Chinese American Eyes

Timothy Fung, Commercial Artist

Silas Fung

Mrs. Silas Fung

(Next post on Wednesday: Cartoonist Paul Fung and His Daughter, Pauline)

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Happy Fourth of July!

Art by Edward Wilson Currier, 1917

American Art News
December 7, 1918
Obituary
E. W. Currier, a well known painter of California scenes, died Nov. 15 last at a San Francisco hospital. He had been a sufferer for some months although able to pursue his art, to which he was devoutly attached.

The artist passed a deal of time each year at Lake Tahoe, traversing the mountain region with great enthusiasm and always returning with much material. The color and life of Old Chinatown, before the 1906 fire, had afforded Currier much pleasure and he reflected those features with faithfulness. Originally from Ohio, Currier had lived many years in California. His early training was gained in the East.

(Next post on Friday: Anna May Wong in Film Annuals)

Friday, February 3, 2017

Paul Fung in The American Boy

December 1917
(click images to enlarge)

Chinese Boy Makes ’Em Laugh

I suppose that most boys and many grown-up folks think of a Chinaman as the almond-eyed fellow with a pigtail who makes his living doing “washee.” While to may be true that most of the people from that far-off country who come to America work all day long washing shirts and socks, there are many who are highly educated and esteemed by Americans. Of these there is none more interesting than clever little Paul Fung, who is being talked about from one end of the country to the other and referred to as “the only Chinese cartoonist in the United States.”

Now, if Paul Fung were a grown-up man, I wouldn’t be writing this story; but as he is only about eighteen years old, I am sure that every reader of The American Boy will become as greatly interested in him as I am.

I know Paul very well indeed and I am certain that you would like him too. He is really a wonderful little fellow, speaks perfect English, dresses well and is thoroughly American. In fact, I’ve just heard that he wants to go and fight for Uncle Sam, which shows that his hearts is in the right place.

Paul’s father, the Rev. Fung Chak, was a graduate of one of the great California universities, Leland Stanford, Jr., and for some years pastor of the Chinese Baptist missions in Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. Paul was born in Seattle and has lived in American all but six years of his young life. When five years old, he went back to China with his father and attended school there. Later, after returning to this country, he finished an American grammar grade education and then entered high school.

When Paul was attending school in China, his married sister in America sent him the colored supplements of the Sunday papers, showing the Katzenjammer Kids and other funny drawings that delight young and old. He took a particular interest in the doings of these “Kids” and copied the drawings in such a way that his parents quickly saw where his talent lay. So in addition to his regular work, Paul studied Chinese art under the direction of a teacher who taught him to copy flowers, birds and leaves on fans, working with a camel’s hair brush on a pad of soft paper with Chinese ink. He did so much better work than the other children that his drawings were put in a place where everybody could see them.

But cartooning was the particular branch of art that had taken Paul’s eye, so when he came back to America, he began making original drawings which quickly attracted the attention of editors. His drawings were so clever that it wasn’t long before one of the largest newspapers in the West gave him a position in their art department, and then he left high school and is now spending all his time working with his pen, brush and pencil, making people laugh and think.

To-day, Paul’s work is considered so good that it can be found in some of the very best magazines in America, and it won’t be very long before this little Chinaman is looked upon as one of the leading cartoonists in the whole country.

The Sunday Star
(Washington, D.C.)
December 9, 1917
advertisement for Christmas issue of The American Boy;
see box in lower left-hand corner for contents

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Paul Fung in Everybody’s Magazine
Paul Fung’s Sheet Music Covers
Paul Fung in the American Art Annual
Paul Fung and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Paul Fung and the Landon School
Paul Fung in World’s Finest Comics
Paul Fung in Pen and Ink
Paul Fung in Ron Goulart’s Comics History Magazine
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Paul Fung in The Makins’ of a Soldier in Twenty Spasms
Paul Fung in the Tolo Annual 1915
Paul Fung in The Editor & Publisher
Paul Fung in Motion Picture World
Paul Fung in The American Boy

Paul Fung, Soo Yong, Anna Chang, Yun Gee and Willie Fung in The China Weekly Review

(Next post on Friday: Yun Gee in Fine Modern Chinese Oil Paintings, Drawings, Watercolors and Sculpture, 1994)

Friday, November 25, 2016

Paul Fung in Moving Picture World

The Moving Picture World
December 1, 1917

Roundup of Cartoonists
Universal Current Events Claims to Have Captured Thirty-nine Funny Men.

