Pat Chin - Revision history

Ccarlsson: added new photos

2012-12-28T07:09:11Z

added new photos

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:09, 28 December 2012
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	[[Image:Pat-Chin-at-Skyroom-1950s.jpg\|~~left~~\|200px\|Pat Chin at Skyroom, 1950s]] Life on the road was hard – long hours, long bus rides, performing for audiences in big cities and small rural Western towns. Pat has nothing bad to say about those times – she doesn’t recall experiencing any racism on the road. Pat performed professionally for just over five years. She recalls, “After that I got married. [My husband] was a merchant marine. Yes, I stopped dancing entirely. Well ,when you get married and have children you can’t go out on the road like a vagabond any more. Although I loved it...oh I sure did. Though family is a little bit stronger than dancing.”		[[Image:Pat-Chin-at-Skyroom-1950s.jpg\|right\|200px\|Pat Chin at Skyroom, 1950s]] Life on the road was hard – long hours, long bus rides, performing for audiences in big cities and small rural Western towns. Pat has nothing bad to say about those times – she doesn’t recall experiencing any racism on the road. Pat performed professionally for just over five years. She recalls, “After that I got married. [My husband] was a merchant marine. Yes, I stopped dancing entirely. Well, when you get married and have children you can’t go out on the road like a vagabond any more. Although I loved it...oh I sure did. Though family is a little bit stronger than dancing.”

	In 2003, Pat did return to dancing, working with the Grant Avenue Follies, a troupe of former nightclub dancers who raises money for charitable organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, and entertaining Seniors at Senior Centers and Veterans at Veterans Administrations Hospitals. As of April, 2010, The Grant Avenue Follies is still going strong.		In 2003, Pat did return to dancing, working with the Grant Avenue Follies, a troupe of former nightclub dancers who raises money for charitable organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, and entertaining Seniors at Senior Centers and Veterans at Veterans Administrations Hospitals. As of April, 2010, The Grant Avenue Follies is still going strong.

Ccarlsson: added new photos

2012-12-28T07:08:34Z

added new photos

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:08, 28 December 2012
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	Source material from [http://www.trinarobbins.com/Trina_Robbins/Forbidden_City.html ''Forbidden City: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs''] by [http://www.trinarobbins.com Trina Robbins].		Source material from [http://www.trinarobbins.com/Trina_Robbins/Forbidden_City.html ''Forbidden City: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs''] by [http://www.trinarobbins.com Trina Robbins].

			[[Image:Pat-Chin.jpg\|left\|200px\|Pat Chin]] Pat Chin was born and raised in what she calls, “the tenements of old Chinatown.” She and her mother had dreams of dancing lessons but the money was never there. For Pat, dancing in the nightclubs was the result of her need to work, and to make her own way. She was not an enthusiastic student and wanted to earn her own money. On a whim, she answered a newspaper ad for Walton Biggerstaff’s dance studio. At age 17, Pat joined Biggerstaff’s studio in 1953. She later earned her GED.

	~~Pat Chin~~ was ~~born~~ and ~~raised~~ in ~~what she calls~~, ~~“the tenements of old Chinatown~~.~~” She~~ and ~~her mother had dreams~~ of ~~dancing lessons but~~ the ~~money was never there~~. ~~For~~ Pat~~, dancing~~ in the ~~nightclubs was the result of her need~~ to work, ~~and~~ to ~~make her own way~~.		Biggerstaff's studio was a pipeline to work in the Chinatown nightclubs. He did the choreography for the Forbidden City and many other clubs. Dancers learned the ropes in his studio and then moved into the chorus, where Biggerstaff drilled them. Pat Chin recalls the hard and exacting work of learning the steps and routines. Pat's first show was produced by Andy Wong and ran for several weeks in Vancouver. But when the bookings ran out, she had to return to San Francisco and look for other jobs until a new show came along. She found work as a board marker at a New York Stock Exchange brokerage house, a job she would return to between dancing contracts. Pat was signed to a company run by Tom Ball, the owner of the China Doll nightclub in New York. The show traveled up and down the West Coast and Pat ended up in Los Angeles when the bookings ran out again. She returned to San Francisco in 1955 when she got a gig at Andy Wong's Chinese Sky Room, and continued working there until 1958.
	~~She~~ was ~~not an enthusiastic student and wanted~~ to ~~earn her own money. On~~ a ~~whim~~, she ~~answered~~ a ~~newspaper ad for Walton Biggerstaff’s dance studio~~. ~~At age 17,~~ Pat ~~joined Biggerstaff’s studio in 1953~~. ~~She later earned her GED~~.
			[[Image:Pat-Chin-far-right-at-the-Chinese-Skyroom-1950s.jpg]]

			'''Pat Chin, far right, at the Chinese Skyroom, 1950s.'''

