AsianConnections: Forbidden City, USA DVD Launch Party

Filmmaker Arthur Dong documented the history of the Forbidden City, a San Francisco nightclub that was famous for its all-Chinese revue during the 1940s and 1950s. To celebrate the release of the film in DVD format, hundreds of people gathered at San Francisco State University in November 2002. The launch party featured a screening of the DVD, a Q&A session with many of the original pioneering performers of the Forbidden City, and inspiring dance and song performances that revealed that the enthusiasm as entertainers had not diminished over time.

Despite a few technical difficulties, MC Ben Fong-Torres led the audience through an enchanting evening that was both educational and entertaining. With the release of the DVD, Forbidden City, USA will now be accessible to millions of people all around the world. This trip into Chinese-American history is well worth it.

Paul Lee, AsianConnections Managing Editor