The Forbidden City Nightclub, San Francisco 1943-1945
Posted: February 17th, 2015 | 2 Comments »A while back I posted some old postcards of San Francisco’s Chinatown from the 1930s. The place was a host of nightclubs and entertainment places run by China (see also Lisa See’s new book China Dolls). Thanks then to the reader who sent me a picture of the staff and beautiful showgirls of the Forbidden City Nightclub in San Francisco from 1943-1945. The Forbidden City was at 363 Sutter Street (now renumbered 369). For those interested in who performed there and more information there’s a host of detail here. One thing I do notice, seeing the flyer below, is that dinner was served at 5.30 with the first show at 7.30 – very Chinese dining times!!
The top picture with bar in the background was taken at Fong Wan’s Club Shanghai in SF Chinatown. The 2 performers (a spectacular dancing duo) shown are the Tai Sings. Mai Tai Sing is on the far left (black dress). Her husband, Wilbur Tai Sing, is in a white coat, sitting. Thanks for sharing a great picture.
and thanks for supplying that information – important not to forget these people!