Universal Current Events, which recently inaugurated the policy of recreating newspaper cartoons for the first time in the history of the screen, announces that it has just completed its roster of cartoonists whose work is exclusively presented by it in the motion picture theaters. The list is a remarkable one, inasmuch as it includes practically famous cartoonist of nearly every leading newspaper in the United States. Here, for the first time, is given a list of the names of the men and papers participating in this epochal screen achievement:

W. A. Rogers, New York Herald; W. C. Morris, New York Evening Mail; Robert Carter, Philadelphia Press; Charles Henry Sykes, Philadelphia Evening Ledger; R. K. Chamberlain, Philadelphia Evening Telegraph; F. T. Richards, Philadelphia North American; John L. DeMar, Philadelphia Record; Fred Morgan, Philadelphia Inquirer; Nelson Harding, Brooklyn, N. Y.. Eagle; Ted Brown, Chicago Daily News; “Cy” Hungerford, Pittsburgh Sun; Bert Link. Pittsburgh Press; Elmer Donnell, St. Louis Globe-Democrat; Claude Shafer, Cincinnati Post; W. A. Ireland, Columbus Evening Dispatch; Harry J. Westerman, Ohio State Journal; Harry Keys, Columbus Citizen; J. H. Donahey, Cleveland Plain Dealer; James Lavery, Cleveland Press; Fred O. Seibel, Albany Knickerbocker Press; Wm. A. McKenna, Albany Evening Journal; W. K. Patrick, New Orleans Times-Picayune; Lute Rease, Newark Evening News; Alfred W. Browerton, Atlanta Journal; Lewis C. Gregg, Atlanta Constitution; “Cad” Brand, Milwaukee; Sentinel; Gaar Williams, Indianapolis News; Cornelius J. Kennedy (“Ken”), Buffalo Evening News; R. O. Evans, Baltimore American; G. R. Spencer, Omaha World-Herald; J. P. Alley, Memphis Commercial Appeal; Paul B. Fung, Seattle Post-Intelligencer; John F. Knott, Dallas News; James J. Lynch, Denver Rocky Mountain News; Paul A. Plaschke. Louisville Times; McKee Barclay, Baltimore Sun; Walter Blackman, Birmingham Age Herald; A. J. Taylor, Los Angeles Times; Roy Aymond, New Orleans Daily States.

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Paul Fung, Soo Yong, Anna Chang, Yun Gee and Willie Fung in The China Weekly Review

(Next post on Friday: Yun Gee in The San Franciscan)

Friday, November 18, 2016

Paul Fung in The Editor & Publisher

The Editor & Publisher
September 8, 1917

Famous Chinese Cartoonist Depicts a Tragedy

Here you have Paul Fung’s idea of a “Little Tragedy of a Newspaper Office.”

Paul Fung, cartoonist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, is believed to be the only Chinese cartoonist who is member of an American newspaper staff. He has a national reputation as a cartoonist, illustrator and painter. He is a regular contributor to many of the big weekly and monthly magazines of the country and his work in the Post-Intelligencer is widely reprinted.

Paul Fung was born in Seattle twenty years ago. At the age of five years his father, a minister, took him to China to make a preacher out of him. He attended a Chinese school for six years. at the age of eleven he became ambitious to become an artist. As a boy he would paint cherry blossoms and flowers on Chinese fans. He would walk about Canton for hours at a time, making sketches of different things he saw. At first his work was very crude, but he was ambitious and determined, and he continued on. Finally he succeeded in selling some of his work in China. That encouraged him.

His father was persistent in his efforts to make a minister out of him. But the pulpit held no charms for Paul. Father soon learned that and brought his son back to the United States. That was when Paul was twelve years of ago. In this country he went to grade school first and them to high school. While in high school he applied to the Post-Intelligencer for a job.

It is less than two years ago that an abbreviated Chinese boy, who looked as though he had just shed his knickerbockers and annexed a complete young man’s outfit, slowly and quietly made his way through the door leading to the editorial rooms of the Post-Intelligencer. Under his left arm was a portfolio, and the edges of white cardboard protruded from both sides.

Paul happened to drop into the office when every one was terribly busy. He soon learned that and learned also that no one had time to see him. But Paul was not discouraged. He wasn’t going anywhere. He had plenty of tim. so, he sat down and waited and waited. Several hours later, Tom Dillon, managing editor, walked out of his office and noted that there was some one waiting to see him.

“What’s troubling you son?” asked Mr. Dillon, smiling all the time. “Come in.”

Paul was encouraged at this display of cordiality after having been neglected so long. He had his recitation all framed in advance. He had rehearsed it many times, and he delivered it well. He exhibited his sketches and cartoons.

Mr. Dillon was impressed with the determination and ambition of Paul and, besides, he need an illustrator, so he told Mr. Fung he would give him a chance. He instructed him to report for work the following day. Paul was there, long before there was anything to do. When he was given his first task he threw all of his talents and energy into the work. The result was highly satisfactory. That was the beginning of Paul’s career as a cartoonist.

Paul Fung is very human. He is a good newspaper man. He has many friends and all of them value his friendship. He possesses the American point of view and has a real sense of humor. His cartoons are excellent.

