Study

“Knowledge only gained through curiosity.”



You are now in the Study of our House on Punchbowl Hill. Welcome. In this section, you will find a growing collection of information relating to all aspects of detective Charlie Chan. As more items of interest are gathered, they will be presented here for your knowledge and enjoyment.  We have arranged our material in various general categories below. 

To access each item, please use the .



APANA, Chang

“CHARLIE CHAN AT IT AGAIN”:  Chang Apana, the inspiration for Charlie Chan, visits the filming of  The Black Camel.  (From: New York Times, July 21, 1931) (Contributed by Steve Rhodes)

“Chang Apana Carries On,” by Earl Derr Biggers (From: Fox Film Pressbook for Charlie Chan’s Chance, circa January 1932)

A copy of the Special Order, dated July 2, 1932 and signed by the Chief of Police of the Honolulu Police Department, officially noting Detective Chang Apana’s departure from the department.

“Black Camel Kneels At Home of Chang Apana” (From: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Saturday, December 9, 1933)

The ‘Real Life’ Charlie Chan” (From: Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Hawaiian Life Weekend Magazine, Saturday, March 19, 1955)

“Charlie Chan and the Case of the Cop Who Inspired Him,” by Patrick Williams (From: APBnews.com, April 25, 2000)

“Chang Apana The Real Life Charlie Chan” (From: Hawaiian Historical Society, Number 132, April 2007) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)

“HAWAIIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY LECTURE PROGRAM: Chang Apana: The Real Life Charlie Chan presented by Nanette Napoleon and Officer Eddie Croom” (From: Hawaiian Historical Society, undated, April 2007, press release) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)

“Let the truth be known about the real-life Charlie Chan,” by Loren Moreno (From: Honolulu Advertiser, April 25, 2007) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)


BIGGERS, Earl Derr

Earl Derr Biggers’ photograph and informational notes (From: Harvard Class Album, 1907)

“House Without A Key a Myth, Author Reveals” (From: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 7, 1928) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)

A photographic copy of a letter written by Earl Derr Biggers to “Mr. Speyers” (probably an executive at Fox Films) (Dated: February 13, 1931) (Contributed by Gene Lue)

“CREATING CHARLIE CHAN” (From: New York Times, March 22, 1931)

Earl Derr Biggers’ reply to a letter from a fan of his Charlie Chan stories (Dated: May 3, 1931)

“Earl Derr Biggers” (From: Harvard College Class of 1907 Twenty-fifth Anniversary Report, June 1932)

“CHARLIE CHAN CREATOR REPORTED GRAVELY ILL” (From: Los Angeles Times, March 31, 1933)

“EARL DERR BIGGERS DIES IN WEST AT 48” (From: New York Times, April 6, 1933)

“AUTHOR BIGGERS DIES FROM ILLS” (From: Los Angeles Times, April 7, 1933)

“EARL DERR BIGGERS,” by Lee Shipley (From: Los Angeles Times, April 7, 1933)

“LAST RITES CONDUCTED FOR BIGGERS” (From: Los Angeles Times, April 7, 1933)

“CHARLIE CHAN’S POPPA: The Life of Earl Derr Biggers,” by Barbara Gregorich (From: Timeline, a publication of the Ohio Historical Society, Volume 16, Number 1, January-February 1999)

“EARL DERR BIGGERS – Brief life of a popular author: 1884-1933,” by Barbara Gregorich (From: Harvard Magazine, March-April 2000)

“The House Without a Key: Four and Counting” by Barbara Gregorich (From barbaragregorich.wordpress.com, July 15, 2015)


CHAN, Charlie

“CREATING CHARLIE CHAN” (From: New York Times, March 22, 1931)

“Charlie Chan: Biggers’ Chinese Detective is a Family Man with 11 Children,” by Tom Curtin (From: Radio Digest, March, 1933)

“Charlie Chan’s Chinese Proverbs” (From: Charlie Chan’s Chinese Proverbs, American Radio Features Syndicate, 1935)

A letter from “Charlie Chan” via the Honolulu Police Department. (Dated: May 26, 1936)

“Charlie Chan on Broadway,” (From: Woman’s Day, October 7, 1937)

“The 6 Charlie Chans: Only Non-Chinese Portrayed the Screen’s Most Often Used Detective,” by Edward Connor (From: Films in Review, January 1955)

“Charlie Chan in Hollywood,” by Edward Connor (From: Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Hawaiian Life Weekend Magazine, Saturday, March 19, 1955; originally appearing in Films in Review, January 1955)

“Charlie Chan: MASTER DETECTIVE” (From: Atlanta TV Digest, week of February 27 – March 5, 1955)

“Charlie Tells ‘Em” (From: Honolulu Advertiser, October 17, 1967)

“OLD MOVIES: Sub-Gumshoe” (From: Time, March 15, 1968)

“Charlie Chan,” by Leonard Maltin (From: Film Fan Monthly, Number 82, April 1968)

View The Great Charlie Chan.  This documentary, featuring clips from a variety of Charlie Chan movies, served as an introduction to the showing of 21 films as a part of an exhibition of Charlie Chan films at the Museum of Modern art in New York City.  This film exhibition, entitled Charlie Chan at the Museum of Modern Art, ran from March 4-17, 1968.  (early 1968)  (Contributed by Lou Armagno)

