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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Brenda Cox
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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
GREASEPAINT AND KIMCHEE
“Hey kid.”
Philip stood beside his car, waiting for his sweetheart Anna May Wong. He startled to see movie idol Douglas Fairbanks scrutinizing him. “Me?”
“Yeah, you. You have presence.”
The actor insisted the boy make a screen test.
Still in makeup, heart racing, Philip took a contract home. Instead of the accolades he hoped for, his mother flew into a rage.
She tore the papers to shreds. “No son of mine is getting mixed up with those awful people.”
Two-hundred movies and television shows later, Korean-American actor Philip Ahn laughed. “I’ll never forget. She grounded me for three days.”
***
Although you might not be familiar with his name, I’ll bet many of you remember his face.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Ah yes, I remember the face, but as you surmise, not the name. Grasshopper would be pleased to see his master being honoured thus. Nicely done.
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Dear Sandra,
Mr. Ahn played so many roles. For years he was one of those “Good Ol’ WhatshisNames” His sister was actually a war hero. A story for another time. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved listening to you reading, you are good enough tto be on the radio and tv yourself, Rochelle
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Dear Michael,
I started recording my stories for a friend who is visually challenged. It’s gotten to be a habit and is getting me used to the sound of my own voice. 😉 Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, Glasshoppah…
Loved the show, loved the character, love the tribute
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(insert bow) Thank you, most honorable CE.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Mother knows best. The only thing to be done with advice is to ignore it
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Dear Neil,
In this case, Father knew best ( a few years later) and encouraged Philip to follow his dream.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An advice well ignored, for a change. lovely historical fiction, there again.
Just a small issue. A clarification rather. In the second line you wrote , .. He startled to.” Just thought it should have been “He was startled…” Wonderful story, as usual
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Dear Neel,
Grammatical point noted. Word count was one issue. I did check sources and “he startled” is correct, although used less often.
Thank you re your lovely comments on my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story. It is a name that should be known more than it is, and does a younger audience even remember the face? Of course I watched Kungfu religiously as a kid, but that was a long time ago! (Remembering context, I think I was 7 or 8). And then that was just one role…
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Dear Trent,
Sadly, the current generation might possibly have caught him in reruns. I made it my mission in the days of watching MASH reruns (I have the whole set on DVD) to find out more about the queue of Asian actors who received so little credit. Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is great. My friend Radames Pera played the young Caine in Kung Fu and he said that Phil would arrive in a stretch limo wearing a feather boa and high heels, swishing around and calling everybody darling. He and Keye Luke didn’t know what to make of Carradine, who was a complete wild man, sometimes showing up to the set high on acid. Radames had lots of great stories about growing up with the 70s TV kids, especially Danny Bonaduce (who apparently was exactly the kid you see in the Partridge Family) and Brandon Cruz.
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Dear Josh,
In the end none of us knew what to make of David Carradine. 😉 Now I have a mental image of Mr. Ahn that I can’t unsee. I would love to hear some more of Radames’ stories. Those couple alone are worth the price of admission. Thank you re my story and for the fun trivia.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Mothers know best, apart from the odd occasion, which we can overlook 😉
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Dear Iain,
Weeeellll…as a mother I’d have to contest her always knowing best. 😉 Thanks for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story! I never disbelieve my mother. She’s hardly ever wrong!
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Dear Mason,
You’re a good son. Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome!
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Great story. I knew the face as well but, never knew his name.
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Dear Jan,
Isn’t that the way with those character actors. They appear everywhere but we can’t, for the life of us remember their names. Thanks, m’luv.
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Dear Rochelle,
Yep, you are right. I knew the face but not the name. What a great way to bring him to the fore!
Shalom and lotsa love and more discoveries,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
So many what’s their names, so little time. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom and lotsa enlightening hugs,
Rochelle
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It’s half-bad when you actually know their names but just can’t seem to access the file in the brain’s Rolodex… It’s the ones that you never even knew their names but somehow love their work, that is the problem!!
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another excellent life story brought to light, Rochelle. And I agree wholeheartedly with his view about international relations. We need to see all types of people before we can begin to know and better understand them.
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Dear Jen,
When will people accept each other and appreciate their differences? Ah well…Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Congratulations to him. Sometimes it pays for someone not to listen to his parents
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Dear Larry,
Things did work out for him in the end. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s what counts….shalom
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I don’t know his name or his face, but Anna May Wong was featured in a documentary series I watched on the history of film. This just goes to show, even mothers aren’t infallible.
That’s a great quote at the end. I think a lot of our prejudices come from inexperience and ignorance.
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Dear Nobbin,
I agree about prejudices. Sigh. I wish it were not so. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I had forgotten he was in Kung Fu and the first movie that came to my mind was Midway. Wonderful story! The true ones are the best.
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I was wrong about Midway. I’ll have to research to place him in another movie of that time period.
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Dear Susan,
Philip Ahn was one of those actors who showed up in many different movies. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Certainly a very familiar face – I’ve always been useless at remembering actors’ names!
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Dear Liz,
I relate. Names have a way of slipping my memory. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank goodness he persisted despite his mom’s attempt at dissuading him. One of those actors that help make cinema good but so often overlooked. I remember him in Kung Fu TV series but other than that, no.
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Dear Lisa,
Mr. Ahn was never really a lead character save his role in Kung Fu…I don’t think. At any rate, he had a wonderful career and helped make the world a more interesting place. Thank you for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you’re very welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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A fluent and believable recounting! I like the ring of truth that “grounding for three days” gives your story.
