Scooter Girls: Essie Lin Chia and Shu Pei-Pei

December calendar girls Essie Lin Chia (at the handlebars) and Shu Pei-Pei from Southern Screen's 1967 annual special, the extra thick issue that Shaw Brothers published every January to promote its talent and the year's coming attractions. These two bright young actresses would star together in Spring Blossoms (1968) and A Taste of Cold Steel (1970).

Who's the Moddest Queen of All?

Why, it's Angela Yu, of course!

A great big thanks to Oldflames for sending this mad mod cover and providing the title of this post.

Hong Kong Scooter Girl Mai Ling

Nothing says "mod" like a scooter. Here's Mai Ling from Screenland No. 9 (June 1960). Doesn't she look smart in her striped capris, checkered sweater, wedge slides, headscarf, and black gloves?

I wish I knew more about Mai Ling. She has always caught my attention whenever I've seen her in the pages of movie magazines. Her debut was Three Sisters (1957), which was also Diana Chang's first Hong Kong movie. After that she seems to have settled into second-string roles in both Mandarin films (at MP&GI) and Cantonese films. Her last movie was MP&GI's Fairy, Ghost, Vixen (1965).





* A scan of the original article is available here.

Shanghai Mod Girls

Check out these two Shanghai mod girls, probably song-and-dance performers from the late 30s or early 40s. I love their style, which boldly combines traditional, yet updated, Chinese fashions — such as the du dou (halter top), wide-leg trousers, and woven bamboo hat — into an audacious ensemble. With the addition of Western two-tone tap shoes, the look is totally modern.

Shanghai A-Go-Go: Nancy Chan

1960s Hong Kong? Nope... it's 1930s Shanghai.

Before Hong Kong mod girl Nancy Sit was even a twinkle in her parents' eyes, Nancy Chan — Cantonese cinema's first teen idol — was already rocking a mod look, with her high hemline and proto go-go boots.

If you're ever in Hong Kong, make a point of dropping by Avenue Joffre, a Shanghainese restaurant in Causeway Bay that I believe is owned by one of Nancy Chan's children or grandchildren. In the front bar hangs a wonderful collection of photos from her heyday as "Queen of the Chinese Screen".

Stay tuned for more Nancy!

*The photo above comes from the book A Movie Queen Chan Yunshang [一代影后陳雲裳].

Angela Yu: Gear Girl

More mod fashion from Angela Yu Chien, this time from the August 1967 issue of Hong Kong Movie News.

Since when did girls start to paint lovely little things on their skin? It is surely the greatest discovery since Mary Quant's miniskirt and Sasoon's famous haircut. Angela Yu Chien does not wear a Sasoon haircut, but she wears a miniskirt and paints lovely little things on her skin. In short, she looks like a typical gear girl that one meets in London. As she walks, the dazzling eye on her arm seems to be staring at you and the lips in front seem to be saying "hallo!".

Click here for a scan of the original article.

Hong Kong Mods: Angela Yu and Teresa Wong

Take a gander at mod girls Angela Yu Chien (left) and Teresa Wong Tin Lai (right) outside the 55th Street Playhouse in New York City in this picture from their 1965 tour of the United States. Go ahead... click on it! Angela in particular is very sharply dressed. I love her shoes.

And check out this photo of Angela sporting a bold "A" pendant. How cool is that?!

The following article about their trip appeared in Southern Screen No. 95 (January, 1966). You can view the original here.

Shaw Stars in the States

Vivacious Shaw actresses Angela Yu Chien and Teresa Wong returned from America early December after a three-month swing through 13 states. The girls were members of a Hong Kong trade mission under the sponsorship of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries to help promote the Colony to the Americans.

Of their experiences in the New World the girls had this to say: "We were absolutely overwhelmed; everywhere we went were royally entertained. We met many Chinese-American friends." The actresses enjoyed every minute of their hectic trip, from modelling cheongsams in Seattle to watching a rodeo in Kansas City, from touring the fabulous New York World's Fair to watching the spectacular Niagara Falls.

I'll have more to share about both Angela and Teresa in the coming days. Let me just end this post with a little bit of trivia. The 55th Street Playhouse was owned by California native Frank Lee, who also operated movie houses in Los Angeles and San Francisco. His son — Frank Lee, Jr. — currently runs three theaters in San Francisco, including the legendary 4-Star Theatre, one of the last venues in the U.S. to show new Hong Kong movies on a regular basis (although sadly, it's been less than regular in the past few years).