Take a look at a humorous TV commercial, featuring Marvin Miller as Charlie Chan, made by Volkswagen to advertise its classic Beetle. (c. mid-1968)

“An Arbitrary Guide to Soul” (From: Time, June 28, 1968)

“Charlie Chan Quotations Published,” by Rick Du Brow (From: Eugene Register-Guard, October 9, 1968) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)

“The Chan dynasty marches on,” by Richard S. Lochte II (From: Panorama – Chicago Daily News, October 19, 1968)

“WHAT’S YOUR PLAN, CHARLIE CHAN?” by Ron Goulart (From: Nostalgia Illustrated, July 1975)

“The Wit and Wisdom of Charlie Chan” (From: Chapbook, Number 3, July 1976)

“Charlie Chan’s Number One Movie,” by Jim Stringham (From: Cliffhanger, Number 21, May 1995)

“Charlie Chan,” by Jack French (From: NARA News, Volume 8, Number 2, c. 1997)

“China Syndrome – AMC Unscrolls 21 Charlie Chan Movies!” by Angelo Ragaza (From: American Movie Classics Magazine, November 1997)

“The Bourgeois Detective,” by S.T. Karnick (From: The Weekly Standard, December 31, 2001/January 7, 2002)

“Fox Movie Channel Bans Charlie Chan Movies” by Marc Morano, (From: CNSNEWS.COM [cnsnews.com], posted “July 7, 2008” [probably originally posted late June 2003])

“Chan Ban Lifted by Fox Movie Channel” by Marc Morano, (From: CNSNEWS.COM [cnsnews.com], posted “July 7, 2008” [probably originally posted early July 2003])

“The Who’s Who of Charlie Chan’s Family,” by Howard M. Berlin (From: Classic Images, Number 339, September 2003)

“Charlie Chan at the Technological Cutting Edge” by Rush Glick (From: The Circuit, a publication of the Computer Museum of America, Volume 2, Issue 4, Fall 2003)

“THE GREAT CHAN BAN,” by Ken Hanke: An analysis and opinion of Charlie Chan. (From: Scarlet Street, Number 50, 2004)

“Charlie Chan and the Politically Correct Mafia,” by Jerry Della Femina (From: Jewish World Review, April 30, 2004)

“THE BUSINESS END OF ETHNIC POLITICS – Charlie Chan, canned, when they can”: Despite recent DVD releases of Charlie Chan films, corporations, such as 20th Century-Fox, still seem to fear ethnic pressure groups.  (From: National Review Online, July 25, 2006)

“Charlie Chan: A Hero of Sorts,” by Fletcher Chan: An analysis and opinion of Charlie Chan. (From: California Literary Review [calitreview.com], September 18, 2006)

(Audio) “RADIO DETECTIVE STORY EPISODE 92 – CHARLIE CHAN,” produced by Jim Widner: A  look at each of the Charlie Chan versions on radio, plus a pair of episodes from two of the radio series. (From: Old Time Radio [otr.com], April 2, 2007)

“Charlie Chan in China” (From: The Chinese Mirror, May 2008) (Contributed by Don Marion)

“Mystery of Charlie Chan: Fictional detective follows trail of clues from Akron” (From: Ohio.com [Akron Beacon Journal], May 5, 2008)

“THE RETURN OF CHARLIE CHAN,” by Burl Burlingame (From: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 11, 2009) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)

“Original novels put Chan back in perspective,” by Burl Burlingame (From: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 11, 2009) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)

“A Charlie Chan Film Stirs an Old Controversy” by Pradnya Joshi: Regarding The Great Charlie Chan, a 1968 film documentary, (From: New York Times [nytimes.com], March 7, 2010)

“CHAN, THE MAN,” by Jill Lepore (From: The New Yorker, August 9, 2010)

(Video) “WHO IS CHARLIE CHAN? Historian Jill Lepore looks at the Charlie chan movies and the real detective who inspired the character. (From: The New Yorker [newyorker.com], posted August 9, 2010

“Charlie Chan and the Mystery of the Mansion Hideout,” by Lee Cary (From: The American Thinker [americanthinker.com], May 8, 2011)

“If Sherlock Holmes Can Come Back, Why Not Charlie Chan?” by Jeff Yang: Opinion and thoughts regarding the film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and a possible remake of Charlie Chan. (From: The Wall Street Journal [blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy], December 19, 2011)

“Playing With Place: Ambiguities of Geography and Citizenship in The Great Charlie Chan Detective Mystery Game” by Elizabeth Rawitsch (From Intensities: The Journal of Cult Media [intensitiescultmedia.com], August 2014)

The Charlie Chan Family 2018 Newsletter (Issue No. 1), edited by Lou Armagno, January 1, 2019.

The Charlie Chan Family 2019 Newsletter (Issue No. 2), edited by Lou Armagno, January 1, 2020.

The Charlie Chan Family 2020 Newsletter (Issue No. 3), edited by Lou Armagno, January 1, 2021.

The Charlie Chan Family 2021 Newsletter (Issue No. 4), edited by Lou Armagno, January 1, 2022.

