A Panama hat tip to George M. Cohan: Earl & Charlie couldn’t have done it without ya!

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! →

August 14-17, Celebrate Charlie Chan: The Chinese-Hawaiian Detective out of Warren, Ohio.

Finally, after many years of meeting online to chat and view a Detective Charlie Chan film, members of the Charlie Chan Family Home have decided it's time once again to meet and break bread in person! In honor of the 100th Anniversary of Author Earl Derr Biggers' literary Detective Charlie Chan, Warren, Ohio will be … Continue reading August 14-17, Celebrate Charlie Chan: The Chinese-Hawaiian Detective out of Warren, Ohio. →

A 1970s Charlie Chan CB radio QSL postcard, Alliance Ohio

Social Media isn't very old. But even before Friendster, MySpace, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter (X), Instagram, Snapchat, and all the others, a 1970s social media craze came in the form of CB (Citizen Band) radio. And a new fad developed: sending QSL postcards to acknowledge radio contact with someone. These postcards were sent "snail mail" via … Continue reading A 1970s Charlie Chan CB radio QSL postcard, Alliance Ohio →

The mostly invisible, but highly significant Charlie Chan Actor: George Kuwa

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 →

Charlie Chan and The Secret of The Black Arrow, an old mystery revealed!

First, the Arrow pointed only East. Then, as they ventured further it pointed both East and West, eleven more times. Who dare follow this dark foretoken into the future, or into the past! What is the secret to activate it's wisdom? It has revealed much to those who've traveled it's path and promises great moments … Continue reading Charlie Chan and The Secret of The Black Arrow, an old mystery revealed! →

A Charlie Chan favorite, Actor Harold Huber’s prolific career!

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! →

January 31, 1925, The Saturday Evening Post, Chapter 7 – Enter Charlie Chan!

By now everyone should be aware this year marks the 100th anniversary of Earl Derr Biggers' novel, The House Without a Key, 1925. And that the story was first serialized in seven editions of The Saturday Evening Post, beginning with the January 24, 1925 edition. However, it was not until the next week, January 31, … Continue reading January 31, 1925, The Saturday Evening Post, Chapter 7 – Enter Charlie Chan! →

A Centennial: The House Without a Key (1925) and Charlie Chan are turning 100!

HAU'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU or Happy New Year everyone! Especially those born in the Year of The Snake. And a special year indeed for Detective Charlie Chan fans! That first novel (in the title above) was serialized in the Saturday Evening Post over seven-weekly editions, beginning January 24th, 1925. Later that year it was released as … Continue reading A Centennial: The House Without a Key (1925) and Charlie Chan are turning 100! →

Book Review: The Tangled String, A Charlie Chan Mystery by John L. Swann

I want to thank Author John L. Swann and Nicholas K. Burns Publishing, Utica New York, for the read ahead copy to Mr. Swann's second Charlie Chan novella, The Tangled String. It was released November 25th, 2024 available wherever books are sold and just in time for Christmas. The story takes place in Boston, where … Continue reading Book Review: The Tangled String, A Charlie Chan Mystery by John L. Swann →