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Paul Fung, Soo Yong, Anna Chang, Yun Gee and Willie Fung in The China Weekly Review

(Next post on Friday: Paul Fung in Motion Picture World)

Friday, July 31, 2015

Marion Wong, 1917

Filmmaker Marion Evelyn Wong (1895–1964) directed, wrote and starred in the 1916 silent film, The Curse of the Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with West, which was produced by her Mandarin Film Company. Although the film was not released, Wong received attention for her work. It’s not clear which news service syndicated the following news item which spelled her first name “Marian”.

Chinese Girl Is Author of Real Oriental Movie

Miss Marian Wong, a native of Oakland, Cal., who had won the distinction of being the first Chinese girl to write and stage a movie.

The entire cast composed of Chinese actors, was chosen by Miss Wong for her Oriental drama, a pretty romance displaying real Chinese customs and dress. There are 30 Chinese men and women in the production.

Miss Wong is 22 years old, a graduate of the Oakland high school and until recently a student at the University of California.

Bay City Times

(Michigan)

May 29, 1917

The Day Book

(Chicago, Illinois)

May 31, 1917

The New York Call

(New York)

June 6, 1917

Kalamazoo Gazette

(Michigan)

June 17, 1917

Flint Daily Journal

(Michigan)

June 2, 1917

Tacoma Times

(Washington)

July 6, 1917

The newspaper item was followed by the magazine profile, “Marion E. Wong, Chinese Film Producer”, in Moving Picture World, July 7, 1917. The same issue had a synopsis and production notes about the film, “The Curse of Quon Qwon [sic]”.

The Mandarin Film Company, located in Oakland, Cal., is composed entirely of Chinese—all the officers of the company as well as the actors and actresses. Miss Marion E. Wong is president of the concern, which has recently completed its first production, entitled “The Curse of Quon Qwon [sic].”

Miss Wong is now in New York City in the interests of her company and its first production. The principal female parts are played by Miss Wong and her sister, who are American born and are well known in Oakland and vicinity. They have also lived in Canton City, China, for a time, and all the latter part of their first picture was made in China.

The Mandarin Film Company expects to continue the production of films dealing with Chinese subjects, and, needless to say, all the details and settings in its films will be correct from the Chinese view-point. The company has its own studio in Oakland, constructed and designed entirely acording [sic] to Chinese ideas and equipped with a large stock of Chinese costumes and properties. It is the only Chinese producing concern in this country.

The Curse of Quon Qwon [sic] (Mandarin)

This is a multiple reel and the first production of the Mandarin Film Company, the only Chinese film manufacturing company in this country. It deals with the curse of a Chinese god that follows his people because of the influence of western civilization. The first part is taken in California, showing the intrigues of the Chinese who are in this country in behalf of the Chinese monarchical government, and those who are working for the revolutionists in favor of a Chinese republic.

A love story begins here and is carried through the rest of the production. The last part of the film is made in China and carefully portrays actual Chinese customs, habits, etc. The scenery and settings, especially in the latter half, are particularly interesting and show some wonderful Chinese scenery as well as strong dramatic sets, all combined with excellent photograhy [sic]. All the parts are played by Chinese artists.

Wong is profiled here. On pages six through twelve of Chinese in Hollywood (2013) are stills from the film and text about Wong. Wong appears in Arthur Dong’s documentary, Hollywood Chinese.

(Next post on Friday: Anna May Wong by Armando Drechsler)

Friday, October 3, 2014

Paul Fung in the Seattle Star

October 4, 1915
“Chinese Boy Is a Real Artist”

October 21, 1915
Y.M.C.A. Blowout

October 27, 1917
Liberty Theater

May 27, 1918
Moore Theatre’s Orpheum Vaudeville advertisement
Paul Fung, Seattle Chinese artist, Ruth Budd, the girl with the smile, and Mack and Williams, all do their share to make the bill enjoyable.

March 10, 1920

Funeral services for Paulin Fung, infant daughter of Paul Fung, cartoonist, were held Tuesday afternoon, at 1 o’clock, at Bonney-Watson parlors.

February 15, 1921
Progressive Thought Club

October 6, 1921
Music: Concert This Evening

February 23, 1922
“Paul Fung Gets Honorable Mention”

March 11, 1922
Post-Intelligencer contest advertisement

and the Buffalo Evening News
(New York)
May 3, 1922

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Paul Fung, Soo Yong, Anna Chang, Yun Gee and Willie Fung in The China Weekly Review

(Next post on Friday: Keye Luke, Illustrated)

Monday, October 21, 2013

Paul Fung in Sunset Magazine

Sunset

April 1917

(click images to enlarge)

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(Tomorrow: Paul Fung in The Literary Digest)

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Paul Fung in Cartoons Magazine

Cartoons Magazine

July 1916

(click images to enlarge)

July 1917

August 1917

January 1918

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Paul Fing, Keye Luke and Art Huhta in Seattle

Paul Fung, Soo Yong, Anna Chang, Yun Gee and Willile Fung in The China Weekly Review