The Charlie Chan Family 2022 Newsletter (Issue No. 5), edited by Lou Armagno, January 1, 2023.


FONG, Benson

Twentieth Century-Fox Employee’s Personnel Statement filled out and signed by the actor. (Dated: October 12, 1943)

“Chinese Actor In Demand for Films”: An article from publicity material for The Shanghai Cobra. (September 1945)

“CHINESE-SWEDISH”: An article from publicity material for The Shanghai Cobra. (September 1945)

“SOCIETY HONORS PIONEER CHINESE-AMERICAN ACTORS,” by Mary and Chuck Yee (From: Gum Saan Journal, December 1977) (Contributed by Virginia Quin Kay)

“Benson Fong, Character Actor and Founder of Cafes, Dies,” by Penelope McMillan (From: Los Angeles Times, August 3, 1987)

“Benson Fong Is Dead at 70; Was in Film and TV 40 Years” (From: New York Times, August 4, 1987)

“Benson Fong is dead at 70” (From: The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 4, 1987) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)

A Benson Fong Album


HONG, James

“He’s probably been in more films than any actor in Hollywood history,” by Trisha Gopal, Dominique Turner, and David Yim (From: CNN [cnn.com], posted: August 3, 2020) (Contributed by Steven Fredrick)


LUKE, Keye

“ROMANCE WEAVES AURA AROUND WORK OF YOUNG CHINESE-AMERICAN ARTIST – Astonishing Drawings May Prove Departure Point for Meeting of Divergent Caucasian and Asiatic Art Views,” by Arthur Miller (From: Los Angeles Times, December 16, 1928)

“Portrait Keye Luke,” by Harriet Parsons (From: Los Angeles Examiner, May 4, 1944)

(video) An appearance by Keye Luke on Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle on NBC television. (March 22, 1949)

“Flower Drum Song” (From: Playbill, May 4, 1959, Volume 3, Number 18)

(video) Bette Rogge interviews Keye Luke who played Kralahome in the 13-part TV series Anna and the King prior to the release if that series in the fall of 1972. (From: The Bette Rogge Show, Mid-1972)

“TV Rescued Keye Luke From Chan Stereotype,” by Rex Polier (From: Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, June 20, 1972)

“‘No. 1 Son’ Is Now ‘Master Po,'” by Leslie Raddatz (From: TV Guide, June 23, 1973)

“SOCIETY HONORS PIONEER CHINESE-AMERICAN ACTORS,” by Mary and Chuck Yee (From: Gum Saan Journal, December 1977) (Contributed by Virginia Quin Kay)

The text of an interview conducted for Canadian television (TV Ontario) in Hollywood, California. (c. 1985)

“‘CHARLIE CHAN’ FILM VET STILL WAITING FOR EASTERN ACTORS TO RISE” (From: Chicago Tribune, May 9, 1985)

“Can East Meet West In Hollywood?” (From: Chicago Tribune, May 30, 1985)

“The Many Mysteries of Keye Luke, ” by Bill Warren (From: Starlog, May 1988)

“An Interview with KEYE LUKE: A Man of Considerable Character(s),” by Jan Alan Henderson (From: Filmfax, Number 18, January 1990)

“Keye Luke, Actor, Is Dead at 86; ‘No. 1 Son’ and ‘Kung Fu’ Master,” by Peter B. Flint (From: New York Times, January 16, 1991)

“KEYE TO THE MYSTERY: KEYE LUKE,” an interview by Joe Collura (From: Scarlet Street, Number 28, May-June 1998)

“Keye Luke – June 18th, 1904-January 12th, 1991” (From: The Files of Jerry Blake: Movie Serial Reviews and Other Cliffhanging Material [filesofjerryblake.com], Posted: January 9, 2013)

“KEYE LUKE: Actor, Artist, Gentleman,” by Ken Dennis (From: Films of the Golden Age, number 77, Summer 2014)


MORELAND, Mantan

“Colored Comedian Is No Duster,” an article from Monogram Pictures Corporation publicity material for The Shanghai Cobra. (September 1945)

“Laughs Routine to Mantan Moreland,” by Ron Page (From: Los Angeles Times, February 6, 1970)

“MORELAND, ACTOR IS DEAD AT 72,” (From: New York Times, September 29, 1973)

“Black Comic Dies; Mantan Moreland Best Known For Charlie Chan Films,” (From: The York Dispatch, September 29, 1973)


NAISH, J. Carrol


“MEET CHARLIE CHAN NO. 4,” an article on The New Adventures of Charlie Chan, a TV series starring J. Caroll Naish which aired during the 1958-9 television season in the United States.  (From: TV Guide, February 1-7, 1958)

“J. CARROL NAISH”: New York Daily News, January 25, 1973 (Contributed by Jay Pearlman)


(The) NEW Adventures of Charlie Chan

“The NEW Adventures of CHARLIE CHAN” (Television Programs of America, Inc. trade advertisement, 1957)

“CLUE: NEW – The NEW Adventures of CHARLIE CHAN”: A Television Programs of America, Inc. trade advertisement (The Billboard, June 17, 1957)

“THE NEW ADVENTURES OF CHARLIE CHAN,” an advertisement for The New Adventures of Charlie Chan on WCAO-TV, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (TV Guide, October 26 – November 1, 1957)

