
12-26 19:31
Rush:
The “pop” statements are consistant with parts of the Chan movie series!
12-26 19:31
Godwinshelley:
Yes that makes it charming
12-26 19:31
Rush:
Also, so is the absence of a Mrs. Chan, which was true for the final part of the movie series.
12-26 19:32
Rush:
Now…yank the beard off!
12-26 19:32
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Quite a get up on the doorman
12-26 19:33
Rush:
Too bad…but consistent.
YES!
12-26 19:33
Godwinshelley:
She would of been a superwoman with birthing all those children while keeping the house operating smoothly all without Charlie at home
12-26 19:33
tenman:
Another commercial
12-26 19:34
Rush:
Ross Martin knew a number of languages. It seems he was adept at learning a new one. We hear him use some Chainese in this one!
AH…sorry, TM!
12-26 19:34
Rush:
That’s one of the negatives to the online copies….sorry.
if you zip through the commercial. they are playing ping-pong.
12-26 19:35
Godwinshelley:
I remember that style of clothing with scarves
And turtlenecks
12-26 19:35
Rush:
yes!
12-26 19:35
tenman:
Can’t ‘zip’. Occasoinally can skip after a certain # of seconds
12-26 19:35
Rush:
This lady would be a real pain for Chan!
12-26 19:35
tenman:
Leslie is on the pone now
*phone
Now pingpong
12-26 19:36
Godwinshelley:
Mr Chan just walked into Leslie’s office
12-26 19:36
Rush:
Okay, TM. if you need help returning to where we are, please ask for a “:scene check”!
12-26 19:36
Godwinshelley:
I might be a bit ahead I started after the Universal LOGO
12-26 19:37
Rush:
That’s okay, you are probably very close! The logo lasted only a short while.
12-26 19:38
Rush:
Note how Ross Martin’s Chan is fluent in a natural way with English.
12-26 19:38
Rush:
His Chan was probably born in the U.S.
His “updated” charlie Chan.
12-26 19:39
Rush:
Again, I feel it’s too bad that this was not picked up as a TV drama.
12-26 19:40
Rush:
Just imagine having the likes of Keye Luke and Victor Sen Young appear in an episode or two!
12-26 19:41
Godwinshelley:
They could have been honored Uncles
12-26 19:41
Rush:
Benson Fong…Layne Tom, Jr…..
Yes, GS!
12-26 19:42
Godwinshelley:
James Hong
12-26 19:42
Rush:
Oh, what could have been….
Oh, well….
Oh, YES! James Hong!
12-26 19:42
Godwinshelley:
Were any of the women still around – Iris
12-26 19:42
Rush:
Yes, they were.
The possibilites were all there!
12-26 19:43
Rush:
I think that Maryann Quon moved to China by that time.
Iris.
12-26 19:45
Rush:
In January, the film for the week following “Eran Trece” will be the recreation of “Charlie Chan’s Chance” which was an extra on one of the Fox DVD set’s discs.
12-26 19:45
Rush:
This will be the first time we will be sharing it!
And…it IS available online!
12-26 19:45
Godwinshelley:
Very Nice
12-26 19:46
Rush:
It was pretty well done.
12-26 19:46
Godwinshelley:
It will be a nice addition
12-26 19:47
Rush:
Hirachi had one of his “spells.”
(Hidrachi)
12-26 19:47
tenman:
“recreation” of Charlie Chan’s Chance?
12-26 19:47
Rush:
A good old typewriter!
12-26 19:48
Rush:
Yes, TM.
It’s the only way that we will be able to experience that “lost” chan film!
12-26 19:49
Rush:
12-26 19:49
Godwinshelley:
So why do they have women screaming when finding a dead body? Is that really how people react – maybe just pick up the phone?
12-26 19:49
Rush:
Depends on the person, GS!
12-26 19:50
Rush:
I think that today, as we are exposed in so many ways to so much death, that most people would not react with a scream.
12-26 19:51
Rush:
Also, it was a screen convention to have screams to add to the emotional effect!
12-26 19:52
tenman:
This movie gives me the itch to watch Murder By Death again!
12-26 19:52
Mike n Rachel in DC:
With limited special effects, they probably had to use “man made” effects
12-26 19:52
Rush:
AH!
Yes, Mike.
12-26 19:52
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Same here, tenman. That is one of our FAVORITE movies. A first date…
12-26 19:53
Rush:
Yes, TM!
12-26 19:53
Godwinshelley:
You are in luck. Murder by Death will be playing on TCM on January 1 at 4:15 AM
12-26 19:54
Rush:
AH!
12-26 19:54
Godwinshelley:
So set your DVR
12-26 19:54
Rush:
I will DVR it!
Yes!
12-26 19:54
tenman:
If I could get my vcr working, I have it on tape!
12-26 19:54
Rush:
TYSM, GS1
12-26 19:54
Godwinshelley:
That was Eastern Standard Time
12-26 19:54
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Yes!
12-26 19:54
Rush:
One hour earlier here.
12-26 19:56
Rush:
That lady would not be Greek Orthodox as the way she crossed herself went the opposite direction.
12-26 19:57
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Rush = super sleuth! As Dr. Watson famously said, “How on Earth did you know that?”
12-26 19:57
Rush:
Experience.
12-26 19:58
Rush:
AH! The “romantic” sound of a ‘vintage” cash register!
12-26 20:00
Rush:
“Happiness is a Warm Clue”
The alternative title of this film.
12-26 20:00
Rush:
12-26 20:01
Mike n Rachel in DC:
A deliberate Peanuts reference, no doubt…
12-26 20:02
Rush:
Well, in the latter half of the ’60s, there was something of a “Happiness is…” “fad.”
12-26 20:02
Rush:
Recall the Beatles’ song on the 1968 “White Album”…”Happiness is a Warm Gun.”
