(photos and text from Striking Distance Facebook page 7-13-17)
Hong Kong starlet Diana Chang Chung-wen in San Francisco's Chinatown, during late August of 1964. This was taken earlier in the day of Bruce Lee's infamous Sun Sing Theater demo, which is often cited as the main cause for his fight with Wong Jack Man later that autumn.
I was in Chinatown last week and it looked as if the Sun Sing was officially shuttered. It has been in poor shape for awhile now (noticeably more so than even just a few years ago...), but had continued to house a sort of make shift flea market. I'm curious if any locals have info on its current status?
Hong Kong starlet Diana Chang Chung-wen in San Francisco's Chinatown, during late August of 1964. This was taken earlier in the day of Bruce Lee's infamous Sun Sing Theater demo, which is often cited as the main cause for his fight with Wong Jack Man later that autumn.
I was in Chinatown last week and it looked as if the Sun Sing was officially shuttered. It has been in poor shape for awhile now (noticeably more so than even just a few years ago...), but had continued to house a sort of make shift flea market. I'm curious if any locals have info on its current status?
As I mentioned in my book, the Sun Sing was originally named the Mandarin Theater when it was built back in 1924, and was really the premier new opera house within the neighborhood, before entering into spirited competition with the newly built Great China Theater (now known as the Great Star) just a block down on Jackson Street. The Mandarin was where Bruce Lee's father Lee Hoi Chuen had performed when he came over to the U.S. in late 1939.
All told, the Sun Sing Theater was a major factor in why Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco. I hope that the city can somehow maintain the theater as a historical landmark.
(photo from Jeff Chin)
Leland LW Wong - That picture was taken in front of the imperial palace on grant.across the five and dime store.
Charles Russo - Yeah, I think you're right...thanks for pointing that out. I found this in a folder marked "Sun Sing Theater" but the look of the building facade doesn't match up.
All told, the Sun Sing Theater was a major factor in why Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco. I hope that the city can somehow maintain the theater as a historical landmark.
(photo from Jeff Chin)
Leland LW Wong - That picture was taken in front of the imperial palace on grant.across the five and dime store.
Charles Russo - Yeah, I think you're right...thanks for pointing that out. I found this in a folder marked "Sun Sing Theater" but the look of the building facade doesn't match up.
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