“The NEW Adventures of Charlie Chan,” an advertisement for The New Adventures of Charlie Chan on WALA-TV, Mobile, Alabama. (TV Guide, April 26 – May 2, 1958)

“NEWS OF TELEVISION AND RADIO”: an excerpt showing the first air date for The New Adventures of Charlie Chan on WNEW-TV, channel 5 in New York City. (From: New York Times, November 16, 1958)


OLAND, Warner

A four-page handwritten letter sent by Warner Oland to a colleague. (Dated: March 2, 1909)

THE WARNER OLAND SCRAPBOOK – This vintage item offers a collection of 142 pages of obscure material dating from Warner Oland’s film career from its beginnings in 1916 until the first years of the Charlie Chan era in 1932!  (February 25, 1916 – March 5, 1932)

Warner Oland’s application for membership in the Masquers Club. (Dated: August 1, 1925)

“CLEVER CHARLIE CHAN: Another Murder Mystery Is Solved By The Amiable Oriental Sleuth,” by Mordant Hall (From: New York Times, January 31, 1932)

From: “Projection Jottings” A news/gossip item about Warner Oland having been selected to portray Charlie Chan. (From: Los Angeles Times, November 25, 1934)

From: “PICTURES AND PLAYERS IN HOLLYWOOD”: A news/gossip item suggesting that Warner Oland was to have been replaced by Walter Connoly as Charlie Chan. (From: Los Angeles Times, February 4, 1934) (Contributed by Steve Rhodes)

From: “NEWS AND GOSSIP FROM THE GOLD COAST” A news/gossip item about Charlie Chan and Warner Oland. (From: Los Angeles Times, November 25, 1934) (Contributed by Steve Rhodes)

An advertisement for Old Gold cigarettes featuring Warner Oland as Charlie Chan.  (From: Tampa Daily Times, February 6, 1935)

“BIOGRAPHY OF WARNER OLAND,” by Harry Brand, Publicity Director, 20th Century-Fox (Dated: September 1935)

A telegram from Warner Oland congratulating the Krim brothers on the opening of the Greater Harmony Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. (Dated: October 3, 1935)

“Charlie Chan Of Screen Due Here” (From: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 21, 1936) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)

“Lost Suspenders Baffle Charlie Chan Of Screen”(From: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 26, 1936) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)

“Charlie Chan in Person,” by Madeline Glass (From: Picture Play, August 1936)

“Warner Oland To Make Many More Detective Films”(From: Port Arthur Daily News, January 24, 1937) (Contributed by Steve Rhodes)

“Charlie Chan at the Interviewer’s,” by Faith Service (From: Modern Screen, July 1937)

“Charlie Chan Reveals Warner Oland, The Intellectual Behind The Mask Of The Great Detective,” by Ruth Rankin (From: Silver Screen, July 1937)

An image of Warner Oland and his schnauzer from a photo spread entitled “SPEAKING OF PICTURES…PEOPLE LOOK LIKE THEIR PETS.” (From: Life, November 8, 1937)

A note about Warner Oland’s next Charlie Chan film, Charlie Chan on the Clipper Ship (From: New York Times, March 13, 1938) (Contributed by Steve Rhodes)

A postcard dated July 10, 1938 – less than a month before the actor’s passing – mailed to a friend while traveling through Europe. (Contributed by Stephan Bates)

“Charlie Chan Is Dead” (From: Tampa Daily Times, August 6, 1938)

“‘Charlie Chan’ Of the Movies Dies In Sweden”(From: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, August 6, 1938) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)

“WARNER OLAND, 57, SCREEN STAR, DIES” (From: New York Times, Sunday, August 7, 1938)

“Warner Oland, ‘Charlie Chan’ Of Movies, Dies in Stockholm” (From: Washington Post, Sunday, August 7, 1938)

“Warner Oland” (From: Variety, August 10, 1938)

“WARNER OLAND MASTER OF MENACE AND MYSTERY,” by David K. Bowman (From: Scarlet Street #28, May-June 1998)

“WARNER OLAND, 57, SCREEN STAR, DIES,” by Steve Rhodes (2003) (Contributed by Steve Rhodes)

“WARNER OLAND,” by Charles Stumpf (From: Classic Images, Number 348, June 2004)

“Warner Oland,” by Susan M. Kelly (From: immortalephemora.com, January 15, 2008)

“On the Set with Warner Oland” (From: oldhollywoodincolor.com, January 21, 2013)

A Warner Oland Album

Warner Oland Miscellanea


TOLER, Sidney


“A Prolific Screen Writer,” by George Landy (From: Moving Picture Stories, Volume XVI, Number 395, July 23, 1920)

The cast list from the program for the play “Tommy,” which included Sidney Toler. (From: National Theatre, March 12, 1928)

Associated Press caption and Wirephoto regarding Sidney Toler being named as successor to Warner Oland as Charlie Chan. (From: Associated Press, October 17, 1938)

The Talk of Hollywood: “Toler Wins Charlie Chan Role From 34 Competitors” (From: Baltimore Evening Sun, October 18, 1938)

“‘Chan’ Will Carry On” (From: Tampa Daily Times, November 7, 1938)

“MISSOURI MAN FOLLOWS SWEDE IN ‘CHAN’ ROLE” (From: Sunday Magazine, Des Moines Sunday Register, December 11, 1938)

“Sidney Toler, Charley Chan of Movies, Dies” (From: The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, February 12, 1947) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)

“SIDNEY TOLER DIES; FILM CHARLIE CHAN” (From: New York Times, February 13, 1947)

“Sidney Toler” (From: Variety, February 19, 1947)

“Kansas’ Charlie Chan,” by Beccy Tanner (From: The Wichita Eagle, October 25, 1990)

A Sidney Toler Album

Sidney Toler Miscellanea


TOM, Layne, Jr.

