Dear CCF Members and Friends,

During our Chat and Film Viewing this evening, as we watched and discussed "The Chinese Ring," I mentioned my pet theory as to why Jimmy Chan is now called "Tommy," while he is still referred to as "Second Son." A number of participants offered their own thoughts on this, and we had an interesting meeting of minds on this aspect of Chan lore. I put out the invitation tonight to those present within our humble Chat Room, and I take it to everyone else, as well to offer your thoughts and or theory regarding the following three questions:

1. Why is Jimmy Chan suddenly called "Tommy" by Charlie Chan and everyone else around him?

2. Why did Charlie Chan decide to reside in San Francisco?

3. Why is the honorable Mrs. Chan no longer referred to by Charlie Chan or anyone else?

Your personal theories will be posted together at our Bulletin Board page. As I mentioned to those at our Chat, please refrain from UFO or "alien" theories! In other words, please have our theories inhabit the realm of generally acceptable possibility. Please email your thoughts to charliechanfamily@yahoo.com, or simply reply here on our Message Board.

"Thank you so much"...in advance!

Sincerely,
Rush Glick

Hey Rush,
I recall discussing these questions with you once before. Here's my Two Cents...

1. Tommy Chan got himself into a lot of trouble and kidnapped, maybe even killed. Jimmy took on the namesake of Tommy both as an honor to his brother and to help flush out the killer/kidnappers. I believe that after the "Feathered Serpent", it was in Mexico that clues led to Tommy's discovery whether dead or alive we don't know. With the killers/kidnappers behind bars (with the help of the Mexican Secret Police), Jimmy returns to his name and returns to Hawaii to help care for the remaining siblings.

2 & 3. Due to the killing/kidnapping of Tommy, Mrs. Chan is unable to deal with the loss. She suffers a heart attack and, although puts up a brave fight, passes away within a week's time. Family tradition within the Chan Family is not to mention specific names to bring the pain back but to lump all the dearly departed together as "Honorable Ancestors."

Charlie thereby moves to San Francisco to 'distance' himself from Punchbowl Hill which is sold to the state and preserved as a memorial/museum. The siblings move to one of the other islands or return to Shanghai...again to 'distance' themselves.

S'all I got!

Dear Chris,

Thank you for your theories. I have put out these questions to everyone via this Board and through our email list. Hopefully, we will receive a number of responses such as yours, which we will compile and then place in our Bulletin Board page.

Thank you, again, Chris.

Sincerely,
Rush

I just wish I could remember what I said about this Monday night.

Heck, I sometimes can't remember what I said five minutes ago!

So . . . I'll try again!

1. Tommy is Jimmy's little known twin brother. Sort of a Man in the Mask thing, maybe? Or Tommy is Jimmy's look-alike cousin who is (for whatever reason) is taking Jimmy's place in the family.

2. Charlie got sick and tired of his multitudious family and either divorced or deserted them. Or he came out of the closet and either divorced, deserted or just plain left Mrs. C for San Francisco. Or the rest of the family (except maybe for Tommy!) died in the aftermath of a volcano while Charlie was gone in one of his many trips overseas. Or Mrs. C got sick and tired of Charlie going on these trips so SHE divorced/deserted HIM and moved back to Shanghai/China . . . where they became prisoners-of-war . . . . This is more information than I know I want so on to # 3!

3. See # 2!

She-who-clearly-has-too-much-time-on-her-computer!

VA,

Chan came out of the closet? (Not that there is anything wrong with that)

but......VA!

Matt,
That WOULD explain why Charlie, Tommy and Birmingham were living in San Francisco!

NOTE!: This is speculation on our part, isn't it, Rush?!?!

Virginia

Dear Virginia,

VERY much so. Especially in this case!

Sincerely,
Rush

Don't forget my theory that Tommy was on a secret mission for the state department. Fighting by the side of Chiang Kai-shek against the Reds. Tommy eventually marrying Chang's daughter. See the lost adventure: "Charlie Chan in Taiwan". In order to maintain the fiction that Tommy is not undercover, that he is with his father solving cases Jimmy poses for a while as Tommy to maintain the fiction. Everyone plays along. As for Mrs.Chan she is in nearby LA helping to take care of the ill Frances and Iris Chan who have been both severely hurt in a car accident. They are both married and Mrs Chan has taken charge of both their households. One is a widow and the other's husband is overseas serving in the military. Mrs Chan is mentioned all the time by Charlie, just not "on screen" as the time of the Winter's Chans the ladies are well on the mend and the conversations concerning them are very mundane. Of course the "lost" case that takes place right at the tragedy mentions her all the time. It is the "lost" case: "Charlie Chan's Family" Needly to say the "accident" was no accident.

O yes, I forgot to mention all those hospital bills. Charlie retires and goes into private pratice to raise the needed cash to pay all those bills. Especially to pay for that "special operation" that saves Iris's life!

Dear Russell,

Thank you for your theory. You were the first to offer an alternative to the demise of Number Three Son Tommy, I believe.

(If anyone else has their own ideas regarding the original questions mentioned at the top of this thread, please feel free to offer them here.)

Thank you, again, Russell.

Sincerely,
Rush