Who hasn’t at one time or another craved some delicious Chinese cuisine? It first began in the 1920s with the Chop Suey craze. Later, following the 1965 Immigration and Nationalization Act (which abolished the discriminatory national origins quota system of the 1920s) regional style restaurants began immerging, like Hunan, Cantonese, and Sichuan. Then, following President Richard Nixon’s famous 1972 trip to China it became even more popular. By the 1980s Chinese cuisine peaked in popularity and was America’s dominant, mass-consumed ethnic food.
First, Son #2. Now when I say Son #2 I’m speaking of Actor Victor Sen Yung, who primarily played son Jimmy Chan to Actor Sidney Toler’s Charlie Chan. Sen Young was a very talented actor and co-starred alongside some prominent names throughout his career. His list for television credits is huge, among them: I Spy, Get Smart, Police Woman, The FBI, The Wild Wild West, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. And among film credits: Across the Pacific (1942) alongside Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, and Sydney Greenstreet. And The Letter (1940) which starred Betty Davis and Herbert Marshall. His list of acting credits are 160 strong.
Still, TV Western aficionados might remember him more as portraying Hop Sing, the cook on the hit television series Bonanza. He starred in 108 episode of the series that ran fourteen years (1959-1973!) Check him out at the Ponderosa Ranch on this three-minute Youtube Video.
However, that’s not why were here. Apart from his fictitious counterpart Hop Sing, Victor Sen Yung could also sling a mean pair of chop sticks! So well in fact that he appeared often on television cooking shows, and wrote a cook book, Victor Sen Yung’s Great Wok Cookbook! You can read more about that on Rush Glick’s website in The Study. From what I found on the internet there were three separate prints issued, so a pretty popular cook book!
Next, Son No. 3. Here we are speaking of Actor Benson Fong, who ironically replaced Victor Sen Yung (for several films) in the Chan Series, also playing opposite Sidney Toler’s Chan, as Son #3, Tommy Chan. Another fine actor his film credits include: Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944), Keys of the Kingdom (1944), His Majesty O’Keefe (1954), The Flower Drum Song (1961), Our Man Flint (1965) and The Strongest Man in the World (1976). And you could find him on Television in series, such as: T. J. Hooker, Harry O, Police Story, Kung Fu, Bewitched, Family Affair, It Takes a Thief, I Spy, and more; 86 acting credits in all.
Benson Fong started off operating a grocery store in Sacramento, CA, while he acted in bit parts. Story has it, while filming Keys of the Kingdom, with Actor Gregory Peck, Mr. Peck suggested they start a restaurant together. While that partnership never came about, Fong did start a restaurant in 1946, on Hollywood’s Vine Street called, Ah Fong’s. While the name seems obvious, see Rush Glick’s Study Post to find out the real reason he named his restaurant, as such.
By the way, Benson married Actress Maylia Fong (nee: Gloria Suie Chin.) Together they opened a total five Ah Fong’s restaurants in Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Encino, and Anaheim.
Here is a wonderful post at Alison Martino’s Vintage Los Angeles, titled Ah Fong’s (April 2022.) There’s a plethora of information and photos on the history of Au Fong’s restaurant and owners. Check out the menu of tropical drinks (some 30) at one of the restaurants, that includes: Moment in Peking, Dr. Funk, Tahitian Punch, Dragon’s Fizz, Fog Cutter, Scorpion, Shark’s Tooth, Missionary Downfall, and Vicious Virgin, among others!
Postscript. Want to try your hand at some homemade Chinese food? Try one of the gazillion Youtube recipes you will find for Charlie Chan Pasta, via my May 2021 post, Yellow Cab’s, Charlie Chan Pasta.
“He who keeps the friendship of a prince, wins honors. But he who keeps that of a cook, wins food.”
(Keeper of The Keys, 1932, Chapter 10)
The Postman on Holiday 