“CROSSROAD IN CAREERS’ CHOICE LEADS TO SMOOTH SAILING INTO HUNTINGTON HARBOUR” (From: unknown publication, c. 1964) (Contributed by Virginia Quin Kay)

“Where are they now?: Layne Tom, Jr.” by Marshall Jay Kaplan (From: Living In The West [www.LivingInTheWest.com], March 2013)

“RICHARD LAYNE TOM (1927-2015)” (From: Los Angeles Times, February 10, 2015)

“Layne Tom, Jr., a Son of Charlie Chan in Three Films, Dies at 87” (From: The Hollywood Reporter, February 10, 2015)


WINTERS, Roland

“CHARLIE CHANS, PAST AND PRESENT” (From: New York Times, June 29, 1947)

“Lifetime Career Likely For New ‘Charlie Chan'” by Bob Thomas (From: St. Petersburg Evening Independent, August 26, 1947)

“THE CASE CHARLIE CHAN LOST!” by Sam Sherman (From: Screen Thrills, October 1963)

“Actor Roland Winters; Starred in Six Charlie Chan Movies” (From: Los Angeles Times [articles.latimes.com], August 3, 1987) (Contributed by Lou Armagno)

“Reassessing the Last Charlie Chan Roland Winters,” by Ken Hanke (From: Filmfax, Number 18, January 1990)

A short letter written in May 2002 by actress Elena Verdugo, which includes some of her thoughts on the actor who played Charlie Chan in six films. (Contributed by Virginia Johnson)


YUNG, Victor Sen

A newspaper article describing how Victor Sen Yung was wounded during an attempted airline hijacking. (From: The New York Times, July 6, 1973) (Contributed by Steve Rhodes)

“SOCIETY HONORS PIONEER CHINESE-AMERICAN ACTORS,” by Mary and Chuck Yee (From: Gum Saan Journal, December 1977) (Contributed by Virginia Quin Kay)

“Body Is Found” (From: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, November 10, 1980)

“Murder Report Denied” (From: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, November 11, 1980) (Courtesy of Steven Fredrick Collection)

“The actor who played Bonanza’s Hop Sing actually was an acclaimed chef,” by MeTV Staff (From: MeTV [metv.com], March 13, 2019) (Contributed by Lou Armagno)


BOOK REVIEWS

“CHARLIE CHAN The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendesvous with American History”:  A press release with short reviews for Yunte Huang’s book on Charlie Chan (From: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., July 2010)

“CHAN, THE MAN: On the trail of the honorable detective,” by Jill Lepore: A review of Yunte Huang’s book on Charlie Chan (From: The New Yorker, August 9, 2010)

“Charlie Chan and the man in the mirror,” by Donna Seaman: A review of Yunte Huang’s book on Charlie Chan (From: Los Angeles Times, August 29, 2010)

“Watching the Detective: Yunte Huang’s Charlie Chan study is a Chinese look at how America has looked at China,” by Pico Iyer: A review of Yunte Huang’s book on Charlie Chan (From: Time, September 6, 2010)

“Charlie Chan Captured”: A review of Yunte Huang’s book on Charlie Chan by Stefan Kanfer (From: City Journal [city-journal.org], September 10, 2010) (Contributed by Steven Fredrick)

“Investigating The Real Charlie Chan”: A review of Yunte Huang’s book on Charlie Chan (From: NPR.org, September 11, 2010)

“CHARLIE CHAN The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendesvous with American History”:  A press release with short reviews for the paperback version of Yunte Huang’s book on Charlie Chan (From: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., July 2011)

“Charlie Chan: the untold Story of the honorable detective and his rendezvous with American history”:  A short review of Yunte Huang’s book on Charlie Chan (From: Asian Ethnicity, Volume 13, 2012, posted at Taylor & Francis Online [tandfonline.com, retrieved April 18, 2019]).