12-26 20:03
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Right…I think it came from the “Happiness is a warm puppy” Peanuts book. https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Warm-Puppy-Charles-Schulz/dp/160433245X
12-26 20:03
Rush:
12-26 20:04
tenman:
But 9 out of 10 doctors smoke Lucky Strike!
12-26 20:04
Mike n Rachel in DC:
cough
12-26 20:05
Rush:
12-26 20:05
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Bingo!
12-26 20:06
Rush:
Etc….etc….etc….!
12-26 20:07
Rush:
I recall the “Happiness is the taste of Kent” cigarette ads on TV. I think, actually, that those served to begin the whole “Happiness is…” thing!
Around 1964.
12-26 20:08
Godwinshelley:
Were we in the “Smiley Face” fad too?
12-26 20:08
Rush:
AH!
I think those started appearing about 1969.
12-26 20:09
Mike n Rachel in DC:
The Peanuts book is from 1962…
12-26 20:09
Rush:
And…yes to the above, Tenman!
“9 out of 10 doctors…”
12-26 20:10
Mike n Rachel in DC:
But the Kent ads had a great jingle… “HAPPINESS IS (the taste of Kent), etc.”
12-26 20:10
Rush:
Mrs. HidrACHI,” yOU HAVE TO CARE TO KILL.”
OOPS! Caps locked!
12-26 20:11
Rush:
Chan family photos!
Similar to what we saw in some of the Oland films.
12-26 20:12
Rush:
Ross Martin uses his Chinese!
12-26 20:13
Rush:
We see the early ’70s styles and colors in this one!
12-26 20:17
Rush:
The Hidrachi character was probably derived fro Aristotle Onassis, the Greek tycoon who married Jackie Kennedy.
12-26 20:17
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Right…another timely reference
12-26 20:17
Godwinshelley:
Nice swedish tang to Charlie’s phone call
12-26 20:17
Rush:
Ross Martin’s chan was speaking some Norwegian there, I believe,
12-26 20:18
Godwinshelley:
Now that is ok to scream – when getting shot at
12-26 20:18
Rush:
Yes, GS!
DEFINITELY, GS!!!
12-26 20:18
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Excellent scream, too
12-26 20:18
Rush:
I agree!
12-26 20:19
Mike n Rachel in DC:
not Una O’Connor level, mind you, but very solid
12-26 20:19
Rush:
Remember, please, that next week’s Chat will be on TUESDAY, January 2.
“Behind That Curtain”
yes…with Boris Karloff!
12-26 20:20
Godwinshelley:
Pundee Pundee
12-26 20:20
Mike n Rachel in DC:
The cycle begins again!
12-26 20:20
Rush:
And, yes, with that as well, GS!
Yes, it does, Mike!
12-26 20:22
Rush:
That $5 scotch and soda in 1971 would be worth over $35 today!
12-26 20:24
Rush:
12-26 20:25
Rush:
CLUE!
12-26 20:26
Rush:
Some friend!!!!
12-26 20:26
Mike n Rachel in DC:
He did mention “guilt” before…
12-26 20:27
Rush:
Is his face RED!!!
12-26 20:27
Mike n Rachel in DC:
At least the paint goes with his coat
12-26 20:28
Rush:
12-26 20:28
Rush:
These scenes were filmed in an actual office, judging by the echo.
Acoustics.
12-26 20:30
Rush:
Flashback….
12-26 20:34
Rush:
Nice clue there.
12-26 20:42
Rush:
Maybe he will be lucky and the disease skips a generation.
12-26 20:45
Rush:
A bittersweet ending…
12-26 20:45
Godwinshelley:
Nice he remembers his family with presents
12-26 20:45
Rush:
Yes!
12-26 20:45
Mike n Rachel in DC:
not unlike some earlier Chans….
12-26 20:45
Rush:
This seems to indicate another adventure was on the way!
yes, Mike!
12-26 20:46
Mike n Rachel in DC:
<kids-yeah>
12-26 20:46
Rush:
There it was!
12-26 20:46
Godwinshelley:
It would have been a nice addition to detective series
12-26 20:46
Rush:
the final film of our Chan year!
12-26 20:46
Mike n Rachel in DC:
What a great follow up to the “New Adventures” this would have been!
12-26 20:46
Rush:
Next week…TUESDAY…”Behind That Curtain”
Agreed, Mike!
Too bad.
12-26 20:47
Mike n Rachel in DC:
A great way to wind up the year. Glad we could stop by as a duo to ring out 2023!
12-26 20:47
Rush:
A missed opportunity, IMHO!
12-26 20:47
Mike n Rachel in DC:
12-26 20:47
Rush:
Well…I thank you all so much for sharing the evening!
12-26 20:47
Godwinshelley:
So excited to know a famous celebrity
Stay safe everyone
12-26 20:47
Rush:
I hope that you will all have a VERY Happy New Year!
12-26 20:47
Mike n Rachel in DC:
A small but enthusiastic group. Rachel blushes
12-26 20:48
Rush:
Yes.
12-26 20:48
Godwinshelley:
Night
12-26 20:48
tenman:
G’nite. WIll fininsh the movie solo now.
12-26 20:48
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Happy New Year everyone. Mike will be back next Tuesday.
Have a wonderful New Year tenman!
12-26 20:48
Rush:
Our BEST to Rachel and a safe journey to her and the band to Pasadena!
12-26 20:48
Mike n Rachel in DC:
Thanks, Rush. See you next week.
12-26 20:48
Rush:
We will eagerly look for her during the parade!
Take care….
TYSM….
Good night!
A Happy New Year to ALL!
12-26 20:49
Rush:
May 2024 be a good and prosperous year…
Good night….
Take care…
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