I have to admit that I wasn’t that familiar with the career of actress Anna May Wong before watching her film “Shanghai Express” (1932) a few years ago. But since then, I’ve been a HUGE fan!
This is why I was SO excited about attending an event back in November 2022, at the world famous Paramount Studios in Hollywood where the US Mint threw a lovely event to celebrate the newly released Anna May Wong Quarter!
That’s right, this legendary movie star is the first Asian woman to appear on U.S. currency! Considered the first Chinese American Hollywood movie star to gain national and international recognition, Anna May Wong was featured in the fifth and final quarter of the American Women Quarters 2022 series. The other women featured in the series are Maya Angelou, Dr. Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, and Nina Otero-Warren to name a few. To see the list of other incredible women who have been featured on the American Women Quarters Program visit the U.S. Mint link HERE
Under contract with Paramount in the 1930s, Anna May Wong made several films at the studio including "Daughter of Shanghai" (1938) and "King of Chinatown"(1939), so it made total sense that at the star-studded event for her Quarter's release celebration that guests were treated to a screening of another one of her classic Paramount films “Shanghai Express” where she co-starred with German-born screen goddess Marlene Dietrich!
The screening was followed by a special panel moderated by Andrea Kalas, senior vice president, asset management, Paramount Pictures that discussed Ms Wong’s enduring legacy and the significance of her new quarter. The illustrious panel featured Nina Bongiovi, producer; Ventris C. Gibson, director, United States Mint; Dr. Theodore S. Gonzalves, curator of Asian Pacific American History, National Museum of American History; and Jennifer Herrera, vice president of external affairs, National Women's History Museum.
There were also several of Ms Wong’s surviving family members in attendance, including her niece Anna Wong, who made some heartfelt remarks about her aunt’s new quarter and how happy she and her family were about this special honor. As a parting gift, everyone in attendance was given one of the new Anna May Wong quarters with her face on it to take home along with an AWQ coin board encouraging attendees to collect the other featured quarters and bring awareness to the accomplishments of the honorees.
Little did I know that a year later, I would interview Ms Wong's niece on my new podcast! Here’s a taste of our fun conversation from her recently released podcast episodes (69 & 70), “Thank you so much for attending the Paramount Studios event Tony. That was a wonderful event that was done by the US. Mint….it was an honor to be there for my aunt and her quarter.” She added, “Yes, you can get change nowadays and get an Anna May Wong Quarter! How special is that?”
Anna continues, “She would have been 118 years old this year. And she's still making history today. People (are) still talk about her. It's a constant thing.” She adds, “So I decided I want to keep her legacy alive. This is my mission in life. So, I do speaking engagements, I open film festivals, that kind of thing, because people should know her. If you're a movie buff, you probably know who she is. But I want generations to know about her.”
For decades, Anna May Wong’s groundbreaking career was largely forgotten, but in recent years scholarly and popular interest have helped revive her memory. Now, between her face appearing on the U.S. Quarter and Mattel releasing a Barbie doll in 2023 modeled on Wong in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a new generation will hopefully remember and celebrate her extraordinary life and films for years to come.
To listen to my fascinating conversation with the niece of legendary movie star Anna May Wong - ANNA WONG - who has made it her life’s mission to keep her aunt’s legacy alive and increase awareness of Asian American issues to the public on my podcast - click on the links below. Enjoy!
Episode 69 - HERE
Episode 70 - HERE