CAST

THOMAS BECK: “THOMAS BECK ON CHARLIE CHAN AND MR. MOTO,” an excerpted interview, conducted in 1993, with Thomas Beck, who appeared in four Charlie Chan films. (From: Scarlet Street #28, May-June 1998)

HAROLD HUBER: “Harrison in Hollywood,” by Paul Harrison. (From The Helena Independent, November 14, 1941) (Contributed by Steve Rhodes)

HAROLD HUBER: “MEET THE STARS,” by Vic Boesen. (From The Fresno Bee, December 7, 1941) (Contributed by Steve Rhodes)

HAROLD HUBER: “DEBUNKING A LEGENDARY ‘TOUGH GUY,'” by John R. Franchy. (From The New York Times, March 1, 1942) (Contributed by Steve Rhodes)

HAROLD HUBER: A short letter written in August 2002 by actress Kay Linaker, shedding welcome light on the actor who appeared in four Charlie Chan films. (Contributed by Virginia Johnson)

KAY LINAKER: “Formerly Kay Linaker: Kate Phillips remembers Charlie Chan, the Blob, and the men who directed FRANKENSTEIN and DRACULA” (Parts One and Two), interview by Leonard J. Kohl. (From Scarlet Street, numbers 50 and 51, 2004) (Contributed by Brenda McNeal)

KAY LINAKER: “Yesteryear’s Hollywood great visiting Tillsonburg,” by Jeff Helsden. (From The Tillsonburg News (Online edition), July 4, 2007) (Contributed by Steve Owens)

GERALD MOHR (Dr. Zodiac in Charlie Chan at Treasure Island): A short letter written on July 29, 2002 by actress Kay Linaker, who mentions that it was Gerald Mohr who played and was the voice of Dr. Zodiac in Charlie Chan at Treasure Island(Contributed by Virginia Johnson)


FILMS

CHARLIE CHAN CARRIES ON

THE BLACK CAMEL

CHARLIE CHAN’S CHANCE

CHARLIE CHAN’S GREATEST CASE

CHARLIE CHAN’S COURAGE

CHARLIE CHAN IN LONDON

CHARLIE CHAN IN PARIS

CHARLIE CHAN IN EGYPT

CHARLIE CHAN IN SHANGHAI

CHARLIE CHAN’S SECRET

CHARLIE CHAN AT THE CIRCUS

CHARLIE CHAN AT THE RACE TRACK

CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA

CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OLYMPICS

CHARLIE CHAN ON BROADWAY

CHARLIE CHAN AT MONTE CARLO

CHARLIE CHAN IN HONOLULU

CHARLIE CHAN IN RENO

CHARLIE CHAN AT TREASURE ISLAND

CHARLIE CHAN IN CITY IN DARKNESS

CHARLIE CHAN IN PANAMA

CHARLIE CHAN’S MURDER CRUISE

CHARLIE CHAN AT THE WAX MUSEUM

MURDER OVER NEW YORK

DEAD MEN TELL

CHARLIE CHAN IN RIO

CASTLE IN THE DESERT

CHARLIE CHAN IN THE SECRET SERVICE

THE CHINESE CAT

THE JADE MASK

THE SCARLET CLUE

THE SHANGHAI COBRA

THE RED DRAGON

DARK ALIBI

SHADOWS OVER CHINATOWN

DANGEROUS MONEY

THE TRAP

THE CHINESE RING

DOCKS OF NEW ORLEANS

SHANGHAI CHEST

THE GOLDEN EYE

THE FEATHERED SERPENT

THE SKY DRAGON


VIDEO RELEASES, ETC.

“CHARLIE CHAN FOR RENT”: “A survey of the films of this most popular of Oriental detectives – created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1925 – which are now available on videocassette.” (From: The Armchair Detective, Fall 1989/Volume 22, Number 4)

“The Triumphant Return of Charlie Chan: THE CHARLIE CHAN CHANTHOLOGY”: A review by Ken Kanke of the six-film DVD set released by MGM Home Entertainment. (From: Scarlet Street, Number 51, 2004)

“CHARLIE CHAN CHANTHOLOGY”: A review by Ian Jane of the six-film DVD set released by MGM Home Entertainment. (From: DVD Talk, June 2004)

“THE CHARLIE CHAN CHANTHOLOGY”: A review by Jason Perez of the six-film DVD set released by MGM Home Entertainment. (From: Home Theater Forum, June 17, 2004)

“ANOTHER CHAN-CE:  ASIAN DETECTIVE ON DVD”: An article about the Charlie Chan DVD release from 20th Century-Fox, Charlie Chan Collection, Volume 1. (From: New York Post Online Edition, June 13, 2006)

“NEW DVD’S: CHARLIE CHAN”: A review of the Charlie Chan DVD release from 20th Century-Fox, Charlie Chan Collection, Volume 1. (From: New York Times, June 20, 2006)

“DETECTIVE STORIES”: A review of the Charlie Chan DVD release from 20th Century-Fox, Charlie Chan Collection, Volume 1, by Ken Tucker. (From: Entertainment Weekly, June 23, 2006)

“CHARLIE CHAN COLLECTION, VOL. 1”: A lengthy review of the Charlie Chan DVD release from 20th Century-Fox, Charlie Chan Collection, Volume 1. (From: DVD Talk, June 23, 2006)

“THE BUSINESS END OF ETHNIC POLITICS – Charlie Chan, canned, when they can”: Despite recent DVD releases of Charlie Chan films, corporations, such as 20th Century-Fox, still seem to fear ethnic pressure groups.  (From: National Review Online, July 25, 2006)

“Fox’s Charlie Chan on DVD – Finally!,” By Dr. Howard M. Berlin (From: Classic Images, Issue #383, May 2007

“An Interview With John Cork Producer of the Charlie Chan DVD Featurettes,” by Dr. Howard M. Berlin (From: Classic Images, Issue #384, June 2007)

