69.00 USD
We are really excited about this card! It is very hard to find original postcard images of Anna May Wong, and it is ridiculously hard to find beautiful full body crazy costume shots like this one! Rare and wonderful.
Anna May Wong was born in a neighborhood that bordered the Chinatown district in Los Angeles California. She loved movies as a child, and of course with all the glitz and glamor of Hollywood just around the corner, it's no wonder that through much hard work she began film work, and then achieved recognition internationally, while still in her teens. In fact, she is considered the first Chinese American film star. She was also a fashion icon, and that comes as no surprise.
In 1935, she was passed over for the role of O-Lan in "The Good Earth," a major film that would have been a feather in her cap. German actress Louise Rainer got the role instead. This was in the era of Hollywood wherein parts for Asian, Native American, Latino, etc., were played by white actors and actresses.
Asian American actors, even recently, were among the least fairly represented of any group in Hollywood, one example that comes to mind is that of martial arts film star Bruce Lee, who was passed over for the lead role in the series "Kung Fu," in favor of David Carradine. Well, we grew up in the 60s and 70s, and we loved "Kung Fu," but really! David Carradine over Bruce Lee?
In any case, Miss Wong is still loved for her romantic and exotic characters, and probably best remembered for her "dragon lady" (wikipedia) roles, one of which our card certainly represents.
We sell, first and foremost, beautiful and fascinating images, with hopefully a bit of history attached. It is the images that got us interested, and the history that keeps us addicted to this subject, but in sharing images, we cannot always represent the performer in the way they might have most preferred. So we'll say that yes, we absolutely love Miss Wong's exotic appeal, and that yes, we certainly wish she'd had the opportunity of playing O-Lan in "The Good Earth."
In the 1950s, she was the first Asian American to star in their own television program, "The Gallery of Madam Liu-Tsong." She passed away at the age of 56, in 1961. Thanks as always, Wikipedia!
A marvelous card, and marvelously collectible, in very nice condition. Please examine our high res scans for detail.
Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.
And please come visit our blog at:
redpoulaine.blogspot.com
where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!