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
Call me dense (I never was a history buff,) but it took me a few decades to realized why the book cover for the very first book of Charlie Chan aphorisms Quotations from Charlie Chan, January 1967, looks the way it does. It was purposely meant to mimic another prominent writing Quotations from Chairman Mao … Continue reading Two “little red books” of aphorisms: one $250,000 the other $5.99!
I'm sneaking in a extra blog this month as we reach a significant milestone in the world of Charlie Chan; celebrated Author Earl Derr Biggers' 140th Birthday (August 26th, 1884!) Here are a few fun ways from my past blog archives to help us celebrate Charlie Chan Poppa's birthday...TODAY! With Music: Cab Calloway's 1940 hit, … Continue reading Today! We send Happy 140th B-day wishes to Ohio Author Earl Derr Biggers!
Happy 140th Birthday wishes to Earl Derr Biggers this month, August 26, 1884. OK, take a deep breath now and let it out slowly. If you are a serious Charlie Chan fan your initial reaction might be to pommel me with innuendos, barbs, insults and possibly a face slap or two. But wait! If only … Continue reading Oh No! Could it be his name was actually “Charles” and not “Charlie” Chan?
Could it be? Was there really one? That is a question I can answer for you unequivocally, "No, there was never a Charlie Chan PEZ dispenser." But why not? Let's take a look at some of the PEZ dispensers over the years. Some within my own (sorry to admit this) bygone collection of 450+ dispensers … Continue reading So was there ever a Charlie Chan PEZ dispenser?
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!
Where were you on the night of April 3rd, 2024 at 12:30PM? Well OK, that's actually in the afternoon but I was trying to be melodramatic. However, if you were not at the University of Minnesota's, St. Paul Campus, Magrath Library, Room 4, then you likely missed Len Freeman's course, Charlie Chan and Friends. Yes … Continue reading Get “schooled” in the land of Chan with this OLLI 5-week course at Univ. of Minnesota!
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.
Here's some exciting news for mystery buffs, who've longed for someone to dare follow up with a true Charlie Chan novel. A new mystery to carry on with Author Biggers' storyline. We have it now in: Death, I Said: A Charlie Chan Mystery by John L. Swann" Nicholas K. Burns Publishing, NY, 2023 Both I, … Continue reading We finally have one! A Charlie Chan Pastiche true to Earl Derr Biggers original novels.
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.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! In the words of Nick Charles, The Thin Man Films, "Let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die." We have special reason to celebrate here at The Postman HQ and not just the New Year 2024 and Year of the Dragon (February 10th, 2024.) We've just completed five years … Continue reading Happy 2024 & Year of the Dragon! Come join in as we celebrate 5-years in style!
The Postman on Holiday 