“HAWAII STEVE’S DVD REVIEW”: A review by Steven Fredrick of The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan and The Return of Charlie Chan. (July 3, 2009)  (Contributed by Steven Fredrick)

“Beyond Charlie Chan: The Principal Chan Actors in Non-Chan Movies”: A review by Steven Fredrick of Charlie Chan actors, including Benson Fong, Keye Luke, Mantan Moreland, Warner Oland, Sidney Toler, Roland Winters, and Victor Sen Yung, in “non-Chan” roles. (August 12, 2009) (Contributed by Steven Fredrick)

“HTF DVD REVIEW: TCM Spotlight: Charlie Chan Collection“: A Review of the Charlie Chan DVD release from TCM/Warner Brothers, by Ken McAlinden (From: Home Theater Forum [hometheaterforum.com], June 1, 2010)

TCM Spotlight: Charlie Chan Collection – DVD Review”: A review of the Charlie Chan DVD release from TCM/Warner Brothers, by Joe Corey. (From: Inside Puls Movies [insidepulse.com], June 8, 2010)

“Golly, Pop, You Always Get ‘Em, Even on a Poverty Row Budget”: A review of TCM Spotlight: Charlie Chan Collection by Dave Kehr. (From: New York Times [nytimes.com], June 11, 2010)


MISCELLANEOUS

“The Chinese Parrot”: A trade advertisement for The Chinese Parrot, directed by Paul Leni.  Prominant in the advertisement is Anna May Wong, who was featured in the film. (From: Universal Weekly, September 17, 1927)

“UNUSUAL CAT IN FOX FILM”: An article about the cat, “Puzzums,” who saved Charlie Chan’s life in “Charlie Chan’s Chance.” (From: Fox Film Pressbook for Charlie Chan’s Chance, circa January 1932)

“Two Cats of Hollywood”: An article focusing on the movie cat “Puzzums” who appeared in Charlie Chan’s Chance. (From: The New Movie Magazine, July 1932)

The playbill for the Fulton Theatre stage production of Keeper of the Keys: The cover and pertinent pages from the playbill for the stage production of Earl Derr Biggers’ The Keeper of the Keys. (From: Playbill.com; originally published: October 18, 1933) (Contributed by Lou Armagno)

“CHARLIE CHAN ON BROADWAY”: A novelette version of the 20th Century-Fox film of the same title, by Edward Churchill (From: Popular Detective, November 1937, volume III, number 1) (Contributed by Clark J. Holloway)

“BROMBERG MENTIONED FOR CHAN ROLE”:  Less than a week after the passing of Warner Oland, this article appeared, stating that actor J. Edward Bromberg was being considered to carry on the role of Charlie Chan. (From: Oakland Tribune, August 10, 1938) (Contributed by Steve Rhodes)

ALFRED ANDRIOLA (Charlie Chan newspaper comic strip artist, 1938-42): A typewritten, signed letter written to a fan of his Charlie Chan comic strip. (Dated: November 28, 1938)

“THE 6 CHARLIE CHANS”: “THE 6 CHARLIE CHANS – Only Non-Chinese Portrayed the Screen’s Most Often Used Detective” (From: Films in Review, January 1955)

“Jack Benny Named in Suit”:  An article concerning a lawsuit filed by Eleanor Biggers Cole (the wife of Earl Derr Biggers) for copyright infringement.  (From: Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, October 26, 1960) (Courtesy Steven Fredrick Collection)

WARNER BROS. – 7 ARTS INTERNATIONAL’S FEATURES: TELEVISION’S EXTRAORDINARY DETECTIVE IN HIS 21 MOST EXCITING FEATURE FILM ADVENTURES. (From: SERIES, SERIALS & PACKAGES: a TV FILM SOURCE BOOK,  Volume 8, Issue 2-S, Winter 1967-68)

“CHARLIE CHAN AT THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART”:  A pamphlet from the March 4-17, 1968 showings of 21 Charlie Chan films at the Museum of Modern art in New York City.  (Contributed by Gene Lue)

“CHARLIE CHAN FILM FESTIVAL”:  A KDMA-TV, Sacramento, California promo for a “Charlie Chan Festival,” featuring Charlie Chan in Honolulu on Saturday, April 29, 1972, with host Geoff Wong.  (From: KDMA-TV, Channel 3, Sacramento, California/UHFNocturne.com)

ALFRED ANDRIOLA (Charlie Chan newspaper comic strip artist, 1938-42): An interview with Alfred Andriola regarding Charlie Chan and the many other characters that flowed from the award-winning artist’s pen. (From: Comic Detective, Issue #2, Summer 1972)

A series of advertisements featuring Charlie Chan: Newsweek, March 20, 1978; New York Daily News, February 25 and March 1, 1979, by Jay Pearlman  (Contributed by Jay Pearlman)

“Ustinov hits back in Charlie Chan uproar” by Daniel Colemen (From: Globe, c. late January/early February 1981)

CHARLIE CHAN BACK WEARING A USTINOV MASK” by Vincent Canby (From: New York Times, February 13, 1981)

