Historical Shanghai in Pictures (Part One)

The Shanghai Bund (1930)

Nanjing Lu 1930

Historically in Shanghai, various shops promote their own goods and attract customers by having street entertainment at their respective shops such as musical dances, instrumental performances, or even shouting "lai lai lai" (come, come, come!) This tradition is still carried out in Shanghai at the former Wing On Departmental Store building in Nanjing Lu. The authentic videos and snips can be found in the film "Scenes of The City Life" produced in 1930, Shanghai.

The bridge at the Northern Side of the Shanghai Bund leading to a hotel (now bought over by Bayer )

The street scene at Wing On Departmental Store at Nanjing Lu (1932)

Nanjing Lu (1930)

Picture this!

This picture will be used for filming a short film production set in the 1930's. Calling in interested parties who are volunteers to get into the short filming of old Shanghai story of a male songbird!

Pathe Shanghai

We all have heard about leading music label companies such as EMI (Electric Music Industries), BMG, Sony Music, Columbia Records, Polydor, etc.



In Shanghai, the first music ever arrived was in the 1900's when two Frenchmen came to the bund, and played a piece of record (produced by Pathe, France), and the contents of the record was made meant to make people laugh. This sort of entertainment is made on a bet-purchase-basis. In order to listen to this music, one has to pay 5 cents (if i am not mistaken) and if you are able to resist your laughter, then you will be entitled to a refund.

(top: chinese pathe label logo; bottom: a typical pathe label on a 78rpm)



Later, in the 1910's, Pathe then became a recording company for most opera shows, producing chinese opera 78 rpms, and to have the marketed outside. Pathe is well known for it's cock-figure design, which was initially in red colored fat-oversized cock. It was called as Shanghai Bai Dai Kong Si (Shanghai Pathe Company) which could be found on all labels.
(middle top to bottom: chow hsuan's LP record produced in 1958, with the picture of a cock in morning sunrise; Shanghai Pathe record label in the 1930's; Disque Pathe de Shanghai in the 1910's)


In the 1930's, Pathe then decided to invite exclusive artists to produce recordings of popular folk songs, as well as modern popular jazz scores. Artists such as Chow Hsuan 周璇 , Yao Lee (a.k.a. Hwee Lee), and Bai Hung were the artists which came into existence in the 1930's.

Chow Hsuan 周璇



- Born in 1918, she has spent her lifetime searching for her parents. She was adopted with the name Su Pu. In 1935, she made her first debut in the movie: Street Angel, and her first popular hit Tian Ya Ge Nu and Se Ji Ge. She has produced over 200 songs, and a large number of movies, until her death in 1957 due to encephilites. She had a pitiful history of dishonest husbands, which led her to suffer from mental conditions. She is known today as the most famous Shanghainese female singer icon, with her evergreen popular tune "Ye Shanghai" - Night in Shanghai




Yao Lee




- Miss Hwee Lee has produced over 400 records, and her most popular score would be Mei Gui Wo Ai Ni (the popular English title: Rose, Rose I love you) She has a unique voice, both sweet and smooth. She is known as the Chinese version of Patti Page.





Bai Hung



- Famous for her "hippy tune" producing numerous records with tango tunes, she started her stardom in a singing competition in Shanghai in 1934 and became well known in the 1930's - 1950's for her dance-style music.






(Top: Chinese Pathe advertisement for an exclusive artiste)



The Chinese Pathe Company is then taken over by the EMI (Electric Music Industries in the 1960's and now is a subsidiary company of the EMI. Chinese Pathe is still existent today, and it reproduces the original recordings and works of the aritistes in the 1930's - 1970's in CD format.



My collection today holds around 50 Pathe Recordings on 78 rpm, and 10 others on LP format.

Seong`hoi Mui (Shanghai Girls) - Part One

Chinese marketing and advertising can be very strong and eye-capturing advertisements filled with vivid colors and attractive Shanghainese beauties. Like billboards today, Shanghainese advertisments have equal power of marketing their product to the people. They play with beauty. All of the advertisements were hand-painted, hardly any photgraphed advertisements. Signatures of the artists will be signed on the piece and later to be sent for production.

In the past, you can find these advertisements at the streets of Shanghai pasted everywhere, and it is common that someone would take home a piece! That is where in most homes in Shanghai relatively the Shikumen, Xintiandi, they have beauty posters in rooms to cherish the warm-welcoming homely atmosphere in their residence. These posters have steel/tin strips at each edge. Those advertisements with calendars are the popular ones at home.

The beauties were not so appealing and attractive when the advertisements using women as their models in the 1900's. In the 1920's the acceptance of shorter length cheongsams* were relatively popular in Shanghai, they've got shorter sleeves, some sleeveless and posing in a manner that is appealing to the eyes of the consumers. Sex appeals were at upmost importance for advertising in the 1930's when there are numerous advertisements of women revealing their breasts and some body-part teasers to attract men more.

As you can see in the pictures here, they were the first few advertisements where the fashion is controversial. Long length cheongsams, even sleeves were used to promote the goods. Sex appeals were not that important at that time. These pictures lasted from 1900's till 1920's before the depression age.

Nong Ho!

That’s me (above) in the very ancient style photograph, probably taken in the 1930’s and now still looking as young than you see in the portrait. The truth is this picture was taken in 2007!

Such interest in the Chinese culture of modernization has been cultivated in my roots. Have you ever realized when Chinese modernization and urban couture revolution stepped in the 1930’s have been seen the uniqueness of mixing and balancing both modern and traditional elements with the influence of the western culture.

The Chinese, and Shanghainese in particular started to embrace the beauty of both traditional and modern style of living thus creating the attraction of art and history.

Here, I would present you lifestyles and journey of the modernization of the Chinese culture from Shanghai to Malaya (where I came from).