			''Photo: Forbidden City: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs''

	Biggerstaff's studio was a pipeline to work in the Chinatown nightclubs. He did the choreography for the Forbidden City and many other clubs. Dancers learned the ropes in his studio and then moved into the chorus, where Biggerstaff drilled them. Pat Chin recalls the hard and exacting work of learning the steps and routines. Pat's first show was produced by Andy Wong and ran for several weeks in Vancouver. But when the bookings ran out, she had to return to San Francisco and look for other jobs until a new show came along. She found work as a board marker at a New York Stock Exchange brokerage house, a job she would return to between dancing contracts. Pat was signed to a company run by Tom Ball, the owner of the China Doll nightclub in New York. The show traveled up and down the West Coast and Pat ended up in Los Angeles when the bookings ran out again. She returned to San Francisco in 1955 when she got a gig at Andy Wong's Chinese Sky Room, and continued working there until 1958.

	Life on the road was hard – long hours, long bus rides, performing for audiences in big cities and small rural Western towns. Pat has nothing bad to say about those times – she doesn’t recall experiencing any racism on the road. Pat performed professionally for just over five years. She recalls, “After that I got married. [My husband] was a merchant marine. Yes, I stopped dancing entirely. Well ,when you get married and have children you can’t go out on the road like a vagabond any more. Although I loved it...oh I sure did. Though family is a little bit stronger than dancing.”		[[Image:Pat-Chin-at-Skyroom-1950s.jpg\|left\|200px\|Pat Chin at Skyroom, 1950s]] Life on the road was hard – long hours, long bus rides, performing for audiences in big cities and small rural Western towns. Pat has nothing bad to say about those times – she doesn’t recall experiencing any racism on the road. Pat performed professionally for just over five years. She recalls, “After that I got married. [My husband] was a merchant marine. Yes, I stopped dancing entirely. Well ,when you get married and have children you can’t go out on the road like a vagabond any more. Although I loved it...oh I sure did. Though family is a little bit stronger than dancing.”

	In 2003, Pat did return to dancing, working with the Grant Avenue Follies, a troupe of former nightclub dancers who raises money for charitable organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, and entertaining Seniors at Senior Centers and Veterans at Veterans Administrations Hospitals. As of April, 2010, The Grant Avenue Follies is still going strong.		In 2003, Pat did return to dancing, working with the Grant Avenue Follies, a troupe of former nightclub dancers who raises money for charitable organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, and entertaining Seniors at Senior Centers and Veterans at Veterans Administrations Hospitals. As of April, 2010, The Grant Avenue Follies is still going strong.


	[[category:Women]] [[category: Dance]] [[category: Performing Arts]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:Chinatown]] [[category:Chinese]]		[[category:Women]] [[category: Dance]] [[category: Performing Arts]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:Chinatown]] [[category:Chinese]]

Ccarlsson at 06:40, 24 December 2012

2012-12-24T06:40:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:40, 23 December 2012
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	'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

	Source material from [http://www.~~http:~~//~~www~~.~~amazon.com/~~ ''Forbidden City: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs''] by [http://www.trinarobbins.com Trina Robbins].		Source material from [http://www.trinarobbins.com/Trina_Robbins/Forbidden_City.html ''Forbidden City: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs''] by [http://www.trinarobbins.com Trina Robbins].

Chinpc1383: only made minor corrections on dates and places.

2010-04-25T05:20:39Z

only made minor corrections on dates and places.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:20, 24 April 2010
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	She was not an enthusiastic student and wanted to earn her own money. On a whim, she answered a newspaper ad for Walton Biggerstaff’s dance studio. At age 17, Pat joined Biggerstaff’s studio in 1953. She later earned her GED.		She was not an enthusiastic student and wanted to earn her own money. On a whim, she answered a newspaper ad for Walton Biggerstaff’s dance studio. At age 17, Pat joined Biggerstaff’s studio in 1953. She later earned her GED.

	Biggerstaff's studio was a pipeline to work in the Chinatown nightclubs. He did the choreography for the Forbidden City and many other clubs. Dancers learned the ropes in his studio and then moved into the chorus, where Biggerstaff drilled them. Pat Chin recalls the hard and exacting work of learning the steps and routines. Pat's first show was produced by Andy Wong and ran for several weeks in Vancouver. But when the bookings ran out, she had to return to San Francisco and look for other jobs until a new show came along. She found work as a board marker at a ~~Chinese~~ brokerage house, a job she would return to between dancing contracts. Pat was signed to a company run by Tom Ball, the owner of the China Doll nightclub in New York. The show traveled up and down the West Coast and Pat ended up in Los Angeles when the bookings ran out again. She returned to San Francisco in ~~1958~~ when she got a gig at Andy Wong's Chinese Sky Room.		Biggerstaff's studio was a pipeline to work in the Chinatown nightclubs. He did the choreography for the Forbidden City and many other clubs. Dancers learned the ropes in his studio and then moved into the chorus, where Biggerstaff drilled them. Pat Chin recalls the hard and exacting work of learning the steps and routines. Pat's first show was produced by Andy Wong and ran for several weeks in Vancouver. But when the bookings ran out, she had to return to San Francisco and look for other jobs until a new show came along. She found work as a board marker at a New York Stock Exchange brokerage house, a job she would return to between dancing contracts. Pat was signed to a company run by Tom Ball, the owner of the China Doll nightclub in New York. The show traveled up and down the West Coast and Pat ended up in Los Angeles when the bookings ran out again. She returned to San Francisco in 1955 when she got a gig at Andy Wong's Chinese Sky Room, and continued working there until 1958.

