All things old China - books, anecdotes, stories, podcasts, factoids & ramblings from the author Paul French

A Tradition Worth Reestablishing – Shanghai Jazz Funerals

Posted: August 12th, 2016 | No Comments »

Planning to die in Shanghai? Perhaps it’s time to resuscitate the tradition of the “Jazz Funeral”. 1934…and a prominent Chinese merchant gets a majorly face giving jazz funeral – wireless sets with loud speakers blasting American jazz. What a way to go – you can keep your paper Louis Vuitton bags! Classy as our 1934 merchant was – he wasn’t original.

Carl Crow recalled, in the 1920s, the noisy funeral processions that made their way through Shanghai playing such strange Western standards as Ta-ra-ra, Boom-de-aye and There’ll Be A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight.

 

Lubbock_Morning_Avalanche_Thu__Jul_5__1934_



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