Greetings all,

I had time to visit the site Virginia has noted several times for further interview materials and news items. It's a great site and I enjoyed the material very much. I especially enjoyed the discussion about how Virginia and Rush came across Chan on TV. My own reference is similar, but further back in time. I grew up in NY City. Local stations in B/W used to run movies at night or in the later afternoon. As I think back about it, it was a thorough inroduction to film, storytelling and wit even beyond my Irish background. The Late show on CBS showed films every night at 11:30 PM - NBC had its afternoon Movie 4, and WOR, Channel 9, was a local independent and would show films all night. Channel 11 showed the NY Yankee baseball and a lot of old films. So as a kid in the 1950's I had it all in front of me: Chan, Basil Rathbone as Holmes, Horror masterpieces and evough King Kong to where I could recite the lines. So did all the other kids. James Cagney was like an uncle. Bogart the same. The Bowery Boys were aa normal part of Saturday morning. Much later, when VCR's first came around, I got a station from Boston and recorded some of these same classics off the air. They showed old b/w's on TV 38 on Saturday night, and I could set the timer and record it at 1 AM or so - the schedule was not exact. I showed the films to my kids as they grew up. You know life has it moments of continuity when your grown kids give you one of the new boxed sets - and then another one! So Chan was a tradition in my crowded household (5 kids) from the time I was tiny until the present when that next generation enjoys them as well. The charm, wit, and professional aspects of the Chan series is obvious. The attachment to those moments past is layered with pleasent, and often personal, family history. Having found this gathering of fans, I enjoy Monday evenings, work permitting, with film buffs who have that similar attachment. I am quite grateful for the efforts to organize the information, pass it along and enrich the life of this most humble one. When I watch a Chan film at this time in my life, I just catch my breath from other exertions and enjoy the storytelling, also grateful to the cast, crew and business office for creating and giving this to me.
Best regards to all, and thanks to Virginia and Rush!
Patrick

Patrick,
I think I can speak for Rush that you are one of the reasons we do our websites! To make as much information as available as possible!

And please check my link above for some Hunt Club Sandwiches in honor of tonight being Charlie Chan at the Race Track . . . . Yes, Maven dug them up for the Hunt in CC in London but . . . horses are horses and good food is great anytime!

Virginia

Patrick:

I can only echo the sentiments you shared with us - I so enjoyed reading it. Finding Charlie Chan again was like hugging an old friend that you haven't seen for a long while. The difference this time around - at least for me anyway - is that we've got lots of friends to share him with here. I used to enjoy watching Charlie on my old 13" B&W Panasonic TV on a late night Chan Film Festival as part of Boston's WCVB "5 All Nite" programming back in the early to mid 70's. It's been a real treat to be able to come here on occasion and read the many different stories and tid-bits that folks have to share about our favorite sleuth. These films are indeed a treasure.

My best to all,

Roy Allen-Webber

Roy - I used to watch TV 38 out of Boston, late night on Saturday 1AM Sunday - I was stationed at Pease AFB in NH at Portsmouth. Fun. Later taped them when I lived in Hartford, Ct from the cable run of TV 38. Some of the films we watch are in my old collection from 38. Small world! Best Regards to all