A place to explore all things surrounding Detective Charlie Chan, his creator Earl Derr Biggers, and their connection with Hawaii, Ohio and mystery fiction. – LOU ARMAGNO
Season's Greetings Friends! Here's something interesting for mystery buffs, but especially Chan fans. Want to hear how Charlie Chan sounds as a German speaking detective? Then you'll want to order one of four audiobooks voiced by German Actor Helmut Krauss. Krauss has lent his voice to Marlon Brando, John Goodman, Yaphet Kotto, Wilhelm von Homburg, … Continue reading Det. Chan, sprechen sie Deutsch? “Ya, ich spreche Deutch gern!”
Had it not been for George M. Cohan's complete enthusiasm for Earl Derr Biggers' first novel, Seven Keys to Baldpate (1913), I've often wondered if Biggers' would have been as successful with mystery writing, or even--who knows--gone on to create our hero Charlie Chan! So with this year being the Centennial of Detective Charlie Chan's … Continue reading A Panama hat tip to George M. Cohan: Earl & Charlie couldn’t have done it without ya!
Before Roland Winters, before Sidney Toler, even before Warner Oland starred as Charlie Chan; Japanese born actor George Kuwa was the first to play the detective in a 1926, ten-episode serial, The House Without a Key. This immediately following publication of that first Chan story "House" the previous year; a foreshadowing Detective Chan was here … Continue reading The mostly invisible, but highly significant Charlie Chan Actor: George Kuwa
February brings us Valentines day (have you made your Valentines card box yet?). So for all the heroines and femme fatales out there, we're looking at Chan film favorite Actor Harold Huber. With that telltale scar on his right cheek Harold Huber was not only a Charlie Chan favorite, but worked with many of Hollywood's … Continue reading A Charlie Chan favorite, Actor Harold Huber’s prolific career!
They started as A-movies, original adaptations of the novels, when Fox Studios first produced them. However, Author Earl Derr Biggers only penned six Charlie Chan novels before his death. So after their fifth Chan film, Fox decided to take their detective around the world in B-movies; low budget films made in record time with little … Continue reading B-Movies? Perhaps, but the Charlie Chan films sure bagged some star power!
Happy Birthday Actor Sidney Toler (April 28th!) Most Chan film buffs are aware Actor Sidney Toler was the second successful actor to play Detective Charlie Chan. He continued the role following Actor Warner Oland's untimely death, August 1938. Toler hit the ground running starting his debut in Charlie Chan in Honolulu 1939 making a total … Continue reading Actor Sidney Toler’s 2-year sabbatical from Charlie Chan.
If you know the history of Hawai'i like I do (OK, like the internet and me.) Then you'll know that Captain James Kirk...OOPS, I mean Captain James Cook (hmm, I wonder) discovered and first named The Hawaiian Islands after the 4th Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu (yes, the bloke who invented that delicious repast.) Hence, … Continue reading Valentine’s Day 1779 was not exactly a Bed of Roses for Discoverer Capt. James Cook.
Ever seen the movies The Chinese Ring (1947) or Shanghai Chest (1948)? Both Charlie Chan films staring Actor Roland Winters as Detective Chan? Well, they also features a lesser know bit actress born Isabel Rosario Cooper, who went under the stage name Chabing. She was also know as "Dimples" to one General Douglas MacArthur! February brings … Continue reading Chabing. The Chan actress who once held General Douglas MacArthur’s heart.
HAPPY 2023 everyone...we made it! As previously reported last year (my August 2022 Biggers' Birthday post), in 1925 the Honolulu Tourism Bureau presented Author Earl Derr Biggers with an honorary Key to The City of Honolulu. This was in appreciation for the overwhelming good will and publicity his first Charlie Chan novel, The House Without … Continue reading One other “Earl” was gifted a Key to The City of Honolulu.
October 31st is near at hand (where did the year go?) and as he does every year, Webmaster Rush Glick will host his annual "Virtual" Halloween Party on Monday, October 24th! Here's how it works: Guests log into the Charlie Chan Chat Room, using an assumed name chosen from the cast of characters found inside … Continue reading BOO! Attend the Charlie Chan virtual Halloween Party!
The Postman on Holiday 