“COLLECTING Mystery Fiction”:  An article that focuses on the collecting of Charlie Chan books. (From: The Armchair Detective, Volume 15, Number 2, 1982)

“CHARLIE CHAN IN HORSE AND RIDER”: The cover page for a script (second draft), written by David Mamet, for a proposed new Charlie Chan film titled Horse and Rider that was to have been produced by Imagine Films Entertainment. (Dated: March 5, 1992)

“MOVIES”: A news item by Aleene MacMinn referencing a proposed new Charlie Chan film titled Horse and Rider that was to have been produced by Imagine Films Entertainment. (December 1, 1992) (From: latimes.com, retrieved April 21, 2019)

CHARLIE CHAN AND OTHER 20TH CENTURY-FOX SERIES: “Charlie Chan, Mr. Moto and all the other little Foxes” by Don Miller (From: The New Captain George’s Whizzbang, Issue #12/Volume 2, Number 6, May 1995)

“CHARLIE CHAN, ACTION HERO?  REMAKE PROMISES NON-STEREOTYPICAL, BUFF, HIP DETECTIVE”: An article about a proposed film that had been planned as a Charlie Chan “remake.” (From: New York Times, January 12, 1997)

“Worldwide Detectives”: An article about authors of detective stories who place their charactes in varied, often exotic locales, including Earl Derr Biggers’ Charlie Chan, by Tom Rusch. (From: Firsts The Book Collector’s Magazine, June 1998, Volume 8, Number 6)

“MEMPHIS 2004 REMEMBERS CHARLIE CHAN” by Dr. Howard M. Berlin (From: Classic Images, Issue #351, September 2004)

“LUCY LIU JOINS THE CHAN CLAN”: Actress/director Lucy Liu’s proposed “update” of the Charlie Chan series. (From: iVillage, January 2006)

From: “Lucy Liu Talks About ‘3 Needles'”: An excerpt from an interview of actress/director Lucy Liu speaks about her plans for her proposed “update” of the Charlie Chan series. (From: About.com, November 27, 2006)

“Under the Covers with Charlie Chan”: An interview, conducted by J. Kingston Pierce of Chris Rahn, the artist who created the paintings that became the covers for the six Charlie Chan mysteries by Earl Derr Biggers published by Academy Chicago Publishers between 2008 and 2009. (From: Killer Covers [killercoversoftheweek.blogspot.com], November 12, 2009)  (Contributed by Lou Armagno)

“Now you can track Chan in Chinatown”:  An article about Steven Fredrick’s Charlie Chan Mystery Tour in and around Chinatown in Honolulu, Hawaii.

“REVIEW: The Charlie Chan Mystery Weekend in Honolulu”:  An account of The Charlie Chan Mystery Weekend in Honolulu, August 20-21, 2010, and more, by Steven Fredrick.  (September 2, 2010)  (Contributed by Steven Fredrick)

“IN CONVERSATION WITH YUNTE HUANG: CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OLYMPICS”: Author Yunte Huang “introduces this fascinating 1937 work from the series.”  (From: San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival 29, Center for Asian American Media, March 10-20, 2011)  (Contributed by B. McNeal)

“100+ Charlie Chan Sayings and Proverbs. A surprisingly good selection of truisms and insights for your reading pleasure”:  Monsignor Walter Pope shares 115 of his father’s, combined with some of his, favorite Charlie Chan aphorisms.  (From: Community in Mission blog of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. [blog.adw.org, March 23, 2012; retrieved April 18, 2019])

“Explore the real sites behind Charlie Chan”:  (From: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, August 12, 2012)  (Contributed by Steven Fredrick)

“THE HISTORY OF HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY AND CHARLIE CHAN”: Information regarding a talk given on May 18, 2013 by Yunte Huang, author of Charlie Chan: The untold Story of the Honorable Detective at the Halekulani’s House Without a Key at Waikiki. (From: halekulani.com)

“LEFT HANGING: Kuma Kahua’s play about Charlie Chan is fun but stays mum on the intriguing question in its title”:  (From: tgif [Honolulu Star-Advertiser], August 30, 2013)  (Contributed by Steven Fredrick)

“Playing With Place: Ambiguities and Citizenship in The Great Charlie Chan Detective Mystery Game“: An essay by Elizabeth Rawlitch using The Great Charlie Chan Detective Mystery Game as the focus of her study of Charlie Chan and “ambiguities of national identity, geography, and citizenship.” (From: Intensities: The Journal of Cult Media [intensitiescultmedia.com], Issue 7, August 2014)

“Karloff vs. Lugosi: Whose Charlie Chan Movie Wins?”: An article by George D. Allen. (April 17, 2015) (From: moviefanfare.com, retrieved May 10, 2015)

Charlie Chan Drive, San Antonio, Texas:  Images of two street signs paying tribute to Charlie Chan in San Antonio, Texas.  (Images from: Google Maps [www.google.com/maps/]) (Retrieved May 17, 2015) (Thanks to Brenda McNeal)

“The Case of the Unluckiest Charlie Chan”: A posting about the made-for-television film The Return of Charlie Chan, starring Ross Martin, posted by Rick29 (From: Classic Film & TV CafĂ© [classicfilmtvcafe.com], June 19, 2017) (Contributed by Lou Armagno)



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