Nancy Kwan
Susan Lacy. Photo by Lorella Zanetti
In conjunction with the exhibition Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion currently on view at the New-York Historical Society through April 19, 2015, The Bernard and Irene Schwartz Distinguished Speakers Series is presenting An Evening with Hollywood Legend Nancy Kwan, on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, at the New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Part West at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street) in New York. The program begins at 6:30 P.M. Tickets are $30, $18 for members.
Click here to purchase tickets.
Admission is free for SAG-AFTRA Members. To reserve a complimentary ticket, please use the discount code HOLLYWOOD14 when reserving your tickets. Contact New-York Historical Society’s in-house call center at (212) 485-9268 to guarantee your seat. Call center is open 9 A.M. – 5 P.M.
Following the public program with Nancy Kwan, attendees are invited to view the exhibition at 7:30 p.m.
Nancy Kwan on the cover of LIFE Magazine on October 24, 1960.
From her memorable role in The World of Suzie Wong to her remarkable performance in Flower Drum Song, Nancy Kwan is one of the first actresses of Chinese descent to achieve fame in Western cinema, opening the doors for many actors to follow. Ms. Kwan received a Golden Globe Award in 1961 for “Most Promising Newcomer”, sharing the title with Ina Balin and Hayley Mills.
Ms. Kwan will speak with producer Susan Lacy about the defining moments of her career, sharing stories of friendships with icons such as Bruce Lee and Dean Martin, among others.
Kam Tong, Miyoshi Umeki, James Shigeta, Nancy Kwan, Victor Sen Yung on the set of Flower Drum Song in 1961.
Nancy Kwan has been the star of more than 40 films, in a wide variety of roles, from the 1960s to today. She is most well-known for her roles in The World of Suzie Wong and Flower Drum Song. Susan Lacy (moderator), the creator and former executive producer of Thirteen/WNET’s award-winning biography series American Masters, is currently working with HBO to create a biographical series for its documentary division.
Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion, an exhibition that interprets the legacy of Chinese in the United States as a key element of American history, spanning the late-18th century to the present and all regions of the country is currently on view at The New-York Historical Society through April 19, 2015. The exhibition addresses the challenges of immigration, citizenship and belonging that shaped not only the Chinese American experience, but also the development of the United States from the formation of its policies to its national character.
Click below for complete photo coverage of Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion Exhibition.
Photos: Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion on View through April 19, 2015 at New York Historical Society
Anna May Wong Certificate of Identity, August 28, 1924.
Starting in 1909, Chinese entering or residing in the U.S. were required to carry a government-issued Certificate of Identity at all times. Even movie stars like Anna May Wong were subject to the law.
CREDIT LINE: National Archives at San Francisco (54099). Photo by Lia Chang
About the New-York Historical Society
The New-York Historical Society, one of America’s pre-eminent cultural institutions, is dedicated to fostering research and presenting history and art exhibitions and public programs that reveal the dynamism of history and its influence on the world of today. Founded in 1804, New-York Historical has a mission to explore the richly layered history of New York City and State and the country, and to serve as a national forum for the discussion of issues surrounding the making and meaning of history.
A section devoted to the cross-over success of Nancy Kwan, one of Hollywood’s most visible Eurasian actresses who played a pivotal role in driving the acceptance of Asian actors in major Hollywood film roles at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles on October 23, 2009. © Lia Chang
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Photos: Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion on View through April 19, 2015 at New York Historical Society
Coming to America through The Angel Island Immigration Station
Celebrating my Mom – AN ACTIVE VISION: BEVERLY UMEHARA…LABOR ACTIVIST…1945-1999
Photos at Shanghai World Expo USA Pavilion Library of Congress, Hollywood Chinese: Arthur Dong Collection
Golden Globe Winner James Shigeta, Veteran of Film and TV, Dies at 85; Excerpts of 2007 A/P/A Institute Q & A with Sukhdev Sandhu
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Oct. 10: Baayork Lee to Receive 2014 Paul Robeson Citation Award presented by the Actors’ Equity Foundation
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Joe Mantegna, Delta Burke, Gerald McRaney, President Bill Clinton and More Remember Meshach Taylor
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Crafting a Career
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.
Lia Chang Photo by GK
Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia starred as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the 2013 National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, and made her jazz vocalist debut in Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz “LADY” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York. She is profiled in Jade Magazine.
All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2014 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com
