I mentioned Charlie Chan's "off-year" as our "trivia" component of this week's CCF Chat Announcement. Based on clues from the three “consecutive adventures,” “Charlie Chan in London,” “Charlie Chan in Paris,” and "Charlie Chan in Egypt,” the adventure, “Charlie Chan in Shanghai” takes place, as we can see from the date (May 8, 1935) on a typed note received by Chan, which is almost exactly one year after his case in “Egypt,” which would have happened in late April 1934. During this intervening time was Charlie Chan engaged in “run-of-the-mill” investigations in Honolulu, taking a break from his police work, working on an “undocumented” case or cases, or something else?
It is interesting to speculate! What are your thoughts, please?
Rush, you give us hope! There's seems to be endless possibilities! Especially if one looks at world events happening at that time:
1934:
April: Bonnie & Clyde kill two police officers:
(Perhaps Charlie was called in?)
July: FDIC pays off 1st insured depositors, Fon du Lac Bank, East Peoria IL:
(Since he delivered those famous pearls in "The Chinese Parrot," perhaps...)
July: 1st x-ray photo of a full body in Rochester, NY:
(He did seem to know how to operate that x-ray machine in Egypt!)
October: Adolf Hitler expands German army and navy, violating Treaty of Versailles:
(Governments may have called him in to consult!)
November: MLB All-Star team led by Connie Mack and including Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx and Lou Gehrig starts 18-game tour against Japanese Big-Six University League:
(The kids were baseball fans, perhaps he attended these "East-meets-West games?)
December: Leningrad mayor Sergey Kirov is assassinated and Joseph Stalin uses it as an excuse to begin his Great Purge of 1934-38:
(Again, perhaps consulting with various government leaders?)
1935:
January: Associated Press inaugurates the "Wirephoto": (Who better as a guest of honor!)
February: Leonarde Keeler first uses his polygraph machine on criminals later convicted of assault on its findings in Portage, Wisconsin:
(Charlie would certainly want to be in on this!)
February: Great airship, USS Macon, crashes into Pacific Ocean:
(Well, we know he wasn't on it!)
April: 1st radio tube made of metal announced, Schenectady, NY:
(Probably invited, but not too exciting an event for one of Charlie's caliber!)
MY THOUGHTS: He stayed home to enjoy Christmas then Chinese New Year...Year of The Pig...with Mrs. Chan and the family!
That was a FULL year which would offer many chances for adventure! "Charlie Chan in Chicago"? In the Windy City for the all-star game, Chan and Number One Son, Lee, get caught in a game-fixing scheme involving rival Chicago gangs!
Rush, you're on to something! All we need now is a screenwriter and a backer (couple of $M). The Russo Brothers are from Cleveland...I'll see if they're in the "Yellow Pages"!
Re: Charlie Chan's "off-year" (See this month's Poll!)
I forgot to note that this month's poll question, which can be accessed at our Entrance Page, is based on this exact topic: "Charlie Chan's "off-year." Take a look please, and then VOTE!