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Dear Penny,
The grounding I didn’t make up. 😉 He said she wouldn’t let him out of the house. Fortunately his father saw a couple of years down the road that Philip was serious about wanting to be an actor. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, great story! Made me smile.🌷
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Dear Earthskyair,
Your smile makes me smile. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Three days was a small price to pay! A face we all know. Nice one Rochelle.
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Dear Keith,
It’s nice to know you recognized him. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I do remember his MASH appearance. And, I’m sure I’ve seen Mr. Ahn in other movies and shows along the way…given my love of b/w films. A wonderful story.
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Dear Bear,
No doubt you’ve see him. He was one of those character actors that appeared in a lot of films. He actually appeared in 3 MASH episodes. (I’m a bit of a MASH nerd 😉 ) Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I watch it everyday, since well before I can remember. It was one of the first tv programs I saw when we first got a tv. I think I was about 16 at the time, and the tv was a very old b/w that took 20 min just to warm up… literally had vacuum tubes in it. The size of a small refridgerator, too. we watched the evening news and MASH, then the tv would die.
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So right–I did not know his name, but his face is certainly familiar. Always, you teach me something new 🙂
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Dear Linda,
Always happy to pass along trivia. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Exactly what my mother would have done to me, by the way! Bridging cultures, classes, and worlds is a worthy enterprise, especially if you have fun doing it, and Philip Ahn sounds like he did. What a break though! Got lucky and then his talent saw him through.
Shalom,
Dora
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Dear Dora,
Mr. Ahn is definitely an example of one who knew what he wanted and followed his dreams.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a lovely story, Rochelle. I admit, I neither recognize his name of face, but what a wise man.
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Dear Gabi,
I suppose it’s okay if you don’t recognize him. 😉 Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Stories transcend culture and connects humans. This isn’t remembered enough.
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Dear Tannille,
Everyone has a story to tell, don’t they? Thanks for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A lovely tribute to a wise man, Rochelle. You’re introducing me to so many new lives. Thank you.
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Dear Jenne,
You might have guessed by now that biographies and history are my favorite subjects. 😉 Glad you enjoyed and took the time to say so. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Little snips of peoples lives are inspirational. Loved the story.
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Many thanks, James. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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kahlil gibran’s advice to parents on children rings true then as it’s today:
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
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Dear Plaridel,
Very wise words indeed. Thank you for sharing them.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved this and loved his mother. I wonder what she thought later-on of her very talented son. Great story as always, Rochelle!
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Dear Brenda,
It was actually his father who encouraged him to pursue his dreams once he realized they weren’t going away. Thank you for your kind words and Sarah’s wonderful photo!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Olive Brasno W(T)F,
As Charlie Chan would say, “One grain of luck worth more than whole rice field of wisdom.” Good example of being in the right place at the right time.
Emmett “Why Me?” Kelly
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Dear Emmett “Why not you?” Kelly,
Charlie Chan was a wise man. Although I was never a fan. 😉 Philip Ahn was definitely in the right place at the right time. (If you haven’t already, scroll up and read J Hardy’s brilliant comment.) Thank you.
Shalom,
Olive Brasno W(T)F
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Enjoyed Josh’s comment. I always love those behind the scenes stories that enlighten us. While not a big fan of Charlie Chan, I must admit it was a highly successful with over four dozen movies made. I wish someone would make a series featuring Colton Lowry. 🙂
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I never watched Kung Fu, but thought Mr. Ahn’s face was familiar and discovered that he was on MASH, which I did watch and adored. Thank you. Another lovely story.
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Dear Sascha,
I’m a dyed-in-the-wool MASH geek. Mr. Ahn was on 3 epilsodes. 😉 Thank you for your kind words re my story. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha, good job it was only three days or he might have missed his auditions!
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Dear Ali,
Actually he did miss those auditions but he managed to pursue his dream nonetheless. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love this story! Thank you!
Timing can be everything, can’t it?…
Speaking of, a little later in participating (and reading – which I only do after I write mine), this week, but glad I checked it out today. Put mine in the linky. A different kind of ‘opportunity’ …
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
No worries. I’m behind in reading and replying. Sitting here trying not to doze off. ON the other hand, why not doze off…I’m retired. 😉 Thank you for your lovely comments.
Shalom and zzzzz,
Rochelle
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Brilliant Rochelle, how interesting isn’t truth stranger than fiction to coin a cliche. Love it.
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Dear Shrawley,
There’s a reason cliches are cliches. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I have to admit, I don’t recognize either his name or his face, though I will in the future.
As has been said Rochelle, I think you are a really good spoken story teller. How about doing an audio-book ?
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Dear Francine,
You might be surprised when he turns up in an old rerun that you’ve seen. 😉 Thank you for your kind words. I have thought about doing an audio-book of my own novels but I’m not really sure how to make that happen. You’re not the first person to say that. Again thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Fabulous piece this week Rochelle !
Breaking barriers and a presence indeed!
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Thank you, Laurie. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“Death does not have any victory, Grasshopper.”
That grashopper reference bought back memories. I think I need to find the series online to watch.
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Dear Subroto,
I always loved the flashback scenes in Kung Fu with Philip Ahn and Keye Luke. I had trouble buying David Carradine as half Asian. It was a decent show, though.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I really enjoyed reading this. I smiled when he said that he was grounded for three days. It was meant to be. Good for him. He would have been an inspiration for many.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
No doubt Philip Ahn did inspire. Glad you enjoyed. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I can’t blame his mom for not wanting him to associate with “those awful people”. Showbiz is often cut-throat! Great storytelling. I could see him laughing in my mind’s eye.
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Dear Mags,
I’m not sure I wouldn’t have reacted the same way his mother did. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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