	Life on the road was hard – long hours, long bus rides, performing for audiences in big cities and small rural Western towns. Pat has nothing bad to say about those times – she doesn’t recall experiencing any racism on the road. Pat performed professionally for just over five years. She recalls, “After that I got married. [My husband] was a merchant marine. Yes, I stopped dancing entirely. Well ,when you get married and have children you can’t go out on the road like a vagabond any more. Although I loved it...oh I sure did. Though family is a little bit stronger than dancing.”		Life on the road was hard – long hours, long bus rides, performing for audiences in big cities and small rural Western towns. Pat has nothing bad to say about those times – she doesn’t recall experiencing any racism on the road. Pat performed professionally for just over five years. She recalls, “After that I got married. [My husband] was a merchant marine. Yes, I stopped dancing entirely. Well ,when you get married and have children you can’t go out on the road like a vagabond any more. Although I loved it...oh I sure did. Though family is a little bit stronger than dancing.”

	In ~~the 1990s~~, Pat did return to dancing, working with the Grant Avenue Follies, a troupe of former nightclub dancers who ~~raise~~ money for charitable organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area.		In 2003, Pat did return to dancing, working with the Grant Avenue Follies, a troupe of former nightclub dancers who raises money for charitable organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, and entertaining Seniors at Senior Centers and Veterans at Veterans Administrations Hospitals. As of April, 2010, The Grant Avenue Follies is still going strong.


	[[category:Women]] [[category: Dance]] [[category: Performing Arts]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:Chinatown]] [[category:Chinese]]		[[category:Women]] [[category: Dance]] [[category: Performing Arts]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:Chinatown]] [[category:Chinese]]

Yaalfaro: Create New Page

2010-04-19T23:22:19Z

Create New Page

New page

''' Historical Essay '''

Source material from [http://www.http://www.amazon.com/ ''Forbidden City: The Golden Age of Chinese Nightclubs''] by [http://www.trinarobbins.com Trina Robbins].

Pat Chin was born and raised in what she calls, “the tenements of old Chinatown.” She and her mother had dreams of dancing lessons but the money was never there. For Pat, dancing in the nightclubs was the result of her need to work, and to make her own way.
She was not an enthusiastic student and wanted to earn her own money. On a whim, she answered a newspaper ad for Walton Biggerstaff’s dance studio. At age 17, Pat joined Biggerstaff’s studio in 1953. She later earned her GED.

Biggerstaff's studio was a pipeline to work in the Chinatown nightclubs. He did the choreography for the Forbidden City and many other clubs. Dancers learned the ropes in his studio and then moved into the chorus, where Biggerstaff drilled them. Pat Chin recalls the hard and exacting work of learning the steps and routines. Pat's first show was produced by Andy Wong and ran for several weeks in Vancouver. But when the bookings ran out, she had to return to San Francisco and look for other jobs until a new show came along. She found work as a board marker at a Chinese brokerage house, a job she would return to between dancing contracts. Pat was signed to a company run by Tom Ball, the owner of the China Doll nightclub in New York. The show traveled up and down the West Coast and Pat ended up in Los Angeles when the bookings ran out again. She returned to San Francisco in 1958 when she got a gig at Andy Wong's Chinese Sky Room.

Life on the road was hard – long hours, long bus rides, performing for audiences in big cities and small rural Western towns. Pat has nothing bad to say about those times – she doesn’t recall experiencing any racism on the road. Pat performed professionally for just over five years. She recalls, “After that I got married. [My husband] was a merchant marine. Yes, I stopped dancing entirely. Well ,when you get married and have children you can’t go out on the road like a vagabond any more. Although I loved it...oh I sure did. Though family is a little bit stronger than dancing.”

In the 1990s, Pat did return to dancing, working with the Grant Avenue Follies, a troupe of former nightclub dancers who raise money for charitable organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

[[category:Women]] [[category: Dance]] [[category: Performing Arts]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:Chinatown]] [[category:Chinese]]